Summary: In flashsideways, Ben is frustrated when he is pulled from his history club meetings to cover detention by Principal Reynolds. Ben decides to make a play for his position when he learns from Alex, his student, that Reynolds has been engaging in sexual activity with the school nurse. He confronts Reynolds with a threat, but Reynolds threatens to write a bad recommendation for Alex if he lets Ben take his position. Ben gives up his plan for the sake of Alex's future. On the island, Ilana learns from Miles that Ben killed Jacob and gets him to dig his own grave. While he digs, Ben is met by MIB who offers to let Ben join him. Ben is freed by MIB and goes, but Ilana gives chase. Ben explains why he killed Jacob to Ilana in a passionate speech, and Ilana decides to accept him. Ben chooses to go back with Ilana. Hurley and Jack encounter Richard who leads them to the Black Rock, telling them that everyone at the temple died. Richard has Jack light a dynamite fuse for him because he wants to die but can't kill himself because of Jacob. Jack agrees but sits with Richard, believing that he has a destiny and that the dynamite won't blow up if Jacob has plans for him. The fuse abruptly stops and the dynamite doesn't blow up, confirming Jack's theory.
The Good: Ben's story is fantastic in this episode. The flashsideways are back to being about fulfillment as they offer Ben another chance, giving him the choice between his own power and Alex's life. And this time he makes the right decision, and doesn't give up Alex's future for his own personal gain. The story left me feeling really happy for Ben, seeing that he doesn't have to be a manipulative liar and is capable of being better. It's always impressive how "Lost" makes me sympathize with Ben despite all of his despicable actions. It's strange that this episode works so well, because the flashsideways story sounds like an awful idea on paper. A story that takes place in a high school? Pass. But it works absurdly well. Surprisingly, Ben is in his element as a teacher, and it is wonderful to see the relationship he has with Alex, having not given in to his worst character traits in this alternate universe. The high school symbolizes a perfect world for Ben, one where he can live a simple and happy life despite having no power at all. Compare this to the island, a place where he has power, but he is now miserable and unhappy. You can't help but wonder how much better of a person Ben would be if he had never taken up any power. This implication is what brings suspense into the high school storyline. Your stomach turns a little bit when Ben tries to take Principal Reynolds' position because you get the sense that it will ruin everything that Ben has. And there is tension that Ben will choose wrong again, because Sayid was unable to find fulfillment in the previous episode. The writing and acting in this storyline helps it maintain drama despite being based on such a mundane premise. It shouldn't work, but it ends up being enthralling television. The island story is very effective. The story of Ben literally digging his own grave, being faced with the consequences of his decisions is very powerful stuff. It isolates Ben and makes him feel despair and powerlessness in a way that Ben rarely feels. This effectively makes us sympathize with Ben throughout the episode and builds nicely to the episode's climax as Ben opts to not kill Ilana, instead giving her a really passionate speech (see: Best Moment) because deep down he doesn't want to leave to go with MIB. It shows very real character growth that Ben chooses not to go with MIB's promise of power, instead opting to do the right thing because he understands that power is not the most important thing to him. Again, this episode has a few nice callbacks and moments. Ben's speech about Napoleon and power at the start of the episode was a lovely bit of tongue-in-cheek storytelling. I was also pleased to see Miles digging up the diamonds Nikki and Paolo were buried with, as well as Ben going through Sawyer's stash. I really enjoyed the ending of the episode as we got an old school montage as Jack and Hurley arrive and reunite with Sun. Jack and Hurley's story is a perfect B-plot. The encounter with Richard is very dramatic. Richard has been fascinating to watch in his few scenes this season, and Nestor Carbonell has done an outstanding job of showing us the collapse of this character's world. When he says he wants to die, you buy into his emotional state. But what's most fascinating is the effect that Richard has on Jack. After his experience in "Lighthouse", Jack has now become a man of faith. So when faced with somebody who has lost faith, naturally Jack will do his best to "fix" him and restore his faith. Jack's choice to light the fuse, willing to risk everything because he believes that he has a greater destiny, is a fantastic character moment, showcasing the change in Jack. The ending with the fuse going out was a superb moment, concluding a tremendous B-story. The Bad: It's a small issue, but it is notable that this episode doesn't progress the plot very much at all. Ben's story is grounded in character and emotion, but it does very little for the show in the grander scheme of things, which is especially underwhelming when you remember that there are only 10 episodes left with plenty of plot threads needing to be resolved. Furthermore, it's disappointing to see Ben get a story in the flashsideways instead of a traditional flashback, especially since he's so connected with the others and the history of the island. You just can't help but feel disappointed that we didn't get a chance to get more answers with another look into Ben's past. That being said, I will always prefer a beautiful and emotional story like we got in this episode to an episode all about plot and giving out answers. Hence why it's only a small issue for me. Did Principal Reynolds have to be so comically awful? Give the guy one admirable character trait at least. The Unknown: What changed in the flashsideways world to get Ben and Roger off of the island? Could their presence be another hint that the flashsideways is an epilogue, not an alternate reality? If the bomb exploded, surely Ben and Roger would have been killed. What is Jacob's plan for Richard and Jack? What kind of powers does MIB have? I was very surprised to see him free Ben using some sort of godly ability. What else can he do? How did Widmore find the island? What role will he play in this Jacob vs MIB conflict? Will he pick a side, or will he be a sort of wild card? What are his plans for everyone on the island? He seems to have a destination in mind to land. Where? Also, is Widmore the person that Jacob said was coming back in "Lighthouse"? Best Moment: Ben's speech to Ilana was phenomenal. Michael Emerson was remarkable in this scene and his word really pull at your heartstrings and make you feel for this awful, awful person. Every beat of his speech was executed perfectly, and Ben's regret and loneliness are really easy to relate to. Ending the scene with Ben choosing to come back with Ilana because he just wants to belong somewhere is both hopeful and sad all at once. Simply beautiful storytelling. Character of the Episode: Ben. Conclusion: Emotionally, this episode did everything perfectly. I don't think that this episode had a big role in the overarching story of season 6 (except the ending), but it was focused, powerful, and memorable. If there's one thing you can count on from "Lost", it's that the show will always provide superb character stories like this one that are capable of wowing you emotionally. Even in episodes that don't have much plot movement, it's important to remember that very few shows are capable of nailing down the emotional aspects of storytelling quite like "Lost". This was an excellent episode. Score: 74
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Aaron DhillonJust a university student who loves to watch TV. And analyze it way too much. Archives
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