Locke is listening. Souce: ABC
This episode of LOST (‘Dr. Linus’) picks up on the island right where ‘Sundown’ left off. It opens with Ben running in fear – not a sight we see every day. It seems that Sundown-Sayid scared the bejeezus out of him. Ben must be remembering Sayid’s warning at the marina (in ‘He’s Our You’), “If I see you again, it will be extremely unpleasant for both of us.” The next time they see each other, of course, is the episode where Sayid shoots little Ben – so Ben’s not taking any chances. He happens upon Ilana and company traveling through the jungle and he rushes to join them. Scared and alone, Ben proposes the idea to return to the beach camp where our story started.
Cut to the sideways timeline, and Ben is now Dr. Linus, teaching public school with his doctorate in Modern European History. His opening line: “It was on this island that everything changed. That everything finally became clear.” From your lips to Darlton’s ears, dear Benry!
“Taking care of the kids – that’s what’s important.” –Dr. Linus
Ben begins a discussion about school budget and policy with fellow teacher Leslie Arzt when lo and behold ‘The Substitute' takes an interest in what they have to say. And who is it that puts delusions of grandeur into Ben’s head, but Locke – or is it?
Alex and Ben bond in sideways-land. Source: ABC
In the sideways timeline, Ben is a changed man. He seems truly committed to his students (especially history club member Alex Rousseau), and he cares for his aging father (yes, that father). Dear daddy has changed as well as he alludes to how much he wanted for Ben in life. He discusses joining the Dharma Initiative and taking Ben with him to the island, but leaving and having regrets over how different their lives might have been if they’d stayed. Looking directly at Ben, Roger Linus says, “Who knows what you would have become.” Those words have echoed in my head for days.
Back on the island, Sun has some face time with Ilana and learns that she may be a candidate – specifically to replace Jacob. (Thanks for the confirmation, Ilana. Thanks also for letting us know that there are “six left.” Now of the Oceanic survivors touched by Jacob in Season 5, not already crossed out in the Cave of Names, and not on Team Smokey … how exactly do you calculate six? Me thinks there’s a big piece of this puzzle still missing.)
4 – Locke
8 – Reyes
15 – Ford
16 – Jarrah
23 – Shephard
42 – Kwon (Sun and/or Jin?)
And just as an aside, with everyone sweating as they trod through the heat of the jungle, why is Sun always wearing a coat?
So Ben learns that Lapidus should have been the pilot of Oceanic flight 815 on that fateful day in 2004. He seems very interested, perhaps because it’s significant, or perhaps just because Ben desperately needs a friend and is attempting to make small talk. He shoots himself in the foot, however, and the conversation ends abruptly when Ben tells Lapidus that the island got him in the end, regardless.
“Right up until the second the knife went through his heart, [Jacob] was hoping he was wrong about you.” –Miles to Ben
Hurley and Jack begin making their way back from the lighthouse and are met by Richard. At Hurley’s prompting, Richard admits that despite the fact that he doesn’t age, he’s not a time traveler, cyborg, or vampire (take that, naysayers!). But it’s clear that Richard has lost faith. He leads them to the Black Rock and reveals that “everyone at the Temple is dead.” And when he learns that Hurley’s been talking to Jacob, Richard becomes agitated and decides to end his time on the island.
Without giving away all his secrets, Richard lets on that when Jacob touches you (as he did with Locke, Hurley, Sawyer, Sayid, Jack, Kate, Sun & Jin), “it’s considered a gift.” So does this mean that the LOSTies will live forever? Not necessarily. With Jacob gone, Richard feels that his entire life has no purpose, so he’s ready to cash in his chips. He cannot take his own life, but someone else can do it for him. Jack obliges and lights a stick of dynamite. Then he shocks both Richard and Hurley by sitting across from Richard to talk as the fuse burns.
The fuse extinguishes before reaching the stick of dynamite. Source: ABC
Jack has come to the conclusion that Jacob followed him all his life and brought him to the island for a purpose … and it wasn’t to die beside Richard. The fuse continues to burn as Jack talks, and he doesn’t seem entirely sure that he believes the words that are coming out of his mouth, but he sticks to his guns. Jack closes his eyes as tears well-up in them, and in that moment the man of science becomes a man of faith. The fuse extinguishes; his point is proven. As if he knew it all along, Jack jokes, “Want to try another stick?” And so Richard puts the little faith he has left into Jack – and they plan to “go back to where we started.”
“Linus, you’re a real killer.” –Arzt to Ben
Sideways Ben plans to blackmail Principal Reynolds and go after his job. And he’s got the goods on him too. But there’s a glitch (isn’t there always?). Ben must choose between advancing his own power and position over Alex and her hopes. Like the original timeline, Ben is put in a position where he can save Alex or throw her under the bus. And darn it if Ben doesn’t do the right thing. Without hesitation, he puts Alex’s needs above his own and assures her a promising future. My my, Dr. Linus, you are full of surprises.
Ben finds a similar redemption back on the island. When given the opportunity to escape and join Smokey at the Hydra Station, he first feels compelled to explain his actions to Ilana ... specifically why he killed Jacob. His face seems sincere, and I wasn’t able to pick out a single lie in his explanation, so I guess it’s possible that Ben may finally have discovered empathy and remorse. Ilana forgives his atrocity and promises, “I’ll have you.” Whether Ben is truly looking for redemption remains to be seen, but he does lay down his weapon and seemingly give up the fight – both literally and figuratively. I don’t think Smokey will be happy.
Widmore's submarine team spy people on the island. Souce: ABC
Speaking of Smokey, his ride may be on its way as Charles Widmore is in a sub just off the coast of the island. Is he the visitor Jacob spoke of when sending Hurley to the lighthouse? Or is Widmore headed to the Hydra to join forces with Locke?
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Final thought: Even after seeing poor Sayid last week, I’m still holding fast to the theory that these characters are better off in the sideways timeline. Although Sayid hit an incredibly rough patch, he could still be redeemed by his encounter with Jin in the freezer. Jin may end up being his saving grace. Well, one can hope anyway. There’s nothing positive about his island timeline either, so let’s say Sayid is in a holding pattern. But what actual time is the sideways timeline? Sideways does not mean parallel. And as reader Susan B. commented, “We don't really know what year it is on the island. Either the island is under water or it's not.”
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The next episode, “Recon,” airs March 16. So is that short for reconnaissance? Or, since it’s a Sawyer-centric episode, will we be treated to a re-con?
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Your opinion counts: How does Widmore’s return to the island figure into things? And who are the six candidates remaining to replace Jacob?
Examining all things LOST ... email your LOST questions or news to LOSTExaminer@earthlink.net.
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