Lost 4.09

[selenak]

A Ben episode; which basically guarantees quality.



So, should we nickname this season like Farscape's season 3, season of death? That's another I definitely did not see coming. Alex. Good lord. Neither, apparantly, did Ben, and of course the next set-up mystery is "rules?!"?". As in, who set them up, what were they (other than the non-killing of daughters, which Charles Widmore has now broken), why were they ever kept in the first place, and how come Ben can't kill Charles in his flashforward? (Other than: because that would shorten the show.)

Current wild-running speculation, going by Charles Widmore addressing Ben as "boy" and the "all you have, you took from me": Charles Widmore was the original financer of the Dharma project. And the "taking" would be the "purge" (read: wholesale slaughter via gas) Ben and the "Hostiles" conducted in the Man behind the Curtain flashback. This still doesn't explain why Ben can't kill him, and I'm toying with a Dorian Gray explanation there, i.e. killing Charles would somehow result in dying at the same time, but I don't know whether they'll get that mystical on this show.

This episode does seem to settle two questions from the last ones, i.e. whether Ben or Widmore were telling the truth in the matter of who produced the fake sunk plane with the corpses, and whether or not Ben set Danielle and Karl up. He appears to be innocent in both cases, which had been my guess. Otoh, I'm entirely convinced that he did lie to Sayid about Bald Guy having been Nadia's killer; that whole thing was a very skillfully executed recruitment with the added bonus of getting one of Widmore's people killed.

Speaking of Nadia: as she was in Charlie's flashback last season, we knew she was still alive somewhere, and people wondered whether she and Sayid would reunite. But the season of death makes mincemeat of that idea, or rather, it says it happens and then kills her off. Between Jin (who at least has the option of maybe being alive on the island due to the fake death date on the tombstone), Karl, Danielle and Alex, that's five people in nine episodes. Good grief. And yet this really heightens the sense of danger and threat for the rest. (Other than the Oceanic 6.)

Over at the beach, Jack finds out that Daniel and Charlotte might have had no intention of killing them but didn't want to help them off the island, either, and gets a demonstration of the climate on board that freighter via a dead body. Is it me or does Bernard get more and more screentime this season? Which makes me happy, as I like him, but also makes me very worried for his survival. It would just be like the show to make him as endearing and important as possible (dealing out marriage advice to Jin, helping with his Morse skills here) and then killl him off.

The showdown at the compound was truly shocking, firstly with Alex' death, and secondly with the use of the smoke monster. When Ben started his little "she's not my daughter" speech, I was thinking of the rules, too, of those for tv and the genre, that is, and thought I knew where this was going - he would successfully outbluff the mercenaries, and Alex would never forgive him for having gambled with her life, thus creating further angst and tension. Storytelling wise, it was a masterstroke, because at this point, after his successes with the castaways and with Sayid in the future, we've all grown accustomed to Ben's manipulative skills and believe, as he does, that he can basically talk his way out of anything, persuade everyone. But here audience and Ben learn he can't, and Alex dies for it. It's a punch in the gut.

Then we get the smoke monster (btw, I might be wrong, but did we ever see it post Eko's death last season?) unleashed and killing the mercenaries like, well, a force of nature. Again, this begs the question that if Ben has such a weapon at his disposal, why did he never use it until now? Rules again or a price to be paid?

Ben's pseudonym in the future, err, in 2005: Dean Moriarty, which is amusing both because I hadn't pegged Ben as a Jack Kerouac reader. (Does this make Sayid into Sal Paradise?) "Moriarty" of course is also an allusion to Sherlock Holmes' foe.

One more thing: if Charles Widmore can say about Penny with some confidence "you'll never find her" as Ben can say about the island "you'll never find it", it stands to reason Penny in 2005 is not on the island, which probably means Desmond won't return there, either, but will reunite with her, and be... somewhere.

The survivors calling it quits with Locke after that one wasn't surprising; Hurley, ever the peace maker, being willing to go on the trip to Jacob wasn't, either. I was a bit afraid for Claire before Sawyer found her because she evidently isn't around in Kate's flashforward, but on the other hand whatever happens to Claire must have something to do with Jack, because he clearly guilt trips about Aaron, so this couldn't be it.

So: Saywer, Claire and Aaron go back to the beach and receive the happy news that there is no rescue coming from the freighter, Ben, Locke and Hurley are off to see the wizard Jacob, who probably will be elusive just because, and we still don't know what became of the Michael situation. Can't wait for next week!

Comments

[ide-cyan.livejournal.com]

Alex getting killed to lead Ben into a rampage was a total Women in Refrigerators moment. Especially with the "I'll kill YOUR daughter too" thing.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Oh, it was, but I still didn't expect it, for the above named reason, and thus I was shocked.

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

Alex: on the one hand I was shocked, on the other, I think it makes sense. They seem to use the current situation to get rid of most of the background characters on the island - and this is where I, like you, fear for someone like Bernard - and you just know that Ben can't have happiness. It's simply not his story. (Poor kid, though. That has been a spectacularly sucky last day.)

(btw, I might be wrong, but did we ever see it post Eko's death last season?)

It chased Juliet and Kate during Left Behind. Remember, the mud wrestling episode?

One more thing: if Charles Widmore can say about Penny with some confidence "you'll never find her" as Ben can say about the island "you'll never find it", it stands to reason Penny in 2005 is not on the island, which probably means Desmond won't return there, either, but will reunite with her, and be... somewhere.

Actually, I think that the scene was setting up the moment where Sayid leaves Ben's service post haste, i.e. the point where Ben wants him to take out Penny. He knows what she looks like and he probably heard more than his share about her while sticking with Desmond, not to mention that he was in the room during That Phonecall. This in connection with him having searched so long for Nadia, then found her and lost her again, which arguably is a parallel situation, should give him the strength to rebel. (And I think rebel he will have to.)

Granted, I also doubt that Desmond gets off the island, not least because he made it quite far out already. I mean, there is logic, and then there is irony, so I'm guessing he'll have to go back. (In addition, I doubt they want to get rid of the actor just yet, and if he is reunited with Penny his storyline is effectively over.)

Claire: this is very weird, but I wasn't even sure she had survived. I mean, yes, she is there, and talking to everyone, but Christian Shepard has been walking around since Season One and he was arguably dead from the start. And really, that was quite an explosion. (And wouldn't Jack guilt trip about Aaron were he to find out he was his nephew?)

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think that the scene was setting up the moment where Sayid leaves Ben's service post haste, i.e. the point where Ben wants him to take out Penny.

Oooh, good call.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Poor kid, though. That has been a spectacularly sucky last day.

Yes indeed. She sees her boyfriend and mother die in front of her, the last thing she hears is that her father doesn't love her, and then she is killed. Poor Alex.

Smoke Monster: oh, right, so it did. In restrospect, one wonders whether it didn't chase them because Ben and Juliet (who were still in cahoots at that point) had organized that.

Actually, I think that the scene was setting up the moment where Sayid leaves Ben's service post haste, i.e. the point where Ben wants him to take out Penny.

Sounds likely. Though this is assuming Ben will ask him too instead of trying to do it himself or using someone other than Sayid, because Ben should know better. But maybe he'll suffer from a case of hubris, and it will indeed be the breaking point for Sayid. BTW, loved that though he gets manipulated into it, Sayid is shown to enter Ben's service with his free will, not blackmailed like Michael the first time, and even asking for targets.

Dead Claire Walking: maybeeee. Christian Shephard didn't carry a living baby around in his post mortem appearances.

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

BTW, loved that though he gets manipulated into it, Sayid is shown to enter Ben's service with his free will

Me, too. Another good choice, I thought.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

*nods* It keeps Sayid from being just an exploited victim; he starts his assassin career with eyes open, and he would have had any number of other choices.

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

In restrospect, one wonders whether it didn't chase them because Ben and Juliet (who were still in cahoots at that point) had organized that.

I don't think so, since the Smoke monster attacking was the moment where Juliet threw her cover and removed the handcuffs to de-activate the fence. She really seemed rather panicked at that point. I also wonder if Smokey is completely controllable, since that would give Ben far too much power - and makes you wonder why he didn't just use it in the first place instead of ramping up the castle defense.

Though this is assuming Ben will ask him too instead of trying to do it himself or using someone other than Sayid, because Ben should know better.

On the first point, I believe he must definitely use a goon instead of doing it himself as that is what Widmore did - and he wants him to experience his pain, after all. On the second - I would definitely assume hubris, but I also don't think Ben would be able to know that Sayid might actually have some sort of emotional investment in Desmond's situation. At least I hope he has none of them bugged. (This brings me somewhat randomly around to the fact that they finally remembered The Elizabeth. Not that I believe Ben got off the island via boat - that doesn't make you end up nauseated in the Tunisian desert - but I was a little miffed that they just conveniently forgot about the thing.)

BTW, loved that though he gets manipulated into it, Sayid is shown to enter Ben's service with his free will, not blackmailed like Michael the first time, and even asking for targets.

Definitely. I wonder if he ponders the irony on occasion.

Christian Shephard didn't carry a living baby around in his post mortem appearances.

This of course is true. I guess then it was simply her contract that protected her. *g*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I also wonder if Smokey is completely controllable, since that would give Ben far too much power - and makes you wonder why he didn't just use it in the first place instead of ramping up the castle defense.

I wonder about that anyway. There must be a serious drawback for Ben.

I also don't think Ben would be able to know that Sayid might actually have some sort of emotional investment in Desmond's situation.

No, but he does know Sayid almost got himself killed by Elsa who was a professional assassin because he went with his heart; I very much doubt he has sent him after other women so far. And Penny is difficult to sell as someone evil and involved in Widmore's dastardly doings.

This brings me somewhat randomly around to the fact that they finally remembered The Elizabeth. Not that I believe Ben got off the island via boat - that doesn't make you end up nauseated in the Tunisian desert - but I was a little miffed that they just conveniently forgot about the thing

Yay for continuity. And yes, Ben clearly used some Rambaldi gizmo, err, some mysterious aparatus from the island to transport himself.

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

No, but he does know Sayid almost got himself killed by Elsa who was a professional assassin because he went with his heart; I very much doubt he has sent him after other women so far.

I thought he specifically referred to the fact that Sayid fell for Elsa, even though he was just meant to seduce her to get to her boss. If we are meant to think that the first instance of Sayid thinking with his heart not his head was marrying Nadia (which makes precious little sense, but the episode seems to indicate it), the remark is clearly about Sayid's love life causing trouble, not about his softness where women in general are concerned.

And Penny is difficult to sell as someone evil and involved in Widmore's dastardly doings.

Tell that to those people who are speculating that Penny is in cahoots with Daddy and playing Desmond even after The Constant.

And yes, Ben clearly used some Rambaldi gizmo, err, some mysterious aparatus from the island to transport himself.

It's so totally another Dharma Station. Which were probably developed by Milo R. back in the day.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

There are people who suspect Penny?!?

It's so totally another Dharma Station. Which were probably developed by Milo R. back in the day.

Definitely. And wasn't Tunisia also where Charlotte found the polar bear skeleton? (Another Dharma station symptom.)

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

There are people who suspect Penny?!?

Oh, yes. Which is something I would have found really unlikely before The Constant - it just seems so overly complicated, especially with the freighter not being allowed to take her calls and her not knowing Naomi - if it had been a setup, they simply would have pretended the freighter people were sent by her all the time, no? - but after that episode, I really don't get it. What do they think she cried and smiled for during that phonecall, the christmas elves? It's not as if Des had a videophone.

And wasn't Tunisia also where Charlotte found the polar bear skeleton?

Complete with Dharma collar, yes. Poor bear, that must have been the shock of its life.

Incidentally, did I make that up or did Ben have a wounded arm even before he fought the Raiders of the Lost Arc extras?

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

No way is Penny to blame. I would CRY if this were to be true. Usually I'm all for the characters with dark sides (see: my adoration of Ben), but I love Penny and Desmond's inherent goodness. It gives the show an emotional core that I think it needs.

Ben was wounded before he fought those dudes.

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

No way is Penny to blame. I would CRY if this were to be true.

I'm convinced it's nonsense, since it would literally make no sense at all. If she was meant to be ambivalent, they should have told Sonya Walger to play the phonecall differently.

It gives the show an emotional core that I think it needs.

I'd argue they, Bernard and Rose, Jin and Sun, and some of the friendships like Sawyer and Hurley do that, but Des and Penny definitely landed the "epic" part of the equation, 'tis true. Not to mention that it's astonishing they come across as genuine as opposed to some sort of construct.

Ben was wounded before he fought those dudes.

So it definitely was not only a flashforward, but he also travelled from another point in time than his present situation on the island. (I am guessing he time travelled as he needed confirmation of the year.)

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

SO MUCH BRILLIANCE

This was easily my favorite ep of the season, in a season that I already love. TONS of stuff happened, both narratively and emotionally. The standoff scene was incredible. The Lost writers were making a pact with us--Alex will live, because Ben is just that freaking awesome and he always wins--and then they changed the rules on both him and us. Fearless. They are freaking FEARLESS.

that whole thing was a very skillfully executed recruitment with the added bonus of getting one of Widmore's people killed.. ITA. His smirk (which is OMG so viddable) confirms this for me.

Again, this begs the question that if Ben has such a weapon at his disposal, why did he never use it until now? Rules again or a price to be paid? I don't know, and I love that I don't know. This moment was a grander reenactment of my absolute FAVORITE moment in the episode, an almost throwaway moment in an episode filled with brilliant decisions that nonetheless completely embodies Ben to me:

Ben is playing the piano--orchestrating, comtemplating, biding his time, plotting whatever. Outwardly peaceful, at ease, harmless. AND THEN. He hears about the break in. And what does he do? He reaches into his instrument of peace, of docility, the piano, and he removes a shotgun. A shotgun with which he could have threatened his supposed captors at anytime. And then he takes over, but not because he has the shotgun. Because that is his natural place, as puppet master.

It made the standoff that much more surprising and awesome.

Sorry for the rambling, but I just adored this episode. I don't think I could love the Ben character any more. But I felt that way last week, and, lo: I could. :)

Dang, I need a Ben icon.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

The Lost writers were making a pact with us--Alex will live, because Ben is just that freaking awesome and he always wins--and then they changed the rules on both him and us.

That's it exactly. When Bed said "he changed the rules" I thought "damn right, Lindelof did!" *g* But yes. It just knocks you out, the horror of it, the fact that neither Ben nor the audience even considered the possibility, and they should have, they really should have.

Ben, piano, shotgun: sums him up, that moment, doesn't it?

I need a Ben icon, too.

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Ben, piano, shotgun: sums him up, that moment, doesn't it?
Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I love it. It's the kind of compressed and symbolic storytelling that I usually look to vids for.

[misachan.livejournal.com]

What I thought was a really masterful stroke by the writers was that during that confrontation with Widmore the audience is with Ben all the way. For about five seconds he really is the hero of the story --- right until he brings up Penny. You could almost hear the audience turning on him.

I'm in deep denial about Roussou. I'm predicting right now that not only will Sayid turn on him when he finds out Ben is targeting Penny (I can't believe Sayid wouldn't do everyting in his power to keep Desmond from going through what he did with Nadia), but a scene later Ben will turn around to see Rousseou pointing a gun at him, and he'll have just enough time to acknowledge the justice of the situation before she blows him away.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

What I thought was a really masterful stroke by the writers was that during that confrontation with Widmore the audience is with Ben all the way. For about five seconds he really is the hero of the story --- right until he brings up Penny.

Yes, that was very clever. They're doing incredibly well with Ben so far, keeping him as a villain (as opposed to a redeemed antihero) and not excusing his utter dastardliness, with a reminder to the audience about same every now and then (as in this case), yet also showing us Ben as a three-dimensional character with three-dimensional motives.

Sayid: that seems to be the general consensus, and I agree.

Rousseau: well, she would be my prefered candidate for Ben's demise, too, as I will admit I'd have severely mixed feelings if it were Jack, Sawyer or another Castaway. Rousseau would be entirely difference. As to her living or dead status, well, until someone finds her body, we can hold out hope - after all, the mercenaries would have dragged Alex away before she could check.