For some reason I don't like them stuck in the 70's. And I think the skipping them ahead 3 years on the island was a bit of a cop out. The big thing was that the 6 had to get back to the island because their friends are in danger. What danger? The only danger in store for Dharma is Ben's going to kill them all. And Ben is the one telling everyone they've got to go back.
Great one on the blonde with the gun is Faraday's mom. Makes total sense, since he kept looking at her like he knew her.