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GET
A weekly commentary of the television showby Carlos R Savournin
3 - 20: The Man Behind the Curtain
*This commentary contains spoilers. Do not read if you have not seen the above mentioned episode.*
So, Ben was not born on the island. He was born 32 miles outside of Portland, and his mother, not having reached full term, died as a result. His father, Roger, then joins Dharma and a group of do-gooders on the mysterious island, and here, we discover young Ben's fascination. After seeing some visions of his mother, Ben decides to wander the forest alone, and there, he encounters the age-defying Richard - a hostile who offers Ben the chance to join them. Like Locke after him, one of the requirements is for Ben to kill his father, and though he waits until he is an adult to do so, he completes his task by gassing him in a VW van (later to be found by Hurley in the episode Tricia Tanaka is Dead). Richard and the other hostiles do in the rest of the Dharmanians, all wearing gas masks and giving birth to the rumor that there is a virus on the island.
So let's talk about the visions here for a minute. Young Ben saw visions of his mother tapping on his window - then in full
glory outside the barrier fence. She even spoke to him. Just what exactly are all the manifestations about? Jack has seen his father. Kate saw the black horse. The late Mr. Eko has seen his brother. Sayid saw the cat. I can go on, but you get the point. Aside from having healing powers, does the island also make your guilt and thoughts take form before your eyes?
Meanwhile, Locke presents Ben with the body of his dead father and demands he be let in on the secrets of the island - primarily, the enigmatic Jacob. He's been mentioned in many episodes, his name was scrawled all over the screen in the torture room where Carl was being kept, and it's been known that someone more powerful then Ben was in charge. Reluctantly, Ben agrees to show Locke, but when they arrive to Jacob's hatch, Ben proceeds to talk - argue even - with an empty chair. Locke watches on, confused, questioning Ben's sanity, and just when he decides he's had enough, all Hell breaks loose. The windows rattle, the rocking chair furiously sways - and just when we expect Linda Blair to spew green-pea soup, Locke does what any person in their right mind would do - he ran.
Is Jacob this invisible power - a ghost, perhaps? Or is he another manifestation? An entity that will show itself in whatever form you want to see? After hearing it / him ask Locke for help, a scene that will send a chill up anyone's spine, we know for certain that it's alive - we just don't know what the Hell IT is...
Back at the camp, Sawyer returns with evidence that Juliet is working with the Others - the tape recorder. He plays it for the group and Jack and Juliet stumble upon the scene. Demanding answers, Juliet tells them to turn the tape over where they all hear Ben's plans on attacking the camp and kidnapping Sun and Kate and Juliet is to mark the tents of those that should be taken (insert your own biblical reference here). Turns out Jack knew the plan all along, he just wasn't sure what to do about it, and suddenly, we're behind him once again. Jack's a good guy, there's no doubt. But he's too much of a good guy and he puts all his faith on a woman who will do anything to get off the island. Let's not forget Juliet has her own agenda, and something tells me that if all she has to do is sacrifice Sun and Kate to see her sister once again, then so be it.
And finally, there's the explosive end. Ben shows Locke the mass grave where all the Dharmanians are buried. Ben tells
Locke his dirty little secret, that he's responsible for their deaths, and he admits his lie about being born on the island. And suddenly, he makes Locke a resident of that very same grave by shooting him in the stomach. Demanding to know what Jacob said to Locke, Ben stands over the weakening wonder, gun poised and ready to shoot.
"He said 'Help me'," Locke answers.
"Well, let's see if Jacob helps you now," Ben replies - and walks away, leaving Locke for dead.But is he dead? Locke has been a key player on the show and he's become so bent on finding out about the island, it's almost poetic that he becomes one with it upon death. Or will the island use its healing powers to save him once again?
And for those of you who were too slow to catch an actual glimpse of Jacob last night, scroll down...
Until next time, Get LOST.
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© Savournin, 2007
All pictures are property of ABC Television and the Walt Disney Company
