Dr. Linus

I’m not an actor. I don’t know anything about the craft. Really I have no authorization to say this but – Michael Emerson is the greatest actor ever to act. He’s taken an evil manipulator and turned him into somebody we root for with Ben Linus. I don’t know about the rest of you but I sure was glad that he stayed with the good guys rather than joining Evil Locke. On to the episode review!

Alternaverse – It’s True This Principal Has No Dick

Yes that was none other than anal retentive EPA agent Walter Peck playing the principal at Ben’s school. I’m surprised he made the jump to teaching after Dr. Peter Venkman insulted him in front of the mayor of New York.

The main point of this flashsideways was to show that in the alternaverse Ben sacrifices his ambition for the good of Alex. Unlike on the Island where he sacrificed Alex for his power. Another flashsideways where the subject is righting the flaws they had while on the Island. All of them, except Sayid, have been like this. As I’ve theorized previously these flashes seem to be shaping up to be more like a coda for the series. Like these are what happens to everyone after whatever happens when everything on the Island finishes.

Another interesting point of Ben’s flash is that he’s living with his dad, seems to have a good relationship with him, and they both were previously with the Dharma Initiative on the Island but they left. I think the fact that Sayid shot Lil’Ben really brought the two together and mended the fences of hatred between the two of them. Ben’s dad realized how bad it was to almost loose his son and he stopped drinkin’ and blaming him for the death of his mother and instead started loving him. In a way Sayid was like Dr. Phil bringing people together.

Other notes – looks like Danielle is off Island too. Working 2 jobs to support Alex. Guess being a crazy French woman doesn’t pay like it used to. Artz is really getting some screen time this season! Plus he’s a hacker now? Way to be Leslie.

The Island – I Really Dig Ben

First we learn more of Miles’ power. We already knew that he needed to be near the body and now we find he can’t talk to dead people he can only hear their final thoughts. Good for him when it comes to finding diamonds (that was the first time mention of Nikki and Paulo didn’t send me into a murderous rage!) but bad for Ben and keeping the fact that he killed Jacob a secret.

Ilana, Frank, Sun, Miles, and Ben all return to the beach where it all started and Ilana immediately sets Ben to work digging his own grave. After he’s got a nice hole dug Evil Locke shows up and offers him an out – he’ll free him if he joins up with him at the Hydra. Ben bolts and Ilana follows. We are then treated to a dramatic acting clinic by one Michael Emerson as he explains why he killed Jacob and why he’s sorry about it. He put power before his daughter and he’s been asking himself why Jacob required that sacrifice ever since. After his touching speech Ilana invites him to join them and he does rather than side with Evil Locke for the promised position of Island Protector. Now there could be an ever so slight chance that Ben is still Ben and he’s merely staying with them to gather information which he can then give to Evil Locke but I think Ben has really turned over a new leaf and redeemed himself. He’s going to play a big part in end game battle between Jacob and Evil Locke me thinks.

The Island – Should I Try Another Stick?

Hurley and Jack are headed back to the Temple. Or at least are trying to. First you have Hurley’s stalling and then Richard comes out of nowhere and takes them to the Blackrock instead. Now it’s pretty obvious that Richard came to the Island on the Blackrock but we still don’t know if he was part of the crew or one of the slaves. What we do learn is how he’s not aged the entire time – Jacob’s gift. A gift which while keeping him eternally young also prevents him from killing himself. Does anyone else remember another guy who couldn’t kill himself no matter how hard he tried? Yup, Michael Dawson. He tried to kill himself in a car and then tried to shoot himself but Jacob wouldn’t let him die. Well not until the freighter blew up.

After seeing the carnage at the Temple Richard has given up on Jacob as well and wants Jack to kill him. Jack is either bat shit insane now or he’s finally started to have a little faith in Jacob cause he sits right down with Richard and lets the dynamite fuse burn all the way down. Just as Jacob wanted though he has realized that he’s important. He doesn’t know why yet but he believes enough that he won’t let a silly thing like lit dynamite stop him from having a nice conversation with a man wearing guyliner. The dynamite doesn’t blow and it looks like Richard might have gotten his faith back as well. They all head back to the beach and we have a touching slow mo reunion scene with high fives and butt slaps all around. Except for Ben. They’ll accept you in time Ben. Maybe if you shared your Bagel Bites with them?

And what’s this at the end? A submarine? And who’s in it? Why Charles Widmore of course! Is he the one Jacob wanted back on the Island or is he there on his own accord? I’m still holding out that it is Desmond Jacob wants back not Widmore.