Has anyone ever watched the movie "Lost in Translation"? It was a big deal a few years back, but I found it kind of... meh. At any rate, that theme seems to work for this episode on a number of levels. So may I present...
LOST (in translation)*
*sponsored by Google Translate (http://translate.google.com.au)
The following represents useful phrases (presented phonetically) for any Korean travelers planning a trip to their local mysterious island or alternate timeline.
jebal nal gakkaun byeong-won-e jigjeob.
Please direct me to the nearest hospital.
Flocke advises Jin to let his leg wound "air out" while revealing that he needs all of the remaining candidates to leave the island with him. It's evident he can't just outright kill them (like he couldn't outright kill Jacob) so I guess this yet another aspect to the mysterious "rules" that govern them.
naega nae don dollyeodo doelkkayo?
May I have my money back?
So, was Jin not aware of the money cap or is he just a bad smuggler? I smuggled souvenirs made from alpaca wool through customs once. Granted, not the same as twenty-five grand, but I'm just sayin'...
i yeojaga nae anaegadoeji anhseubnida.
This woman is not my wife.
I'm not sure if this was something revealed in the brief clip we saw of them being held up at customs in the season premiere, but this episode confirms alternate Jin and Sun are unmarried and under the covers undercover.
naega dateue uihae salhaedanghaessseubnida.
I have been shot by a dart.
Jin gets fed up with playing wait-and-see and decides to take matters into his own hands and--OOPS!... kidnapped by the others... uh, that is... Widmore's others.
nae tomato sigmul-i jug-eoss-eoyo.
My tomato plants are dead.
For some reason I like it when Sun gets all fired-up. Like her hubby, she's also tired of waiting around and stabbed that table in frustration before fleeing to the sanctuary of her old garden. Jack tries to cheer her up (I guess) with his story about the lighthouse, but she ain't havin' it.
chicka hwal wau wau.
Bow chicka wow wow.
So instead of making good on his missed restaurant meeting, Jin decides to stay behind for a little sump'n sump'n. You know it's love when you can take a borderline male chauvinist comments and turn it into a strip tease.
josimhae teuli!
Watch out for that tree!
Flocke offers to reunite Sun with her husband, but she doesn't trust him and high tails it outta there and knocks herself unconscious. Yeah, good call trying to outrun the super-fast evil smoke monster.
banghaehaji masibsio.
Do not disturb.
I know Keamy's a pushy bad guy and Sun is nice (when she's not stabbing innocent tables), but she could have at least offered a token "Don't come in."
anio yeong-eo.
No English.
So, Sun bumps her head and can't speak English anymore, oh wait... but conveniently understands it? Jack can call it aphasia or diaper rash for all I care... I'm just wondering what the point is. I don't think Sun speaks English in the flashsideways so could it be another example of the two realities "merging" just like Jack's appendectomy that he had on the island, but couldn't remember in the alternate timeline? Interesting.
dodaeche naega eodiibnikka?
Where the hell am I?
Jin wakes up in that weird video room that they stuck Alex's boyfriend in a few seasons back. Remember that? That was messed up. Zoe (the intrepid Geophysicist) calls it Room 23 and says it's where Dharma was doing some subliminal experimentation. So I guess Ben's group of others just recycled it as a good old-fashioned torture room? Doesn't sound very Jacob-sanctioned, now does it?
dangsin-i moglog-e eobs-eo.
You're not on the list.
Claire asks Flocke if she's on the list. He says no, but assures her he'll still get her off the island. When she asks about Kate he says he needs her too, but after she's done helping him convince the other three candidates to join them, "Whatever happens, happens." To me, this is the first Evil red flag the Man In Black has raised... well, if you don't count mass murder. But if you think about it, so far he's been (seemingly) straight forward with everyone, which is more than I can say for Jacob. The truth can be very seductive. I think that's what makes him such a compelling bad guy. He just tells you everything... minus the part where if you follow him you'll release hell on earth.
dambae goemul chinhwajeog-inga?
Is the smoke monster friendly?
Sawyer: "Why are you taking the boat? Can't you just turn into smoke and fly over there?"
Flocke: "If I could, why would I still be on the island?"
Sawyer: "You're right. That would just be ridiculous."
Ha! Priceless Sawyer comment. And nice to know the writers aren't above poking fun at themselves, because seriously... it is a little ridiculous.
hyeongeum jigeubgi
ATM
Sun tells Keamy (via their translator) that she can pay him the money with funds from her personal bank account. While I was watching I kept thinking the translator was someone we knew and I just realized who it was... Mikhail (aka Eye Patch Guy!)
meolli cheoltab-eseo tteol-eojyeo.
Step away from the pylon.
Flocke pays Widmore a visit and Widmore says besides not being John Locke, the only thing he knows about him is from myth. I'm too lazy and not quite geeky enough to pour through ancient mythologies, but I'm guessing he's supposed to be somebody from back when Hercules was in high school.
bihaeng-gie pogtan-iya.
There's a bomb on the plane.
Richard suggests blowing up the plane to prevent Flocke from leaving the island (that's the brilliant plan?), but Sun gives him a Korean tongue-lashing that he won't soon forget.
jeoldaelo boseuui ttal jago.
Never sleep with the boss's daughter.
Sun discovers her bank account has been closed while Keamy reveals that the money Jin was to deliver was the bounty on his own head. What? Not enough hit men in Korea? Not to question Mr. Paik's brilliant criminal mind, but doesn't this plan seem a little complicated?
gwihaui paekijileul boyeo jwoyo.
Show me your package.
Widmore shows Jin a few digital photos of little Ji Yeon and says that she along with everyone else will "cease to be" if Flocke is allowed to escape. Then he offers to show Jin the package claiming it's not a what, but a who. Anyway, I thought the term "cease to be" was an interesting one. It sounds less like hell and more like this time line will end if he's allowed to escape. And this leads me to an interesting revelation. After Jacob told Richard that the island was a "cork" keeping evil in a bottle, then the alternate timeline is theoretically evil uncorked! Since the island is essentially gone in the flashsideways, that must mean we're looking at evil "unleashed" on the world. I must say, minus Sun's unfortunate gunshot wound at the end, everyone is having a pretty awesome time in "hell" so far.
naega deogteu teipeuui mas-eul silh-eo.
I hate the taste of duct tape.
Sayid gives Jin a utility knife and he frees himself in time to take out Mikhail, but unfortunately Sun (and mayhap alternate Ji Yeon) is caught in the crossfire.
nal mid-eo, nan uisa yeyo.
Trust me, I'm a doctor.
Sun appologizes to Jack and he promises her that he'll do everything he can to reunite her with Jin and get them off the island. Interesting note, he specially said, "get you off the island," not "us." He seemed to purposefully leave himself out of that sentence as if he's already planning on staying behind.
nan bimil-eul joh-ahaji anh-a.
I don't like secrets.
This is what Flocke said to Sawyer about what was on the sub and in the end it is revealed. Desmond! $5 to everyone that called that. Is this number 108 (Wallace) that Jacob was referring to? And how/why is he Widmore's "secret weapon"? He's been told by a few folks that he's special and "the rules" don't apply to him. I've always assumed that was the time travelling rules, but who knows? Maybe he can also nosebleed his way between the alternate realities. A "loophole" for the good guys just like smokie's "loophole" to kill Jacob?
Anyway, that's all she wrote. What did you think?
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
S6E8 - Ab Aeterno
So, Richard’s past is revealed along with a few other tidbits. I must say, his story was had it all: love, murder, slavery, shipwrecks, treachery, tragedy, and even “the devil.” It seems like an epic or perhaps… a musical.
ACT 1
[Curtains open to reveal RICARDOS standing over the bed of his beloved ISABELLA.]
“Close Your Eyes”
RICARDOS: “My love, my life! You must hold on. I can save you by the end of this song. Together we can defeat this beast. I’ll get a doctor—”
ISABELLA: “I need a priest.”
RICARDOS: “No, stay strong! Speak not that way. The journey is but half a day.”
ISABELLA: “We’ll always be together, just close your eyes.”
RICARDOS: “I’ll make it through this weather, don’t close your eyes.”
[RICARDOS rides a stick horse to stage left where a DOCTOR is eating his dinner.]
RICARDOS: “Pardon the intrusion, but this is killing me. My wife, she coughs up blood.”
DOCTOR: “Sounds like TB.”
RICARDOS: “Good sir, I beg please save her. Is there any way?”
DOCTOR: “Medicine, I have. But you must pay.”
RICARDOS: “This is everything I own.”
DOCTOR: “It’s not enough, so leave.”
RICARDOS: “Sir, I beg your mercy. Please!”
DOCTOR: “Go home now to grieve.”
[The DOCTOR and RICARDOS stage fight until the DOCTOR dies from a fatal head bump.]
[RICARDOS takes the medicine and rides a stick horse to stage right.]
RICARDOS: “I’ll make it through this weather, don’t close your eyes.”
ISABELLA: “We’ll always be together, just close your eyes.”
[RICARDOS arrives too late and there is much weeping as the lights dim.]
[Lights come up to reveal RICARDOS in a prison cell.]
“Forgiven”
PRIEST: “I bring you food. And a last chance to repent.”
RICARDOS: “Father, I killed a man. But it was an accident.”
PRIEST: “This sin has stained your soul. It cannot be forgiven.”
RICARDOS: “Is there time for penance?”
PRIEST: “No, for soon you won’t be livin.”
[Guards remove RICARDOS from the cell and he is escorted to the gallows.]
WHITFIELD: “Is this the man you spoke of? His teeth, they look quite nice.”
PRIEST: “Yes, and he speaks English too. Now let us talk of price.”
RICARDOS: “To sell a man into slavery? It cannot be forgiven!”
PRIEST: “Considering the alternative, it’s ‘Thanks’ you should be givin.”
[A chorus line of slaves walk onstage and RICARDOS is chained to the floor with them.]
“The New World”
SLAVES: “The New World. A true world. A red, white, and blue world.”
RICARDOS: “The Old World. A cold world. Your wife dies then your sold world.”
[Long cardboard cutouts of waves slide back and forth across stage front.]
SLAVES: “The tale you tell is older than old. A tragic life, not much to behold. Why not join our happier view, of a world both bright and new?”
RICARDOS: “While your optimism keeps me level, on the horizon I see the devil. So hold on tight as we are all hurled, towards our fates on this new world.”
[Waves become violent, lights begin to flicker, and the cutout of an island with a palm tree rolls behind them.]
SLAVES: “A new world? We’re screwed world. We bid you fond adieu, world!”
RICARDOS: “The Old World. A cold world. Your life dies then your sold world.”
[Curtains close. End of ACT 1.]
INTERMISSION
Not much to report in Act 1, besides the campfire powwow in the very beginning. Apparently Jacob tasked Ilana to protect the remaining six (now five) candidates. I’d still like to know what happened to land her in the hospital, but perhaps another time. The bigger reveal is that Richard is the one who knows what to do next.
ACT 2
[Curtains open to reveal RICARDOS and the SLAVES lying chained on the floor.]
“The Devil Awaits”
SLAVES: “God has saved us! Sing and rejoice!”
RICARDOS: “Wait! Above us, I hear a voice.”
WHITFIELD: “We’ve crashed.”
SLAVES: “No duh.”
WHITFIELD: “We’re on our own.”
SLAVES: “Every man is an island.”
RICARDOS: “Every man is alone.”
WHITFIELD: “Our precious resources cannot go to waste. Prepare your souls, men… the Devil awaits.”
[WHITFIELD runs through SLAVES with his sword until only RICARDOS remains.]
RICARDOS: “Why do you do this? Please, set me free!”
WHITFIELD: “And if I did? Then what about me? In a matter of time, you’d hunt me down.”
RICARDOS: “Wait! Above us, I hear a sound.”
WHITFIELD: “Don’t try to distract me. You must die with haste.”
RICARDOS: “Prepare your soul, sir… the Devil awaits.”
[WHITFIELD is enveloped by a fog machine and is lifted offstage.]
ISABELLA: “Ricardos, my love!”
RICARDOS: “You have returned!”
ISABELLA: “But hurry we must or soon we’ll be burned.”
RICARDOS: “What’s this you speak of?”
ISABELLA: “The Devil. He’s here!”
RICARDOS: “Run then, and leave me!”
ISABELLA: “I cannot my dear!”
RICARDOS: “Please do not argue, he’ll surely give chase.”
ISABELLA: “Prepare your soul, love… the Devil awaits.”
[ISABELLA runs off stage right and screams. MAN_IN_BLACK enters stage right.]
MAN_IN_BLACK: “I brought you some water.”
RICARDOS: “You’ve saved my life!”
MAN_IN_BLACK: “I’m sorry to say not the same for your wife.”
RICARDOS: “She said we’re in hell. Can this be real?”
MAN_IN_BLACK: “Yes.”
RICARDOS: “But how?”
MAN_IN_BLACK: “First, let’s make a deal. This knife will kill Him if you stab in the right place. Prepare your soul, Richard… the Devil awaits.”
[MAN_IN_BLACK sets RICARDOS free and they exit stage right.]
[RICARDOS enters from stage left. A large stone foot has been rolled onstage. JACOB sits alone on the big toe.]
“Jacob’s Song”
JACOB: “How sad that Jacob’s life is like this sea storm ruined shore.”
RICARDOS: “Be this beast or man who speaks in silly metaphors?”
JACOB: “Stop! Who goes there, Jacob asks?”
RICARDOS: “Speak not, you Prince of Hell!”
JACOB: “Is that what someone told you? For Jacob knows that liar well.”
[JACOB and RICARDOS struggle and JACOB beats him soundly.]
RICARDOS: “Who are you then?”
JACOB: “I’m Jacob, my friend. How ‘bout some wine and pork?”
RICARDOS: “Explain and don’t dawdle.”
JACOB: “Evil’s like this bottle, and the island is like a cork.”
RICARDOS: “I wish you’d speak straight, it’s getting quite late and your metaphors make me sob.”
JACOB: “Jacob grows tired and is looking to hire and wonders if you need a job.”
[Lights dim and come up to reveal RICARDOS with a haircut and a nicer shirt, kneeling alone.]
“Close Your Eyes (refrain)”
RICARDOS: “I quit! I quit! I hate this work. I’m tired of being Jacob’s clerk. For countless years I’ve done as he’s said and now my boss, he’s dead! He’s dead!”
[HURLEY and ISABELLA enter from stage left.]
HURLEY: “Dude, don’t quit. You know the plan.”
RICARDOS: “I’d rather go work for the other man.”
HURLEY: “She wants to know why you buried her cross.”
RICARDOS: “What do you know of my long ago loss?”
HURLEY: “She sent me to find you so I can translate, that she thinks your English accent is great.”
RICARDOS: “Is it true? Can it be? I’m tired of lies.”
HURLEY: “She said you’ve suffered enough, just close your eyes.”
[RICARDOS weeps and puts her crucifix back around his neck.]
HURLEY: “Oh, and she says if you don’t stop the man in black from leaving the island then we’re all going to hell.”
[Curtains close. End of ACT 2.]
Well, that’s it. A decent story filling in a few things we already suspected. The most interesting part of the second half is Jacob’s explanation about bringing people to the island. The man in black thinks man in sinful by nature and Jacob brings them there to prove he’s wrong. Of course, everyone Jacob’s brought there is now dead so I’m not sure how successful he’s been at proving his point. Jacob cannot bring his wife back, or forgive him of his sins, but he can conveniently grant him immortality. Weird, but I’ll go with it. Also, Jacob is reluctant to hand-hold everyone he brings to the island and wants them to “do good” all on their own so appoints Richard as his liaison, which we kind of already knew was his job. So what does that leave us with? Just the solidification of the knowledge that anyone ever coming to the island has been brought there by Jacob. Also, they are all part of an elaborate demonstration that humanity is, by nature, good (or can at least overcome it’s not-so-good nature). His appointment of Richard as his “mouth piece” is strongly symbolic of Christianity’s Holy Trinity. Jacob = God the Father, Richard = Conscience / The Holy Spirit, and that just leaves Jesus, the Son. I guess that would be whichever of the candidates is “the one.”
Anyway, I’ll leave the theological debates up to you. The metaphor was just too strong to ignore. All and all a decent episode, I think.
ACT 1
[Curtains open to reveal RICARDOS standing over the bed of his beloved ISABELLA.]
“Close Your Eyes”
RICARDOS: “My love, my life! You must hold on. I can save you by the end of this song. Together we can defeat this beast. I’ll get a doctor—”
ISABELLA: “I need a priest.”
RICARDOS: “No, stay strong! Speak not that way. The journey is but half a day.”
ISABELLA: “We’ll always be together, just close your eyes.”
RICARDOS: “I’ll make it through this weather, don’t close your eyes.”
[RICARDOS rides a stick horse to stage left where a DOCTOR is eating his dinner.]
RICARDOS: “Pardon the intrusion, but this is killing me. My wife, she coughs up blood.”
DOCTOR: “Sounds like TB.”
RICARDOS: “Good sir, I beg please save her. Is there any way?”
DOCTOR: “Medicine, I have. But you must pay.”
RICARDOS: “This is everything I own.”
DOCTOR: “It’s not enough, so leave.”
RICARDOS: “Sir, I beg your mercy. Please!”
DOCTOR: “Go home now to grieve.”
[The DOCTOR and RICARDOS stage fight until the DOCTOR dies from a fatal head bump.]
[RICARDOS takes the medicine and rides a stick horse to stage right.]
RICARDOS: “I’ll make it through this weather, don’t close your eyes.”
ISABELLA: “We’ll always be together, just close your eyes.”
[RICARDOS arrives too late and there is much weeping as the lights dim.]
[Lights come up to reveal RICARDOS in a prison cell.]
“Forgiven”
PRIEST: “I bring you food. And a last chance to repent.”
RICARDOS: “Father, I killed a man. But it was an accident.”
PRIEST: “This sin has stained your soul. It cannot be forgiven.”
RICARDOS: “Is there time for penance?”
PRIEST: “No, for soon you won’t be livin.”
[Guards remove RICARDOS from the cell and he is escorted to the gallows.]
WHITFIELD: “Is this the man you spoke of? His teeth, they look quite nice.”
PRIEST: “Yes, and he speaks English too. Now let us talk of price.”
RICARDOS: “To sell a man into slavery? It cannot be forgiven!”
PRIEST: “Considering the alternative, it’s ‘Thanks’ you should be givin.”
[A chorus line of slaves walk onstage and RICARDOS is chained to the floor with them.]
“The New World”
SLAVES: “The New World. A true world. A red, white, and blue world.”
RICARDOS: “The Old World. A cold world. Your wife dies then your sold world.”
[Long cardboard cutouts of waves slide back and forth across stage front.]
SLAVES: “The tale you tell is older than old. A tragic life, not much to behold. Why not join our happier view, of a world both bright and new?”
RICARDOS: “While your optimism keeps me level, on the horizon I see the devil. So hold on tight as we are all hurled, towards our fates on this new world.”
[Waves become violent, lights begin to flicker, and the cutout of an island with a palm tree rolls behind them.]
SLAVES: “A new world? We’re screwed world. We bid you fond adieu, world!”
RICARDOS: “The Old World. A cold world. Your life dies then your sold world.”
[Curtains close. End of ACT 1.]
INTERMISSION
Not much to report in Act 1, besides the campfire powwow in the very beginning. Apparently Jacob tasked Ilana to protect the remaining six (now five) candidates. I’d still like to know what happened to land her in the hospital, but perhaps another time. The bigger reveal is that Richard is the one who knows what to do next.
ACT 2
[Curtains open to reveal RICARDOS and the SLAVES lying chained on the floor.]
“The Devil Awaits”
SLAVES: “God has saved us! Sing and rejoice!”
RICARDOS: “Wait! Above us, I hear a voice.”
WHITFIELD: “We’ve crashed.”
SLAVES: “No duh.”
WHITFIELD: “We’re on our own.”
SLAVES: “Every man is an island.”
RICARDOS: “Every man is alone.”
WHITFIELD: “Our precious resources cannot go to waste. Prepare your souls, men… the Devil awaits.”
[WHITFIELD runs through SLAVES with his sword until only RICARDOS remains.]
RICARDOS: “Why do you do this? Please, set me free!”
WHITFIELD: “And if I did? Then what about me? In a matter of time, you’d hunt me down.”
RICARDOS: “Wait! Above us, I hear a sound.”
WHITFIELD: “Don’t try to distract me. You must die with haste.”
RICARDOS: “Prepare your soul, sir… the Devil awaits.”
[WHITFIELD is enveloped by a fog machine and is lifted offstage.]
ISABELLA: “Ricardos, my love!”
RICARDOS: “You have returned!”
ISABELLA: “But hurry we must or soon we’ll be burned.”
RICARDOS: “What’s this you speak of?”
ISABELLA: “The Devil. He’s here!”
RICARDOS: “Run then, and leave me!”
ISABELLA: “I cannot my dear!”
RICARDOS: “Please do not argue, he’ll surely give chase.”
ISABELLA: “Prepare your soul, love… the Devil awaits.”
[ISABELLA runs off stage right and screams. MAN_IN_BLACK enters stage right.]
MAN_IN_BLACK: “I brought you some water.”
RICARDOS: “You’ve saved my life!”
MAN_IN_BLACK: “I’m sorry to say not the same for your wife.”
RICARDOS: “She said we’re in hell. Can this be real?”
MAN_IN_BLACK: “Yes.”
RICARDOS: “But how?”
MAN_IN_BLACK: “First, let’s make a deal. This knife will kill Him if you stab in the right place. Prepare your soul, Richard… the Devil awaits.”
[MAN_IN_BLACK sets RICARDOS free and they exit stage right.]
[RICARDOS enters from stage left. A large stone foot has been rolled onstage. JACOB sits alone on the big toe.]
“Jacob’s Song”
JACOB: “How sad that Jacob’s life is like this sea storm ruined shore.”
RICARDOS: “Be this beast or man who speaks in silly metaphors?”
JACOB: “Stop! Who goes there, Jacob asks?”
RICARDOS: “Speak not, you Prince of Hell!”
JACOB: “Is that what someone told you? For Jacob knows that liar well.”
[JACOB and RICARDOS struggle and JACOB beats him soundly.]
RICARDOS: “Who are you then?”
JACOB: “I’m Jacob, my friend. How ‘bout some wine and pork?”
RICARDOS: “Explain and don’t dawdle.”
JACOB: “Evil’s like this bottle, and the island is like a cork.”
RICARDOS: “I wish you’d speak straight, it’s getting quite late and your metaphors make me sob.”
JACOB: “Jacob grows tired and is looking to hire and wonders if you need a job.”
[Lights dim and come up to reveal RICARDOS with a haircut and a nicer shirt, kneeling alone.]
“Close Your Eyes (refrain)”
RICARDOS: “I quit! I quit! I hate this work. I’m tired of being Jacob’s clerk. For countless years I’ve done as he’s said and now my boss, he’s dead! He’s dead!”
[HURLEY and ISABELLA enter from stage left.]
HURLEY: “Dude, don’t quit. You know the plan.”
RICARDOS: “I’d rather go work for the other man.”
HURLEY: “She wants to know why you buried her cross.”
RICARDOS: “What do you know of my long ago loss?”
HURLEY: “She sent me to find you so I can translate, that she thinks your English accent is great.”
RICARDOS: “Is it true? Can it be? I’m tired of lies.”
HURLEY: “She said you’ve suffered enough, just close your eyes.”
[RICARDOS weeps and puts her crucifix back around his neck.]
HURLEY: “Oh, and she says if you don’t stop the man in black from leaving the island then we’re all going to hell.”
[Curtains close. End of ACT 2.]
Well, that’s it. A decent story filling in a few things we already suspected. The most interesting part of the second half is Jacob’s explanation about bringing people to the island. The man in black thinks man in sinful by nature and Jacob brings them there to prove he’s wrong. Of course, everyone Jacob’s brought there is now dead so I’m not sure how successful he’s been at proving his point. Jacob cannot bring his wife back, or forgive him of his sins, but he can conveniently grant him immortality. Weird, but I’ll go with it. Also, Jacob is reluctant to hand-hold everyone he brings to the island and wants them to “do good” all on their own so appoints Richard as his liaison, which we kind of already knew was his job. So what does that leave us with? Just the solidification of the knowledge that anyone ever coming to the island has been brought there by Jacob. Also, they are all part of an elaborate demonstration that humanity is, by nature, good (or can at least overcome it’s not-so-good nature). His appointment of Richard as his “mouth piece” is strongly symbolic of Christianity’s Holy Trinity. Jacob = God the Father, Richard = Conscience / The Holy Spirit, and that just leaves Jesus, the Son. I guess that would be whichever of the candidates is “the one.”
Anyway, I’ll leave the theological debates up to you. The metaphor was just too strong to ignore. All and all a decent episode, I think.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
S6E7 - Recon
While we are temptingly close to St. Patrick's Day, I don't feel like reheating last year's recap leftovers. However, I'm not beyond some bawdy poetry from the motherland... the limerick. Be forewarned, as is typical with limericks, some of these may delve into a PG-13 rating. (That's as far as I can go and still get past your spam blockers...)
There once was a man named James
Who loved to play con artist games.
"I'm running late, honey--
--Oops, look at my money!"
But this time things weren't quite the same.
A nice twist in the opener. Sawyer running his old con, except this time he's on the side of the law. Once again, there is a significant difference in a character's flashsideways. He claimed that at one point in his life he could have either been a criminal or a cop, and he chose cop. The only time we've seen Jacob interact with little James was when he offered him a pen after his mother's funeral (presumably the infamous pen he used to write his "revenge letter" to the real Sawyer), but surely THAT is not the turning point he was talking about. Without a writing utensil, would he have not written that letter, so it wouldn't have later acted as a "straw that broke the camel's back" in making said cop/criminal decision? Or has Jacob influenced everyone (candidates and non-candidates alike) in ways we have yet to see? Whatever... that's all conjecture. I think the interesting point here is that while his life has taken a different path, part of his soul remains the same (the dark part that wants to avenge his parents).
There once was a man named Locke
Who permanently punched the clock.
And I tell you know joke
When I say he's now smoke,
Who just wants to get off this darn rock.
So Flocke comes clean with Sawyer about being the smoke monster. I'm sorry, buy why is no one freaked out about that? Anyway, he says it's kill or be killed which is why he dispatched everyone at the temple that opposed him. Beg your pardon, but you've had bullets bounce off you plus Sayid freakin' stabbed you in the chest and you didn't die, and now you're trying to say that you would be in danger if you had let those people live??? Riiiight...
There once was a guy named Miles Straum
Whose abilities were totally the bomb.
The recently dead
Could speak in his head.
But in reality B, they're all gone.
Of course we didn't get his perspective, but Miles seemed pretty... normal in his flashsideways. Of course maybe he still had his abilities and similar to Sawyer was at one point faced with the decision to either use it for the greater good or personal gain. Anyway, an interesting parallel partnership and fitting since they worked Dharma security together. Miles seems a touch more standup in his what-if life. Actually, it seems like everyone's what-ifs are kind of for the better so far. Sawyer has a legit job in law enforcement. Jack has a son. Locke has Helen (and a potentially functional relationship with his father). Sayid has Nadia (sort of... at least she's not dead). Though we've seen him only indirectly, Hurley seems fairly happy. And though Jin doesn't look so great the last we saw him, I wouldn't be surprised if things get better for him in the alternate reality as well. Anyway, just an observation... My theory: EVERYONE DIES in the end and they get to merge with their better-off what-ifs as a pseudo-afterlife.
There once was a woman named Charlotte
Who's hair was the color of scarlet.
She dug through a drawer
Then got tossed like a whore,
Which you deserve when you dress like a harlot.
I was thinking maybe, Miles's "friend" was going to be Juliet (I'm still waiting for her to pop up, but it probably won't be until the end of the season). But I guess it makes a certain sense (or at least "fits") that it was Charlotte since she and him and Faraday were all freighter mates.
There once was a woman named Claire.
And I strongly advise you beware:
If she's holding a knife
Better pray for your life,
'Cause her sanity's up in the air.
Yeah, definitely crazy. Holding hands with Kate one minute, a knife to her throat the next. I was kind of surprised by Flocke's reaction--smack!--especially considering his seeming displeasure with Kate tagging along, but he seems to be quite the benevolent leader. His heart-to-heart with Kate was quite revealing. We already know he was a "real man" at one point, but he speaks of having a disturbed mother and compares his trauma to what Aaron might have to face. Is he trying to play Kate and Claire against each other? Well, if that's his plan, it's stalled for now as Claire tearfully apologizes to Kate towards the end. Sorry, Claire, but if it's all the same to you, I won't be voluntarily accepting any "hugs" from you for a while.
There once was a man named Sayid
Who's a bit of a trick to read.
He wants back the life
Of his lovely late wife.
And now he seems evil, indeed.
And what was up with that? He seemed chillingly nonresponsive to Claire's attempt on Kate's life. I know he's kind of "gone over" if you will, but I was thinking it was just for the promise of seeing Nadia again (while still caring about his friends). Hmmm... not so much.
There once was a woman named Zoe
Who wanted to go for a row-y,
But there went the fun
When Ford pulled a gun
And now she ain't gonna go-y.
(Hey... YOU try making it work.) Anyway, I was suspicious of her from the get go. I'm assuming the dead bodies were other Ajira survivors, but I'm wondering whodunit. I'm assuming it was Flocke, but maybe not. Ilana had some of her crew with her on the flight, but I thought they all went over to the main island. If there was anyone left on "Hydra Island" it would have been just regular Ajira survivors, right? And why would anyone want to kill them? Maybe they just died naturally. I don't know if that's important or not, but it leads in to my next, bigger question.
There once was a man named Widmore
Who showed up in a sub close to shore.
He's got a few hatches
Locked up with latches
And I bet they have to do with "the war."
And that big question is... Who's side is who on? If Widmore wants Flocke dead, that would insinuate that he's on Jacob's side. He was at odds with Ben in the past and Ben even killed Jacob at one point, but it would seem that Ben at least temporarily is on team Jacob as well. Ilana seems to be all that remains of her pro-Jacob crew and Richard is on Jacob's side, though perhaps unsteadily so. Anyway, it's just adding up to everyone against Flocke and his ragtag band of followers. It's interesting that Widmore denied responsibility for the freighter. More accurately, he denied trying to "kill everyone," claiming how little Sawyer understands. To assume there are weapons in that locked area is too easy. If it is a weapon, I'm assuming it's something that can kill Flocke. My bet is it's Wallace!!
There once was a chick named Kate
Who everyone wanted to date,
But I really don't get
Why they think she's the @#$%.
Compared to some, she's just not that great.
Not to be a Kate-hater, but what's her purpose now? She found Claire who is clearly wackadoo. Good job. Now what? Did she think rescuing Claire from an island so difficult to find that you have to orchestrate a plane crash to get on or bend the space-time contiuum to get off would be as easy as picking up a friend on your way to a Sunday matinee? Good job leaving Aaron with Grandma Littleton, now he has zero mommies. Even though Flocke may be trying to sew seeds of doubt with Kate, he was totally right. Claire is a nutcase and even if she were reunited with her son, it might be too late for her sanity. Anyway, in the end she asks Sawyer why he's running errands for "Locke" and he basically says he's playing both sides and plans to steal the sub while everyone is distracted. Great idea... now all you need is to steal a submarine pilot while you're at it.
***
All in all, a pretty good episode. WAY better than last week's. And speaking of which, did you catch the preview for next week? A Richard episode! I'm not holding my breath, though. He had his own episode last year and it told us diddly squat. But seriously, if he's not a prime vehicle to fill in some major questions/mysteries/gaps, I don't know who is.
Any new ideas based on what came up in this week's episode?
There once was a man named James
Who loved to play con artist games.
"I'm running late, honey--
--Oops, look at my money!"
But this time things weren't quite the same.
A nice twist in the opener. Sawyer running his old con, except this time he's on the side of the law. Once again, there is a significant difference in a character's flashsideways. He claimed that at one point in his life he could have either been a criminal or a cop, and he chose cop. The only time we've seen Jacob interact with little James was when he offered him a pen after his mother's funeral (presumably the infamous pen he used to write his "revenge letter" to the real Sawyer), but surely THAT is not the turning point he was talking about. Without a writing utensil, would he have not written that letter, so it wouldn't have later acted as a "straw that broke the camel's back" in making said cop/criminal decision? Or has Jacob influenced everyone (candidates and non-candidates alike) in ways we have yet to see? Whatever... that's all conjecture. I think the interesting point here is that while his life has taken a different path, part of his soul remains the same (the dark part that wants to avenge his parents).
There once was a man named Locke
Who permanently punched the clock.
And I tell you know joke
When I say he's now smoke,
Who just wants to get off this darn rock.
So Flocke comes clean with Sawyer about being the smoke monster. I'm sorry, buy why is no one freaked out about that? Anyway, he says it's kill or be killed which is why he dispatched everyone at the temple that opposed him. Beg your pardon, but you've had bullets bounce off you plus Sayid freakin' stabbed you in the chest and you didn't die, and now you're trying to say that you would be in danger if you had let those people live??? Riiiight...
There once was a guy named Miles Straum
Whose abilities were totally the bomb.
The recently dead
Could speak in his head.
But in reality B, they're all gone.
Of course we didn't get his perspective, but Miles seemed pretty... normal in his flashsideways. Of course maybe he still had his abilities and similar to Sawyer was at one point faced with the decision to either use it for the greater good or personal gain. Anyway, an interesting parallel partnership and fitting since they worked Dharma security together. Miles seems a touch more standup in his what-if life. Actually, it seems like everyone's what-ifs are kind of for the better so far. Sawyer has a legit job in law enforcement. Jack has a son. Locke has Helen (and a potentially functional relationship with his father). Sayid has Nadia (sort of... at least she's not dead). Though we've seen him only indirectly, Hurley seems fairly happy. And though Jin doesn't look so great the last we saw him, I wouldn't be surprised if things get better for him in the alternate reality as well. Anyway, just an observation... My theory: EVERYONE DIES in the end and they get to merge with their better-off what-ifs as a pseudo-afterlife.
There once was a woman named Charlotte
Who's hair was the color of scarlet.
She dug through a drawer
Then got tossed like a whore,
Which you deserve when you dress like a harlot.
I was thinking maybe, Miles's "friend" was going to be Juliet (I'm still waiting for her to pop up, but it probably won't be until the end of the season). But I guess it makes a certain sense (or at least "fits") that it was Charlotte since she and him and Faraday were all freighter mates.
There once was a woman named Claire.
And I strongly advise you beware:
If she's holding a knife
Better pray for your life,
'Cause her sanity's up in the air.
Yeah, definitely crazy. Holding hands with Kate one minute, a knife to her throat the next. I was kind of surprised by Flocke's reaction--smack!--especially considering his seeming displeasure with Kate tagging along, but he seems to be quite the benevolent leader. His heart-to-heart with Kate was quite revealing. We already know he was a "real man" at one point, but he speaks of having a disturbed mother and compares his trauma to what Aaron might have to face. Is he trying to play Kate and Claire against each other? Well, if that's his plan, it's stalled for now as Claire tearfully apologizes to Kate towards the end. Sorry, Claire, but if it's all the same to you, I won't be voluntarily accepting any "hugs" from you for a while.
There once was a man named Sayid
Who's a bit of a trick to read.
He wants back the life
Of his lovely late wife.
And now he seems evil, indeed.
And what was up with that? He seemed chillingly nonresponsive to Claire's attempt on Kate's life. I know he's kind of "gone over" if you will, but I was thinking it was just for the promise of seeing Nadia again (while still caring about his friends). Hmmm... not so much.
There once was a woman named Zoe
Who wanted to go for a row-y,
But there went the fun
When Ford pulled a gun
And now she ain't gonna go-y.
(Hey... YOU try making it work.) Anyway, I was suspicious of her from the get go. I'm assuming the dead bodies were other Ajira survivors, but I'm wondering whodunit. I'm assuming it was Flocke, but maybe not. Ilana had some of her crew with her on the flight, but I thought they all went over to the main island. If there was anyone left on "Hydra Island" it would have been just regular Ajira survivors, right? And why would anyone want to kill them? Maybe they just died naturally. I don't know if that's important or not, but it leads in to my next, bigger question.
There once was a man named Widmore
Who showed up in a sub close to shore.
He's got a few hatches
Locked up with latches
And I bet they have to do with "the war."
And that big question is... Who's side is who on? If Widmore wants Flocke dead, that would insinuate that he's on Jacob's side. He was at odds with Ben in the past and Ben even killed Jacob at one point, but it would seem that Ben at least temporarily is on team Jacob as well. Ilana seems to be all that remains of her pro-Jacob crew and Richard is on Jacob's side, though perhaps unsteadily so. Anyway, it's just adding up to everyone against Flocke and his ragtag band of followers. It's interesting that Widmore denied responsibility for the freighter. More accurately, he denied trying to "kill everyone," claiming how little Sawyer understands. To assume there are weapons in that locked area is too easy. If it is a weapon, I'm assuming it's something that can kill Flocke. My bet is it's Wallace!!
There once was a chick named Kate
Who everyone wanted to date,
But I really don't get
Why they think she's the @#$%.
Compared to some, she's just not that great.
Not to be a Kate-hater, but what's her purpose now? She found Claire who is clearly wackadoo. Good job. Now what? Did she think rescuing Claire from an island so difficult to find that you have to orchestrate a plane crash to get on or bend the space-time contiuum to get off would be as easy as picking up a friend on your way to a Sunday matinee? Good job leaving Aaron with Grandma Littleton, now he has zero mommies. Even though Flocke may be trying to sew seeds of doubt with Kate, he was totally right. Claire is a nutcase and even if she were reunited with her son, it might be too late for her sanity. Anyway, in the end she asks Sawyer why he's running errands for "Locke" and he basically says he's playing both sides and plans to steal the sub while everyone is distracted. Great idea... now all you need is to steal a submarine pilot while you're at it.
***
All in all, a pretty good episode. WAY better than last week's. And speaking of which, did you catch the preview for next week? A Richard episode! I'm not holding my breath, though. He had his own episode last year and it told us diddly squat. But seriously, if he's not a prime vehicle to fill in some major questions/mysteries/gaps, I don't know who is.
Any new ideas based on what came up in this week's episode?
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
S6E6 - Dr. Linus
Okay. Is it just me or was this episode a little... underwhelming? I mean, we got a couple of answers, but I guess I was expecting more from a Benjamin Linus episode. Or shall I say...
DOCTOR LINUS
DEGREE: European History
SCHOOL: University of Boooooring
STRENGTH: Caring for others
WEAKNESS: Blackmail
Seriously. Ben's flashsideways had after-school special written all over it. He's the only one who truly cares about the students. He's pigeon-holed by the evil principal. He hatches a plan to become the new principal then changes his mind when he realizes it may hurt one student's bright future. Yawn fest. The student was Alex, but by now we're used to significant people from the "main" reality popping up in each other's what-ifs. Looks like instead of being stranded on the island during her science expedition, Rousseau wound up living in the good ol' U S of A and is working two jobs just to keep a roof over her daughter's head. (I wonder if she had to wind up shooting her baby daddy, just like in reality A?) Anyway, all I can say is, she must have been a pretty crappy scientist if she has to pull two paychecks to make ends meet.
I suppose the point of the flashsideways was to parallel his life on the island and to make up for her inadvertent sacrifice by sacrificing himself (sort of). While touching, I feel like we could have gotten a little more meat to go with that one scrawny side dish. The only thing worthwhile was his dad's lamentation about leaving the island, a half-explanation of how Ben is still alive. Again though, I wonder if that was before or after the bomb? You would think that any alterations to the timeline began once the bomb was detonated and rippled outwards after that, but I'm just going to chalk this up to timetravelsucks and move on. Nice to see that yet another father/son relationship (Locke's too?) is better off with the island at the bottom of the ocean. And by better off, I mean Ben hasn't trapped him in a van filled with deadly gas yet. As a matter of fact, I just realized he is keeping him alive through the use of a gas in reality B (nice touch, writers).
(Sidenote: What is the modern day equivalent of an "after-school special" anyway? Is that what the ABC Family channel is for or maybe one out of any four movies featured on Lifetime?)
DOCTOR ARZT
DEGREE: Science Education
SCHOOL: ITT Tech
STRENGTH: Not blowing up
WEAKNESS: Shady parking spaces
Speaking of other characters... with only 9 episodes left, it seems like it's just enough time to feature everyone twice. Let's see... we've already had Jack, Locke, Kate, and Sayid. We had the one in the beginning with everyone then this Ben one (whose story doesn't seem to extend in interest beyond the end of this episode) bringing us to episode 6. So we've got Hurley and Jin/Sun left. Once they've been featured (presumably episode 7 and 8), everyone (minus Ben) has a chance to have one more episode about them until the finale. Sorry, this is me just thinking out loud. I seriously have little to say about this episode.
DOCTOR SCHOLLS
DEGREE: Advanced Foot Technology
SCHOOL: University of KickingAssAndTakingNames
STRENGTH: Arch support
WEAKNESS: Unexplainable odors
Ilana and her crew decided to "get back to the basics" and go for a long walk on the beach. Literally. Let's see, from this bit of the show we've got Miles telling Ben that Jacob "hoped he was wrong" about him just before he plunged the knife into his heart. Hmmm... so I still wonder if Jacob dying was all part of his "bigger plan." I mean, you've gotta think he saw it coming to some degree if he's gone through the trouble of finding his replacement, right? Of course Ilana's none too happy about learning of Ben's involvement claiming Jacob was the closest thing to a father she had. We're going to almost have to see an Ilana flashback at some point, right? Remember last season when Jacob approached her in a clinic while she was recovering from who-knows-what all wrapped up in bandages and he asked her for help? That seemed too significant to just let go. Maybe we'll get another Jacob episode to fill in the gaps... fingers crossed. Anyway, Fake Locke offers Ben escape from Ilana, but oddly not escape from the island. Apparently once Fake Locke leaves, someone still needs to remain "in charge" of the island. How's that for a new twist? I'm assuming he's not referring to the candidates since Ben is not one. Anyway, Fake Locke has been exhibiting a let's-blow-this-popsicle-stand mentality, so the fact that he even cares about what happens after he leaves is surprising. Of course that is assuming he was telling the truth and not just sweet talking Ben. Part of me thinks he was blowing smoke (no pun intended) up his butt, but it's hard not to believe the one person offering relatively straight answers.
DOCTOR ZHIVAGO
DEGREE: Internal Medicine
SCHOOL: School of Hard Knocks
STRENGTH: Poetry
WEAKNESS: The ladies
If you like love triangles, this book/film is a classic. The story of a love-torn man set against the backdrop of war-torn Russia. I, for one, am glad that the Jack/Kate/Sawyer triangle is on the back burner this season. I'll allow perhaps two minutes of dialogue to wrap up whatever angst they need to wrap up and be done with it. I never fully bought into Jack/Kate and I totally prefer Sawyer/Juliet. What? How does that relate to this episode? Good question.
DOCTOR KEVORKIAN
DEGREE: Pathology
SCHOOL: University of Michigan Medical School
STRENGTHS: Oil painting, Jazz music
WEAKNESS: "Early Mortality Assistance"
So, one of maybe two big reveals for me was Richard's explanation of Jacob's "gift". Apparently he does not age because he was touched by Jacob. Now that seems pretty interesting, especially given that we saw Jacob touch his candidates a few episodes ago, though I can't recall if he touched little Kate or not in last season's finale. Either way, apparently this doesn't grant immortality since Richard can die, he just can't do it himself. Gee thanks, Jacob, but what good is immortality if ANYONE CAN KILL ME, BUT ME? Another thing I found pretty telling was his reaction when he entered the Black Rock and his answer when Jack asked if he'd been there before. I think it's a fairly safe assumption that he was part of the original crew (or perhaps a slave) on the ship when it first came ashore.
DOCTOR MOREAU
DEGREE: Veterinarian
SCHOOL: Cayman Island Medical
STRENGTH: Vivisection
WEAKNESS: Animal-hybrid revolts
If you like shipwrecks on islands where all sorts of mysterious experiments are taking place, this book/film is a classic. What? Oh yeah... the recap.
DOCTOR SHEPARD
DEGREE: Spinal Surgery
SCHOOL: Reluctant Leader Institute
STRENGTH: Obsession with fixing things
WEAKNESS: Obsession with fixing things
Very interesting change of heart for Jack, though I guess it's less of a change of heart and more of a culmination of the last season and a half. He had one leg on the destiny wagon last season, trying to convince everyone that they needed to return to the island, but his little speech to Richard and trick with the dynamite seemed to seal the deal. He's been hitting the Destiny Juice hard since the Lighthouse and there's no turning back for him now.
With Jack/Hurley/Richard popping up at the end, looks like we're seeing the beginnings of a mini-reunion at the beach. Sorry Richard and Ben... no hugs for you. The last and maybe biggest reveal of the episode is at the very end. Widmore has found the island and apparently has a plan to do... something. Any ideas? Oh, and is
it just me or is this season just a lot of walking and talking with the "good stuff" packed into the last two minutes?
DOCTOR WHO
DEGREE: Sonic Screwdriver Operations
SCHOOL: Time Lord University
STRENGTHS: Two hearts, Twelve lives
WEAKNESS: Human sentimentality
If you like time travel... okay okay...
Again, between Jacob's manipulations and Fake Locke's promise-you-the-world attitude, I'm thinking they're both bad news at the end of the day. My hope is the LOSTies get fed up on both ends and join forces, maybe have a peaceful protest back at the beach. Hmm... protest posters... if next week's episode is as blah as this one, I think that would be quite a fitting recap theme. Until then...
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
S6E5 - Sundown
Awesome episode (says me). A little birdy (that I'm married to) brought to my attention that the first week of March is National Letter of Appreciation Week. If that doesn't scream recap theme, I don't know what does.
“Dear Uncle Sayid,
Thanks a lot for the cool boomerangs from Australia. They're so much fun! We really like having you around. Mommy does too--like times a hundred! Daddy, uh... not so much. Anyway, wish you could stick around. Of course we also wish you were our real dad, but you know... that's life.
Love Zack and Emma”
So, in Sayid's what-if, he pushed the love of his life into the arms of his brother because he thought he didn't deserve her? Again, another fairly significant discrepancy between the two time lines. More evidence of Jacob's influence? Anyway, despite her lack of single status, one thing is constant between the two realities and that is his love for her. Awwww... she's his "constant". Remember how Desmond was supposed to be Farraday's "constant"? Yeah... that didn't work out so well for ol' Daniel now did it?
“Hey Baseball,
Thanks for falling on the floor. If you hadn't, I'm pretty sure Dogen would have cut my throat. Anyway, I guess I owe you one, so... if you ever need your life saved or something... call me.
Sincerely,
Sayid Jarra”
Okay, may I start by saying that was a pretty sweet fight scene between Dogen and Sayid? Island-influenced Kung Fu meets Iraqi-style Kickboxing. While it's nice that Dogen got all sentimental and decided not to kill Sayid, it's strange that he didn't, especially since it's clear he thought he should die. Guess his conscience got the better of him? Hmm... bet he wishes he could take THAT decision back.
“Dear Claire,
I just wanted to give you a heartfelt thanks for delivering my message to the others. You know how I am with crowds. But just so you know, I might be sending a back up messenger in case things go south for you. You know, like if they throw you in a hole or something.
Your Friend,
Fake Locke”
I'm a little confused on one thing. We know the smoke monster can't enter those circles of ash. We've seen him/it stop short of them plenty of times before. He even did so at the temple while giving Claire her instructions. And yet Dogen's translator tells Sayid that Dogen was the one that had been preventing Fake Locke from coming and now that he was dead, Fake Locke could enter. So what? It was this one random dude being alive that prevented Fake Locke from entering the ash circles and not the ashes itself? I mean, not to get hung up on the details, but doesn't that seem like an overly complicated security system? That's like ADT Home Security giving you a bag of magic baby powder to spread around your house and all of your valuables claiming it will keep away thieves, but only if Marcus Sanchez—a toaster repairman from Sacramento, California—doesn't accidentally electrocute himself during the term of your contract.
“Sayid,
I know we've had our rough patches what with me torturing you, trying to poison you, then going all karate on you and almost slitting your throat. Oh, and of course there's that thing where I think you're evil. But hey, I've got an idea. If you want to show that there’s still goodness in your heart, why don't you prove it by murdering someone for me? Thanks!
Dogen”
The interesting thing was that Dogen specifically said that if "the enemy" talked to him, it would be too late. Sure enough, Fake Locke said, "Hello, Sayid" just before he was stabbed. I wonder if that's why he didn't die? Of course if it were that easy, surely someone would have done something about him long ago. It's probably exactly what Fake Locke said, Dogen couldn't bring himself to kill Sayid so he just sent him on a suicide mission, knowing the knife would be ineffective. Anyway, I thought it was an interesting thing to point out.
“Dearest Sayid,
Thank you so much for watching the kids AND for gluing the vase back together! Say, while you're at it, how about trying to glue my failing marriage back together, or better yet explain why you and I aren't the ones doing the horizontal mambo. Just curious...
Yours Forever,
Nadia”
Poor Sayid. Can’t catch a break in either reality. Hey, did you notice the brief shot of Jack at the hospital? It's like hunting Easter eggs.
“Dear Sayid,
No worries about trying to kill me. "No harm. No foul." is what I say. Anyway, if you want to make it up to me, I've written out some instructions on the back. Thanks, you're the best!
Your New Friend,
Fake Locke”
So Sayid passes on the warning to everyone at the temple then has a heart-to-heart with Dogen just before murdering him. Interesting final conversation. Jacob claimed he would save his son's life (bring him back from the dead, actually) if Dogen came to the island. Fake Locke made a similar promise to Sayid (about Nadia). And if you recall, Ben promised to cure Juliet's sister who had cancer (which is odd now that we know he didn’t work as closely with Jacob as we thought back then). I wonder if Jacob/Fake Locke truly have miraculous healing powers or is it all just smoke an mirrors? Instead of true healing, what if they can only “take” someone out of the alternate timeline and into the main one? Nadia’s dead? No problem! Just yank her from reality “B” where she’s married to your douchebag brother. Dead son? Got you covered! He’s more into piano than baseball in the alternate reality, but you know… beggars can’t be choosers. Anyway, I'm to the point where I don't think there even IS a good side anymore. Everybody's manipulating everybody to serve their own selfish agenda (or so it seems).
“Kate,
Thanks for raising Aaron for me. NOT! Ha Ha... Seriously, though. I think I might still kill you, but we can chat about that later.
P.S. He's coming and you can't stop him!
Claire”
Yikes. The future ain't so bright for those two.
“Dear Random Iraqi Guy I Just Met,
Oh man, I thought I'd NEVER be rescued! You won't believe how I got here. It's quite a tale if you have a minute. I tell you what, why don't we swap stories over a beer or two? I'm not much of a drinker, but anything's gotta be better than the taste of duct tape. Thanks a ton!
Sincerely,
Jin Kwon”
First off, $5 to my wife for calling Jin as the one locked up in the meat locker. It was awesome to see Keamy again (Widmore's militia leader from the freighter in reality "A"); he makes a good bad guy. Of course it wasn't for long. (Sidenote: Does anyone else think that actor looks exactly like Ed Robertson from Barenaked Ladies?) Anyway, as soon as Sayid sat down, I knew everyone was toast. I can't wait to see how Jin winds up there. Of course we know that Sun's father had him running some pretty shady deals in the US, so it's certainly not a stretch that he would be involved with some less-than-reputable people, but I'm still looking forward to how he gets from point A (LAX) to point B (tied up in a meat locker), if you dig.
“Dear Claire,
Thanks for sharing your hole! Your “friend” seems a little rough around the edges, but I'm sure we'll all learn to get along. Fingers crossed!
Your Friend (I Hope!),
Kate”
Again, yikes. It's interesting how Kate actually wound up with Fake Locke's new group by default. At least it seemed she was going with them there at the end. And is it just me, or is it weird how almost everyone in the temple so easily migrated to Fake Locke? Fake Locke made it seem like they were all trapped there and just stayed at the temple for lack of anything better to do. Well, that and also protection from him. And so now that Jacob is gone, they're not trapped anymore and he's suddenly not such a bad guy? That makes 0.00 sense to me. Anyway, while his motives (or the motives of the others for following him) are a little ambiguous, one thing is for certain... he did NOT seem too stoked about Kate tagging along. I'm only assuming she's sticking around to stay close to Claire, unaware of what a bad idea that might be. But geez, she must be really committed considering that she just witnessed the destruction of the temple and mass murder of a good chunk of its inhabitants. She knew the smoke monster was involved, and while she might not realize that Fake Locke = The Smoke Monster, she at least knows that he and Sayid were behind it to some degree considering they're the ones that walked out alive. And not to mention that Locke is supposed to be dead. That didn't even seem to phase her! I tell you what. That would phase me plenty and I'd high-tail it out of there in a heartbeat... sorry Claire.
“Ilana,
Thanks for saving my hide. Man, you just burst in, guns drawn, ready for action. Wanna go out or somethin'?
Miles”
I totally forgot that Ilana & company had been headed for the temple until they popped up at the end. The last words between Ben and Sayid were chilling. "Come with us, there's still time," to which Sayid replied, "Not for me." That's kind of what sealed the evil-deal for Sayid in my mind. Of course Sayid has his motivations (Nadia) and even Claire has hers (Aaron), so neither of them seem particularly "evil" if you study them on that level, but of course that's removing their actions from the equation. I guess if evil were so black and white then it would be a lot easier to identify in the real world (like if pedophiles were legally required to wear T-shirts identifying them as such), but alas, I'm slipping into sermon territory and that is not my domain. Mine is to make you laugh much and think some (we're talkin' maybe 60/40). And to that extent I hope I was successful.
Until next week, I'll leave you with my last thought as the episode closed. Is it me or is everyone super spread out now?
Sawyer - Jacob's cave (the last we saw)
Jin - Claire's hut (the last we saw)
Jack/Hurley - Kicking it at the lighthouse (the last we saw)
Ben/Sun/Frank/Ilana/Miles - Escaping the temple together
Sayid/Claire/Kate(maybe) - Following Fake Locke
I wonder who/how people will group back up?
“Dear Uncle Sayid,
Thanks a lot for the cool boomerangs from Australia. They're so much fun! We really like having you around. Mommy does too--like times a hundred! Daddy, uh... not so much. Anyway, wish you could stick around. Of course we also wish you were our real dad, but you know... that's life.
Love Zack and Emma”
So, in Sayid's what-if, he pushed the love of his life into the arms of his brother because he thought he didn't deserve her? Again, another fairly significant discrepancy between the two time lines. More evidence of Jacob's influence? Anyway, despite her lack of single status, one thing is constant between the two realities and that is his love for her. Awwww... she's his "constant". Remember how Desmond was supposed to be Farraday's "constant"? Yeah... that didn't work out so well for ol' Daniel now did it?
“Hey Baseball,
Thanks for falling on the floor. If you hadn't, I'm pretty sure Dogen would have cut my throat. Anyway, I guess I owe you one, so... if you ever need your life saved or something... call me.
Sincerely,
Sayid Jarra”
Okay, may I start by saying that was a pretty sweet fight scene between Dogen and Sayid? Island-influenced Kung Fu meets Iraqi-style Kickboxing. While it's nice that Dogen got all sentimental and decided not to kill Sayid, it's strange that he didn't, especially since it's clear he thought he should die. Guess his conscience got the better of him? Hmm... bet he wishes he could take THAT decision back.
“Dear Claire,
I just wanted to give you a heartfelt thanks for delivering my message to the others. You know how I am with crowds. But just so you know, I might be sending a back up messenger in case things go south for you. You know, like if they throw you in a hole or something.
Your Friend,
Fake Locke”
I'm a little confused on one thing. We know the smoke monster can't enter those circles of ash. We've seen him/it stop short of them plenty of times before. He even did so at the temple while giving Claire her instructions. And yet Dogen's translator tells Sayid that Dogen was the one that had been preventing Fake Locke from coming and now that he was dead, Fake Locke could enter. So what? It was this one random dude being alive that prevented Fake Locke from entering the ash circles and not the ashes itself? I mean, not to get hung up on the details, but doesn't that seem like an overly complicated security system? That's like ADT Home Security giving you a bag of magic baby powder to spread around your house and all of your valuables claiming it will keep away thieves, but only if Marcus Sanchez—a toaster repairman from Sacramento, California—doesn't accidentally electrocute himself during the term of your contract.
“Sayid,
I know we've had our rough patches what with me torturing you, trying to poison you, then going all karate on you and almost slitting your throat. Oh, and of course there's that thing where I think you're evil. But hey, I've got an idea. If you want to show that there’s still goodness in your heart, why don't you prove it by murdering someone for me? Thanks!
Dogen”
The interesting thing was that Dogen specifically said that if "the enemy" talked to him, it would be too late. Sure enough, Fake Locke said, "Hello, Sayid" just before he was stabbed. I wonder if that's why he didn't die? Of course if it were that easy, surely someone would have done something about him long ago. It's probably exactly what Fake Locke said, Dogen couldn't bring himself to kill Sayid so he just sent him on a suicide mission, knowing the knife would be ineffective. Anyway, I thought it was an interesting thing to point out.
“Dearest Sayid,
Thank you so much for watching the kids AND for gluing the vase back together! Say, while you're at it, how about trying to glue my failing marriage back together, or better yet explain why you and I aren't the ones doing the horizontal mambo. Just curious...
Yours Forever,
Nadia”
Poor Sayid. Can’t catch a break in either reality. Hey, did you notice the brief shot of Jack at the hospital? It's like hunting Easter eggs.
“Dear Sayid,
No worries about trying to kill me. "No harm. No foul." is what I say. Anyway, if you want to make it up to me, I've written out some instructions on the back. Thanks, you're the best!
Your New Friend,
Fake Locke”
So Sayid passes on the warning to everyone at the temple then has a heart-to-heart with Dogen just before murdering him. Interesting final conversation. Jacob claimed he would save his son's life (bring him back from the dead, actually) if Dogen came to the island. Fake Locke made a similar promise to Sayid (about Nadia). And if you recall, Ben promised to cure Juliet's sister who had cancer (which is odd now that we know he didn’t work as closely with Jacob as we thought back then). I wonder if Jacob/Fake Locke truly have miraculous healing powers or is it all just smoke an mirrors? Instead of true healing, what if they can only “take” someone out of the alternate timeline and into the main one? Nadia’s dead? No problem! Just yank her from reality “B” where she’s married to your douchebag brother. Dead son? Got you covered! He’s more into piano than baseball in the alternate reality, but you know… beggars can’t be choosers. Anyway, I'm to the point where I don't think there even IS a good side anymore. Everybody's manipulating everybody to serve their own selfish agenda (or so it seems).
“Kate,
Thanks for raising Aaron for me. NOT! Ha Ha... Seriously, though. I think I might still kill you, but we can chat about that later.
P.S. He's coming and you can't stop him!
Claire”
Yikes. The future ain't so bright for those two.
“Dear Random Iraqi Guy I Just Met,
Oh man, I thought I'd NEVER be rescued! You won't believe how I got here. It's quite a tale if you have a minute. I tell you what, why don't we swap stories over a beer or two? I'm not much of a drinker, but anything's gotta be better than the taste of duct tape. Thanks a ton!
Sincerely,
Jin Kwon”
First off, $5 to my wife for calling Jin as the one locked up in the meat locker. It was awesome to see Keamy again (Widmore's militia leader from the freighter in reality "A"); he makes a good bad guy. Of course it wasn't for long. (Sidenote: Does anyone else think that actor looks exactly like Ed Robertson from Barenaked Ladies?) Anyway, as soon as Sayid sat down, I knew everyone was toast. I can't wait to see how Jin winds up there. Of course we know that Sun's father had him running some pretty shady deals in the US, so it's certainly not a stretch that he would be involved with some less-than-reputable people, but I'm still looking forward to how he gets from point A (LAX) to point B (tied up in a meat locker), if you dig.
“Dear Claire,
Thanks for sharing your hole! Your “friend” seems a little rough around the edges, but I'm sure we'll all learn to get along. Fingers crossed!
Your Friend (I Hope!),
Kate”
Again, yikes. It's interesting how Kate actually wound up with Fake Locke's new group by default. At least it seemed she was going with them there at the end. And is it just me, or is it weird how almost everyone in the temple so easily migrated to Fake Locke? Fake Locke made it seem like they were all trapped there and just stayed at the temple for lack of anything better to do. Well, that and also protection from him. And so now that Jacob is gone, they're not trapped anymore and he's suddenly not such a bad guy? That makes 0.00 sense to me. Anyway, while his motives (or the motives of the others for following him) are a little ambiguous, one thing is for certain... he did NOT seem too stoked about Kate tagging along. I'm only assuming she's sticking around to stay close to Claire, unaware of what a bad idea that might be. But geez, she must be really committed considering that she just witnessed the destruction of the temple and mass murder of a good chunk of its inhabitants. She knew the smoke monster was involved, and while she might not realize that Fake Locke = The Smoke Monster, she at least knows that he and Sayid were behind it to some degree considering they're the ones that walked out alive. And not to mention that Locke is supposed to be dead. That didn't even seem to phase her! I tell you what. That would phase me plenty and I'd high-tail it out of there in a heartbeat... sorry Claire.
“Ilana,
Thanks for saving my hide. Man, you just burst in, guns drawn, ready for action. Wanna go out or somethin'?
Miles”
I totally forgot that Ilana & company had been headed for the temple until they popped up at the end. The last words between Ben and Sayid were chilling. "Come with us, there's still time," to which Sayid replied, "Not for me." That's kind of what sealed the evil-deal for Sayid in my mind. Of course Sayid has his motivations (Nadia) and even Claire has hers (Aaron), so neither of them seem particularly "evil" if you study them on that level, but of course that's removing their actions from the equation. I guess if evil were so black and white then it would be a lot easier to identify in the real world (like if pedophiles were legally required to wear T-shirts identifying them as such), but alas, I'm slipping into sermon territory and that is not my domain. Mine is to make you laugh much and think some (we're talkin' maybe 60/40). And to that extent I hope I was successful.
Until next week, I'll leave you with my last thought as the episode closed. Is it me or is everyone super spread out now?
Sawyer - Jacob's cave (the last we saw)
Jin - Claire's hut (the last we saw)
Jack/Hurley - Kicking it at the lighthouse (the last we saw)
Ben/Sun/Frank/Ilana/Miles - Escaping the temple together
Sayid/Claire/Kate(maybe) - Following Fake Locke
I wonder who/how people will group back up?
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