Friday, April 25. 2008
LOST: The Shape of Things to Come [Analysis]
Well, much like H.G. Wells' novel of the same title, we are treated to an - albeit brief - history of the future of the LOST timeline, and indeed of the "war" between Benjamin Linus and Charles Widmore. But there appears to be much more going on then we have been led to believe.
Tunisia
So one of the biggest WTF moments of the episode happens early on, when we find Ben in the middle of the Tunisian desert wearing a heavy parka. These are the big questions that need asking at this moment. None of which I even want to attempt to guess the answers to....
Always Two There Are, a Master, and an Apprentice
Did anyone else catch the obvious Star Wars bend there between Ben and Sayid? Especially when Ben started warning Sayid about the consequences of giving in to your anger. Just thought that was funny.
The Timeline
So we now get a more firm timeline on when the Oceanic Six actually get off the island. It has to be sometime in the first part of 2005, and since time on the island is fast approaching New Years' Day, 2005... It's going to happen soon. A lot has to happen in the meantime, but if you consider that in island-time its only been... two months and change? It seems doable.
Nadia
Ah, so Sayid manages to find Nadia. I guess we'll be witness to that chain of events at some point. The big question is, why would Widmore's men want to kill her? She keeps popping up in the odd place now and again (like with Locke way back when, and Mikhail's cat...) and I'm wondering if she doesn't have some role to play in all of this.
Sayid
Like I mentioned above, we now know the cause of Sayid's turn to the darkside, as it were. Strange, though, that he gives in so quickly, especially to the man he swore to never work with.
I guess the old saying goes, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
The Doctor
Was that Doc' Ray that washed up on the beach? It kind of looked like him, but they really never dwelled on him long enough to be sure. If it wasn't, maybe Faraday and Charlotte just claimed it was to cover up something else?
If it *was*, then some really strange things are happening in the space-time continuum, man. I mean, you can't turn up dead in one place, and still be alive in the other... can you?
The Stone Door
OK, anyone else itching to know what's behind that door? Why is it there in the first place? Where did it come from? Who built it? Etc., etc., etc.!! I'll betcha its related to "The Ruins" and ol' Mr. Four-Toes, though.
The Smoke Monster
So Ben seems to have some sort of pull with whatever powers-that-be that control the monster. And whatever it is, lies behind that door. I have to wonder, then, did Ben have some role in Smokey taking out Mr. Eko? And if so, why? Or was the monster acting of its own accord then? Which would suggest that its at least somewhat independent. I'm not buying into any more theories that it's a mechanical DHARMA creation.... That's for sure.
The Elizabeth
My memory on this is shady, and I'm too lazy to go digging through past recaps to dig it up... but wasn't the Elizabeth, Desmond's sailboat, destroyed when the Others raided it looking for Sun? Or was it just damaged and Ben's secreted it off to some hidden cove and repaired it? Either way, shouldn't Sayid's B.S. flag have gone to the top of the pole at that point?
Charles Widmore
Wow, so what is the big connection between Widmore, Linus, AND the island? What's the deal with "You know I can't do that" when Charlies asks Ben if he's there to kill him? Why not? Is the island protecting Widmore like it is Michael? Has Charles been there before?
I'm starting to wonder, if Charles Widmore wasn't in fact on the Black Rock when it crashed there, and events like him re-acquiring the Journal, and having a painting of the ship.... He's trying to get back there?
Just like Jack? Oooo. A future-tense partnership between Jack and Widmore, pitting them against Ben, and also pitting Desmond against Ben. You think Desmond is going to stand by and allow Ben to kill Penny? Let's just say that Desmond's not dead in the future. Not yet, at least.
And why would he "claim" the island? "It's mine. It always was." Past tense. More fuel for that fire, I think.
Ben's Character
And what's with Ben's emotions finally starting to bubble to the surface? His obvious fear, panic, and grief. Up until recently, he's been a cold, heartless, unfeeling bastard. The problem, is that once your emotions get involved, you're liable to start making mistakes....
Jacob
The puzzle there keeps getting mixed up, doesn't it? Ben can't find him anymore, Locke has to be the one to talk to him, but can't find him either. Hurley somehow holds the key to finding Jacob. But why?
Australia
What's with Hurley's statement, "Australia is the key to the whole game!" Just idle chatter or something else? Remember all of the early connections to Ozland? (hm, and if you've caught a glimpse of the S4 finale title, that's something to think about...)
Nothing else is coming to mind. If there's anything that I'm leaving out, or wrong about, don't hesitate to call me on it.
So one of the biggest WTF moments of the episode happens early on, when we find Ben in the middle of the Tunisian desert wearing a heavy parka. These are the big questions that need asking at this moment. None of which I even want to attempt to guess the answers to....
- Why would he have a parka on a tropical island?
- Why does he have Dr. Halliwax's coat?
- HOW did he get there, anyway?!
- What happened to him just before he left, that he's got a tear in the sleeve, which he made sure to check on.
Always Two There Are, a Master, and an Apprentice
Did anyone else catch the obvious Star Wars bend there between Ben and Sayid? Especially when Ben started warning Sayid about the consequences of giving in to your anger. Just thought that was funny.
The Timeline
So we now get a more firm timeline on when the Oceanic Six actually get off the island. It has to be sometime in the first part of 2005, and since time on the island is fast approaching New Years' Day, 2005... It's going to happen soon. A lot has to happen in the meantime, but if you consider that in island-time its only been... two months and change? It seems doable.
Nadia
Ah, so Sayid manages to find Nadia. I guess we'll be witness to that chain of events at some point. The big question is, why would Widmore's men want to kill her? She keeps popping up in the odd place now and again (like with Locke way back when, and Mikhail's cat...) and I'm wondering if she doesn't have some role to play in all of this.
Sayid
Like I mentioned above, we now know the cause of Sayid's turn to the darkside, as it were. Strange, though, that he gives in so quickly, especially to the man he swore to never work with.
I guess the old saying goes, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
The Doctor
Was that Doc' Ray that washed up on the beach? It kind of looked like him, but they really never dwelled on him long enough to be sure. If it wasn't, maybe Faraday and Charlotte just claimed it was to cover up something else?
If it *was*, then some really strange things are happening in the space-time continuum, man. I mean, you can't turn up dead in one place, and still be alive in the other... can you?
The Stone Door
OK, anyone else itching to know what's behind that door? Why is it there in the first place? Where did it come from? Who built it? Etc., etc., etc.!! I'll betcha its related to "The Ruins" and ol' Mr. Four-Toes, though.
The Smoke Monster
So Ben seems to have some sort of pull with whatever powers-that-be that control the monster. And whatever it is, lies behind that door. I have to wonder, then, did Ben have some role in Smokey taking out Mr. Eko? And if so, why? Or was the monster acting of its own accord then? Which would suggest that its at least somewhat independent. I'm not buying into any more theories that it's a mechanical DHARMA creation.... That's for sure.
The Elizabeth
My memory on this is shady, and I'm too lazy to go digging through past recaps to dig it up... but wasn't the Elizabeth, Desmond's sailboat, destroyed when the Others raided it looking for Sun? Or was it just damaged and Ben's secreted it off to some hidden cove and repaired it? Either way, shouldn't Sayid's B.S. flag have gone to the top of the pole at that point?
Charles Widmore
Wow, so what is the big connection between Widmore, Linus, AND the island? What's the deal with "You know I can't do that" when Charlies asks Ben if he's there to kill him? Why not? Is the island protecting Widmore like it is Michael? Has Charles been there before?
I'm starting to wonder, if Charles Widmore wasn't in fact on the Black Rock when it crashed there, and events like him re-acquiring the Journal, and having a painting of the ship.... He's trying to get back there?
Just like Jack? Oooo. A future-tense partnership between Jack and Widmore, pitting them against Ben, and also pitting Desmond against Ben. You think Desmond is going to stand by and allow Ben to kill Penny? Let's just say that Desmond's not dead in the future. Not yet, at least.
And why would he "claim" the island? "It's mine. It always was." Past tense. More fuel for that fire, I think.
Ben's Character
And what's with Ben's emotions finally starting to bubble to the surface? His obvious fear, panic, and grief. Up until recently, he's been a cold, heartless, unfeeling bastard. The problem, is that once your emotions get involved, you're liable to start making mistakes....
Jacob
The puzzle there keeps getting mixed up, doesn't it? Ben can't find him anymore, Locke has to be the one to talk to him, but can't find him either. Hurley somehow holds the key to finding Jacob. But why?
Australia
What's with Hurley's statement, "Australia is the key to the whole game!" Just idle chatter or something else? Remember all of the early connections to Ozland? (hm, and if you've caught a glimpse of the S4 finale title, that's something to think about...)
Nothing else is coming to mind. If there's anything that I'm leaving out, or wrong about, don't hesitate to call me on it.
But if I was her id have nothing to live for either, her lover is gone and so is her mother... and plus theres no doubt a bloody war is coming on.
but that dude killed her and changed the rules of the game, thats why ben says tha to whidmore in his bedroom and after she gets killed.
according to ben she WASNT SUPPOSED TO BE KILLED according to the rules of the game.
2. Is the orange stuff Ben throws up the same stuff they gave Juliet when she went on her sub ride? It was an orange drink that put her out, perhaps to facilitate time/space travel. Maybe the sub never "went" anywhere. It could have been time/space travel a select few on and off the island can do. Could also explain the guy that helped Ben as a kid and an adult that never aged?