LOST: “One of Us”
For those who were waiting to find out even more about the Others, this episode had to have been very satisfying.
Spoilers from tonight’s episode and more below.
Links and miscellanea:
- Tidbits from the official podcast: it will be three more episodes (episode 3.19) until we see Locke again; it’s okay to be suspicious of Juliet’s claim that she didn’t know about the Monster; Paolo and Nikki’s scenes at the crash site were, in fact, greenscreened; Libby will return (presumably in flashbacks); Rousseau will have her own flashbacks at some point; we’ll learn more about DHARMA founders the DeGroots during this season.
- There’s a new article in Variety about LOST’s use of its Hawaii shooting locations and tax advantages.
- Here’s an interview with Elizabeth Mitchell (Juliet) at TVGuide.com and another one in the Seattle Times.
- Meanwhile, E!Online has video interviews with both Mitchell and Michael Emerson (Ben). (†Lostblog.net)
- ALS Technologies, the real-life manufacture of that smoke canister that got tossed into the Othersville rec room where Kate was being held, has been getting phone calls from LOST fans following up on leads. (†Lost Exposed, also the source of some of the other links below)
- While LOST’s broadcast ratings have hit a couple of all-time lows lately, it’s been doing well among DVR users, Variety reports. In fact, among DVR users—a demographic that has a higher income and is better educated than the typical TV user—LOST is the number one show. Of course, almost all of these people are probably also skipping commercials, so it’s unclear how much this benefits ABC.
- Henry Ian Cusick (Desmond) owes his role on the show to the fact that he happened to read a little of the script and sent the producers an audition DVD, without knowing that it was a hit show, according to this interesting Knoxville News-Sentinel article.
- EW’s Jeff Jensen has three predictions for the remainder of season 3 (†Buddy TV)
Observations and speculations:
- For those who don’t know, the name of this episode is a play on the title of an earlier episode, “One of Them” (episode 2.14), in which Ben Linus (f/k/a “Henry Gale”) trapped in one of Danielle’s nets and Danielle tells Sayid that he’s “one of them.” In this episode, Jack told Juliet that she’s “one of us.”
- Just one of the things we learned about the Others in this episode is that they are well-funded and have ongoing off-island operations. The corporate campus, the informational resources, etc., suggest that they have means.
- “Herarat Aviation” means what, exactly? “Herarat” doesn’t seem to be an anagram. (At least, not one that’s obvious.) It’s phonetically close to “Ararat,” the traditional site where Noah’s ark is believed to have come to rest. That might suggest certain end-of-the-world scenarios, that the Others are interested in eugenics to preserve the human race after some impending cataclysm, or some such. Googling also turned up a single mention of a vampire character named Herarat in Anne Rice’s vampire novels, but I can’t really confirm this.
- Just before Juliet exits the submarine, we see a black man from behind who looks an awful lot like Michael. (He has the same markings on the back of his shirt that are on the outside of the sub: a yellow dashed line, over a solid line, over a dashed line. I have no idea what these markings mean.) I really don’t think it is, but it’s a little jarring that he looks so similar. By the way, it was a nice touch to put Juliet in high heels and a skirt when she arrived—it gives you a feel for how completely unprepared she was for her arrival. And Ben is looking very good in his Dockers, belt and casual dress shirt.
- There were also numbers on the sub, but I couldn’t make them out. If our readers really want me to continue to write about LOST, they should really buy me an HDTV.
- I was impressed by the way that Hurley was subtly threatening. “He kidnapped Claire and Charlie got upset. We buried him over there.”
- When “Sabine” flatlines, the surgery was taking place in the Medical Hatch, the same place that Claire was taken after she was abducted. The Georgia O’Keefe prints on the walls gives it away, as do the insignias on the scrubs worn by the Others. Also, the name “Sabine” makes me think of the rape of the Sabine women. As Wikipedia notes: “Seeking wives in order to found families, the Romans negotiated with the Sabines, who populated the area. The Sabines refused to allow their women to marry the Romans, fearing the emergence of a rival culture. Faced with the extinction of their community, the Romans planned to abduct Sabine women. Romulus invited Sabine families to a festival of Neptune Equester. At the meeting he gave a signal, at which the Romans grabbed the Sabine women and fought off the Sabine men. The indignant abductees were implored by Romulus to accept Roman husbands.” Very close parallel there to the Others and their abduction of Claire and fascination with children and the survival of their society.
- Why exactly is Ben so insistent that no one leave the island? I’m sure he has a good reason, but I don’t know what it is.
- Again, who is Jacob, and why does Ben assume that Juliet has to have faith in Jacob. Ben: “Jacob said he would take care of it himself. Unless of course, you don’t have faith in him.” We know very little about Jacob at this point. He made a list and Jack wasn’t on it. Karl’s brainwashing mentioned Jacob, saying that “God loves you as he loved Jacob.” And Ben implies that Jacob can cure Juliet’s sister, Rachel, of cancer. (I’ve mentioned before the biblical implications of having two characters named Jacob and Rachel—Rachel being Jacob’s favorite wife who bore him his favorite sons after she was thought to be barren.)
- This episode had one of the first Lostaway town meetings that I recall since the end of season one.
- Jack is both arrogant and gullible, a dangerous combination. I have a feeling that by the end of the season he will be completely bankrupt of political capital. Sawyer and Sayid (and Sun and Hurley) are much better judges of character than Jack. Heck, we could probably say that about Aaron.
- Ben and Juliet’s plan was brilliant, if a bit far fetched. Are we supposed to believe that the Others implanted a devise inside Juliet that would make her become sick, just out of precaution? Does this also mean that they intended her to escape? Perhaps Ben even manipulated Alex to have her help? Something there just doesn’t quite add up.
- So Juliet and Goodwin were a couple. Earlier I had speculated about a possible relationship between Juliet and Ethan, or even Juliet and Ben.
- Karl (Alex’s boyfriend) developed the x-rays of Ben’s spine for Juliet.
- This was the first official acknowledgment that Juliet picked Stephen King’s “Carrie” for the Othersville book club.
- When Juliet approaches the place where Ethan was supposed to have stashed his medical supplies, there is a mark on a tree that appears to match the scar that was put on the small of Juliet’s back as punishment for her killing Pickett.
- Juliet has an interesting point about Sayid and Sawyer being the camp’s “moral police.” I think they reacted as they did more out of concern for beach politics than any ethical qualms.
- The scene in Mikhail’s communication station appears to suggest that much of the information that the Others have on the Lostaways they got the hard way: through electronically researching the names of the crash survivors. Still, there are some things that they couldn’t have know that way (for example, the fact that Sawyer killed a man the day before he boarded flight 815). I think they must also somehow be learning about the survivors via the Monster and that Juliet was lying when she said she’d never seen it before.
- The manner in which Ben and Richard (presumably Richard Alpert, who at the time of the crash was apparently still off island at a location called “Acadia Park”) demonstrate that Rachel is still alive looks very much like the way kidnappers who are looking for a ransom would handle the situation—i.e., showing a copy of today’s newspaper so they know it can’t be faked. Although, usually in a kidnap situation, the target would be able to verify that the paper is actually current. Seems Ben and Richard could have easily faked the paper by prerecording it and altering the date at a later time. “Acadia Park” may refer to Acadia National Park in Maine.
- Finally, Ben tells Juliet, “See you in a week.” My best guess is that that will handily coincide with the season finale. The Others definitely have the upper hand, but don’t forget a couple of hidden assets that the Lostaways have: an Other walkie talkie and Desmond’s prophesies.
Yet another great episode. This episode makes me glad to have been watching the show all along. Juliet’s flashbacks dovetailed so nicely with the scenes from the earlier episodes that it really helped to dispel the doubts about the writers making it up as they go along. I mean, they could still be doing that, but they’d almost have to be more brilliant if that were the case. At the same time, I’m reminded that LOST is its own closed universe. I can’t imagine what someone who tuned in for the first time would have thought about tonight’s episode.
April 11, 2007 in Television | Comments (60)
herarat = earhart !!
Comment by t-dawg — April 12, 2007 @ 1:18 am
Yes, that was compelling drama. I knew from last week’s episode not to trust Juliet. Follow Sayid’s instincts. Therein lies safety.
And yeah, Jack’s getting ripped.
Comment by Dan — April 12, 2007 @ 5:26 am
I don’t know who to believe anymore. Right before the big revelation last night, I was feeling sorry for Juliet’s plight, and was thinking, “Jack’s right.” And then, WHAMO!
Well, Juliet could be a “double agent” so to speak, and really turn on Ben et al by the end of the season. It’s possible.
Comment by Hayes — April 12, 2007 @ 5:45 am
I agree. I still don’t think we know what Juliet’s intentions are. And how/when did she learn all of her badass defense moves?
Comment by Tim J — April 12, 2007 @ 6:54 am
also did you guys notice how much like O’Brien from 1984 Ben really was? Note how well he manipulated Juliet into trusting him, much like Winston looking to O’Brien for help against the mice.
Also, if Ben has such powers of manipulation over the Others, I wonder just who and what Jacob is….
Comment by Dan — April 12, 2007 @ 7:13 am
I would much rather the explanation be that there is no Jacob. That Ben uses him as a Wizard of Oz type character that everybody respects, but no one has seen.
Still, though, it makes me wonder: why abduct all the children? Why go through all the trouble to implant a chip into Claire? Just as a precaution? What about Walt?!?!?!?
While last night provided some cool insight into Ethan and why/how Juliet got on to the island, there are still some huge questions that need to be answered…and, I hope they are answered before Season 4.
Comment by Hayes — April 12, 2007 @ 8:09 am
Hi Greg,
It’s Henry Ian Cusick,
not Ian Henry Cusack.
He’s not related to John and Joan…lol.
And though he privately goes by Ian, his professional name is HIC.
Just FYI.
Mi
HIC fan webmaster
Comment by Mi — April 12, 2007 @ 9:16 am
Mi, thanks for the correction. I must have read that too quickly and not proofread.
Whatever his name is, I think we can both agree that he’s awesome.
Comment by BTD Greg — April 12, 2007 @ 9:37 am
Every once in a while I feel the need to put you all on the correct path, as I did with Locke.
You want to know who the Others are? They are employees/devotees of a network of entities, one of which is Mittelos Bioscience. Mittelos and the other entities are spearheaded by Thomas Mittelwerk, competitor and enemy to Gerald and Karen DeGroot. They came to the island to seize control of DHARMA projects and complete what Mittelwerk sees as Alvar Hanso’s goal. Jacob? Unknown, but I believe Jacob is the name Thomas has taken for himself, setting Gerald DeGroot up as Esau.
The truth is out there, people.
Comment by Supergenius — April 12, 2007 @ 10:57 am
SG, what I don’t like about your theory (though it’s a nice theory) is that it relies so heavily on information gained only through the Lost Experience ARG. When the Lost Experience was launched, the producers claimed that nothing in the Lost Experience would be essential information, but that it would be it’s own interesting diversion, with maybe a little extra texture for LOST fans.
Comment by BTD Greg — April 12, 2007 @ 11:08 am
Also, how do you account for the fact that Ben was born on the island, apparently before DHARMA even arrived?
Comment by BTD Greg — April 12, 2007 @ 11:09 am
Given how time works (or doesn’t) on the island, how do you know that Ben was born before DHARMA arrived?
Comment by Supergenius — April 12, 2007 @ 11:28 am
Greg, the only ARG element is Mittelwerk. The other players — the DeGroots and Alvar Hanso — are already in play. I think the Mittelos/Mittelwerk thing can’t be a coincidence.
Comment by Supergenius — April 12, 2007 @ 11:30 am
It’s interesting to see what has happened with the Others since the beginning of the show. At the beginning, if I remember correctly, they were running around barefoot. They were known for having some kind of incredible capability to move about soundlessly. There was the possibility they were some kind of cruel savages or people who had previously been marooned and over time had gone wild.
Now they seem to be a bunch of high-tech civilized scientific people – doctors, etc.
One of the things I’m wondering is the degree to which things were pre-decided and the degree to which the show’s writers have invented things along the way.
Comment by danithew — April 12, 2007 @ 11:31 am
Where is Bryce I. these days? He used to show up every now and then and say “Ben isn’t evil.”
I still can’t decide what to think of Ben.
Comment by danithew — April 12, 2007 @ 11:33 am
One of the things I’m wondering is the degree to which things were pre-decided and the degree to which the show’s writers have invented things along the way.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Star Wars prequels!
I still can’t decide what to think of Ben.
Like Dan said above, Orwell would recognize Ben instantly. I’ve decided he’s obdurate, calculating, inbred, and evil. Even if his intentions are good, the man loves power too much and can’t handle what little he’s already got. He’s constantly thanking others for doing his work even though he may not have guessed it would happen (like blowing up the sub), and has no respect for anybody else’s right to privacy and freedom. I hope Sayid gets another shot at him. Sawyer too. My two favorite characters – true anarchists!
I’m a DVR Lost watcher too. I can’t stand the commercials. Also, seeing it in HD is one of the best treats on TV – the Oahu scenery is worth the price alone.
Comment by David J — April 12, 2007 @ 11:54 am
danithew,
I am sure that his “Ben isn’t evil” predictions are a prime reason for his absence in these discussions.
Ben is a liar. Juliet is a liar. The others are Evil!!!!
Comment by HP — April 12, 2007 @ 11:57 am
Also, didn’t the PTB claim that the others didn’t know about the Swan station? Why were they watching our heroes in the Pearl station then?
Comment by HP — April 12, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
If you’re really interested, there’s an ongoing discussion over here in which one of our most knowledgeable LOST commenters is arguing that Ben is not evil. Or at least was benevolent and kind prior to the 815 plane crash. Or something.
Comment by BTD Greg — April 12, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
Greg,
Ben did his O’Brien trick on Juliet BEFORE the crash of flight 815. He’s evil.
Comment by Dan — April 12, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
Oh, I agree fully, Dan. You’ll get no argument from me.
Comment by BTD Greg — April 12, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
I don’t get why that optimus prime dude on that other site doesn’t see this, and thinks of them as not evil….
Comment by Dan — April 12, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
Jacob is the Island ala the computer in Forbidden Planet. Mark my words. . . The monster is a manifestation of the planet and not only can they teleport/create people (Locke’s dad or dad’s doppleganger) but that’s how ultimately they collect info and healed Juliet’s sister.
The big question. If they can’t have kids on the island, how was Ben born? It suggests it is a recent event, if true. An other manifestation of the island the way Ben’s cancer and slow healing were?
Comment by clark — April 12, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
BTW – could someone tell us more about what The Lost Experience told us about the numbers? That EW artcile said
Comment by clark — April 12, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
BTW – is it just me or is the psychic kids a little too reminiscent of that Stephen King plot in his ultimate universe (including the Gunslinger) where kids are kidnapped to try and destroy the universe. I forget what he called them. It was a major plot point in the last two Gunslinger books (which were kind of disappointing in a way) as well as Hearts in Atlantis.
Comment by clark — April 12, 2007 @ 2:03 pm
“If they can’t have kids on the island, how was Ben born? It suggests it is a recent event, if true. An other manifestation of the island the way Ben’s cancer and slow healing were?”
Clark, I assumed it means that, like Aaron, Ben was conceived off the island, then born after his mother came to live there. Remember Juliet telling Ben that as far as she could tell, whatever it is that goes wrong with island pregnancies, it happens at conception?
But you’re right, it could also be a more recent breakdown in the island’s powers. Or a malevolent manifestation of the island’s displeasure. Or something.
Comment by Allison — April 12, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
Except that Aaron, if Juliet isn’t lying, was born only because of the technology Juliet developed. It’s hard to say though since one gets the impression that Juliet was lying a lot last night.
(BTW – was anyone really surprised by the last scene? I’d called that last week)
Comment by clark — April 12, 2007 @ 2:28 pm
Dad (#22). I don’t buy the idea that the Others are good. But the idea isn’t as far fetched as some make it.
Notice how, with the possible exception of Hurley who is fairly complex, all the Losties are pretty screwed up individuals. Most have major character flaws. Even the most favorite character, Locke, was made pretty massively unappealing in that original flashback.
Now some are changing, developing. But those that don’t fully atone appear killed. (Or coincidentally die, as our merry murderers from two weeks ago)
The idea of the “list” appears to be that some are “righteous” enough to stay on the Island. I bet the whole Others/Dharma war (if true) was over who had a right to be on the island. They’ve been throwing hints of this all over. Further this may be why Ben’s getting injurred (much like Locke did for a bit). He’s lost faith and isn’t “good” anymore.
Of course I put “good” in quotations since even if this is true I’m not sure the island’s idea of good is really good.
Comment by clark — April 12, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
I have my doubtsabout the Monster being a source of information. I think they are genuinely or partially ignorant of its origins and purpose. As for information, who’s to say that the police haven’t figured out Sawyer’s murder or the Others’ haven’t done the same (if they have that much money, they probably have a good intel system).
Comment by Ctown_woody — April 12, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
Clark,
I used to think that there was a method behind the deaths, but I don’t think there is. I think the deaths are meant to be random in most cases (exceptions might be Boone and Eko). As an example, what did Dr. Arzt do to deserve a horrible death on the island? Further, their final episodes were meant to redeem Ana-Lucia and Shannon; why did they have to die? I can’t find any common denominators amongst our dead so far.
I do agree that there was a struggle regarding the right to be on the island.
Also, the others really aren’t good people. If the standard is, bad people = murderers, then how do they justify leaving Charlie strung up or blasting the raft out from under Michael/Sawyer/Jin?
Comment by HP — April 12, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
“BTW – could someone tell us more about what The Lost Experience told us about the numbers?”
Do a search for “complete DHARMA film LOST experience” on YouTube and that should give you the information you’re looking for. The Lost Experience released a series of fragments from a secret DHARMA film that fans pieced together and put on YouTube. Warning: lots of mumbo-jumbo involved.
“Except that Aaron, if Juliet isn’t lying, was born only because of the technology Juliet developed.”
But Juliet *was* lying. I thought that was fairly obvious. Thus, we had the implant, that simulated a sickness, and the medical supply drop that would make it *look* like Juliet was saving Claire, even though there was never anything wrong with her.
Comment by BTD Greg — April 12, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
the Lost wiki also does a good job with the numbers.
Comment by Supergenius — April 12, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Dr. Arzt is my big question, since we never got a flashback. But I think we’ll find something out about him. Shannon is a better bet, although she still had a ways to go. I think we’ll find more out about that since in that case it seemed to me explicit that the island did it.
Ana-Lucia is more complex as are the two that Michael killed.
Note I don’t buy the Others as Good. But those making the claim argue that since the plane crash the Others are getting corrupted and becoming more evil due to relying on expedience.
Greg, while Juliet was lying about a lot, it seemed clear from the flashbacks that she wasn’t lying about using Aaron as a test case for her drugs. So she lied about saving Claire for the relapse but not for the original birth. Now it was hardly altruistic in my view. Rather it was done by Ben as a scientific test to aid the Others having kids.
Comment by clark — April 12, 2007 @ 3:19 pm
But it was also clear from the flashbacks that Ethan wasn’t working alone. So she wasn’t lying about that.
Comment by HP — April 12, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
I do think that it is interesting that the others were portrayed as having super human powers — certainly Ethan seemed freakishly strong. However, now that we know about all the hatches, the fences, etc… you might be able to explain it this way. The really freaky thing about the others originally was hearing the whispers in the jungle like they were surrounding you. It seems likely now that they have speakers rigged up around the island and can just flip a tape on to make sounds. THe barefoot stuff was part of their strategy to make the losties think they were just a bunch of hillbillies.
What I can not figure out, though, is why not simply let the Losties in to the camp to begin with. They could have welcomed them in and cared for any pregnant women, etc… They could have simply lied and told them (like Juliet) they could not go back to the “real” world and either enforced it with force or with lies.
Comment by Teresa — April 12, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
Oops… forgot to add that Ethan’s super human strength is just an added health benefit of living on magic island.
One other interesting thing about Ethan… he is proof that one can go back and forth to the island even if Ben can’t leave.
Comment by Teresa — April 12, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
We should also not forget that Alex was born on the island.
Comment by Jeff G — April 12, 2007 @ 4:39 pm
Teresa, whether you buy the “Others are good” theory or not, clearly they think they are good and superior whereas the uninvited are tainted and unpure.
Comment by Clark Goble — April 12, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
How could Jack be so stupid? Am I forgetting something that would lead him to trust Julliette so completely other than a pretty face?
Comment by jjohnsen — April 12, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
Jack’s not a great judge of character, and his interpersonal skills are sorely lacking. He was shocked — shocked! — that his wife was cheating on him. IIRC he believed faux Henry and tried to prevent Sayid from questioning him. He never listened to his wife, or his dad, or his mom, Locke or Bai Ling, so it shouldn’t be surprising that he isn’t going to listen to Sayid, Sawyer or Kate.
Comment by Allison — April 12, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
Teresa,
I agree with you 100%: the initial hostile strategy of the Others towards the Losties makes no sense whatsoever.
Comment by Ronan — April 12, 2007 @ 11:52 pm
I think the key to understanding the Others’ hostile behavior lies within their belief that there are “good” and “not good” people, and that only “good” people deserve to live. Basically, they are a bunch of zealots. Or so it seems.
Comment by BTD Greg — April 13, 2007 @ 7:59 am
Washington Post’s Celebritology writers believe that Juliet is back with the Losties to impregnate Claire again:
I find that a very interesting speculation. Juliet injects Claire with a drug we cannot trust is anything but what Juliet wants it to be, including perhaps the same drug she gave her sister to impregnate her….
what do you all think? I mean, why else go through all the cloak and dagger, placing the drugs where Juliet can find them, making Claire get sick just as Juliet gets there, so that Juliet can justifiably stick a needle in her….
Comment by Dan — April 13, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
“I mean, why else go through all the cloak and dagger, placing the drugs where Juliet can find them, making Claire get sick just as Juliet gets there, so that Juliet can justifiably stick a needle in her….”
To infiltrate the Lostaways and gain their trust, gathering intel for a final, devastating attack. Isn’t that reason enough.
Comment by BTD Greg — April 13, 2007 @ 1:59 pm
what intel would be needed that the Others don’t already have on the Losties? I mean you’ve heard both Juliet and Ben list off a number of private things that only each Lostie would know. What else would the Others need?
Comment by Dan — April 13, 2007 @ 2:03 pm
Positions, defenses, weapons, etc. I’m thinking “intel” from a strategic, military perspective. Obviously, the Others probably know more than they need to about the survivor’s background.
Comment by BTD Greg — April 13, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
Greg, not only are the Others zealots but they feel that the island is like a temple that only they are worthy to be on. That probably explains most of their actions.
BTW I watched that Lost Experience video. Wow. That explains a lot. I’m surprised they’ve not explained more about the Dharma guys on the show itself.
Comment by Clark Goble — April 13, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
“One of Us” is also the famous line from “Freaks.” If this reference is intentional, I would say that Juliet is not long for this world…
Comment by Steve — April 14, 2007 @ 11:23 am
just a thought, and sorry if this is redundant: maybe flight 815 flew through one of those sonic barriers that are dotted around the others’s place. i know kate and locke climbed over it, but then how come the gaseous black thing didn’t just go over it like they did?
It might have diferent settings?
Comment by james — April 14, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
You may be right, Steve.
If we’re lucky the castaways will turn her into a chicken.
Comment by Brian G — April 14, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
“That explains a lot. I’m surprised they’ve not explained more about the Dharma guys on the show itself.”
Keep tuned, clark. There’s an upcoming episode that will feature flashbacks from DHARMA initiative founders.
““One of Us†is also the famous line from “Freaks.†If this reference is intentional, I would say that Juliet is not long for this world…”
Yeah, I meant to mention this in my post, but it must have slipped my mind at the time. Very famous line. It’s been parodied many times on many shows, including the Simpsons.
Comment by BTD Greg — April 14, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
BTW – have anyone of you seen the clip from Freaks where they say that? It’s pretty chilling. Kind of amazing considering when the movie was made.
For those of you not up on it a woman seduces a midget who is a millionaire and part of a freak show. At the end the freak show denizens “make” the lady a freak like them. There’s the rain storm and you have all these real life midgets, people with no legs, and other carnival show folks from the 1930′s crawling and hoping through the mud and the rain towards her singing it. It’s pretty creepy.
Comment by clark — April 14, 2007 @ 9:04 pm
Apparently the clip is up at YouTube, although it’s an extended one so you might have to fastforward to get to the creepy part in question. Links to YouTube don’t work consistently in comments for some reason so here’s the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQkYGhmdMig
Edit: my bad. That’s just the wedding dinner. The song isn’t in this clip. But it gives you an idea of the movie. The full movie is up on YouTube though. (It’s from 1931 and is public domain now)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6355110065089064433&q=public+domain
Probably you’ll not want to download the whole thing just to get the ending though.
Comment by clark — April 14, 2007 @ 9:08 pm
When Ben first described the “magic box” which would bring anything you wished for, I couldn’t help but think that maybe he “wished” for a neurosurgeon — thus causing the plane crash and bringing Jack to the island.
Of course, that ignores the whole Desmond not pushing the button thing. But I can’t help but feel that it wasn’t an accident that brought Jack to the island.
Thoughts?
Comment by Teresa — April 15, 2007 @ 4:42 pm
It’s possible. We’ll see. I’m still curious if there is a real behind the scenes master or if Ben is actually the Prospero/Morbius character. If he is then I suspect you’re right that he’s involved in the plane crash.
However we still have the mysterious figure that Desmond ran into in his time traveling adventure. So clearly there is more going on.
Comment by Clark Goble — April 16, 2007 @ 10:50 am
What really doesn’t make sense is how Juliet could know that Sawyer killed that guy. That is not intel that Mikhail could have gotten sitting in front of those screens after the plane had crashed.
Comment by john f. — April 16, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
John, I think we’ll find that the Island provided that information. A lot of the information the Others have had over the last while was well beyond what could be gathered easily. Either the island can know this stuff the way it let Desmond time travel or else the “monster” reads minds and told them about it. My guess is they learned of it the way that Locke’s father appeared.
Comment by Clark — April 16, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
See, I keep changing my mind about whether I want a mystical/magical explanation or a rational/scientific explanation. Your intuition sides with the mystical/magical, as must be the case, it seems, given the power of the numbers, the “monster”, and all of the other aspects that can’t be explained rationally, even with greater insight into the Others.
Comment by john f. — April 16, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
Nah, I actually favor a hard science fiction interpretation ala Forbidden Planet. On the other hand there is that knowledge of the future and the time travel. Plus some of Hurley’s flashbacks… So the fantasy reading might be safest.
But I think they’re on Atlantis, that the island is like the island of the Tempest, and that the main plot parallel is Forbidden Planet. The numbers though definitely move it to either really bad science fiction or else the magical.
Comment by Clark — April 16, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
I think it is becoming more and more clear that LOST is has really just been an elaborate hoax this whole time. They wanted to set the world record for most slow motion scenes on a beach where people hug with sappy piano music playing in a sad attempt to elicit some emotion from the viewer.
Comment by John K. — April 19, 2007 @ 12:08 am