LOST 6×07 “Dr. Linus”
March 10, 2010 · Print This Article
In a comment just posted today, I asked for the produces of LOST to finally start delivering, as they set a firm end date for the show and promised us this would allow for tight story telling and ending the show how they wanted. That to me meant no filler, all killer. Up to now, Season 6 had an intolerable level of filler. 6×07 might have had its share of filler, but its other qualities made up for it. Spoilers and more after the break . . . .
***SPOILERS***
Easily the best episode of the season so far. Ben re-establishes himself as the most interesting character on the show, and provider of the best acting. Helluva choice he made to protect Alex’s future.
WHAT I LIKED:
- the principal pulling up an e-mail of his own, outstanding twist
- the revelation that Dr. Linus also spent time on the island!
- the source of Richard’s chains, yet another very well done revelation
- Hurley giving perhaps his most passionate dude yet!
- Ben still feeling the pain of Alex being killed in front of him
- Miles finally getting to burn someone instead of being picked on all the time
- obviously the badass, yet campy, arrival of Widmore on the sub
- ending the episode with a classic LOST poignant piano slow-mo beach scene
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE:
- Jack just betting it all with the dynamite
- Jack lighting the fuse and not pumping Richard for answers first
I saw Alan Dale’s name in the opening credits so I knew he’d be appearing sometime, so I was not surprised by him on the sub, unfortunately. I was surprised that Mario Van Peebles (!) directed this episode! He did a helluva job I think.
Just a classic LOST emotional episode. The way they wrap things up with that piano slow-mo scene at the end, makes you feel good about watching LOST, like getting a spoonful of medicine that warms your insides right up. Glad to see them seemingly setting up to make a last stand on their beach. Back to the water, tents up, exactly where I’d want to be, especially with such lively reading material still lying around!
Anytime the Black Rock comes into play basically rules. Great flash sideways with Dr. Linus showing compassion and cunning. Alex looked good! I did not recognize her until the end of the doorstep conversation.
Maybe not much happened plot-wise, not sure, it is easy to get distracted by the power of Ben’s acting. No doubt now Candidates are to replace Jacob. Seems Flocke thinks he can choose who the replacement is by offering control of the island back to Ben.
How did Widmore find the island? What does he want? To replace Jacob? We thought he was a bad guy all along, but it would seem Widmore is the person Jacob wanted to find the island. So this just further muddies the waters to me on who is the true good, Flocke or Jacob?
I was somewhat tempted to give this episode an extremely rare 5-star rating, but I’ve calmed down and will give it 4-stars. Got to assume the series finale will be a 5-star affair so can’t just toss that rating out casually.
Wow, I need to go back and rethink my battle lines. Ben makes a play to be a “good guy.” I get the sense that the smoke monster needs someone to replace him too in order to stay. So there has to be a balance of 2. Only now, while Jacob is dead can he escape. Jacob and Whidmore would both be candidates for the Flocke role.
Random thought during the episode: … Jin is the candidate who will end up on the island forever. Sun is not a candi because she didn’t go back in time.
VERY Cheesy sub entrance but you knew he was coming.
I think the next episode is Richard centric?
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Jason Collin Reply:
March 10th, 2010 at 4:27 PM
Good call, it does seem Widmore and Ben are totally set to replace Jacob and whatever Flocke was before he was Flocke. They seem to have the same relationship as well, when Widmore said Ben could not kill him. So that’s why Widmore went after Alex and why Ben tried to kill Penny.
Closing shot of the series, Ben and Widmore sitting on the beach next to the 4-toed statue seeing a plane crashing into the island, BOOM, LOST logo, end of series.
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Great episode, the redemption of Benjamin Linus. Loved his choices, and the weight behind them.
At the end he goes up to Sun and says- `can I help` and as if reciting a line in a play she says `please help me with the tarp`.
Loved that, shows that she`s surprised she`s even saying it, can`t believe he`s alive, can`t believe he`s getting stuck in with the rest of them. The last time he was involved with the beach it was to steal all the pregnant women from it and kill anyone who got in the way. He had her husband tied up with a gun in his face. His other men got killed.
Now he`s here, getting stuck in. Wonderful arc for him. It`s true, he did do everything he thought for the greater good. It may also have been a lust for power, but like with the school situation, he would have been doing it for the betterment of all students.
The situation to burn Alex I didn`t quite get. It`s a counter blackmail? I guess. Worked out well. And now free of Jacob`s influence, which is probably connected to being freed of Daddy issues, he`s able to be his real character and do the right thing, in both storylines. Good for him!
Parallels and callbacks across storylines and to the past were awesome-
Ben is giving his father life-giving oxygen. In island story he killed his father, and everyone, with gas.
He has choice to sacrifice Alex again for `greater good`. This time doesn`t take it.
Miles finds Nicky and Paulo`s diamonds! In scene where everyone else is hugging and remeeting, e checks out his new glittering friends.
Locke gives a vote of confidence to Linus in the staffroom, to become principal, when all along on the island these two have been vying for leadership.
Arzt calls Ben `killer`, as he sets off on his path to blackmail and manipulation- just like the old Ben.
On the whole, so great to see this character redeemed. Slo-mo beach scenes definitely emotive. These people really do like each other, and are genuinely happy to see each other. Makes us care too.
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Jason Collin Reply:
March 10th, 2010 at 10:54 PM
Nothing like extreme adversity to bring people together and build bonds stronger than any normal relationship.
Just ten more Tuesdays of quality, serial, scripted drama, then that’s it, possibly forever. No major network will launch an expensive hour long drama again in the near future at the very least. 24 will be getting the ax this year because of its budget, and also it’s run its course too.
The past decade already saw the death of genre trilogy/series movies, and LOST will be the final genre entertainment to bow out, leaving us with only reruns.
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I’ll comment before reading anybody else’s post.
THIS is the episode that I’ve been waiting for this season. Of course it helps that it was a Ben centric ep., who is one of the best actors on the series.
Loved his back story as much as what he’s doing on the island. Crazy to see him in a good relationship with his Dad, and to see Alex again (I know nobody else agrees with me, but I think she’s hot), and even ‘what’s his face’ the science teacher. Didn’t fully understand the ending though with the principal of the school, what kind of deal did he make? Did he save Alex and resign?
Of course his story on the island is just as fascinating, and his final teary speech at the end totally moved me, and of course once again Ben avoids near death yet another time. I was actually prepared for Ben to get killed in this ep. I mean I was reasonably confident he’d survive, but not 100%, even though he is one of the candidates. (I think I saw his name written on the wall)
Other stories lines were almost as good.
-Jack actually manned up in this ep., kept his cool instead of going off half cocked as usual.
-Richard wanting to die, and hearing FINALLY why he never ages, great revelation.
-Locke once again showing that he may not be as evil as he’s being made out to be.
-No Claire or Kate
-Hurley saying ‘cheese curds’ before waking up.
Small things I didn’t really like:
-Miles practically rubbing Ben’s face in his imminent execution.
-Widmore arriving on the sub, seemed anti-climactic.
-Still not at all cool with that last surviving Jacob-following chick just taking charge. Hopefully now that Jack and Richard are back, she’ll get replaced.
Maybe not quite a 5 star ep, but worth 4 for sure.
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Jason Collin Reply:
March 10th, 2010 at 11:38 PM
The principal kept his job. Ben kept quiet about him pounding the school nurse in exchange for the principal writing a glowing letter for Alex and possibly an upgraded parking space for Ben.
Ben was a Candidate, #117, which is the sum of the numbers if you replace 42 with 51, which was Kate’s number (learned from LOSTcast, definitely worth listening to).
Did not think for a second Ben would actually die.
My own flash sideways, buying lottery ticket today at Publix, of course used some of the Numbers as my numbers (didn’t win though, damn it). Waiting in a slow line to get my ticket. Some huge dude, even bigger than Hurley I think, walks right to the counter when it was my turn. I was in a hurry of course and said out loud, “it was actually my turn next” as a burn to the cashier who should have gone to me next. The huge dude said in an eerily Hurley way, “sorry dude, didn’t know you were next.” The word “dude” stuck in my mind. Made me think I was fated to win the lottery this time like Hurley, but ultimately didn’t.
There is nothing quite as comforting in the English language as dropping a poignant “dude” in a conversation.
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