Tell Desmond I'm Sorry (She Loves You, Paul McCartney / John Lennon)

"I need to ask a favor of you, Sun. If you can ever get off this Island, find Desmond Hume for me. Tell him I said I was sorry."
- Ben, Dead Is Dead

Ben's done quite a bit of apologizing in the past couple of seasons. Here's a rehash of his apology to Desmond via Sun, with an apology to Sun herself thrown in for good measure, to the tune of the Beatles' She Loves You.

Tell Desmond I’m Sorry

Tell Desmond I’m sorry.
Tell Desmond I’m sorry.
Tell Desmond that I was wrong.

Before I face this doom,
There is something I must say:
If you see Desmond Hume
When you get back to L. A.,

Tell him I’m sorry.
He will know the reason why.
Yes, I’m sorry, and for once, that’s not a lie.

I earned his enmity
By giving in to hate.
I almost didn’t see
The truth until too late.

Tell him I’m sorry.
He will know the reason why.
Yes, I’m sorry, and for once, that’s not a lie. No!

Tell Desmond I’m sorry.
Tell Desmond I’m sorry.
Please believe me, Sun, for once it’s not a lie.

Well, you detest me too,
And I am not surprised.
With what I’ve put you through,
I ought to be despised.

So, Sun, I’m sorry,
And you know the reason why.
I’m sorry, and for once that’s not a lie. No!

Tell Desmond I’m sorry.
Tell Desmond I’m sorry.
Please believe me, Sun, for once it’s not a lie.
Please believe me, Sun, for once it’s not a lie.
Please believe me, Sun, for once it’s not a lie.
I’m sorry, and I was wrong.

“Your Wife, Your Daughter, My Daughter, Everyone We Know and Love Would Simply Cease to Be. I Came Here to Make Sure That Doesn‘t Happen.”

After Ab Aeterno, my hopes for The Package weren’t particularly high. I figured LOST couldn’t top itself so soon, especially with a Sun and Jin episode. It isn’t that I don’t like them, but unless Mr. Kwon is involved, their episodes tend not to be favorites of mine. The subtitles are a minor annoyance, but it’s more that we’re getting two characters at once usually, and in different places for the most part, so neither of them is getting as much screen time as I’d like. Plus, their episodes have a tendency to be misleading. This one, for instance, overturned several of our assumptions about what we saw in LA X and Sundown: that Sun could still speak English, that she and Jin still had a rocky relationship, that Sun’s father had given his approval of the Sun and Jin courtship, that the business transaction was between Paik and Widmore. Now, I suppose Widmore could still be involved; maybe the watch was for him and the money was for Keamy. But the money had a very sinister purpose indeed.

When Keamy demanded the money in the hotel room, and then Jin begged him not to reveal to Mr. Paik that he and Sun were involved, we all thought it was pretty odd that Paik wouldn’t have known that the money couldn’t go through customs. So I said maybe he didn’t want it to go through customs; maybe he wanted to hold them up because he suspected the relationship and wanted to stop them from taking off on him. This seemed confirmed to some extent by what Keamy said and by the fact that Paik cleared out Sun’s bank account, but what did he expect to happen next? Did he figure Keamy would just do his dirty work for him anyway and he could get away with not paying him? Or maybe he didn’t mean for them to get stopped at customs after all.

I knew from the airline employee in LA X that Sun and Jin weren’t married, so I was a little surprised that they were traveling together, but Paik seems to have planned this all out pretty well, using two pretenses: Jin is Sun’s bodyguard while she goes on a shopping trip, and Jin has a package to deliver in L. A. Given the differences in their relationship, I wonder if in this reality, Sun and Jin met after he began working for her father. This Sun is fairly crafty, but I don’t think that English is something she has up her sleeve; surely she would’ve spilled that secret after Keamy came striding in demanding money. And since she was hoping to run away with Jin, not from him, I’m not sure why she would keep her language skills under wraps. I do think it’s possible that her baby isn’t Jin’s, though. I noticed that there was a mirror moment with both Sun and Jin; Sun studied herself in the hotel room mirror, while Jin had a wavery reflection on the surface in the back of the restaurant.

I wasn’t thrilled to see that we were starting the episode from the airport. It made sense, since we’ve been seeing everybody from pretty much that point, except Ben, who wasn’t on the plane. But since we saw Jin all tied up at the end of Sundown, we knew where this was heading, and it wasn’t somewhere good, so I figured the episode promised to be both repetitive and unpleasant. And do I need to tell you how much I didn’t need to see Keamy again? Him and his grotesque smile and his racist remarks and his money-grubbing murderousness. Blech. Though I suppose maybe I ought to give him a teensy bit of credit; he seems, in his own obnoxious way, to have been concerned for Mikhail’s safety at the end there, and as he was as good as dead himself, perhaps I can give him a little credit for sort of having his back, though fat lot of good that did him.

I was tickled to see Mikhail again. He cleans up pretty nicely; he looked almost dashing in that suit, with his genteel manners to match, and I again found myself hoping he wouldn’t turn out so bad. Yes, he’s hanging around with lowlifes like Keamy, and yes, back on the Island he killed Charlie Pace, but somehow I still really wanted to like him. I wanted to think of him as off-kilter and violently committed to a particular cause but not entirely malevolent. And he really didn’t seem too bad until he attacked Jin. But then he was back to his old tricks, with the reward that he lost an eye again, and probably his life as well. I don’t know if either Keamy or Mikhail is anywhere near as resilient in Sideways World; my guess is they’re both done for. I’m wondering whether the Danny that Keamy referred to might be Danny Pickett, but I have no need to find out. Can we just be done with the thugs now, please? Even if we are, though, things look even worse for Sun than they did for Sayid, who did at least give Jin the means to free himself before he high-tailed it outta there. Suddenly Sideways World isn’t looking quite so sunny.

Back on the Island, we got more Sun and Jin than usual, though they were spread a bit thin. Both were angry and frustrated; neither trusted Smokey when he offered to facilitate their reunion, though in this case it was clear that he could deliver, at least until Jin got kidnapped. Why didn’t he take Jin along with him to court Sun? I’m a little surprised that neither of them seems to be under his spell at this point; that’s an encouraging thought.

Sun’s sudden inability to speak English struck me as a strange device. I guess I can buy it happening, odd as it is, but what’s the point? It isn’t like she had any really critical information that she was unable to relay, and anyway her inability to communicate was quickly cut short by Jack’s ingenuity. It was kinda funny to see her chew out a confused Richard in Korean, and it was nice to see her in her garden again. And I liked Jack’s Little Tomato That Could.

But Jin’s was the more interesting of the two stories because he got to meet face to face with Charles Widmore, and I have a feeling we’re headed for another mythologically loaded episode. What did we learn this week? Zoe is a geophysicist, and she’s interested in the electromagnetic pockets, or Charles is. She knows about Room 23, which may suggest that she is either a former Other or a former member of the Dharma Initiative. We learned fairly conclusively that Widmore and Smokey are, indeed, enemies, though their prior familiarity with each other is limited. It would appear that Widmore is not just against Smokey but for Jacob; certainly he is similarly concerned about keeping Smokey contained, or at least he claims to be.

Charles has been almost as big a mystery as Christian throughout the series, and his motivations and plans are murky at best. But after this episode, I’m less inclined to think that Charles killed the people on the beach, and I’m more prepared to think that he could still have a big role to play on the side of the good. I’ve thought for a long time that his animosity toward Desmond was mostly for show, just a way of pushing him into making certain decisions. Desmond is a very significant player, and it would seem that his significance didn’t end with turning that failsafe key. After Lighthouse, my brother said he thought Widmore was coming, and I said Desmond. We were both right. And the fact that Desmond was apparently kidnapped and drugged, brought totally against his will, means that he didn’t break his promise to Penny. Of course, it also means that once again we’re about to have a very confused, angry Scotsman on our hands.

While I still got a whiff of condescending aristocracy from Charles this week, I thought the moment with the camera was really sweet. Maybe he’s using Ji Yeon as motivation for Jin, but I hardly think lack of motivation is a problem for Jin. I thought it was a really nice moment and that Charles seemed touched by Jin’s reaction. They are bound together by the commonality of having a daughter from whom they are separated. Incidentally, I found it a little odd that Ji Yeon had an English “Happy Birthday” banner; didn’t Sun live in Korea all that time? Maybe it was there for the benefit of English-speaking guests like Hurley. I was so hoping for a photo of Mr. Kwon with his granddaughter, but I suppose they weren't about to have John Shin fly to Hawaii so they could take a snapshot of him...

Aside from Sun and Jin, we got a little bit from just about every character, but not much. Claire’s abandonment issues are flaring up again, and she’s starting to fear that she will be discarded once Smokey’s plan is complete. Sawyer is just laying low, waiting to see how things play out, and his methods aren’t thrilling Kate or Jin. When Sayid told Smokey about his lack of emotion, it reminded me of Frodo on his way up Mount Doom, telling Sam about how he couldn’t remember the taste of strawberries or the sound of water or anything else. It seemed to me that when Sayid saw Desmond, it sparked something; a tiny light seemed to flicker in his eyes. But if Sayid was unwilling to intervene to save Kate, I don’t suppose Desmond could snap him out of his stupor. Or could he?

Back at the beach, we got the funniest, oh-so-wrong line of the episode from Miles: “Unless he’s covered in bacon grease, I’m not sure Hugo can track anything.” Man! I thought you two were supposed to be friends! I’m not sure what Frank’s response was about; was Miles making him hungry? I liked Ilana’s wide smile when Richard showed up and Hurley’s not-really-necessary “I don’t think she wants to come.”

And Ben was so sweet and concerned for Sun when he found her in the jungle. He’s become quite the little lamb. But he still seems a little bitter toward Richard. This week and last, we saw him try to convince Ilana that Richard wasn’t coming back and that he didn’t know anything. But Richard was the one giving him orders all those years; how can Ben honestly claim that Richard is completely clueless? I think this is similar to his hissy reaction in The Man Behind the Curtain when John said he’d just ask Richard to take him to Jacob. I kinda get the sense he just doesn’t want Richard around. But when he came back, he did readily tell him where Smokey said he would be. Except that’s actually where Charles is. If they go there, Sun and Jin may be able to reunite finally. But what will Charles do when he sees Ben with them?

It was a good episode, but it wasn’t really a great one. A little too fragmented for me to feel too much engagement with anybody. But next week is going to be amazing yet again. I saw the episode title a couple of weeks ago: Happily Ever After. And immediately, I thought: Desmond. Because his romance with Penny has seemed so fairy tale-like, with them finally overcoming all the obstacles keeping them apart in order to achieve their happy ending. And that troubled me, because I figured this episode would pose an enormous threat to that happiness. Well, after Desmond was revealed to be “the package” - about to be shown to Jin, which I find curious - and after we got that preview with the magnificent bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace, it seems pretty evident that it will be Desmond after all. And Desmond episodes are always exceptional. So I’m excited, but I’m nervous, especially after the phrase “happily ever after” was uttered in this episode, by Keamy, as he made a promise to Jin that he fully intended to break. I see trouble brewing…

And will it be a Sideways or a flashback? I assume the former, but there’s still a fair amount about Desmond that we don’t know. For instance, his childhood is almost a complete mystery; we know only that he has several brothers that he cares for after his father took off. So another character with a bad dad and a mom who apparently departed early. He’s one of the very few major characters we haven’t seen as a child. We don’t know anything about his stint as a doctor and still can only guess at why he was kicked out of the army. And, of course, we don’t know just how he wound up on the sub to the Island, though I think I can imagine how that went. On the other hand, we don’t know where he went when he seemed to vanish from the plane. Now, I suppose that could’ve been our Desmond, after he was happily married, blinking through time for just a moment. But if that was the case he was must more at ease about things this time around. Also, if we see Sideways Desmond, I feel like there’s a pretty decent chance of seeing his brother-in-law, and another Desmond and Daniel scene would make me supremely happy.

But whatever the episode holds, I expect something impressive, and probably emotionally wringing. Somebody will be asked to make a sacrifice, unless Charles is referring to a time when he himself was asked to make a sacrifice. I presume he’s talking to Desmond, after sitting him down for a long talk in which he explains his reasons for acting like such a jerk for so many years. But hasn’t poor Desmond sacrificed enough already? This episode could also have something to do with this idea that Smokey is able to offer each of the castaways whatever he or she wants most. We may see him dangle a particular “happily ever after” in front of another castaway and give some explanation as to how he might deliver on that promise. Whatever its context, I’m pretty sure that Happily Ever After is a deeply deceptive title. But here’s hoping I’m wrong.

Blow Up the Island (Blow Up Your TV, John Prine)

Daniel: I think I can negate that energy under the Swan. I think I can destroy it. If I can, then that hatch will never be built, and your plane... your plane will land, just like it's supposed to, in Los Angeles. Kate: And just how exactly do you plan on destroying this energy?
Daniel: I'm gonna detonate a hydrogen bomb.
- The Variable

Daniel had a crazy plan for fixing the castaways' predicament. Here's a song about that, to the tune of John Denver's version of John Prine's Blow Up Your TV.

Blow Up the Island

Daniel: I caught a sub here from Ann Arbor, and you know why I came back?
That photo in the paper of your DHARMA welcome, Jack.
Well, it seems my mother fed you her old talk of destiny.
You gave her a say and you tried things her way,
But now lend your ears to me.

Blow up the Island!
(Jack: Blow up the Island?)
Daniel: It’s the variation
(Jack: Crazy variation!)
Daniel: In the equation that is the key.
We can change what happened.
(Jack: Can we change what happened?)
Daniel: We can strike your stranding. Yes, Jack.
(Jack: Can we strike our stranding?)
Daniel: Make it a landing. We’ll be free.

My mother is an Other. She’s the one who brought you here.
But I bet she didn’t say you’d wind up in another year.
She left that little detail out, and she clearly led you wrong.
She can show how to go back where we all belong.

Blow up the Island!
(Jack: Blow up the Island?)
Daniel: It’s the variation
(Jack: Crazy variation!)
Daniel: In the equation that is the key.
We can change what happened.
(Jack: Can we change what happened?)
Daniel: We can strike your stranding. Yes, Jack.
(Jack: Can we strike our stranding?)
Daniel: Make it a landing. We’ll be free.

In just a few more hours, at the site you call the Hatch,
The DHARMA folks will blunder into a hidden patch.
Since that energy is fatal, they will seal it and keep it at bay.
If the Swan and the button are gone, you’ll never crash that day.

Jack: Let’s blow up the Island!
(Kate: Blow up the Island?)
Jack: It’s the variation
(Kate: Crazy variation!)
Jack: In the equation that is the key.
We can change what happened.
(Kate: It won’t change what happened.)
Jack: We’ll strike our stranding. Yes, Kate,
(Kate: It won’t strike our stranding.)
Jack: We will make it a landing. We’ll be free.

Blow Up Your TV

Still Think You're Dead? (A Hard Day's Night, John Lennon / Paul McCartney)

"Still think you're dead?"
- Jacob, Ab Aeterno

When Jacob first met Richard, poor Ricardo was in an awful state. It took a dramatic demonstration to convince the future Ageless Other that he was, in fact, still alive. Here's Jacob, to the tune of the Beatles' A Hard Day's Night.

Still Think You’re Dead?

You really think you’re dead
And you are in the afterlife?
You really think you’re dead
And you were talking to your wife?

What you’ve been told is a lie.
I know you don’t wanna die,
So do you still think you’re dead?

I’m gonna drag you down
And make you flounder under a wave.
Well, it looks like you’re afraid to drown;
That’s how the living would behave.

If you don't answer me, then
I’m gonna dunk you again,
So do you still think you’re dead?

Talk some sense. Never give in to despair.
Talk some sense. Look at you gasping for air, air!

So you really think you’re dead
And you are in the afterlife?
You really think you’re dead
And you were talking to your wife?

What you’ve been told is a lie.
I know you don’t wanna die,
So do you still think you’re dead?

If you don't answer me, then
I’m gonna dunk you again,
So do you still think you’re dead?

Talk some sense. Never give in to despair.
Talk some sense. Look at you gasping for air, air!

So you really think you’re dead
And you are in the afterlife?
You really think you’re dead
And you were talking to your wife?

What you’ve been told is a lie.
I know you don’t wanna die,
So do you still think you’re dead?
So do you still think you’re dead?
So do you think you’re dead?

For Those in the Background (A Song for All Lovers, John Denver)

Hurley: No. I bought those seats, all 78 of 'em. I'm Hugo Reyes. They're not open. They're mine. Check and see.
Woman: Yes, I see that. Sir, these people just want to get to their destination. Why would you not want them to be able to travel?
Hurley: You know, it doesn't matter why. They can take the next plane.
- 316

One of my favorite Hurley moments came in 316 when it was revealed that he had bought all of the remaining tickets on the flight to the Island in order to ensure that there would be as few redshirts as possible this time around. I'd say that there are a lot of people out there who owe Hurley their lives. Here's a song to the tune of John Denver's A Song For All Lovers in which Hurley makes his decision.

For Those in the Background

I’ll stop those people from boarding Ajira,
From boarding 316, from boarding that bomb.
I've seen the danger for those in the background,
For those who don’t know it isn’t going to Guam.

Imagine the carnage upon our return.
An uneven landing is cause for concern.
I know I’ll survive it; I know that’s my fate.
For most of the others, rescue may come too late.

They’ll drown in the ocean. They’ll burn in the plane.
They’ll fall to the monster. They’ll crumble in pain.
They’ll wither in sorrow. They’ll tremble in fear.
Yes, that’s what awaits them unless they stay here.

What’s the point of my millions if I can’t do some good?
If I’m able to spare them, then I’m sure that I should.

They’ll wither in sorrow. They’ll tremble in fear.
Yes, that’s what awaits them unless they stay here.

So I’ll stop those people from boarding Ajira,
From boarding 316, from boarding that bomb.
I've seen the danger for those in the background,
For those who don’t know it isn’t going to Guam.
For those who don’t know it isn’t going to Guam.

Sawyer's Candidacy (From the Word Go, Michael Garvin / Chris Waters)

Sawyer: You tricked me into being decent. That's gotta be the lamest con in the history of cons.
Hurley: Wasn't a con, dude. If you're gonna be our temporary leader, you need to do some damage control.
- Left Behind

One of my all-time favorite B-stories in LOST is in Left Behind, when Hurley essentially cons Sawyer into being nice so he can accept the leadership position that seems to be waiting for him. This was a major step in the right direction for Sawyer; too bad it was so soon followed by John's bad influence. But Sawyer did eventually become the sort of leader Hurley knew he could be, and I think Hurley's guidance helped a lot. Here's a recreation of their conversation at the end of Left Behind, to the tune of Michael Martin Murphey's From the Word Go.

Sawyer’s Candidacy

Sawyer: My mind’s been on bein’ kind
So folks will have pity on me.
But now I’m wonderin’ how
I could fall for your bid to con me.
Hurley: Dude, it’s damage control.
Plus, it’s good for your soul!

Sorry, Sawyer,
But since Jack’s gone and Sayid, Kate and John are too,
You’re our leader.
I guess it’s lousy being you.

Look at the faces out there.
Everyone’s eating boar and smilin’.
You trade vice for a chance to be nice,
And it’s a much happier Island.
Can’t you give it a try?
Sawyer: Hey, you’ve got the wrong guy!

Tell me, Hugo,
How can you think I’m in charge here? Are you insane?
Me, a leader?
This is a ludicrous campaign.

Hurley: Think this was easy for Jack?
Just until he gets back,

Sorry, Sawyer,
But since Jack’s gone and Sayid, Kate and John are too,
You’re our leader.
I guess it’s lousy being you. (3x)

From the Word Go

Meant to Suffer (Talkin' to the Wrong Man, Michael Martin Murphey)

"Some people are just supposed to suffer. That's why the Red Sox will never win the series."
- Christian, Outlaws

Jack and Christian's complicated relationship is right at the heart of LOST. The sixth season may offer a more direct opportunity for reconciliation, but I love that Sawyer gets to help in healing the rift back in the first season. Here's a reflection to the tune of Michael Martin Murphey's Talkin' to the Wrong Man.

Meant to Suffer

Christian: Hey, cowboy. If you’re down under
And drowning all your sorrows in this bar,
Then you must have major problems.
Brooding isn’t gonna get you far.
I let my son think that I hate him.
With a phone call, I could be free.
I’m a weakling. Hesitation
Will make you just as miserable as me.

Maybe I was meant to suffer,
Meant to wallow in my cowardice and sin.
Some folks were meant to suffer.
That’s why the Sox are never gonna win.

Jack: Listen, Sawyer, I should say thank you.
But now that you are handing me that gun,
I’m wondering how she could convince you.
Do I dare to ask you what she has done?
I have a feeling if you were to tell me,
I’d wish that I had never heard your news.
Guess my dad was onto something
When he said the Sox are always gonna lose.

Maybe I was meant to suffer,
Meant to seethe while you make secret deals with Kate.
Some folks were meant to suffer.
My father always chalked it up to fate.

Sawyer: Met a doctor down in Sydney.
Well, his son and him, they’d gotten in a fight,
And he wished he had the guts to tell him,
“I’m proud of you. I love you. You were right.”

He said he was meant to suffer,
But he knew he was to blame for his own fall.
Some folks were meant to suffer;
It looks like Christian never made that call.
Looks like Christian never made that call.

Talkin' to the Wrong Man

Jughead (Whispering Jesse, John Denver)

Richard: How do I know you weren't sent here on some suicide mission? That I'll take you out to the bomb, and you'll just detonate it?
Daniel: Because... I'm in love with the woman sitting next to me. And I would never... I would never do anything to hurt her.
- Jughead

After Ab Aeterno, that scene in Jughead in which Daniel's love for Charlotte wins Richard over seems even more meaningful. At the time, I took it as a mark in Richard's favor, that he's noble enough to recognize the value of true love, but it goes deeper than that. Like Daniel, he has loved deeply, so he empathizes, and I think he senses Daniel's sincerity. Daniel, who I have come to think of as "the little prince" referred to in the episode that followed and who never has seemed more authoritative than in this brief stay in 1954. Here's a recreation of their conversation to the tune of John Denver's Whispering Jesse.

Jughead

Richard: So you are the leader, and I hear from Ellie
You don’t want to tell me where your comrades have gone.
Daniel: And why would I do that? You just want to kill them.
Richard: We didn’t start this, friend. The battle lines have been drawn.
Your people came calling with evil intentions.
Did Ellie here mention that they fired first?
Daniel: We weren’t with those soldiers. We’re on a mission.
Let me disarm that bomb before it can burst.

I think the device is in need of new casing,
Which I am basing on these burns on this man.
If you send me over there, I know I can fix it.
Richard: I wish I could trust you; don’t know how I can.
I ought to fear you because you might be here to
Detonate Jughead and blow us away.
Daniel: I love this woman who’s sitting beside me.
I never would hurt her. Believe what I say.

Richard: Detonate Jughead?
You won’t, you’ve convinced me.
Your manner is princely.
You’re guided by love.

Whispering Jesse

I Am With You (All My Loving, Paul McCartney)

"My love. We are already together."
- Isabella, Ab Aeterno


I loved the tender moment in Ab Aeterno between Isabella and Richard, facilitated by Hurley. Here's Isabella, to the tune of the Beatles' All My Loving.

I Am With You

Close your eyes now, Ricardo.
I know this is hard, so
It’s best if you hear and don’t see.
It was my time to leave,
And you don’t need to grieve,
For Ricardo, you’ll always have me.

Let this man be our buffer.
You don’t have to suffer.
I hope that you won’t disagree.
It was my time to leave,
And you don’t need to grieve,
For Ricardo, you’ll always have me.

I am with you. I was with you then.
I am with you. Take my cross again.

Close your eyes now, Ricardo.
I know this is hard, so
It’s best if you hear and don’t see.
It was my time to leave,
And you don’t need to grieve,
For Ricardo, you’ll always have me.

I am with you. I was with you then.
I am with you. Take my cross again.
I am with you. I am here with you.
I am with you. Take my cross again.

Cork in the Wine (Bottle of Wine, Tom Paxton)

"Think of this wine as what you keep calling Hell. There's many other names for it too: malevolence, evil, darkness. And here it is, swirling around in the bottle, unable to get out because if it did, it would spread. The cork is this Island, and it's the only thing keeping the darkness where it belongs."
- Jacob, Ab Aeterno

Jacob provided an intriguing metaphor for the relationship between him, the Island and Smokey in Ab Aeterno. Here I have him ruminate to Richard about the wine bottle to the tune of the Irish Rovers' Bottle of Wine.

Cork in the Wine

Cork in the wine helps to confine,
Helps to keep the evil from spreading.
If he should go, surely he’ll sow
Doom and despair where he’s heading.

This thing you call Hell, I know it well.
Yes, it’s a problem of mine.
How I have strained to keep darkness contained!
I must keep the cork in the wine.

Cork in the wine helps to confine,
Helps to keep the evil from spreading.
If he should go, surely he’ll sow
Doom and despair where he’s heading.

You come and you fight. You will never choose right.
That’s how he defines humankind.
It’s taking so long, but I will prove him wrong
While I keep the cork in the wine.

Cork in the wine helps to confine,
Helps to keep the evil from spreading.
If he should go, surely he’ll sow
Doom and despair where he’s heading. (2x)

Long as I’m here, my objective is clear.
It’s drudgery, yes, but that’s fine.
Though it’s been rough, I am patient enough,
So I’ll keep the cork in the wine.

Cork in the wine helps to confine,
Helps to keep the evil from spreading.
If he should go, surely he’ll sow
Doom and despair where he’s heading. (2x)

Bottle of Wine

Richard's Penance (Casey's Last Ride, Kris Kristofferson)

"We'll always be together."
- Isabella, Ab Aeterno

Richard: Can you absolve me of my sins so I don't go to Hell?
Jacob: I can't do that either.
Richard: I never want to die. I want to live forever.
Jacob: Now that... I can do.
- Ab Aeterno

Ab Aeterno gave us a whole lot of background on Richard, a fundamentally decent man who accidentally killed a man in the heat of extreme agitation, much like Desmond did with Kelvin. (And y'know, maybe I can go ahead and blame Jacob for that bus accident; he seems especially good at orchestrating crashes for the purposes of bringing people to the Island...) We saw his profound love for his wife and his deep desire for absolution. Scarred by a corrupt priest's statement that he was going to Hell unless he could perform sufficient penance, which would take a long time indeed, he welcomed Jacob's offer of a job that would allow him to do a lot of good. Here's a reflection on his story to the tune of John Denver's Casey's Last Ride.

Richard’s Penance

Richard was a humble man who labored with a lofty plan
Of going with the wife he loved to seek another world.
Stumbling to the table of the doctor who seemed able to
Repair her broken body, Richard’s desperation swirled.
His hands were built for farming, and he had no thought of harming
When he left his little cottage and rode out into the rain.
But Richard made an error at the apex of his terror,
And he heard his love’s last words as he was dragged away in chains.

“Here,” she said. “Take along my only worldly treasure.
Go,” she said, “mindful of the promise that you hold.
Please,” she said, “know that we will always be together.
Yes,” she said, “even if my very life goes cold.”

Richard swapped a prison cell for passage on a ship to Hell,
Or that’s how he perceived it when the vessel came aground.
There he met a Man in Black who told him that he must attack
The Devil; then an angry whack from Jacob turned him ‘round.
That’s when Jacob mentioned his disdain for intervention
With the pawns who earned detention on the Island he controlled.
But his rival’s reach was greater, so perhaps a mediator
Was a fitting compromise who could advise his flustered fold.

“So,” he said, “what will you be paid for this endeavor?
No,” he said, “I cannot absolve your sins for you.
Still,” he said, “you insist you want to live forever.
Now,” he said, “that is something I‘ll be glad to do.”

“Here,” she said. “Take along my only worldly treasure.
Go,” she said, “mindful of the promise that you hold.
Please,” she said, “know that we will always be together.
Yes,” she said, “even if my very life goes cold.
Yes,” she said, “even if my very life goes cold.”

“It’s All Meaningless If I Have to Force Them to Do Anything. Why Should I Have to Step In?” “If You Don’t, He Will!”

I went into Ab Aeterno expecting an episode as mythologically dense as Dr. Linus was emotionally rich. Though questions still abound, I think we got that. We needed the blip of Recon in between these two episodes; otherwise it would’ve been a one-two punch so powerful that the next episode probably would have felt like a total letdown. Then again, maybe each subsequent episode is going to be even better than the last. That’s a tall order, but I wouldn’t put it past LOST to pull it off...

So we finally got our background on Richard. I kinda figured that we might get a scene of him landing on the Island, then meeting Jacob, then in a series of later eras. But it seemed like too much ground to cover. I see now we really didn’t need to witness those later years. We’ve seen enough already to get a feel for what he did. The important thing was the beginning of his journey.

Boy, there was a whole lot of Spanish in this episode. Nothing but subtitles for at least half the dialogue. Just another thing giving Richard’s flashback an air of separateness. Richard is very special indeed. And boy, has he mastered the English language. Not a trace of an accent left, even in the 1950s. I suppose that 80-some years is enough time to achieve perfect mastery. Did Jacob give him a tutorial, or was Richard just left to improve his speaking skills on his own? He did a fine job. Did Nestor Carbonell grow up speaking Spanish, I wonder? What about Jorge Garcia? Pretty weird to hear both of them spouting it so fluently. Especially Hurley. How convenient that Isabella just happened to speak the same foreign language he did. Bear of little brain that he is, I wouldn’t have figured him for being bilingual, but I suppose his mom spoke Spanish around the house, and his dad before he took off.

I feel like Nestor deserves an Emmy nod for this episode, but the nod that would feel most appropriate is Guest Star, which he most assuredly isn’t. Still, he totally owned this episode, appearing in almost every scene and demonstrating that he’s right up there with Emerson, O’Quinn, Cusick and Davies. Can we just stack the Best Supporting category with nothing but actors from LOST? I was especially impressed with him in the scene on the Black Rock when Smokey showed up to liberate him. His voice so hoarse he could scarcely speak, his rambling panic, his confusion, his moral qualms... All a swirling kettle of Carbonell brilliance. And talk about emotion...

Here, just seven episodes away from the finale, LOST has given us its most epic love story yet. I’d never really given much thought to a Richard romance. He seemed so detached from all that. Once I began to trust him and to understand his unique role on the Island, I began to see him as an angelic figure, a supernatural entity removed from common human concerns. But that was only half-true. There are practical reasons for him not to have sought other romantic attachments. Because he would outlive them all. Because they might cloud his judgment. But those reasons really don’t matter because nothing would have compelled him to look for another mate. Richard had one true love, a love for the ages, a love to transcend death. A love that provoked profound empathy when Daniel pledged his love to Charlotte in Jughead, because of all the characters on LOST, none has exhibited the profound fortitude and faithfulness of Richard. I feel like I really need to read The Divine Comedy in its entirety, because that’s what Ab Aeterno reminded me of most.

Well, that and Job. You want resilience? Just look at his patient attempts to free himself from his chains. And reflect on the fact that in more than a century, he went along with Jacob, bound by his religious convictions, his desperation to perform sufficient penance to get himself back in God’s good graces. He told Ben to be patient, but Richard had to be much more patient still. In the backgammon board that is this show, Richard is the most Job-like of all the castaways. Yes, Richard has suffered. He is a murderer, but mostly by accident, in desperate circumstances much like Desmond’s when he killed Kelvin.

It's interesting that Richard and Eko are both reunited on the Island with a cross necklace that links each of them to the most important person in his life. Eko is told repeatedly by Smokey-Yemi that he must repent for his sins, but he refuses. Richard repents repeatedly and begs for absolution, and it is Isabella who finally seems to give it to him.

Can I just say how dreadful the authority figures in Richard’s time were? The horrible doctor who toyed with Richard’s hopes and refused to hand over the medicine for the price of all his worldly goods. The corrupt priest who, much like Smokey, used Richard’s beliefs against him. Who convinced him that it would take years, perhaps decades, to work off the debt incurred by his crime, hence compelling him to agree to signing onto the Black Rock. A potent metaphor, I think, for what happens to people who receive an offer from the Man in Black. It seems like a call to freedom, but they soon discover that what they’ve really done is sold themselves into bondage.

That scene just after the ship landed in the middle of the jungle was one of the most gruesome I have ever seen on the show. I had to avert my eyes. Yet another evil authority figure, slashing the life out of everyone he encountered. His reasoning called to mind Smokey from last week. “It’s kill or be killed. And I don’t wanna be killed.” Say it like that and it almost sounds excusable. Almost. Richard didn’t quite buy the logic, and neither should we.

Strange that Smokey was the one who first encountered Richard. The one who seemed to be kind and understanding. The one who told him almost exactly what Dogen told Sayid. Was that even the same knife? We saw several connections to past episodes here. “It’s nice to see you out of those chains.” So that’s why Richard reacted to that statement the way that he did. It’s not so much that he saw it in Smokey’s eyes; he recognized the words and all the pieces fell into place. Though I daresay he’d smelled a rat for a while. There was the inside joke with the rock, and a new inside joke with the wine jug.

And while Smokey came across as very congenial in his interaction with Richard, it’s seeming more likely that he is evil rather than the reasonable flip side of a coin. LOST is so obsessed with dichotomies that I couldn’t help thinking the relationship between Jacob and Smokey might be like the relationship between faith and reason, free will and fate, mercy and judgment... That sort of thing. In which case Smokey has his merits. But if he’s just evil and the Island is a sort of Pandora’s Box... Well, I guess I’m okay with that. As long as he stays contained. “The infection will spread,” Dogen warned. Sounds pretty much like Jacob and the wine bottle. Gotta keep a cork in it!

Jacob. There’s more to say about Richard, for whom my heart is currently exploding with love, but let’s side-track to our good buddy Jacob for a moment. Before the episode, LOST released two photos from the episode. One was a close-up of Smokey, the other a shot of Jacob pacing the beach, knife in hand, looking agitated. I wasn’t much surprised to see that either of them would be in this episode. Massive mythology download? Gotta see Mr. Black and White themselves. I was surprised to see Jacob in such a state. Just the picture was enough to show me that this was a side of him we hadn’t seen before. No sublime serenity here. Jacob looked Ticked Off.

But even with that warning, his behavior surprised me. He just beat the tar out of Richard, whaling on him like a common castaway (I’m pointing at you, Sawyer and Jack). He doesn’t seem to have done much damage. But he was livid. Was this the first time Smokey tried to have someone kill him? Given their later conversation, that seems likely. So I would venture to say he was upset about that, and exasperated because perhaps he knew that everybody on the Black Rock had already killed each other, and maybe he was really cheesed off that the ship he summoned all but destroyed his statue.

The statue, incidentally, that Richard’s shipmate described as the devil. There was a lot of talk of Hell and devils in this episode, and it was all very unsettling. But again, felt very much like The Inferno. I did worry fleetingly that Jacob might actually turn out to be the devil as Smokey said. But I kept the faith. I had to. Still... It took some time before I felt we got our old Jacob back. This is the man, after all, who stood there and barely flinched when Ben came to kill him. Then again, we know that before this point, he had his calm morning meeting with Smokey. So maybe Jacob hasn’t changed that much. Hard to say.

I found myself irritated with him, much like I felt toward Dumbledore in The Prince’s Tale. He had good reason to be very harsh with Snape, and Jacob had good reason to be violent with Richard. And his dunking of Richard felt like a baptism, certainly an awakening for him, possibly tied in with the slave Namaan, referenced in the fourth chapter of Luke, which Richard was reading in prison. I love that Richard is a devout Christian, and that now the totem he carries to remind him of his devotion to his cause is a necklace featuring a cross.

While in his first scene, Jacob seemed explosive, as well as a bit creepy in those close-ups, he came across as rather snide in the beginning of the second scene. He made it clear that Richard was not invited to join him inside the statue. Though he did give him some of his wine, a gesture of hospitality beyond the likes of Charles Widmore. And something changed when Richard asked if he was the devil. It seemed to snap Jacob back to reality, to center him and remind him what he was really trying to accomplish.

What I found really interesting was the fact that it was Richard who, whether he meant to or not, suggested the idea of an intermediary. You could see the wheels in Jacob’s head turning. “Hey... He’s got a pretty good point.” Smokey has an unfair advantage. Up until this point, Jacob’s experiment has been a colossal failure because everyone who comes to the Island is influenced only by the force of evil. Jacob is all about free will, so he doesn’t want to tell anybody what to do, but adding Richard as a go-between is a turning point. From that point on, there are survivors. Maybe most of the people who come to the Island wind up dead, maybe most wind up corrupted, but not all do. Richard really makes a difference.

Seems weird to me that the ship smashed the statue, but it's symbolically significant. There is no longer such a huge gulf between Jacob and those he brings to the Island. He's much closer thanks to Richard. And this seems to have affected his behavior somewhat, made him a little more willing to step into human affairs. And maybe was a calming influence. Was Angry Jacob an anomaly, or was he like that a lot before the tide started to turn?

Jacob is not God. He can’t absolve sins. He evidently can’t raise the dead; does that mean a John Locke resurrection isn’t coming? Somehow, though, he is able to bestow the gift of agelessness on an unsuspecting Richard, who seemed to me to be just expressing his fervent fear of Hell, not actually suggesting that Jacob see to it that he never age. Be careful what you wish for... And of course, this was the most convenient reward Jacob could possibly give him, since it meant that Richard could serve as his intermediary for decades to come. Richard is closing in on two centuries now, with about 140 years spent in Jacob’s service. When does it end?

Once again there was some seriously great music in this episode, particularly in the gorgeous Richard-riding-his-horse-in-the-rain segments, anytime he was with Isabella and anytime Jacob was on the screen. Beautifully shot too. I was especially taken with the use of light in the prison scenes and with the expanses of greenery over which both Smokeys presided.

While this episode was touted as a Richard flashback - and that’s certainly primarily what it was, and thankfully in the Flashes Before Your Eyes format - there were two other flashbacks as well. We saw Ilana consulting which Jacob - and being visibly upset about it. I suppose this was because she knew his request was an indication that he would be dying soon. I thought the funniest moment in an otherwise extremely solemn episode came when Ilana turned to him and asked him what they should do next and then, after a very pregnant pause, he laughed in her face. He reminded me in that moment of Leonard in Big Bang Theory, with his giggle made shrill with nervous incredulity. It also reminded me of Hurley's reaction when Ben said he was following him in Cabin Fever. That crazed laugh was just such an odd outburst from him, but really not that strange considering the state we last saw him in. Richard is having an extraordinarily bad week.

The other flashback, of course, was Smokey’s. I really hope that both Ilana and Smokey get flashback episodes of their own, though with only seven episodes to go, that doesn’t seem too likely. The scene between Jacob and Smokey was similar to what we saw in The Incident, only this time it was Jacob who joined Smokey instead of the other way around. Are we to assume that’s the same white rock that he tossed out of the cave in The Substitute? Also, because we know that some of what Smokey tells us is true, particularly about his being the Smoke Monster, I can’t help wondering about the rest of it. Jacob snatching Smokey’s body sounds a bit like Jacob snatching Esau’s birthright, doesn’t it? And Esau probably would’ve had reason to call his mother crazy too. I’m trying to think if there’s anything Jacob has said that we know isn’t true. He’s big on withholding information, but thus far, I’m not inclined to see him as a liar. But there’s certainly more to the story than he’s letting on. In his scene with Smokey, I really thought that he might drop his actual name, especially right at the end there. But no. We’re still left to wonder. And again I ask, what name could possibly be worth all this dodging?

Another thing I really wanted to see? Hurley giving Richard a hug. Yeah, they just met, and Richard hasn’t exactly been all that warm to him. But if anybody ever needed a hug, it’s Richard, and if anybody was ever equipped to give one, it’s Hurley. I really thought it might happen immediately after he told Richard that Isabella was gone. Back in the beginning, I initially thought that Hurley was speaking Latin, and I thought, “Wow, that’s weird.” And like Jack, I initially assumed he was talking to Jacob. But I soon realized it was Spanish, which was a little less weird, considering his upbringing. Not long after Isabella died, I began to suspect that she was the one Hurley had been talking to, so when he showed up in the graveyard, I was rather expecting a scene out of Ghost Whisperer. And that’s exactly what we got, except that this was all for Richard’s benefit. Isabella didn’t need any helping. What a cathartic, romantic scene. And again, how much do I love Hurley? He was in take-charge mode again this week; he’s somebody who kinda seems to need direction, but when he’s given it, he really flies with it. And Jack is no match for his sense of purpose. I was so looking forward to a Richard and Hurley scene, and though we got a bit of one in Dr. Linus, this was much more substantial. And now they share a pretty potent bond.

Though Richard’s conviction that he was in Hell was spooky, I never quite believed it, nor did I believe that Isabella was in Hell with him. It just didn’t make sense, and after what we saw with Alex in Dead Is Dead, I could definitely see Smokey imitating Isabella in the hope of manipulating Richard. Though that was one fancy bit of morphing he did when we seemed to hear her and Smokey at the same time. Also, I guess this settles the question of whether or not Smokey can imitate people who died off the Island. Jacob’s inquiry to Richard about meeting a man in black out in the jungle reminded me of Richard’s inquiry to Ben after Emily appeared to him on his birthday. I thought the timeline of when Ben first met Richard seemed off, maybe because, thanks to his Temple experience, he didn’t remember his first encounter. But I guess I was just basing it on Sayid’s description of “a 12-year-old Benjamin Linus”. According to Lostpedia, he was 16 at that time. Pretty scrawny for 15, but I guess I can buy it. Though Sterling Beaumon couldn’t have been older than 13 when he shot the episode.

We saw so little of Ben here. All he did was fill Jack in on Fake Locke and express his opinion that Richard didn’t know anything. The beginning of the episode played out a bit differently than I’d expected. I figured that Richard was going to gather everybody around and tell them his life’s story. Instead, he ran off into the jungle, and he very nearly joined Smokey after all these years. Wonder why he didn’t show up right away. I would assume that he heard him. But maybe he didn’t. In any event, I’m awfully glad that Smokey wasn’t the first on the scene. Back on the beach, meanwhile, I wonder what’s happening. Why didn’t we see Miles at all? I’m curious about the format future episodes will take. I assume it’ll at least mostly be sideways again, but maybe one or two won’t be. How far back do the differences go? Is it possible that in Sideways World, Isabella survives and she and Richard are able to make their way to the New World together, and we’ll either see some sort of historical marker or gravestone with their names or we’ll meet one of their descendants?

Next week’s episode is called The Package, and based on the brief preview, I’m going to assume it’s a Sun episode, or a Sun and Jin episode perhaps. Just as Smokey used Isabella to tempt Richard, he will use Jin to tempt Sun, and maybe Sun to tempt Jin at the same time. And that’s worrisome, since each is so desperate to return to the other. I wonder how Smokey manages to separate her from the pack? Does this mean that we’ll be getting both groups next week? Could the time for collision be nigh? That’s an intriguing concept, and it should make for a riveting episode.

But this week’s gonna be a tough act to follow. It was a strange one for sure; the whole thing felt a bit like the opening scene of The Incident, so epic and somber. Only much more harrowing. And gut-wrenching. There were precious few laughs to be had in this episode, and a few moments that were just plain gruesome. But there was abundant beauty and depth of emotion, a much-desired dose of mythology and a reason to love Richard every bit as much as Daniel and Desmond, and that’s really saying something. What a guy. Hey there, Ricardus... You’re all right.

Careful Flyin' (Carefree Highway, Gordon Lightfoot)

"Doesn't matter who I am, you're showing footage of Seth Norris and that's not him, listen, this guy married his high school sweetheart at nineteen, he always wore his wedding ring and I'm telling you there's no ring on that body."
- Frank, Confirmed Dead

Frank Lapidus is a guy who prides himself on a job well done. His obsession over the fate of Flight 815 suggests that he has a guilty conscience and probably believes that if he'd been at the controls, the plane wouldn't have crashed. Here's a little reflection by him, circa Confirmed Dead, to the tune of Gordon Lightfoot's Carefree Highway.

Careful Flyin’

Slept through my alarm clock on the September day
That Oceanic 815 went down.
Now every night, I see that flight and how it went astray.
This is the conclusion I have drawn:

Careful flyin’s what I pride myself upon -
Careful flyin’ through a hostile sky -
And with my expertise, I’d’ve handled ‘er with ease.
Careful flyin’s what I pride myself, pride myself upon.

Starin’ through the static at the scene on the screen,
I think the sunken wreck looks pretty grim.
But they’re showin’ me Seth Norris, who got married at nineteen.
So where’s his ring? I’ll go out on a limb:

Someone’s lyin’. I guarantee ya that ain’t him.
Someone’s lyin’, and I wonder why.
Whatever’s in that Trench has a rotten sort of stench.
Someone’s lyin’. Do ya understand? Listen, that ain’t him.

Sick of feelin’ bad that if I’d been on my toes,
I could’ve flown ’em safe into the dawn.
To lift that weight, I’ll concentrate on tryin’ to expose
Just exactly where Flight 815 has gone.

Careful flyin’s what I pride myself upon -
Careful flyin’ through a hostile sky -
And with my expertise, I’d’ve handled ‘er with ease.
Careful flyin’s what I pride myself, pride myself upon.
What I pride myself upon.

Someone’s lyin’. Guarantee ya that ain’t him.
Someone’s lyin’, and I wonder why.
Whatever’s in that Trench has a rotten sort of stench.
Someone’s lyin’. Ya understand? Listen, that ain’t him.

Boone and Shannon (Bread and Roses, James Oppenheim)

One of the oddest pairings LOST has presented is Boone and Shannon, who really ought to stick to being brother and sister. This is a reflection on their relationship to the tune of John Denver's Bread and Roses. Here's hoping their lives are a little less complicated in the Sideways storyline.

Boone and Shannon

He said she was his sister, but that wasn’t quite the case,
For a fierce infatuation was emblazoned on his face
As he stood and criticized her for her superficial tannin’,
Knowing she would just berate him. Boone and Shannon, Boone and Shannon.

She said he was her brother. That’s a matter for debate.
When their parents wed each other, he was ten and she was eight.
Surely such romantic ardor wasn’t what they had been plannin’,
But it’s what was in the cards for Boone and Shannon, Boone and Shannon.

They said that they were siblings, and they tossed the “step” away.
Did they need a stern reminder that the game they tried to play
Was a deviant idea that deserved a brutal bannin’?
Will another life be kind to Boone and Shannon, Boone and Shannon?
Will another life be kind to Boone and Shannon, Boone and Shannon?

Known For the Doubt (Never a Doubt, John Denver)

Ben: Thomas the Apostle. When Jesus wanted to return to Judea, knowing that he would probably be murdered there, Thomas said to the others, "Let us also go, that we might die with him." But Thomas was not remembered for this bravery. His claim to fame came later... when he refused to acknowledge the resurrection. He just couldn't wrap his mind around it. The story goes... that he needed to touch Jesus' wounds to be convinced.
Jack: So was he?
Ben: Of course he was. We're all convinced sooner or later, Jack.
- 316

316 is named, on the surface, for the flight that Ben and five of the Oceanic Six take back to the Island. But I presume that the name also is a reference to John 3:16, sometimes referred to as the Bible boiled down to one verse about God loving the world so much that He gave His Son so that whoever believed in Him would not perish but have eternal life. This seems especially fitting given Ben's conversation with Jack about the apostle Thomas and his struggle to believe. Here are Ben's biblical musings, to the tune of John Denver's Never A Doubt.

Known For the Doubt

He is known for the doubt,
Known for the doubt he confessed
When he looked on his Savior.
Known for the doubt.
It’s always been linked to his name.
He is known for the doubt
That compelled him to make his request.
Can we fault his behavior?
Known for the doubt.
Don’t you think we’d have acted the same?

Of the Apostles, not one has been misunderstood more than Thomas.
He was loyal and brave.
When Jesus was threatened, he said, “Let us go and die too.”
I assume, given the chance, that he would have made good on his promise
Of embracing the grave.
For the sake of his Lord, there was nothing that he wouldn’t do.

Reason was whispering to him, “It must be a hoax or illusion.
No, this cannot be real,”
Because Christ’s resurrection was something beyond his belief.
In his shoes, which of us wouldn’t have come to a kindred conclusion?
But when granted a feel,
We’d have trembled like Thomas as joy washed away all our grief.

Was he wrong to refuse to accept an imposter
When he did not dare hope for such glorious news?

He is known for the doubt,
Known for the doubt he confessed
When he looked on his Savior.
Known for the doubt.
It’s always been linked to his name.
He is known for the doubt
That compelled him to make his request.
Can we fault his behavior?
Known for the doubt.
Don’t you think we’d have acted the same?
Don’t you think we’d have acted the same?
We would have acted the same.

You're the Best (Be Our Guest, Alan Menken / Howard Ashman)

"You're the best, Dr. Linus!"
- Alex, Dr. Linus

The relationship between Ben and his adopted daughter Alex has been full of angst and complications, but in season six, we got to see the two of them relating to each other with much greater ease and warmth. Here's a celebration of Sideways Ben and Alex, to the tune of Be Our Guest, from Beauty and the Beast.

You’re the Best

Alex: You’re the best, you’re the best.
Dr. Linus, you’re the best.
Without you, what would I do?
I’d have no clue! I’d flunk the test!
Though you say I’ll be fine,
My whole future’s on the line.
I don’t trust my comprehension.
When I heard you had detention,
I was bummed. I was scared
I would never be prepared.
But you’ve rescued me, and boy, am I impressed!
Though Reynolds may ignore you,
I’m so thankful for you.
You’re the best, you’re the best, you’re the best.

Ben: I was down and distressed.
Bless this unexpected guest!
Teens like her make teaching worth it,
Despite aspects I detest:
Reynolds’ rude attitude,
Students’ base ingratitude.
Let’s dispense with all this whining
And get back to our fine dining.
Look, my life’s not so bad,
So let’s keep our chins up, Dad.
Don’t feel guilty; just enjoy your turkey breast.
I’ve done a few things right.
She helped me see the light
‘Cause she’s the best.
I feel blessed
To acknowledge her request.
She’s the best, she’s the best, she’s the best.

Who‘s to say that leaving
Is a choice we should be grieving?
If we’d stayed, we might have made a big mistake.
Even though I left my truest friend there,
I’ve become a mentor for her sake.
These students... They need me,
And when we came back, you freed me
To deny myself and seek the greater good.
Turns out I’m a teacher, not a doctor.
Dad, who was I fooling,
Getting all that extra schooling?

[Next Day]
Alex: I am stressed, I am stressed,
‘Cause if I don’t pass this test,
Then I’ll fail to go to Yale.
I will be stuck here in the west.
Gotta work up the nerve
To go ask Reynolds the perv
For a nice recommendation -

Ben: Wait, did he abuse his station?
I’ve been wanting a change.
Would it really be so strange
If I used this little tidbit to protest?
I‘d love to stage a coup,
But I will not hurt you,
So I’ll stay dressed in this vest
And arrest this whole quest.

[Later]
Alex: You’re the best, you’re the best,
And though you have not confessed,
Reynold’s letter was much better
Than I ever would have guessed,
So I think what occurred
Is you put in a good word.
Yes, if my appeal advances,
It’s because you helped my chances.
Off to college I’ll go
With the knowledge you bestow,
And if anybody asks, I will attest
That if you want the finest,
Go with Dr. Linus;
He’s the best.
You’re the best, you’re the best.
Yes, you’re the best!

Tell Me About It (Tell Her About It, Billy Joel)

"Is there something you wanna tell me?"
- Miles, Recon

Miles and Sawyer are two of LOST's most abrasive characters. Both of them have used verbal acuity to belittle others and to obscure the truth. But once the two of them have teamed up, they expect a little bit more out of each other. Here's a song from Miles, lecturing Sawyer in Recon to the tune of Billy Joel's Tell Her About It.

Tell Me About It

Listen, Jim, don’t wanna bug ya,
But I’m worried about you.
You know, you’d like to think you’re good at hiding things,
But that just isn’t true.
I’m your buddy, Jim, and if you are in a bind,
You should let me know whatever is on your mind.

Hey, listen, I’ve known you too long
To buy the act you’re pulling now,
And whoever this guy Cooper is,
He’s got ya riled up somehow.
And I don’t believe that you saw him in Palm Springs
Or you’re calling him so he can pull some strings.

Tell me about it. Tell me why you’re tied in knots.
Jim, I’m a detective, so I can connect the dots.
Tell me about it, ‘cause you sure aren’t foolin’ me.
I’ve got noble reasons to give you the third degree.

Listen, Jim. You’d like to think
That you’re as solid as a rock.
But you’re not alone, so please take advantage
Of the chance you have to talk.
It’s a big relief to get things off your chest.
That’s the reason I am being such a pest.

Tell me about it. Would that really be so hard?
You would feel much better if you’d just let down your guard.
Tell me about it. Tell me where you went last week.
Jim, it makes me nervous that you’re being such a sneak.

I’m gonna go and run your credit card.
Yeah, it’s paranoid, but I’m at my wit’s end,
And our relationship’s already marred
If you can’t just tell the truth to your best friend.

Listen, Jim. No room for secrets
In a proper partnership.
I know sun and sand isn’t what you planned
When you went on your little trip.
I have two good ears; they need to get some use.
I will not accept another phony excuse.

Tell me about it. Tell me why you’re tied in knots.
Jim, I’m a detective, so I can connect the dots.
Tell me about it, ‘cause you sure aren’t foolin’ me.
I’ve got noble reasons to give you the third degree.

Tell me about it. Tell me why you’re tied in knots.
Just tell me about it. Don’t you think I’ve earned your trust?
You gotta tell me about it. I’ll investigate if I must.
You gotta tell me about it. Thought you were my friend.
You gotta tell me about it. The truth will come out in the end.
You gotta tell me about it. You gotta tell, tell, tell me about it.
Tell me about it...

The Smoke Thing (My Life, Billy Joel)

"I'm the Smoke Thing."
- Smokey, Recon

In Recon, the most recent episode of LOST, my favorite line was Smokey's blunt assertion.  Here's a song about his conversation with Sawyer, to the tune of Billy Joel's My Life.

The Smoke Thing

Smokey: You should know it was rude of you to interrupt me.
Can’t you see I was trying to calm people down?
You’re not helping by questioning me so abruptly.
Even so, I forgive ya. Quit mopin’ around.

James, this may be a shock to you, but
I’m the Smoke Thing.
I’m the one you should blame for the blood that was spilled.
Do you think that I’m mad? Do you think that I’m joking?
Well, it’s kill or be killed. I don’t wanna be killed.

I‘m gonna need you to go off and do reconnaissance.
(Sawyer: What am I doin’ this for?)
Smokey: I‘m gonna need you, because you were a conman once.
(Sawyer: Sure, that sounds safe...)
Smokey: You don‘t forget
(Sawyer: Can’t forget)
Smokey: Those skills, I bet.
(Sawyer: Those skills yet.)
Smokey: You can lie your way through any mess, James.

There’s a plane on the beach over on Hydra Island.
That’s the plane we’ll be using to get outta here.
If the passengers get in the way of what I planned,
Sorry, folks, but the Smoke Thing will soon reappear.

James, this may be a shock to you, but
I’m the Smoke Thing.
I’m the one you should blame for the blood that was spilled.
Do you think that I’m mad? Do you think that I’m joking?
Well, it’s kill or be killed. I don’t wanna be killed.

I‘m gonna need you to go off and do reconnaissance.
(Sawyer: What am I doin’ this for?)
Smokey: I‘m gonna need you, because you were a conman once.
(Sawyer: Why should I go?)
Smokey: You don‘t forget
(Sawyer: Can’t forget)
Smokey: Those skills, I bet.
(Sawyer: Those skills yet.)
Smokey: You can lie your way through any mess, James.

Do you think that I’m mad? Do you think that I’m joking?
Well, it’s kill or be killed. I don’t wanna be killed.

Sawyer: How can I outsmart the Smoke Thing?
How can I outsmart the Smoke Thing?
How can I outsmart the Smoke Thing?

Little House (The Garden Song, Dave Mallett)

Charles: Hey, you heard that? Now that's what life's all about. Laughin' and lovin' each other. And knowin' that people aren't really gone when they die. We have all the good memories to sustain us until we see 'em again.
Laura: It's hard not being afraid, Pa...
Charles: I know, sweetheart. I know.
- Little House on the Prairie, Remember Me I
 
Sawyer is just full of surprises. One of my favorites is the fact that he is a fan of Little House on the Prairie. He dropped that little tidbit back in season three; now it's finally come up again, and Sawyer's softie status is assured... Here's a reflection by him to the tune of Dave Mallett's The Garden Song. (Below is the closest recording I could find online to the version I modeled mine after.)

Little House

Little House. What a show!
Sorta sappy, sorta slow.
Secretly, I’m a softie, though,
So I won’t apologize.
Little House. What a show!
Half-Pint has it good, ya know.
I’d’ve lived through lots less woe
If my dad had been that wise.

They endure though times are tough.
They‘ve got each other. That‘s enough.
They have the kind of life I‘d love.
It‘s the life I was denied.
Hard work don‘t bother me.
I'm a man of industry.
I have craved a family
Since the day my parents died.

Little House. What a show!
Sorta sappy, sorta slow.
Secretly, I’m a softie, though,
So I won’t apologize.
Little House. What a show!
Half-Pint has it good, ya know.
I’d’ve lived through lots less woe
If my dad had been that wise.

Could it be I was wrong
Hangin’ onto hate so long?
When I thought it made me strong,
Did it keep me weak instead?
Before I work out what to do,
Guess I’d better think this through.
Maybe I should listen to
All the things Pa Ingalls said.

Little House. What a show!
Sorta sappy, sorta slow.
Secretly, I’m a softie, though,
So I won’t apologize.
Little House. What a show!
Half-Pint has it good, ya know.
I’d’ve lived through lots less woe
If my dad had been that wise.
The Garden Song

Jacob's Chosen (All God's Critters, Bill Staines)

On LOST, Jacob's nemesis claims that all he wants is to go home. But it seems there are several people standing in his way. Here's a reflection on that, to the tune of Bill Staines' All God's Critters. (Below is the closest version I could find online to the version I modeled mine after.)

Jacob’s Chosen

Jacob’s chosen are a thorn in my side.
Some have left, some have died and
Some just went rogue, as I pretty much guessed.
But I’m stuck with the rest.
And boy, do they give me a headache!

Take a look at Ford, he’s a thief and a liar.
He’s a lot like me, but his deep desire to
Help his friends is a troubling clue
He’ll try to con me too.

The Kwons are a pair with a whole lotta problems.
Which of them did he want to take his job?
I am not too sure, but it’s such a chore
To get them both at once!

Jacob’s chosen are a thorn in my side.
Some have left, some have died and
Some just went rogue, as I pretty much guessed.
But I’m stuck with the rest.
And boy, do they give me a headache!

I would like to think that Jarrah is all mine.
He’s a murderer, and I like that fine,
But I wonder if I can keep him in line,
Or will he mess up my plans?

Shephard is a hero. Shephard takes the lead.
He’ll never stand by, letting someone bleed.
It galls me that I can’t proceed
Till I’ve cracked his resolve somehow.

Jacob’s chosen are a thorn in my side.
Some have left, some have died and
Some just went rogue, as I pretty much guessed.
But I’m stuck with the rest.
And boy, do they give me a headache!

Reyes is the worst. He’s a sap and a saint
With a soul so pure even I can’t taint it.
He’s Jacob’s pet, so my chances are slim
Till I get rid of him.

Jacob’s chosen are a thorn in my side.
Some have left, some have died and
Some just went rogue, as I pretty much guessed.
But I’m stuck with the rest.
And boy, do they give me a headache!

“Hey, You Hear That? That’s What Life’s All About. Laughin’ and Lovin’ Each Other.”

After the sheer horror of Sundown and redemptive bliss of Dr. Linus, I wasn’t quite sure what mood to expect for Recon. Sawyer episodes tend to be a bit on the dark side, though there’s usually a nice dose of humor in there too. In terms of violence, the episode was both better and worse than I’d feared. Worse, because all of the remaining Ajira passengers died. Shame Hurley couldn’t have bought his tickets a little earlier... But that happened off-screen, and we didn’t know the victims, so it had less emotional impact than a single death from among established characters would have. And that didn’t happen - though Kate came awfully close to a nasty slash to the throat courtesy of Claire, only to be saved... by MiB, in one of several instances in this episode of him coming across as unnervingly sympathetic. More on him later. For the moment, Sawyer.

I had the following expectations about Recon: that it would be Sawyer-centric, that Team Ilana would be out of the picture and that Sawyer would be seemingly working for Smokey, while actually aiming to undercut him. All three of these assertions seem to have been true. I also suspected that he would not be a conman in Sideways World - though he certainly was putting those skills to use anyway! I got a little nervous when I saw yet another repetition of the all-too-familiar hotel room swindle, but I hoped that all would not be as it appeared. Given his role in Dharmaville, it seems quite fitting that he would be a cop, though it’s not a job I imagined for him, especially after he helped an obviously on-the-run Kate escape at the airport. I also love that he’s working with Miles, and their relationship, both personal and professional, is obviously a very close one. Also nice to hear that Pierre is alive and well and on good terms with his son.

I accidentally got two mild spoilers about this episode ahead of time. I learned that Sawyer would be canoodling with somebody and that Charlotte would be making a repeat appearance. I fervently hoped these two tidbits were not related, and I let out a cautious sigh of relief after the first Sideways scene. But no, one roll in the hay wasn’t enough for Sideways Sawyer, and I was forced to silently shout at the television, “Must you hook up with every female character on the show?!” In other words, keep your hands off. Save Charlotte for Daniel and keep an eye out for blondes lurking in coffee shops. The pairing didn’t work out, and I felt a little sorry for Sawyer when he tried to make amends, but I still wish it had imploded before clothes were shed. Also, considering she spends so much time off adventuring, she’s awfully pale. I’d think Miss Indiana Jones would have a bit more of a tan... On the plus side, we did get that Charlotte-looking-in-the-drawer moment, which reminded me forcefully of the Beast’s freak-out when Belle when poking around in the West Wing. Beauty and the Beast parallels? Always welcome.

Even better, especially since it was involved healing rather than breaking? Little House on the Prairie. One of my favorite moments in the thoroughly fantastic Tricia Tanaka Is Dead comes when Sawyer casually references “Little House” and then, with some embarrassment, explains that he used to watch the show when he was laid up as a kid. How absolutely adorable, I thought. How much more adorable for a grown-up Sawyer, without the excuse of illness and limited entertainment options, to be watching it of his own free will. And to let it inspire him to take steps in letting go of the grief that is anchoring him to his miserable past. I also love that he’s still reading Watership Down.

Sawyer’s - or I should say Jim’s - backstory is still pretty miserable. Despite the chummy photo on John’s desk, Anthony Cooper is apparently still a nefarious conman responsible for the deaths of his parents. Curiously, however, he appears to have made his move a year later in this timeline. Was that extra year enough to give little Jimmy just enough wisdom to keep him from unraveling completely when the deaths occurred? Obviously he was still in grave danger of falling into the become-what-you-hate trap, as he confessed to seeing only two choices before him. Cop or criminal? He saw both as leading him to the same destination. Revenge is still driving his life, albeit in a more productive direction. Still, even if he’s led a fairly upstanding life, there will again be dark repercussions if he simply follows his gut on this one.

A very blatant mirror scene, in which Mom correctly postulated that Sawyer was about to put his fist through the glass. Ouch. So there have been mirrors of some kind in every episode, and so far we’ve seen Jack and Sawyer break theirs. Interesting. No meet-up with Juliet yet, but Sawyer has again bumped into Kate, and he definitely recognizes her. Clearly we’ll be seeing more of this storyline. But of all the folks who showed up in Sideways worlds, the one that interested me most was definitely Liam. I let out a shout when I saw him. Might we see him and Charlie both again in Claire’s Sideways story? I hope so.

Back on the Island, we get confirmation that Jin is with Sawyer, but the Sun searcher quickly fades out of focus as MiB returns to send Sawyer on a mission and try to win Kate’s trust. He reveals to Sawyer what he does not to the group at large: that he is the one who killed all the stragglers at the Temple. Best line of the episode: “I’m the Smoke Thing.” He also says, “I forgive ya,” which is a flip comment but is interesting because Smokey seems to be a force that deals out judgment on the Island. I can’t say I agree with his sense of justice, at least in most instances; he’s a cold-blooded mass murderer. And yet, when he bestowed that beatific smile upon poor whimpering Zach and pledged his protection, I almost felt I liked him. It’s so nefarious of them to let Ultimate Baddie parade around in the body of John Locke.

What’s more, he saved Kate from Claire, which complicit, catatonic Sayid wasn’t about to do. He did so sternly, violently, with a condescending “This is completely inappropriate,“ and then went and apologized to Kate for planting the seeds of hatred in Claire’s mind. His dialogue with Kate was the most fascinating part of the episode, chock full of mythological significance. It’s so strange to think of MiB having parental issues just like everybody else on the Island, but then maybe it isn’t, since he has perhaps projected his own misery upon others. Smokey has a crazy mother.

Given all the time traveling that’s been occurring, could it possibly be someone we know, and time travel be involved? His mother is most likely a stranger, but I do believe that we’ve learned something very important. Unless he just stole John’s backstory in order to equate it to Aaron’s. On a related note, I suspect that what he said about creating an enemy for Claire may lend insight into his relationship with Jacob. She needed something to hate in order to keep her going; it wasn’t enough to simply have her very own, super-creepy version of Wilson the volleyball to talk to. She needed a challenge and a goal. Jacob refers to Smokey as an “old friend”. Could he be the Kate to Smokey’s Claire? Has someone else pitted MiB against his (real or figurative) brother? In the end, Claire fell into Kate’s waiting arms, bawling out her apology. Could we possibly see such a scene with Mr. Black and Mr. White? Though something tells me he was never as sweet and innocent as Claire.

Something seemed a little off about Zoe to me from the beginning, but I figured spending a couple of days surrounded by dead bodies might do that do a person. I liked her, initially anyway, if only because she is one of the few female characters on the show we’ve ever seen wearing glasses. Let’s hear it for the four-eyes! Though once she started all those questions I got a little suspicious. Nonetheless, though Charles was fresh in my mind at the top of the house, I somehow managed to completely forget about him at this point. I was thinking that maybe this was yet another previously unseen contingent of Others. When I saw the sub again it all came rushing back...

One of the most chilling moments for me toward the very end of season five was when MiB told Richard that they would have to do something about those Ajira passengers. Guess who went ahead and did what I strongly suspect MiB was itching to do himself? What makes Sawyer so sure that these two are enemies? What if, instead of squaring off against each other, they join forces? Scary thought.

On the whole, this episode fizzled for me just a bit, but then I really didn’t expect it to measure up to last week’s. It was the first time I was really annoyed by the role someone we know played in Sideways World. At least we know Sideways Charlotte is alive and well. It does sound as though Sawyer wants to get off the Island. But is he conning Kate too? His conversation with her seemed like we were moving back into SKate territory again, and I just don’t know if I buy that. Then again, I do think he would want to help her. Meanwhile, he’s promised not to leave until he finds Sun, and I bet he’s anxious to track down Hurley and Miles too.

Anyway, it was an interesting enough episode, but it just happened to be sandwiched between two of the most epic LOST episodes ever. I’m making that judgment about Ab Aeterno right off the bat because it’s the episode I’ve been longing to see ever since The Man Behind the Curtain. It’s the episode that seems like it really ought to be about three hours long, since Richard’s life stretches about three times longer than anybody else’s. How are they possibly going to fit it all in? Here’s hoping, at least, for a Flashes Before Your Eyes episode structure. I envision Richard sitting the good guys down for story hour and the rest of us getting to listen in.

Given that this is the only actual flashback we’ve been guaranteed to have this season, this might be our best chance to see Sterling Beaumon and Madeline Carroll again, but as much ground as they’ll have to cover, I don’t know if I’m banking on a glimpse of Little Ben and Annie. I’m guessing we won’t see Richard as a child, but maybe we will. I presume we will see Mark Pellegrino again, and maybe Titus Welliver, and that’s pretty exciting. And the provocative “This place is not what you think it is?” Please, Richard. Do tell. I’m guessing we may get more answers in that single hour than we have in the rest of the season thus far. But again, there’s only an hour, so I shouldn’t expect too much. Still, I’m extremely anxious to see this episode. The title is Latin, which seems epic in and of itself, and it apparently means “Counting From Eternal,” which is kinda clunky but certainly seems to fit with Richard’s agelessness. It’ll be interesting to see how Richard interacts with the beach folks now, and how Ben interacts with Team Richard. But I hope we don’t spend a lot of time hobnobbing on the beach. It’s answer time.