Napoleon and Dynamite

What an outstanding episode. We got a healthy dose of Ben, a (very) little bit of background on Richard Alpert, and we saw Jack smile—and not an “I’m frustrated and I don’t know how else to express it” smile, but a smile of genuine happiness, or peace. And that’s a rare thing indeed for Jack Shephard. (It’s Dr. Shephard, actually.)

“It’s Dr. Linus, Actually”
I’d like to audit a class taught by Dr. Linus; wouldn’t you? I mean, he seemed to really understand what it must have been like for Napoleon to be exiled to Elba—stranded on an island, stripped of his power…

Did you see how the writers set us up in Sideways World? Well, I fell for it. They snookered me good.

They set up the plot just like last week: showing us a gentler, kinder Ben Linus. Ben heats up organic microwave meals for his ailing father (who, did you notice, still refers to “the damn Dharma Initiative” with the same disdain he did on the island?) just as Sayid cared for Nadia and his brother Omer. Just as Sayid cared for his brother’s kids, Ben cares for his students—especially the student who is almost like a daughter to him. Almost.

Like Sayid’s Sideways story, Ben’s also took an ugly turn when he decided to blackmail his way into a position of power, prompting his co-conspirator, the annoying Leslie Arzt, to say, “You had me fooled with that sweater vest; Linus, you’re a real killer.” Speaking of being a “real killer,” that was the ugly shift in Sayid’s story. When Keamy told him that they could just forget about the fact that he had beaten up his brother, Sayid did what killers do. He killed.

The stage was set for Ben’s story to follow the same tragic arc. And then something happened. Ben…changed.

Ben sacrificed his opportunity to claim the position he wanted in order to ensure that Alex would have a chance at the future she deserved.

This is the greatest contrast we’ve seen between Sideways World and island life—when Ben allowed his daughter to be shot (by Keamy, ironically) because he didn’t want to risk losing his role as leader of the Others. And it was powerful.

It was Linus in the Statue with the Bloody Dagger
While Dr. Linus was sacrificing his own ambitions for the sake of Alex’s future over in Sideways World, on the island, Ben’s future was being sacrificed by Psychic Miles and “You killed my father figure” Ilana.

Again, the writers tricked me. First of all, I didn’t think Miles was going to reveal that Ben was Jacob’s killer. He did. And then I thought, “Ilana isn’t really going to kill Ben.” But now, I think she might have. I think she was giving him a chance to change. But as long as he kept trying to talk his way out of the consequences (to Ilana: “you can’t trust psychics…you know he tried to bribe me once”) or buy his way out (to Miles: “I can get off the island…and I have vast resources…people who can get you that money…”), he didn’t have a chance.

Then Locke showed up and promised Ben another chance at the one thing he’s always craved: power.

Locke: I’m gathering a group to leave the island for good. But when I leave, someone needs to be in charge.
Ben: Me?
Locke: I can’t think of a better man for the job.

But I don’t think these words impacted Ben as much as this revelation from Miles:

Ben: Ilana is going to murder me. For killing Jacob, a man who didn’t even care about being killed.
Miles: No, he cared. Right up until the second when the knife went through his heart, he was hoping he was wrong about you…I guess he wasn’t.

And that’s why I think Ben didn’t shoot Ilana. He told her he wasn’t shooting her because he wanted to explain. I think it was also because he wanted to think that maybe Jacob had been wrong about him. Maybe he wanted to believe that there was still hope for him. And he laid it all out for Ilana—speaking from his heart, and speaking honestly for once…

Ben: I want to explain that I know what you’re feeling.
Ilana: You have no idea.
Ben: I watched my daughter Alex die in front of me, and it was my fault. I had a chance to save her, and I chose the island over her. Only in the name of Jacob. I sacrificed everything for him. And he didn’t even care. Yeah, I stabbed him. I was so angry. Confused. I was terrified that I was about to lose the only thing that had ever mattered to me: my power. But the thing that really mattered was already gone. I’m sorry that I killed Jacob; I am. And I did not expect you to forgive me because I can never forgive myself.
Ilana: Then what do you want?
Ben: Just let me leave.
Ilana: Where will you go?
Ben: To Locke.
Ilana: Why?
Ben: Because he’s the only one who will have me.
Ilana: I’ll have you.

Yep, that scene gave me goosebumps—and I know it made others cry (you know who you are).

Emerson for the Win
One of the saddest things about the end of Lost is that we’ll probably never seen Michael Emerson in his element again. Sure, he’ll probably show up in other shows or movies, but there will never be a role better suited for him. There will never be another role that will put his acting chops on such vivid display. (Although maybe Jimmy Kimmel will continue to find ways to bring him on his show. Maybe he can continue to be Ben Linus there…in that reality.)

Locke Monster’s Plan
I’m convinced that Locke Monster didn’t care about installing Ben as the leader of the island after his departure; what does he care about the fate of the island after he leaves?

Instead, I think his plan was to kill Ilana. That’s why he put the rifle in the clearing (wouldn’t it have been easier to hide it a little closer to Ben?). That’s why he told Ben, “But don’t hesitate. She won’t.”

Just like he gave Ben the knife to stab Jacob, he provided the weapon to kill Ilana. Only this time, it didn’t work.

Why doesn’t Locke kill Ilana himself? Well, maybe he can’t. He couldn’t kill Jacob, and I suppose he can’t kill Jacob’s candidates either, or Richard or Ilana (whether, they’re candidates, bodyguards, or messengers, or whatever else they might be). I’m thinking the rule is: If Jacob touches them, they’re safe. From Locke Monster…and apparently, from themselves.

We are definitely seeing a trend in Locke Monster’s actions. He’s constantly appealing to whatever he thinks the other person wants most. For Sayid, it was Nadia. For Sawyer, it’s a way off the island, a chance to start over. For Claire, it’s a reunion with her baby. And Ben…a return to his position of power.

Only it was Ben, of all people, who didn’t take the bait.

Jack gets it exactly right
In “Lighthouse” Jacob said he can’t always jump into a cab and tell someone what they should do; sometimes he needs to let them stare out at the ocean for awhile. Well, Jack was the one doing the staring, and it looks like he figured out exactly what Jacob wanted him to.

So it is with great pleasure that I introduce to you the newest man of faith: Jack Shephard 3.0, a man who shows no fear when faced with a burning fuse of “mega-unstable” dynamite. A man who looks death in the face, and then shuts his eyes—completely at peace. A man who smiles when the fuse burns out, and a man who casually asks Richard, “Want to try another stick?”

This Jack is full of faith, which is sort of like Jack 2.0, only this Jack’s faith isn’t in a crazy scheme to blow up the island with an atomic bomb (which, as it turns out, might not have been a crazy scheme after all). Jack 3.0 has faith in…Jacob. And because of that, he has faith in himself.

Jack 3.0 doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do, but he’s willing to believe there has been a reason behind everything. Which, coincidentally, is what Richard had just started to doubt.

Richard: Jack, you should go with him.
Jack: No, I shouldn’t.
Richard: Then you’re going to die.
Jack: Actually, I don’t think either one of us is going to die. I just came from the lighthouse, where my name was etched into a dial that turned a mirror that somehow reflected the image of the house I grew up in. Jacob’s lighthouse. He got Hurley to bring me out there so I could see what was reflected in that mirror. For some reason he wanted me to know that he’d been watching me since I was a kid.
Richard: Why?
Jack: I have no idea why, but I’m willing to bet you that if Jacob went to that trouble, he brought me to this island for a reason, and it’s not to blow up with you right now.
Richard: That’s a pretty big risk you’re taking.
Jack: Yes.
Richard: What if you’re wrong?
Jack: I’m not.

That scene ends with Richard and Jack (both still very much alive) heading “back to where we started” (which, apparently, means the beach camp). And maybe, just maybe, Jack’s newfound faith has already started to rub off on Richard.

If nothing else, I don’t think Richard will be devising a new plan to off himself any time soon.

And Widmore spoils the moment…
Ordinarily, I like teasers at the end of an episode. So if this had been a typical episode, I would have loved learning at the very end that Widmore was submerged in a submarine just off the coast of the island…and yet, this episode felt so complete without it. I would have preferred it to end with Ben standing on the beach camp, as Jack and Hurley stumble back to the beach with their new companion, Richard Alpert—with both Ben and Richard feeling a combination of two feelings: the sense that they don’t quite belong, and the belief that they could.

But no, instead we got the glimpse of the periscope parting the waters. And when the periscope man informed Widmore that there were people on the beach, Widmore was not interested in stopping for them (Heck, he wasn’t even interested in taking a peek to see who they might be). He said simply, “Proceed as planned.”

And what is this plan of his? Keep reading…

Widmore’s Plan?
I can think of two things Widmore might be after. And both of them are bad news for our Losties.

You know how Locke Monster offered Ben a chance to be in charge of the island after Locke Monster and his friends bid the island adieu? Well, I wonder if Locke Monster made the same offer to Mr. Widmore. So maybe Widmore is coming to claim his throne.

I think Widmore might also be the key to Locke Monster’s trip home (wherever “home” is).

I believe it was in “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham” that Locke left the island only to find Widmore waiting for him in Tunisia. In that episode, Locke asked why Widmore was helping him. His response, “Because there’s a war coming, John. If you’re not back on the island, the wrong side is going to win.”

I’ve asked this before, but here it is again: Which “side” needed Locke to be on the island? Well, probably the side that planned to use his dead body to impersonate a candidate that could gain access to Jacob and compel Ben Linus to kill Jacob.

So…I think Widmore was in on this scheme all along. I’m guessing Jacob was responsible for Widmore’s banishment, and this is how he bought his return to the island. He made a deal with Mr. Evil Incarnate. Widmore agreed to make sure Locke’s body returned to the island and in return, Locke Monster made it possible for Widmore to return to the island (by offing Jacob, with a little help from Ben).

But what about Eloise? And Desmond? Penny? Are they on that sub with Widmore? I’m guessing the answer is no.

Snippets

Sun’s “I need to find my husband” refrain has replaced Michael’s “Walt!” scream from the earliest seasons. I want this Sun/Jin reunion to happen just so Sun will have a new line—and so she’ll quit annoying me.

Don’t you feel better about our Losties’ chances now that they have Richard Alpert and a reformed (we hope) Benjamin Linus in their camp? But who takes the lead now? Ilana? Or Jack?

I love that Miles dug up the diamonds from those “two jabronis,” Nikki and Paolo.

I also love that Hurley was dreaming about cheese curds.

So Richard did come to the island aboard The Black Rock.

Hurley: Don’t open that; there’s dynamite in there and it’s mega unstable.
Richard: I know.
Hurley: So did Dr. Arzt, and I was still wiping him out of my shirt two days later.

I admit, I was sort of hoping Dr. Arzt would find a way to get blown up in Sideways World. He’s not as annoying as Frogurt, but it’s close.

Interesting parallel: On the island, Locke Monster appeals to Ben’s longing for power… and in Sideways World, Substitute Locke encourages Ben to replace the principal—also appealing to Ben’s desire for a position of power.

Questions:
1 ) So why did Locke appear to Ben? Because he wants Ben to be in charge? (I doubt it.) Or because he wanted Ben to kill Ilana? (After all, he put the gun there.)

2 ) So if the answer is that he wanted Ben to kill Ilana, does that mean that he can’t kill her? Has she been “touched” by Jacob? Is she one of the 6 candidates? (I don’t think she’s a candidate, since she appears to be their bodyguard, but maybe I’m wrong…)

3 ) Who are the 6 candidates Ilana mentions?

4 ) Are we ever going to find out why Ilana was so badly bandaged when Jacob appeared to her and asked for her help at the end of Season 5?

5 ) When Widmore does come ashore, do you think he and Ben will still be enemies? I’m betting that Ben will be a little less concerned with their old power struggle, but I think they’re still going to be opposing one another.

6 ) Why did Ilana say Jacob was the closest thing she ever had to a father? What’s their history?

7 )That final scene, when Ben returned to the camp with Ilana and when Jack and Hurley returned with Richard, didn’t it remind you of season 1? With Frank building the fire. And Sun using a tarp to construct a tent? Didn’t it almost feel…normal?

8 ) I don’t think Eloise is completely out of the picture. But is she in cahoots with Widmore? Will she work against him? Will she lead Desmond (“The island is not finished with you, Desmond”) and Penny to the island? To stand against Widmore?