Thursday, March 06, 2008

"The Other Woman" Instant Reactions!

Brian's One Word Review: Predictable.

Maybe I need to stop over-analyzing the episodes before they air, because it almost felt like I spoiled myself this episode (which makes me wonder how people can actually read spoilers and still enjoy the show) - not a lot of surprises, unfolded pretty much the way I thought it would, and left us with only a few revelations. Juliet was "the other woman", Widmore appeared only on video, and Ben once again tricked Locke into putting him in a position to influence others and take control of the situation.

But I think my biggest complaint about the episode was that it introduced an entirely new element - the Tempest and its poison gas to simply serve as a plot device to create drama for the episode... and then totally eliminated it by episode end. With all the dangling storylines currently on the show, I have to think the writers could have been more creative in coming up with a way to get Juliet / Jack / Kate to trust that the Freightors are the "good guys" using a pre-existing storyline instead of introducing a new one.

The few discussion points:

Gas. However, this did finally give us an explanation as to how Ben was able to wipe out all the Dharmites with gas - but raises the question as to why the gas was there in the first place. In true cult fashion, did the Dharmites determine if the Island came under siege, it would be better to kill everyone than risk the Island being overrun by outsiders? Or did they all sleep with gas masks under their pillows, making it more of a self-defense mechanism?

Harper. I found it a little odd that Harper magically appeared in the jungle right after Juliet heard whispers, and then mysteriously disappeared after hearing some other noise in the jungle. Was this really Harper, or was someone "projecting" an image of her to Juliet? Jack saw her as well, but we've already established that the images on the Island aren't necessarily visible to only one person. It makes me wonder if the whispers are somehow tied to this power of projection - and if some of the Others have mastered the art of using this power.

Widmore. Although we really should never trust Ben, this episode did seem to confirm that Widmore is behind the Freightors, making my hypothetical story about his involvement during "The Constant" analysis all the more likely. The question is - does this confirm that Widmore is "The Economist"?

Michael. Seriously? Does the viewing audience really need so many blatant hints that Michael is Ben's man on the boat? As much as I want it to be anyone besides Michael (for the sake of surprise), there is no other character on the show that would come as a shock to Locke upon their reveal. Coupled with the preview that tells us it's someone that we will never believe, a simple process of elimination leaves Michael and Walt as the two characters on the show who are unaccounted for in the current storylines (unless you count Alpert... who at this point was still on Cane, and not an option).

We'll delve into the logic behind this next week.

But aside from that, not a whole lot to say about this episode. I'm kinda disappointed, actually.

Inspire me with your comments!

http://facethewoods.com/lost/index.php?topic=272.0

72 comments:

Hector A P said...

Let me be the first to say (I think?):

WALT is the man on the boat.

Think about it....they've teased us with the whole "Michael is on the boat" concept, almost to the point where it's one of those "god I hope it's really not something that obvious" deals. What a nice twist that would be!

Here's my logic:

Let's say Michael didn't direct the boat to the exact bearing en gave him (or maybe he did, since we haven't figured out yet which bearing is correct, Ben's or the Freightor's). So, the boat got stuck in the middle of the time bubble. Maybe Michael died, and Walt survived. And MAYBE...it's an age-accelerated Walt.

It's out there, I know, but Ben DID tell John to sit down before he told him who was on the boat. And I'm sorry, but John hearing "Michael" isn't something I think he'd need to sit down for.

Dree said...

I hate to think that it's Michael on the boat... it's too freakin' obvious, and I'd rather they didn't cop out with that. I'm curious to find out what happened to Michael and Walt, but I don't think this would be the best way to resolve that. I'm holding out hope that the writers are teasing us with the obvious (Michael) and planning to shock us with the truly unbelievable (???).

That being said, there might be something to Hector's theory that Walt is the "man on the boat." If it's not Michael, I just can't figure out who else it would be.

Anonymous said...

KELVIN INMAN

The Man on the Boat

Anonymous said...

Odd... this was my favorite episode of the season.
Maybe I'm strange, and maybe it's because I have a thing for Elizabeth Mitchell.
But I thought this answered a lot of questions!

It explains why Juliet wanted Ben dead. What their "history" was... it confirmed that she was never intersted in him in that 'way'.. which was originally suggested.

Juliet must HATE Ben. Not only did he lie to her, use her sister to keep her on the island... he feels that she's 'his'.

Also note the comment by Harper that "of course he like you, you look just like 'her'. and I'm sure that Her is Annie.

Seriously, how could you NOT like this episode! It even had a nice chick fight and a wet sene with Juliet to top it all off.

We also confirm that Widemore is in charge of the frieghters, and we all know he's an A$$... I believe ben when he says that he wants to exploit the island.. but thinking. didn't Dharma and Beb do this to certain degrees?

Now, I will tell you that they're getting a bit predictable. They have us enough hints of Widemore being behind the frieghters. And if Michael is not the man on the boat, I'll be shocked. If seeing his name in the credits and not seeing him isn't bad enough, the episode title 'meet kevin johnson'.. if that's not his alias.. what else could it be.
I think the obvious reveals have disapointed you.. but they also did not shut down the power to make the island visable like you suggested, so you didn't get it all right.

As for the Chemicals... Goodwin said that ben trusted him with Chemicals every day.. so that if they were released it could kill everyone on the island. I don't think the purpose of the Tempest is to release gas and kill people, I think this is what Ben used it for. This of it as purposely causing a meltdown at a nuclear plant. It's a chemical research station that he used for other purposes.

I also like the comment 'Rabbit today? He didn't happen to have a number on him, did he?".

Talk about predictable. I can see Claire dying very soon as well. She wants to see miles, and we know kate ends up with the baby. I wouldn't surprise me if she's gone before episode 8.

Anonymous said...

If Michaeol is Kevin Johnson, the man on the boat, I would be disapointed... unless Walt is on the boat as well. He's supposed to be the dad he never was. This was one of his issues.. where he was 'lost'. Surely he's not going to abandon him in LA and hang out on a boat. Who's left to watch him/

Anonymous said...

I think that the image of Harper was a projection from Jacob/the island. The Island doesn't like these people.

Anonymous said...

Island has a growth issue.
We'll see that with Aaron, and we'll see it with Walt. It has something to do with being on the island, and possibly, with kids... leaving it. Just a guess.
So no.. he hasn't spent 3 years on a dinky boat... we're at decemeber 2004.. that's 3 months.

I'm trying to figure out HOW he ended up there. Ben said someone would pick him up.. but why would they trust him?

Sawyer's Optician said...

Brian, I agree that this was a little dissapointing. In order to make Juliet "the other woman" they had to invent a wife for Goodwin, who was a nasty person that we felt nothing for. Then we were showed once again what an evil manipulator Ben is with the scene of him taking Juliet to Goodwin's corpse.

The video of Widmore beating someone up on a dock proved nothing and if we are supposed to believe that Locke was convinced by it, enough to let Ben walk free, I just don't get it.

Lastly, I still don't understand . . . was Ben planning another purge and Dan and Charlotte stopped it? Is that why they came? The Freightors had gas masks, is this because they knew that they might not get to the tempest in time? Ben didn't seem real concerned as he walked into the house with his fresh linens.

Sawyer's Optician said...

I almost forgot. The Juliet & Jack smooch was probably the most forced and uncomfortable kiss I think I've ever seen on screen. Boooo!

Hobnail_Boot said...

This was a beautiful episode. I just read your preview and I definitely think you 'spoiled it' for yourself.

Absolutely gorgeous episode, despite the Tempest plot device.

Anonymous said...

My son had an interesting idea. His guess for Ben's man on the boat?

Sayid :)

Anonymous said...

everyone needs to read these pages, especially this one, it all fits.

http://au.yahoo.com/lost/clue/clue405.html

Anonymous said...

it was pretty predictable...looks like the heavy focus next week is on sun so that look like the next oceanic six member...a good question is if jin is goin along wit her...seriously there is no other choice but for Micheal being on the boat...it aint gonna be Walt, no way.....Micheal is absolutely the guy...Cuse and Lindelof had a press conference on how Harold Per(how ever you spell his last name) was rejoining the cast...now all the focus will be on what happened to Walt..unless of course sayid asks micheal straight up and Micheal just tells him...which i doubt......we shall see...

Unknown said...

While some elements were a little predictable, I liked this episode better than Desmond's because it was far less trippy.

I didn't think about the episode too much beforehand so while the episode didn't shock me, I hadn't already figured it out as you had.

taby said...

I totally agree with hector. I think Walt is the man on the boat. Maybe an older Walt. But that theory leaves a question : Where is Michael? Becasue i don't think he's dead. I think we're going to see both of them really soon.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the idea of Harper having been a projection of the Island - well, unless she shows up with the Others in one of the next episodes, but I don´t think this will happen.

This episode was not as good as The Constant, and although I like to have some things answered at least, it feels a little rushed, the episodes seem quite packed until now.

My first thought, when Harper adressed Juliet´s resemblance to "her" - I thought of Ben´s mother. Maybe the therapist Harper worked out some "mommy issues" with Ben? Wouldn´t come as a big surprise to me...

Anonymous said...

Going Way too Fast.....This show feels like it is starting to wrap up . Answers are the "Constant" now.
How in the World is this show going to be dragged out for what, 2 or 3 more seasons? Eventually, it is going to lose it's momentum. I think they can pretty much wrap it up now in a 2 1/2 hour movie.
Of course, I would not like that. I love this show as much as the next person. It makes me so happy!!

I believe that Michael is the one on the boat. Ben probably made a deal with him. Michael stays and works for him whole heartedly 100% on board. Walt gets to be sent home safely and gets adopted by a nice wealthy family. Perhaps the Widmores? Wouldn't that be interesting?
Then Ben would have an insider in the Widmore circle too.
It is a little too obvious for us bloggers that the man on the boat is Mike or Walt. However, I think maybe to the average person who doesn't read blogs and just watches the show each week,(like everybody I know who doesn't appreciate a good spoiler) will be very surprised about it being Michael. Perhaps, we do over analysis this show too much. We read into every clue, hint etc. I personally wouldn't have it any other way. To me its my part 2 of the episode. I love waking up Friday mornings, getting my cup of coffee, sitting down and reading Brian. Forget the newspaper, World news, who needs it? It will be there later. I need Brian.
So Brian Keep up the incredible work....You rock!!!

Anonymous said...

Small detail but Locke's mention of "that was the last chicken" I think is meaningful. Also, the chicken carcus in the frig last season ties in with the idea that food supply may be dwindling.

Anonymous said...

If Michael is Ben's man on the boat could it be that Walt is the person in the coffin?

Anonymous said...

It seems rather stupid of lock to eat the last chickens... I'm sure there are chicks somewhere.

Anonymous said...

Whoever is in the coffin is someone that no one liked as no one showed up for the funeral. Did anyone watch last weeks episode last night - they put hints, etc. at the bottom of the screen. They referenced a website www.find815.com. The first chapter is a click, etc. from a guy that lost his girl on the flight - she was a flight attendant. Looks really interesting.

Anonymous said...

What did Ben do to rabbits with numbers on them? I'd be scared to know.

Anonymous said...

I think we saw the foreshadowing of Claire's death this episode too: "I want to see Miles."

We know three things:

(1) Locke says you can't do something.

(2) You do it anyway (see Kate tricking Locke to get Miles to Ben).

(3) Miles was last seen with a live grenade in his mouth.

I see a Miles & Claire explosion in the near future. Maybe Jack finds out they were siblings after, which would explain his stateside guilt about not protecting her.

Anonymous said...

Jack (not that Jack) - good point.

I would hope that they would not kill off Claire until they reveal that Charlie is still alive. Yes, I'm holding out hope. OH, MY GOSH...Charlie is the one on the boat!

Jana said...

I thought Locke said he was running out of chickens.

Re: the numbers on bunnies - have you seen the Orchid orientation film? All SORTS of interesting questions open up.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the comments that you spoil yourself. Just like with Aaron being Kate' son. For a more entertaining, less obsessive outcome, might I humbly suggest drafting only immediate reactions and analyses, rather than your predictions. That's the thing Desmond teaches us about knowing the future, sometimes you don't like the result.

In any event, The Other Woman was a beautiful episode. It did provide us with additional answers and confirmations and again raises and reinforces many questions that are yet to be resolved.

It is confirmed that Charles Widmore is a "bad guy" and wanting to exploit the Island. Of course, with no hint of irony, we know that the altruistic DHARMA previously exploited the Island in its mission to "save the world". Regardless, aside from the reveals of what Ben knows, it is significant to note what Ben does not know. He does not seem to know about Desmond and his connection to Widmore or the existence of Penelope. Additionally, Ben does not know how Widmore came to know about the Island. Was it his connection to Hanso, or his interest in the Black Rock? Finally, despite Harper's warning, Ben does not seem to know about Charlotte and Faraday's adventure.

As for who is on the boat, all evidence does seem to point toward Michael Dawson. However, an explanation must be given to what has happened to Walt. The creators have gone through pains to remind us that Walt is still out there. He appeared to Locke in his state of despair. They had two "missing peices" focusing on Walt and his special abilities. And his name has come up twice this season already. Why would they beat us over the head with reminders if they had no plan for our special boy who wanted to stay on the Island.

Finaly, this chapter did remind us as to life on the Island before 815. And it added to the depth and richness of our story.

Brian, my admirable anonymous friend, relieve yourself Desmond's burden, and enjoy focusing your energies on the reflections.

Anonymous said...

Isn't this whole blog about predictions "what we think" it could be?

Eric Antoine Scuccimarra said...

I don't know about spoiling yourself. This episode was pretty simple and straightforward. As for your comments about the Tempest I don't think it was a one-off shot. I think it will come into play further down the line. It raises a few other questions such as why was Dharma keeping poison gas, how did the others get it, is that the same gas they used in the Purge?

I don't think that Widmore is the Economist. I think the Economist works for Widmore. The thing I found most disappointing about this episode is that Widmore wants to turn the island into a giant amusement park. You would think he would have some more nefarious plans for it, like world domination or something.

I don't know about the man on the boat. In the past Lost has given strong hints to something that you think its going to end up not being that because they made it so obvious and then they go with the obvious answer. In other cases they tease you with the hints and then the answer really is a shock. So it could really go either way on this one.

Anonymous said...

Wasn't there a painting in Ben's house with a woman holding a hamster. I remember last season they said it was and egg. Maybe that is the woman Juliet looks just like.

Eric said...

I was struck by Harper saying that, "Ben is exactly where he wants to be." It was almost the exact same language as Miles used with Kate. I wonder if we are meant to infer that Miles and Ben are connected. Could Miles be Ben's mole? That would require there to be someone else on the boat that was helping Des and Sayid, which could be Michael. Maybe we have been set up so that we see Michael next week, assume that he is the mole, and then find out that what Ben told Locke (causing Locke to need to sit down) was that the mole was holed up in the boathouse with a grenade in his mouth!

Anonymous said...

I believe that Michael or Walt is on the boat, but I have a hard time believing that either is Ben's man. It seems logical to me that Michael or Walt would open the door for Sayid and Desmond without wanting to be seen. Michael is a murdering, self serving traitor. Perhaps opening the door is his attempt at redemption. Who knows? Perhaps the door was opened by the Captain for reasons of his own or his employer's.

Now if Michael is on the boat, it does not make him Ben's man. If the calendar shot in the previous episode is anything to go by, the freightors may have been on this mission for three months or may have been off the coast of the island for three months. Either one would indicate that in order to have a man on the boat, Ben would have to placed him there prior to Michael arriving on the island. Of course, I may have the significance of the calendar wrong.

I also wonder if Miles was Ben's man. It seems improbable, but that 3.2 million line has stuck in my head. Like a recognition phrase between two members of the same movement from isolated cells. Perhaps Miles was recruited by Ben's "people" after he was recruited to be a freightor.

Anonymous said...

So, no one seemed to pick up on the one question that jumped out at me this episode. Maybe it's nothing, but I wonder if there is any significance to the obvious way the producers made sure we saw that Ben was reading a book by Philip K. Dick.

I am not familiar with this sci-fi author's work. Perhaps someone could clue us in on that.

Anonymous said...

look up the meaning of the word "Tempest". there's more going on with this hatch than simply chemical deployment. from wiki, seems like this has something to do with intercepting signals. not sure why chemical would be needed.

the last of the oceanic 6 reveal next week. first, does this mean that aaron is clearly #5 out of the 6? or are they going to reveal both 5 and 6 next week? the preview only said "last member of the O6 would be revealed". to me, sun seems likely, but the most interesting would be locke. i think the only way the producers can wow us at this point would be to have locke leave the island. does ben trick him into it, thinking he's aiding the island by helping ben off of it, like alpert? is he permenantly healed and will his legs work off of the island, or is he only healed on the island? does he become part of the O6, or does he leave the island subversively, and potenially, ending up in the coffin! locke has no family that cares about him. only the O6 really know who he is, and none, except jack, would be sad to see him die. clearly ben is controlling the strings in the future and nobody falls for ben as easily as locke does. he could easily be ben's puppet in the future (if he isn't already), who either kills himself because he realizes ben tricked him into leaving the island, or is killed by the ecomonist in an attempt to get to ben.

Anonymous said...

Eric...good point about Ben and Miles both saying "they are right were they are supposed to be". This must have meaning and not a coincedance that the writters used similar dialogue here. Maybe u r right that a connection exists between these 2 characters. Why are they "exactly where they want to be"?

As for Widmore....IMO, we learned nothing as gospel or fact. All we learned is what Ben told Locke which may or may not be truthful.

Anonymous said...

Loved the part when Tom said the part about crying about your Daddy!

Anonymous said...

I had the same thoughts about the whispers being connected to some kind of projection. The only thing I can't figure out is, wasn't Harper wet? How would they do that? Even with that I do think it is some kind of projection.

My first thought when Harper said you look just like her was Annie but then I thought Ben's mom. Juliet does look a lot like Ben's mom. Maybe a grown up Annie also does.

I have been saying for weeks that I thought it was Michael on the boat. This is how the freightors already knew there were survivors from 815. I don't think Walt was there. I actually don't think we will see Walt again in island time because of the age issue. I think there is a good chance we will see him in the flash forwards and future.

I think we can believe Ben that the freightors belong to Widmore but that is about all I believe that he said. As far as not knowing how Widmore knows about the island, etc. I don't trust Ben when his mouth is moving.

Anonymous said...

I think it is Charlie on the boat or someone we think is dead that the island brought back to life -- maybe Locke's dad?

At first I thought we had it all figured out -- who was good and who was bad -- since it seemed the freighters were good, but after I thought about it, I don't think Whitmore/freightors are good at all so I still don't think we know.

Anonymous said...

BRIAN-
crazy idea..but maybe michael or walt will be the last of the oceanic 6!
did i just blow your mind?

Anonymous said...

The Book is Valis.
Horselover Fat
The main character in VALIS is Horselover Fat, an author surrogate. "Horselover" is English for the Greek word philippos (Φίλιππος), meaning "lover of horses" (from philo "brotherly or comradely love" and hippos "horse"); "Fat" is English for the German word "dick".

Even though the book is written in the first-person-autobiographical, for most of the book Dick treats himself and Fat as two separate characters; he describes conversations and arguments with Fat, and harshly if sympathetically criticizes his opinions and writings. The major subject of these dialogues is spirituality, as Dick/Fat is/are ostensibly obsessed with several religions and philosophies, including Christianity, Taoism, Gnosticism and even Jungian psychoanalysis, in the search for a cure for what he believes is simultaneously a personal and a cosmic wound. Near the end of the book the messianic figure, incarnated by the child Sophia (a name associated with Wisdom in many Gnostic texts), cures him (temporarily), and the narrator describes his surprise that Horselover Fat has suddenly disappeared from his side.

Anonymous said...

There is another book on the LOST bookclub. Somethign like the Island of Morose. I forget the name, its a 100 page 'diary' of a political criminal intentially shipwrecked on and island. The island was inhabited at one time by a group of vacationers that built a museum, a church and a generator (turbines). Its very interesting b/c the character begins to see people, that don't interact with him. They just co-exist. It turns out the leader of these people went crazy, invented a 'camera' that recorded their every word/movements. The events would play over and over for eternity, powered by the tides. Only the people never realized they were being taped. The side effect is that they died of radiation exposure. The author falls in love with a projection and voluntarily tapes himself into the images so he can live with her in eternity. Eventually you find out that a ghost ship sunk off the coast with very deteriorated bodies on were the 'origonal' inhabitants who died long ago.

Pecma said...

I think it is Walt on the boat as well. The logical thing is to think it is Mike, so that will be a nice twist. We know there is a time issue, and that it affects aging. Because of this Walt is no longer a boy and is now a man... a man on the boat.

Anonymous said...

TEMPEST = Transmitted Electro-Magnetic Pulse / Energy Standards & Testing" - A codename by the US Gov't to the NSA operation to secure electronic communications equipment from potential eavesdroppers. The term "compromising emanations" (CE - unintentional intelligence-bearing signals which, if intercepted and analyzed, disclose the information) rather than "radiation" is used because the compromising signals can, and do, exist in several forms such as magnetic- and/or electric-field radiation, line conduction, or acoustic emissions

Anonymous said...

source of TEMPEST def. is wikipedia.

Sawyer's Optician said...

"Eric said...
Maybe we have been set up so that we see Michael next week, assume that he is the mole, and then find out that what Ben told Locke (causing Locke to need to sit down) was that the mole was holed up in the boathouse with a grenade in his mouth!"

That would be awesome!

Anonymous said...

Anthony Cooper on the boat! Maybe Sawyer didn't finish the job... longshot, but it'd be fun and Locke would certainly need to sit down to hear it.

TheycallmeVic said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
TheycallmeVic said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stef said...

The thing I found most disappointing about this episode is that Widmore wants to turn the island into a giant amusement park. You would think he would have some more nefarious plans for it, like world domination or something.

I took that scene with Ben's explanation to Locke as being similar to Ben's explanation of the Island having a "magic box." In order for Ben to explain things to Locke, he really dumbs it down... another sign of how he knows he's much smarter than and able to manipulate Locke. I didn't think this was literal, at all, and in fact may be another way to get Locke off the real trail of whatever Widmore/Ben might want the Island for.

TheycallmeVic said...

Widmore could definitely be the Economist, and Ben knows it. But Ben didn't know his whereabouts, so he sent Sayid after him to hunt him down and kill him.

Or Widmore could be the money (investor) behind the Dharma initiative and wants revenge on Ben for what he did (Charlotte sure knows about it, saying he could do it again). Or simply wants to continue what they were working on. Theories, theories....

As for Harper being a projection, where is the real Harper? We saw her by Ben when the plane crashed in this episode but I don't think we've seen her since. Is she in the Temple as well??

jess said...

This is pretty far fetched but I was thinking or should i say hoping that maybe some of the others were right and it is Charlie on the boat... After Charlies devastating death last season I read a few blogs where people said that there should have been a pocket of air at the top of the room so i was just thinking maybe Charlie would pull a patchy and be the one on the boat.... i mean hes definitly not someone you would expect to see again...How many times have we thought patchy was dead and then he was back why cant charlie do the same

L'wryn said...

it was a dull episode. maybe only because the rest of the season has been so great.


harper said to juliet when juliet said ben had been awesome to her "of course he has, you look just like her."


huh?

Drudo said...

No one has commented on the most ominous part of the show here. When Ben was having his breakdown and telling Juliet that she belonged to him, he said "After all Ive done for you! After all Ive done to keep you here!..." That sounds a little more sinister than the mind games he has played on her. This may be way overboard, but is it possible that Ben is some how responsible for the pregnant women dying? Could he have somehow caused them to start dying just for an excuse to bring Juliet to the island. If he didnt start it, it sounds like he may be somehow preventing her from solving the problem so she cant leave. Just a thought. Maybe Im going too far.

Sawyer's Optician said...

Drudo,
I posted comments to that effect after The Man behind the curtain. Here are part of my comments then:
"Ben has always reminded me more of Norman Bates than the Wizard of Oz! (even before this episode - remember his creepy motionless stare in the hatch when he was held prisoner) Ben killed his father; Normie killed his mother. Norman’s brain split, and half of him became “Mother.” He had conversations with his mother who was a decomposing corpse in a rocking chair. Norman, as his mother, killed any one who got too close to him because he couldn't handle relationships. Norman actually believed his Mother committed the murders and cleaned up after her. He dumped the bodies in out of the way places. . . . Another thought in this increasingly long post, is the thing about pregnancy and the island. Maybe it is all somehow sabatoged by Ben in some underhanded way. He has a troupe of people who will blindly follow his orders. Or at least he did. He is a killing machine, and very disturbed. No woman is going to have the opportunity to be a mom, because his mommy didn't!"

Anonymous said...

drudo

""After all Ive done for you! After all Ive done to keep you here!..." That sounds a little more sinister than the mind games he has played on her. This may be way overboard, but is it possible that Ben is some how responsible for the pregnant women dying? "

I had the same thought but it probably just refers to Ben killing her ex-husband, curing her sister of cancer, etc.

Anonymous said...

Drudo and Sawyer’s Optician: I can see your points: Rather than there being a “Spirit of the Island” (or a Jacob) who has a plan for the future of the Island and gives orders to Ben, according to your ideas it would be the other way round. The Island would be a sort of instrument which resonates with a person’s psyche, and Ben has unknowingly keyed into it and become the blueprint for the Island. This would be similar to the way we’ve seen Smokey seem to read minds and then create characters from a person’s past. Ben would then end up projecting his crap out into the world and killing off pregnant women. For this to stop, Ben would need to resolve his issues.

Speaking of this--I thought it was a little weird that Ben had things set up in Otherville so that everyone had to be in therapy. Of course the person who really needs the help (Ben) wasn’t participating. Probably it was just an intelligence gathering device, and Harper reported everything back to Ben.

Once again we’re reminded that Ben is a master manipulator, but he’s also a very sick and twisted person.

Brian: regarding whether you overanalyzed and ruined the surprise—there were still things happening that I didn’t expect. And I was actually laughing as it turned out that ALL of your possibilities came true: There was another Other woman (Harper), and Juliet WAS the other woman. There was even a catfight! (Juliet and Charlotte)

I was also suspicious of the Tempest hatch, and it didn’t make sense. If Daniel and Charlotte were truly trying to make the gas inert, why did they almost trigger a massive release? I can’t see why those 2 procedures would be related, except that the writers wanted to inject drama. I’m guessing that the Freightors are trying to neutralize any defenses that Ben could marshal.

Something no one’s mentioned yet—the comment by an Other in the flashback that they had collected all the people from the tail section that were on the list. Ben once said that it was Jacob’s list, as I recall. We still don’t know what the list was based on, but it must be important, given that it’s been mentioned again.

I also agree that Harper's appearance and the voices seem to be connected. Maybe there is a way to enter the "bubble" surrounding the Island and travel through it--like it's some alternate dimension. Funky space wherein time is also funky.

Anonymous said...

A troubling gap in Juliette's overall story line is how she came to accept "the list"? When Ben and she talked about the children from the tail section, Ben said, "who are we to argue with the list" (or something to that effect). How did she come to "buy-into" a list and accept that children are to be held on the Island, in essence, against their will?

On another matter, very nice performance by Liz Mitchell and also Mike Emerson. Ben was at his creepiest best!!

Anonymous said...

"Re: the numbers on bunnies - have you seen the Orchid orientation film? All SORTS of interesting questions open up"


Didn't Ben also have a bunny with an 8 on it on the show? The episode where they made Sawyer think he had a pacemaker.

Anonymous said...

Maybe the man on the boat is "the man from Tallahassee" --which absolutely no one would expect because he is "dead".

Anonymous said...

Where did all these random new people suddenly come from in the comment section here?

Anonymous said...

I also have mixed feelings about this episode. Many things were too obvious. In fact, I will from now on stop reading the previews just because of this. Brian is simply becoming too good. Or the writers too non-subtile. Or both. I never ever watch the teasers for the upcoming episode either, for the very same reason.

Juliet is a great character. The actor does so much with so little dialog, that quirky smile should win an acting award all by itself.

One thing intrigued me more than anything about this episode: Harper. When she confronted Juliet for cheating she showed no concern whatsoever over the fact that Juliet was with HER husband. Instead she was just worried how Ben would react. Now, that could be the writers telling portraying a stereotypical shrink, coldly analyzing and not taking things personally on the outside at least. But more interestingly, it could be a hint that Harper is a significant character. That her relation to [I don't remember his name just now; "Boromir"] was only instrumental to her. Compare with the "judgelike" woman who appeared during season three (my memory of the context is a bit fuzzy). What I'm saying is: could Harper be a native like Alpert?

Finally, I hope the economist is not Widmore, I hope the man on the boat is not Michael. But I fear my hope will be quashed.

Anonymous said...

@jon: Harpers husband Goodwin was not played by "Boromir", who was actually played by Sean Bean. The actor who played Goodwin is Brett Cullen.

Anonymous said...

"another Other woman appeared, perhaps coming back from the Temple (where Alpert and the other Others were headed when we last saw them) to deliver some sort of message / assist Ben / murder some Freightors."

WOW - Brian is psychic! Harper delivered a message that Ben wanted them murdered! That's spooky.

Anonymous said...

Did anyone else think it was very un"Kate"like to put her back to Charlotte and end up getting hit? The Kate from previous seasons would never have been so careless.

Anonymous said...

"Anonymous said...
@jon: Harpers husband Goodwin was not played by "Boromir", who was actually played by Sean Bean. The actor who played Goodwin is Brett Cullen."

I had no idea about that! But after reading their IMDB profiles I'm thinking that they're so darn similar looking that I'll keep calling both boromir (and anyone else looking roughly like that too) ;-)

Anonymous said...

I do believe that LOST has really hit the "Michael is the man on the boat" clue-giving pretty hard...and I also agree that Michael/Walt are the only logical answers as to who the "man" is...but I thought of something...and I'm not even thinking of anybody specific, but what's to say the "man" isn't a "WOman"? I mean, sure, Michael is the logical answer, but since when has LOST taken the logical way out?

And to an earlier comment about LOST bloggers thinking it's Michael but the average Joe might not...I don't think there are any more "average Joes" watching this show. Everybody who watches LOST is a junkie...and we're darn proud of it...but I think to even the most clueless LOST viewer (my mom) could think that Michael is on the freakin boat...so, yes, I too hope that it isn't Michael, just for one of those good ole' LOST plot curveballs we all know and love.

Anonymous said...

Oh, and I also love the idea of the "man on the boat" being one we have thought of as being dead...thus fulfilling the statement in the commercial for next week's episode, "and you will see a face you never thought you would see again." Usually human beings don't see too many dead people again...once they're dead...unless you are Haley Joel Osment.

Anonymous said...

Now wait a moment Bri...
Think of all the things we learned: Ben is multifariously talented power hungry madman with a pregnancy obsession and went to alot of trouble to get Juliet to the island, she did look somewhat like his Mom in a blonde sort of way, they did have a "history" ... she did not fall in love with him and the island has a death-gassing capability...
Uh... oh yeah... this all happened... FLASH -- Lasssssttt Seasssooonnn!!!

Anonymous said...

Well, now that I think of it I am still thinking about a few things... :-)

Are we totally convinced that Dan and Char were not going to gas the island?

Daniel says a very mournful Desmond-like statement to Juliet, "Oh Juliet, you're not supposed to be here..." It just sounded like he had already played the scene out and she was not a character in his rehearsed play. (Similar to Desmond's search for Penny in the jungle, his return to the island and not marrying Penny etc etc?)

Of course, Daniel could of just meant that she was not supposed to be there interfering. But why say it in such a distressed way? Of course if this was all true it would mean that Daniel was willing to gas everyone for a cause. This seems highly unlikely.

In any case, we do see that in disabling (supposedly) the Tempest gassing mechanism, he sure took alot of risks almost killing everyone by only a few seconds.

It is obvious both he and Charlotte were prepared with their hazmat gear for any outcome...

-wbuff

Anonymous said...

I really kinda hope Michael isn't Ben's man on the boat, but i'm pretty sure thats the only option. One slight possibility however: Mikhail. That bamf-ing Russian took an invisible electric fence and a harpoon to the chest, so is a close range grenade blast underwater his demise? Its out there, but its a possibility that's not Michael.

Anonymous said...

Michael is the man on the boat. No other character exists that Ben would dramatically tell Locke to "sit down" before revealing to him the identity of this person. Common' everyone! This is a no brainer and there will not be any twist in this reveal!

Anonymous said...

Come on guys, the man on the boat is non other than the Man from Tallahasee (Locke's Daddy). Just think about it.

Anonymous said...

It is not officially said that Sahid is one from the oceanic six? Perhaps he use an other way (Ben) to get from the Island?