Lost Season 6 Analysis and Commentary (Episodes 9 – Ab Aeterno)

At the conclusion of LOST’s pilot episode, Charlie asked, “Guys, where are we?” Since that iconic question was posed, no other mystery has been more central to LOST. This week’s episode, “Ab Aeterno” has moved us closer than ever to an answer. But of course, there is still plenty of room to speculate as to what that answer may be. This episode, also addressed a few other long-standing mysteries. And on top of that, we were treated to a gripping character-centric storyline. There is little doubt, “Ad Aeterno” (which means “From Eternity”) will be remembered as one of the truly great LOST episodes.

When you consider I've been on the island for 140 years, waiting 4 years for a centric-episode doesn't seem so bad.

Daunting as it may be embarking upon a recap/analysis of an episode this jam-packed with great stuff, I am grateful that this week was a relatively linear storyline, allowing me to address events in the order they happened on screen. So, no better place to start than the beginning:

The episode opens with an extended look at a scene from last season’s finale, “The Incident”, in which a heavily bandaged Ilana is paid a visit by Jacob. Let’s look at the dialogue:

JACOB: I'm here because I need your help. Will you help me, Ilana?
ILANA: Yes.
JACOB: There are six people I need you to protect. I'm gonna give you a list of their names. This is what you've been preparing for.
ILANA: Are these people... who are they?
JACOB: They're the remaining candidates.

I'm in a little pain here....don't you have another minion for this assignment?

Note that Jacob does not give Ilana an order, but instead asks if she will help him. In recent weeks, I’ve discussed the importance of choice. Both Jacob and the Man-in-Black never force anyone to do anything that they are not willing to do. Here again, Ilana’s fate/destiny (what she has been preparing for) is intertwined with free will (her acceptance of the task). I also have to wonder if her preparation is somehow responsible for Ilana being in the hospital....as she seems to be afraid when Jacob asks for her help. Some time later (Ilana is no longer bandaged. Was she healed by Jacob’s touch? Jacob seems to be wearing the same clothing and they are still in the hostpital. Can he heal someone instantly?), Jacob informs her that once the candidates are at the temple, Ricardus (Richard) will know what to do.

We switch over to Team Jacob sitting around the campfire....singing songs, toasting marshmallows, discussing the pros and cons of being a candidate. When Richard hears he’s the one to tell them what to do next, he giggles like a schoolgirl (thank God he plays a serious character...I never want to hear that again). Then he appears to go off the reservation:

RICHARD: You wanna know a secret, Jack? Something I've known a long time? You’re dead.
HURLEY: You mean that figuratively right?
RICHARD: No, I mean literally. We are all dead, every single one of us. And this, this, all this, It's not what you think it is. We are not on an island, we never were. We're in Hell. So, I'm not interested in what Jacob said. In fact, maybe it's time to stop listening to him, and we start listening to someone else, and that's exactly what I'm gonna do.

Let’s hold off on the Hell thing for a little bit (once I start on that topic I’ll be there for a while). As I go through the episode, I’ll reference things I think are important and then wrap them into some over-arching analyses and theories.

Ilana wants to chase after Richard, but Jack thinks it is a mistake: “If he cared about what Jacob said, he wouldn't be talking about, about listening to someone else.” Sun tells Jack that Richard is going to Locke (I’m amazed she made it through an entire scene without making reference to her husband). Ben thinks Jack is right and Richard doesn’t know anything. (Hasn’t Ben learned a thing? Still jockeying for position?!?!). Meanwhile, Hurley is speaking Spanish to thin air....Jack believes it is Jacob (later we realize this was Richard’s wife Isabella). Ben gives everyone a reminder that Richard doesn’t age and woosh.....FLASHBACK:

(Now before getting into the Richard flashback I wanted to note that this is an extended flashback, as opposed to jumping back and forth between the past and present. LOST has done these before to great effect. In Season 3, Desmond was transported in his mind to a crucial point in his life with Penny in “Flashes Before Your Eyes”....this was the first episode we learned about time travel and a course correcting universe. In Season 4, “Meet Kevin Johnson”, we learned what happened to Michael after leaving the island, including his inability to commit suicide....which was explained two weeks ago by Richard. In Season 5, “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham”, we followed Locke’s misadventures off the island, learned that Ben murdered Locke and received hints related to the coming war. In each of these extended-flashback episodes, we received info that is critical to the overall story. And Richard’s flashback is probably more telling than each of the others put together).

The Flashback opens with Richard riding on a horse across Tenerife in the Canary Islands in 1867. (an interesting note I learned today from Wikipedia: There is a Spanish/Portuguese myth about a phantom island regarded as the "Eighth Canary Island" that people have periodically claimed to have seen....hmmm) Richard arrives home to his seriously ill wife, Isabella. Two important things occur in this scene that will come into play later in the episode. First, Isabella gives Richard her cross to help pay the doctor. Second, Isabella asks Richard to “Close your eyes. We'll always be together.”

Hello. My Name Is Inigo Montoya. You Killed My Father. Prepare to Die.

Richard rides off to the doctor. The doctor has no interest in going to help Isabella, but offers some medicine, if Richard can pay. When the money he has is not enough, he offers the doctor the cross and says, “Now you have everything”. This line struck me as meaning that for a devout man, when he has nothing, he still has his faith. The doctor refuses to give him the medicine, and while struggling with him, Richard accidentally kills the doctor. He leaves with the medicine, but is too late to save Isabella. Richard is imprisoned for murder.

In prison, Richard is visited by a priest. The priest notes that Richard is reading the bible and asks to see it. The page Richard is reading is from St. Luke, Chapter 4. In reading this chapter of the bible, a couple of things struck me. First, it recounts Satan’s temptations of Christ (I mentioned the temptations of Christ in my entry 2 weeks ago...as the MIB tempts his “recruits” with their greatest desires). Second, it tells of Christ healing the sick with a touch. This second item is significant for two reasons: 1) recall that when Jacob touches people, “it’s considered a gift” and 2) the island heals the sick. The priest is surprised that the bible is in English. Richard says that he was planning to travel to the new world (....funny that Richard is going to “a” new world....just not the one he was expecting). Richard confesses his sins to the priest and asks for absolution:

PRIEST: I cannot grant you absolution for murder.
RICHARD: Father it was an accident. I didn't mean to kill him.
PRIEST: But you did.
RICHARD: Please, Father...there must be some way to earn God's forgiveness.
PRIEST: The only way to return to his grace is through penance.
RICHARD: Yes, of course...I'll do anything.
PRIEST: You don't have time to do anything. Because tomorrow...they're going to hang you. No, my son. I'm afraid the devil awaits you in hell. May God have mercy on your soul.

I find it ironic that the priest says that Richard has no time for penance, yet ultimately time is ALL Richard will have on the island. I also think the priest’s judgment of Richard parallels the Smoke Monster, who we learned last season passes judgment. Remember this when we see Smokey again.

The next day, Richard, believing he is being taken to the gallows, is instead sold into slavery aboard The Black Rock and becomes property of Captain Magnus Hanso. The name Hanso may be familiar, as the Hanso Foundation (led by Alvar Hanso) provided the financial backing for the DHARMA Initiative (this info was revealed on the Swan Station Orientation Film in Season 2). Magnus was never mentioned in dialogue on the show before, but one of the notations on the blast door map in the Swan Station read: “Known final resting place of Magnus Hanso/Black Rock”. The producers have also stated that Magnus Hanso is the great grandfather of Alvar. While I doubt it is critically important to the story, it does keep with the shows theme of interconnections.

Chained to the walls of the ship, Richard and other slaves endure a massive storm. Through cracks in the hull, one of the prisoners sees the statue of Taweret on the island (“I see the devil! The island is guarded by the devil!”). The ship is launched via a massive wave into the statue and into the middle of the jungle. I don’t think any of us would have ever guessed that of all the possible ways the statue could have been destroyed, The Black Rock crashing into it was how it happened. Regardless, we received two big answers (How was the statue destroyed? and How did the Black Rock end up so far inland?) in one scene.

Hard to starboard.....Hippopotamus dead ahead!!!

So the Black Rock ends up in the jungle. Mr. Whitfield (the officer who purchased Richard for Capt Hanso), comes below deck and begins killing the slaves (“....if I freed you, it'd only be a matter of time before you tried to kill me.”). As he about to be skewered, Richard realizes he has lost Isabella’s cross, but then suddenly we hear the Smoke Monster approaching. Smokey slaughters the entire above deck crew and yanks Whitfield up through a deck grating (very cool). Then Smokey approaches Richard...but instead of killing him, we see the flashes of light indicating that he is being judged (as we have see before with Eko and Ben). However, instead of being condemned to death (as the priest had done), Smokey disappears....sparing Richard.

Next we see an exhausted Richard collapsed in the Black Rock, still chained to the ship. Note that a moth flies into the ship. Remember back to Season 1, when Locke teaches Charlie about moths:

LOCKE: You see this little hole? This moth's just about to emerge. It's in there right now, struggling. It's digging its way through the thick hide of the cocoon. Now, I could help it, take my knife, gently widen the opening, and the moth would be free. But it would be too weak to survive. The struggle is nature's way of strengthening it.

I wonder if the placement of the moth in the Black Rock is symbolic of Richard’s struggle. As the scene progresses, Richard attempts to free himself with a nail he pulls from the deck.....this appears to occur over several days. Exhausted and unable to continue, Isabella appears before Richard:

RICHARD: I don't understand -- how are you ...here?
ISABELLA: Don't you know, Ricardo? We're dead. Both of us. We're in hell. I'm here to save you before he comes back.
RICHARD: What? Before who comes back?
ISABELLA: The devil.
RICHARD: The devil?
ISABELLA: I looked in his eyes...and all I saw was evil. Have you seen him, Ricardo?
RICHARD: Yes. I think I have...

Now I think it is a pretty safe assumption that Isabella was the Smoke Monster in disguise, but I’d like to elaborate a little more on this. Up to this point, I think the consensus opinion was that a person’s dead body needed to be on the island for the Smoke Monster to take that form (e.g. Eko’s brother Yemi and Ben’s daughter Alex). Here though we see Isabella, whose body has never been to the island. I think the dead body part of the theory is wrong and it is more related to the flashing the Smoke Monster does. Recall that Eko never saw Yemi on the island until after he was flashed. Also, Ben saw his vision of Alex immediately after he was flashed. Now Richard sees Isabella after he has been flashed. So, it appears the Smoke Monster can read ones memories and take the form of someone in those memories.

I am having a bad month.

So where were we....oh yeah, Isabella runs out of the Black Rock as Smokey approaches and sounds as if she is killed. Richard is distraught and again collapses. Some time later, Richard is awakened by the Man-in-Black in the form we saw him in last season’s finale, “The Incident”. MIB offers Richard some water.

RICHARD: Who are you?
MAN IN BLACK: A friend.
RICHARD: I am...in Hell?
MAN IN BLACK: Yes, I'm afraid you are.

Again, we’ll come back to this.

RICHARD: Isabella, my wife. She was here. She was. But then the black smoke came and she ran.
MAN IN BLACK: And she hasn't come back?
MAN IN BLACK: That probably means he has her.
RICHARD: Who?
MAN IN BLACK: I think you know who.

Look at how MIB manipulates Richard into believing Jacob (or the devil as he is being painted) is responsible for Isabella’s disappearance. Also, note the Harry-Potter-esque reference of “you know who.”

Before freeing Richard, MIB asks if Richard will help him and do anything he asks. Richard agrees and is freed. This scene is an homage to Stephen King’s “The Stand”. In that book, Randall Flagg (also referred to as the Man-in-Black) frees Lloyd Henreid from an abandoned prison....but only does so in exchange for Lloyd’s loyalty. Also, notice the parallels with MIB’s manipulation of Ben (using Alex’s form) to convince him to kill Jacob. So, MIB’s modus operandi appears to be: flash on the memories, take the form of a loved one, strike a deal, get that person to kill Jacob.

So MIB frees Richard and says, “it’s good to see you out of the chains.” The same thing Flocke said to Richard in the season premiere (that is how Richard realized Flocke was MIB).

MAN IN BLACK: I need your strength if we're going to escape.
RICHARD: Escape?
MAN IN BLACK: That's right. I'm afraid there's only one way to escape from Hell. You're gonna have to kill the devil.

I love that line! Also, note the reference to strength. Going back to Locke’s moth speech, I wonder if Richard’s strength (and I’m talking inner strength....not physical strength) would have been greater had he freed himself, rather than being freed by MIB.

In the next scene, MIB instructs Richard to go to the statue by the ocean, “That's where you'll find the devil.” He offers Richard a Roman pugio dagger. This appears to be the very same dagger Dogan gave to Sayid to kill Flocke.

Let’s take a quick diversion to talk about the dagger. I wonder about the origins of this dagger and if maybe it was brought to the island by Jacob or MIB....perhaps indicating that one or both were in the Roman Legion. Also, on the sheath is a depiction of Romulus and Remus....twin brothers of Roman myth. Could this be another indication that like the Jacob/Esau analogy, Jacob and MIB are brothers? In the most common account of the myth, Romulus kills Remus....just as MIB kills Jacob.

Richard, do you like movies about Gladiators?

So, after offering Richard the knife, MIB says, “You only have one chance. Put this through his chest. Do not hesiate, do not let him say a word. If he speaks, it will already be too late. He can be very persuasive.” Again these are almost the identical words Dogan uses when instructing Sayid how to kill Flocke.

Then we get to something very interesting:

RICHARD: How can I kill him with this, he's...black smoke.
MAN IN BLACK: No. I am.

Note the specific, simple wording, “I am”. This phrase was very familiar to me, as I remember hearing it a lot attending church when growing up (I am sure my Mom, who reads this, will be thrilled to know some of the stuff I heard in church actually stuck). “I am” are the words God often uses to describe himself in Roman Catholic bible passages (although it is also used in many other Christian and non-Christian religious texts). I wonder if the choice of using this phrase was directed at us (the viewers) to give us a hint that perhaps MIB is representative of the good, rather than Jacob. Alternatively, perhaps this phrase was used by MIB to help convince Richard, a devout Catholic, that he is on God’s side.

MAN IN BLACK: You aren't the only one who's lost something, my friend. The devil betrayed me. He took my body. My humanity.

With the exception of the reference to the devil, I don’t believe MIB is lying to Richard. I think MIB believes that Jacob betrayed him....and maybe he did. I am very interested to learn more about the history of these two characters and how they ended up on the island.

RICHARD: Murder is wrong. That is what brought me here.
MAN IN BLACK: My friend, you and I can talk all day long about what's right or wrong, but the question before you remains the same - "Do you ever want to see your wife again?"
RICHARD: Yes I do.

This is very similar to how Flocke was able to recruit Sayid (dangling the prospect of seeing Nadia again). Right and wrong are irrelevant, as long as you get what you want. It worked on Sayid. And it appears to work on Richard, who heads to the beach, where he finds the collapsed statue. Dagger in hand, Richard seeks out the devil. But apparently, Jacob has a lot of time to practice his martial arts in the statue, as he proceeds to kick Richard’s ass. Richard wants to know where is wife is, but Jacob claims to have no idea what he is talking about.

How many times have I told you kids about playing with knives?

JACOB: Did you meet a man in the jungle dressed in black?
RICHARD: Ye - yes.
JACOB: What did he tell you?
RICHARD: He said you were the devil.
JACOB: And?
RICHARD: He said the only way I would see my wife again was if I kill you. I - I saw her, here, in this place. Where is she?
JACOB: That wasn't your wife.
RICHARD: Yes, it was! She's dead, just like me.
JACOB: You're not dead.
RICHARD: I am, in hell. I know that I am in hell.
JACOB: You really think you're dead?
RICHARD: Where else would I be?

Jacob grabs Richard and repeatedly holds his head underwater. From a plot standpoint, Jacob does this to make Richard believe he is alive. However, symbolically, this act is representative of baptism....washing away the sins the MIB had put into Richard.

Later, in a calmer moment for Jacob, he offers Richard some wine (Where are the grapes coming from? Is Jacob urning water into wine?) and they have a chat. Gesturing to the statue, Richard asks:

RICHARD: What is inside?
JACOB: No one comes in unless I invite them inside.

Recall that Richard remembers this edict when he tells Flocke he can’t go to see Jacob unless he is invited.

Jacob says that he is not the devil and explains that he brought the Black Rock to the island. When Richard asks why, Jacob gives us the most import piece of dialogue in the episode (and maybe even in the series):

JACOB: Think of this wine as what you keep calling Hell. There's many other names for it too: malevolence, evil, darkness. Here it is, swirling around in the bottle, unable to get out because if it did, it would spread. The cork is this island and it's the only thing keeping the darkness where it belongs. That man who sent you to kill me believes that everyone is corruptible because it's in their very nature to sin. I bring people here to prove him wrong. And when they get here, their past doesn't matter.

You know Richard....I find the only thing that gets out red wine is Oxyclean.

Before getting into the heavy stuff, let me quickly touch on Jacob’s last line here. He said that when he brings people to the island, “their past doesn’t matter.” I found this to be interesting as the very first episode after the pilot was entitled “Tabula Rasa”, which is latin for “Clean Slate” (and was also a thesis by English philosopher, John Locke....gotta love that). So while that episode centered on Kate’s new beginning on the island, it really is symbolic of everyone who is brought to the island. So, I like that the theme of redemption and letting go of your past has been with the show from start to finish.

OK.....I guess it I’ve put it off long enough, let’s get into the deep analysis. First, let’s talk about Hell. Back in the awesome Season 3 episode, “The Brig”, John Locke’s father, Anthony Cooper first made the suggestion that the island is Hell:

COOPER: You sure it’s an Island?
SAWYER: Well what else is it?
COOPER: Little hot for heaven isn't it?
SAWYER: Oh OK, so we're dead?
COOPER: They found your plane on the bottom of the ocean. One minute I'm in a car wreck and the next minute I'm in a pirate ship in the middle of the jungle. If this isn't Hell friend, then where are we?

Prior to this, there had been a long-standing fan theory that everyone on the show was dead and the island was Purgatory. The producers debunked this theory noting that there is contact with the outside world. And in Season 4 we saw the Losties back in civilization.....so that theory seemed to be....well....dead.

However, I always liked the idea that the island was somehow connected to Purgatory or Hell. Death is very clearly central to the show. Last year, I floated my favorite big-concept theory on the show. I suggested that the island isn’t Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory, but rather a gateway to the afterlife/underworld. I believed this to be true because both birth (fertility, Taweret, Claire/Aaron) and death (many deaths, Cerberus, Anubis) are referenced throughout the show. Couple that, with the broad religious references and it is hard to deny that where we come from and where we go after we die are at the conceptual heart of the series. Now, we get the Jacob-wine-bottle speech. When he says the island is a cork keeping the evil inside, then perhaps my gateway theory is pretty close to correct. However, instead of it being a doorway to the underworld, perhaps it is just a locked door.

Let’s dig a little deeper into the what Jacob says. Again, he refers to the island as the cork. What are the implications then in the Sideways universe, since the island is at the bottom of the ocean. I can see this going two possible ways: 1) the island is destroyed and the gateway from Hell has been opened; or 2) the island has been destroyed and the doorway has been closed for good. Option two is damned boring, so let’s hope that is not the case. However, there is little evidence that the sideways world is appreciably different than the main timeline world. If anything, you can make a case that things are better. But again....that is no fun. I believe I have stated previously that I am waiting for all hell to break loose in the sideways universe. I’d now like to amend that with a capital H to: I am waiting for all Hell to break loose. We’ve invested a lot of viewing hours into the sideways....we need some kind of payoff.

Let me throw out a couple of other theories related to Hell. The Man-in-Black is quite convincing when he describes them as being in Hell....and maybe, just maybe, he isn’t lying. Perhaps MIB is in Hell.....for sins he has committed. And if he is indeed imprisoned in Hell, then wouldn’t his jailer be the devil? While Jacob may not view himself as the devil, a condemned man might. So, putting right/wrong and good/evil aside, from MIB’s perspective, he is the victim....the persecuted. And the only way to escape Hell is to indeed kill the devil (Jacob).

But perhaps MIB’s prison isn’t Hell in the sense we think of it. Maybe it is more like the mythological Tartarus. In Greek mythology, Tartarus was a dungeon beneath the underworld where only threats to the Gods would be imprisoned. I mention this because of the way Jacob referred to Hell.....“malevolence, evil, darkness”. Tartarus is described as a primordial force, like the Earth and time. If Tartarus has always been in existence, then since the dawn of time there has always been “darkness”. This could be the reason that there needs to be the balance between light and dark (as we have seen with the white and black stones).

Let me throw out one more crazy thought....I’ll call this “The Matrix” theory. What if everyone in the world is already dead? Yes.....the entire world is the afterlife or Purgatory. And when people die in this afterlife they are sent to Heaven (or Elysium or Valhalla) or Hell (or Tartarus or Niflhel). This could explain why Jacob (who appears to be “good”) is indifferent to the many deaths he is responsible for. This could also mean that MIB is telling the truth when he tells Richard he is dead (as well as Richard saying the same thing to Jack). It also provides an explanation for how the Losties could return to the real world if they are dead. What it doesn’t explain is why Jacob is trying to prove MIB wrong about the nature of man. And I still don’t have a great answer for that yet. But let’s go a little further in the dialogue as I think it dances around this:

RICHARD: But you brought them here. Why didn't you help them?
JACOB: Because I wanted them to help themselves. To know the difference between right and wrong without me having to tell them. It's all meaningless if I have to force them to do anything.

Remember earlier MIB said that it was pointless to discuss right and wrong.....for Jacob, it appears to be everything. I won’t repeat the Dumbledore line again this week, but clearly it IS our choices that define us. The island appears to be a place for redemption. Where you can have a clean slate and show that the person you were is not the person you are. But someone else can’t show us the way, we have to find it ourselves. Here is where Jacob appears to be wrong. You can’t do it alone. Remember.....Live Together....Die Alone! And maybe in 1867 Jacob, with Richard’s help, came to this realization:

JACOB: Why should I have to step in?
RICHARD: Because if you don't, he will.

At this point, Jacob offers Richard a job:

RICHARD: Doing what?
JACOB: Well, I don't want to step in. Maybe you can do it for me. You can be my representative and intermediary between me and the people I bring to the island.

What is it that Richard wants in return for this service?

RICHARD: I want my wife back.
JACOB: Can't do that.

(as Ben told us last season...”Dead is Dead”)

RICHARD: Can you absolve me of my sins so I don't go to hell?
JACOB: Can't do that either.

(Salvation comes from within.....a little “Shawshank Redemption” for you)

RICHARD: I never want to die. I want to live forever.
JACOB: Now that ... [touches Richard's shoulder] ... I can do.

And now we know how Richard was given his gift of eternal youth. One of the great LOST mysteries solved.

Richard next returns to MIB and gives him a white rock from Jacob. Since the white and black rocks represent the two opposing forces, this seems to send a message of “nice try....but this one is mine” (note that it is probably the same stone Flocke tosses into the ocean in the cave scene from “The Substitute”). MIB, gracious in defeat, tells Richard if he ever changes his mind, his offer still stands. Then he hands Richard the lost cross, which he says he found on the ship. After MIB leaves, Richard kisses the cross (“Goodbye, my love”) and buries it.

We flash back to the main timeline and Richard digs up the cross. I viewed the burying and exhuming of the cross as symbolic of death and resurrection. Richard considered her gone and now wants to bring her back via his deal with MIB. He shouts:

RICHARD: I've changed my mind. Are you listening? I've changed my mind. I was wrong. You said I could change my mind. You said the offer still stands. Does the offer still stand? Does the offer still stand?! Does the offer still stand?!

We hear a rustling and expect to see Flocke emerge from the jungle, but instead see Hurley. I’ve often view Hurley as a Christ-figure/savior on the island, because of his purity. And here, he saves Richard. He tells Richard that his wife sent him. Richard is incredulous at first, but comes to believe when Hurley tells him that, “She wants you to close your eyes.” Recall Isabella’s final words to him before dying: “Close your eyes. We'll always be together.” This connection with Isabella, relieves Richard of the guilt he has carried with him over the circumstances of her death. Isabella grants Richard the absolution that neither the priest nor Jacob would give. This is a very powerful emotional scene rivaling the climactic moment between Desmond and Penny in “The Constant”....and that is saying something.

Ricardo....I forgive you for taking my eyeliner.

Once she is gone, Richard asks:

RICHARD: Something wrong?
HURLEY: She kinda said one more thing. Something you have to do.
RICHARD: What?
HURLEY: She said you have to stop the Man in Black. You have to stop him from leaving the island. 'Cause if you don't ... [in Spanish] we all go to Hell.

....or maybe what he really means is Hell comes to them.

We see a stern-looking Flocke in the distance and then woosh....flashback to MIB sitting on a hill. He joined by Jacob in a similar manner to the way they greeted one another in “The Incident”. And then it turns to business:

JACOB: So are you trying to kill me?
MAN IN BLACK: Are you expecting an apology?
JACOB: No. Guess I'm just wondering why you did it.
MAN IN BLACK: Because I want to leave. Just let me leave, Jacob.
JACOB: As long as I'm alive, you're not going anywhere.
MAN IN BLACK: Well, now you know why I want to kill you. And I will kill you, Jacob.
JACOB: Even if you do so, somebody else will take my place.
MAN IN BLACK: Then I'll kill them too.

Then Jacob hands MIB the win bottle

JACOB: Here. Something for you to pass the time.
JACOB: I'll see you around.

Once Jacon departs:

MAN IN BLACK: Sooner than you think.

And MIB smashes the bottle over a rock. As I was hearing this, I was reminded of Flocke’s words, “It’s just an Island!” And the smashing of the bottle means that if Hell is unleashed, then the island truly does become meaningless and really is just an island.

Here are a few misc items:

- Best line of the week goes to Ben: “Oh, this should be interesting.”
- A boar is eating dead bodies in the Black Rock. We saw the same thing in the wreckage of Oceanic 815 in Season 1.
- I want to mention composer Michael Giacchino’s score for this week’s episode. For the most part, the music this season has been echoing theme’s we have heard in past seasons. The Richard/Isabella theme was definitely new and strikingly beautiful. The cinematic elements of LOST (including music) are among the things that place it light years ahead of anything else on TV.

OK....that is MORE than enough for this week. I hope everyone enjoyed this stellar episode as much as I did.

Lost Season 6 Analysis and Commentary (Episodes 8 - Recon)

This week’s episode centered around James Ford....AKA Sawyer. In my opinion, Sawyer is one of the richest characters on the show. However, as I tried to write an introduction to this entry on his centric episode, I found myself struggling to describe him. When you look back at his character through the seasons, he has gone through more transformations than any of the other Losties. I think there was a clue in this episode as to why. In the flash-sideways, Saywer drinks from a “Hollywood” coffee cup. I think this cup tells us that Sawyer is an actor.....always playing a part and rarely showing us the real person inside. That real person is the hurt, lonely little boy who lost his parents....the one who continually reads his “Dear Mr. Sawyer” letter in Season 1. But most of the time, Sawyer is just playing make believe....a scared child who has grown into the great pretender. Sometimes he’s the cop, sometime the robber. He can play house with Juliet....or king of the mountain with Jack. And this week we see that no matter the universe, James Ford is always acting.

So, let’s begin this week looking at Sawyer’s flash-sideways. It starts with a familiar scene: Sawyer in bed with some babe....late for a meeting....briefcase falls open....and the con is on. As we’ve seen all season, in the sideways world something is always a little askew....and this week was no exception. Sawyer’s mark pulls a gun and says she know a con when she sees one. But the trick was on her. Sawyer says the magic word: “LaFleur” (gotta love that) and the cops come storming in. Turns out it was a sting, and our old buddy Jimbo is a cop....Detective Ford (always playing make believe). Now this is both an ironic twist (the con man turned cop) and a parallel to the island world (remember that Sawyer.....playing the part of Jim Lafluer....was the Sherriff of Dharmaville). And who is Ford’s partner? Why of course it’s his Dharma Deputy....Miles.

Whatever you do, don't shoot me in the chest...its my best feature.

Back at the station house, Sawyer is making personal calls on company time....trying to track down Anthony Cooper (the con man who was responsible for the death of James’ parents....not to mention he is John Locke’s father). But Miles is oblivious to this and is focused on getting Jim a woman (clearly a big problem for stunningly-handsome, often-shirtless cops).

Really? I won the Supertramp tickets!

The date turns out to be a fiery redhead....Charlotte (who cleans up very nicely). They make a little chit-chat and Charlotte asks James why he became a cop. To which, he replies, “You ever seen “Bullit”....Steve McQueen flick?” Charlotte calls him on this and asks for the truth. So, James replies, “I guess I got to the point in my life where I was either gonna become a criminal or a cop....so I chose cop.” If you ask me, his first answer was the truth: the pretender following another actor in his portrayal of a cop. The second answer was just giving Charlotte what she needed to hear to go on an archeological dig in Detective Ford’s pants. Also, recall last week I talked about choice and its importance in defining an individual. Here the choice is irrelevant. Either path....criminal or cop.....leads to the same objective....killing Anthony Cooper.

Are we sure it was the con that triggered the murder/suicide and not ridicule associated with the leisure suit in this photo?

Anyway, after a little fun, Charlotte opens one of James’ dresser drawers to find a tee-shirt and happens upon a file labeled “SAWYER”. Inside are details of James’ parents’ deaths. The true James emerges....the angry, hurt boy....and throws Charlotte out. Once the illusion is shattered, the actor can no longer be effective.

The next day at the police station, Miles confronts James about his recent trip to Australia. Little Orphan Jimmy surfaces and says, its “none of your damn business”. Miles has had enough of the lies and says I’m outta here. Alone in the locker room, Jim looks into a mirror (recall the recurrence of mirrors throughout the sideways flashes), sees his true self....and promptly shatters it with his fist. What we are left with is even more true than the clear image....the broken James Ford.

Later that night, James returns home to watch his favorite TV show, “Little House on the Prairie” (recall that in the Season 3, Kate made fun of Sawyer for referring to it as “Little House”). This is what he sees:

LAURA INGALLS: It's not me I'm worried about. I just don't know what I would do if anything ever happened to you or Ma.
CHARLES INGALLS: Anyway, nothing's gonna happen to us. Not today, anyway. That's the way you live this life. Each day, one at a time. Now, if you spend your whole life worryin' about something that's gonna happen, before you know it, your life's over and it's been an awful lot of just worryin'. (children’s laughter is heard) Hey, you heard that? Now that's what life's all about. Laughin' and lovin' eachother. And knowin' that people aren't really gone when they die. We have all the good memories to sustain us until we see 'em again.
LAURA: It's hard not being afraid, Pa...

Now it has been a while since I’ve seen an episode of “Little House”, but I can’t quite recall pillars of black smoke slaughtering anybody on the farm. My guess is Pa wouldn’t talk so brave on the island....but I digress. Clearly, the message on the screen was as much for James, as it was for Half-Pint: Let go of your fear and live your life or it will consume you.

Last week, I drew parallels between LOST and the Harry Potter Series. This week, I want to reference another epic saga that clearly has had an influence on the LOST mythology: Star Wars. Recall Yoda’s words:

From “Episode I: The Phantom Menace”: "Fear is the path to the dark side: fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering."

From “Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back”: “Yes, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice.”

(Who knew that Charles Ingalls had Jedi training?) Fear, anger, aggression and suffering....James Ford hit every one and is on the path to the dark side.

Sunflowers....nicknames....a Jedi craves not these things.

But, I guess James took Pa’s message to heart, because he decides to give Charlotte another go and drops by her apartment with the old LaFleur combo platter: A sheepish grin and a sunflower. Charlotte will have none of it (guess that trick only works on American chicks). I noticed something subtle, but interesting, in this scene....as James is standing outside Charlotte’s door there is a window at the end of the hall. In the distance you can see what appears to be the Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel. I believe this is intentionally placed in the scene for two reasons. First, I think it is representative of the circular storytelling we see on LOST. Second, I think it is symbolic of James Ford’s life....he is constantly spinning his wheels, but never really getting anywhere. The cycle is the same: fear....hate....suffering.

Perhaps though, that cycle can be broken. In the final segment of the flash-sideways, James tells Miles about the hunt for his white whale....Anthony Cooper. Almost immediately after purging his guts (the actor breaking character), destiny pays James a visit. His car is hit and the driver makes a run for it. James gives chase and apprehends the driver, who is revealed to be Kate. Something tells me James Ford is about to get off the ferris wheel and try a new ride. Only time will tell if that ride can take him off the path to the dark side and put him on the highway to heaven (a shameless Michael Landon tie-in...my apologies).

Let’s continue with Sawyer’s story on the island. After a couple of brief chats with Jin and Kate, Sawyer joins the Flocke army on a cross-island trek. Upon hearing that they may make camp for a couple of days, Sawyer challenges Flocke. Flocke asks Sawyer to step into his office and the following transpires:

FLOCKE: I wish you hadn’t interrupted me.
SAWYER: I’m sorry....I forgot my manners.
FLOCKE: I forgive you.

I thought this was fairly clever. Remember that the Smoke Monster has been described as one who passes judgment. Good thing Sawyer said he was sorry.....just ask Mr. Eko how is goes when you are unrepentant for your sins.

The interesting dialogue continued:

SAWYER: What happened back at the temple? How'd you know to rescue everybody from that smoke thing?
FLOCKE: I didn't rescue them. I am the smoke thing.

It is very surprising here that Flocke tells Sawyer the truth. More:

SAWYER: You telling me you killed all of those people?
FLOCKE: I gave them the opportunity to leave peacefully and they didn't take it.
SAWYER: Why not?
FLOCKE: Because they're convinced that they're protecting the Island from me, when in fact all I want to do is leave. So it's either kill or be killed. And I don't wanna be killed.

Call me crazy, but I believe him. I don’t think there is one untruthful thing Flocke said. However, I also believe he isn’t telling the whole truth either.

I’ll discuss Flocke more a little later, but I’d like to continue with the Sawyer storyline. So, Flocke sends Sawyer on a mission to Hydra island to do some “recon” (note the double meaning of “reconnaissance” and “to con again”). According to Flocke, the survivors of the Ajira flight might try to do them harm. But Flocke’s not worried about Sawyer running into trouble because he’s “the best liar I ever met.” I guess it takes a thespian to know a thespian.

So Sawyer paddles over to Hydra Island and finds the DHARMA cages he can Kate were housed in during Season 3. (I kinda like these visits to old LOST stomping grounds....just like Jack and Hurley’s pit stop at the caves a couple of weeks back.) In one of the cages, Sawyer finds a dress The Others forced Kate to wear. Sawyer squeezes the fabric tightly in his hands.

Dammit! Grass stains.

My wife interpreted this to mean that Sawyer still has feelings for Kate. I took it a different way. I believe it is Sawyer’s recognition that he will never experience the closeness he shared with Kate with anyone ever again. Throughout this episode (in both timelines), there are references to Sawyer’s solitude:

SAWYER: I ain't with anybody, Kate.

MILES: What is your deal Jim? You wanna die alone?

SAWYER: I don't need saving.

Recall, the much-repeated Losties mantra: “Live together, die alone.”

This is Sawyer in a nutshell. His only chance at salvation is to abandon the hate, anger, and suffering and get back to “laughin’ and lovin’ each other”. I don’t see it happening. James Sawyer Ford is a dead man walking.

But he’s not dead yet....so let’s continue. Sawyer finds the Ajira plane, but no people. He does find some tracks that lead to a pile of dead people (reminded me of the mass grave Ben led Locke to in Season 3). He does find someone alive, named Zoe, who claims to be an Ajira survivor. She is so relieved to see him:

SAWYER: There's a group of people back on the main island. I can take you back there.
ZOE: Thank God...
SAWYER: Trust me... God's got nothing to do with it.

This line was directed more to the audience than to Zoe. It is an implication that Flocke/Man-in-Black/Smokey is about as far from God as you can get. While I don’t want to get too wrapped in this single line, it could be a sign that the Jacob-MIB conflict is more than a generic good vs. evil battle and has religious implications. However, I’ll stand firm on my belief that Jacob and MIB are not God and Satan (more LOST theology below).

So anyway, Sawyer and Zoe head back to his outrtigger. Along the way, she peppers Sawyer with a few dozen questions. When Sawyer asks why she was travelling to Guam, Zoe says it was to see her boyfriend. Sawyer immediately pulls a gun. Good instincts detective.....any girl who asks this many questions can’t possibly have a boyfriend.

Well, it turns out Zoe wasn’t really being truthful (is anybody NOT acting in this episode?). She gives a little whistle and out of the jungle comes a band of armed men. Sawyer is then promptly escorted to Charles Widmore’s sub (passing some portable sonic fence pylons....handy). In the main hallway of the sub, Sawyer notices a padlocked door. He asks what is inside, but is told it is none of his beeswax.

I’m going to pause here for a little speculation. I’m going to guess that it isn’t a “what” inside the door, but a “who”. I’ve got a few possibilities...all of them children. Remember back to last season’s episode, “The Variable”. In this episode Desmond is rushed to the hospital after being shot by Benjamin Linus. An anxious Penny is told by a nurse in the waiting room, “He's doing fine. Come with me. This nurse will watch your son.” This always struck me as odd....especially since Charles appears in the next scene outside the hospital. Could it be that Charles has abducted his grandson, Charlie Hume, and taken him to the island? Remember Charles’ words to Ben in Season 4: “That island's mine, Benjamin. It always was. It will be again.” If Widmore plans to retake the island, wouldn’t he want his bloodline with him? From a story standpoint, this may also be the one thing that can bring Desmond back to the island. Two other options are Aaron and Walt. These two clearly have some significance to the island. We know that Aaron is important, as even Flocke mentions him this episode. We also know that Walt is “special”....but we have never really learned why. I don’t have a good reason to as to why Charles Widmore would bring Aaron or Walt to the island. Then again, as Widmore says to Sawyer, “It’s sad really....how little you actually know.” This line was clearly intended as much for the audience as it was for Sawyer.

In any case, Sawyer and Widmore have their first conversation, but they each already know of each other. After a little posturing, Sawyer tells Widmore the truth about John Locke sending him over (“We both know that is not John Locke”) and cuts a deal with Widmore to deliver Flocke/MIB to him. They shake on it. How many devils can Sawyer make deals with?

Now here's a man worthy of my MacCutcheon whiskey...not like that good-for-nothing son-in-law of mine.

Sawyer returns to Flocke and tells him everything he told Widmore. Flocke say, “I appreciate your loyalty.” (Remember back to the beginning of the flash-sideways when James’ mark asks, “How dumb do you think I am?” To which he replies, “Pretty dumb.” I am sure he was thinking the same thing about Flocke.) Flocke just told Sawyer he was “the best liar” he ever met and now he is falling for the lie himself? Sawyer is pulling the “Long Con” on Flocke....as he described it in Season 2: “It works by getting someone to ask you to do something like it's their idea, but it's not their idea, it's your idea.” But be careful Sawyer....the con man might be getting conned himself. This could be playing out exactly like the MIB wants it too.

Before leaving this portion of the episode, I want to reflect just a little more on Charles Widmore. My assumption was that in the coming war, Widmore would be aligned with MIB. Does what we learned this week change this? It certainly appears that Charles is opposed to MIB. Is he Jacob’s ally? Could be. Remember that when Charles was an Others leader, he seemed to be very dogmatic....no moral ambiguity (ordering the death of Rousseau and Alex)....only what was right for the island. This may be in line with Jacob’s philosophy (as many have been sacrificed for the good of the island). Another possibility though is that Widmore and MIB are aligned and are in on the same long con. Still a third possibility is that Widmore is aligned with neither Jacob nor MIB....and seeks island control for his on personal benefit. It’s sad really....how little I actually know.

The other major storyline in this episode was centered around Flocke/MIB/Smokey. His story opens with the group returning from the temple:

FLOCKE: Alright everybody, listen up. Come on in. Gather round. I know that everyone is tired. It was a... a long and traumatic night for all of us. And you all have got a lot of questions, I know. And I will make myself available to answer them. But right now we need to keep moving. We have to take advantage of the daylight.
CINDY: We want to know what happened to the people who stayed behind at the Temple.
FLOCKE: The black smoke killed them.

Zach and Emma (the 815-survivor-children from the Temple) are very upset by this. Flocke kneels down to the kids and says:

LOCKE: Hey... I know that what happened back there was really scary. But it's over. You're with me now, and I promise that I'm gonna take care of you. Okay?

I took this as a moment of genuine compassion. I think the notion that the MIB is pure evil is wrong. We get even more insight when he has a one-on-one with Kate:

LOCKE: I know what you're going through.
KATE: And how do you know that?
LOCKE: Because... my mother was crazy. A long time ago, before I... looked like this... I had a mother, just like everyone. She was a very disturbed woman. And, as a result of that, I had some growing pains. Problems that I'm still trying to work my way through. Problems that could have been avoided had things been different.
KATE: Why are you telling me this?
LOCKE: Because now Aaron has a crazy mother too.

It’s not an accident that we hear this speech in the same episode that Sawyer’s pain is explored. The Man-in-Black is not “evil incarnate” as Dogan stated a couple of episodes ago. He was once a boy, just like James Ford....full of fear, anger, and suffering. It lead him to the dark side. I also find it interesting that the man whose body the MIB chose to inhabit was also full of fear, anger, and suffering....John Locke (who also had a crazy mother).

After last years finale, when we were first properly introduced to Jacob and the Man-in-Black, I wrote the following about their encounter on the beach:

First, let’s talk about who/what these two men are. If one man is Jacob, there has been suggestion on the internet that the other man is Esau. In the bible, Jacob and Esau are the twin sons of Issac and grandsons of Abraham. It is written in at least two bible passages that God loved Jacob, but hated his brother Esau. Ironically, Jacob used deception to receive Esau’s birthright to become spiritual leader of the family, leading to protracted animosity and conflict, including Esau’s vow to kill Jacob. With that said, I don’t believe the men on LOST are literally the brothers Jacob and Esau. However, the parallels are indisputable, and may provide clues as to where things are heading. Jacob and Esau, become the leaders of Israel and Edom, respectively. In the Book of Obadiah (Hebrew Bible and Old Testament), Edom is destroyed with no survivors at the “end of days”. So, if you believe in the Jacob/Esau allegory, Jacob’s side will win the coming war.

After this week’s episode, I think we are seeing further underscoring of the Jacob/Esau story. Here we see the MIB state that his mother was crazy. Well, in the story of Jacob and Esau, their mother Rebecca favored Jacob over his brother and assisted him in stealing Esau’s birthright. Now, while this does not make Rebecca “crazy”, you can see how it might seem that way from Esau’s perspective. Again, I don’t think the LOST writers’ plan is to have our island deities be the actual biblical Jacob and Esau, but it is easy to see their story paralleled on the show. My theory is that these two characters represent an amalgam of opposing forces throughout classical and modern religion/mythology. As much as there is a parallel to Jacob and Esau, there is also to God and Satan, Horus and Anubis, Obi-Wan and Vader, Dumbledore and Voldemort. Then again, we’ve yet to learn the MIB’s real name....so the possibility that he is indeed Esau remains.

Let’s return to the last line I mentioned from Flocke, “Because now Aaron has a crazy mother too.” While we don’t know exactly what this means, two things about it struck me as interesting. It shows again Flocke’s compassion for a child....which again seems genuine. He has concern that Aaron may face a similar fate as he has. It also reminded me of this exchange from Season 2:

CLAIRE: This is Aaron.
MR. EKO: Aaron? The brother of Moses?
CLAIRE: Yeah, that must have been tough to live up to, right? The pressure of everyone saying, "Why can't you be more like your brother, Moses."
MR. EKO: Yes, I'm sure it was. Why did you choose it -- Aaron?
CLAIRE: I just liked it.
MR. EKO: Aaron was a great man.

We see again parallel’s being drawn to biblical figures. Note the characterization of how difficult it was for Aaron to live up to Moses. So, too would it have been difficult for Esau (or MIB) to live up to Jacob.....the favored son, in his mother’s eyes. OK....enough theology....but Aaron remains a key piece of the puzzle.

Getting back to the Flocke and Kate dialogue, he tries to help her understand Claire’s erratic behavior:

LOCKE: Have you ever had an enemy? Someone that you needed to hate? Very powerful, isn't it? Claire was devastated without Aaron. She needed something to... something to keep her going. So, I gave her something to hate. And then... when you told her the truth... all those feelings, all that anger that she'd been holding on to for so long... it had to go somewhere.

Look at the strategy the MIB employed with Claire. It is right out of the Star Wars “Episode VI: Return of the Jedi”:

THE EMPEROR: The hate is swelling in you now. Take your Jedi weapon. Use it. I am unarmed. Strike me down with it. Give in to your anger. With each passing moment you make yourself more my servant.

The MIB has used Claire’s hate to control her. She is now a servant of MIB. Curious though that Dogan described her earlier this season as being “infected” and “claimed”, just like Sayid. But the contrast could not be more stark. While Claire is almost bipolar, unable to control her emotions, Sayid appears to be a zombie....the walking dead. How creepy was it when Kate asked him, “Sayid, are you alright?” and his response was a faint, “No”. I don’t have a good theory yet on why we are seeing such a difference between these two characters, but it is something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

I hope no one breaks up the cat fight.

To close out the Locke/Kate interactions, note that Flocke extends his hand to Kate to help her up. It is a gesture for Kate to join Flocke. However, she does not take his hand. This tells us that Kate, while staying with Team MIB, has not committed her allegiance to him yet. And even though she likes to pay booty calls on Sawyer, she will always side with Jack. Recall from the Season 5 episode, “The Little Prince”:

JACK: Are you with me?
KATE: I have always been with you.

‘nuff said.

I don't think he washed his hands after he went in the woods earlier.

Here are a few misc items:

- Best line of the week:
KATE: Very insightful....coming from a dead man.
FLOCKE: Nobody’s perfect.
- Honorable mention for Sawyer: “Take me to your leader.”
- When Sawyer is late for his meeting it is 8:42 (8 and 42 are two of the numbers)
- Claire’s skeleton baby is even creepier than the last time we saw it.
- Sideways Miles says he has a girlfriend (man, this alternative universe really is strange). Gotta be someone we know, right? As much as I’d like to guess Eloise Hawking....I’ll go with Ilana.
- Miles said that Charlotte works with his dad at the museum. Looks like Pierre Chang is alive and well. I think this further supports my argument from last week that the island didn’t sink when the nuke was detonated.
- Did you notice the three books on Detective Ford’s dresser? “Watership Down”, “A Wrinkle in Time” and “Lancelot” were all books Sawyer read on the island in the main timeline.
- Interesting to see Liam (Charie’s brother) in the police station. “I’m looking for my brother. He was arrested at the airport on a drug charge.” Looks like we are going to see Charlie again at some point in the flash-sideways story.
- A heck of a lot of people got off that tiny sub. They must have packed them in like a clown car.

That is a wrap for this week. Really looking forward to next week. No spoilers here....but it is gonna be epic!

Lost Season 6 Analysis and Commentary (Episode 7 - Dr. Linus)

Think back to Season 1 of LOST. What was it that got you hooked on the series? My guess is that it wasn’t rampaging pillars of black smoke (not that there’s anything wrong with that). If you are like me, what drew you in was the well-drawn characters and intense emotion their stories brought them. The fugitive, the con-man, the torturer, the cripple, etc. This week we were treated to an old-school character-driven episode, featuring not one of our original castaways, but an island villain: Benjamin Linus. In the interest of full-disclosure, Ben is my favorite character (oh please...get that look of disgust off your face). So, if I wax a little poetic this week it is because I see his character arc coming to an end soon. So, this blog’s for you Dr. Linus!

There is so much to write about this week it is hard to know where to begin...but I guess I’ll start with the flash-sideways story. What a perfect way to open this part of the story. European History teacher, Dr. Linus writes “ELBA” on the chalkboard and proceeds to tell the class about Napoleon’s exile:

BEN: It was on this island that everything changed. That everything finally became clear. Elba... was where Napoleon faced his greatest test. Because exile wasn't the worst of his fate. What was truly devastating to him was the loss of his power. Sure, they allowed him to keep the title of Emperor... but without any power it was meaningless. He might just as well have been dead.

The characterization sideways-Ben uses is rather ironic, as island-Ben was both exiler (usurping Charles Widmore’s leadership of The Others) and exiled (leaving the island enabling Locke to become island leader). This loss of power was indeed Ben’s greatest test and he responded with manipulation and murder (big surprise). If Ben couldn’t return to the island, he, like Napoleon, might just as well be dead. He would do anything to regain his power....a theme we would see in both storylines.

Who put chalk in my erasers?

Following his class, Ben has lunch in the teacher’s lounge with Leslie Arzt (the same guy who was blown to bits in Season 1). After a little bitch-session, an eavesdropping John Locke suggests that Ben should become the principal (I have to wonder if a similar suggestion was made to island-Ben when he ousted Widmore from power). For sideways-Ben, this is the first time anyone has every shown belief in his potential to be a leader. Again, look at the irony here (and I’ll apologize now for the overuse of this term in this entry....because this episode was dripping with irony), Locke was the one who took away Ben’s power on the island, and here, he is promoting Ben as a leader.

In the next scene Ben is attending to his ailing father. Note the irony (can’t help it) that Ben gives Roger a fresh canister of oxygen, when on the island Ben murders his old man by unleashing a canister of poison gas. After getting his fresh supply of oxygen, Ben and Roger chat a little and make the first ever sideways-universe reference to the island by any of the characters:

ROGER: This isn't the life I wanted for you, Ben. I wanted so much more.
BEN: I know.
ROGER: That's why I signed up for that damn Dharma Initiative and took you to the island, and... they were decent people. Smarter than I'll ever be. Imagine how different our lives would have been if we'd stayed.
BEN: Yes, we'd have both lived happily ever after...
ROGER: No, I'm serious, Ben! Who knows what you would have become?

Well, we know what Ben became when he stayed on the island.....a mass murder. I guess the grass isn’t always greener on Fantasy Island. This island reference though begs the question how and when did Ben and Roger leave the island? Did they depart on the submarine before the incident or did they leave some time after this? This is really important because it goes back to the question of when did the island sink? Was this a result of the nuke detonation OR did it happen later? I am of the opinion that a hydrogen bomb can’t sink an island and that it’s detonation was not the reason we’ve seen it at the bottom of the Pacific. Now that the seal is broken on the sideways connections to the island, I hope we continue to see these references develop. As of right now, it is the only this binding the two realities together.

Remember the good old DHARMA days when I used to smack you around?

Ding-dong....oh it is my favorite student, Alex, whom I stole from her mother in another life. The Alex connection is presented in the sideways timeline to show the stakes in Ben’s gambit to take over the school. Without rehashing the entire sideways-story, Ben is given a choice....the power he seeks or the happiness of his surrogate daughter. On the island, Ben chose power and it cost Alex her life. In the sideways-universe, Ben foregoes the power he so dearly desires for the good of Alex. Sideways-Ben, of course, had it in him to seize power, but his life experiences in this world did not drive him to the Machiavellian solution. I’d like to suggest that the offer made to Ben can be loosely tied to the Temptation of Christ, in which Satan tempts Christ, but Christ refuses the offers (and I’ll come back to this again in the island-story). In this sideways-universe, it is likely that Ben’s choice saves him (as much as Alex)...for once you sell your soul, redemption is pretty hard to come by. (And by the way....I am not in anyway suggesting that Ben is a Christ figure in the story. You can make a case for Locke, Hurley, Walt, Jack, etc......but not Ben.)

Before departing the sideways-universe, I’d like to point out one more thing. Note that in Alex’s e-mail to the principal, she signs it Alexandra Rousseau. She also makes a reference to her mother working two jobs to pay the rent. So, this means that Danielle Rousseau is alive and well and living in Los Angeles. I think it is a pretty safe assumption that Rousseau’s science team never landed on the island in the sideways-timeline. This means that the island had already sank before 1988 (the year of Rousseau’s island arrival). So, if my assumption that the island didn’t sink when the nuke went off is correct, then the island sank some time between 1977 and 1988. Just something to store away for future reference.

OK, let’s get to the island. Lot’s of good stuff to talk about here, but let’s continue with the Ben Linus saga. So, the show opens with a panicky Ben running through the jungle, until he encounters Team Ilana. Ben tells them that Sayid killed Dogen and the interpretor.

ILANA: Are you sure?
BEN: He was standing over their dead bodies holding a bloody dagger, so yeah, I'm pretty sure.

Classic Ben.

Before continuing on, Ilana asks Miles to do a little ghost whispering with Jacob’s ashes. He does and says that Ben killed Jacob. Ben, liar that he is, denies this.

ILANA: Are you sure?
MILES: He was standing over Jacob's body with a bloody dagger, so... yeah, I'm pretty sure.

Classic Miles.

After thanking Miles, Ilana tells Ben that “Jacob was the closest thing I ever had to a father.” To which Miles turns to Ben and says: “Uh-oh.” Miles has really become a favorite of mine...definitely the best of the freighter-folk.

Someone's got some 'splaining to do.

Anyway, I don’t want to gloss over Ilana’s line. We really don’t know much about Ilana and this is the first piece of background we have received about her. If he was like a father to her, does this mean she has lived on the island before? She certainly seems to know her way around. But she didn’t know who Richard was. If Richard has been around such a long time (and I’ll get to him shortly), how could Ilana not have met him before? I can think of one possibility: Ilana is ageless (like Richard) and was on the island BEFORE Richard. I’m not even sure I’m buying this, but I’ll throw that out as a theory. Also, note the parallel between the Jacob-father-figure-to-Ilana relationship and the Ben-father-figure-to-Alex relationship.

Ilana is pissed, so she shackles Ben to a tree an makes him dig his own grave. Ben of course tries to weasel his way out of it by trying to bribe (or maybe dupe is the better word) Miles into freeing him. To which Miles classically replies, “Why would I need your money when there are a couple of jabonies under there named Nikki and Paulo who got buried alive with 8 million dollars in diamonds on top of them?” (love that!) While Miles is primarily used for comic relief, every once in a while he throws in a significant line....and this week’s was a doozy:

BEN: I can't believe you're just gonna stand by and watch this happen. Ilana's gonna murder me for killing Jacob, a man who didn't even care about being killed!
MILES: No, he cared.
BEN: Excuse me?
MILES: Right up until the second the knife went through his heart, he was hoping he was wrong about you. I guess he wasn't.

This is HUGELY significant. In fact, it might be the most important line in the Ben character arc. Recall Jacob’s final words to Ben: “What about you?” Ben was being tested by Jacob and he failed. But Jacob wanted to believe that there was good in Ben. And now that Ben knows this, it may open the door for Ben’s redemption. A second chance.

Oh, but of course, it isn’t that simple. As Ben continues to dig, he hears the familiar tica-tica-tica that could only mean a visit from the Smoke Monster....aka MIB....aka Flocke. After a little small talk about digging ones own grave, this exchange occurs:

LOCKE: I'm gathering a group to leave this place for good. But once we're gone, someone's going to need to be in charge of the island.
BEN: Me ?
LOCKE: I can't think of a better man for the job.

I can't quit you.

Again, the devil offers up temptation. And again, Ben likes what he hears. Note that both in the flash-sideways and here it is Locke/Flocke who dangles the carrot before Ben. Now, I don’t believe for a second that Flocke intends to live up to his end of the bargain. I think that he is telling each of his potential recruits whatever it is they need to hear to follow him:

Sawyer – I know what is like to lose someone you love; let’s leave this place.
Sayid – I can bring back the one you lost.
Claire – I can take you to Aaron.
Ben – You can be leader of the island again.

He knows each one’s greatest desire and exploits it. Now, I don’t think Smokey is Satan....but he certainly uses the same playbook. And in this case, Flocke gives Ben not only the motivation, but the tools to get the job done. He unshackles Ben and provides a rifle, 200 yards into the jungle. Of course Ben thinks for a moment and then bolts for the trees.

Ilana gives chase, but Ben makes it to the rifle fast enough to get the drop on Ilana. But something very curious happens next. He doesn’t shoot Ilana (shocker for Ben). Instead he wants to explain to her why he killed Jacob:

BEN: I watched my daughter Alex die in front of me. And it was my fault. I had a chance to save her. But I chose the island over her. All in the name of Jacob. I sacrificed everything for him. And he didn't even care. Yeah I stabbed him, I was... so angry...confused...I was terrified that I was about to lose the only thing that had ever mattered to me - my power. But the thing that really mattered...was already gone. I'm sorry that I killed Jacob. I am, and I do not expect you to forgive me because...I can never forgive myself.

And for the first time ever, I believe Ben expresses real remorse. I often like to draw parallels between LOST and the Harry Potter series. Recall, my favorite Dumbledore line: “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” Even knowing what Ben could do, Jacob gave him the choice (hoping that he was wrong about Ben, as Miles told us) and Ben failed. His choice defined him and has left him beaten and desperate.

ILANA: Where will you go ?
BEN: To Locke.
ILANA: Why ?
BEN: Because he's the only one that'll have me.
ILANA: I'll have you.

Every so often a line is written and delivered perfectly on LOST and this was one of those moments. I have been somewhat indifferent towards Ilana, but this episode and specifically this line, made me a fan. Ilana could have simply let Ben leave, but it’s our choices that define us and Ilana chose to give Ben another chance. Pulling the Harry Potter thread a little bit more....Ben has always seemed to be the Severus Snape of LOST (devious, deceitful, self-serving, and vicious). Dumbledore showed tolerance of Snape and drew him in as an ally. Similarly, Ilana puts aside her disgust for Ben and shows him mercy. Clearly, she understands, like Dumbledore did, that Ben can be a powerful weapon in the upcoming war. I also have to believe that this uncommon show of kindness towards Ben will galvanize his allegiance. He may turn out to be the secret weapon of Team Jacob.

The other thing this scene brought to mind for me was one of the trailers for Season 6, which featured Willie Nelson singing “Amazing Grace”. Think about the words:

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.

Ilana’s (and by extension Jacob’s) grace will lead to Ben’s salvation.

From now on, I'll only kill people when I REALLY have to.

OK, now let’s move on to the Jack/Richard/Hurley story. So Jack and Hurley are wandering through the jungle on their way to find the Temple (or at least Jack is trying to find the Temple), when they run into Richard Alpert. Richard tells them that they are going the wrong way. However, Richard was lying and leads them to the Black Rock. Richard explains what happened at the Temple. When Hurley says that Jacob had already hinted at the Temple massacre, the following transpires:

RICHARD: You spoke to Jacob?
HURLEY: Yeah.
RICHARD: Well, whatever he said... don't believe him.

Richard is losing his faith....making him a ripe potential recruit for the MIB (remember that the seeds of this doubt were, in fact, planted by Flocke, “I would never have kept you in the dark.....I would have treated you with respect.”).

Richard heads toward the ship and says that he wants to die. Inside the Black Rock, Richard examines some of the prisoner chains.

JACK: Been here before ?
RICHARD: Yes. And in all the time that I've spent on this island, today is the first time I've ever come back.

Remember that in the Season 6 premier, Flocke says to Richard, “It’s good to see you out of those chains”. It seems pretty clear to me that Richard was at some point shackled in the hull of The Black Rock. Assuming that the Black Rock was indeed a slaving ship (which we don’t actually know for sure), does this mean that Richard was a slave? This seems like the obvious solution. However, in the mid-nineteenth century nearly all slaves were black Africans. So, I can come up with three possible explanations. First, perhaps Richard was indeed an African slave when brought to the island and his sole was placed in another man’s body (similar to the MIB and Locke). Doubtful. Second, and maybe a more likely option, is that Richard was on the island before the Black Rock and was imprisoned there by the MIB. The third possibility (the one I am subscribing to) is that the Black Rock wasn’t a slaving ship at all and Richard was a prisoner on the ship in its brig. Remember that in Season 3, Locke took Sawyer to the Black Rock to kill Anthony Cooper. The name of that episode? “The Brig”. I think The Black Rock had some other purpose that has yet to be revealed....but I think it is coming. However, at the very least, all signs are pointing to it being Richard’s conveyance to the island.

So anyway, Richard grabs a stick of dynamite and says that he can’t kill himself, but he wants Jack to do it.

RICHARD: What I'm talking about Jack is that...Jacob touched me, and when Jacob touches you... well it's considered a gift... except it's not a gift at all. It's a curse.

So, you could make the simple connection that, oh, if Jacob touches you, you never age. But I don’t think that is right. I think what it means is that when Jacob touches you (and this may be a literal or figurative touch), you are chosen to play a part in his plan....it becomes your destiny....touched by the hand of God (don’t take that too literally, just as I don’t think MIB is Satan, I don’t think Jacob is God). In Richard’s case, he doesn’t age. For someone else their fate may be different....but still important.

So Jack agrees to help Richard blow himself up and lights the fuse on the dynamite. But there is a twist....Jack won’t leave. Richard may have lost his faith, but Jack, the “Man of Science”, now has enough faith for the both of them.

JACK: I just came from a lighthouse...where my name was etched in wood on a dial...that turned a mirror...that somehow reflected the image of the house I grew up in. Jacob's lighthouse. He got Hurley to bring me out there because he wanted me to see what was reflected in that mirror. For some reason he wanted me to know that he had been watching me ever since I was a kid.
RICHARD: Why?
JACK: I have no idea why. But I'm willing to bet you that if Jacob went to that trouble, that he brought me to this island for a reason, and it's not blow up sitting here with you right now.
RICHARD: That's a pretty big risk you're taking Jack.
JACK: Yes.
RICHARD: What if you're wrong?
JACK: I'm not.

Before this dynamite goes off I have to ask you....are you really wearing eyeliner?

And of course Jack was right and the fuse burned out. Jack’s journey is an amazing one. For four and a half seasons Jack fought Locke and his beliefs with every fiber of his being. Let’s go back to Season 1:

LOCKE: Do you really think all this is an accident -- that we, a group of strangers survived, many of us with just superficial injuries? Do you think we crashed on this place by coincidence -- especially, this place? We were brought here for a purpose, for a reason, all of us. Each one of us was brought here for a reason.
JACK: Brought here? And who brought us here, John?
LOCKE: The Island. The Island brought us here. This is no ordinary place, you've seen that, I know you have. But the Island chose you, too, Jack. It's destiny.
JACK: I don't believe in destiny.
LOCKE: Yes, you do. You just don't know it yet.

Locke was right. Jack is now a full-blown “Man of Faith”. He has stopped trying to control his destiny. Instead he is ready to embrace it. How can Jack NOT be Jacob’s replacement? It is gonna happen. Take it to the bank.

Jack, Hurley and Richard return to the beach (“where we started”). As they emerge from the jungle we are treated to a throw-back musical interlude reunion. When I saw it I thought that this directly mirrored another scene. As I went back to search for it, it actually is similar to two scenes. One is in Season 2, “Collision” when the tail section survivors, along with Michael, Sawyer and Jin arrive at the beach camp. The other is in Season 3 “One of Us” when Jack, Kate and Juliet return to camp. The scene in “Dr. Linus” echoes elements both of these other episodes. I love these scenes. Michael Giacchino’s (who won a well-deserved Oscar for “Up”) moving score in these sequences, pull at the emotion that the show can bring out, as I mentioned in the top of this write-up.

As we see a wide shot of this reunion (note that Ben and Richard are on the outside looking in....apart from the rest) we get a view from a periscope. Someone is coming to the island....Charles Widmore. He has found his way back. Or did someone bring him here? Jacob? The Man-in-Black? Things are really getting interesting.

Got you in my sights!

Interspersed with all the other awesomeness, are some other interesting exchanges that aren’t directly related to the three main stories I discussed above. First, lets look at the discussion that occurs when Frank tells Ben he was supposed to be the pilot of Oceanic 815, but overslept:

FRANK: Can you believe it? Imagine how different my life would be had that alarm gone off.
BEN: How different would it have been? The island still got you in the end. Didn't it?

While Frank does not appear to be a candidate, Ben is right. The island seems to want Frank there (it brought him to it twice). So far, Frank has just been along for the ride, but this exchange seems to imply that Frank still has an important role to play.

How about this exchange between Sun and Ilana:

SUN: I need to find my husband.
ILANA: Trust me, if anyone wants to find him, it's me. But I don't know where to look.

(what Ilana really meant to say is “OK!!! I got it. You’ve been saying you need to find your husband for 15 friggin’ episodes. Shut up about it already or you’ll be digging a grave next to Linus!”)

SUN: Why do you want to find Jin?
ILANA: Because your last name is Kwon. So is his. And I don't know whether I'm supposed to protect you, him, or both of you.
SUN: Protect us? What are you talking about?
ILANA: You're candidates. To replace Jacob.
SUN: Replace him? To do what?
ILANA: If you're the one selected, I imagine you'll find out.

(great line....some really good ones from Ilana this week)

SUN: Wait... you said candidates. How many are there?
ILANA: Six. There are only six left.

So, here’s what I am wondering: Were all the names on the cave wall (and maybe lighthouse) ALWAYS there? Did Jacob develop the full list before he even met everyone? I kinda like this idea that he started with hundreds of names and now all but six have been eliminated. Just something to think about.

And how about good old Hurley, asking the questions the audience wants to know:

HURLEY: So... you're not time-travelling?
RICHARD: No.
HURLEY: But... you look the same as you did thirty years ago. How's that possible?
RICHARD: It's not easy to explain.
HURLEY: Is this, like, a Terminator thing? Are you a cyborg?
RICHARD: No, I'm not a cyborg.
HURLEY: Vampire?
RICHARD: Jacob gave me a gift.

So this was kind of a fun way to put to bed the many internet theories about Richard. Gotta love when Hurley goes meta. Clearly the answers about Richard are coming. He even says it himself:

JACK: Where did you come from?
RICHARD: You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
JACK: Try me.
RICHARD: Not yet.

The “where” Jack is talking about is in minutes before he asks the question. The “where” Richard is responding to is his history.

Here are a few misc items:

- Best line of the week:
HURLEY: Do not open that, there's dynamite in there, it's mega unstable
RICHARD: I know
HURLEY: So did Dr Arzt. And I was wiping him out of my shirt two days later.
- The principal’s name is Donald Lawrence Reynolds. Reynolds was a crossed out name on the wall in the cave.
- Hurley dreams about cheese curds.
- On the cover of the “Booty Babes” magazine, that Ben finds in Sawyer’s old stash, the words “Rear View Mirrors” are shown. Recall the mirror theme of Season 6.
- Flocke is setting up camp at Hydra island. Will be nice to visit it once more.
- Did you notice Miles had one of Nikki and Paulo’s diamonds in the closing montage.

I think that does it for this week.....It’s taken me so long to write this one that I was beginning to worry, I’d miss the next episode. Anyway, thank you Ben for another tremendous episode!

Lost Season 6 Analysis and Commentary (Episodes 6 – Sundown)

This week I feel compelled to break this discussion up into the portion before sundown (the first 50 minutes) and after the sundown (the last 10 minutes). I was pretty disappointed in the pre-sundown part and absolutely loved the post-sundown part.

It took me a while to figure out why I didn’t like the pre-sundown portion. When reviewing the episode a second time, I started to notice that things were lacking, like: humor, meaningful dialogue, symbolism, etc. Essentially, the episode just served to move the plot forward with a lot of exposition. That isn’t necessarily bad, but it falls short of what I’ve come to expect from LOST. After realizing this, I asked myself, “Who wrote this?”

For those not familiar with the LOST creative process, essentially, the entire writing team maps out the season story and assigns plot points to each episode. Then a pair of writers is identified to work on a specific episode. Usually, each episode has at least one of the senior writers assigned to it. This week the writing team was Paul Zbyszewski and Graham Roland. Zbyszewski has only written 3 episodes (all last season) prior to this one. Roland has never written an episode before and....well....the lack of experience showed. Last week’s episode was written by Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse (the 2 major architects of the series). The difference was striking. Last week, nearly every line was important, providing connections between the two timelines, furthering the mythology, adding depth to characters, referencing literature or inserting comic relief. There was precious little of that this week. Some really good directing this week salvaged a very pedestrian script.

Anyway, enough of the behind the scenes commentary, lets get to the episode. Starting in the sideways universe, we got to see a Sayid who has sacrificed his own happiness for the good of the love of his life, Nadia and his brother, Omer. To make a long story short, Omer gets into trouble with loan sharks and needs Sayid to bail him out. Remember that when Sayid was a boy, he killed a chicken that his father asked Omer to kill. This flash-sideways showed Sayid reluctantly becoming his brothers protector again and consequently killing the loan sharks. Sayid has always had the ability to kill in him and it appears to be present in his sideways persona as well.

Did you bring me a boomerang too Sayid?

One of the ways I was most let down was with the use of Martin Keamy as the loan shark. Keamy, you will recall, was the mercenary from the freighter who shot Ben’s “daughter” Alex in cold blood. He was a badass to the nth degree. When I saw Kevin Durand (the actor who portrays Keamy) listed as a guest star this week, I was excited that maybe he was somehow going to be recruiting Sayid to do some work related to the island. Instead he was on screen for all of 2 very insignificant minutes before being gunned down by Sayid. Again, it wasn’t that the scene was bad, but it seemed like a missed opportunity.

I can still make you some eggs.

OK....let’s get to the island. So, Sayid bursts into Dogan’s chamber and demands to know what they were doing when they were testing him. Dogan responds, “For every man there is a scale. On one side of the scale there is good. On the other side, evil. This machine tells us how the scale is balanced. And yours tipped the wrong way.” (some of that stellar writing I was referring to) A little more banter and Sayid and Dogan get into one of the best fights ever in the series. It was nice to see Sayid have a real challenge (his fights usually don’t last very long) and eventually get taken down. Dogan doesn’t kill Sayid (I don’t think he can.....Sayid is a candidate) and lets Sayid go after his baseball drops to the ground. Later in the episode we learn Dogan’s backstory about how he was responsible for his son’s death on the way home from baseball practice. More on this later.

Shortly thereafter, Claire shows up on orders of Flocke to lure Dogan out of the Temple. Dogan has Claire thrown in “The Hole” and then sends Sayid out to “kill” Flocke. It seems to me that Flocke is one step ahead of Dogan and getting Sayid sent out to him was his plan all along. Sayid stabs Flocke and, of course, Flocke isn’t phased in the least (“Why’d you go and do that”). He pulls out the knife and explains to Sayid that he was duped by Dogan, whose goal was to have someone kill him.

Then Flocke makes his proposal to Sayid:

FLOCKE: I just want you to deliver a message, that's all.
SAYID: Then why didn't you just have Claire deliver it?
FLOCKE: Because it would mean a lot more coming from you. Sayid, if you'll do this for me... what if I told you that you could have anything you wanted. What if I said you can have anything in the entire world?
SAYID: I would tell you that the only thing I ever wanted, died in my arms, and I'll never see it again.
FLOCKE: What if you could?

So the deal proposed to Sayid is essentially Nadia (I am assuming it isn’t Shannon) for his soul. From Sayid’s perspective, what does he have to lose? I think Sayid believes the misery he has experienced in his life (and in the next life) are what he deserves for the choices he has made. (It reminds me of one of the messages on the video in Room 23 at the Hydra Station: “We are the causes of our own suffering”). The prospect of getting the love of his life back is too tempting. There is a clear parallel here to the Anakin Skywalker fall to The Dark Side. The Emperor offered Anakin a chance to save the one he loves. Similarly, the Man-in-Black offers Sayid a chance to bring back the one person that ever really mattered to him.

As student body president....

Sayid does indeed go to the Temple and offers The Others a choice. Leave the Temple and join the Man-in-Black or stay and die...you have until sundown. For most the choice is simple....let’s blow this popsicle stand! A few remain and wait for the sun to set. This split of the Others is similar to the split of the Losties in Season 4, when some of them followed Jack to the beach, and others followed Locke to the barracks.

OK.....now let’s get into the good stuff.

Sayid finds Dogan and the two have a poolside chat. Dogan relays the story of his son’s death and the offer he was given by Jacob (I’ll save your son if you become my Temple Master). The more we learn about Jacob, the less I believe him to be benevolent. In fact, I’m having a hard time distinguishing between the methods of Jacob and the Man-in-Black. While Jacob doesn’t appear to kill at will, he sure seems indifferent to the lives of those who are affected by him. There are some very strong theories out there that LOST is nothing but a game between Jacob and MIB. Each of them seem to maneuver the Losties in whatever way seems to position them best for victory. Do the Losties really have the ability to control their own destines or are they just pawns on the chess board positioned and sacrificed for whatever suits the game players’ strategies?

For a moment it appeared that Sayid and Dogan understood each other and were about to become allies:

DOGAN: It is sundown. Do you choose to stay or go?
SAYID: I’d like to stay.

Then Sayid grabs Dogan and drowns him in the very water that brought Sayid back to life (oh the irony!). The barefoot John Lennon impersonator runs in and can’t believe what Sayid has done and says: “You realize what you just did? He was the only thing keeping it out! Idiot! You just let it in?” No one calls Sayid an idiot without getting his throat slashed! But let’s pause here for a moment. What was Lennon talking about here? Why does killing Dogan let the Smoke Monster in? Clearly, the ash alone isn’t the protective barrier against Smokey. The power of the ash must be tied to the person who seals the ash. This is kind of like the magic circles I mentioned a few entries back. The circle itself only has power if the magician seals it with a spell. I am guessing there is something similar going on here. Once Dogan is dead, the protective ash no longer works.

So Smokey comes in and massacres nearly everyone at the Temple in one of the greatest action sequences in the series. Again, I am reminded of the Star Wars saga and Darth Vader’s slaughter of everyone at the Jedi Temple. It is also not hard to think of the Creeping Death that killed all without a marked door in The Ten Commandments (I hear that was based on a book). In the midst of the chaos, in barges Ilana, Lapidus, Sun and Ben to save Miles butt (she was really looking for Shephard, Reyes, Ford and Jarrah.....the candidates).

Ben breaks off to find Sayid.....and locates him at the spring. Sayid is sitting there just looking at the blood dripping from his knife.

BEN: Sayid....come on. I know a way out of here. There’s still time.
SAYID: Not for me.

A chilling response. And just like that, we know that Sayid has completed his journey to The Dark Side. He made his choice and is going to embrace it. Sayid is dead. The Sayid who fixed tranceivers, dynamited tents, and helped Desmond find his Constant is gone. All that remains is the killer and the torturer. Sayid believed himself to be damned. Believe something long enough and eventually it becomes true. Sayid has taken the same descent as Anakin did to become Vader. The only question that remains is if he can find redemption as Anakin did.

Too creepy for a funny comment.

Team Ilana made it out of the Temple, but Kate, who chose to go back for Claire, was left behind. Kate’s fate is left up in the air at the end of this episode. As she is leaving the Temple, she picks up a rifle and follows Sayid and Claire to join Flocke and his new followers. Are we to believe Kate is “infected” or “claimed” by the Man-in-Black? I’m not so sure. I think she is doing what she has always done....survive. Also, note Flocke’s expression as he see’s Kate exit the Temple. My interpretation is that he views the “acquisition” of Kate as an unexpected bonus to what was a pretty good day for him in the game.

A successful recruiting trip.

This final scene also reinforced my feelings that this season is strongly influenced by Stephen King’s “The Stand”. The MIB is gathering his followers, just like Randall Flagg did in the novel. He is preying upon their weakness and fears as a recruiting tool and his army is growing. However, dead-or-not, Jacob is still in the game...but the strategy he employs is slightly different. He is much more subtle (as we saw with Jack last week)....but perhaps no less ruthless.

So, so start....fantastic conclusion.

Here are a few misc items:

- Best line of the week: Not awarded this week....the best lines of this week wouldn’t even be under consideration in other weeks.
- Did you notice Jack pass Sayid and Nadia at the hospital?
- What was Jin doing in the meat locker? Wonder how long ‘til we find out?
- I thought it was pretty cool how Flocke appeared in the jungle after the Smoke Monster sounds surrounded Sayid.
- Flocke asks Sayid to “deliver a message”. Mr. Paik once asked Jin to “deliver a message”....which meant kill someone. Looks like it means the same thing to Flocke.
- I liked Kate pushing Lennon against the wall when he tried to stop her from finding Claire. We need to see more of this Kate.
- Note that Dogan and Sayid give into temptation for the sake of a loved one, much like Michael did for Walt.

That’s all for this week. I’m looking for next week’s Ben-centric episode to be as good as his episodes always are.