SUN = ANNOYING
Sun, please join Kate in the Annoying Annex of Lost-dom.
The single interesting note regarding Sun comes from Ilana, who indicates she’s not sure who she needs to protect: Jin or Sun. This clearly signals Ilana is aware of the still-active crop of candidates, one of which we saw to be KWON a few weeks back (#42). Ilana also tells Ben Jacob was “like a father” to her, which signals to me she occupies a role similar to Richard: not quite a candidate but a chosen one regardless.
Her actions certainly seem to reflect a “goodness” in her aims, as she forgives Ben after he finally tells the truth for once in his life and begs to be let go to the only group that would be willing to take him in (Esau & co.). The look of empathetic pity she gives Ben is one of deluded faith in a false idol (Jacob), or clear proof that Jacob and his followers are out to protect mankind and the Island.
EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON
As I said earlier, the Island and X storylines seem to back up the concept of pre-ordained destiny shaping the lives of the castaways, and there’ve been enough unexplained events to keep that in play. The most obvious example given tonight was in Ben’s conversation with Frank, responding to Lapidus’ wondering where his life might’ve led if he hadn’t overslept and missed captaining Oceanic 815 with “the Island still got you in the end.” Course correction is at work, as Ms. Hawking would urge us to remember.
But at episode’s end, it comes down to a conscious choice on the part of Ben to set his course. Unlike his choice (albeit a bluff) to allow Alex’s execution in the original timeline, Dr. Linus makes the “right” choice and chooses to save Alex (her chances of Yale matriculation aren’t quite on par with her very life, but you get the idea) instead of taking the power of the principal position. A broken Island Ben, now without all the power he once craved, chooses to lay down his rifle and bare his soul to Ilana, shedding the last vestiges of the manipulative despot he once was.
It was a powerful moment; one that reinforces the concept of a second chance. If Ben had it to do all over again, he likely would have ceded power to save Alex’s life in the Island timeline. The X timeline is just that: a second chance. Maybe Jacob was right to put hope in Ben after all.
BACK TO THE BEACH
Ben speaks of nostalgia when he finds the Oceanic water bottle amid the tattered remains of Sawyer’s former beachfront hut, and it was that very sentiment that hit me when Hurley, Jack and Richard came walking around the bushes on the beach, a shot we saw how many times in the first season followed by hugs between reunited castaways?
MACHIAVELLIAN MACHINATIONS
Esau plays the Ben of old this week, trying to convince the former Uber Other to join him at the Hydra station and eventually take control of the Island once Smokey and his new followers leave the Island. You buying that? Me neither.
I also remember a couple of the Others in a hotel room a few seasons back, that couldn’t be killed…can’t remember details or even who it was.
Also, didn’t Jacob ask Ben to go get Richard because he had something to tell him….but then Ben killed Jacob.
I’m confused about all the Others that left the temple before Smokey got there…did they go out and join Smokey at that point? and that is why they were saved? or did they go somewhere else and are still somewhere on the island?
I, for one, like Sun, and can’t wait for Jin and her to be reunited…btw, where is Jin? no, not in the freezer…but on the island healing from the bear trap wound?
Guess my bad memory is just that! Thanks in advance for the “answers”
Having you for a commentator is the best set of “Cliffs Notes” any reader could ask for! THanks!
Yeah, Tom Friend and his lover, Armando (or something).
Jin was last seen in Claire’s Crazy Hut.