Last night’s episode of Lost revealed quite a bit. Click for recaps of last week’s episode, Sundown, and for ABC’s official recap of this week’s Dr. Linus.
Some observations:
- Just as in 2007 on the island, Sideways Ben understands the psychology of a dictator who loses his power (RE Napoleon on Elba).
- Ilana knew who Miles was before meeting him. ”You’re Miles right, you speak to dead people?”
- Ilana states that Jacob was “the closest thing I ever had to a father.”
- Ilana likes to boss people around. On the beach, Sun, Ben, and Lapidus take her orders without question.
- In the Sideways flash, Roger “Workman” Linus talks to his son Ben about leaving the DHARMA island years before, and wonders how their lives would have been different. This seems to confirm my theory (as well as others’ in various other places) that the Sideways flash depicts events that take place (would have taken place/are in an alternate timeline as a result of) as a result of The Incident/The Bomb going off in 1977.
- Ilana shed more light on the whole Candidate business. He role is the protect the candidates, but she doesn’t know if it’s Sun or Jin Kwon that is the candidate. 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.” Question: Since Jacob is dead, who or what selects THE candidate?
- Ilana also knows that there are only six candidates left, though presumably she has not been to either the Lighthouse or to Jacob’s (Man in Black’s?) cave to see the names crossed off.
- According to Miles, dying was not in Jacob’s plan. Right up until the end he was hoping he was wrong about Ben and that he wouldn’t kill him.
- Richard seems like a bitter man whose purpose is to finish things where they began. Did Richard’s involvement with the island begin when the Black Rock came to the island? A recurring theme on Lost is the various characters’ need for redemption, did Richard need redemption for involvement in the slave trade?
- Jacob’s gift. Richard: ”Jacob touched me, and when Jacob touches you it’s considered a gift, except it’s not a gift at all, it’s a curse. I devoted my life, longer than you can possible imagine, in service of a man who told me that everything was happening for a reason. That he had a plan, a plan that I was a part of. And when the time was right he would share it with me. And now that mans gone, so why do I want to die? because I just found out my entire life had no purpose.and now that man’s gone, so why do I want to die? Because I just found out my entire life had no purpose.”
- Jack is evolving. In the early seasons there was a clear dichotomy between Jack, the man of science, and Locke, the man of faith. Since last season, Jack has been following his feelings (see: the bomb) rather than reason, and he takes the ultimate leap of faith in this episode. Jack’s logic: I know the dynamite won’t explode because Jacob wanted me on the island, and he wanted me to see that he’d been watching me at the Lighthouse, so I know I won’t die. Well, he was right.
- Ben has a ruthless streak even in the Sideways flash. But, in the end he doesn’t follow through because he can’t sacrifice Alex’s college future in service to his ambition.
- Back in 2007 on the island, Ben explains to Ilana why he killed Jacob: ”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 angy, confused. I was terrified that I was about the lose the only thing that had ever mattered to me, my power (ed. Like Napoleon in exile). But the only thing that really matters was already gone (ed. Alex). I can never forgive myself.”
- Final scene: Charles Widmore arriving at the island in a submarine. A sailor observes the Losties on the beach and asks Widmore: “Sir, there are people on the beach, should we stop?” Widmore responds: ”No, proceed as planned.”
- Question: Where is Widmore proceeding TO, and what is his plan? It’s apparent that Widmore is the one referred to as coming to the island, but what’s going to happen when he gets there? The last time Widmore sent people to the island, a lot of people got killed.
Related posts:
It’s a sad day in movie history when The Lost Boys is referred to as a “cult classic”. Back in the day, movies had to EARN that sobriquet.
Actually I think Richard was in those chains he was looking at as Smoke-Locke said “Hi Richard..nice to see you out of those chains.” before beating him up.
Wow. That’s a great observation. I wondered what that meant at the time but didn’t make the connection.