The Spring Season Commences

Nice to have LOST back now. It wasn't such an interminable wait for me since I saw the sixth episode about a month ago, but still... high time. I think it resolved the cliff-hanger fairly well. And hooray for Ben not dying. I figured of everyone, he and Sawyer were the most endangered, and they weren't likely to kill Sawyer off. I do feel bad for Danny, hot-head that he was; Sayid was all set to kill somebody too when Shannon died, so some of his behavior can be chalked up to losing Colleen. That doesn't excuse it, but it helps explain it, and I couldn't help but think for the millionth time that this island would be so much better without the artillery. I love the tropical island scenario, when you're totally separated from all the vices of society and can start with a clean slate. But you can't very well do that if half the blinkin' people on the island are carrying fire sticks around! Yeah, Erin hates guns...
I do think, though, that of all the killings of the Others, this was the only one that was truly justified. It still might have been prevented, but Sawyer at least cut him a break by locking him up after beating him within an inch of his life instead of finishing the job. It was obvious Danny had a vendetta and planned to stop at nothing to do away with Sawyer, and he posed a direct and immediate threat at the time of his death. I still firmly believe that Ethan, Goodwin and Colleen shouldn't have been killed, though I understand the rationale in each situation. Sigh.
Since Abrams and Lindelof had to go and shatter the redemptive tone of the first season, with all these flawed characters working together to survive and/or find a way off the island, by bringing in the Others, who are apparently "the bad guys," though they insist otherwise, I'm going to cling to the tattered remains of my illusions and declare that the Others can be in on this too. It doesn't have to be "us" versus "them". They wanted us to see Sawyer as the bad guy, and that didn't last long; what makes the Others so different? Well. I shouldn't say that, because they do have an unseemly habit of skulking about and kidnapping people, though supposedly those folks, once assimilated, lead pretty decent lives within their society. The Others do a lot of shady things, but we have yet to get their perspective, aside from Juliet, who is something of a newcomer herself. I think these people need a shot at redemption too.
Tom and Ben are my favorites. I've developed a real affection for them, despite Ben's inherent creepiness and Tom's gruffness. With Ben, of course, I was unsure for a while as to whether he actually was an Other. I wanted to believe him. And then, when it turned out he was an Other after all, I still wanted to believe that he was decent and sincere, that he was Locke's friend, that he was totally undeserving of Sayid's skills. Part of it, I suppose, is Michael Emerson, who is so darn compelling that they decided to turn him into a regular. Which makes me majorly question the foresight of the writers if Ben was such a small part of the big picture, or if there even was a Ben planned before Michael made such a splash. I really hope they have some idea of where they're going with all this, because I sure don't...
Anyway, I don't think Ben is all bad. I feel sorry for him, and I probably shouldn't, because he's very manipulative and dangerous under that veil of innocence. But maybe he can be LOST's Lionel - and by cracky, Messrs. Millar and Gough, if you yank Lionel from the righteous path one more time... *shakes fist* The key to Lionel's goodness seems to be Martha; maybe Ben's is Alex. We haven't seen them together but evidently he cares for his abducted daughter deeply, though the feeling does not seem to be reciprocal. It will be interesting to watch them interact with each other...
I don't think he cares a great deal about Tom, aside from seeing him as an easy puppet. He can use him however he wants, and Tom will continue to follow him around like a wide-eyed puppy. Because I really think Tom's a soft touch. He acts tough sometimes, but mostly I think he's a pretty nice guy, and he's deeply devoted to Ben. He was obviously genuinely concerned when Ben was on that operating table, and he experienced real panic when he had to help Jack finish the surgery and was afraid he might mess something up. If the Others were across-the-board vile, thoughtless people, wouldn't you think if he was second-in-command he would jump at the chance to have the boss out of commission? No, I think Tom is truly loyal. It may even be a Smithers-type situation, which I've wondered about since he mentioned laughingly to Kate that she wasn't his type. There seemed to be an implication there supported by the deep respect and affection he apparently feels for Ben. Or maybe I'm reading way too much into it. Either way, I like Tom, and I hope he sticks around a while.
I didn't think I had that much to say after seeing last night's return. I guess I had a few things to say after all. Whaddya know?