Finally some good news. ABC will premiere the fourth season of LOST on January 31, 2008 at 9:00 p.m., and will run the eight currently completed episodes.
The bad news is that the strike still has not been resolved so the status of the final eight episodes of season four is up in the air.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Saturday, June 30, 2007
My Take Retro Review - LOST 3.2 - Further Instructions
Here are some notes I wrote last fall concerning the second episode of the third season, "Further Instructions".
First, some notes on Locke's "vision-quest".
I think it was very appropriate that Boone was Locke's spirit guide in the quest. Locke believed (and I do as well) that it was his fault that Boone died... Boone got caught up in Locke's belief in the mysticism of the island and paid the price for it. Boone begins the vision by telling Locke not to focus on him because... "I was a sacrifice the island demand." He was Locke's first "mess" on the island. Locke wasn't able to "clean up" that mess, so the island is demanding that he clean up a new mess that he's made.
Boone warns Locke that "Someone is in serious danger." And, like the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future in "A Christmas Carol", he leads Locke on a quick journey to discover who that might be.
I believe that every image in the vision was deliberate. They are either meant to reflect the current situation of each character, or perhaps shed some light on what may happen to that character in the future.
The first thing to note is that Locke's legs are paralyzed again. I think this is meant to remind Locke of what he was like before he reached the island and remind him of the gift that the island had given him, perhaps to guilt him into making sure he will do what the island needs to have done.
It's not Claire, Charlie and Baby Aaron who are in danger. They are a picture of a perfect family. I think that Charlie and Claire will draw closer together, and even after Charlie's betrayal of Claire's confidence, she will begin to rely on him even more for emotional support. But then Boone declares that Charlie and Claire are OK, "for a while." It's not hard to forget that something bad always seems to happen to the children on this island. (Note from June 2007: That "for a while" ended, of course, in the final episode of the season... or did it??)
Sun, Jin and Sayid are pictured together, Sun and Jin arguing while Sayid hovers near them. Their brief moment seems to mirror their current situation... Sun and Jin having just gone through the emotional upheaval caused Sun's deception at the Pala Ferry, and then the moments of Jin's panic when he believes Sun may have been shot. But it's not them in danger, as Boone declares "I think Sayid's got it." Sayid will watch over them and make sure they get safely back to the beach. Perhaps Sayid will even make sure to protect them from retribution from the "Others" for Sun having shot Colleen.
Hurley, always the funniest, is the airline counter rep. He seems to be working hard to keep everyone happy. I've always felt that his easy going personality, his ability to be unfazed by any situation helps to keep the spirits of the whole gang up. You may have noticed that he was typing in the "numbers" on his terminal and in the background you can hear the sound of the hatch "clock" numbers turning over and over.
Desmond is seen as a Captain, making his way through the terminal three flight attendants. I felt this indicated that in some way Desmond will become a very important person to the group, someone "in charge". Why the three flight attendants? We've seen that he's been utterly devoted to Penny... It makes me wonder if his devotion will be tested by someone new in his life from the island? It would be ironic if Penny found them just as Desmond has moved on.
Kate and Saywer are seen traveling together. I think that means that Saywer will be Kate's choice. (Note from June 2007: And perhaps she'll be with him in the future as well?)
Ben is seen as the TSA officer. He's wanding Jack. He's in control of Jack, in control of Jack's destiny.
Ultimately, he leads the paralyzed Locke to the person who really needs him... the second mess he needs to clean up... Eko. It was Locke's fault that Eko was in danger from the hatch implosion. And the island needs Eko... remember that Eko is one of the "good" people. "They've got him... you don't have much time," Boone tells Locke. The last image we see as Locke bursts out of the sweat lodge is of a growling bear (more on the bear in a moment). So Locke now knows he has to save Eko. (Note from June 2007: But not for long... oh well...)
The island presents a few more motivations in this vision... We know that Locke had lost his way at the end of the last season. He'd thought he'd been duped into believing in the island and its powers, and his own new purpose in life, so he gave up. But as Boone says in the vision "Find your way again so you can bring the family back together." The island wants him to believe again, to return to his faith in what the island means, and ultimately it needs him to reunite the survivors by finding Kate, Jack and Sawyer.
On to that bear. The bear that the survivors killed at the beginning of the first season lead to a lot of intriguing questions. I think we've been given an answer to the question of the bear's existence on the island... the Dharma people were experimenting on them. We have seen the bear cage at the Hydra station. I'm not surprised that there is a second bear. I would think the Dharma group had both a male and female. They both escaped captivity... one was shot and the other survived and is living in the cave that Locke and Charlie found.
We have more evidence of children on the island... there's a child's truck in the cave. There's also a torn shirt that has a piece of the Pearl Station logo on it in the bear's cave. Lunch? ;-)
I don't have much to comment about on Locke's backstory this episode, however I do think it helps to deepen the ideas that have been presented before about Locke's personality. Locke has been a victim of those around him for a long time.. his deceitful father... his conniving mother... his nasty co-workers. The only person he trusted that didn't betray him, Helen, still left him because of his unwaivering faith in those that have taken advantage of him. He's a "lost soul"... and I think he ultimately hit rock bottom, and was looking for anything to believe in... which led him to join up with his marijuana growing "family". They offered him what seemed to be love and support, and a chance to have somewhere to belong. Again it's ironic, because once they perceived that he betrayed them, they abandoned him like everyone else. That's why Locke is so vulnerable to being "needed" by the island.
I'm still not quite sure what to make of Desmond's clarvoyance. I do think it's interesting that at the end of the episode, he's seen leisurely throwing rocks into the surf as if he didn't have a care in the world. Perhaps he's seen a vision of the future and knows that they're going to be OK, or perhaps he's seen that they won't survive no matter what they do so he gives up and gives in.
Just a quick final note... at the end of the episode we met two new characters that may become more important... the man and woman that are asking questions to Hurley and Locke about those that haven't returned. I don't know their names yet... we didn't see enough of them. (Note from June 2007: Well, they weren't so important after all, but they sure gave us a slam dunk episode later in the season.)
First, some notes on Locke's "vision-quest".
I think it was very appropriate that Boone was Locke's spirit guide in the quest. Locke believed (and I do as well) that it was his fault that Boone died... Boone got caught up in Locke's belief in the mysticism of the island and paid the price for it. Boone begins the vision by telling Locke not to focus on him because... "I was a sacrifice the island demand." He was Locke's first "mess" on the island. Locke wasn't able to "clean up" that mess, so the island is demanding that he clean up a new mess that he's made.
Boone warns Locke that "Someone is in serious danger." And, like the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future in "A Christmas Carol", he leads Locke on a quick journey to discover who that might be.
I believe that every image in the vision was deliberate. They are either meant to reflect the current situation of each character, or perhaps shed some light on what may happen to that character in the future.
The first thing to note is that Locke's legs are paralyzed again. I think this is meant to remind Locke of what he was like before he reached the island and remind him of the gift that the island had given him, perhaps to guilt him into making sure he will do what the island needs to have done.
It's not Claire, Charlie and Baby Aaron who are in danger. They are a picture of a perfect family. I think that Charlie and Claire will draw closer together, and even after Charlie's betrayal of Claire's confidence, she will begin to rely on him even more for emotional support. But then Boone declares that Charlie and Claire are OK, "for a while." It's not hard to forget that something bad always seems to happen to the children on this island. (Note from June 2007: That "for a while" ended, of course, in the final episode of the season... or did it??)
Sun, Jin and Sayid are pictured together, Sun and Jin arguing while Sayid hovers near them. Their brief moment seems to mirror their current situation... Sun and Jin having just gone through the emotional upheaval caused Sun's deception at the Pala Ferry, and then the moments of Jin's panic when he believes Sun may have been shot. But it's not them in danger, as Boone declares "I think Sayid's got it." Sayid will watch over them and make sure they get safely back to the beach. Perhaps Sayid will even make sure to protect them from retribution from the "Others" for Sun having shot Colleen.
Hurley, always the funniest, is the airline counter rep. He seems to be working hard to keep everyone happy. I've always felt that his easy going personality, his ability to be unfazed by any situation helps to keep the spirits of the whole gang up. You may have noticed that he was typing in the "numbers" on his terminal and in the background you can hear the sound of the hatch "clock" numbers turning over and over.
Desmond is seen as a Captain, making his way through the terminal three flight attendants. I felt this indicated that in some way Desmond will become a very important person to the group, someone "in charge". Why the three flight attendants? We've seen that he's been utterly devoted to Penny... It makes me wonder if his devotion will be tested by someone new in his life from the island? It would be ironic if Penny found them just as Desmond has moved on.
Kate and Saywer are seen traveling together. I think that means that Saywer will be Kate's choice. (Note from June 2007: And perhaps she'll be with him in the future as well?)
Ben is seen as the TSA officer. He's wanding Jack. He's in control of Jack, in control of Jack's destiny.
Ultimately, he leads the paralyzed Locke to the person who really needs him... the second mess he needs to clean up... Eko. It was Locke's fault that Eko was in danger from the hatch implosion. And the island needs Eko... remember that Eko is one of the "good" people. "They've got him... you don't have much time," Boone tells Locke. The last image we see as Locke bursts out of the sweat lodge is of a growling bear (more on the bear in a moment). So Locke now knows he has to save Eko. (Note from June 2007: But not for long... oh well...)
The island presents a few more motivations in this vision... We know that Locke had lost his way at the end of the last season. He'd thought he'd been duped into believing in the island and its powers, and his own new purpose in life, so he gave up. But as Boone says in the vision "Find your way again so you can bring the family back together." The island wants him to believe again, to return to his faith in what the island means, and ultimately it needs him to reunite the survivors by finding Kate, Jack and Sawyer.
On to that bear. The bear that the survivors killed at the beginning of the first season lead to a lot of intriguing questions. I think we've been given an answer to the question of the bear's existence on the island... the Dharma people were experimenting on them. We have seen the bear cage at the Hydra station. I'm not surprised that there is a second bear. I would think the Dharma group had both a male and female. They both escaped captivity... one was shot and the other survived and is living in the cave that Locke and Charlie found.
We have more evidence of children on the island... there's a child's truck in the cave. There's also a torn shirt that has a piece of the Pearl Station logo on it in the bear's cave. Lunch? ;-)
I don't have much to comment about on Locke's backstory this episode, however I do think it helps to deepen the ideas that have been presented before about Locke's personality. Locke has been a victim of those around him for a long time.. his deceitful father... his conniving mother... his nasty co-workers. The only person he trusted that didn't betray him, Helen, still left him because of his unwaivering faith in those that have taken advantage of him. He's a "lost soul"... and I think he ultimately hit rock bottom, and was looking for anything to believe in... which led him to join up with his marijuana growing "family". They offered him what seemed to be love and support, and a chance to have somewhere to belong. Again it's ironic, because once they perceived that he betrayed them, they abandoned him like everyone else. That's why Locke is so vulnerable to being "needed" by the island.
I'm still not quite sure what to make of Desmond's clarvoyance. I do think it's interesting that at the end of the episode, he's seen leisurely throwing rocks into the surf as if he didn't have a care in the world. Perhaps he's seen a vision of the future and knows that they're going to be OK, or perhaps he's seen that they won't survive no matter what they do so he gives up and gives in.
Just a quick final note... at the end of the episode we met two new characters that may become more important... the man and woman that are asking questions to Hurley and Locke about those that haven't returned. I don't know their names yet... we didn't see enough of them. (Note from June 2007: Well, they weren't so important after all, but they sure gave us a slam dunk episode later in the season.)
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Update
For those of you that have been checking for my update, I'm sorry for the delay. I haven't yet been able to get to it yet. Hopefully soon!
Thanks for checking!
Thanks for checking!
Sunday, May 20, 2007
My Take - LOST 5/16 - Greatest Hits
After last week's "heavy" episode, this week's Charlie-centric outing seemed like mythology lite... but I still enjoyed it for many reasons not the least of which was that it set up this week's finale perfectly.
"Greatest Hits", a sentimental sendoff for Charlie (when hasn't LOST shipped off a character without a flashback episode), had me almost missing him already. I'll have to admit, I haven't really liked Charlie a lot these last two seasons. It seemed to me that he was always being whiny or obnoxious. But this episode hit all the right notes for me and was emotionally satisfying. If I had any doubt that Charlie would be the next character "lost", it was gone after this episode... how much more would there be to tell about Charlie's life?
I really liked the structure of the flashbacks... the producers/writers used a different approach with Charlie's scenes this week... instead of presenting one event in his life, the episode flashes back to Charlie's "five best moments in my sorry life", "my greatest hits".
Hit #5 - hearing "You All Everybody" on the radio for the first time... just when things looked really bleak for Charlie.
Hit #4 - learning how to swim from his father. When trying to convince Jack that he should be the one to swim out to the Looking Glass station, Charlie brags that he is a champion swimmer. At first I thought there was a continuity error here... way back in season 1, Charlie said that he could not swim. I think that perhaps he was lying in this episode just to make sure that he would be allowed to attempt the mission. After all, he desperately wants Claire and Aaron to be saved, so he would do anything to make sure Desmond's premonition came true (more about Desmond's premonition in a minute). Perhaps Charlie learned to swim just well enough that he thought he could accomplish the mission, when his personal stakes were higher than they were before. The line in the episode that I feel clues me in that Charlie was probably lying here... Desmond asks Charlie, "So, how long can you REALLY hold your breath for?" as if Desmond also has a suspicion that Charlie has lied. Charlie, tellingly, does not answer.
Hit #3 - receiving the DS ring from Liam at Christmas. I always thought that the DS on the ring stood for "Drive Shaft", but here we learn that the ring was a family heirloom, and stood for Dexter Stratton (a relative?). It's interesting that Liam tells Charlie that he should have the ring because he is the more responsible one... that he will probably be the one to have a wife and child, something which Liam accomplished before Charlie.
Hit # 2 - Charlie is called a hero, and the woman that he saves is Sayid's Nadia! (Boy, she really gets around. We've seen her in the United States is one of Locke's flashbacks.) I think that the beginning of this flashback, where Charlie is street performing, is actually just before Charlie intersects with the time traveling Desmond... he's singing the same song, it starts to rain at the same time... could be! Also, it looked to me like one of the women watching Charlie was Naomi, but I'm not certain. It could have been an extra that looked a lot like Naomi.
Hit #1 - the night on the beach that Charlie introduced himself to Claire.
Some other great Charlie moments from the show:
Charlie saying goodbye to Aaron, lovingly calling him "turnip head", while Aaron's hands reach out to touch Charlie's face; leaving his ring in Aaron's crib; Hurley, hurt because Charlie is leaving him behind, Charlie reaching out to give Hurley a hug in response... "I love you man..." (I love that Hurley becomes a surrogate "Charlie" when he goes to lead Claire and Aaron on the trek to the radio tower); Charlie NOT saying goodbye to Claire and their first kiss (as far as I can remember).
As promised, some notes about Desmond... whever Desmond has had a premonition in the past, we've been shown the "clips"... it was very strange this time that we did not get to see the "clips". It also seemed to take Desmond a long time before he was willing to share the events he saw with Charlie. Yes, it would make sense that he was just having a hard time deciding when to tell Charlie that this time he HAD to die... but I'm wondering if it took so long because he didn't like what he saw happen in the premonition and he wanted to change it... so it took him a while to decide on a story to tell Charlie, what he would have to say to get the result he wanted. I think his story of Claire and Aaron being wisked away on a helicopter didn't ring true... but it was just the thing that would motivate Charlie to give himself up.
I'm also wondering why Desmond so quickly volunteered to go along with Charlie... perhaps to make sure that Charlie did what needed to be done?
Even though Charlie didn't die in this episode, I still think that he's on his way there... I just keep thinking that one of the reasons the producers/writers came up with Desmond's premonitions concerning Charlie was to give the audience time to get used to the idea of Charlie dying. He's a popular character, and a popular actor... I think that his presence will be missed by more fans than any of the others that have died... so the staff came up with a way to put that in everyone's mind. Of course, they could totally surprise me and NOT do it now... maybe it will be Desmond that will die!
Of course, there were other events taking place... we got confirmation that Rousseau was getting the dynamite from the Black Rock (as we saw two weeks ago) to assist Jack with his plan. I'm curious why Rousseau is so eager to help our survivors now. She had a chance to help them back at the Flame Station, but walked away saying that it was not her fight. Perhaps she wants to get back at the Others for stealing her Alex...
...Rose and Bernard (so happy to see them back) had a few wonderful scenes together, and also with Jack when Rose sarcastically acuses Jack of finally becoming an optimist...
...Sun's heartbreak because she cannot tell Jin the whole truth about her pregnancy...
...Sayid, ever the wise man, makes Jack realize that the only reason he wanted to stay and lead the plan to blow up the others was for revenge... makes Jack face his future as their leader...
...Naomi, tries to ingratiate herself with the 815ers (her discussion with Charlie about Manchester) while trying to get more information about what is going on. I don't trust her... she's not telling the real story...
I don't understand this idea that Ben is jamming any signals off the island except the Others'. It seems to me that they are all convinced, Others included, that the electromagnetic event that occurred when Desmond turned the key is what is causing the loss of communication with the mainland. Is it just another big lie that Ben is perpetuating? If so, I don't know how... he sure is one powerful man.
Speaking of Ben, things sure seem to be falling apart for him. When he arrives back at the Other's camp, he's angry (because things didn't go so well with Locke) and he moves up the timetable for executing the plan to abduct the pregnant women. Richard disagrees with the change... Ben's leadership is being challenged again. During this scene, Alex is preparing a rabbit for eating (when she goes to meet Karl, he asks if she was bringing rabbit for him). Thought it was strange... is there a clue in the rabbits? And what was up with Alex's cryptic "IS he my father" question to Karl? She said it as if Karl would know for certain, and Karl's reaction seemed as if he was saying "you know I can't tell you"...
Speaking of rabbits... we got to see the cool Looking Glass Dharma station. The Dharma symbol for the station just happened to be a Rabbit (did you see the ant crawling over the plans)! Do we need any more "Alice In Wonderland" allusions? I loved the moon pool set and will be curious to see what happens to Charlie and the two gun toting women he finds there. Perhaps they are Dharma women that survived the Purge?
Well, I'm psyched for the finale, but don't know when I'll be able to post my thoughts. Just keep watching this space for an update when I can!
Later!
"Greatest Hits", a sentimental sendoff for Charlie (when hasn't LOST shipped off a character without a flashback episode), had me almost missing him already. I'll have to admit, I haven't really liked Charlie a lot these last two seasons. It seemed to me that he was always being whiny or obnoxious. But this episode hit all the right notes for me and was emotionally satisfying. If I had any doubt that Charlie would be the next character "lost", it was gone after this episode... how much more would there be to tell about Charlie's life?
I really liked the structure of the flashbacks... the producers/writers used a different approach with Charlie's scenes this week... instead of presenting one event in his life, the episode flashes back to Charlie's "five best moments in my sorry life", "my greatest hits".
Hit #5 - hearing "You All Everybody" on the radio for the first time... just when things looked really bleak for Charlie.
Hit #4 - learning how to swim from his father. When trying to convince Jack that he should be the one to swim out to the Looking Glass station, Charlie brags that he is a champion swimmer. At first I thought there was a continuity error here... way back in season 1, Charlie said that he could not swim. I think that perhaps he was lying in this episode just to make sure that he would be allowed to attempt the mission. After all, he desperately wants Claire and Aaron to be saved, so he would do anything to make sure Desmond's premonition came true (more about Desmond's premonition in a minute). Perhaps Charlie learned to swim just well enough that he thought he could accomplish the mission, when his personal stakes were higher than they were before. The line in the episode that I feel clues me in that Charlie was probably lying here... Desmond asks Charlie, "So, how long can you REALLY hold your breath for?" as if Desmond also has a suspicion that Charlie has lied. Charlie, tellingly, does not answer.
Hit #3 - receiving the DS ring from Liam at Christmas. I always thought that the DS on the ring stood for "Drive Shaft", but here we learn that the ring was a family heirloom, and stood for Dexter Stratton (a relative?). It's interesting that Liam tells Charlie that he should have the ring because he is the more responsible one... that he will probably be the one to have a wife and child, something which Liam accomplished before Charlie.
Hit # 2 - Charlie is called a hero, and the woman that he saves is Sayid's Nadia! (Boy, she really gets around. We've seen her in the United States is one of Locke's flashbacks.) I think that the beginning of this flashback, where Charlie is street performing, is actually just before Charlie intersects with the time traveling Desmond... he's singing the same song, it starts to rain at the same time... could be! Also, it looked to me like one of the women watching Charlie was Naomi, but I'm not certain. It could have been an extra that looked a lot like Naomi.
Hit #1 - the night on the beach that Charlie introduced himself to Claire.
Some other great Charlie moments from the show:
Charlie saying goodbye to Aaron, lovingly calling him "turnip head", while Aaron's hands reach out to touch Charlie's face; leaving his ring in Aaron's crib; Hurley, hurt because Charlie is leaving him behind, Charlie reaching out to give Hurley a hug in response... "I love you man..." (I love that Hurley becomes a surrogate "Charlie" when he goes to lead Claire and Aaron on the trek to the radio tower); Charlie NOT saying goodbye to Claire and their first kiss (as far as I can remember).
As promised, some notes about Desmond... whever Desmond has had a premonition in the past, we've been shown the "clips"... it was very strange this time that we did not get to see the "clips". It also seemed to take Desmond a long time before he was willing to share the events he saw with Charlie. Yes, it would make sense that he was just having a hard time deciding when to tell Charlie that this time he HAD to die... but I'm wondering if it took so long because he didn't like what he saw happen in the premonition and he wanted to change it... so it took him a while to decide on a story to tell Charlie, what he would have to say to get the result he wanted. I think his story of Claire and Aaron being wisked away on a helicopter didn't ring true... but it was just the thing that would motivate Charlie to give himself up.
I'm also wondering why Desmond so quickly volunteered to go along with Charlie... perhaps to make sure that Charlie did what needed to be done?
Even though Charlie didn't die in this episode, I still think that he's on his way there... I just keep thinking that one of the reasons the producers/writers came up with Desmond's premonitions concerning Charlie was to give the audience time to get used to the idea of Charlie dying. He's a popular character, and a popular actor... I think that his presence will be missed by more fans than any of the others that have died... so the staff came up with a way to put that in everyone's mind. Of course, they could totally surprise me and NOT do it now... maybe it will be Desmond that will die!
Of course, there were other events taking place... we got confirmation that Rousseau was getting the dynamite from the Black Rock (as we saw two weeks ago) to assist Jack with his plan. I'm curious why Rousseau is so eager to help our survivors now. She had a chance to help them back at the Flame Station, but walked away saying that it was not her fight. Perhaps she wants to get back at the Others for stealing her Alex...
...Rose and Bernard (so happy to see them back) had a few wonderful scenes together, and also with Jack when Rose sarcastically acuses Jack of finally becoming an optimist...
...Sun's heartbreak because she cannot tell Jin the whole truth about her pregnancy...
...Sayid, ever the wise man, makes Jack realize that the only reason he wanted to stay and lead the plan to blow up the others was for revenge... makes Jack face his future as their leader...
...Naomi, tries to ingratiate herself with the 815ers (her discussion with Charlie about Manchester) while trying to get more information about what is going on. I don't trust her... she's not telling the real story...
I don't understand this idea that Ben is jamming any signals off the island except the Others'. It seems to me that they are all convinced, Others included, that the electromagnetic event that occurred when Desmond turned the key is what is causing the loss of communication with the mainland. Is it just another big lie that Ben is perpetuating? If so, I don't know how... he sure is one powerful man.
Speaking of Ben, things sure seem to be falling apart for him. When he arrives back at the Other's camp, he's angry (because things didn't go so well with Locke) and he moves up the timetable for executing the plan to abduct the pregnant women. Richard disagrees with the change... Ben's leadership is being challenged again. During this scene, Alex is preparing a rabbit for eating (when she goes to meet Karl, he asks if she was bringing rabbit for him). Thought it was strange... is there a clue in the rabbits? And what was up with Alex's cryptic "IS he my father" question to Karl? She said it as if Karl would know for certain, and Karl's reaction seemed as if he was saying "you know I can't tell you"...
Speaking of rabbits... we got to see the cool Looking Glass Dharma station. The Dharma symbol for the station just happened to be a Rabbit (did you see the ant crawling over the plans)! Do we need any more "Alice In Wonderland" allusions? I loved the moon pool set and will be curious to see what happens to Charlie and the two gun toting women he finds there. Perhaps they are Dharma women that survived the Purge?
Well, I'm psyched for the finale, but don't know when I'll be able to post my thoughts. Just keep watching this space for an update when I can!
Later!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
My Take - LOST 5/9 - The Man Behind The Curtain
Out of all the episodes since the show's return in February, this is the one that has had the most "WTF" moments. Some important information was presented about Ben, Dharma and the island, but as is usual for LOST, every answer created many more important questions.
First, at the beach... It really disappoints me that most of the beach characters (except for Kate and Sun) have turned on Jack so quickly. He's been their caretaker, guardian, and all around champion for 83 of their 90 days on the island... I would think that would buy him some benefit of the doubt. It would with me... but perhaps it's Jack's fault for not at least giving some hint as to what he's up to. Maybe he should have just said..."I've brought Juliet here because I believe she's good and can help us, and I'm working on a plan..." Why keep so secret? Maybe he's not sure that the plan will work, and he doesn't want to give them all false hope?
After they hear the news of Naomi's appearance, Jack and Juliet seem more hopeful that whatever they have planned will work. They've gone off somewhere (to enlist Rousseau in their plan, to find some dynamite, perhaps???). When they return Juliet vindicates herself to the beach dwellers by outing Ben's plan to capture Sun and any other pregnant women, and Jack finally admits that he does have a plan... I just hope they still believe in him enough to follow him.
The bulk of the episode, of course, gave us much information about Locke, Ben and the Dharma Initiative. There was so much that I can't comment on it in the order it was presented in the episode. I have to talk about things by topic. Please excuse my jumping around:
While I really expected much more explicit information about the Dharma project in this episode (it's beginnings, the specific purpose of all the projects, etc.) than we got, there were still some tantilizing tidbits of information.
Obviously the Dharma Initiative accepted families. They provided schools for the kids... perhaps they were hoping to train the next generation of Dharma workers.
If we can take Marvin Candle's word for it (why would we not... LOL!), the inhabitants are warned to stay inside their sonic guarded compound to protect them from the island's ferocious wildlife (was he lying and the fences protected them from the "hostiles", or perhaps -- as we've seen, they were actually designed to protect them from the smoke monster).
At the processing facility, all new Dharma initiates are given an innoculation (remember Desmond had to give himself injections while he was living in the hatch).. perhaps to give them some immunity from something on the island (the smoke monster??), and are encouraged to eat lots of Apollo Bars. Why? Do the bars have more of the serum in them for protection, immunization??
Candle says that the Dharma workers will be given a code each morning that will allow them to turn off the sonic barrier to get to their job sites... this is how young Ben gets outside the fence to search for his "mother" (more on this event later), and how Juliet was able to control the fence a few weeks ago.
We learn that the Dharma people are being attacked by "the hostiles", who (according to Annie) are the original inhabitants of this island. Who are they really? Why do they attack? (The Hostiles were previously mentioned by Kelvin in a conversation he had with Desmond while in the Swan hatch.)
In this episode we also learn a little bit more about the island and why it was chosen as a place for the Dharma Initiative:
As Marvin Candle says in his initiation film, the island "has properties that exist nowhere else on Earth". Notice that he said properties, plural. Like healing, like time shifting (LOL... more on that later)... Marvin says that the Dharma Initiative's mission here is to "study these properties for the betterment of mankind and the advancement of world peace."
The island has a dormant volcano.
We know that the island had, at one time, service by air... (Roger says that he's just come back from unloading a plane.)
Candle says that most of the workers will be stationed on the mainland (indicating that all the Dharma workers knew there was more than one island).
The island has caverns, and is gem producing.
Candle says something about most workers participating in geological studies.
I was watching the Dharma logos carefully during the episode. Horace Goodspeed (the man that recruited Ben's father Roger into the Dharma project) wears an Dharma Arrow logo... The Arrow stations are supposed to be supply stations. Roger is assigned as a workman (to supply, as we saw later in the episode when Ben is older), and Horace seems to be his leader, so I would think that Roger would have an Arrow logo. But Roger is wearing a Swan station logo... maybe he was specifically assigned to supply the Swan station? Everyone else in the living compound wears the generic Dharma logo. I didn't see any Hydra or Pearl logos in the episode.
This episode continues the LOST theme of characters with father issues... Jack, Kate, Hurley, Locke... and now Ben have all had them.
The episode opens with Ben's birth. Why the hell were Emily (Ben's mother, also the name of LOCKE's mother!) and Roger out hiking during the seventh month of her pregnancy? Seems very odd to me. It's interesting that the producers make you think at first that they are in the jungle of the island to help reinforce Ben's lie that he was born on the island, but it was a misdirection, that they are actually just 32 miles outside Portland, the location of Mittelos Bioscience (a subsidiary of Dharma, LOL). Horace Goodspeed (a Dharma employee) and his wife assist in rescuing baby Ben and Roger and obviously remain close to Roger and Ben for many years (Horace recruits Roger to work on the island).
Emily, as we saw, died giving birth to Ben... which Roger never lets Ben forget it. Perhaps this is why Ben is so fixated on the island's fertility problem He empathizes with these woman, and genuinely wants to help them. He wants to help these women give birth to redeem himself and his life.
Ben's childhood on the island was not a happy one... his dad became verbally abusive to him, distant... a drunk. Roger hates being trapped in this job and again blames Ben since he took the Dharma job to try to provide Ben with a better life. The one bright spot on the island for Ben was his friendship (and budding love) for Annie. I do not know the significance of the dolls that Annie gave Ben, other than that they seemed to be symbols of how much she cared for him, and how much he came to care for her since he kept hers throughout the rest of his life. Sometime before the "Purge" something must have happened to Annie... perhaps she died, or disappeared, since I don't believe that Ben would have allowed her to die in the purge. I'll bet this is another event that we haven't seen yet that helped to shape the psyche of Ben. A note about Annie's doll... when current day Ben is looking at the doll at the beginning of the episode, it is missing its left arm. The arm probably broke off during the years since Annie gave it to him, but I'm wondering if it's a hint that Annie somehow lost her left arm, as did Marvin Candle and Rousseau's Montand. Perhaps a ritual that some Dharma employees had to go through??
Young Ben apparently has a fixation with bunnies. We see him use one to test the sonic fence (and we later see him use one as part of the implant ruse with Sawyer). I think this is an indication of Ben's potential for evil, using the innocent for his own personal gain.
During his youth, I think that young Ben begins to develop a strong connection to the island. He begins to hear the island's "voices", and he has two visions of his mother. Up until now I thought that the "voices" were part of a Dharma experiment -- astral projections, or something like that -- but now I'm wondering if the voices might be coming from people caught in "temporal displacements". The displacements are beginning to impinge on this island's reality (see more notes below on Jacob). Young Ben's visions of his mother, on the other hand, may be more specific manifestations of the island, of the smoke monster. It's taken on the form of his mother because she is someone that Ben needs to confront, and issue that he needs to deal with, but "she" is not ready to judge him yet because he is "not ready". Why? Because he's still a child and is still developing... there's still time for him to change, to take alternate paths... one towards good, the other towards evil.
Young Ben also stumbles across Richard Alpert while searching for his mother in the jungle. Richard is not at all surprised to see young Ben and is very curious about him. I think that Richard is able to detect in Ben a developing a connection to the island. When Richard asks Ben why he is out and about in the jungle, Ben tells him that he is looking for his dead mother. Richard is very interested in this, and asks if he can see her. Ben says yes and I think this convinces Richard that Ben is special. Like Ben's mother, Richard also indicates that Ben's not ready yet to join "them", and he's sad about it, but he tells Ben to be patient and that someday he can join them. I don't know know what to make of this... what exactly is it that young Ben has to do?
A note about Richard... we are told that he is one of the original inhabitants of the island. Are they all immortal? Richard is an active participant in the present stories and he hasn't aged a day. There is a sly reference to Richard's immortality at the beginning of the episode... Ben is talking about his birthday. He wryly asks Richard "you DO remember birthdays, don't you?" as if the concept of marking the passing years to an immortal would be frivolous.
One of the big questions that remained unresolved for me from last week was why it was so important to Ben for Locke to kill his "father". (I'm not still convinced it was really his father, and we still don't know exactly how Locke's "father" got to the island. But I digress...) Well I think that question has been answered. It's going to take me a bit to get to my conclusion... so please hang on...
We learn in this episode that Ben's life eventually leads him down the path leadership of the "Others". Ben says (of the original inhabitants) "THESE are my people." He says that the Dharma people "came here seeking harmony but they couldn't even co-exist with island's inhabitants. One side had to go... ". He has obviously joined the Others who have decided that a "Purge" is necessary. While the others take care of the compound, Ben gasses his father alone, far away from the compound. He could have had someone else do it, or he could have made sure that his dad was in the compound while it was being gassed, but he did it himself. So, the day that Ben killed his father he became the leader of the Others. It was his rite of passage. It secured his position on the island. Why is it that Ben's birthday is so important to him? Because it's the day he became the leader of the Others. It's the day he was "born" on the island.
We know, however, that Ben is now in a precarious position with his people. Some of them (like Juliet and Richard) have expressed their displeasure with his leadership. We have also found out that Ben's followers have heard of Locke, and think he might also be "special"... perhaps a new leader. Ben knows that Locke has special abilities... a close link to the island (his presence has helped Ben heal from the surgery)... and he suddenly realizes that Locke is a threat to his leadership. He's got to come up with a way to diffuse the threat that Locke poses. So he asks Locke to kill his own father as a test, a test that reinacts what Ben had had to go through years ago. When Locke fails, Ben gloats. Ben has secured his own leadership and proven Locke a "fake".
That's why Ben is so shocked when Locke shows up with his dad's body. Now Ben is forced to deal with Locke and he's not prepared to do that (I don't think he even expected to have to). In trying to delay Locke, he makes the mistake of telling Locke about Jacob, underestimating how determined Locke is to get to the bottom of the island's secrets. Ben is quickly losing control everything... the recorder with the messages to and from Juliet has been stolen (by Locke), Naomi has appeared on the beach with promise of rescue (Ben didn't see THAT one coming at all -- Naomi must NOT be an "Other"), Locke forcing Ben's hand... he has to know the secrets, and now he's earned it by having his dad killed. Even though it was difficult to watch, the scene where Locke beats up Mikhail after he arrives with the news of Naomi, was intriguing in that no one came to Mikhail's aid... I think they all were astonished that Locke was forcing Ben's hand, and they were glad it happened. I think they are astonished and angry when Ben ultimately says he is taking Locke to see Jacob, someone they have never been allowed to see.
While they are preparing to visit Jacob, Ben tells Locke that he is one of only a few that are left from the original group of Others (Richard would be another). Most of rest of the group were people that were brought to the island by Ben.
Ben says that "Jacob only talks to me... Jacob only trusts me... Jacob tells me what to do". Who exactly is Jacob and how and why is he so strongly connected to Ben? Why is Jacob an angry man?
On the way out to Jacob's cabin, they come across what looks like a ring of ash, perhaps encircling the cabin. Could it be some kind of talisman, protecting Jacob or could it something spread to keep Jacob IN the cabin? Or, perhaps, it's a sign that smoke monster has visited this place!
Ben is very anxious about taking Locke into the cabin. I think it's because he knows that if Locke fails to see Jacob, Ben's won, but if Locke sees Jacob, it forces Ben to take more drastic steps to keep a claim on the leadership of the Others.
It's important to note that Ben takes a lantern from a hook next to the door, lights it and takes it with them into the cabin.
There is a strange portrait of a dog on a wall inside the cabin, along with several jars with red and yellow fluid inside of them. I do not know or have a guess as to their significance.
Ben talks with Jacob... "I told you he woudn't," meaning Locke... perhaps meaning "see you" (Jacob)?
Locke thinks Ben is crazy... confronts him...
Ben: "You can't see him?" - Ben is ecstatic; it appears that Locke can't see Jacob.
Ben to Locke: "I'm sorry you are too limited to see..." he gloats.
But suddenly Locke hears "HELP ME". Jacob has manifested himself to Locke. Locke tells Ben he thinks it is all a trick (even though he definitely has heard), but Ben has seen Locke's reaction... Ben knows something has happened.
Locke's continued denial that he's heard anything real forces "Jacob" to take more drastic action. "Jacob" smashes the jars, rocks the chair, knocks over the lantern, breaking it and starting a fire. Ben shakes the chair and says "That's enough, you've had your fun," which angers "Jacob"... "he" throws Ben against the wall and for one brief moment manifests physically to Locke.
Locke is stunned and he leaves the cabin.
A moment later, Ben walks out of the cabin, also stunned, but with a completely intact lantern... which he promptly hangs on a hook next to the door.
I think that it is definitely a clue as to the nature of Jacob. I feel confident (even if I don't know for sure exactly WHO Jacob is) that Jacob is a man trapped in some kind of temporal displacement. Jacob is angry because he is trapped. Ben has promised that he would help free Jacob if Jacob will give him information. Jacob feeds Ben information from the future, which has helped Ben keep control over the Others, but Ben hasn't helped him get out of his trap. Now he wants someone else to help him... Locke! The reconstructed lantern is a clue that time is fluid around Jacob and that perhaps things were set right after Locke left. Perhaps Ben does have some control over time.
The name of this episode was "The Man Behind The Curtain"... perhaps it was referring to Jacob, the man behind the temporal curtain!
Ben now knows that Jacob manifested himself to Locke, that Locke could go back and claim that he too is special since he's communed with Jacob... that Ben's people would lose faith in him and look to Locke for leadership. Ben decides he must do something...
But before he "kills" Locke, he HAS to know what Jacob said... and he's furious when Locke tells him that Jacob asked for Locke's help! Another excuse to kill Locke... so that he won't help free Jacob!
Unless...
Do I think Locke will die? Not a chance! Ben specifically shot him in the stomach on the side where he has no kidney. So... not much damage could happen... nothing that the island couldn't heal... but then why would Ben specifically NOT shoot him somewhere where he knew it will kill Locke? I haven't a clue... it would shoot my theory to hell.
But I think that Ben's last statement to Locke holds a clue... in anger he says to Locke "I certainly hope HE (Jacob) helps YOU!" Seems to me like he really HAS left Locke there as dead.
Sorry if this has gone on so long... there was so much happening in this episode. I also hope that I've made my ideas clear... I'm not such a great writer and sometimes don't describe my ideas clearly.
I think the last few episodes will be more straightforward as the Losties try to get ready to fight off the Others.
Later.
First, at the beach... It really disappoints me that most of the beach characters (except for Kate and Sun) have turned on Jack so quickly. He's been their caretaker, guardian, and all around champion for 83 of their 90 days on the island... I would think that would buy him some benefit of the doubt. It would with me... but perhaps it's Jack's fault for not at least giving some hint as to what he's up to. Maybe he should have just said..."I've brought Juliet here because I believe she's good and can help us, and I'm working on a plan..." Why keep so secret? Maybe he's not sure that the plan will work, and he doesn't want to give them all false hope?
After they hear the news of Naomi's appearance, Jack and Juliet seem more hopeful that whatever they have planned will work. They've gone off somewhere (to enlist Rousseau in their plan, to find some dynamite, perhaps???). When they return Juliet vindicates herself to the beach dwellers by outing Ben's plan to capture Sun and any other pregnant women, and Jack finally admits that he does have a plan... I just hope they still believe in him enough to follow him.
The bulk of the episode, of course, gave us much information about Locke, Ben and the Dharma Initiative. There was so much that I can't comment on it in the order it was presented in the episode. I have to talk about things by topic. Please excuse my jumping around:
While I really expected much more explicit information about the Dharma project in this episode (it's beginnings, the specific purpose of all the projects, etc.) than we got, there were still some tantilizing tidbits of information.
Obviously the Dharma Initiative accepted families. They provided schools for the kids... perhaps they were hoping to train the next generation of Dharma workers.
If we can take Marvin Candle's word for it (why would we not... LOL!), the inhabitants are warned to stay inside their sonic guarded compound to protect them from the island's ferocious wildlife (was he lying and the fences protected them from the "hostiles", or perhaps -- as we've seen, they were actually designed to protect them from the smoke monster).
At the processing facility, all new Dharma initiates are given an innoculation (remember Desmond had to give himself injections while he was living in the hatch).. perhaps to give them some immunity from something on the island (the smoke monster??), and are encouraged to eat lots of Apollo Bars. Why? Do the bars have more of the serum in them for protection, immunization??
Candle says that the Dharma workers will be given a code each morning that will allow them to turn off the sonic barrier to get to their job sites... this is how young Ben gets outside the fence to search for his "mother" (more on this event later), and how Juliet was able to control the fence a few weeks ago.
We learn that the Dharma people are being attacked by "the hostiles", who (according to Annie) are the original inhabitants of this island. Who are they really? Why do they attack? (The Hostiles were previously mentioned by Kelvin in a conversation he had with Desmond while in the Swan hatch.)
In this episode we also learn a little bit more about the island and why it was chosen as a place for the Dharma Initiative:
As Marvin Candle says in his initiation film, the island "has properties that exist nowhere else on Earth". Notice that he said properties, plural. Like healing, like time shifting (LOL... more on that later)... Marvin says that the Dharma Initiative's mission here is to "study these properties for the betterment of mankind and the advancement of world peace."
The island has a dormant volcano.
We know that the island had, at one time, service by air... (Roger says that he's just come back from unloading a plane.)
Candle says that most of the workers will be stationed on the mainland (indicating that all the Dharma workers knew there was more than one island).
The island has caverns, and is gem producing.
Candle says something about most workers participating in geological studies.
I was watching the Dharma logos carefully during the episode. Horace Goodspeed (the man that recruited Ben's father Roger into the Dharma project) wears an Dharma Arrow logo... The Arrow stations are supposed to be supply stations. Roger is assigned as a workman (to supply, as we saw later in the episode when Ben is older), and Horace seems to be his leader, so I would think that Roger would have an Arrow logo. But Roger is wearing a Swan station logo... maybe he was specifically assigned to supply the Swan station? Everyone else in the living compound wears the generic Dharma logo. I didn't see any Hydra or Pearl logos in the episode.
This episode continues the LOST theme of characters with father issues... Jack, Kate, Hurley, Locke... and now Ben have all had them.
The episode opens with Ben's birth. Why the hell were Emily (Ben's mother, also the name of LOCKE's mother!) and Roger out hiking during the seventh month of her pregnancy? Seems very odd to me. It's interesting that the producers make you think at first that they are in the jungle of the island to help reinforce Ben's lie that he was born on the island, but it was a misdirection, that they are actually just 32 miles outside Portland, the location of Mittelos Bioscience (a subsidiary of Dharma, LOL). Horace Goodspeed (a Dharma employee) and his wife assist in rescuing baby Ben and Roger and obviously remain close to Roger and Ben for many years (Horace recruits Roger to work on the island).
Emily, as we saw, died giving birth to Ben... which Roger never lets Ben forget it. Perhaps this is why Ben is so fixated on the island's fertility problem He empathizes with these woman, and genuinely wants to help them. He wants to help these women give birth to redeem himself and his life.
Ben's childhood on the island was not a happy one... his dad became verbally abusive to him, distant... a drunk. Roger hates being trapped in this job and again blames Ben since he took the Dharma job to try to provide Ben with a better life. The one bright spot on the island for Ben was his friendship (and budding love) for Annie. I do not know the significance of the dolls that Annie gave Ben, other than that they seemed to be symbols of how much she cared for him, and how much he came to care for her since he kept hers throughout the rest of his life. Sometime before the "Purge" something must have happened to Annie... perhaps she died, or disappeared, since I don't believe that Ben would have allowed her to die in the purge. I'll bet this is another event that we haven't seen yet that helped to shape the psyche of Ben. A note about Annie's doll... when current day Ben is looking at the doll at the beginning of the episode, it is missing its left arm. The arm probably broke off during the years since Annie gave it to him, but I'm wondering if it's a hint that Annie somehow lost her left arm, as did Marvin Candle and Rousseau's Montand. Perhaps a ritual that some Dharma employees had to go through??
Young Ben apparently has a fixation with bunnies. We see him use one to test the sonic fence (and we later see him use one as part of the implant ruse with Sawyer). I think this is an indication of Ben's potential for evil, using the innocent for his own personal gain.
During his youth, I think that young Ben begins to develop a strong connection to the island. He begins to hear the island's "voices", and he has two visions of his mother. Up until now I thought that the "voices" were part of a Dharma experiment -- astral projections, or something like that -- but now I'm wondering if the voices might be coming from people caught in "temporal displacements". The displacements are beginning to impinge on this island's reality (see more notes below on Jacob). Young Ben's visions of his mother, on the other hand, may be more specific manifestations of the island, of the smoke monster. It's taken on the form of his mother because she is someone that Ben needs to confront, and issue that he needs to deal with, but "she" is not ready to judge him yet because he is "not ready". Why? Because he's still a child and is still developing... there's still time for him to change, to take alternate paths... one towards good, the other towards evil.
Young Ben also stumbles across Richard Alpert while searching for his mother in the jungle. Richard is not at all surprised to see young Ben and is very curious about him. I think that Richard is able to detect in Ben a developing a connection to the island. When Richard asks Ben why he is out and about in the jungle, Ben tells him that he is looking for his dead mother. Richard is very interested in this, and asks if he can see her. Ben says yes and I think this convinces Richard that Ben is special. Like Ben's mother, Richard also indicates that Ben's not ready yet to join "them", and he's sad about it, but he tells Ben to be patient and that someday he can join them. I don't know know what to make of this... what exactly is it that young Ben has to do?
A note about Richard... we are told that he is one of the original inhabitants of the island. Are they all immortal? Richard is an active participant in the present stories and he hasn't aged a day. There is a sly reference to Richard's immortality at the beginning of the episode... Ben is talking about his birthday. He wryly asks Richard "you DO remember birthdays, don't you?" as if the concept of marking the passing years to an immortal would be frivolous.
One of the big questions that remained unresolved for me from last week was why it was so important to Ben for Locke to kill his "father". (I'm not still convinced it was really his father, and we still don't know exactly how Locke's "father" got to the island. But I digress...) Well I think that question has been answered. It's going to take me a bit to get to my conclusion... so please hang on...
We learn in this episode that Ben's life eventually leads him down the path leadership of the "Others". Ben says (of the original inhabitants) "THESE are my people." He says that the Dharma people "came here seeking harmony but they couldn't even co-exist with island's inhabitants. One side had to go... ". He has obviously joined the Others who have decided that a "Purge" is necessary. While the others take care of the compound, Ben gasses his father alone, far away from the compound. He could have had someone else do it, or he could have made sure that his dad was in the compound while it was being gassed, but he did it himself. So, the day that Ben killed his father he became the leader of the Others. It was his rite of passage. It secured his position on the island. Why is it that Ben's birthday is so important to him? Because it's the day he became the leader of the Others. It's the day he was "born" on the island.
We know, however, that Ben is now in a precarious position with his people. Some of them (like Juliet and Richard) have expressed their displeasure with his leadership. We have also found out that Ben's followers have heard of Locke, and think he might also be "special"... perhaps a new leader. Ben knows that Locke has special abilities... a close link to the island (his presence has helped Ben heal from the surgery)... and he suddenly realizes that Locke is a threat to his leadership. He's got to come up with a way to diffuse the threat that Locke poses. So he asks Locke to kill his own father as a test, a test that reinacts what Ben had had to go through years ago. When Locke fails, Ben gloats. Ben has secured his own leadership and proven Locke a "fake".
That's why Ben is so shocked when Locke shows up with his dad's body. Now Ben is forced to deal with Locke and he's not prepared to do that (I don't think he even expected to have to). In trying to delay Locke, he makes the mistake of telling Locke about Jacob, underestimating how determined Locke is to get to the bottom of the island's secrets. Ben is quickly losing control everything... the recorder with the messages to and from Juliet has been stolen (by Locke), Naomi has appeared on the beach with promise of rescue (Ben didn't see THAT one coming at all -- Naomi must NOT be an "Other"), Locke forcing Ben's hand... he has to know the secrets, and now he's earned it by having his dad killed. Even though it was difficult to watch, the scene where Locke beats up Mikhail after he arrives with the news of Naomi, was intriguing in that no one came to Mikhail's aid... I think they all were astonished that Locke was forcing Ben's hand, and they were glad it happened. I think they are astonished and angry when Ben ultimately says he is taking Locke to see Jacob, someone they have never been allowed to see.
While they are preparing to visit Jacob, Ben tells Locke that he is one of only a few that are left from the original group of Others (Richard would be another). Most of rest of the group were people that were brought to the island by Ben.
Ben says that "Jacob only talks to me... Jacob only trusts me... Jacob tells me what to do". Who exactly is Jacob and how and why is he so strongly connected to Ben? Why is Jacob an angry man?
On the way out to Jacob's cabin, they come across what looks like a ring of ash, perhaps encircling the cabin. Could it be some kind of talisman, protecting Jacob or could it something spread to keep Jacob IN the cabin? Or, perhaps, it's a sign that smoke monster has visited this place!
Ben is very anxious about taking Locke into the cabin. I think it's because he knows that if Locke fails to see Jacob, Ben's won, but if Locke sees Jacob, it forces Ben to take more drastic steps to keep a claim on the leadership of the Others.
It's important to note that Ben takes a lantern from a hook next to the door, lights it and takes it with them into the cabin.
There is a strange portrait of a dog on a wall inside the cabin, along with several jars with red and yellow fluid inside of them. I do not know or have a guess as to their significance.
Ben talks with Jacob... "I told you he woudn't," meaning Locke... perhaps meaning "see you" (Jacob)?
Locke thinks Ben is crazy... confronts him...
Ben: "You can't see him?" - Ben is ecstatic; it appears that Locke can't see Jacob.
Ben to Locke: "I'm sorry you are too limited to see..." he gloats.
But suddenly Locke hears "HELP ME". Jacob has manifested himself to Locke. Locke tells Ben he thinks it is all a trick (even though he definitely has heard), but Ben has seen Locke's reaction... Ben knows something has happened.
Locke's continued denial that he's heard anything real forces "Jacob" to take more drastic action. "Jacob" smashes the jars, rocks the chair, knocks over the lantern, breaking it and starting a fire. Ben shakes the chair and says "That's enough, you've had your fun," which angers "Jacob"... "he" throws Ben against the wall and for one brief moment manifests physically to Locke.
Locke is stunned and he leaves the cabin.
A moment later, Ben walks out of the cabin, also stunned, but with a completely intact lantern... which he promptly hangs on a hook next to the door.
I think that it is definitely a clue as to the nature of Jacob. I feel confident (even if I don't know for sure exactly WHO Jacob is) that Jacob is a man trapped in some kind of temporal displacement. Jacob is angry because he is trapped. Ben has promised that he would help free Jacob if Jacob will give him information. Jacob feeds Ben information from the future, which has helped Ben keep control over the Others, but Ben hasn't helped him get out of his trap. Now he wants someone else to help him... Locke! The reconstructed lantern is a clue that time is fluid around Jacob and that perhaps things were set right after Locke left. Perhaps Ben does have some control over time.
The name of this episode was "The Man Behind The Curtain"... perhaps it was referring to Jacob, the man behind the temporal curtain!
Ben now knows that Jacob manifested himself to Locke, that Locke could go back and claim that he too is special since he's communed with Jacob... that Ben's people would lose faith in him and look to Locke for leadership. Ben decides he must do something...
But before he "kills" Locke, he HAS to know what Jacob said... and he's furious when Locke tells him that Jacob asked for Locke's help! Another excuse to kill Locke... so that he won't help free Jacob!
Unless...
Do I think Locke will die? Not a chance! Ben specifically shot him in the stomach on the side where he has no kidney. So... not much damage could happen... nothing that the island couldn't heal... but then why would Ben specifically NOT shoot him somewhere where he knew it will kill Locke? I haven't a clue... it would shoot my theory to hell.
But I think that Ben's last statement to Locke holds a clue... in anger he says to Locke "I certainly hope HE (Jacob) helps YOU!" Seems to me like he really HAS left Locke there as dead.
Sorry if this has gone on so long... there was so much happening in this episode. I also hope that I've made my ideas clear... I'm not such a great writer and sometimes don't describe my ideas clearly.
I think the last few episodes will be more straightforward as the Losties try to get ready to fight off the Others.
Later.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)