The free ride is over.
Before we get to the Instant Reactions for this week, I need your help. You see, my friend Kevin (or "KFly", as he is known in most circles) recently got engaged (copycat). He entered some sort of contest to win free photography for his wedding (which is surprisingly quite expensive - trust me, I know)... and made the final three.
Now it's up to an Internet based vote. You can vote as many times as you would like, and I'd encourage about 10 times before proceeding on to read the Instant Reactions so that you don't feel like you are stealing.
Just visit: http://www.comfortphotography.blogspot.com/ and vote for "The Calendar" starring Randi and Kevin. You can even read their sappy love story below if you scroll down.
Why should you do this?
1. Because I asked you. Very politely.
2. Because he is competing against a Steelers fan, making it a case of good vs. evil.
3. Because KFly is actually in my wedding, and if he wins this, I won't have to get him a present.
Thank you for your help.
Now back to your regularly scheduled Blog Post...
Brian's Two Word Review: Information Overload
I feel like there is so much to take in from this week's episode, I hardly know where to begin. I'll just start rattling off thoughts and see how much I can remember:
1. Funky Time - I love that after last week's episode, I was sure that funky time on the Island wasn't likely - and that funky space was probably the effect of the electromagnetic properties... and then this episode immediately proves me wrong. In fact, it almost proved that time moves slower on the Island than it does in the rest of the world. The implications? Jack said he's been on the Island for 100 days. For the rest of the world, it's probably been more like 200 (I'll do the more precise math for my analysis). This also helps explain why the Island was such a great place for all these wacky experiments to save the world - because you have more time to do so!
(Update: actually, the more I think about this - the more I question this seemingly obvious explanation. Keep in mind that Faraday was able to communicate in real-time with the Freightor. You would think there would be a lag if time was moving differently...)
2. Sayid - so Sayid gets off the Island and becomes an assassin for Team Ben? Who saw that one coming? It's looking like this upcoming "war" between the Freightors (who apparently all wear stylish jewelry from "R.G.") and the Others doesn't just stick to the Island - but spills over into the rest of the world in some grand globe-trotting battle royale for control of the Island. The plot just got a lot thicker.
3. Ben - first, we see that he clearly has been traveling off the Island (in secret), probably explaining where the photo that Miles had actually came from (off the Island - the much cleaner answer, if you remember from my analysis!). Then, we learn that he actually did leave the Island (perhaps as a way to take the fight to the Freightors in an effort to defeat them?). A lot of people are going to say this proves that Ben wasn't in the coffin - but for me, this proves more than anything that he WAS in the coffin. Why? What if Ben was the leader of the "Oceanic Six", who were working to fight the Freightors / reclaim the Island / save the world? His death (a staged suicide by the Freightors?) could signify the battle is lost - leading Jack to attempt to take up the leadership role in the battle, after years of denying it. "We have to go back Kate."
4. Helicopter. Is this really Lost? Are we really having plotlines speed along this fast these days? Desmond and Sayid on a helicopter heading for the Freighter one episode after finding the helicopter?! Remember in the good ol' days when it would take our Survivors twelve episodes to build a raft, only to have it burn down, then ten more to finally have the raft leave... only to have it blown up by Others? Well, those days are clearly behind us. I was watching with disbelief thinking "we're actually going to see the Freighter / Ben's mole / our Survivors in the outside world in a matter of weeks!" Giddy!
5. The Economist. Yep, just as a predicted, a throwaway reference in the episode with no deeper meaning at all... besides the fact that "The Economist" is probably the "big bad" for the remainder of the series of Lost! From this day forth, we'll use this name for the boss of the Freightors and Abbadon - until we learn more about this mysterious character.
Okay - that's all I can handle for now. If this is any indication of how great Lost is going to be this season, it's going to be the best ever. I need to let it sink in for a bit. Full analysis this weekend!
http://facethewoods.com/lost/index.php?topic=250.0
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58 comments:
Okay Brian. I clicked Randi's vote 20 or so times. Anything I can do to keep you posting and theorizing! Love you.
I voted at least thirty times :D
Hey, if that's the price I have to pay to check out your amazing thoughts on an amazing show, it's well worth it!!
Ok, did anyone else think that before they showed it was Ben talking to Sayid, that his voice sounded like Jack's dad??
This feels like the first episode of Lost that was written on the fly.
Talk about a cheap plot device at the end. Blah.
Chris Bobb:
Yes, I noticed that a bit...it felt a lot like that scene in the Lord Of the Rings Movie (second one) where Gandalf shows up as the white wizard, but they mix up his and Saruman's voice; in the beginning it sounds more like saruman then progresses to Gandalf.
hobnail: Cheap plot device? seems like a season-changing revelation to me..
This episode didn't seem to answer much for me. Just more to file away under WTF!. It is almost like they couldn't think of what to do so they put a lot of almost information in it.
Some stuff I found interesting is:
Locke and Ben do not seem interested in the temple (where the rest of the others are headed)
What is up with Jacob's House? the ash is still there but no crazy cabin.
Funky time must be true. So does the ship really know how far it is from the Island?
The heli crew froze up when Des mentioned Penny, before they denied it by saying maybe upper managment but not them.
That the two soldiers (Des and Sayid) are the ones who get onto the freighter first. Could they lead a first assault (even though we don't have any proof they spent much time together to plan one)
Great blog, can't wait for your detailed post. I voted for your friend a number of times hope he gets it.
I voted 20 times even though the Steelers are my third-favorite team.
That episode was another mind-blower. Processing...processing...
I don't know what to say yet. I just know that was another great episode.
Was it me, or in the next episode blurb did they mention that another member of the Oceanic 6 would be revealed, or were they just talking about Kate.
Don't you think Abaddon maybe IS the Economist? Or do you think he's maybe just one of the names on the list?
OMG, I feel like Frank, when Daniel talks his scientific babble...too much information! Does this mean Sayid sold his soul by working for Ben? On the other hand: I don´t think he trusts him completely. Sayid ist still a mystery, he did not change into a different person on the island, he didn´t use his chance. Probably no one of the Oceanic 6 did, and that´s what haunts them back in their "normal" lives...just a thought!
Did anyone else like the humor in this episode? I think Frank and Daniel were quite funny, and it´s sooo good to see Jeff Fahey again!
I liked it to hear some German talking, it´s always a bit strange to hear this in an English film/series, but they did fine!
Hope the votings for Randi go further up, I did my best...
Sayid selling his sole to work for Ben? To me, that was clearly NOT the implication here. The writters showed Sayid to be a feeling person and appeared to be motivated to kill out of a sense of cause....or mission. It was clearly implied that these 'freightor' people are evil and horrible intents. Fascinating how the Island how powerful, global implications as depicted last night. Also, interesting how Ben appears to have been migrating to and from the Island somewhat regularly traveling around the world with his fake ID, fake passports, worldwide currencies and extensive wardrobe.
Not to lower the level of deep, well-thought-out analysis we bloggers are used to on this site, but...
Sayid naked in bed? HELL YEAH!!! Us Sayid lovers have been waiting for a Sayid storyline, and preferably a naked one, for so long! AND scenes of him in handsome suits, with his hair all smoothed out, that was so hot. Let me state for the record that if Sayid was in my bed, I would not shoot him, not even for my not-really-an-economist boss.
Other than that, Brian, I have been dutifully stuffing your friend's ballot box all morning. He's at a serious vote deficit right now, so come on bloggers, stuff away!
Laura
Fantastic episode.
I have to say, free wedding photos or not, that's pretty sappy stuff. Still voted multiple times. Lets see how much pull you have... it's 30k vote difference.
I got great photos for $300.
You need to organize something better than "please vote like 20 times." I just was voting and they are like a dirty well oiled machine. Every time I voted someone else voted for them. Seriously, put something big together. I'm willing to help a Bengals fan over a Steelers fan any day.
To get Sayid to be Ben's killer. The comment at Otherville "The day I take orders from him is the day I forfeit my soul". Yet he does this. If Ben is that bad, how much worse is the Frieghter people.
What amazed me is how Ben keeps himself alive. He's beaten, battered, anyone could kill him at anytime, yet we see him in the future all clean... possibly under cover as a VET?
Wow. I do agree that this could mean that Ben is the one in the Coffin. Until this episode, I thought he wouldn't want to leave the Island.
I'm also thrown astray by Jacobs now apparently mobile shack? Wasn't he being kept in place by the powder? Maybe he chose 'not' to be seen? Maybe the powder is nothing, or it's been 'broken'.
I guess we'll see.
I don't know what to make with this season. It's moving so fast, but some of the story line is getting somewhat cheesey. It's almost getting too complicated(if it wasn't before) and I really do not like the idea of the 'speaking with the dead' but. But I really liked the 31 minute time differential thing. Still, if they keep adding variables like this, how are they going to adequately answer all these questions by the end of season 6? I guess moving this fast, it may be possible, but things used to move so slow, there used to be a lot of filler but also a lot of detail. As Cuse said post strike, this will go from going fast, to going really fast(or something like that). If I go back and watch the series in sequence(which would take forever), we'll be on cruise for about 3 years and hit the turbo button on the pace.
Maybe that's my problem, I like the information, it's just that something isn't right, and I think it's some of the loss of detail verses fast story telling. It's so much different. Maybe it's like that new pair of shoes that doesn't fit right for a week or so. Still... it's good to have lost back.
HALP!!!!
Brian or somebody, please tell me what happened after Sayid went into the "vet's" office after he was shot. My F'ING G'DAMN SOB DVR decided to stop recording right when he sat down. I've been having a FIT trying to figure out the last 30 seconds (or whatever).
PLEASE HELP A SISTAH OUT! And be detailed, of course... THANKS!
Katie...
He sat down and the guy asked him what she wanted to know. Sayid said she wanted to know about you (the guy in the room). We find out that he is Sayid's boss, the one ordering the hits. The camera pans to reveal none other than Benjamin Linus. Fantastic.
@katie kat: you can go to ninjavideo.net, they have the new episode there to watch.
Actually, the "vet" appeared to be BEN, to my surprise with medical skills, and sew Sayid back together. they talked, but I don´t remember every word, I have to watch it again, their voices were quite low.
Katie, they post the episodes online thru abc. u can just watch the ending there.
Those of you interested in names should look up Hermann Minkowski on Wikipedia.
I paid my dues & voted several times. Hope your friend wins!
Ben's voice at the end didn't sound exactly like himself so I was surprised to see him. Though I wasn't sure that he really left the island or was still traveling back & forth. When he said something about keeping Sayid's friends safe do you think he was talking about the rest of the Oceanic 6 or the friends who are still on the island. Also, I wondered if the person in the coffin was on Sayid's list? Probably wrong but just a thought. I was surprised that Elsa was actually playing Sayid so the "economist" is definitely a bad guy. 100 days vs 200?? I thought the time difference was only 31 minutes. I loved that they brought up Jacob's Cabin again, seems as though Jacob is confined to the cabin but the cabin isn't confined to one place on the island and Hurley wasn't losing his mind when he saw it twice in opposite directions. When he did is count to 5 and make stuff disappear thing Jacob realized he wasn't ready to see/hear whatever he had for him. I think there's definitely a connection between Abbadon & the 'economist', maybe the same person? I'm on overload, must watch again. Oh & next week's epi looks good. Maybe we'll learn who 'he' is!
I loved the Calendar story, very sweet! I hope they win!
I totally agree with Chris Bobb, Ben sounded like Dr. Shepard.
Bless you my peeps... bless you. :) I have now seen all the moments I lost (no pun intended), and feel... EVEN MORE CONFUSED! :)
Hey, a bit off topic -- did anyone else watch the re-run of last week's episode that ran last night, with the "lost for dummies" comments running continuously at the bottom? Most of it was moronic, but there were actually a few interesting tidbits, which made me wonder if we shouldn't be reading more into the whole thing...
the interesting comments:
1) revealed that the woman in the daniel faraday flashback was a "caretaker" and not his wife. this clearly reinforces naomi's "headcase" jab.
2) confirmed that the intention of room 23 was to brainwash karl. given what a stretch it was to work this in at all (when karl got all uppity at ben, the comment was like, "gee whiz, i bet karl sure is mad that ben tried to brainwash him in room 23")
Other than that, there were needless comments about the cow (how maybe it was from the flame station), kate's horse, etc, buried in the garbage that was idiotic. Wondering if it was just incidental, or if it is lost people screwing with us again.
hard to say.
I voted for your friends, too! A lot, but they are far into 2nd place - they need more help!
I thought the episode was great. They totally screwed with Ben's voice at the end and then changed it to his own. I taped it and watched that part a few times. Very tricky. It seemed to me when Ben said that he was keeping Sayid's friends safe, that he was referring to those who stayed on the island - that Ben is still *all powerful* and they are all under his dominion.
Geez Louise, does that other couple on the Wedding Photography site have a bot automatically voting for them? Cause I can't imagine them getting that many votes by human hands, unless they have handcuffed Grandma to the computer with a bag of chips and a box of Depends.
I'll keep stuffing, though!
Laura
Great reading your posts again Brian.
I've been voting for your friends over and over....
I don't think that we are any closer to finding out who is in the coffin. For all we know it could be Sayid. It would make sense since he most likely has no contact with anyone that no one would show up just as much as it would make sense for Ben. And we already saw he almost got killed.
I found it interesting that when they didn't kill Ben Sawyer said that if they kept him alive he would eventually get them. It is so true so why doesn't anyone else see this obvious point.
Last, does anyone think it is possible for Locke to be one of the people who gets taken off the island?
Could it be that the "Oceanic 6" = only survivors from the crash (e.g. Sayid, Jack, Kate, Hurley + 2 more). Ben wasn't a survivor of Oceanic 815, so he's not part of the six, eh? Juliet wouldn't be considered one either? So, shouldn't it be "Oceanic 6 + 1"
I voted a bunch :) Badass episode - I can't wait for your analysis!
Hey, great episode...frist thing, i defintely dont think sayid is voluntarily working for ben. Sayid is probably my favorite character, since hes usually keeps everyone alive. however, i thought ben said something about sayid protecting his friends, and thats why he needs to continue to kill the people on the list. i also remember the producers saying sayid becomes a more central character...the way i see it, sayid is the key to unlocking things in the flashforwards. i think the other survivors are still on the island, and he has to help get everyone off, because hes sayid. guessing its part of watever the deal the 6 made to get off the island.
faradays soul purpose on the island: to finally give us some answers about the island! the time jump is the beginning. hopefully, he keeps giving us details on what exactly is that place...
Another point I was thinking about was Ben being the person that Kate says will wonder where she is at the end of Season 3. It would make sense that Ben helped Kate get off of the island, gave her the means to create a new identity (all the passports and money) but that there were stipulations to him helping her and she is kind of under his control like Sayid.
Ok, This is totally off the subject, but I was just remembering a long time back. We learned that Jack and Claire were brother and sister. Is anything ever going to come of this or will they ever find out. Perhaps we are just to forget about it and never touch that subject again.
Did anyone look up what Abbadon means.....its Satan! Which means Ben is really good and is fighting a battle against evil
voted over 150 times for your mate, still looks like he's going to lose unfortunately, he needs over 18,000
Even though the voice at the end was deep, I recognized the accent or inflection or whatever you want to call it - the way Ben talks. And I said to my husband, "That is Ben talking." Oh, yeah! I am good!
I am going to post my thoughts (random at best) before I read the 40 comments listed here. I hope not offend anyone's ideas already stated.
I took notes so I knew what and how to wirte what I am most keyed into...
I thought the bracelet read "N. I'll always be with you R.C."
Sayid shoots dude on golf course...but first when he says he was one of Oceanic 6, the guys reacts weird. I guess it could be sorrow for Sayid, but not if they were signing autographs and movie star like fame...more like this guy knows Sayid is going to shoot him! I did not catch the guy's name...is it important?
Piolot says to Faraday when he is going to use the phone to call the frieghtor, "If Minkowsky gets on, you hang up right away." and then, "Stick to the science stuff" What in the world? So Mickowsky must be the mole and they must know he is, or at least a few do! Last week Regina says he can't come to the phone, then says she has to go. Miles does not seem to get it. I thought it was a big deal!
Pay load cloack reads: 3:16:22
On island clock reads 2:45:03
a difference of 31 minutes 19 sec. At first we thought (my son and I) that it was 108 minutes off, but we were wrong and had to review it.
Is Elsa's bracelet LIKE Naomi's bracelet OR was it a gift from Sayid (the one he took from Naomi?) I suspect the first thought is true...they are a BFF bracelet gang!
I will stop now and continue my thoughts on the forum now...OH! I voted like 20 or 30 times because I saw he was behind...I hope that changes this week!
In a podcast, the exec-producers said that the connection between Claire and Jack will be discovered by them in a future episode.
Back to 'through the looking glass' flashforward: Could the 'him' Kate should be back to be... Ben?
On the last scene from this episode, Ben's voice does change when he's speaking to Sayid. Also, when Sayid speaks on the phone it's definitely not Ben's voice. It really sounds like Christian Shepard. What if, somehow, 'Vet-Ben' is not really Ben but... Jacob?
Uff... Creepy.
In Sayid's flash forward on the golf course, it is clear that the guy became nervous....willing to forsake the winnings of his wadger....after learning who Sayid is. Why? Who was this man? Any ideas on who these people on the "list" might be?
I don't think Kate's "he" is Ben, but hopefully we will know next week :)
I voted about 60 times, bro. It's going to be a hard thing to win it though, man. Someone is seriously voting A LOT for the other couple....The one that is ahead. I voted 60 times in about 10 minutes. In the time it took for me to do that, the leading couple received over 300 votes while "The Calendar" received about 150. They really have an army out there. LOL
I had a few minutes to kill, so I voted some more.
First I voted four times.
Then I voted eight times.
Then I voted fifteen times...okay, you can see where this is going.
The forty-two votes crashed my browser. But if that doesn't win it for them, I don't know what will!
Chris Bobb re bens voice and jacks dad, i thought exactly the same
Just took your friend through the 100,000 barrier Brian, although he's still behind, he's catching up, so fingers crossed! Great instant reactions again.
I think the man on the golf course is obviously involved in this conspiracy somehow - a funder/backer/supporter of the frieghtor group (perhaps backed by one of the large companies we've come across). However he seemed suprised when Sayid knew his name so I don't think he knew he was going to be shot, but he knew he best not hang around someone whose friends he was indirectly involved in attacking (or faking the death of).
Also, I agree with several people about Ben's changing voice, starting off like Christian Shepherds, but surely this was just a bit of suspense and playing with us by the director! If we recognised Ben's voice straight away it would have ruined the ending! The voices got closer and closer to Ben's real voice anyway.
Just some quickies -
Bracelet:
I think it was the SAME one. If Sayid's girl was wearing it the whole time, wouldn't she have been in the "know" about who her boss was, and wouldn't Sayid have been more careful around her? Sayid seemed to truly believe that she was naive about his using her. If she had had the bracelet on, he would have known something was up.
Funky Time:
Doesn't the headcase get all excited and stoked when the payload doesn't show up originally? He's looking around overjoyed. And then later when he sees the time difference he flips out. I think there is something to be said about what he WANTED to be true about the island space/time and what he found out is ACTUALLY true.
Ben at the End:
A friend spoiled the ending for me before I watched the episode, so I saw it coming, but I believe it was actually Ben's voice the whole time, just a dramatic tease by the director. What I FIRST thought they were about to reveal was that Jacob was the one giving the orders in that room. If you watch the scene again, you hear Ben's voice say "Take your shirt off" and it immediately cuts to an empty stool, then Sayid sits on another stool next to it. I have to admit I rolled my eyes when I expected an invisible hand to start stitching him up but was relieved when Ben walked into the frame. SO - I thought it was reminiscent of Jacob's voice, but I still believe it was Ben the whole time.
That's all for now, enlighten us this weekend Brian.
Kate's "he" is her baby boy. You all wait and see! It's simply her baby boy!!
hey brian just to let u no I voted 382 times so i really hope Randi and kevin win!!! :)
It looks like your friend has pulled ahead. I guess steelers fans have to sleep sometime. :)
They're ahead again. Been voting all morning and everytime I see the results they are at least 100 votes further. Either they are sitting there constantly pushing the button along with every person they know or this is totally fixed. I think we should all set a date & time and vote as a whole to really show them. lol I get too competitive
Just voted 400 times, if we could pull back that lead they had in a few days then we can easily overtake them by a large margin if we all do our bit.
Guys - I just have to say that I am super impressed by the time and effort you have poured into this vote. I talked to Kevin today and I know he really apppreciates it. His exact quote was something like "Brian, you should run for president if you can get all these people behind you".
I'm not sure about that, but it's still nice to know that I've got so many supporters out there in the Internets.
Sorry about the delay on the analysis - but it should be up tomorrow!
I just got back from a short trip and the first thing I did after being on a 13 hour overnight flight and getting no sleep was watch this episode. And it was much better than the sleep I so desperately needed.
A few comments:
I'm not sure that time moves differently on the island. All we know for sure is that the island is on a slightly different timeline than everywhere else. Jack has said numerous times "we've been here on this island 100 days." One would think that if it was a year the freightors would have said something.
My personal theory - there is a slight lag between the island and the real world. Time moves at the same speed but is off by a few minutes.
One of the most interesting things that Ben said to Sayid was "you do want to protect your friends, don't you?" or something like that. That implies that the people are alive on the island and require some sort of protection.
As much as I hated not seeing the episode it will be nice getting a new one tonight!
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