The episode provided two sides of Ben Linus, but the way they connected was a marvelous job on the part of the writers and Mr. Emerson. To me, this is the first time that the flashsideways serve a clear purpose that succeed from start to finish. In alternate 2004, Dr. Linus is a European history teacher who is disappointed when the principle disrespects his history club by making him watch over detention for the week. He complains to Artz (yes... him), but substitute Locke says he thinks Ben would make a great principle. We see Ben with his father Roger (still alive and very sick), and they talk about leaving the island and how he wishes their lives were different. Amidst all this, the Linuses have a visitor... Alex Rousseau! She is a 12th grade student of Ben’s and one of his brightest history students, meaning Danielle must live in LA too. During tutoring the next morning, Alex accidentally reveals that the Principle had sex with the nurse while she was in the next room resting. We are reintroduced to island Ben, who is conniving and focused on power. He is able to access the nurse’s emails with the help of Artz (who calls Ben a “real killer”) and attempts to blackmail the Principle, but there’s a problem. Alex has asked him for a recommendation letter. Ben is given two choices: Take the power and ruin Alex’s promising future or choose Alex and lose the chance to become principle and we are somewhat surprised to find out that Ben has chosen Alex.
Island Ben is a different story. Upon finding Ilana’s group and returning to the beach, Ilana gets Miles to “talk” to dead Jacob’s ashes and he discovers than Ben is the murderer. Ilana angrily proclaims, “Jacob was the closest thing I ever had to a father” and reacts by making Ben dig his grave. In the process, Un-Locke visits Ben, frees his chain, and gives him the oppurtunity to flee while providing him with the location of a gun. Ben runs, finding the gun and confronting Ilana after she chased him down. We are thrown in the middle of one of the greatest LOST moments to date. Ben confesses that he sacrificed his daughter because he was so afraid to lose his power, the same thing he sacrificed in the flashsideways to save Alex’s future, and says that it’s the biggest regret of his life and the thing he cares about more than anything in the world is gone. He says he is sorry for killing Jacob and can never forgive himself. We see the human side of Ben, who cries that he’s going back to Un-Locke because he’s the only person who will have him, to which Ilana replies “I’ll have you”. During all this, Jack and Hurley encounter Richard, who takes them to the Black Rock. Once inside, he confesses that he wants to die, saying he’s dedicated so much of his life to Jacob because he’d tell him everything happened for a reason, but now that he’s gone he’s sick of living but can’t kill himself (because of Jacob’s touch). He asks Jack to light a stick of dynamite, and after Jack lights the fuse, he sits with Jacob and says he feels the dynamite won’t go off. Jack’s new found faith pays off as the fuse stops before blowing them both to a fiery death. Jack, Hurley, and Richard eventually approach the beach where the remaining members are staying. As some sweet piano music plays over this emotional reunion, the sight of a peroscope rises from the water, and we learn that none other than CHARLES WIDMORE is inside, looking for the island.
This episode displayed a wonderful tale of redemption, more compelling than Sayid’s. We discover Jacob’s touch is a gift (or curse, depending on how you look at it) and granted Richard agelessness. Michael couldn’t kill himself, so we know he’s been touched by Jacob at some point (Dawson is 124). Locke wanted to kill himself, but we know now that he wouldn’t have succeeded, even though Ben finished the job. Jack tried to kill himself, but was saved by a car accident (which he, ironically, caused). However, we’ve come to learn you can die by other means. Another question I have is who does Smokie choose to kill? Un-Locke could have killed Ilana and the other beach dwellers but didn’t, yet killed all those at the Temple. LOST fans think he can’t kill candidates, which I agree with, but was everyone at the beach a candidate? We know Smokie has a method to him, but not sure exactly what. Also... what’s up with Ilana? Jacob is not her father, so was she merely his bodyguard, or did he help raise her or save her life? Did she grow up on the island? The end of the episode reintroduces us to Widmore... is number 108 (Wallace) in his sub? How did Widmore find the island? I think he found the island with the help of Eloise, who we see him talking to towards the end of season 5. Also, he doesn’t care about the beach people, which makes me think he’s heading for Un-Locke’s crew. Maybe he will be the new leader of the Island, instead of Ben. He probably just wants his power back, like Ben did. Un-Locke probably knew Ben would eventually go back with Ilana, and Widmore will step in and take that place for Smokie. Can’t wait to find out more about Widmore coming to the island, but Kudos LOST on the episode...
"I'm gettin' off this island! How long until I get to the other side of the world?"
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