So would the person nearest to it please put a mark on the wall? A question was finally answered on Lost last night – we now know the function of the island. It’s a cork! A device (either created by Jacob or not) with one main purpose and that is to contain the evil that is the Man In Black. It’s Spike Island and Alcatraz all rolled into one and boy is MIB eager to make his escape.
This was Richard/Ricardo’s story – how he came to the island, how Jacob and MIB battled over him, how he became immortal and why he chose team Jacob?
Through his story we learned much more about the two central figures at the heart of this epic tale. MIB is bad, bad, bad – of that there is no doubt but after last night’s show I am left asking if Jacob is necessarily the counterpoint to him. If MIB is bad then does Jacob have to be good? I’m not convinced! I feel they are like brothers – and it was the way they interacted in their shared scene last night gave me that feeling. I can see it now – one going into the other’s bedroom and saying “I’m going to tell Mam (who may or may not be crazy!) that you didn’t do your homework” and the other saying – “yeah whateverrrr!!”
You feel Jacob should be there to keep MIB corked for the greater good but that seems over-simplistic and his actions suggest otherwise.
Is his true raison d'etre to be anti-MIB rather than pro-good?
By his own admission nobody comes to the island unless he brings them there and why does he do that? To prove to MIB that salvation is possible, that people can save themselves and if they all get killed along the way (as they all have up to 1867) then so be it. I don’t sense that Jacob feels MIB can be saved so why the games? MIB is trapped on the island and has been for a long time – the island is serving its purpose.
Jacob is playing a dangerous game with these island visitors ( prawns oops sorry I mean pawns). Ben proved that when the pawn fought back and killed him presumably creating the condition in which MIB/New Locke now believes he can leave the island and as Hurley described it “we’re all going to hell”. Good one Jacob!
Again I felt last night that their attempts to kill each other were fairly feeble. Sending a clearly under-the-weather Ricardo out with a fancy knife and telling him not to talk to Jacob reminded me of Dogen’s instructions to Sayid. Both enterprises were doomed to failure. “Trust me I am really, really evil – just very poor at executing my nefarious plans”. Mind you Ben’s efforts many years later were equally unimpressive yet successful when Jacob almost seemed to fall on the knife surrendering saying “Ah go on so – you’ve been trying for 150 years. Might as well get it over with.”
That wasn’t the only killing that seemed feeble last night. Richard wanted immortality so he could spend his life trying to redeem himself for killing the doctor. Half-crazed with worry over his wife and having been foully abused by the doctor (dressed in black as it happens but not demonstrating much of a bedside manner) they got involved in a scuffle which resulted in the doctor’s death. It was hardly the crime of the century. Not that yet another man in black (the priest) saw it that way. “You’re going to hell” he gleefully informed Richard “they’ll kill you before you’ll have time to repent”.
Richard and his wife, Isabella, wanted to travel to the New World (apparently spending time in Tenerife was as hellish then as it is now – apologies to the Spanish tourist board) and were learning English. Was she going to die anyway or did Richard’s act lead to her death? Clearly this was one of the questions which haunted him throughout his long-life and was finally answered by Isabella via Hurley (memories of Ghost anyone?).
The priest himself was the one who ensured Richard’s route to hell was not that direct although that is debatable judging by the onboard accommodation on the Black Rock. Fun fact Captain Whitfield said the ship was owned by Magnus Hanso who was an ancestor of Alvar Hanso who financially backed the Dharma initiative. Why did MIB save Ricardo rather than anyone else – drawn in by his fabulous eyes presumably. Their interactions revealed little extra about MIB. He spun out his usual lines – I’m a friend and you’ll get what you always wanted if you stick with me – in Richard’s case to be reunited with Isabella.
Dazed and confused he found his way to Jacob who seems just a little better at spinning his lines. Richard's transformation from “I am dead and in hell” to “I want to live” was almost instantaneous – a quick dip and he rediscovered his appetite for life. He went from incoherent to questioning why Jacob didn’t intervene to help the people he brought to the island really quickly and immediately found himself head-hunted as the intermediary.
Do you believe Jacob when he said he could not reunite Richard with Isabella? “I can’t do that but immortality - no problem.”
He says his goodbye to Isabella by burying her necklace after MIB told him on his return visit he’ll never see her again. But he was wrong as she reminds him that they are already together. She absolves him by telling him that is was her time to die and he was not to blame for her death. Hurley via his new gift has been taking a more central role in season six and how nice to see him as more than the sidekick following the leader. He is now the person driving the story forward and who knows how key he may be in the final battle?
I really enjoyed this episode for many reasons – the strong central performances but also for the format of taking one story and following it through in a linear fashion. Much as the complex structure of Lost is fascinating to watch, this episode appealed to me for its traditional format and I am wondering if a return to flashsideways world next week might irritate.
So how was it for you?
Bree Treacy
