A return to the main narrative! The Jack/Jacob meeting we’d long been awaiting!! The candidate chosen!!! A major villain dispatched!!!! All this, plus the return of Ben, Miles and Richard, all in the last ever hour-long episode of Lost, “What They Died for.”
Island – Team Jacob
As Jack stitches up Kate’s wound (the mirror image of the scene from the pilot) Kate tells him pointedly about Ji Yeon, and how Jin hadn’t met her yet. She frowns – “Locke did this to them. We have to kill him, Jack.” He nods. “I know.”
Aside Number 1 – Jeff Jensen, for all his Jin-enabling from two weeks ago, had this to say about the Kate/Jack exchange: “I'd like to think Kate was speaking for all those who were outraged by Jin's so-called ''selfishness'' by invoking her name and memory.”
Sawyer watches debris wash up on shore, as if waiting for someone to come out. But all he sees as Kate puts her head on his shoulder is a life jacket. Hurley and Jack join them, too. Jack says they should get going. He tells them about Desmond in a well, and how, if Locke wanted him dead, they’re going to need him.
After some small talk about how to get to the well, Sawyer asks Jack why Flocke didn’t kill Desmond. Jack says “who knows? Maybe it was one of his rules?” Sawyer is guilt racked that he killed their friends with his attempt to disarm the bomb, but Jack insists it was Flocke who killed them. Sawyer seems less than sure.
Aside Number 2 – Jensen’s take on Jack and Sawyer, and their long history, culminating in this moment: “In their few scenes together this season, Sawyer has done nothing but heap physical and emotional abuse upon Jack for his Juliet-destroying Jughead recklessness. Yet with the tables turned, Jack gave him grace as well as the gift of perspective. Hopefully Sawyer will use it to see a way out of his crippling despair and toward the heroism that will be needed of him in the final act. I've always hoped that the end of Lost would offer some understanding/reconciliation between Jack and Sawyer. My favorite moments with the pair have nothing to do with them fighting. (Of course, they're probably my fave moments because they're so different from their usual dynamic.) Sawyer telling Jack about meeting his father in season 1. Sawyer and Jack in The Hatch and talking about Ana Lucia at the end of season 2. Jack teaming with Sawyer to free Frank Lapidus at the end of season 4. Perhaps the finale will see them resign their animosity once and for all and bind them permanently as allies in survival and partners in redemption.”
Hurley sees young Jacob in the jungle. The boy demands the ashes Hurley took from Ilana’s things. He says they’re his. Hurley demands to know what he wants them for, but the boy takes the ashes, and runs, and Hurley loses sight of him. He tries to follow, but instead he finds grown Jacob with the ashes. “Dude,” a relieved Hugo begins, “I’ve been waiting for you to show up”. Jacob says his ashes are in the fire, and when they burn out, he’ll never see him again. He says to tell his friends, “we’re very close to the end, Hugo.”
Hurley leads the group to Jacob, and they all see him as he greets them. Kate asks if he’s the one who wrote their names on the wall, specifically Sun’s, Jin’s and Sayid’s. When Jacob confirms he did, she angrily demands, “Is that why they’re dead?” Very empathetically, Jacob tells her, “ I’m very sorry.” And promises if they sit down, he’ll tell them what their friends died for. “I’ll tell you why I chose them,” Jacob promises, “and why I chose you. And then I’ll tell you everything you’ll need to know about protecting the island, because by the time that fire burns out, one of you will have to start doing it.”
Aside Number 3 – I have now watched this scene over again, and find myself a little dissatisfied in Kate’s acceptance of the “why they died” explanation that follows. Her righteous indignation at Jacob for leading these people to their gruesome deaths is fully justified, and shared by the audience. By now, each of these characters has gotten a sense that the island protects those it still needs, but tosses aside those it doesn’t, not only allowing them to die, but perhaps encouraging it. Jacob’s explanation that follows here is pretty good for explaining why the castaways were brought to the island. It does very little to justify their deaths.
The sitdown begins with Jacob telling the assembled, “I brought all of you here because I made a mistake a very long time ago. Because of that, there’s a very good chance that every single one of you is going to die.” He clarifies that this “mistake” is the monster. “I’m responsible for him,” Jacob confesses. “I made him the way he is, and he’s been trying to kill me ever since.” Sawyer asks why he had to be punished for Jacob’s mistake, i.e. because he was doing just fine before he got dragged to that rock.
Aside Number 4 – I’ll let Jensen’s interpretation cover the recap of Jacob’s response: “Jacob responded to Sawyer's complaint by rising to his feet and calling bulls--t on him. On all of them. He hadn't plucked them from some 'happy existence.' They were all miserable, spent, and wasted. He said they were all like him: 'flawed' and 'alone.' They all needed to be on The
Kate asks why her name was crossed off in the cave, and he tells her - he crossed her name off because she became a mother. But that’s when the real kicker about the lack of rigidity concerning island “rules” kicks in. Per Jacob, “It’s just a line of chalk in a cave. The job is yours if you want it.”
Aside Number 5 – with his power dwindling here, I wonder how much Jacob knows about what is to come. Still, I get the sense from this, not that Jacob now values motherhood less, but rather that he assumes that Claire will not only return to Aaron, but raise him well.
Jacob tells them about the light in the cave, and the need to keep it safe from the monster. He hopes they can kill Flocke, which he hopes is possible, because Flocke wants to kill them. But Jacob won’t pick his successor. He wants them to have a choice he didn’t have. That said, Jacob tells them, if none of them does, “this ends very badly.” Jack volunteers. He says it’s why he is there. “This is what I’m supposed to do.” Jacob asks, “is that a question, Jack?” More assured, Jack says, “no.” Jacob responds, “good. Then it’s time.” Jacob leads Jack away. Sawyer mutters to Kate and Hugo, “I thought that guy had a God complex before.” Hurley’s thought that follows is, “I’m just glad it’s not me.” Jacob tells Jack that the Source is just beyond the bamboo field where he first awoke after the 815 crash. Jack says there’s nothing out there, but Jacob says, yes there is, and now he’ll be able to get there. Jacob borrows a cup and fills it, chanting as “mother” did last week over the wine. He hands the cup to Jack to drink. Jack asks how long he’s going to have to do this job. “As long as you can,” Jacob responds direly. As Jack drinks, a look of sudden understanding washes over him. “Now,” Jacob assures Jack, echoing mother’s similar sentiment “you’re like me.”
Aside Number 6 – This grand sit-down between the man behind Lost’s curtain and the last remaining 815ers did a lot to make last week’s outing – whatever you thought of it – relevant. Still, I find myself thinking that the context provided by “Across the sea” would have worked just as well if the episode gave Jacob flashbacks interspersed with these scenes of his choosing of his successor, and not devoting the full 42 minutes to the over-the-top self-importance of last week’s speechiness. Then we could have spent more time this week with…
Island – Team Ben … and Flocke
At last, after an interminable hiatus, we meet up again with Miles, Ben and Richard. Miles asks if Ben knows where he’s going, but Ben scoffs that he lived at the barracks long before Miles. Miles begs to differ – sort of: “''I lived in these houses 30 years ago — otherwise known as last week.” Ben insists he has lots of C4 left, in his secret room behind the bookcase. Miles starts flashing as they enter the barracks. He feels bodies. Richard explains to Ben, “It’s your daughter. After you left, I buried her.” Ben, the hurt of losing Alex flooding back to him, thanks Richard, and coldly turns and moves on.
They go into Ben’s former house. He moves the bookcase, and goes back to the secret closet, revealing to Miles the entrance to the “secreter” room. “It’s where I was told I could summon the monster,” Ben explains. “That’s before I realized it was the one summoning me.”
Aside Number 7 – As Jensen points out shrewdly here, “I think we got official confirmation from Ben that the entity in the old Goodspeed love shack which he took to be Jacob was actually the Man In Black. This is interesting to think about. If Ben has always been wrong about being Jacob's chosen one for a period of time, then that means his tenure as the leader of the Others was fraudulent and invalid — which means that Charles Widmore was probably quite sincere in his persecution of Ben. Megabucks Chuck never wanted to get back to The
Ben opens his safe. “Richard, it’s your idea,” Ben ponders. “Are we looking to cripple the plane, or blow it to hell?” In a response fit for an 80s action hero, Richard responds, “blow it to hell.” Ben’s response is pure Ben. “Then we better take it all.” They hear a sound, and find first Zoe, then Charles out in the kitchen/ living room area. Hello, Benjamin. May I come in? Ben asks what he’s doing there. Widmore orders Zoe to take their equipment from the outrigger and sink it. He shuts up Ben’s order to Zoe not to leave. “If you shoot me,” he admonishes, “your last chance at survival will be gone.” Widmore asks Richard why he’d rig the plane, since he rigged the plane with explosives. “As usual, Benjamin, I’m three steps ahead of you.” (Note to eeeevil masterminds – it’s never wise to bait Ben Linus.)
Charles says Jacob visited him right after the freighter blew up, and convinced him of “the error of my ways,” giving him his purpose. Charles is interrupted by Zoe on the walkie-talkie saying she sees Flocke. Charles then warns that they need to hide if they don’t want to die.
Aside Number 8 – I’ll talk more about the Lost “Times Talk” event I attended this week later. Here, it’s relevant that Damon Lindelof pointed out about Widmore’s Jacob showed me the light story, that on Lost, by now we should know that, when we see something happen, we can trust it. But when a character – particularly one like Charles – tells us something happened, the question should always linger about how true such a tale might be.
Flocke emerges from the outrigger onto the dock. He sees the other boat, with Widmore’s equipment, then walks up the dock. Zoe returns to Ben’s house. Widmore wants to use Ben’s secret room. Miles wants to run, but Ben wants to stand his ground. Ben gives Miles a walkie, and Miles runs. Richard insists all Flocke wants is for him to join him, and, if he does, maybe he’ll give the rest of them a chance to get away. Richard exits, followed by Ben (while Charles and Zoe flee to the back room). Richard looks for Flocke….and Smokey flies by and sends him flying off into the jungle. Ben, seeing this, sits on the porch.
Aside Number 9 – as with Frank Lapidus, I’ll believe Richard is dead when I see a body. The gift Jacob gave him was to “live forever,” and not just to stop aging. I don’t know what this means about Richard’s actual mortality, but I suspect, aside from some bruising, he’s going to turn up alive in the finale.
Flocke comes from around a building and spots Ben “Just the man I was looking for.” Ben offers him lemonade. Flocke pulls out a knife. “I need you to kill some people for me, Ben.” “And, why would I do that,” the old, cagey Ben asks. Flocke repeats his promise from “Dr. Linus:” “Because once I leave this island, you can have it all for yourself.” Flocke asks about the outrigger, and Ben says it’s Widmore’s, and that Widmore is hiding in his closet.
Aside Number 10 – Jensen’s take(s) on this interplay is spot-on: “Basically, Fake Locke was forcing Ben to become his a personal assassin — a reversal of what Ben did to Sayid during his Oceanic 6 days. Ben accepted, and we must ask why. We know that Ben is wired for survival. His typical M.O. is to glom onto a power player, then subvert and take control — very Sith-esque. With the death of his forgiving benfactor Ilana, Ben may have sensed that a shift in
“Ben is conning Fake Locke. Recall that Ben had broken ranks with the castaways over Hurley's plan to try and hug it out with Smokey. That didn't work so well — for either side. Ben, himself something of an evil mastermind, must have realized that; he must have realized that Smokey only needed him because something had gone wrong. Smokey was coming to him out of weakness, not strength. Smokey radiated intimidation — but I'm betting Ben saw through the tough-guy veneer. Smokey is vulnerable. And he's scared. And Ben knows it. His plan: Stick by his side, figure out what can kill this man-thing, take him down. Ben is on the side of the castaway angels. He must be! (Then again, if Island Ben does go totally dark, it does set up the dramatically delicious moment when his more morally principled Sideways doppelganger becomes fully '
“The scene that followed was pretty awesome — the three great villains of Lost together in one confined space, three heavyweight peacocks trying to out-preen each other for control.”
Ben points out the closet, and says, “after you. Charles and his lady friend are in here. She’s armed, but I’m guessing that’s not a problem for you.” Flocke says to wait outside because he doesn’t need to see this, but Ben, freshly reminded about Alex, says, “I want to see this.” As they enter, Ben says, Sorry Charles. Flocke, smirking, does his best evil genius mock gentility act for Widmore. “How nice to be able to talk without those fences between us.” Charles warns Zoe not to talk to him, so Flocke slits her throat (her silence, you see, made her “pointless.”) Flocke says if Widmore doesn’t help him, the first thing he will do when he leaves is kill Penny. Widmore confesses – he brought Desmond back because of his resistance to e.m., as a measure of last resort. But Chalres won’t talk any more in front of Ben. “Well then whisper to me.” But as Widmore starts to whisper to him, Ben shoots him multiple times. As Widmore slumps down, Ben, a thoroughly intense look on his face, says, “he doesn’t get to save his daughter.” “Ben,” marvels Flocke. “You never cease to amaze me. Fortunately he had already told me what I needed to know, so no harm done.” Ben turns to his once and current master. “Didn’t you say there were some other people to kill?”
Aside Number 11 – my initial take was that, as part of Ben’s con on Flocke – and I share Jensen’s theory on that one – he had arranged with Widmore to pretend to kill him to gain Flocke’s good graces. That’s right – I assumed Widmore had survived. The evidence, however, contradicts this. For starters, Michael Ausiello of ew.com has added Charles Widmore to his “sweeps death” chart, a chart that had a fixed number of entries heading into May. (That said, the chart also includes Tess Mercer from Smallville…who was just listed as a regular character for next season). Then there was the Times Talk this week, in which Damon and
Can we blame Ben? In one sense, yes we can. The bodies around him just keep piling up. But come on…this guy sent the men who killed Ben’s daughter. Moreover, if Ben is somehow still on the side of angels, his killing of Widmore may have stopped him from revealing what can defeat ol’ Smokey. But there’s something that makes me still wonder about this scene – we were led to believe in the past that Ben and Charles were somehow prevented from killing each other, i.e. one of those rules that have never been explained but that seem to apply. Did Charles’ island return take him out of the protection of the rule? Or is he really not dead?
My final piece of evidence for the notion that Ben hasn’t completely reverted back to the dark side – the walkie-talkie he gave Miles. He clearly intended to retain a connection to the other people who oppose Flocke, and, I believe, hoped that Flocke would allow his knowledge of Ben’s tendency towards concerted survivalism to cause him to miss Ben’s re-betrayal down the line. Or not.
Back in the jungle. Ben asks Smokey why he bothers walking. Flocke explains, the feel of his feet on the ground reminds of being human. (Do you think that’s the whole story?) They come to the well, but Desmond isn’t in it. Ben says it’s clear someone helped him out. “No, Ben,” corrects Flocke, “someone helped me out.” Ben asked what Widmore said to him. Flocke explains that Desmond was a failsafe – one final way to stop him if he killed all the candidates. “I’m going to find Desmond,” swears Flocke, “and when I do, he’s going to help me do the one thing I could never do myself. I’m going to destroy the island.”
Aside Number 12 – I don’t know how it is that Flocke can tempt Ben with a promise to let him rule the island, then tell him he plans to destroy it, and still expect Ben to do anything else willingly for him. Now, on to the sideways stories...
Sideways – The Shephard Bunch
Jack2’s eyes open, in a shot highly reminiscent of the first one of the series. His shaving cut has opened again, in a nod to the first episode of the season (Do you get the sense we’re supposed to be thinking “full circle” or something like that?). David comes in as he contemplates, and tells Jack2 he made breakfast (i.e. poured juice and cereal). David gets Jack2 to confirm he’s going to his big concert, and Mom is coming too (Is there any way at this point that mom is not Juliet???) . David warns him not to get all weird when he sees her. Claire2 joins them, and David pours her cereal (“Family Size Super Bran.”) Aaron2 kicked like crazy at night. Jack2 gets a call from Oceanic – they found his missing cargo (which he takes to mean his father’s coffin), and it will arrive at the end of the day. Only the caller is not from Oceanic. It’s Desmond2.
Aside Number 13 – I saw a couple of tongue-in-cheek mentions of the bran flakes online, but I think, if anything, the salient aspect of the cereal box was the display of “family size” in a room with Jack2, Claire2, and David – i.e. this is the family unit that neither Jack or Claire ever enjoyed in the island world.
I have no idea what it is that Desmond2 is hoping to accomplish with this prank call. The rest of his machinations all seem to have some sort of direction and purpose. Given that Jack2 is already going to the same concert as (we assume) everyone else in the sideways world, I don’t know what Des2 has in mind…
Sideways – Dr. Linus and the Rouseaux
Desmond2 waits in his car and watches Locke2’s return to the school. He starts the car, but Ben2 sees him and tries to make a scene to protect Locke2. Desmond2 insists he’s not here to hurt Locke2, but to help him let go. Ben demands, “who are you?” “You want to know who I am,” Desmond demands with a real edge. And he starts to beat Ben, who recalls their fight at the marina from island world.
Aside Number 14 – it figures that getting beaten up is the most appropriate recurring memory from island world that could jumpstart Ben’s memory. And, as if to torture him for his transgressions, his first memory, while of a time of maximum evil (his attempt to kill Penny for revenge), he doesn’t even get a memory of his precious island, instead recalling Marina del Rey. Funny backstory to this scene - Henry Ian Cusick (Desmond) accidentally made contact with Michael Emerson at one point, leaving a serious black eye. They tried to cover it with makeup, but during the whole DHARMA barracks sequence, you could kind of see it there.
Ben2 is tended by the nurse (the same one having the affair with the principal, who seems not the least impressed by the doctorate), then contemplates himself in the mirror (as Sideways characters are wont to do). Locke2 rolls in and asks what happened. Ben2 tells him about Desmond2. He tells him about what he saw while being beaten. Locke2 calls the police. Ben2 tells him Desmond2 wasn’t trying to hurt him, but to get him to “let go.” “And for some reason,” admits Dr. Linus, “I believed him. Do you any idea what he was talking about Mr. Locke? Does that mean something to you?” Locke2, seeing the coincidences start to mount, hangs up before responding to the police officer who took his call.
Outside, injured Dr. Linus drops his keys. Alex2 goes to help him, and asks why someone would want to hurt him. She offers him a ride home with her mom. Danielle2 emerges – utterly not insane – and is happy to help. It’s a very different meeting this time then their island encounter. They invite him for coq au vin night, and Danielle2 insists, he must come, “even if we have to kidnap you.” (Love the altverse irony!) After dinner, Danielle2 thanks him, and says how nice it is to cook for someone other than Alex2, whose father died when she was 2. That’s probably, surmises Danielle2, why she’s so attached to him. He’s the closest thing to a father he’s ever had. He sees her, and is taken aback, choking back tears, a real sense he’s channeling his island memory of actually being her father. Danielle2 asks if he’s ok. He says he thinks it’s the onions. He looks at her knowingly, a hint of blossoming romance in the gaze.
Aside Number 15 – Huzzah! Mira Furlan, back again as Danielle Rousseau, missing since she “died” in season 4. Jensen’s take on this bizarro world version of a family reunion: “'It's probably why she's grown so attached to you. You're the closest thing to a father she's ever had.' The whole Sideways Rousseau/Alex played that way, winking ironically at every aspect of the
Sideways – Locke2
The coincidences were just too much for Locke2, who rolls into Jack2’s office. After some small talk, Locke2 runs through their history, and the coincidences. He tells him about what Desmond2 – the man who “drove” them back together – told Ben2, and how it was the same thing Jack2 said to him the last time they saw each other (“let go”). He doesn’t mean that Jack2 sent the man, but maybe this all happened for a reason. Maybe you’re supposed to fix me. The old debate begins, and Jack2 “echoes” Mr. Eko – “don’t confuse coincidence for fate.” “You can call it what you want,” smiles Locke2, “but I think I’m ready to get out of this chair.”
Aside Number 16 – just as island world Jack has finally overcome his own demons, Sideways Locke, never entirely beholden to the faith-based insanity of his island counterpart, appears ready to be the alterna-hero. As Jensen notes, “'I'm ready to get out of this wheelchair,' he said. It was less about wanting to walk and more about wanting to meet the meaning behind this divine conspiracy. But more than anything, it was a choice. Like
Sideways – Sawyer and the Suspects
The cop who took the aborted call from Locke2 hangs up, and is approached by…Desmond2, who asks for a detective. Miles2 is dressing up for the concert at the museum and invites Ford2, who says no, due to Charlotte2’s presence (we shall see if fate really allows James2 to avoid the concert….) Desmond2 then comes in and turns himself in for the two incidents at the school. “Thanks for saving the taxpayers the trouble of hunting you down,” Ford2 says, leading Desmond2 to the holding cell. “You’re welcome,” Desmond2 says, just as lacking in irony as his island self was in identifying the smoke monster with, “you’re John Locke.” He greets Sayid2 and Kate2 in the holding pen with a smile.
Ford2 prepares to ship Jarah2 and Austen2 off to county. Kate2 says he can still let her go. Why would he do that? Her pathetic plea is, “because I told you I was innocent.” “Doesn’t matter,” he says, not looking at her. “I’m still a cop.” She says he doesn’t seem like a cop to her. In the wagon, Desmond2 says he thinks it’s time to leave. Sayid2 calls him crazy. Desmond2 says the driver already knows when to stop. They’ll have to give him their trust, because after he releases them, he’ll ask them to do something. Alright then, Sayid2 smirks, willing to play along. The car stops. The driver was Ana Lucia2. “Who’s Hume?” she asks (and we recall that these two characters occupied mutually exclusive pieces of the Season 2 story). She had taken a bribe to drop them off at the harbor, and Hugo2 comes to pick them up. “Sorry I’m late,” he says to Desmond2. He sees Ana2. “Oh hey, you didn’t tell me Ana Lucia was going to be here,” he says, completely island enlightened. But she isn’t joining them because, according to Desmond2, she isn’t read yet. Hurley’s Camaro is there. Kate is to ride with Desmond2, and Sayid with Hurley. Desmond2 is taking Kate to the concert.
Aside Number 17 – It’s fairly obvious by now that, just as there is only one doctor, one hospital, one courthouse, one police station, and one museum in Los Angeles in the sideways world, so is there only one concert coming up. This one concert will feature the musical stylings of Daniel “Widmore,” as well as David Shephard, Penelope “
I also loved how fully into it Hugo2 is. He has downloaded his other life as fully as anyone, perhaps even more so than Desmond2. I get the sense that there’s something about Hugo Reyes – any Hugo Reyes – that just lets him perceive that which is already there, but invisible to more skeptical people. But I can’t help but wonder one thing about the two Hurley’s sharing one mind: if Sideways world takes place in 2004, and the “enlightened” characters have downloaded island world events that took place in what would have been their futures, just how far does their knowledge extend? On the island, Hurley didn’t meet Ana Lucia until about 50+ days in. It seems unlikely that much time has passed since 815 landed in Sideways
While we’re theorizing and pondering, I’ll direct the narrative here to an email chain forwarded to me by Windy McCracken in which she and her fellow LLL reader, Amy Basile, traded theories in an emailed version of water-cooler talk. Just as Season 6 keeps teasing back to earlier seasons of Lost on the show, reading this exchange brought me back to this site’s origins. Back in Season 2, when my wife’s then-client David Basler emailed her that Walt’s face appeared on the milk carton in Hurley’s dream sequence in “Everybody Hates Hugo,” I started googling Lost easter eggs and hidden clues. That led me to start up email chains much like Windy’s and Amy’s in the days after each new episode. Ultimately, when my mom mistakenly referred to this activity of group emailing as “blogging,” it occurred to me that a blog was a more efficient way to download my thoughts to other Lost fans. So, before Season 3, “Lost Lover at Law” was born.
Now…back to Amy and Windy. Here’s Amy’s theory on where the finale will take us: “Desmond goes down the light tunnel somehow (maybe Flocke sends him), but since he is resistant to electromagnetism, he comes out in a cloud of white smoke and sounds ike a laser printer (versus the dot matrix printer sound of Smokey). Black and white smoke fight, white wins, Flocke is dead. Jack is now free of his obligation to protect the light, since there is no threat; however, Desmond kills them all to preserve the sideways universe. Since Desmond is now Abraham and has shown the sacrifice of his son, some god-like being played by Christopher Lee gives him redemption by sending him back to sideways universe and sinks the island. Sideways universe prevails, Penny is pregnant with a son. Booya.” Amy, there’s a lot to like about this. The two bones of contention I have are: 1) The Christopher Lee thingy. Damon and
As for Windy, her take went something like this: my actual theory is... Sideways world is what happens(ed) when Smokey destroys(ed) the island/sinks it after killing Jack. Clearly this involves the light and electromagnetism in some way because Desmond is the failsafe for that sideways world, thus somehow escapes, and brings everybody together and they somehow band together (i.e. no longer be lost by being alone, letting go of whatever made them lost and finding redemption in a community) and defeat smokey in the sideways world and there is no guardian needed for the island. The light or whatever it was they are protecting somehow gets split up between them and everybody ends up happier (particularly Hurley, who, if they kill, I will personally lead some slaughter in retribution). Not everybody will live, but I have no idea who will ultimately die.
Juliet and Sawyer will end up together somehow or I simply will wash my hands of the entire series :) For those of you just joining us, this last part is funny because the series will be over. Ha! Just kidding. Clever there, McCracken. The notion that the final battleground will actually be the sideways world is a nifty conceit. Jeff Jensen had a bit of a similar thought this week: “What if once upon a time, The Source did reside within all of humanity? What if we stopped believing in The Source, or we convinced ourselves that The Source stopped believing in us, so much so that now The Source exists as an anomaly that's hidden away from us — as something lost that must be found. The Truth Is Out There — but once, The Truth Was In Here.”
Times Talk
As I mentioned before, my friend, Grant, and I went to the
Damon and
Still with me? Cool. One thing Damon mentioned was that the prevalence of mirror shots in the sideways world is meant to convey that feeling one sometimes gets when looking at the mirror and wondering if we know the person looking back. This is that much deeper for the sideways characters, because they do have another life that is just escaping their recall.
Eventually, Michael Emerson and Jorge Garcia joined them on stage, and teased the notion that they will have some very meaningful time together on screen in the finale.
There was a suggestion that the first ever conversation between Jack and Desmond – when they met in the stadium three years before Oceanic 815 – will take on additional poignance after the finale.
We were told there will be a significant Star Wars reference in the first few minutes, and that Walt will somehow make an appearance (though they joked Malcolm David Kelley is now 39 years old and 6’5”).
Garcia explained that he has a podcast (which I will try to check out between now and Sunday) called “Geronimo Jack’s Beard” – a play on two “props” well known to Lost fans, the fake band Geronimo Jackson, and that awful beard that Oceanic 6 Jack grew during his addict days. All in all, it was a fun program, and we did get to see an extended clip that ran a little longer than one of the sneaks currently running on ABC.com. It wasn’t spoilery, but there’s no point in describing it before the finale, anyway.
A final word from Jeff Jensen
Not that the Doc is done, but he has a sign-off heading into the finale that I echo: “I'm ready. I'm ready for the final chapter, ready to see how it sums up the season and brings the series to a close. I'm ready to watch meaning (which, to be clear, is different than answers) flood into the Lost saga like a surge of
Like Jensen, I am ready for meaning, and have, like John Locke2, “let go” of the need for answers. That said, the one answer I really, really hope we get – though I suspect we will not – is what the heck was up with the infertility thing? It seems so long ago, but it was such a major plot point, and there’s been no hint, no clarification, no meaning.
But whatever happens Sunday night, I’m looking forward to an emotional ride, a satisfying ride, and, most of all, some damn fine television. So I leave you with this fun clip that Grant pointed me towards. This is really NSFW, and you should not watch it anywhere near a child who understands speech. It’s apropos of nothing, but it’s kind of funny.
Hope you enjoyed that, as well as this post, and that Sunday is a great unifying moment for we the Lostophiles. Until after then, Namaste, y’all.
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