Poor Benjamin Linus, always portrayed as so evil, so devious, so despicable. After watching this week’s episode, do you know what I decided? That portrayal is absolutely spot on. Ben? He’s awful, truly awful. Why, you ask?
The Facts
Remember good ole Goodwin, that Other sent to live amongst the survivors to learn as much as he could about them? He died, if you recall, when Ana Lucia figured out he was not on the plane and pierced his chest with a stake. No one misses the guy who was amongst those kidnapping children and attacking Tailies, but after what we learn this week, he does deserve some sympathy. After all, he would have been alive had Ben not sent him on a kamikaze mission.
To be clear: Goodwin was sent out to die. Ben, jealous that Juliet—who he obsessed over—was having an affair with Goodwin, sent Goodwin on this information-gathering task, knowing full well he would be discovered and killed. If that is not wicked, I do not know what is.
As it turns out, the new arrivals from the freighter hate Ben, too, and are there to kill him. (This is great news for Jack who has been warned by Juliet to keep his distance from her. Juliet, aware that Ben knows of her feelings for Jack, worries that Jack will be Ben’s next target.) We learn that Dan (Faraday) and Charlotte are anti-Ben only after Ben tricks Juliet into nearly killing them.
That thing I was saying about Ben being a terrible human being? I was not kidding. Even when imprisoned, Ben knows everything, controls everything, and still acts as if he is completely innocent. I would hate the guy more if he was not such a compelling character.
The Frenzy
As much as there is to discuss in this week’s episode, the Frenzy will instead focus on the previous two weeks. Having been out of the country, I joyously watched three Lost episodes in a row, soaking in the goodness of rich story lines. Kate having Claire’s baby in the future completely threw me for a loop, but the glory of Desmond’s time travel episode takes the cake.
I am still not sure if this episode explained all of Desmond’s previous visions since I do not recall him physically (or mentally, it is hard to tell) going to the place of his visions in past episodes. But I do know that what happened to Desmond on that helicopter created a whole new set of questions, and I am okay with that. Keep those crazy plots coming.
This whole episode sincerely confused me. Thanks for the comments. Helps me understand somewhat more
[1] Posted by: ousoonersxx | March 14th, 2008 at 12:01 pmYeah ole Benjamin is a dirty bastard alright. Sends his adopted daughter, her real mother, and boyfriend into the woods to get ambushed. He has a hard time letting things go I think.
[2] Posted by: gamebolt | April 9th, 2008 at 8:26 am