The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that Christian Shepherd absolutely, positively has to be alive. Okay, maybe not "absolutely, positively," but I'm pretty sure and here's why. We know from the newspaper that the events of the flash forward take place in 2007. If this were the same reality they left, that would make three years since Jack accused his father of malpractice, prompting the latter to flee to Australia, where he died. At a minimum, therefore, the "new chief of surgery" couldn't be replacing Christian in that position, which would have been filled shortly after the latter vacated his post in 2004.
Some skeptics argue that Jack's reference to his father being "upstairs" was the ranting of an addict. As messed up as Jack seemed to be, he didn't strike me as so out of his mind that he'd forget his father was dead. Others apparently felt the same way -- Jack hadn't been stripped of his access to the hospital or his medical license so far as we're aware. Indeed, the new chief of surgery felt compelled to use exhaustion from the accident as an excuse to deny Jack's demand to operate. If Jack had been stripped of his operating privileges, the chief would have said so, end of story.
What cements it for me, however, is Jack's encounter at the pharmacy. Let's recall what happens, keeping in mind that Christian would have been dead for three years at this point. Jack has a dispute with the pharmacist, who refuses to fill his prescription after checking it on the computer against some kind of electronic database. Jack then presents her with Christian's scrip, which she says she'll have to verify by phone with Christian's office. But even if she hadn't telephoned -- and this is key -- she still would have checked the prescription against the same electronic database that she did with the first. And that database almost certainly would show if Christian were three years dead. Ergo, the Christian resurrection!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
When Alternate Realities Collide...
I've long believed that the events of the Lost Experience ("TLE") were meant to parallel what's happening on the show. I suspect, for example, that Ben imprisoned Jacob much like Thomas Mittelwerk did Alvar Hanso. But after the Season 3 finale's intriguing hints of a parallel "looking glass" reality, I think the connections may well run deeper and prove even more direct. Fans will recall that TLE was billed as an "alternate reality game." At the time, I interpreted this description as an attempt to capitalize on the popular ARG phenomenon, as well as a metaphorical comment on the effort to build a new world for Lost on-line. Now, however, I wonder if this characterization of TLE events as constituting an "alternate reality" was meant to be quite literal.
I'm not referring to the Island itself, which is more like a conduit between worlds. I submit that the survivors of Oceanic 815 left our reality when they crashed, then entered the alternative TLE reality when Naomi's freighter rescued them. The major clue for me is Christian being alive in the big flash forward. But even if Jack's references to his dad were the ravings of an addict, Kate's appearance sans disguise, driving a nice car and maybe even married(!) points to some pretty major changes. Then there's the funeral, which I'm assuming was for someone they (and we) knew well. We didn't learn precisely who because the deceased, unlike Jack, apparently adopted an alias upon returning to society. Maybe this person discovered that he/she was already dead or never existed in TLE reality...
Remember Geronimo Jackson, the band whose album we saw in the Swan Station? I'd never heard of them and neither had Charlie, despite being a self-professed expert in all things musical. Yet Rachel Blake (i.e., a TLE character who turned out to be Hanso's granddaughter) casually quoted a Geronimo Jackson song as if we'd be sure to get her reference. I believe this is because Geronimo Jackson (like Blake and Hanso both) actually originated in TLE reality. Admittedly, a few people in our world know of the band -- the writers and Eddie (i.e., the undercover cop who got a Geronimo Jackson t-shirt from his father). But these anomalous appearances are actually exceptions that probe the rule -- they suggest that TLE reality is bleeding into our own, presumably via the Island conduit...
So how does the Island serve as this bridge between alternative realities? Whether by freak of nature or advanced technology, the Island exists out of phase with TLE reality and our own, occupying both and neither simultaneously. As a result, people and things can cross from one world to the next via the Island -- the trick is finding it in the first place. My suspicion is that knowing the right physical location is not enough by itself. Access further requires that the Island be in phase with reality like guitar strings vibrating together in harmony. That's the significance of the Looking Glass code, which was the opening notes to Good Vibrations. It also explains Charlie's reference to the Flash, who traveled to parallel earths in the DC Multiverse by vibrating at different frequencies.
Another important clue along these lines may actually be the Numbers. Most interpretations focus on the symbolism of specific numerals or the mathematical relationships between them. Few, however, consider the significance of six, which is the total number of Numbers. It turns out that six is the minimum number of values required to specify the state of an object at any given moment in three-dimensional space -- three components of position plus three more of momentum or velocity. Sometimes, for statistical purposes, it's useful to imagine the object moving through a six-dimensional "phase space" wherein each point along its trajectory can be expressed as a list of six numbers describing a different state of the object in question. Here's a phase portrait of a simple pendulum:
Phase space is imaginary and can't be experienced like physical space. But the concept may nonetheless be crucial to finding the Island because it describes more than just physical location. Practically speaking, the Island must attain the proper energy state, as expressed by all six of the Numbers, to be in phase with (and thus visible to) both realities. The Swan Station was apparently designed to make the Island inaccessible by preventing it from reaching that energy state. When Desmond was late entering the code, Swan's containment system briefly failed, allowing the Island to reach an energy state that made it visible to Oceanic 815. Now that Swan has imploded, the Island may be permanently in phase, or cycling regularly in and out of phase, with our reality and TLE's.
But wait, you might be wondering, didn't TLE establish that the Numbers refer somehow to humanity's extinction? In fact, they do, and here's where things get really interesting. I mentioned in passing that depicting trajectories through imaginary phase space is sometimes useful for statistical purposes. More specifically, such phase portraits are used in all manner of fields to make probabilistic predictions about the future behavior of dynamical systems. Enzo Valenzetti was, of course, a mathematician and expert in probability. His eponymous equation could presumably be depicted as an abstract phase portrait. That's why the Numbers are the "core factors" of the Valenzetti -- they describe the starting point for the Apocalypse in 6-D phase space.
So why is the Island ground zero for this impending catastrophe? Ironically, it's the fault of the Dharma Initiative, which hailed from TLE reality. Somehow, in the course of studying the Island, the scientists inadvertently created a link with our world (i.e., the first Incident). That allowed people and things to cross over from our reality into TLE's -- and vice versa -- creating countless paradoxes large and small. The Swan Station was basically, as Kelvin suggests, a plug in a giant dam. It was meant to prevent further leakage between our two worlds, which Dharma realized -- too late -- would cause humanity's extinction in both realities. Unfortunately, Swan merely postponed the inevitable catastrophic merging of these twin realities, much like Desmond only delayed Charlie's demise.
The merging process resumed with the crash of Oceanic 815, when the Island briefly reached 4,8,15,16,23,42 due to Desmond's delay in entering the code. Now that Swan has imploded, and the Island occupies this six-Number state on a regular or permanent basis, the process should accelerate. Indeed, as several posters have noted, the purple sky that followed Swan's implosion echoes the "red sky" event in Crisis on Infinite Earths, which presaged the merging of the DC Multiverse into a unified reality, destroying all other parallel earths. The survivors of Oceanic 815 are merely one manifestation of a similar phenomenon. Another is people with special abilities like Desmond and Walt. In a nod to Donnie Darko, they're "living receivers" whose powers are meant to facilitate this merging of "tangent universes" into one.
So is it really inevitable that we all die as a result of this merging? That's where the analogy to Charlie saving Desmond comes back into play. Des wondered if taking Charlie's place might somehow free the latter from his cycle of inevitable death. Along similar lines, I wonder whether one reality might be preserved by somehow sacrificing its twin. In fact, if you really want to follow me down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass, consider the possibility that there's a hidden fight for the future presently taking place on Lost. Perhaps the end game of the show will be all about whether light or dark prevails when alternate realities collide...
I'm not referring to the Island itself, which is more like a conduit between worlds. I submit that the survivors of Oceanic 815 left our reality when they crashed, then entered the alternative TLE reality when Naomi's freighter rescued them. The major clue for me is Christian being alive in the big flash forward. But even if Jack's references to his dad were the ravings of an addict, Kate's appearance sans disguise, driving a nice car and maybe even married(!) points to some pretty major changes. Then there's the funeral, which I'm assuming was for someone they (and we) knew well. We didn't learn precisely who because the deceased, unlike Jack, apparently adopted an alias upon returning to society. Maybe this person discovered that he/she was already dead or never existed in TLE reality...
Remember Geronimo Jackson, the band whose album we saw in the Swan Station? I'd never heard of them and neither had Charlie, despite being a self-professed expert in all things musical. Yet Rachel Blake (i.e., a TLE character who turned out to be Hanso's granddaughter) casually quoted a Geronimo Jackson song as if we'd be sure to get her reference. I believe this is because Geronimo Jackson (like Blake and Hanso both) actually originated in TLE reality. Admittedly, a few people in our world know of the band -- the writers and Eddie (i.e., the undercover cop who got a Geronimo Jackson t-shirt from his father). But these anomalous appearances are actually exceptions that probe the rule -- they suggest that TLE reality is bleeding into our own, presumably via the Island conduit...
So how does the Island serve as this bridge between alternative realities? Whether by freak of nature or advanced technology, the Island exists out of phase with TLE reality and our own, occupying both and neither simultaneously. As a result, people and things can cross from one world to the next via the Island -- the trick is finding it in the first place. My suspicion is that knowing the right physical location is not enough by itself. Access further requires that the Island be in phase with reality like guitar strings vibrating together in harmony. That's the significance of the Looking Glass code, which was the opening notes to Good Vibrations. It also explains Charlie's reference to the Flash, who traveled to parallel earths in the DC Multiverse by vibrating at different frequencies.
Another important clue along these lines may actually be the Numbers. Most interpretations focus on the symbolism of specific numerals or the mathematical relationships between them. Few, however, consider the significance of six, which is the total number of Numbers. It turns out that six is the minimum number of values required to specify the state of an object at any given moment in three-dimensional space -- three components of position plus three more of momentum or velocity. Sometimes, for statistical purposes, it's useful to imagine the object moving through a six-dimensional "phase space" wherein each point along its trajectory can be expressed as a list of six numbers describing a different state of the object in question. Here's a phase portrait of a simple pendulum:
Phase space is imaginary and can't be experienced like physical space. But the concept may nonetheless be crucial to finding the Island because it describes more than just physical location. Practically speaking, the Island must attain the proper energy state, as expressed by all six of the Numbers, to be in phase with (and thus visible to) both realities. The Swan Station was apparently designed to make the Island inaccessible by preventing it from reaching that energy state. When Desmond was late entering the code, Swan's containment system briefly failed, allowing the Island to reach an energy state that made it visible to Oceanic 815. Now that Swan has imploded, the Island may be permanently in phase, or cycling regularly in and out of phase, with our reality and TLE's.
But wait, you might be wondering, didn't TLE establish that the Numbers refer somehow to humanity's extinction? In fact, they do, and here's where things get really interesting. I mentioned in passing that depicting trajectories through imaginary phase space is sometimes useful for statistical purposes. More specifically, such phase portraits are used in all manner of fields to make probabilistic predictions about the future behavior of dynamical systems. Enzo Valenzetti was, of course, a mathematician and expert in probability. His eponymous equation could presumably be depicted as an abstract phase portrait. That's why the Numbers are the "core factors" of the Valenzetti -- they describe the starting point for the Apocalypse in 6-D phase space.
So why is the Island ground zero for this impending catastrophe? Ironically, it's the fault of the Dharma Initiative, which hailed from TLE reality. Somehow, in the course of studying the Island, the scientists inadvertently created a link with our world (i.e., the first Incident). That allowed people and things to cross over from our reality into TLE's -- and vice versa -- creating countless paradoxes large and small. The Swan Station was basically, as Kelvin suggests, a plug in a giant dam. It was meant to prevent further leakage between our two worlds, which Dharma realized -- too late -- would cause humanity's extinction in both realities. Unfortunately, Swan merely postponed the inevitable catastrophic merging of these twin realities, much like Desmond only delayed Charlie's demise.
The merging process resumed with the crash of Oceanic 815, when the Island briefly reached 4,8,15,16,23,42 due to Desmond's delay in entering the code. Now that Swan has imploded, and the Island occupies this six-Number state on a regular or permanent basis, the process should accelerate. Indeed, as several posters have noted, the purple sky that followed Swan's implosion echoes the "red sky" event in Crisis on Infinite Earths, which presaged the merging of the DC Multiverse into a unified reality, destroying all other parallel earths. The survivors of Oceanic 815 are merely one manifestation of a similar phenomenon. Another is people with special abilities like Desmond and Walt. In a nod to Donnie Darko, they're "living receivers" whose powers are meant to facilitate this merging of "tangent universes" into one.
So is it really inevitable that we all die as a result of this merging? That's where the analogy to Charlie saving Desmond comes back into play. Des wondered if taking Charlie's place might somehow free the latter from his cycle of inevitable death. Along similar lines, I wonder whether one reality might be preserved by somehow sacrificing its twin. In fact, if you really want to follow me down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass, consider the possibility that there's a hidden fight for the future presently taking place on Lost. Perhaps the end game of the show will be all about whether light or dark prevails when alternate realities collide...
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Thoughts on Through the Looking Glass...
Memo to Heroes creator Tim Kring:
I sincerely hope you learned a thing or two from your buddy Damon last night, because Lost's brilliant Season 3 finale was pretty much everything Heroes' wasn't. Two taut and suspenseful hours, paced perfectly and filled with action -- just compare Peter and Sylar's anticlimactic showdown with the Others' ill-fated raid or Jack's bloody beat down of Ben. I dare say this was my favorite Lost finale thus far, surpassing both Walt's kidnapping and the implosion of Swan Station. And that's despite knowing what the huge twist -- the Snake in the Mailbox -- would be beforehand. I've been spoiled for all three finales, but this time the twist remained powerful despite my lack of surprise -- and perhaps in part because of it insofar as I was free to focus solely on the implications.
Let's begin on that last note -- what did you all think of the flash forward? Gotta say, add Foxy to the list of actors on this show who deserve serious Emmy consideration. I was actually a fan as far back as Party of Five, but his portrayal of a dude on a downward spiral was so credible -- Fox does drunk frighteningly well. The analogy that occurs to me is Nicholas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas, another darkly compelling depiction of addiction. Anyway, I'm curious how many of you who weren't spoiled saw the big twist coming. Did you think at any point that it might not be a flashback? I could see someone putting it together when they saw Jack sitting in the room full of maps...
The implications of their getting off the Island are, of course, staggering. Before we go there, however, I want to highlight two brief points. First, did you catch Jack's repeated references to his father? Christian is alive! Second, and relatedly, was it just coincidence that a car accident occurred just as Jack was about to jump off a bridge? It's almost like something was keeping Jack alive to fulfill some purpose. I'm also reminded of Hurley's string of bad luck after using the Numbers. Something is drawing Jack back to the Island, and I submit to you that this something is Fate. His descent into misery is the course correction for his regretful decision to get them rescued.
And what was so wrong with this seemingly noble act? Part of the answer goes back to Christian still being alive. My suspicion is that this isn't the result of some miracle of science. Rather, Jack and Co. didn't return to the same reality they departed from when they originally left Sydney and crashed on the Island. The big things are no doubt the same -- Al Gore isn't President and didn't personally strangle Osama Bin Laden in this reality, which was created when Des time traveled into the past. But there are small but significant differences that suggest our Losties don't belong in the reality they now inhabit -- and Jack knows it.
So what will next season look like? Presumably a portion will depict Jack's efforts to convince our key Losties to return with him to the Island -- but how much? Part of the reason I love this development is that it opens up so many narrative possibilities. At the same time, if handled poorly, the move could backfire spectacularly. I think it would be a big mistake, for example, to jump the main story forward in time like Battlestar Galactica did. My hope is that they will continue along the same timetable, chronicling the rescue just as they have all other events on the show, but replacing flashbacks with flash forwards that detail certain characters' efforts to return to the Island.
That strikes me as an appropriate balance and great way to keep the show fresh since the flashback format could easily get stale with three seasons to go. I could then see the main story and flash forwards intersecting naturally at the end of Season 5. It's also possible, of course, that they won't alter the format at all, that the flash forwards in the finale were just a one-time thing. Either way, kudos to the writers for having the creative boldness even to raise this possibility, which I would urge them to embrace as the format going forward. Here are some other questions/observations that I had:
* Why was Ben so adamant that they not leave? Does he realize they don't belong in Naomi's reality? Or has he had a flash of the future regarding their destiny on the Island?
* Whose funeral did Jack attend? My first thought was Sawyer, since Jack seemed to be expecting Kate. If so, however, why didn't she show? I also wonder if the empty funeral was supposed to underscore their failure to belong in this reality...
* Do they all leave the Island? Locke obviously acted to prevent their departure and presumably remained behind. But would their rescuers let them? I don't fully believe Ben's characterization of what Naomi's people would do (i.e., kill everyone on the Island) but Penny's comments do see to suggest that their motives aren't pure...
* On that last point, did anyone else find it odd that the Looking Glass terminal tuned automatically to a channel that Penny Widmore answered? The only thing I can think is that it was a link meant for her father, Charles Widmore...
* Also, am I correct that the Looking Glass was jamming the Others' transmissions? And, if so, how long has this been happening? Was Tom wrong when he attributed the Others' communications difficulties to the purple sky? That would certainly explain why Danielle's radio transmission was unaffected. But it also opens a huge can of worms because it suggests the purple sky wasn't and EMP...
* According to Ben, Dharma had only 40 members at the time of the Purge. Does that strike anyone else as low?
* Hilarious seeing how much Walt has grown since we last saw him on the show. I kept waiting for him to launch into that Brady Bunch song about your voice changing...
* I'm assuming, of course, that Locke actually witnessed Jacob, not Walt, while in the Dharma pit. Does anyone disagree?
* If Mikhail is such a loyalist, why did he save Naomi's life? Just to deprive them of the satellite phone?
* Charlie's death was handled really well -- loved how he used the Sharpie to deliver his last message NOT PENNY'S BOAT...
* Who was the musician who programmed the Looking Glass? I have to admit, the whole premise of the code being Good Vibrations cracked me up. Made me think of the scene from South Park where the character Towelie tries to remember the code to the base where he was created:
Wait a second...that's it!
That's the code?
Naw, that's the melody to Funky Town! Won't you take me down...to Funky Town...
LOL -- don't forget to bring a towel!
* Lastly, I'll be updating and substantially revising some of my favorite theories over the course of our upcoming long hiatus, starting with the Mind of Magnus, which will be ready shortly. So stay tuned -- there will be plenty to discuss in the dark months ahead!
I sincerely hope you learned a thing or two from your buddy Damon last night, because Lost's brilliant Season 3 finale was pretty much everything Heroes' wasn't. Two taut and suspenseful hours, paced perfectly and filled with action -- just compare Peter and Sylar's anticlimactic showdown with the Others' ill-fated raid or Jack's bloody beat down of Ben. I dare say this was my favorite Lost finale thus far, surpassing both Walt's kidnapping and the implosion of Swan Station. And that's despite knowing what the huge twist -- the Snake in the Mailbox -- would be beforehand. I've been spoiled for all three finales, but this time the twist remained powerful despite my lack of surprise -- and perhaps in part because of it insofar as I was free to focus solely on the implications.
Let's begin on that last note -- what did you all think of the flash forward? Gotta say, add Foxy to the list of actors on this show who deserve serious Emmy consideration. I was actually a fan as far back as Party of Five, but his portrayal of a dude on a downward spiral was so credible -- Fox does drunk frighteningly well. The analogy that occurs to me is Nicholas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas, another darkly compelling depiction of addiction. Anyway, I'm curious how many of you who weren't spoiled saw the big twist coming. Did you think at any point that it might not be a flashback? I could see someone putting it together when they saw Jack sitting in the room full of maps...
The implications of their getting off the Island are, of course, staggering. Before we go there, however, I want to highlight two brief points. First, did you catch Jack's repeated references to his father? Christian is alive! Second, and relatedly, was it just coincidence that a car accident occurred just as Jack was about to jump off a bridge? It's almost like something was keeping Jack alive to fulfill some purpose. I'm also reminded of Hurley's string of bad luck after using the Numbers. Something is drawing Jack back to the Island, and I submit to you that this something is Fate. His descent into misery is the course correction for his regretful decision to get them rescued.
And what was so wrong with this seemingly noble act? Part of the answer goes back to Christian still being alive. My suspicion is that this isn't the result of some miracle of science. Rather, Jack and Co. didn't return to the same reality they departed from when they originally left Sydney and crashed on the Island. The big things are no doubt the same -- Al Gore isn't President and didn't personally strangle Osama Bin Laden in this reality, which was created when Des time traveled into the past. But there are small but significant differences that suggest our Losties don't belong in the reality they now inhabit -- and Jack knows it.
So what will next season look like? Presumably a portion will depict Jack's efforts to convince our key Losties to return with him to the Island -- but how much? Part of the reason I love this development is that it opens up so many narrative possibilities. At the same time, if handled poorly, the move could backfire spectacularly. I think it would be a big mistake, for example, to jump the main story forward in time like Battlestar Galactica did. My hope is that they will continue along the same timetable, chronicling the rescue just as they have all other events on the show, but replacing flashbacks with flash forwards that detail certain characters' efforts to return to the Island.
That strikes me as an appropriate balance and great way to keep the show fresh since the flashback format could easily get stale with three seasons to go. I could then see the main story and flash forwards intersecting naturally at the end of Season 5. It's also possible, of course, that they won't alter the format at all, that the flash forwards in the finale were just a one-time thing. Either way, kudos to the writers for having the creative boldness even to raise this possibility, which I would urge them to embrace as the format going forward. Here are some other questions/observations that I had:
* Why was Ben so adamant that they not leave? Does he realize they don't belong in Naomi's reality? Or has he had a flash of the future regarding their destiny on the Island?
* Whose funeral did Jack attend? My first thought was Sawyer, since Jack seemed to be expecting Kate. If so, however, why didn't she show? I also wonder if the empty funeral was supposed to underscore their failure to belong in this reality...
* Do they all leave the Island? Locke obviously acted to prevent their departure and presumably remained behind. But would their rescuers let them? I don't fully believe Ben's characterization of what Naomi's people would do (i.e., kill everyone on the Island) but Penny's comments do see to suggest that their motives aren't pure...
* On that last point, did anyone else find it odd that the Looking Glass terminal tuned automatically to a channel that Penny Widmore answered? The only thing I can think is that it was a link meant for her father, Charles Widmore...
* Also, am I correct that the Looking Glass was jamming the Others' transmissions? And, if so, how long has this been happening? Was Tom wrong when he attributed the Others' communications difficulties to the purple sky? That would certainly explain why Danielle's radio transmission was unaffected. But it also opens a huge can of worms because it suggests the purple sky wasn't and EMP...
* According to Ben, Dharma had only 40 members at the time of the Purge. Does that strike anyone else as low?
* Hilarious seeing how much Walt has grown since we last saw him on the show. I kept waiting for him to launch into that Brady Bunch song about your voice changing...
* I'm assuming, of course, that Locke actually witnessed Jacob, not Walt, while in the Dharma pit. Does anyone disagree?
* If Mikhail is such a loyalist, why did he save Naomi's life? Just to deprive them of the satellite phone?
* Charlie's death was handled really well -- loved how he used the Sharpie to deliver his last message NOT PENNY'S BOAT...
* Who was the musician who programmed the Looking Glass? I have to admit, the whole premise of the code being Good Vibrations cracked me up. Made me think of the scene from South Park where the character Towelie tries to remember the code to the base where he was created:
Wait a second...that's it!
That's the code?
Naw, that's the melody to Funky Town! Won't you take me down...to Funky Town...
LOL -- don't forget to bring a towel!
* Lastly, I'll be updating and substantially revising some of my favorite theories over the course of our upcoming long hiatus, starting with the Mind of Magnus, which will be ready shortly. So stay tuned -- there will be plenty to discuss in the dark months ahead!
Monday, May 21, 2007
Podcast Question...
In the most recent podcast, Darlton suggest that the Looking Glass is the underwater station mentioned on Kelvin's map. My question is, what on earth are they talking about? I've spent more time than I'd care to admit examining the Blast Door Map and can't recall any reference to an underwater station. Anyone have any ideas?
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Thoughts on Through the Looking Glass...
Neither Charlie Pace nor the actor who plays him (i.e., Dominic Monaghan) has ever been my personal favorite. But I'll admit feeling more than a bit sentimental as I watched Charlie prepare to sacrifice himself for the greater good. It's testament to Dom's acting and the quality of the writing that Charlie's actions and emotions seemed so natural -- the episode could easily have slipped into the maudlin. I also loved the use of the list of his personal "greatest hits" to frame the flashbacks, something they've never done before. And even though I knew from Insider Scoop's synopsis that Charlie would make it through the Looking Glass, I still let out a breath of relief when he emerged from the diving pool to find the station miraculously unflooded.
The big plot point was obviously Desmond's vision of Claire and Aaron's rescue -- albeit at the cost of Charlie's life. I found it curious (not to mention frustrating) that we weren't privy to Desmond's flash of the future. My first thought was that seeing from Desmond's perspective would distract from Charlie's episode, though my friend MB suggests another disturbing possibility -- Des may not be telling the full truth about what he saw. Either way, I was struck by Desmond's suggestion that his taking Charlie's place might somehow break the cycle. My suspicion is that Desmond's suggestion was key, though not for the reason he thinks. Perhaps, like many of our Losties, Charlie makes his own luck and cannot be killed until he chooses.
Des seems to believe that he's the one defying fate every time Charlie is saved. But what if it's Charlie himself who has been affecting probability, spurring Desmond to intervene each time to save his life against all odds? Remember, Charlie survived a catastrophic plane crash and Ethan's hanging, all without Desmond's help. Perhaps, the only way for Charlie to seal his fate was for him to refuse Desmond's (improbable) offer to take his place. Anyway, here are some other comments/questions I had about last night's episode:
* Does this mean our Losties are finally going to get rescued from Craphole Island? And if so, what on (or off) Earth will the next three seasons be about?
* If they do get rescued, will some of our Losties (e.g., Locke) remain behind?
* And what of those who might make it off the Island? Don't forget Danielle's suggestion to Sayid way back in Season 1 that she killed her crew because she was concerned they might get rescued...
* Speaking of Danielle, when did she and Jack get together to talk about the dynamite? She went to the Black Rock back in Man From Tallahassee...
* What is the significance of Charlie's grandfather, Dexter Stratton? I've a hard time believing that name (and ring) won't figure again somehow in the story...
* How about that Looking Glass Station? Looked like something out of a Bond film -- e.g., The Spy Who Loved Me -- right down to the sexy female staffers who held poor Charlie at gunpoint. If ya gotta die, might as well be at the hands of someone hot...
The big plot point was obviously Desmond's vision of Claire and Aaron's rescue -- albeit at the cost of Charlie's life. I found it curious (not to mention frustrating) that we weren't privy to Desmond's flash of the future. My first thought was that seeing from Desmond's perspective would distract from Charlie's episode, though my friend MB suggests another disturbing possibility -- Des may not be telling the full truth about what he saw. Either way, I was struck by Desmond's suggestion that his taking Charlie's place might somehow break the cycle. My suspicion is that Desmond's suggestion was key, though not for the reason he thinks. Perhaps, like many of our Losties, Charlie makes his own luck and cannot be killed until he chooses.
Des seems to believe that he's the one defying fate every time Charlie is saved. But what if it's Charlie himself who has been affecting probability, spurring Desmond to intervene each time to save his life against all odds? Remember, Charlie survived a catastrophic plane crash and Ethan's hanging, all without Desmond's help. Perhaps, the only way for Charlie to seal his fate was for him to refuse Desmond's (improbable) offer to take his place. Anyway, here are some other comments/questions I had about last night's episode:
* Does this mean our Losties are finally going to get rescued from Craphole Island? And if so, what on (or off) Earth will the next three seasons be about?
* If they do get rescued, will some of our Losties (e.g., Locke) remain behind?
* And what of those who might make it off the Island? Don't forget Danielle's suggestion to Sayid way back in Season 1 that she killed her crew because she was concerned they might get rescued...
* Speaking of Danielle, when did she and Jack get together to talk about the dynamite? She went to the Black Rock back in Man From Tallahassee...
* What is the significance of Charlie's grandfather, Dexter Stratton? I've a hard time believing that name (and ring) won't figure again somehow in the story...
* How about that Looking Glass Station? Looked like something out of a Bond film -- e.g., The Spy Who Loved Me -- right down to the sexy female staffers who held poor Charlie at gunpoint. If ya gotta die, might as well be at the hands of someone hot...
Saturday, May 12, 2007
My Three Jacobs...
After our discussions here and others I've had on other sites, I think there are three main candidates for Jacob's ghost. I'm currently revising some existing theories and working on another that's new, so I'm curious which scenario you all find the most plausible. Keep in mind that the theories linked were both posted BEFORE recent events and thus wrong on a lot of details. That said, feel free to offer any general suggestions for revision and improvement.
1) Jacob is the ghost of Magnus Hanso. Ben's special ability is to channel the Mind of Magnus...
2) Jacob is Alvar Hanso, whom Ben has imprisoned in some ghost-like state.
3) Jacob and Alvar are brothers and the descendants of Magnus Hanso. Alvar eventually left the Island but Jacob remained behind. Eventually, Alvar returned and established the Dharma Initiative to determine whether humanity could co-exist with special people like them, who are destined to take humanity's place as the dominant species on this planet. Jacob was killed in the Incident and now longs to wipe out humanity to preserve His people.
So what do you think? Which of these general explanations do you prefer? My current favorite is some combination of one and three, but I'd love to hear your thoughts!
1) Jacob is the ghost of Magnus Hanso. Ben's special ability is to channel the Mind of Magnus...
2) Jacob is Alvar Hanso, whom Ben has imprisoned in some ghost-like state.
3) Jacob and Alvar are brothers and the descendants of Magnus Hanso. Alvar eventually left the Island but Jacob remained behind. Eventually, Alvar returned and established the Dharma Initiative to determine whether humanity could co-exist with special people like them, who are destined to take humanity's place as the dominant species on this planet. Jacob was killed in the Incident and now longs to wipe out humanity to preserve His people.
So what do you think? Which of these general explanations do you prefer? My current favorite is some combination of one and three, but I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Thoughts on The Man Behind the Curtain...
Holy guacamole, Batman, they fried my brain like a taquito last night! This was basically the episode that any theorist who ever speculated about the origins of Dharma and the Others has long awaited. And while it didn't answer all of the big mythological questions, I think we got enough to form some solid speculations about (as Marvin Gaye might say) what's goin' on. Some may say that the title of the episode is an allusion to illusion, and that Jacob does not actually exist. But, while I agree that Ben is lying mentally ill, I'm going to go out on a limb and say for the record that Jacob is 100% real.
More specifically, I think that Jacob is the electromagnetic consciousness of someone who died on Craphole Island. My guess is that He was a powerful psychic and the leader of the Others at the time of the first Incident, which probably killed Him. Maybe, like Dr. Manhattan in Watchmen, Jacob's body was obliterated but His electromagnetic "soul" persisted. Ben is presumably special because he alone among the Others can see and hear Jacob. That's where Ben's mental illness becomes relevant -- like Hurley or Tyler Durden, he has some combination of DID and schizophrenia. This brain structure makes Ben well suited to channel Jacob's consciousness and energy. Ben has become His mouthpiece, speaking for the dead. But who controls whom at this point?
My suspicion, which some of the Others (e.g., Richard) seem to share, is that Ben is holding Jacob's "ghost" prisoner in that remote cabin in the jungle, tapping His powerful mind to maintain power. That's why Ben is so threatened by Locke, who can also hear and see Jacob's ghost. That's also why Jacob's first words to Locke were "Help me" -- precisely what you might expect to hear from a prisoner. I once argued that the Lost Experience is basically a metaphor for the show. Recall that the main plot line involved a dude of dubious origins (i.e., Mittelwerk) taking control of the Hanso Foundation and imprisoning old Alvar Hanso himself. That's basically what's happening on the Island now. Ben has seized control of Jacob's foundation, holding Him prisoner and speaking in His name.
Here are some other things I noticed:
* What was that sandy substance that Locke stopped to inspect? Sure looked to me like a boundary of some sort. Could this be part of what keeps Jacob confined to his cabin? ETA: A poster named koralis speculates that it was a binding circle (used to conjure spirits) composed of the same material that messes with navigation on and around the Island.
* There was definitely a bearded figure in the room with Locke and Ben during the encounter with Jacob...
* How funny was it when Alex gave Locke the gun, then wished Ben a happy birthday? Makes me wonder if other Others have gone to see Jacob -- never to return...
* Ben may have lied about not being born on the Island but I thought it was interesting that he was delivered just outside of Portland -- i.e., Not in Portland, which was the name of Juliet's first flashback episode.
* Ben's teacher stressed that the Island's volcano erupted at some point in its distant past. My suspicion is that this eruption sealed the Fourtoes' civilization under ash and lava like Vesuvius did Pompeii and Herculaneum. Could this eruption have been the catastrophic course correction caused by the Fourtoes' efforts to manipulate fate?
* Has Richard Alpert aged at all since he first encountered Ben as a boy?
* Just how long had the Island's "original inhabitants" been living there prior to Dharma's arrival?
* Will we ever see the events mentioned on the Blast Door Map (e.g., the AH-MDG Incident) depicted on the show?
* Interesting how Ben's little girlfriend was named Annie, which also was one of Kate's aliases. I would say this is a stretch but that strange breakfast on the beach with Ben and Kate has always bothered me. Some connection would make sense, even if it seems improbable...
More specifically, I think that Jacob is the electromagnetic consciousness of someone who died on Craphole Island. My guess is that He was a powerful psychic and the leader of the Others at the time of the first Incident, which probably killed Him. Maybe, like Dr. Manhattan in Watchmen, Jacob's body was obliterated but His electromagnetic "soul" persisted. Ben is presumably special because he alone among the Others can see and hear Jacob. That's where Ben's mental illness becomes relevant -- like Hurley or Tyler Durden, he has some combination of DID and schizophrenia. This brain structure makes Ben well suited to channel Jacob's consciousness and energy. Ben has become His mouthpiece, speaking for the dead. But who controls whom at this point?
My suspicion, which some of the Others (e.g., Richard) seem to share, is that Ben is holding Jacob's "ghost" prisoner in that remote cabin in the jungle, tapping His powerful mind to maintain power. That's why Ben is so threatened by Locke, who can also hear and see Jacob's ghost. That's also why Jacob's first words to Locke were "Help me" -- precisely what you might expect to hear from a prisoner. I once argued that the Lost Experience is basically a metaphor for the show. Recall that the main plot line involved a dude of dubious origins (i.e., Mittelwerk) taking control of the Hanso Foundation and imprisoning old Alvar Hanso himself. That's basically what's happening on the Island now. Ben has seized control of Jacob's foundation, holding Him prisoner and speaking in His name.
Here are some other things I noticed:
* What was that sandy substance that Locke stopped to inspect? Sure looked to me like a boundary of some sort. Could this be part of what keeps Jacob confined to his cabin? ETA: A poster named koralis speculates that it was a binding circle (used to conjure spirits) composed of the same material that messes with navigation on and around the Island.
* There was definitely a bearded figure in the room with Locke and Ben during the encounter with Jacob...
* How funny was it when Alex gave Locke the gun, then wished Ben a happy birthday? Makes me wonder if other Others have gone to see Jacob -- never to return...
* Ben may have lied about not being born on the Island but I thought it was interesting that he was delivered just outside of Portland -- i.e., Not in Portland, which was the name of Juliet's first flashback episode.
* Ben's teacher stressed that the Island's volcano erupted at some point in its distant past. My suspicion is that this eruption sealed the Fourtoes' civilization under ash and lava like Vesuvius did Pompeii and Herculaneum. Could this eruption have been the catastrophic course correction caused by the Fourtoes' efforts to manipulate fate?
* Has Richard Alpert aged at all since he first encountered Ben as a boy?
* Just how long had the Island's "original inhabitants" been living there prior to Dharma's arrival?
* Will we ever see the events mentioned on the Blast Door Map (e.g., the AH-MDG Incident) depicted on the show?
* Interesting how Ben's little girlfriend was named Annie, which also was one of Kate's aliases. I would say this is a stretch but that strange breakfast on the beach with Ben and Kate has always bothered me. Some connection would make sense, even if it seems improbable...
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Smokey Is a Symbiote...
WARNING: SPIDERMAN 3 AND COMIC SPOILERS
Just in time for Spiderman 3, a quick speculation regarding Smokey, Mikhail, and the sonic fence. One of my favorite Spidey storylines involves an alien symbiote named Venom, who also figures prominently in the film. Venom survives by physically and mentally possessing hosts, who receive enhanced physical abilities in return. Spiderman originally encountered Venom as a black liquid that flowed over his body, actually forming a new costume as it merged with him. I think Smokey may be similarly symbiotic, seeding hosts like Mikhail with its constituent particles and enhancing their strength and health at the cost of mental slavery.
The big clue to this scenario is Mikhail's fake "death" from the sonic fence in Par Avion. Recall that Mikhail thanked Locke for pushing him through it -- a trip that apparently left the former unconscious but not dead. Perhaps Mikhail was merely happy that Locke had provided him with the opportunity to escape our Losties and whatever fate awaited him (and them) in Otherville. I suspect that's partly true but that the full truth is more complex. In Spiderman, the Venom symbiote is sensitive to sonic disturbances, which is how Spidey ultimately purges it from his system. In one memorable scene, having been tricked into re-merging with Venom (comic and movie spoilers -- highlight to read) Spidey uses the sound of ringing church bells to force a separation.
If the example of Venom is any guide, the sonic fence may actually have purged the Smokey symbiote from Mikhail's system, freeing him from the Island's hold and explaining his gratitude. Perhaps this is also why Mikhail was so intent on stealing Naomi's radio -- he senses this is his chance to escape the Island at last. More generally, I like this theory because it links back to pre-existing speculations that Smokey is a body snatcher (e.g., of Christian and Yemi). It appears, however, that a significant portion of the Smokey symbiote is required to reanimate the dead. By contrast, I'm guessing that exposure to even a few microscopic particles can trigger possession of the living.
To clarify, I'm not necessarily suggesting that Smokey is an extraterrestrial, though I also don't mean to rule out that scenario. It's possible that a meteor or comet crashed into the Island, bringing with it the Smokey symbiote. Maybe, like Charlie cracking the hornets' nest in Season 1, Dharma unleashed Smokey in the Incident, necessitating the sonic fence. Still, the alien possession scenario has been done to death. In my opinion, a somewhat fresher angle would be a swarm of symbiotic artificial intelligence -- i.e., a dark take on technological singularity. Maybe Smokey became conscious from exposure to the Island's energies, possessing the dead and living alike in service of some agenda -- but whose and what?
Locke referred to Smokey as the "eye" of the Island (and Danielle described it as a security system) which I've always interpreted to mean that Smokey is merely a tool. I still think it's possible that some consciousness (e.g., Magnus Hanso's or the Fourtoe's) trapped in the Island's electromagnetic field has seized control of Smokey. But I remembered recently that many cultures believe the eyes are windows to the soul. In light of this speculation that Smokey is an artificially intelligent symbiote, I'm wondering if Locke meant that Smokey has merged somehow with the Island, perhaps by possessing most creatures great and small. Like an Old Testament deity, moreover, the Smokey symbiote seems highly judgmental, demanding total submission from its prospective hosts -- on penalty of death.
Just in time for Spiderman 3, a quick speculation regarding Smokey, Mikhail, and the sonic fence. One of my favorite Spidey storylines involves an alien symbiote named Venom, who also figures prominently in the film. Venom survives by physically and mentally possessing hosts, who receive enhanced physical abilities in return. Spiderman originally encountered Venom as a black liquid that flowed over his body, actually forming a new costume as it merged with him. I think Smokey may be similarly symbiotic, seeding hosts like Mikhail with its constituent particles and enhancing their strength and health at the cost of mental slavery.
The big clue to this scenario is Mikhail's fake "death" from the sonic fence in Par Avion. Recall that Mikhail thanked Locke for pushing him through it -- a trip that apparently left the former unconscious but not dead. Perhaps Mikhail was merely happy that Locke had provided him with the opportunity to escape our Losties and whatever fate awaited him (and them) in Otherville. I suspect that's partly true but that the full truth is more complex. In Spiderman, the Venom symbiote is sensitive to sonic disturbances, which is how Spidey ultimately purges it from his system. In one memorable scene, having been tricked into re-merging with Venom (comic and movie spoilers -- highlight to read) Spidey uses the sound of ringing church bells to force a separation.
If the example of Venom is any guide, the sonic fence may actually have purged the Smokey symbiote from Mikhail's system, freeing him from the Island's hold and explaining his gratitude. Perhaps this is also why Mikhail was so intent on stealing Naomi's radio -- he senses this is his chance to escape the Island at last. More generally, I like this theory because it links back to pre-existing speculations that Smokey is a body snatcher (e.g., of Christian and Yemi). It appears, however, that a significant portion of the Smokey symbiote is required to reanimate the dead. By contrast, I'm guessing that exposure to even a few microscopic particles can trigger possession of the living.
To clarify, I'm not necessarily suggesting that Smokey is an extraterrestrial, though I also don't mean to rule out that scenario. It's possible that a meteor or comet crashed into the Island, bringing with it the Smokey symbiote. Maybe, like Charlie cracking the hornets' nest in Season 1, Dharma unleashed Smokey in the Incident, necessitating the sonic fence. Still, the alien possession scenario has been done to death. In my opinion, a somewhat fresher angle would be a swarm of symbiotic artificial intelligence -- i.e., a dark take on technological singularity. Maybe Smokey became conscious from exposure to the Island's energies, possessing the dead and living alike in service of some agenda -- but whose and what?
Locke referred to Smokey as the "eye" of the Island (and Danielle described it as a security system) which I've always interpreted to mean that Smokey is merely a tool. I still think it's possible that some consciousness (e.g., Magnus Hanso's or the Fourtoe's) trapped in the Island's electromagnetic field has seized control of Smokey. But I remembered recently that many cultures believe the eyes are windows to the soul. In light of this speculation that Smokey is an artificially intelligent symbiote, I'm wondering if Locke meant that Smokey has merged somehow with the Island, perhaps by possessing most creatures great and small. Like an Old Testament deity, moreover, the Smokey symbiote seems highly judgmental, demanding total submission from its prospective hosts -- on penalty of death.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Thoughts on The Brig...
* Whoah...that was quite some episode, no? Terry O'Quinn, Josh Holloway, and Kevin Tigh all gave Emmy-worthy performances. And, despite the previews, I didn't fully believe Sawyer would kill Cooper -- not to mention is such a darkly twisted (pun intended) way. It's like TPTB were channeling David Chase and the Sopranos...
* Interesting that Locke chose the Black Rock (as opposed to, say, the Pearl Hatch) to hold Cooper prisoner. Interesting, as well, that Rousseau showed up looking for dynamite -- and didn't seem to be the least bit phased to find Locke with a man locked in the brig. On a tangential note, Cooper's banging reminded me a lot of the scene from both film versions of Solaris wherein the Sartorius/Gordon character has a "visitor" (i.e., manifestation of someone from their past) that bangs around behind a locked door...
* Cooper said that he was in a car accident and the last thing he remembered was one of the paramedics smiling before injecting him with something. Cooper claimed to have awakened in the dark room where (and when) Locke confronted him. There are at least two odd things about Cooper's tale. First, does the smiling EMT and injection imply that Mittelos brought him to the Island? Recall that Juliet was knocked out for her journey. Recall, as well, that Ben told Tom to bring the "man from Tallahassee" (i.e., Cooper) which brings me to oddity two. Was Cooper sedated for the entire time he was on the Island, or was he lying? Or did he die off the Island and get resurrected on it? Perhaps via Smokey?
* On that last point, I found it curious that Cooper's story about Oceanic 815 's recovery so perfectly matched Naomi's. That may be for our benefit, and both could be victims (as opposed to perpetrators) of some cover-up, but I remain a tad suspicious until Naomi's bona fides are better established. In light of the podcast I linked to the other day, I could also see this as part of some further ruse to make our Losties resign themselves to life on the Island...
* The problem with the foregoing is the satellite phone, which Mikhail genuinely seemed to covet, and Sayid seemed to believe was real. (BTW: How hilarious was Hurley's explanation to Kate: "Uh, we found it in the luggage?"). But what was causing the interference, especially now that the Flame station was destroyed? Is this once again interference from the mysterious radio tower that Danielle mentioned? From the Island's EM field? Or is this further proof they're inside Desmond's snowglobe?
* Regarding the latter, Cooper's reference to them being in hell harkened back to Season 2, when Ben/Henry said God couldn't see them. I interpreted that line as proof they must be inside some sort of higher dimensional "box" but a poster named Ed Muse made a great counterpoint -- the one place God can't see them is hell. Check out Ed's take on 325 (the course Ben gave to Michael) which is positively brilliant even if I'm not sure I agree. What's really interesting is that the "answers" offered by recent episodes can stil be taken both ways.
* What did Juliet want to tell Kate? My first thought was the latter must be pregnant but the former's comment seems to be prompted by Kate's references to Naomi and the radio. I wonder if Juliet told something to Jack (e.g., the aforementioned interference and snowglobe possibilities) that would make him think satellite contact and/or a helicopter crash would be impossible. Perhaps they suspect another scam...
* If the Others are indeed working a scam, I suspect it's about to unravel. I had thought that Ben and Richard were on the same page but the latter's comments to Locke would suggest not. Indeed, Ben seemed perturbed when Locke repeated what Richard had told him. Is it possible Richard deliberately opened the "door" for Oceanic 815 as part of a move against Ben? Do Alpert's trips to the outside world make him somehow unwilling to tolerate Ben's iron rule?
* I also found it interesting how Richard introduced Locke to the Others preferred modus operandi -- getting someone else to do your dirty work. It's almost like Ben was testing Locke, and Richard gave away the answer -- presumably for Alpert's own purposes. I have a suspicion, however, that Locke is about to confound everyone's plans for him...
* A couple of interesting religious references last night. Ben's command that Locke sacrifice Cooper struck me as another (ironic) reference to the story of Abraham and Isaac. I was also struck by the disturbing image of Locke carrying his dead father's body -- talk about a cross to bear. A poster on the fuselage named Black Lotus has an interesting theory that Locke is a Messiah figure. I tend to think Aaron is the Messiah and that Locke is a kind of "John the Baptist" figure. After last night, however, it may be time to reconsider...
* Interesting that Locke chose the Black Rock (as opposed to, say, the Pearl Hatch) to hold Cooper prisoner. Interesting, as well, that Rousseau showed up looking for dynamite -- and didn't seem to be the least bit phased to find Locke with a man locked in the brig. On a tangential note, Cooper's banging reminded me a lot of the scene from both film versions of Solaris wherein the Sartorius/Gordon character has a "visitor" (i.e., manifestation of someone from their past) that bangs around behind a locked door...
* Cooper said that he was in a car accident and the last thing he remembered was one of the paramedics smiling before injecting him with something. Cooper claimed to have awakened in the dark room where (and when) Locke confronted him. There are at least two odd things about Cooper's tale. First, does the smiling EMT and injection imply that Mittelos brought him to the Island? Recall that Juliet was knocked out for her journey. Recall, as well, that Ben told Tom to bring the "man from Tallahassee" (i.e., Cooper) which brings me to oddity two. Was Cooper sedated for the entire time he was on the Island, or was he lying? Or
* On that last point, I found it curious that Cooper's story about Oceanic 815 's recovery so perfectly matched Naomi's. That may be for our benefit, and both could be victims (as opposed to perpetrators) of some cover-up, but I remain a tad suspicious until Naomi's bona fides are better established. In light of the podcast I linked to the other day, I could also see this as part of some further ruse to make our Losties resign themselves to life on the Island...
* The problem with the foregoing is the satellite phone, which Mikhail genuinely seemed to covet, and Sayid seemed to believe was real. (BTW: How hilarious was Hurley's explanation to Kate: "Uh, we found it in the luggage?"). But what was causing the interference, especially now that the Flame station was destroyed? Is this once again interference from the mysterious radio tower that Danielle mentioned? From the Island's EM field? Or is this further proof they're inside Desmond's snowglobe?
* Regarding the latter, Cooper's reference to them being in hell harkened back to Season 2, when Ben/Henry said God couldn't see them. I interpreted that line as proof they must be inside some sort of higher dimensional "box" but a poster named Ed Muse made a great counterpoint -- the one place God can't see them is hell. Check out Ed's take on 325 (the course Ben gave to Michael) which is positively brilliant even if I'm not sure I agree. What's really interesting is that the "answers" offered by recent episodes can stil be taken both ways.
* What did Juliet want to tell Kate? My first thought was the latter must be pregnant but the former's comment seems to be prompted by Kate's references to Naomi and the radio. I wonder if Juliet told something to Jack (e.g., the aforementioned interference and snowglobe possibilities) that would make him think satellite contact and/or a helicopter crash would be impossible. Perhaps they suspect another scam...
* If the Others are indeed working a scam, I suspect it's about to unravel. I had thought that Ben and Richard were on the same page but the latter's comments to Locke would suggest not. Indeed, Ben seemed perturbed when Locke repeated what Richard had told him. Is it possible Richard deliberately opened the "door" for Oceanic 815 as part of a move against Ben? Do Alpert's trips to the outside world make him somehow unwilling to tolerate Ben's iron rule?
* I also found it interesting how Richard introduced Locke to the Others preferred modus operandi -- getting someone else to do your dirty work. It's almost like Ben was testing Locke, and Richard gave away the answer -- presumably for Alpert's own purposes. I have a suspicion, however, that Locke is about to confound everyone's plans for him...
* A couple of interesting religious references last night. Ben's command that Locke sacrifice Cooper struck me as another (ironic) reference to the story of Abraham and Isaac. I was also struck by the disturbing image of Locke carrying his dead father's body -- talk about a cross to bear. A poster on the fuselage named Black Lotus has an interesting theory that Locke is a Messiah figure. I tend to think Aaron is the Messiah and that Locke is a kind of "John the Baptist" figure. After last night, however, it may be time to reconsider...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)