Monsters of Television

“Did you say there were some other people to kill?”

It almost seems like “What They Died For” and “Across the Sea” should’ve been aired on one night, and perhaps in that order. It might’ve made a bit more sense narratively and emotionally (and perhaps many of would’ve been a bit kinder to “Across the Sea”…maybe). But providing any solid commentary on this, the penultimate episode of the series, seems like a bit of a fool’s errand. It implies guessing what’s going to happen this Sunday, and I’m not one to guess about these things any longer.

“What They Died For” is, thankfully, a solid stepping stone into the finale though. Indeed, the 3 main arcs in the episode, Jack, Ben, and sideways-Desmond, are all very nicely paced and help build back that momentum that “Across the Sea” kind of let fall apart. And I won’t lie: Michael Emerson’s return to the screen made me giddy as a polar bear in a tree.

Let’s talk about Ben. Way back in the season, we were treated to Ben’s attempts to redeem himself, and I argued that he does this by refusing Smocke’s offer. So what to make of this apparent backslide? I think it’s fair to say that some of this is motivated by Widmore’s appearance (and his smug arrogance: “As always, I’m three steps ahead of you, Benjamin.”). But I also feel like Ben may’ve met his match in manipulation with Smocke. Smocke is obviously aware about Alex’s death (he was there for the aftermath), and saw this as a chance to play Ben when suggesting that Penny would survive so long as Widmore explained his master plan regarding Desmond.

That Ben kills Widmore is of little surprise, but I genuinely can’t tell if Ben, as soon as he sat down on that porch and offered Smocke some lemonade, that he had hatched a plan or just given up and decided that he wanted the Island back for himself. The fanboy in me wants it to be an act, a ploy to keep Smocke in check somehow, but I just don’t know. And when you couple two master liars together, who can tell who’s playing who?

Dr. Linus, on the other hand, is such a wonderfully crafted character that, like O’Quinn’s portrayal of Smocke, it feels like a totally different person despite being the same actor on the same show. There’s nothing radically different between Dr. Linus and Ben but the tone of voice sells it (it lacks of the creepy factor). And so when Dr. Linus is helping sideways-Rousseau clean up after dinner, and as he starts to sniffle and as sideways-Rousseau says, “I’ll put in less [onions] next time.” I’m not sure there’s anything to do to prevent your heart from melting and you’re mouth from unleashing an “Awwwwww!”

That the show is able to sell that scene, even with the knowledge that the audience has of Ben kidnapping Alex (slyly winked at with sideways-Rousseau’s comment about kidnapping Dr. Linus) and contributing to Rousseau’s insanity, is a testament not only to the players but to the show itself. It’s a moment that doesn’t feel cheapened by the flipside parallels, but instead feel enhanced by it. It’s little moments like these that have made the flash-sideways, whatever their ultimate purpose, worthwhile.

Speaking of, sideways-Desmond is clearly having too much fun being the messenger of alternate realities. His crafty escape from the prison transport as only enhanced by Giacchino’s really excellent composition through that entire scene. But which concert are they attending? Widmore’s party or David’s recital? It’s rewarding to see that Hurley has fully awakened to the alternate reality, like Desmond, so Desmond can have a reliable partner in all of this.

But let’s talk finish by talking about Jack. It was a total non-surprise that he accepted the role of protector from Jacob (though, earlier in the season, I thought it might’ve been Hurley). And unlike a lot of shows, Jack’s arc as a character hasn’t been limited to a single season, where Jack learns a lesson each season to improve himself. Instead the entire show has been building to this moment for this character, from Jack’s jerk ass single-mindedness God-complex to his unwillingness to listen to anyone but himself (and occasionally Sayid) to his willingness to let go and have faith beyond himself.

I wasn’t a Jack fan until after season 3, when I went back and re-watched seasons 1 and 2 and the character suddenly made sense for me. We all knew from the flashbacks that Jack needed to fix things (goodness knows that was drilled into us) but the depths to which Jack needed to do this never really made sense until he begged Kate to go back. It was a moment of incredibly weakness in a man who doesn’t show weakness. Beyond that though, it was a crack in Jack’s wall of denial (see his refusal to recognize Desmond during the start of season 2) that finally collapsed this season. It’s been a rough journey for the character, but kudos to the show and Matthew Fox for making it work.

Remember that the finale airs this Sunday, 9p.m. EST, as well as across the globe in fairly quick fashion. I’m not sure when my review of the episode will appear, but late Monday or early Tuesday seem the most likely. If I can do it sooner, I will, but I don’t intend to be taking notes or near a computer during the finale. Not that kind of event.

FINAL THOUGHTS

• The “Previously on…” made me cry all over again. Dammit. And the lifejackets didn’t help!
• Open for interpretation: Did Jacob cross of Kate’s name due to her motherhood because Jacob still has Mother issues, after centuries of stewing, or does he think that being a mother is more important than protecting the Island? I guess who you interpret “Across the Sea” determines how you interpreted that exchange.
• I have no idea what happened to Richard, and I can’t tell if he’ll show up again during the finale. I suspect that Miles will if only because he’ll be a seriously dangling loose end (almost as bad as the dangling preposition in the episode title) if he doesn’t appear in the finale.