Lost 5.05 This PLace is Death
Feb. 12th, 2009 03:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakIn which Ben's way of being economical with the truth makes me happy, but events concerning Charlotte do not.
Things felt somewhat disconnected this episode, though there was actually a red thread throughout. To start on the negative side of things, Charlotte better becomes the female Ethan (i.e. a character who shows up far more post mortem then before and gets all the good character scenes once they're gone), because otherwise, what a waste of a character, having to spent most of her stint on lost for Daniel to moon about and to cause him angst without being allowed to do anything useful. With her island childhood backstory, and a good actress, I expected to much more. Mind you, I might still get it. See also: Ethan, Christian Shephard, and now Danielle Rousseau as well. But if not, grr, argh. Couldn't we have killed Daniel instead? I sure felt like it.
On the better side of things, the woman playing young Danielle impressed me this week, going from concerned and sane to someone close to Furlan!Danielle as we meet her in season 1, in the space of a few scenes. Her insisting her child is a daughter and the name talk with Robert was suitably poignant. Though we're not wiser as to what caused the final killing each other frenzy; given the fact we already did the atom bomb as a symbol for humanity's fall, I suspect biological weapons are next (we know they were on the island, due to the fourth season episode "The Other Woman"), and they were what affected Robert near the end. Before that, the smoke monster brought back the scary in a big way. And poor Jin basically could do nothing but witness, though he (temporarily) did help Danielle.
Speaking of Jin: I find it interesting that Sawyer and Juliet never once raised the subject that Jin brings up almost immediately, and probably would have even if Charlotte hadn't warned him - bringing back the O6 might be better for the island, but is it better for them? (Well, we know a bit about their not so happy existence, but the islanders don't.) Specifically, Jin doesn't want Sun on ye dear old death trap in green, and who can blame him? What did surprise me was that Locke apparantly kept his word, because I thought his promise was pure pragmatism (as Jin wouldn't have let him go otherwise). Also, can I be inappropriately amused and gratified that the symbol of marital devotion passes from Jin to Locke to Ben to Sun in this episode, thus uniting the two twosomes in whose togetherness I'm most invested in?
Which brings me to: Ben having edited the truth for Jack re: post-island encounters with Locke, as![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
wee_warrior has surmised he might have. Oh Ben, you incorrigible liar, I do love you a lot. And I'm really relieved the prospect of more Emerson 'n O'Quinn scenes is with us once again, and that the island, cruel mistress that she might be, did reunite her two most faithful worshippers. While I never can make up my mind as to how much Dead Christian Shephard Walking speaks for himself, and how much for the island, he has become my favourite member of the Shephard clan for sheer entertainment value and post-mortem bitchiness. "I suppose that's what sacrifice means." Quite. And see, this is where John Locke is no hypocrite; he might have gone Abraham on poor Boone a few seasons ago, but he is absolutely willing to do the same thing to himself if it saves the island.
Sun: did not mention Charles Widmore, which I approve of. I want her to keep some info for herself and play a double game; I do not want her to be played by Ben, or only if she gets to play him back.
Kate: was barely in it but in the few seconds where she said a pissed off goodbye to Jack was way better than being a damsel in distress all the time last episode. See, this is the kind of Kate and Jack interaction I approve of.
Jack: was a tool. 'Nuff said.
Eloise Hawking: the identity was not exactly a surprise to the audience though it was to Desmond. I'm 99% sure she's also identical with young Ellie whom Daniel interacted with two episodes ago on the island and told she reminded him of someone. Given she knew young Charles Widmore, and these days is a Ben ally who rather seems to regard Ben as a minion than vice versa (she calls him "Benjamin" in the same tone Widmore used), I suspect she might have been instrumental in removing Charles W. from the island to begin with. It's about time we get a female mastermind as well. Also, Fionnula Flannagan is always wonderful to watch.
Things felt somewhat disconnected this episode, though there was actually a red thread throughout. To start on the negative side of things, Charlotte better becomes the female Ethan (i.e. a character who shows up far more post mortem then before and gets all the good character scenes once they're gone), because otherwise, what a waste of a character, having to spent most of her stint on lost for Daniel to moon about and to cause him angst without being allowed to do anything useful. With her island childhood backstory, and a good actress, I expected to much more. Mind you, I might still get it. See also: Ethan, Christian Shephard, and now Danielle Rousseau as well. But if not, grr, argh. Couldn't we have killed Daniel instead? I sure felt like it.
On the better side of things, the woman playing young Danielle impressed me this week, going from concerned and sane to someone close to Furlan!Danielle as we meet her in season 1, in the space of a few scenes. Her insisting her child is a daughter and the name talk with Robert was suitably poignant. Though we're not wiser as to what caused the final killing each other frenzy; given the fact we already did the atom bomb as a symbol for humanity's fall, I suspect biological weapons are next (we know they were on the island, due to the fourth season episode "The Other Woman"), and they were what affected Robert near the end. Before that, the smoke monster brought back the scary in a big way. And poor Jin basically could do nothing but witness, though he (temporarily) did help Danielle.
Speaking of Jin: I find it interesting that Sawyer and Juliet never once raised the subject that Jin brings up almost immediately, and probably would have even if Charlotte hadn't warned him - bringing back the O6 might be better for the island, but is it better for them? (Well, we know a bit about their not so happy existence, but the islanders don't.) Specifically, Jin doesn't want Sun on ye dear old death trap in green, and who can blame him? What did surprise me was that Locke apparantly kept his word, because I thought his promise was pure pragmatism (as Jin wouldn't have let him go otherwise). Also, can I be inappropriately amused and gratified that the symbol of marital devotion passes from Jin to Locke to Ben to Sun in this episode, thus uniting the two twosomes in whose togetherness I'm most invested in?
Which brings me to: Ben having edited the truth for Jack re: post-island encounters with Locke, as
wee_warrior has surmised he might have. Oh Ben, you incorrigible liar, I do love you a lot. And I'm really relieved the prospect of more Emerson 'n O'Quinn scenes is with us once again, and that the island, cruel mistress that she might be, did reunite her two most faithful worshippers. While I never can make up my mind as to how much Dead Christian Shephard Walking speaks for himself, and how much for the island, he has become my favourite member of the Shephard clan for sheer entertainment value and post-mortem bitchiness. "I suppose that's what sacrifice means." Quite. And see, this is where John Locke is no hypocrite; he might have gone Abraham on poor Boone a few seasons ago, but he is absolutely willing to do the same thing to himself if it saves the island. Sun: did not mention Charles Widmore, which I approve of. I want her to keep some info for herself and play a double game; I do not want her to be played by Ben, or only if she gets to play him back.
Kate: was barely in it but in the few seconds where she said a pissed off goodbye to Jack was way better than being a damsel in distress all the time last episode. See, this is the kind of Kate and Jack interaction I approve of.
Jack: was a tool. 'Nuff said.
Eloise Hawking: the identity was not exactly a surprise to the audience though it was to Desmond. I'm 99% sure she's also identical with young Ellie whom Daniel interacted with two episodes ago on the island and told she reminded him of someone. Given she knew young Charles Widmore, and these days is a Ben ally who rather seems to regard Ben as a minion than vice versa (she calls him "Benjamin" in the same tone Widmore used), I suspect she might have been instrumental in removing Charles W. from the island to begin with. It's about time we get a female mastermind as well. Also, Fionnula Flannagan is always wonderful to watch.
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no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 02:37 pm (UTC)About Ms. Hawking: I found it interesting that Ben didn't know she was Daniel's mother (in addition to being completely surprised that Desmond was there). And I just now notice the irony if Fionnula Flanagan is indeed playing an Other.
Randomly, I liked Juliet thanking Locke for trying to help them, that was a nice touch.
And lastly, when Rousseau said "This is where Montand lost his arm." I didn't expect it to be quite that much of an understatement.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 02:47 pm (UTC)Ah, okay, that changes circumstances - somewhat. Still. *is disgruntled anyway*
Fionnula Flanagan/Other: I bet the writers, being geeks, felt very smug about that bit.:)
About Ms. Hawking: I found it interesting that Ben didn't know she was Daniel's mother (in addition to being completely surprised that Desmond was there).
Remind me, did Ben ever meet Daniel? I don't think so. He met Charlotte (and tried to shoot same), and Miles, but I think Daniel was at the beach all the time when Ben was still on the island, right? He still would have known his name via Michael, but since Eloise has a different surname, might not have made the connection. After all, Daniel's time travel expertise is reason enough for Widmore to hire him.
Juliet thanking Locke: yes, and a nice contrast to Ben losing it with the O6 in the car...
And lastly, when Rousseau said "This is where Montand lost his arm." I didn't expect it to be quite that much of an understatement.
Compared with the French, the Castaways had a nice few days, clearly...
no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 03:24 pm (UTC)Well, whatever happened in this particular case, there's no denying that the writers have a few problems with their female characters in general. We basically only have three major female characters with their own storylines (with one that's horribly written) and very few women with important positions that actually stay around. Of course, they tend to kill off the seasonal guest casts pretty thoroughly in general, but I don't think Ms. Klugh was of equal importance as Tom, for instance. Not to mention that so far, no women seem to figure into the show's mythology (other than by being dead) and that's problematic in itself. Grrr.
Remind me, did Ben ever meet Daniel?
No, but he clearly knew about him, and given Widmore's connection to Dan, I figured he would have some background info on that. (Btw, my own crazy theory on that connectiomn is that Hawking and Widmore are actually... siblings, at least if she's Ellie. They were totally behaving as such in Jughead! Then again, maybe I just miss Heroes.)
(And speaking of Ellie/Eloise, I really liked Desmond's reaction to the name. I mean, Dan named his rat after his mother. That's...special.)
Ben losing it with the O6 in the car...
...possibly the funniest scene in the entire episode.
Compared with the French, the Castaways had a nice few days, clearly...
No wonder poor Danielle later forgot that she had already met Jin.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 04:12 pm (UTC)Ben knowing about Daniel: yes, but did he know more than what he could have found out via Michael? Widmore is allowed to keep a few secrets, after all.
Siblings, huh? Hadn't thought of that, but yes, I could see that.
...possibly the funniest scene in the entire episode.
*g* Complete with Sun's and Jack's reactions.
And speaking of Ellie/Eloise, I really liked Desmond's reaction to the name. I mean, Dan named his rat after his mother. That's...special.
Very. Why do I think this might not be the most harmonious mother/son relationship? (Maybe I miss Heroes too. Though not enough to break my fannish heart further by watching. I so made the right decision there.)
no subject
Date: 2009-02-13 01:47 pm (UTC)*g*
(Maybe I miss Heroes too. Though not enough to break my fannish heart further by watching. I so made the right decision there.)
From what I'm hearing, yes, yes, you did.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 03:00 pm (UTC)I loved Sawyer's clinging to the rope through the flash, and his attempt to dig Locke out. And Encino Man is a tool and he needs to not be there.
Also, in shallower news, Desmond walking up to the group just reeked of hotness. What can I say, I will always gawk at teh pretteh, hee!
no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 03:18 pm (UTC)Locke: I think every fall would bring back that particular memory to Locke. However, he got his leg broken again, and once he's off the island, the healing factor will probably be gone (though we don't know for sure - I guess we'll find out in future episodes!), which means he's paralyzed once more - nothing to look forward to.
Sawyer: true, and shows how much he changed since the pilot.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 03:44 pm (UTC)And good point about every fall giving Locke flashbacks to 'the' fall, I hadn't thought of that.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 03:41 pm (UTC)Definitely, though I have to admit I prefer the beard.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 03:45 pm (UTC)I think I prefer him beardless, or with a little bit of scruff to him. However, I think my favorite was nekkid!Desmond running through the jungle. Yes, please! :)
no subject
Date: 2009-02-13 01:48 pm (UTC)