Get LOST: The Shape of Things To Come

Posted by Ben Piper on 04.30.2008

The war over the island begins in earnest...



Namaste'! Welcome back yet again to the only 411 column solely devoted to what I feel is truly the very best show on TV today, LOST! As always, I am your resident bug-eyed suddenly sympathetic master manipulator Ben Piper!

Yes, I know it's been a long five weeks since last talked about some fresh LOST goodness, but last week's episode didn't disappoint. So let's not waste any more time, here is the full recap for LOST Season 4, episode 9; "The Shape of Things To Come."

What We Learned: We begin at the beach where Kate looks to be cleaning herself up some while making flirtatious smiles at Jack. They exchange waves and he politely smiles back before moving on. She then follows him into his tent and busts him taking some pills. He explains that they're just anti-biotics as his stomach has been bothering him a bit lately. She suggests that he eat some crackers, as crackers always make her feel better. She then lets the other shoe drop and asks Jack why isn't Sayid and Desmond back from the boat yet? Jacks explains that Sayid said that their engines are down, and right now they're probably wondering why they can't get ahold of them. Kate asks if he's worried and he says no, his gut is telling him that they're getting off of the island. Kate then points out that Jack's gut is currently sick.

This is broken up by Vincent barking and somebody yelling for help. Jack, Kate, and Juliet all scramble to see what's what. It's Bernard doing the yelling, as it would appear that a body has washed up on shore. They drag him onto the beach and slowly turn him over. Jack asks Faraday who it is, and it turns out to be the freighter's doctor, Ray, whom we've met before.

Cut to Hurley stating that they're all going to die. Sawyer tries to urge some confidence, but Hugo states that that's what he wants, for them to fight amongst themselves. Locke steps in and says that it's Sawyer's choice. Turns out that they're actually playing "risk" and Sawyer decides that he wants to attack Siberia. He and Hurley roll dice, and Sawyer wins. Hurley's pissed that Sawyer just opened up Australia to Locke, as Australia is the key to the whole game.

Cut to shuffling feet and sounds of a severely frightened girl sobbing. It's a blindfolded Alex. She's forced to drop to her knees as the blindfold is removed. She finds herself at a security pylon. She is instructed to disarm it, but she hesitates, asking for mercy due to the fact that there's a baby in the compound. A pistol is pointed at the back of her head and she is told again. With all guns pointed at her, she has no other choice but to relent and doe as she's told.

A moment later, the phone rings in Ben's old house as Locke, Hurley, and Sawyer play their game. They all looked shocked and surprised. Locke answers it and a recorded voice repeats "code 14-j" over and over again.

Cut to Ben, playing the piano elsewhere. Locke and Sawyer burst in unannounced and Ben sincerely looks pleasantly surprised to see them. Locke wants to know what code 14-J is. Ben's eyes get a little wider than usual as he asks where John heard that. John explains the situation and Ben responds by reaching into his piano bench and pulling out a shotgun, which he immediately cocks. Sawyer's reaction is priceless as he looks like he's expecting to be caught off guard and have the weapon aimed at him, only to have Ben hand it over to him no questions asked. Ben barks that they need to be in the other house for strategic reasons. Locke doesn't understand what's going on so Ben explains as simply as possible; "They're here."

Flash-forward: Back form commercial finds Ben laying on his back and mildly convulsing before he awakens with a start and exhales vapor. He's in the middle of a desert and wearing a heavy Dharma parka. A caption at the bottom of the screen helpfully explains that this is the Sahara Desert. As Ben looks around and gathers his bearings he's looking a little green, and he winds up puking a little. Also, it would appear that his right arm is injured and bloody. Just then, strange noises are heard as he stands and looks around nervously. The sounds are of approaching horses, and two Arabic men bearing automatic weapons. As they point the guns at Ben and yell at one another in a foreign language, Ben states that he can explain. He spurts forth several different phrases in different languages hoping to hit upon a right one. One seems to do the trick as one of the men climbs off of his horse and carefully inspects Ben's person, checking him for firearms. He finds something in Ben's front pocket and instructs him to take it out. He does as ordered and holds it up innocently, with a pleading face that reads "oh, this? This is nothing to worry about at all". And at first glance, you would think that he is correct. But a moment later, Ben flicks his wrist and the object he's holding unfolds into a club, which he proceeds to backhand the man that's searching him with. He spins him around and uses his own gun to kill his counterpart before stripping him of it and throwing him down upon the ground. The man cries surrender, which brings a half mocking quip of "oh, so you do speak English" before Ben knocks his lights out with the butte of the gun. He then proceeds to steal the man's horse and ride off into the desert.

Back at New Otherton, Sawyer quizzes Ben with regards to what code 14-J is. Ben explains it's a warning system. Somebody tripped the panic switch at the security fence. Ben explains that it means that one of his people have been captured before asking how long did they debate on whether or not he should be told about this. Locke sheepishly admits about five minutes. Ben laments the loss of a true head start. Sawyer actually thinks of others, and states that he needs to get Rousseau, Alex, and Karl, but Ben says not to bother as he sent them away. Sawyer asks where but doesn't get an answer. This causes him to abruptly change subjects and expresses concern for Claire. He tosses the shotgun to Lock and takes out a pistol as Ben explains that there's no time. Sawyer won't hear of it and head's off, and Locke appears to at first follow his lead until Ben stops him and says that it's very important that John survives what's about to go down. He firmly instructs him to stay close, for the people that are coming won't risk hurting him (Ben). He's Locke's best chance to live.

Back at the beach, Jack covers Dr. Ray's body with a blanket. He explains that his throat was slit and wonders aloud WTF? Faraday explains that he was fine when he last saw him. Jack wonders when that was, and Faraday states much to Jack's frustration that "when" is a relative term. Charlotte claims they know nothing about this while Juliet asks if there's any luck with fixing the satellite phone. (Maybe it's just me, but I don't remember it getting broken) Daniel says that the mic is smashed up really good and that best-case scenario they would only be able to broadcast "cone squelch, beeps and boops". Bernard suggests that they could still use it as a makeshift telegraph. Faraday then lists off the many things he would need to make this happen, hoping that it will make for an efficient excuse. Kate nonchalantly points out that they've likely got that every thing needed from the remnants of the plane. Faraday begrudgingly goes along. As they depart, Jack and Bernard lock eyes and Jack asks if he has a second…

Back at the barracks, as Ben scurries to block the doorway with furniture, Locke asks him if he's truly scared of these people, and Ben states that he is. Hurley emerges from the back of the house, carrying Aaron and asking what's going on as Locke and Ben continue to stack a barricade. John tells Hurley to stay away from the window, as the big lug asks how Sawyer is going to get back in. Ben coldly explains that he's not.

Meanwhile, Sawyer is busy looking for Claire. He runs into a redshirt that spots the gun he is holding and asks what's going on. Sawyer begins to tell him to go back inside when shots ring out and faceless crash survivor number you've got me bites the dust. Sawyer is angered by the blood spatter on his shirt as he fires back aimlessly. Automatic gunfire breaks out as a woman emerges from the closest house to investigate. As Sawyer yells for her to go back inside, she gets capped as well. He fires off another round as another clueless nobody emerges. He yells, that person gets shot as well. He fires back and then proceeds to run, successfully ducking an embarrassing amount of automatic gunfire before taking refuge behind the picnic bench of defense (+2). He yells for Claire and as he attempts to make his way to her abode, a rocket launcher is employed and the front of her house is demolished.

Flash-forward: The caption on the screen states that we're now following Ben in Tunisia. He's still wearing the clothes we last saw him in in the desert. He walks into a hotel and rings the front desk bell for service. He asks for a room and the lady behind the desk asks him if this is his first time in Tunisia? Turns out it isn't, but it's been a while. When asked for a name Ben states that he should be under preferred guest status with the name Dean Moriarty. She checks the guest book and finds this to be so. She hands over the room key and asks if there would be anything else. He asks for today's date, and is informed that it is October 21st. This apparently isn't specific enough as he asks if she means that it's 2005. She suspiciously confirms this while Ben gives her a look of "I know I'm being silly, but…" As he begins to walk up the stairs to his room, something catches his ear and he turns to see a news report upon a nearby TV. There he spots a familiar face, Sayid, who states in English to the throng of gathered reporters that he just wishes to bury his wife in peace.

Back to the island, as Hurley stares out the window at Claire's now blown up home, Locke and Ben bicker about what's going on. Ben theorizes that they're attempting to frighten him so he'll surrender. As Ben goes to push a bookcase towards the door, Locke wisely admonishes Hurley a second time to get Aaron away from the window and take him into the back of the house. Locke asks why Ben stated that he needed to survive this, and wants to know why. Ben explains the only person that can help them now is Jacob, and that they have to go to him together. Locke argues that he doesn't even know where Jacob's cabin is, but Ben states that Hurley does.

Cut to Sawyer, who rushes into the remnants of what used to be Claire's abode. As he looks around frantically, he finally spots a pair of legs emerging from beneath a sheet. He rushes over and removes the sheet and quickly checks on her to make sure that she's okay. Not all there, Claire asks for Charlie. Sawyer picks her up and begins to carry her back to Ben/Locke's house.

Where Hurley is currently making a makeshift crib for Aaron by dumping a laundry basket, placing a pillow inside and then placing Aaron on the pillow. As he's doing this he hears Sawyer yelling for the front door to be opened. Hugo quickly hustles to the front of the house to begin to remove the now sizable furniture barricade. Ben points a gun at him and states that he doesn't want to do that. As Sawyer kicks at the front door emphatically, Hurley sizes up his options and quickly acts, tossing an ottoman through the front window. Sawyer quickly hands Claire to Hugo and crawls through. Sawyer states that she got her bell rung but that she will be alright. As Hurley takes her to the back Sawyer states that they just started shooting and he wants to know why. Ben states that those people were murdered to make him (Sawyer) angry enough to throw Ben to the wolves. Sawyer seems to like this train of thought when the doorbell rings. As Ben, Locke and Sawyer raise their weapons James checks out the window despite Ben's warnings to the contrary. He and Locke exchange a look before they begin to take down the barricade. Sawyer opens the door and quickly pulls Miles inside. They ask who let him out and he answers the people that gave him the walkie-talkie he's now holding. It seems the insurgents wish to talk.

Flash-forward: We're in Iraq, now. The American military presence is apparent from the start, as they appear to act as security for a funeral procession. Two mournful ladies at the front of the procession bear a picture of the departed. It is Nadia, Sayid's childhood love. As the procession passes a range rover quickly pulls up. An incognito Ben makes his way into an adjacent building and proceeds to climb several flights of stairs until he gets to the roof. Once there, he takes out a camera and begins taking pictures. At first they are of a guy standing idly by on a street corner, but perhaps this individual is taking too much of an interest in the proceedings. Ben then focuses his lens upon one of the pallbearers, who seemingly knows instinctually that he's being watched. Sayid turns and looks up just as Ben snaps his pic. Knowing that he's been made, Ben ducks down and then quickly gathers his things before getting the hell out of Dodge. Just as he's about to reach his vehicle he is violently tackled from behind by Sayid, who thinks he's just a paparazzi at first. Once Sayid sees who it is, he wants to know what he's doing here. Ben states he's looking for the man that murdered Sayid's wife. Sayid roughly pulls him to his feet and wants details. Ben offers how he arrived in Iraq but Sayid wants to know how he got off of the island. Ben claims that he used the sailboat the Others had taken, the Elizabeth (remember, the boat Libby gave to Des?) to make his way to Fiji where he charted a plane. Sayid asks why now? Ben asks if Sayid remembers the name of Charles Widmore, the man that tried to convince the world that 815 was at the bottom of the ocean. Sayid wonders what it has to do with him when Ben explains that the man that killed Nadia works for Widmore. The man that was spotted observing the procession, no less. Ben offers dubious circumstantial proof that this man is responsible for Nadia's death. A heartbroken Sayid asks why would these people want to murder Nadia? Ben states that he doesn't know why, but he knows that they did.

Back on the island, as Sayid pats Miles down, Locke quizzes him upon how many of them there are. He explains that he had no idea something like this would go down by stating that he was told that these men were "just security" for Ben to escort him back to the mainland. Ben wisecracks about Miles not getting his 3.2 million. Miles urges him to take the walkie, but Ben refuses until Miles informs him that they have Alex hostage. Upon hearing this tidbit, Ben's attitude changes.

Ben: Hello.

Keamy: Am I speaking to Benjamin Linus?

Ben: That's right.

Keamy: My name is Martin Keamy. I'm an employee of Charles Widmore.

Sawyer: Who's Charles Widmore?

Locke: Later.

Keamy: I'd like you to go look out your east window, so we can talk about this face to face.

Ben does as he's told, until the two lock eyes.

Keamy: Alright, Mr. Linus. These are my terms. You're going to step out the front door, put your arms above your head and you're going to walk straight to me. Once I have you in my custody, then I promise you no one else in that house will be harmed.

Ben: You and I both know that once you have me, there's nothing to stop you from killing everyone else on this island.

Keamy: What kind of guy do you think I am?

Ben: Martin Christopher Keamy. Former first sergeant, United States Marine corp. Served with distinction from 1996 to 2001, but since then you've worked with a number of mercenary organizations, specifically in Uganda. So I know exactly what kind of man you are Mr. Keamy, and we can dispense with the formalities.

Keamy: Okay Ben. You got it.

Keamy then whistles, and a terrified Alex is brought forth from the jungle and ordered down on her knees.

Keamy: Get your ass out here right now, or I'm going to kill your daughter.

Ben wavers for a moment, but decides to call the bluff.

Ben: I'd like to present a counter-proposal.

Keamy: I'm listening.

Ben: You and your friends turn around, walk back to your helicopter, you fly away and forget you ever heard of this island.

Keamy smiles slightly, knowing his bluff has been called.

Keamy: You tell your daddy goodbye.

He hands the walkie to Alex.

Alex: Dad? They're serious. They killed Karl and my mother.

Ben: Alex, I have this under control. Everything is going to be okay.

Alex: Please, daddy. Just please, please…

Keamy takes the walkie back from her.

Keamy: You have ten seconds, Ben.

Ben: Okay, listen…

Keamy: Nine…

Ben: She's not my daughter.

Keamy: Eight…

Ben: (desperate) I stole her as a baby from an insane woman. She's a pawn, nothing more. She means nothing to me. I'm not coming out of this house. So if you want to kill her, go ahead and do it..

The gunshot rings out before Ben can finish the thought. Alex falls face first dead. Everyone is stunned at this turn of events. Keamy just stands there for a second to provide a dramatic resonance to the fact that he's not playing. Ben looks uncharacteristically shocked and awed.

Back from commercial, and Ben is still staring at Alex's dead body with a look of pure loss. As Locke and Sawyer bicker in the background, the camera slowly pushes in on a distraught Ben. He then slowly mutters something; "He changed the rules." Locke asks what this means as Ben appears to move in slow motion, as if in shock. As Sawyer makes one last argument to Locke to toss Ben to the freighter folk, Ben takes things into his own hands. He quickly moves into his secret office compartment and shuts a panic door behind him. As Sawyer bangs upon it in vain, Ben removes the false wall behind the wardrobe contained therein, revealing another older, downright ancient looking door with all kinds of glyphs on it. He pushes it open and heads inside.

Flash-forward: Ben is in a café tracking the man he "suspects" is behind Nadia's death. While he's doing his best to keep a watchful eye he looks up to find his mark suddenly gone. He quickly moves to follow. It becomes apparent that Ben has been made, as he attempts to keep up with his pursuant in the busy streets. As he turns into an alley, it would appear that he has lost the man, but that is not the case, as he's now standing behind him with a gun aimed. When asked who he is and why is he following the guy, Ben states his name and that he wants the man to take a message to Mr. Widmore for him. Before Ben can relay what this message is, a shot rings out and the man falls dead. It's Sayid that pulled the trigger, much to Ben's shock, and he proceeds to do so several more times until his gun is empty.

Ben: That should do it.

Ben begins to leave when Sayid calls out, stopping him.

Sayid: Wait, where do you think you're going?

Ben: We're finished here, Sayid. Turn around, walk away. Mourn your loss, get on with your life.

Sayid: I have no life, they took it from me.

Ben: Go home, Sayid. Once you let your grief become anger it will never go away. I speak from experience. This is my war, it's not yours.

Sayid: I spent the last eight years of my life, searching for the woman that I love. I finally found her and I married her. Then I buried her yesterday. So don't tell me this is not my war. Benjamin? Who's next?

Ben: I'll be in touch.

As Ben walks away, a slight grin slowly crosses his face.

Back on the island, Sawyer continues to pound on the door, lamenting the fact that ‘the sonfoabitch just left us". Claire and Hurley emerge from the back of the house with Aaron, with the fair miss asking what's going on. Sawyer is genuinely concerned about her well being and inquires to this effect. She states that she's feeling a little wobbly, but she'll live. Miles states that she shouldn't be too sure about that. Just then the panic room door opens and Ben re-emerges. He appears to be covered in some kind of soot or ash. He walks over and grabs the walkie while Sawyer asks what in the hell he was doing in there. Ben no-sells this and states that everyone has to do exactly what he says. In a minute, they're all going to run from the house towards the treeline upon his order. Hurley wonders if this means towards the guys currently trying to kill them and Ben flatly states no, they don't want to be anywhere near those men.

Just then the room starts to shake violently. Sounds of stuff breaking. As everyone wonders what is going on Ben looks out one of the front windows just in time to see the smoke monster freight train it's way into the compound towards the jungle behind the house. Once it passes from view, Ben orders everyone outside. They all scramble, but once outside the house they all take a minute to observe the chaos ensuing as ol' smokey goes to town on the mercenaries camped out in the nearby jungle. Locke asks what did Ben do while Hurley asks if the monster was summoned. One soldier emerges from the jungle running towards them and Sawyer takes aim at him, but drops his weapon as Smokey grabs this individual up and drags him back into the wilderness. At this point, Miles and Hurley have seen enough and quickly bail. Claire looks at Sawyer, and they follow suit. Locke looks at Ben, whom states to head to the creek, he'll catch up to them there. Locke asks where he's going, and Ben states emotionally that he has to say good bye to his daughter. He holds out a hand, silently asking for a weapon, which he quickly receives. As Locke runs off following his friends Ben slowly walks over to Alex and kneels down beside her dead body. He rolls her onto her back, closes her eyes, and tearfully kisses her forehead.

Back on the beach it would appear that Faraday has properly jury-rigged the radiophone to make a rudimentary Morse coded call out to the freighter. Jack carefully monitors what it is that Daniel sends off to them, so he translates as he types it out. "What happened to the doctor?" He receives a message back as Jack, Kate, Juliet, Bernard and Charlotte look on. Daniel translates that they didn't exactly say what happened to the doctor but that their friends are fine and the copter's coming back in the morning. Kate smiles at this piece of news but Bernard bursts the bubble by translating what message was really releyed; "What are you talking about? The doctor is fine."

This obviously pisses Jack off and gives Kate a look of mistrust. Daniel knows he's in a tight spot and has no idea how to get out of it. Jack wants to know what the message meant, that the doctor is fine. When Daniel states that he doesn't know Jack snaps and grabs him by his shirt, asking why he is lying about the helicopter coming back.

Jack: Were you ever going to take us off this island?

Daniel: No. No.

Jack takes this bit of info badly, to the point that it looks like he may cry. He then winces and grabs at his side, as Kate shows concern. He holds a hand up as if to say not to touch him before he storms off in pain.

Back in the nighttime jungle, torches are in the process of being lit.

Sawyer: (To Miles) I think your chopper buddies ran that way if you want to catch up.

Miles: Yeah, I think I'll stay with you guys for, for now.

Miles gets handed a torch. There's rusting in the bushes nearby and both Locke and Sawyer point their weapons in that direction only to find Ben emerging from them. Once he arrives there is an uncomfortable silence.

Locke: Sorry about your daughter.

Ben: Thank you, John.

Locke: That being said, you lied to me. You told me you didn't know what the smoke monster was.

Ben: You can ask Jacob all about it when we go to the cabin.

Sawyer: Hang on. Jacob? (to Locke) Who the hell is Jacob?

Ben: He's the man who's going to tell us what to do next, James.

Sawyer: Know what? I'm done with all this. I never should have followed you whackos in the first place. I'm going back to the beach and Claire and the kid are coming with me. (To Claire) You good with that?

Claire: Yeah. I'm good with that.

Miles: I'm coming with you.

Sawyer: Let's go. You too, Hurley.

The moment Hurley is brought into the equation Locke and Ben share a look, and a moment later Locke is pointing his gun at Sawyer. This of course, stops both Hurley and Sawyer in their tracks.

Sawyer: Have you lost your mind?

Locke: Hugo stays with us.

Sawyer whirls around and now points his weapon at Locke in return.

Sawyer: Not a chance.

Hurley: Wait, leave me out of this.

Locke: I'm sorry, Hugo. We need you to find the cabin.

Sawyer: He ain't going anywhere with you, you crazy sonofabitch!

Hurley: Put the guns down. I'll go with Locke.

Sawyer: HUGO!

Hurley: It's okay, Sawyer. (To Locke) Please, put your gun down.

Locke complies with the request.

Hurley: You, too.

Sawyer: You don't have to do this…

Hurley: You guys go back to the beach. I'll catch up sooner or later.

Sawyer finally relents, but he really doesn't like the fact that he has to do so.

Sawyer: You harm so much as one hair on his curly head? I'll kill you.

Locke: Fair enough.

Sawyer then looks Ben in the eyes to ensure that this warning applies to him as well. He and the others head off back towards the beach. Locke asks Ben "which way", and Ben offers to take the torch to lead the way.

Flash-forward: Ben climbs out of a taxi in London and heads in inside a building. Once inside he quickly walks past a front desk clerk who stops him from heading any further. Ben states he's here to visit a couple on the fourth floor. This sounds wonky to the desk clerk, as it is quite late. Ben shrugs his shoulders and states that they're expecting him, and that he's free to call up and ask them. Doesn't hurt that he's holding his insurance policy, his collapsible baton behind his back at the ready. The clerk states that there's no need and wishes him a good night.

Ben heads into the elevator and with a special set of keys jimmies the lock that enables passage to the penthouse apartment. The elevator doors open up, and Ben steps inside the apartment. It is unlit.

Ben: Wake up, Charles.

A man stirs, and sits up in his bed, reaching over to turn on a light. It is of course Charles Widmore.

Widmore: I wondered when you were going to show up. I see you've been getting more sun.

Ben: Iraq is lovely this time of year. When did you start sleeping with a bottle of scotch by the bed?

Widmore: When the nightmares started.

Charles pulls back his covers and pours himself a drink.

Widmore: Have you come here to kill me, Benjamin?

Ben: We both know I can't do that.

Widmore: Then why are you here?

Ben: I'm here, Charles, because you murdered my daughter.

Widmore: Don't stand there looking at me with those horrible eyes of yours, and lay the blame for the death of that poor girl on me. When we both know very well I didn't murder her at all. You did.

Ben: No, that's not true.

Widmore: Yes, Benjamin. It is. You creep into my bedroom in the dead of night, like a rat. You have the audacity to pretend that you're the victim? I know who you are, boy. What you are. I know that everything you have you took from me. So, once again I ask you, why are you here?

Ben: I'm here, Charles, to tell you I'm going to kill your daughter. Penelope, is it? And once she's gone, once she's dead? Then you'll understand how I feel. And you'll wish you hadn't changed the rules.

Widmore sizes up this threat.

Widmore: You'll never find her. That island's mine, Benjamin. It always was. It will be again.

Ben: But you'll never find it.

Widmore: Then I suppose the hunt is on for both of us.

Ben: I suppose it is. Sleep tight, Charles.

Easter eggs: There were a few references to previous Lost content, such as the brand of Widmore's Scotch, but I'll not double dip (Dean Moriarty, Tunisia, et al) … The name of the episode is taken from an H.G. Wells novel… The name on Ben's parka when he awakens in the desert is "Halliwax". It's the same name used by Dr. Marvin Candle on the "Orchid" video from last year's comic-con… (More on that shortly) When playing the piano, Ben was playing Rachmaninoff's "Prelude in C-Sharp Minor". Other movements that were a part of the same piece of orchestral music were entitled "The Burning of Moscow" and "The Day of Judgment". Nifty piece of intellectual foreshadowing in light of the events that would follow… And with regards to Hurley's "Australia is the key to the whole game" Risk comment. I would tend to agree with regards to playing that particular game. (If you're allowing links to North America) Others on the net, not so much, they see Australia as a trap. (again, perhaps using the non link to America rules) But with regards to how this statement applies to the LOST mythology, it's something to at least think about. My sources on the net think it's a case of misdirection. Most likely they're right about this, as it's a throwaway line that could easily cause much speculation… When I first watched this episode, I half groaned and half enjoyed the Sawyer dodging bullets sequence while three nobodies were gunned down in succession. Turns out that two of the three people shot in this sequence are actually background actors that have been present on LOST since the first season. They never received any lines to read until now, but they have both been around since the start. In fact, the second male actor gunned down can been seen present in Hurley's season 1 golf tournament, the funerals of Boone, Nikki and Paulo, as well as temporarily helped Bernard build a huge S.O.S sign on the beach.

Final Analysis: Well, that didn't suck.

In all seriousness, that was anywhere from fifteen to twenty shades of awesome. Fast paced, action packed with a previous question answered and another piece of the show's overall mosaic revealed.

First things first, who didn't mark out like a madman when ol' Smoky rolled in like a freakin' freight train to reign down terror upon the freighter folk? It would appear that Ben does indeed have the capability of calling down the literal thunder if it suits his needs. Also, he didn't answer Locke's query afterwards with regards to lying about what the smoke monster is and his knowledge of it, other than to say that John can ask Jacob about it the next time they see him. Obviously, Ben summoned the entity when the shiznit hit the fan so we're left to put the pieces of the puzzle together. It also begs the question as to what else could possibly be in that hidden cave/tunnel in Ben's old home. When he emerged back from it, he appeared to be covered in ash, so what gives?

Also, if Ben is in full control of ol' Smokey, it begs the question (or at least thoughts thereof) of what of the countless other times it's showed up? When it killed Eko. When it tried to drag Locke into a pit. When it chased after Kate and Juliet last season. When it killed the pilot way back in season one. Was it running loose and amuck or was Ben in full control all those times as well?

Also, what of this "game" that apparently Ben and Widmore are playing over control of the island? When did it start? Have they met previously? It sure seems like they have. What are the "rules"? How and when did they or were they ever agreed upon? Widmore stated that everything Ben has was stolen from him, and that he intends to get it all back. This presents the idea that there's a great deal of backstory that we're not yet privy to.

With regards to that, the theories are flying rampantly upon the net as to what this could all mean and how it all makes sense. Is Widmore one of the Island's original inhabitants, and thusly seemingly immortal? Could his fascination with regards to the Black Rock have to do with the fact that perhaps he was the captain of the ship long ago when it crashed upon the island? Is this what he meant with regards to the island being his?

In all honesty, I haven't a clue. I have no theories or thoughts on the matter, as there is not enough viable information to base a thesis upon. That hasn't stopped others, which is why I presented the arguments above, as they could all very well be true, but also very well be a long way off course.

I really dug the loyalty that Hurley and Sawyer showed towards one another. From Hurley smashing out a front window to get Sawyer and Claire back in the house whilst under attack against Ben's wishes, to Sawyer threatening Locke & Ben with a death sentence if anything should happen to the big palooka. While it's been subtle, the show has gone out of its way to present the idea that these two vastly different individual's have formed a bond.

They've also played up the idea of Sawyer in a bit of a big brother sort of role, not only in regards to Hurley, but in regards to Claire as well. It actually suits him, in a way. His whole life he has been out for himself, but now he finds himself not only liking other people, but also caring fiercely about them and for them. While he has gone out of the way in the past to paint himself as a "bad guy", and most likely will pull something in the future to support his bad boy street cred, this episode cements Sawyer's status as an island hero in my opinion. Although he should have at least been winged during the bullet-laden onslaught, which would have been more believable than him dodging all that automatic gunfire whilst three redshirts get gunned down. Minor quibble, but one I felt the need to run up the flagpole.

Also, when Ben awoke in the desert, he was convulsing in the moments before he came to. His first sudden exhale was met with visible cold-weather vapor, which one wouldn't expect in the middle of a desert. He then puked a little. Also he was wounded on his arm and wearing a cold-weather parka.

Did he teleport from somewhere? And the bigger question, did he time travel? This last question needs to be asked due to the fact that when he checked into the hotel in Tunisia (Yes, the same country where Charlotte found the remains of a polar bear skeleton) he made a point of asking what year it was, playing off the fact that he knew it was a silly question.

This begs the question of what in the hell did he do in that tunnel. Did he merely call the smoke monster or did he conduct future business before returning back to the island?

I bring all this up due to the fact that he was wearing a parka from a previously unseen station, The Orchid. As I brought up in the Easter eggs section, the name on the jacket was Halliwax. The same name Dr. Marvin Candle used when filming the Orchid video that was screened during last year's comic-con. Since then, due to the content of said video, rumors have been running rampant about The Orchid being either a time-travel/ teleportation device. Everything in this episode basically plays into this possibility.

It's interesting to note that this episode allowed Ben to become temporarily sympathetic. His loss of Alex was real and true. Michael Emerson deserves all the kudos that he receives for his work on this show. He's a damned fine actor, and his presence instantly elevates any episode that he's in. I was talking with a good friend who also watches and enjoys Lost, and floated the theory that Ben is what he always stated to be, one of the good guys. That perhaps he really is a hero, after all.

My friend cried shenanigans at that. He stated that the real reason why I was attempting to justify this belief was the fact that he's such a good villain, and that I've started to like him. I'm beginning to root for him, and his cause. Sure, he may be in his own mind doing the right thing for everyone else concerned, but the measures and the steps that he takes, are all villainous, plain and simple. Sure, this episode proves that he is in fact human, and capable of true emotions. But even if his initial motivations are pure and just, he simply is too willing to take the easiest way out in any situation…

For we learned more of the Sayid/Ben future tense connection, in that we got in on the ground floor of how this came about. Is it just me, or did anyone else think and feel that Ben manipulated and perhaps manufactured the situation from the beginning just to get Sayid emotionally invested in something that's not his fight? I wouldn't put it past ol' bug eyes to have Sayid's one true love Nadia killed and then turn around and present compelling evidence against Ben's nemesis to get the Iraqi on board. The little smile once Sayid committed seems to back this up.

Not to mention the fact that when Ben confronted Widmore, he promised to kill his daughter Penny in retaliation to Alex's death. An eye for an eye. Surprisingly, Widmore was okay with this caveat as the game continued on between them.

Villainous, I tell you, all the way around. What has Penny done to anyone? Other than being a "constant"?

In other words, two bad, powerful guys in conflict, willing to do anything to win the war between them.

One just has to wonder how this will mess with the Sayid/Desmond friendship in the near future. Penny is Des' one true love. Sayid is killing everyone Ben instructs him to. Ben wishes to kill Penny in the future tense. You do the math.

And yeah. Jack is now sick. Whoop. We all know that there's no way that they're going to kill off golden boy with mere appendicitis.

Speaking of which, check back on 411 next week for the full recap of LOST season 4, episode 10, "Something Nice Back Home", which shall be Jack-centric.

Yowsa!
-BP