"Membership in the family of God is neither inconsequential or something to be casually ignored. The church is God's agenda for the world. Jesus said, "I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." The church is indestructable and will exist for eternity. It will outlive this universe, and so will your role in it."
- Rick Warren
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
I'm watching the show right now, a bit delayed. Not really live-blogging this, just some observations.
********* MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW **************
I wonder how these two new characters (NewAnnaLucia and Caesar) are going to pan out? He lies to her about the double-barrel shotgun he has. Shades of Nikki and Paulo.
Locke just told Ilana (NewAnnaLucia) that he died. She looks at him like he grew a third eye and walks away. Which I can understand.
Tunisia is the "exit". Hence the polar bear the now deceased C.S. Lewis found there. I'm writing this part after having watched the whole show and now re-watching it with eldest daughter and daughter-who-just-got-her-braces-off-today (yay!) - Locke is lying in the Tunisian desert with a bone sticking out of his leg and he's in for a lot more punishment in this episode.
Widmore and Abaddon . . . are the good guys. R-i-i-i-g-h-t . . . (although, now that I've watched the show, I like Widmore more than Ben).
And flight 316 did crash on the island. So we have a bunch of new Lostaways to replace the ones that have been shot, speared, stabbed, killed by flaming arrows, etc.
"So, you didn't make it, eh?" - HUGO ROCKS!
"Everyone on the island is gonna die if I don't go back. And the answer is no." Kate is absolutely evil. And here she's lecturing Locke about what love is, and in general patronizing the crud out of him. What an awful person she is.
I'm kind of digging the Abaddon character. And right when I wrote that, he got blown away. Man! I'll bet it was Ben, since he was looking all evil in the earlier scene with WAAAAAAAAALLLLLTTTT!
Were in the hospital after Locke's horrible car accident, and here's Jack, evidently at the start of his glassy-eyed drug stupor days and the start of his glorious AwfulBeard. And those crazy Jack eyes too. Jack's right on the edge . . . at the passing on of Christian's "hi", Jack loses it.
Suicide note: I first thought that Locke was going to kill himself for a purpose, to get them to come back. But now I just think he did it because Jack depressed him so much (as did that heartless tart, Kate).
He's all set up to do it, and here comes Ben. Ben is "keeping everyone safe". Except for Abaddon, who he probably blew away.
Ben confirms the Abaddon whack. But I'm sure he had a good reason. Widmore and Ben are the yin and yang of this show. I'm still not sure if one's black and one's white, or if they are both just evil. There's "a war coming" in any event.
Is it just me, or is anyone else wondering if John even knows how to get back to the island? That's not been explained. I mean, what if they had all said "sure". What would they have done then?
But I digress. John feels like a failure, but he is saved by Ben's compassion and almost touching encouragement. Ben's good! Ben's good!
John just spilled the beans about Eloise Hawking. And . . . well I guess Ben is not so good after all.
Ben looks kind of remorseful. And he says he'll miss John (after getting the murder scene all ship-shape). I'm still on the fence as to whether he's evil or not (just kidding!)
Back to the island. Caesar is rifling through documents, etc, in a hatch, I guess, on the island.
Caesar's asking lots of questions. I'm sure having this formerly dead guy walking around who wasn't on the manifest is a bit much for them. Evidently a number of people were hurt in the crash, but hopefully no one was killed. This seems to have been a nicer plane crash than 815.
Frank took off in a canoe with some women or something. Good ol' Frank!
And there's Ben. He was hurt in the crash. Good.
On the previews they talk about "the moment you've been waiting for." Please tell me it's not the reveal of the current state of the Sawyer/Kate/Jack triangle.
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Comments on "Lost: The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham":
2. Jared
- 02/25/2009 10:13 pm CST
Please tell me it's not the reveal of the current state of the Sawyer/Kate/Jack triangle.
LOL. Becky said the same thing. "Is it Sawyer and Kate being reunited? Nobody was waiting for that."
The moment I've been waiting for is Kate getting disintegrated by some weird Dharma experiment gone wrong.
3. Bill
- 02/25/2009 10:31 pm CST
"The moment I've been waiting for is Kate getting disintegrated by some weird Dharma experiment gone wrong"
Finally, we agree on something!
However, your assessments of Locke and Jack, are, unfortunately, wrong.
4. Bill
- 02/25/2009 10:33 pm CST
Sayid was a pretty cool customer in this episode, as always. He was the only one who wasn't a complete jerk to Locke (well, Hurley wasn't a jerk, but he definitely didn't have much interest in talking to Locke once he found out he wasn't dead).
6. Evan
- 02/25/2009 10:47 pm CST
Locke's plan to get back to the island was explained to him by Jack's Dad. It was simply to go see Mrs. Hawking. Which of course got him murdered when he told Ben. Apparently Ben realized that the Locke-pawn that he thought he was controlling, was actually part of a devious sacrifice being run my Widmore that was actually going to cause him to get checkmated.
Frank taking off in the canoe with some woman would be Sun, right? Going to find Jin on the main island?
But I'm betting we'll have some time difference between the two islands. The main island with Jack, Hurley, Kate and all the losties that stayed behind are now back in the 1970's; while Frank, Locke, Sun, & Ben and the new 316 people on the other island are roughly in the present.
I don't hate the Kate character like many, but agree that is a big stretch saying her and Sawyer's reunion is what we are waiting for.
7. Bill
- 02/25/2009 11:09 pm CST
What I don't understand (not that this isn't typical for Lost): Regardless of what any of these characters thought of John, wouldn't they have wanted details about their friends? Wanted to know the whole story from start to finish? Wanted to know what happened after they abandoned everyone else were rescued?
Kate was so cold - ugh. What a horrible person.
8. Bill
- 02/25/2009 11:10 pm CST
Evan - good call! Locke is sometimes circa the present, Hurley, Jack and Kate are back in the 70s. I hadn't thought of that.
I guess Sawyer, Juliet, Miles and Daniel are in the 70s too?
10. Bill
- 02/26/2009 8:15 am CST
AM - heh.
Another question: I wonder if Abaddon is an immortal? He certainly has that otherworldliness that we've seen with the other immortals (Mikhail, Richard, and - I think - Mrs Klugh)
I think we'll be seeing him again.
11. Quaid
- 02/26/2009 8:32 am CST
What indication do we have that Locke is present time?
I'm not saying that it isn't true - for example, why would a Dharma station be totally empty? Is it possible that the station they are in is still located in the 70s but the plane crash freaked Dharma out enough for them to scatter? How would some people on a plane end up in one decade with the other people ending up in another? Also, Locke is dead when the plane crashes - how does he know that he is in present day?
I don't know that the pilot took off with Sun - remember that we still don't know where Sayid is in all of this mess. I would tend to think that the O-6 are "together" - at least in a time sense of the word.
As far as Locke dying off, it might happen sooner than later, although I don't know if he's achieved Patchy status that enables him to revive. Walt's dream was a pretty certain foreshadowing that Locke doesn't have too much longer to live if he stays around the new Lost-aways. ESPECIALLY if Ben wakes up and starts manipulating the junk out of everyone.
I'm wondering where Eloise is in all of this. I think she's probably closer to Widmore than she is to Ben - she didn't think too highly of Ben in last week's ep. Ben just might have needed her to get back to the island while Widmore/Hawking needed him to get the O-6 together again. An ironic twist of fate with two enemies needing one another to carry out their seemingly opposite plans.
PS I'm glad to hear that the braces came off - I'll go to Facebook for pictures . . .
14. Michele
- 02/26/2009 3:22 pm CST
This show was so excellent. I loved it's pace, how it stuck with one character, (Locke) and really developed things around him, instead of jumping so much.
I was disappointed they killed off Matthew so quickly. He was intriguing. Do you think they visited Walt just so fans wouldn't wonder about him and constantly ask "Why doesn't Walt have to go back?" I think this is why they showed Helen dead; Just so we don't keep wondering why Locke doesn't make contact. (We fans really like to know these things, you know.) Also, the info about Jin and Hawking did seem to tweak Ben's brain to kill Locke. I don't think Locke was commiting suicide in obedience to the command that he'd have to die, but because he was depressed. I'd be depressed, too. Has anyone noticed Locke is generally treated poorly by everyone? I find him quite likeable, noble, and something about him commands respect, but they all seem to talk down to him. In fact, when the new guy on the beach asked how he got there, I knew he was going to spill the beans about dying. He never seems to have any secrets and is always honest and guiless.
Anybody catch the Rembrandt-like pose of Locke on the table, crucifix-like, and Ben kneeling below? I'm not seeing Biblical allusions as much as you guys, but this sacrificial pose seemed obvious.
I'm soooo loving how Whitmore and Ben are equal in their abilities to lie, manipulate and keep us guessing.
Anyone wonder who it is that hospital worked on? Seemed like a busy place.
Good job, Bill. You crack me up. Every Thursday morning my daughter and I get up early, watch LOST online, (can't miss Wed. nite church) after the heavy drum-beat, we look at each other and say, "THINKLINGS!" Thanks guys.
15. Bird
- 02/26/2009 7:01 pm CST
Here are a few of my thoughts on some characters right now:
Ben - evil
Widmore - undecided
Jack - awesome
Locke - awesome; i've loved this guy ever since he got out of that wheelchair in season 1
Hugo - cool, funny, but a bit crazy (if you know what I mean)
Kate - can't stand her and all that "you didn't want to get off the island because you never loved anyone cr@p"
Sun - evil, but when she's reunited with Jin she'll be good again
Des - flawless
Penny - flawless
C.S. Lewis - dead
NewAnnaLucia - not as annoying as the old Anna Lucia
16. Bill
- 02/26/2009 7:31 pm CST
Is it possible that the station they are in is still located in the 70s but the plane crash freaked Dharma out enough for them to scatter? How would some people on a plane end up in one decade with the other people ending up in another? Also, Locke is dead when the plane crashes - how does he know that he is in present day?
I think that the condition of the Dharma station (run down and deserted), the canoes (definitely a "post-lostie camp" phenomenon) and - most importantly, the fact that all these people were involved in a conventional plane crash, rather than a "flash", says they are present day.
Michele - thanks for the awesome comment. That's so kind.
You wrote: Has anyone noticed Locke is generally treated poorly by everyone? I find him quite likeable, noble, and something about him commands respect, but they all seem to talk down to him.
Yeah, they all treat him like carp. Now, some of that is because he went a bit crazy there toward the end, killing the freighter chick (I forget her name). But, as it turns out, he was exactly right and Jack was exactly wrong. Blowing up the submarine was also pretty selfish of him. So I think the other Losties see Locke as someone who worked against their rescue. They are somewhat right, but - again - he was more right than wrong.
Jack was simply wrong, perpetually.
The only thing I really have a problem with Locke about was that he basically killed Boone. He shouldn't have moved Boone. Instead he carries him all the way in to the caves (probably hastening his death) and then just abandons him to go run and cry at the hatch.
His lack of faith causing him to destroy the numbers computer, thus making the island visible and almost killing Des was also pretty bad. And, you could argue, that was the root cause of Widmore finding the island.
17. Shauna
- 02/26/2009 10:42 pm CST
Penny doesn't (didn't? goodness, I hope she isn't dead, though Ben is certainly evil enough to make good on his promise) seem to be undecided about whether Widmore is good or bad.
18. Michele
- 02/27/2009 9:46 am CST
I agree that Jack has been quite offensive, especially the Boone mishap. However, many of them have wronged each other hugely, (Sayid tortured Sawyer wrongly, Sawyer took over the camp as a dictator with guns for a bit, Juliet was an other, etc.) but he's almost like the kid in school everyone hates and leaves out. Man, you'd think one person would've given him a hug seeing him off-island, or brightened a bit. Walt was the only one who was cordial. I'm sure we'll learn why. He may end up being the Christ-figure of the show, the misunderstood Messiah.
19. Bill
- 02/27/2009 9:57 am CST
I agree that Jack has been quite offensive
You mean John, right?
Although yes, I agree, Jack has been quite offensive :-)
he's almost like the kid in school everyone hates and leaves out.
Yes. I re-watched his scene with Kate. Here she is, refusing to go back even though she understands everyone on the island will die if she doesn't (not that I understand that logic yet), and she still refuses. Then she has the gall to ask John if he's ever loved someone.
She is evil. She's Ben x 1,000,000.
He may end up being the Christ-figure of the show, the misunderstood Messiah.
At this point, yes. The writers are laying that on pretty thick. Although this show has had several figures like that, from time to time. Jack and Des have both played that role, and Cholly did in his swan-song as well.
20. Michele
- 02/27/2009 10:36 pm CST
Yes, I meant John.
I'm re-thinking my initial idea about Walt and Helen; that they dealt with them this week just so the fans would shut-up about them. They've got to bring Walt back in. The kid was always showing up, wet, babbling, and for what? He also had that mysterious specialness that was never used for anything or explained fully. As for Helen--I'm starting to think maybe they killed her so Locke wouldn't be tempted to stay. Or perhaps just hid her away. Anyhoo, just some thoughts.
21. TheCalvinator
- 02/28/2009 10:53 am CST
What if Helen isn't really dead? What if Whidmore faked the tombstone just so Locke wouldn't be tempted to abandon the island and find her?
On this show, nobody's dead unless you see the body in the casket. And that's not even a sure bet any more.
22. Quaid
- 02/28/2009 11:18 am CST
"Here she is, refusing to go back even though she understands everyone on the island will die if she doesn't . . ."
I don't know that she believed this to be true - I thought that she doubted John just like Jack did. Sure, she could have been much nicer to him, but I don't think she was being super-selfish, just doubting the veracity of Locke's claim. Why would she have any more clue about why her going back would save everyone moreso than any of us? From what I can remember, Locke is the first non-O6 person to contact her with any association to the island after her return. I don't think she was being selfish - just doubtful. As I said, though - she could have been nicer.
"On this show, nobody's dead unless you see the body in the casket. And that's not even a sure bet any more."
That was up in the air from the get-go. As soon as Christian's empty coffin was discovered sans body, and we see him trotting around the island appearing to Jack, et. al., we realized nothing is as it seems on this show.
23. Bill
- 02/28/2009 11:21 am CST
Yes, nothing is as it seems.
Re Kate - she's a murderer, so I thought it was pretty hypocritical of her to be so snarky with John.
But I admit I'm biased against her. Her character is dead to me.
24. TheCalvinator
- 02/28/2009 5:37 pm CST
That was up in the air from the get-go. As soon as Christian's empty coffin was discovered sans body, and we see him trotting around the island appearing to Jack, et. al., we realized nothing is as it seems on this show.
I'm pretty sure the Christian we have seen on the island and appearing to Jack in California is nothing more than a manifestation of the island itself.
Then again, with Locke's "resurrection," it may be that Christian came back to life as well.
25. Quaid
- 03/01/2009 8:55 am CST
"Then again, with Locke's "resurrection," it may be that Christian came back to life as well."
I'm not so certain . . . If Locke came to life in the same exact situation as Christian was in, why should we believe that Christian wasn't alive? I think we've been led to believe that where Locke is is where Christian was.
So the real questions are:
1. Was Christian really alive?
2. If so, is Christian alive now? (Can there be more than one resurrected soul on the island?)
3. If Christian was not alive, is John alive or is he also just a manifestation?
4. If Christian was not alive and was merely a manifestation AND if John is alive and he is not a manifestation, what is the explanation for their two different states given their two equal series of events leading them to arrive on the island?
Remember - they aren't coincidentally related. Locke had to have Christian's shoes.
27. Bill
- 03/01/2009 7:08 pm CST
"It doesn't seem quite as evil if you think about it that way."
Hey, you're right! Ben's good! Ben's good!
28. Brandon Milan
- 03/01/2009 7:51 pm CST
I'm pretty sure that there are only three truly good characters on the entire show:
1. Jin - although initially he seemed evil, once you saw his flashback in the first or second season, he was clearly good... he was just trying to protect Jin
2. Hurley - he's crazy, yeah, but he's clearly the moral compass on the show...
3. Desmond - he's probably my favorite character, and perhaps one of the most interesting... i kinda hope that Ben killed Penny and that Desmond comes to the island and kicks Ben's tail at some point before the series is over...
Leave a Comment:
Remember those first season episodes when Locke was a bad-action survivalist dude? Now he's a whiny baby I hope gets killed again and stays dead.
He's weak and vulnerable and exceedingly annoying.
Ben is evil.
Widmore is evil.
Jack's awesomeness increases exponentially with every successive episode.