69 - Observations of LOST 0607: Dr Linus
“Napoleon faced his greatest test, because exile wasn’t the worst of his fate - what was truly devastating to him was the loss of his power. Without any power it was meaningless. He might just as well have been dead.”
For a show with only ten or so episodes left, Lost sure knows how to pack as much content in as possible. In this tightly packed and swift paced episode, even a scene-setting European history lesson from Dr Linus provides a giant hulking nod to his on-island antics - perhaps subtle, if you’re still not paying attention to ever slither of dialogue.
As we witness more flashsideways, we’re finally starting to realise why they even exist; Ben’s alternate timeline, more than any other so far, shows the true duality that this gimmick can present. On the island, Ben trade’s his daughter’s life for his personal power - in his X universe, he puts Alex’s college success (not so subtly refered to as “only my entire life!” in a melodramatic strop) ahead of his own power.
Plus, more and more we start to see that perhaps this alternate timeline is something that Jacob or the Man in Black or The Island can give to the Losties - a second chance, but with some compromises. Sayid gets Nadia back, but can’t be with her. Locke gets Helen back, but is stuck in a wheelchair. Ben keeps Alex alive, but loses his power.
Not that he has much power on the island anymore - his fall from baton-wielding, answer-withholding, ultimate evil with insidious eyes to a snivelling, regretful sob story has been swift and harsh. This episode was just punch after punch; being put on detention duty, having his blackmail plan thwarted, digging his own grave, being knocked back by Miles and finally, that scene on the beach, where everyone’s hugging and embracing - except Ben - was more than a little heartbreaking.
But it all made for a great episode. Despite the fact that Lost needs to wrap up about a thousand different plot threads and fill in about a hundred plotholes, it hasn’t lost sight of the tightly crafted character studies that the show has been about since episode 1. Although we haven’t seen the end of Ben, I feel safe that we’re not going to leave without him getting a prim and proper conclusion.
Speaking of conclusions; Widmore eh? Phwoar! That big, ugly, evil brute has found the Island and is about to plow into the beach at full pelt, it seems. I’m having to temper my enthusiasm though, because I know we won’t follow up on this plot point for at least another episode. I’m sure next week will open on Claire or Kate or some shit. Also - where the heck is Sawyer? Last we saw he was in a cave and broke the ladder, which was probably the only way to access it!
Random Observations:
- As usual, Miles and Hurley provide the laughs - the latter by accusing never-ageing Richard of being The Terminator or a Vampire.
- Ooh, apparently if Jacob touched you, you can’t die - according to Richard. I’d like to say that makes Jack, Kate, Sawyer, The Kwons, Illiana and Hurley safe, but Jacob did his magical touch thing on old Locke, and look where that’s gotten him.
- It was nice to see an actual new character in the flashsideways, instead of recycling an old friend. I’m surprised we didn’t see Frogurt as the principal. Or Vincent the dog.
- And it was William Atherton no less! Walter “This man has no dick” Peck from Ghostbusters and the asshole reporter from Die Hard. Good times.
- I like the little references to Lost moments of time-gone-by. Miles finding Nikki and Paulo’s diamonds (and knowing they were buried alive, thanks to his talent) was a nice nod to one of TV’s most disliked duos.
- Seriously, where’s Desmond.
