DEAD IS DEAD
Episode 5.12
It’s been a lot to digest—this season. For eleven weeks, we’ve been given the answers to many of the deepest questions which have arisen over the last four years. This week’s title has got to be a bit deceiving—it reminds me of a Zane Grey novel that was never published. Shhhhh…it’s on!
Charles Widmore is a very, very cool dude in the 1970s. So cool, in fact, Ben wants to run away from happy Dharma camp and become “one of you.” In my mind, I know that Charles’ favorite band is The Beatles, his favorite color is fluorescent pink and he looks too much like Russell Crowe to be healthy and sane.
“Welcome back to the land of the living,” Locke tells a grown-up Ben, fresh from a healing sleep. Ben is recoiling in the presence of his most recent murder-victim. Eventually, he tells John, “to believe is one thing”…but to see it happen.
“My God.”
If I were Ben, looking at a living and breathing John Locke two feet from my face, I probably would have said, “Oh, God.”
Many of the Widmore origin-questions have been satisfactorily answered. Locke seems locked into a state of paranormal-righteousness and I’m wondering if CGI is at work in regard to how buggy Ben’s eyes have been getting lately.
On the beach of the island’s most recent plane crash, Ben wants to help. Ben is also ready to screw Locke over in the name of island survival. Ceasar informs Ben that he’s got his back. Our favorite ex-Dharma leader is poisoning the freshest crash survivors against Locke. MMmmm…Ben-poison.
The next scene is a freakin’ scream. Ben, presumably in the late 1970s is up to no-good, sporting an unconvincing “Duran Duran” hair style. He’s on a mission—stealing babies. Baby Alex is his now and Danielle and her angry personality is born. It’s a bit odd that pop-culture has made its’ way into the land of The Others.
Flipping back to the present, Ben is rifling the drawers of a nearby Dharma station when Locke pops in. Ben throws up a great excuse for killing Locke. One of the best lines of the season occurs.
“I just didn’t have time to talk you into hanging yourself.”
John just wants an apology while Ben delivers his usual line of casual evil. Locke is ready to help Ben become tomorrow’s lunch for Smokie. Ceasar has a problem with Locke and his plan. Luckily, Ben has acquired Cesar’s sawed-off shot-gun and sends the confused Latino ten feet backwards into the warm sand.
Ben has apologized.
Already, this weeks’ episode is rocking.
Ben and Locke paddle up to the old island. The smoke monster is supposed to show up at Ben’s old house for an old fashioned “judgment day.”
Back into the 70s with Duran Duran-Ben, Widmore is a bit upset at Ben for not killing Danielle and child as ordered. Ben dares holding a young Alex toward Widmore, offering her up for sacrifice, only to become a new adopted daddy.
In the present day, Locke and Ben are roaming the streets of old Dharma town. A light shows up in Ben’s window—more specifically, Alex’s old room. The bug-eyed one shows no fear in walking in, examining a game of Risk and investigating who might be in his previous pad.
Sun and Frank. They’ve been waiting for Locke in order to find Jin—Christian told them to do that. The dead man greets them with a friendly wave and eerie smirk.
Wow. Either I’ve taken too many Oxycodone or tonight’s episode is epic…hard to say. My jaw clenched tight, I open a new pack and summon my own smoke-monster.
Locke is very low-key about being reincarnated. Frank doesn’t want to play along and leaves. John reminds Ben about “judgment by smokie” and the former Dharma King reveals a very cool secret panel in his house, which reveals a very cool and ancient secondary secret panel—dark tunnel included. Ben, lantern in hand, travels below. He flushes an old toilet and waits.
We’re in post-purge Dharma. Widmore is being kicked off the island, via submarine. Apparently, Charles has been breaking “island rules.” Ben is in charge now—possibly. Widmore is full of all kinds of wisdom and threats and leaves Ben with “I’ll be seeing you, boy.”
Back in present day, Ben and Sun are having a conversation about life, death and Locke.
In the jungle, stuff is stirring around. But, Smokie is “not a train and doesn’t work on a schedule.” Locke is willing to help Ben find the absent monster.
Locke’s presence of mind and overall coolness is stunning. No longer do we find a man kicking and flailing his way toward understanding. I’m struck at how “centered” John has become in the wake of his second trip to the island and his second incarnation.
Ben, Locke and Sun are having a day hike. Ben is a bit confused as to how Locke could possibly know so much more about the island than he. Ben is resentful, but willing to play along. The trio shows up at “the temple.” Ben wants a favor of Sun—“tell Desmond I’m sorry.”
Back in the last of the Oceanic 6 days, Ben is on the pier with a pistol and a mission. He’s ready to kill Penny in front of her young child. Right before he confronts the blonde beauty on the boat, he drops Desmond with a pistol round—kinda. Desmond is not hurt—save for some ruined Raisin Bran--and gets a hold of Ben first. A major ass kicking ensues and Ben is tossed into the water, ala “Penguin’s Death Scene” in the second Batman movie.
Ahhhh. Ben is bleeding. The world is right.
At the crash site, Frank has pulled up in his canoe to find the latest survivors enjoying a freshly found box of Dharma guns. Something very odd has taken place in Frank’s absence. There’s a quick question about the “shadow of the statue” before the greatest pilot that ever lived is sent down into the sand via the services of a rifle stock.
Under the temple, John and Ben are exploring. The former Dharma leader is remorseful about his past—maybe. Mr. Linus falls through a hole in the floor and lands in the middle of ancient history. There’s lots of cool stuff on the walls and Ben is greeted by our favorite Smoke-monster. There are all kinds of cool faces and scenes of the past in the bands of Smokie’s greatness.
Ben weeps. Smokie retreats and Alex shows up. Alex might not be Alex anymore. She’s got orders for Ben: Follow John Locke. Ben seems like he just might do that.
Tonight, well, honestly, was one of those nights when I remember why I enjoy LOST so damn much. I love surprises and I love surprises that make sense and provoke thought and answer questions. We got a lot of that tonight. Smokie always makes me smile, too.
Desmond punching Ben’s face into mush was awesome--especially in light of the fact that he saved Penny and baby Charlie.
Most precious to me, though, is another mention of “the statue.” Ancient things await us, I feel.
Sweet, sweet ancient things.
I rate this episode 8.5 out of 10 Namastes.
Posted by Will on 09 Apr 2009 at 01:31 | LOST RECAPS
