For the beginning of season 6, I have been saying that the stuff off the island has been better than the stuff on the island and actually, the on the island stuff has been pretty obnoxious. The last few episodes have started changing that. Jack's episode had some interesting on the island stuff and Sayid's episode really ratcheted up the action and intrigue on the island. Now this week, we get a Benjamin Linus episode. Finally!
Linus is one of the most interesting television characters I can ever remember. What started as a guy being tortured like crazy for maybe knowing too much has turned into one of the most fleshed out, while still being unknowable, characters to appear on television. he is well written to be sure, but also, Michael Emerson acts his ass off every week. His line delivery is pitch perfect, but the man can say more with an eye brow raise than most actors can with a whole monologue. He takes the idea of face acting to a whole new level. This week finds Benjamin Linus as a crossroads on the island, maybe beginning to pay for all of the devious things he has done. Linus is forced to dig his own grave, realizing he has no allies, no friends, no one who really cares. He tries to plead his way out and eventually bribe his way out, but it takes Not-Locke to come give him freedom, but Linus is surprised by what happens after that.
Off the island, in what have become known as "Flash Sideways", Linus is a high school history teacher. He has a Ph.D and he is miserable. His dad is alive and sick, but Linus takes care of him. We learn that they did go to the island, but they did not stay. So in this flash sideways world, the island exists, just not as we know it? It is the first reference to the island in the flash sideways. It kind of blew my mind and made me wonder if the island is going to start playing a part in the off the island stuff. Linus appears to be very mild mannered, meek and submissive in his flash sideways, but much like when we first met Mr. Linus, he is not what he seems. When he gets wind that the principal may be having a sexual affair on campus with anurse, he blackmails the principal to get what he wants, but unlike the Ben we have come to know, he backs down. Having the student that Ben cares about be his daughter was a nice, if a little on the nose, touch. It was nice to see that Ben has flairs of the man he was on the island. The parallels make me curious if I missed similar things in the episodes from earlier in the season.
With super intense stuff off the island and interesting character stuff off the island, this week's Lost is my favorite of the young season and keeps me getting excited for upcoming episodes. I love that the Linus storyline still gave us all this other stuff. We got to witness more of Not-Locke, then there was the great cliff hanger and most importantly and most intensely, Jack and Richard.
Jack is a character many people do not much care for, but he has always been one of my favorites. I think he has undergone more changes in character than anyone else on the island and well, I kind of like Matthew Fox. This week, we see a new side of Jack. He is slowly starting to pick up clues as to what is going on the island. He does not understand the motives, and he cannot answer the "why" question, but he is starting to understand some of the rules of the island. Richard wants to die and his impassioned reasoning was perfectly played, but he cannot kill himself, so he asks Jack to do it. Jack and Richard then engage in this crazy intense back and forth about fate and destiny all while a stick of dynamite is lit and is slowly burning. Oh man, some seriously crazy few moments!
As the final season winds down, we are faced with the knowledge that not every question will be answered directly for us and that is okay with me. I like that we have an understanding of what the smoke monster is and how these people came to be on the island, but more importantly, I am thankful for great television every week. That is what is important! Lost continues to deliver top notch intrigue and thrills, while throwing in enough humor for levity and it almost always works. This week worked in every way imaginable and I am already hankering for next Tuesday!
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