Episode 4.3 “The Economist” Afterthoughts
Last week’s episode of Lost was one of the best episodes of television I’d seen in a long time. During our national crisis of the writers’ strike, while our television screens sank to unseen lows like The Moment of Truth, Lost returned to show everyone how great drama is done. Now, in tonight’s episode, "The Economist," we learned the identity of another member of the Oceanic Six while Sayid, Miles, and Kate trekked into the jungle to locate Charlotte. Did tonight’s installment live up to the promise set last week?
Missed the episode? Read our recap by clicking here.
"The Economist" was the type of episode that will probably frustrate a certain section of the Lost fandom. After all, it did raise a lot more questions than it did answers, and I know how that frustrates some people. As for me, I’m so used to Lost making me wait for answers that I’m perfectly comfortable with it, which is why I found "The Economist" to be thrilling television.
Let’s talk about the flash forward. Sayid’s life as an undercover hit man reminded me of Hitchcock crossed with the glory days of Alias. Falling for a woman who ends up being the femme fatale is the oldest trick in the book, but still, I didn’t see Elsa’s double cross coming. It’s funny that she was trying to get the name of his boss while he was trying to get the name of her boss. Now we know who Sayid answers to, but what about Elsa? Any ideas on who "the economist" actually was?
Sayid working for Ben was also a twist I didn’t see coming, though it clicked with me the instant Sayid walked into that dog kennel. Who are these people that Ben is having him murder? What connection do they have to the greater Lost story? Could it be that Ben is trying to wipe out whatever remains of the DHARMA Initiative, trying to finish them off completely?
I also find it fascinating that Ben was willing to leave the island. Or, if all of that money and those passports are to be believed, maybe he’s been leaving the island more than we suspected. The picture that Miles had of Ben last week did look like it was taken in some sort of airport. If Ben has been leaving the island on a regular basis, how has he managed to keep it a secret?
Like I said, there are a whole lot of questions to ask. As for the events on the island, the biggest event from a character standpoint was Sayid exchanging Miles for Charlotte, and allowing Kate to stay behind. This certainly ups the stakes and probably guarantees that Jack will go traipsing after Locke at some point. Locke must know that if Kate stays, Jack will eventually come look for her. I sense another confrontation on the way.
Though the hostage exchange was intriguing, it was nothing compared to Faraday’s experiment. After he had Regina shoot a rocket toward the island, the device didn’t arrive at the time it was supposed to. It arrived about a few minutes later, apparently after getting sucked into some strange time anomaly. The timer in the rocket was 31 minutes ahead of Faraday’s island timer. For those of you who needed more proof that the island is definitely not running on normal time, there you have it. The journey of the rocket is something that will keep us theorizing for a long time. It’s nice to have a physicist on the island to raise these interesting questions.
Faraday also mentioned to Lapidus that he needed to follow a precise course when flying the helicopter away from the island. I can’t help but feel that this could feed into the Vile Vortices theory I wrote about a few days ago.
Another mystery from the island involves the bracelet that Sayid found on Naomi. "N, I’ll always be with you. RG," is what the inscription read. Is there an RG that’s already established in Lost mythology? If so, I’m blanking on who it is.
If a mysterious bracelet isn’t enough of a question mark for you, what’s up with Jacob’s magically disappearing cabin? In the season premiere the cabin appeared in front of Hurley, despite the fact that he was nowhere near it. In this episode it wasn’t where John originally found it. I must confess that I have absolutely no idea how to explain that one. Everything involving Jacob pretty much blows my mind.
Though I mentioned that we didn’t get many answers in this episode, there was a small one. We learned more about Desmond’s motivations for going with Jack instead of Locke. He wants to know why Naomi had a picture of Penny, and he hopes that by getting to the freighter he can discover what connection she has to everything. Whether or not we’ll ever get to see the freighter is something we may discover next week.
To wrap this up, here’s the list of questions we need to talk about until next week:
Who was Elsa’s employer and why did Ben want him and other specific people dead?
What’s up with Jacob’s teleporting shack?
What do you believe the explanation is for the delay of Faraday’s rocket?
How do you feel about the moral shakiness that Hurley and Sayid displayed in this episode?
Has Ben been leaving the island regularly? If so, why and how?
Who is RG?
Ugh. Easily my least favorite and most dissapointing episode, in regards to the anticipation I have had. Now I need you all to chat like you normally do and give me insights on this epidose to lighten my mood and show me why this was in fact a good episode.
Comment by Dezer — February 14, 2008 @ 7:06 pm
When did this whole Ben killing Locke thing happen? Granted, the affiliate here was blinking in and out because of a lightning storm; so can someone verify this claim?
Comment by Meekay — February 14, 2008 @ 7:47 pm
yeah,since when did this whole locke being killed thing happen? anyone wanna verify this?
Comment by Garen Arargil — February 14, 2008 @ 7:49 pm
That’s strange… The comment that claimed Ben killed Locke has disappeared. Now it appears that I look like a fool.
Comment by Meekay — February 14, 2008 @ 7:52 pm
I’ll bet the Economist is Matthew Abaddon, that creepy black guy that came to Hurley. I only make this connection since he is creepy, questioned Hurley, and hired Naomi who had the same bracelet as Elsa. SO there’s my theory on who the Economist is. And Ben and Matthew may go way back…
So what is Ben’s deal.. What has he done to get so many people coming after him?
I LOVE THIS SHOW. I don’t care what anyone says. This season is shaping up to making everything that has happened all the more relevant and isolated. We’ve witnessed the timeline from the view point of the survivors. And it’s very biased. So what happens when we turn things around and see how things are unfolding from those who oppose the survivors.
Faraday.. Oh my gosh. His experiment made me very excited. There was over a minute delay in the payload’s delivery. Come on. This is exciting. Perhaps the electromagnetic field has holes through which you can pass through, but the payload gets stuck in a anomaly. GAH I LOVE THIS SHOW.
Comment by Dan — February 14, 2008 @ 8:22 pm
didn’t sayid trade miles for charlotte, and not kate? because when he got back to jack, the pilot said he “didn’t like that guy much anyway” or something like that
Comment by mt — February 14, 2008 @ 8:25 pm
I wouldn’t jump to any wild conclusions based on Faraday’s experiment. Before claiming definitive proof of some sort of ‘island alternate timeline’ theory, remember that Faraday was communicating with Regina in real time on the satellite phone. I think this is merely a glimpe at some equally showy but far less dramatic electro-magentic-something-or-other island voodoo.
With the exception of Super Desmond, the show is really good at teasing something that seems sci-fi, but then pulling back and giving an equally plausable but not totally confirmable real world explanation, which is all part of the fun for the more patient among us.
Comment by R.G. — February 14, 2008 @ 8:28 pm
I thought it was 31 minutes between the two clocks, not 1 minute… Did I misunderstand? Also, I think the shack disappears due to time anamolies on the island. Maybe it resides in between planes of existance, and appears at certain times in the shakey time of the Island.
As for Hurley, I really thought this was how he joined up with the other Oceanic 6, so that kinda took me by surprise that he was just bait. I guess they built that one up to be too obvious, but I missed the pending trap.
As for the boss, is it possible it’s Hanso, or even possibly Widmore? With Widmore, that would be somewhat fitting considering Desmond is going with Sayid to the ship, and Desmond loves Penny. Maybe Des gets off the Island, hooks back up with Penny, and there may be some parallels between what comes up on the ship and what happens in another flash forward.
A lot to digest…
Comment by bricketh — February 14, 2008 @ 8:30 pm
Yes, I don’t know what show you were watching, but Sayid traded one boat person for another, and Kate decided to stay. Please try not to make it more confusing than it already is. But Jack obviously does something that will eventually piss of Kate, based on last season’s finale.
Comment by marymary — February 14, 2008 @ 8:51 pm
Ok….lets see here. Locke has Sayid, Miles and Charlotte at gunpoint….Sayid wouldn’t care much about Locke taking Miles….and he knew Frank wouldn’t care much either. If Sayid says that he’s trading Miles for Charlotte, Locke would laugh and say he already has him. If Sayid willingly agrees to give up Kate and leave, Lock realizes he has a potential ally in Sayid, someone who can go to the boat for him, AND he also has leverage against Jack. Thus it makes far more sense that Sayid gave up Kate and Locke took Miles. Miles was taken along to make it look like he was the one being traded, and makes for a more believable story in that Kate just decided to stay.
Comment by Nolan — February 14, 2008 @ 9:14 pm
eah, it was a 31 minute delay. good point on the sat phone communications, but those phones also seem odd…but we also had mikhael’s place/video gear where he could see in real time news, etc.
so, definitely, adds more questions, then any simple equation/solution which says: 31 minutes in island time * 100 days, hmm, have they been there over a year?
one confusing thing for me, besides thinking it was an awesome episode, is ben a doctor/surgeon too!!!! wtf. so why didn’t he help the woman who sun shot, instead of having jack operate. . or he is really a TOTAL Kaiser Sose!!!!
what’s also confusing, is all the trailers/promo’s talked about “1 person gets off the island”..but 2 do, desmond and sayid…but wait, ah, they fooled us, the oceanic 6, that wouldn’t include desmond and juliette, so maybe they get off too, but since they wereon’t on the plane, not part of the 6.
Comment by rooster — February 14, 2008 @ 9:15 pm
Hey guys…why don’t we all meet up in chat one day..we’ll pick a time and day, and we could all talk about LOST and what’s been going on and stuff.
Comment by Franky — February 14, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
Doc has a deleted scene… it kicks ASS
http://www.docarzt.com/lost-news/lost-403-the-economist-a-delet.php
Comment by Gunz — February 14, 2008 @ 9:42 pm
time on the rocket was different, Ben gets off the island, seemingly often.
I propose that Ben has a time machine, and it’s use warps local time on the island, therefore causing a time discrepency on the rocket.
strong electromagnetic fields, no one seems to be able to find the island, montauk project, etc etc.
Comment by jimi — February 14, 2008 @ 9:56 pm
Does anyone know what Sayid said to Ben at the very end of the show right before Ben says “Good”? I played it over and over and I can’t figure it out.
Comment by lovelost33 — February 14, 2008 @ 10:15 pm
What if Elsa’s employer (the Economist) was Ben. Could he have been trying to double cross Sayid? (I’m mostly basing this on the comment that Elsa said about how he only shows up a couple of times a year and doesn’t like new technology.) What do you think…
Comment by MagnetMan — February 14, 2008 @ 10:34 pm
lovelost33, i couldnt understand him either but my friend said he says something along the lines of “they know im after them now”
Comment by vesuvius — February 14, 2008 @ 10:37 pm
So.
if there is a 31 minute difference or whatever. this is really weird. (duh)
but they fired the rocket at the same time.
im thinking that maybe the island time just movies 30 times as slow. or something like that. so they can always see what is happening outside the island, but it is happening 30 times slower.
there is some weird space time continuum thing going on here.
i dont see how anyone can’t like this show.
who will the next oceanic 6 person be?
we already know that
jack
kate
hurley
and sayid
get off
-plus ben, but since he wasn’t on 815 he wouldn’t be part of the 6……..
I still think that it says it all on the poster for the 4th season.
the rescue light shines on 6 of them.
ben, sayid, claire, jack, kate and hurley.
they are so smart. i think that is who it is.. (ben?)
well thats a bunch of random thoughts for yall
Comment by zach — February 14, 2008 @ 10:45 pm
One of the names on the passports is Dean Moriarty. He is a character in On The Road by Jack Kerouac. The opening paragraph states that “with the coming of Dean Moriarty began the part of my life you could call my life on the road.”
Comment by Kutulhu — February 14, 2008 @ 10:50 pm
Ben is not one of the Oceanic 6. I wont spoil it by saying who the other two are.
Comment by Kutulhu — February 14, 2008 @ 10:52 pm
So who de we know is on the freighter? Minkowskie,Regina,and Ben’s man. How many more people are on the freighter do you think? I think the R.G. on Naomi’s bracelet could be Regina on the freighter….when she speaks to Miles on the phone, she sounds exactly like Naomi……why is that? Also after watching this episode it makes me think that the “He” Kate was talking about is Ben. Excellent episode.
Comment by Josh from NY — February 14, 2008 @ 11:10 pm
Why couldn’t ‘Ben’s Man’ be Minkowskie or Regina.
Comment by Kutulhu — February 14, 2008 @ 11:26 pm
Josh,
so who died in last season’s ending that Jack shows up to the funeral and no one else did?
Comment by ic3nin3 — February 14, 2008 @ 11:36 pm
I have an interesting theory. These “rescuers” are actually trying to revive the DHARMA initiative. They are staying on the island because they have “work to do”. Other then getting Ben, what work actually would have to be done?? They are on a well funded expedition to find the island.
Ben has a personal vendetta agains DHARMA, as he and the “others” gassed the remaining members years ago. And wouldn’t just make sense that the cycle of DHARMA vs. the others would keep repeating itself.
Comment by The Stig — February 15, 2008 @ 12:38 am
the rocket travels 40 km in 20 seconds that means it has a speed of 7200km/h. If the rocket arrived only after 31 minutes that would mean the island is in fact about 3700 km away from the point Regina send the rocket to.
Comment by Adrian — February 15, 2008 @ 1:25 am
Unless I’m off, I don’t think Desmond or Ben can be a part of the Oceanic 6, as they were never on the Oceanic plane. I think Ben may have been FORCIBLY removed from the island, hence his working with Sayid to protect his friends, the same friends who stayed behind. All the the flash-forwards (although I like to think of the island as flashBACKS now with off-island being present time) suggest that leaving the island was a mistake, the people that stayed made the right decision, and the Oceanic 6 not revealing a secret to protect those that stayed.
That said, Desmond could easily get off the island without being a part of the Oceanic 6. Just because 6 are famous for surviving doesn’t mean more didn’t leave at the same time. Government and Authority lies are one of the hearts of the show. Desmond may leave to continue his quest for Penny, and the reactions of the boat people could be based on the last name Widmore, rather than Desmond asking specifically about Penny. I think the orginal funders of Dharma are the boat people looking to continue their work and reclaim the Island from Ben, who killed Dharma when he joined the natives, even though Richard seems to be a Native who knows the Dharma people. Damnit, now I confused myself….
Comment by Briggs — February 15, 2008 @ 2:16 am
You thought Sayid traded Kate? Seriously? Sayid had nothing to do with Kate staying. Sayid traded Miles for Charlotte, which the pilot acknowledged as a “cheat” but said that luckily that guy (Miles) was a pain in his ass anyway.
Comment by Methosrocks — February 15, 2008 @ 4:18 am
Did anyone else that after Sayid shot Elsa, they panned down and she was wearing the exact same bracelet that Naomi was? I found that to be a little strange. I also found it odd that according to Regina’s equipment, the rocket hit the spot makred by Faraday as planned - according to her. But to Faraday, it took that extra 31 minutes. Now, I’m no physics wizard, but aside from just time, wouldn’t there also be some sort of space displacement? How else would Regina’s equipment see the successful landing when it doesn’t actually occur for another 31 minutes? Just my own question I guess.
Comment by Bannen — February 15, 2008 @ 4:22 am
Oh, I forgot to mention something in my last comment, sorry… You know the picture that the Freighter Four has of Ben? At the end of last night’s episode, when Ben is patching up Sayid, he sure looks like he’s not only wearing the outfit in that picture, but in the same room… I might be wrong, but I went back and looked a few times and I’m almost certain of it. And if that’s the case, does the Freighter Four have a picture of Future Ben?
Comment by Bannen — February 15, 2008 @ 4:34 am
Well, it was a great episode!
and by the way, I noticed that, while playing golf in Seychelles, Sayd wore a white glove, while Mr.Avellino wore the black one. It’s like good and bad people again? We’ve already seen these things on Lost and I’m glad Sayd is on the good side.
Comment by Rocky Raccoon — February 15, 2008 @ 4:35 am
Was it just me or was that NOT Ben’s voice at the end prior to actually showing his face? It sounded to me like it was Christian Shepard. So when they showed Ben it totally threw me. Could “Ben” actually be Jacob using Sayid to keep people away from the island?
And my first impression is Elsa’s employee is Widmore. But the whole technology thing confused me. That has to be a reference to someone. Maybe it’s Richard Alpert?
Comment by amanda — February 15, 2008 @ 4:36 am
Doc, you might need to watch the episode again. Sayid didn’t exchange Kate for Charlotte! He exchanged Miles for Charlotte and discussed it with Lapidus, who expressed happiness at being free of Miles. He also said explicitly that Kate decided to stay behind. Let’s give the woman a little credit for some autonomy, shall we? It’s not always about Jack and his foolish schoolboy crushes.
Comment by Geronimo — February 15, 2008 @ 4:40 am
Why is everyone assuming the clock is only 31 minutes off?!!? There is no date on that device. The watch could be 1 year and 31 minutes off or 10 years and 31 minutes off or even 1000 years and 31 minues off. What if the question of where the island is isn’t the right question? What if it is more of a when the island is located? Maybe the Polar Bear found in Tunsia is actually the same polar bear Sawyer shot on the island. Maybe present day Tunsia is actually past time island.
Comment by Tom — February 15, 2008 @ 5:31 am
the bracelet on naoimi was the same one the girl sayid shot had on
Comment by youyyoyoy — February 15, 2008 @ 5:58 am
One stupid thing I couldn’t help to think is that the rocket could have easily hit the helicopter seriously damaging or destroying it. It was a really stupid stupid experiment to do so near the helicopter!
Comment by finto — February 15, 2008 @ 5:59 am
The photo of Ben is clearly in an airport. He is next to an airport XRay machine. I also recall that in a Locke dream/nightmare early in the series (perhaps his visionquest), Ben was doing the exact same thing at an X-Ray machine. Was it a dream at all or second site? Foor for thought.
Comment by Nathaniel — February 15, 2008 @ 6:08 am
doc didnt write that, he as a new site: http://www.docarzt.com it is awesome!!! sayid traded miles for charlotte, not kate
Comment by themachine — February 15, 2008 @ 6:13 am
What do you think of this theory re the economist episode?
The freighter people are infact on Bens side and have been sent in to come and rescue him from the losties. Ben is trying to make out like he and they are enemies to throw the losties off suspiscion. The ship is simply Bens ship that is regularly moored off island so he can come and go. Clues to support this thoery. Ben sent walt and his dad to the ship way back when they left the island. Clue 2- that is how he knew so much about the female hostage, as she is working for him. That is why he is reluctant to give up the mole or spy on the ship, because they are all his spies and moles. Right now ben is the hostage of the losties and he needs his people to rescue him. It would explain tonnes, like where all the food and supplies come from in the old dharma camp, where walt and michael went to, and how bencomes and goes from the island. Sayid must ahve found out about this, confronted ben and ben threatened to kill all the losties hence ben being sayids boss in the flash forward. The final scene proves ben is a lot bigger, and powerful than even he has been to date. I think my theory fits nicely- with the exception of anything to do with time travel.
Comment by edyvanhalen — February 15, 2008 @ 6:15 am
I think I’ve figured out who RG is on the engraving in Naomi’s bracelet!
I absolutely has to be Rupert Grint, the chap who played Ron Weasley in those Harry Potter movies. Think about it… He has earned a fat pile of money from those movies, and now he’s in the market for a love interest to help him rule the world. Hence Naomi, because as Miles said “she was hot.” =P
Comment by Meekay — February 15, 2008 @ 6:26 am
‘quote
who will the next oceanic 6 person be?
we already know that
jack
kate
hurley
and sayid
get off
-plus ben, but since he wasn’t on 815 he wouldn’t be part of the 6……..
I still think that it says it all on the poster for the 4th season.
the rescue light shines on 6 of them.’
im gonna go out on a limb here and guess at aaron
Comment by sadamsghost — February 15, 2008 @ 6:40 am
I’m glad to see DocArzt didn’t write that nonsense about Sayid trading Kate for Charlotte. You know, since Sayid said plain as day that Kate DECIDED to stay behind and since him and Lapidus had a whole conversation about how he traded MILES for Charlotte. Geez! Fanboys have such rigid preconceptions about the women on this show they really can’t see Kate as anything other than Jack’s prize. It’s getting so old.Watch the darn show!
Who is this Don guy anyway? Where did DocArzt go?
Comment by Wanda — February 15, 2008 @ 6:47 am
Is it possible that Sayid has been working for Ben from the beginning? Are we sure this wasn’t a flash forward and not a flashback? That would explain Ben’s wearing the same outfit in the picture. I suppose the golf scene is evidence that it was a flash forward when Sayid said he was part of the Oceanic 6…
Comment by kyllmode — February 15, 2008 @ 7:36 am
As soon as Sayid said he would have sold his soul if he ever trusted Ben, I knew that Ben was going to be Sayid’s boss after the crash. Doesn’t seem like Sayid is thrilled to be working for Ben though. This makes sense, considering that none of the survivors are very happy off the island.
Comment by Nate — February 15, 2008 @ 8:54 am
Here’s my theory after last night’s awesome episode:
For starters, in last weeks episode, they showed a picture of Ben in an Airport. Assuming been was being honest saying he never left the island, that picture must have been from the future. And obviously, Ben did get off of the island as we saw him at the kennel/pound with Sayid.
In the experiment that Faraday conducted, we know that Island Time is different that time in the rest of the world.
So, here is final theory:
What if some group of people (Abaddon’s perhaps) are trying to prevent the killings that been is committing, and have gone back in time through the power of the island to catch him before he gets off, thus preventing the murders he orders, and thus supporting the theory that many have of alternate time lines?
Hope that makes sense! Let me know what you all think or add/subtract/modify my theory?
Comment by Glenn — February 15, 2008 @ 9:49 am
I think Sayid didn’t trade anyone he simply said he did. I have no doubt that he and Locke are on the same page and it’s going to be revieled only after Sayid does something surprising and thier conversation is revisited and explained. Also I firmly believe (and I am guessing) that the mole on the boat is Michael and that Ben only let him go to be picked up by this freighter that Ben knew was coming to look for the Island. Remember in thier time its only been a month since Michael and Walt took off. Also This time issue with the Rocket could also explain the “aging” of walt.
-JD
Comment by MArquisDeJD — February 15, 2008 @ 10:24 am
Am I wrong, or did Sayid say to the man on the golf course right before he shot him, “Goodbye Mr. Abbadon”?
Comment by NL — February 15, 2008 @ 10:42 am
1. can anyone tell me why it’s SOOO important who traded whom whatever for? Isn’t it just Sayid returnig from the barracks, bringing charlotte and thus avoiding any conversation about having been taken hostage by Locke (admitted: for waht reason soever)…
2. @kyllmode: assuming that the whole Elsa&Sayid thing happens in a flashforward (as indicated by elsa talking to sayid about the plane-crash [in bed]) i think that ben stitching up sayid also happens flashforward, coz srewing the audience by mixing wounded sayid in the hotelroom with elsa and wounded sayid stitched by ben, would be too cheap and too blindfold writing…at least in my opinion regarding the writing in LOST so carefully constructed up to date…
cheers!
Comment by trencher — February 15, 2008 @ 11:58 am
I am sick of wirting comments and then having them say that I have submitted too many comments in a short period of time when I think I have leftr about two comments total. Is this some sort of Lost elitism?
Comment by Eric Larson — February 15, 2008 @ 12:09 pm
I had the same problem. ssemed to me to be some sort of server fault. just waited some minutes, took another drink, and voila: worked out well!
Comment by trencher — February 15, 2008 @ 12:13 pm
I think the Sayid, Elsa and Ben series is a flashback. If you look at Sayid in the flashforward on the golf course he has a prominent beer belly, probably from eating well with all the settlement money. In Germany he is much more fit, but the viewer is supposed to think that it happened right after the golf course, but in actuality it took place before flight 815. THe plane crash referred to in the bed scene could be from his days in the Iraqi army. THis implies that Ben and Sayid know each other quite well, maybe why Sayid and Ben were always alone during the torturing….
Comment by NL — February 15, 2008 @ 1:29 pm
Agree with Nolan on the Kate for Charlotte thing.
My theory is below but first a few general assumptions that are of less consequence -
There is obviously some electromagnetic issue on the island, which causes it to be in some type of time warp/continuum and makes it extremely difficult to see/find. As for the radio contact in real time - radio waves could travel differently from physical items. There is also some type of yet-to-be explained cover-up about the crash… possible due to them (unfortunately for the passengers of FL815) ending up on an island that has many secrets and importance, throwing them in the middle of all kinds of problems.
Here’s my overall theory - The six get off but at the expense of a number of other survivors. They’re all really alive and not in some type of purgatory. These other survivors are not dead (after the six leave), they’re still alive on the island. The six that get off have to make a choice - they either get to leave w/o their friends or they don’t get to leave at all. They chose the former. This would explain why they’re keeping some sort of secret in the flash-forwards and why they feel such guilt as well as why they have made comments about telling/not telling as well as why they feel such a need to return.
If their friends were dead, it would not matter as much and while they might feel the guilt, they wouldn’t feel the need to return. If they hadn’t made a conscious choice to leave their friends behind - if it were forced on them, they wouldn’t feel the need to keep it a secret and would not have such a strong sense of guilt.
Comment by Dan — February 15, 2008 @ 3:30 pm
Ben Has NEVER left the island like he’s been saying all along. There was an episode way back when where Sawyer was having headaches. Jack did his doctor thing found he was having trouble reading, prescribed some reading glasses so he could finish reading “The Evil Twin”. Nothing on “Lost” is for nothing, even Hurley finding an old bus, fixing it and driving it in circles the whole episode. That bus saved the day. So that book that kept Sawyer’s interest so much for so long, “The Evil Twin” just showed us the last page. Ben, the Sayid’s boss Ben is not island Ben. Sayid’s Ben is “the evil twin”. Ben is the “Good Twin”. Since when is Ben good with animals to be a vet. Thats all I have on that. http://www.azuredetroit.com baby.
Comment by Mark B — February 15, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
It was a flashforward, not a flashback.
On the golf course, Sayid tells his victim “I’m one of the Oceanic six,” which would make zero sense in a flashback.
One mystery solved.
Comment by Rain — February 15, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
I often wonder if this person that Ben has on the boat is Michael. Seeing how Sayid is working for Ben in the flash-forward, perhaps Michael was even more compromised and is helping bBen out on that freighter.
Comment by Dale — February 15, 2008 @ 4:34 pm
My theory on the shack disappearing is from what Ben said in season 3. Something to the effect of him (Ben) is summoned by Jacob and therefore, can’t see Jacob as Ben pleases.
Comment by Dale — February 15, 2008 @ 4:36 pm
I think the person in the coffin is Ben. When Jack asked her why she didn’t go to the funeral or he had hoped to see her there, she said something to the effect of “why would I go”.
Comment by Melanie — February 15, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
It’s kind of improbable, but I’ll just throw it out there…Perhaps Sayid gave the bracelet to Nadia (the girl he was in love with while he was in the Republican Guard). Hence, the “N” on the bracelet stands for “Nadia” and the “RG” stands for “Republican Guard”? Hmmm.
Comment by Lily — February 15, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
I think vet Ben was Jacob. It did sound like Christian’s voice at first. Jacob loves dogs (i.e. the pic in the cabin). Sayid may be the island’s new “security system”
Comment by AndyinCincy — February 15, 2008 @ 6:25 pm
Did anyone else hear Ben (Michael Emerson) on Opie and Anthony this morning? They asked him about theories he’s heard and the best one he’s heard so far is that the ash line or powder that encircles jacob’s cabin can be controlled and moved around as smoky the monster. Sounds plausible to me. All I know after these first three episodes is that a) a whole new story is launching and b) I have basically no idea what’s going on
Comment by Dav — February 15, 2008 @ 7:32 pm
anyone notice the Holy Qua ran when Sayid was looking for a trap door in Ben’s House? Could this also be a Sayid/Ben Connection??
Comment by Johnson333 — February 15, 2008 @ 8:11 pm
OK, everyone saying that Sayid definitely traded Miles for Charlotte just because he tells Lapidus that’s what happened is being too short-sighted. Given the amount of deception on this Island, what’s to say that he didn’t trade Kate (or Kate AND Miles) as part of his plan to find out the true motivations of the Freighties.
Comment by Stan — February 15, 2008 @ 8:43 pm
Another possible member of the Oceanic 6 could be either Claire and or her baby Aaron. Don’t forget about Desmond’s vision of seeing Claire get on a helicopter.
Comment by Franky — February 15, 2008 @ 9:53 pm
I have too much faith in Sayid to think he didn’t notice the same bracelet on Elsa and Naomi…
Also, maybe it is more than just a bracelet. Neither of those girls seem like the sentimental jewelery type. “I will always be with you”. Maybe heart monitor of GPS…
Comment by ellaella — February 15, 2008 @ 11:14 pm
It seems like a great underlying plot that seems to be missing from recent threads may tie this together: the valenzetti equation (sp?). The time difference that was discovered this week was followed by Faraday saying “oh no”. This would seem like he knows about the equation and that something going on is altering the equation. I think that the Oceanic 6 understand they don’t need to go back just to save the others, but b/c they learn about the equation and the purpose of the island, and need to uphold that purpose. If not all the Oceanic 6 know this, maybe Ben had at least pursuaded Syiad to kill those men b/c they’re behind the events altering the equation.
Comment by kyle — February 16, 2008 @ 8:49 am
No offense, but I think the writers better get moving. I mean, they only got 45 episodes left if you think about it. This answering 1 or 2 questions while adding 50 more isn’t going to work. I like more questions, but I like answers better. Anyway, definitly my favorite episode of the season yet. I was like WOW! when I saw Sayid working for Ben. I can’t wait for next week’s episode. P.S. you think they will make a Ben flash-forward?
Comment by Sean — February 16, 2008 @ 9:41 am
My theories:
Ben’s “man on the boat” is MICHAEL.
“RG” is Regina on the freighter.
Comment by Airk — February 16, 2008 @ 10:39 am
My guess is Sun and Jin are the final two. She HAS to get off the Island because she may die when she gives birth. And Jin is going to go with her no matter what.
Thoughts?
Comment by Stan — February 16, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
My guess is that RG is a character that has yet to be introduced, or is nobody at all and the inscription is a red herring.
Comment by Stan — February 16, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
What do you think of this theory re the economist episode?
i THINK ITS BRILLIANT
The freighter people are infact on Bens side and have been sent in to come and rescue him from the losties.
I DON’T THINK THE SUBMARINE TOOK bEN AND HIS FOLK TO THE MAINLAND, I THINK IT TOOK THEM TO THE FREIGHTER. I THINK IT WAS LESS OF A CONCERN FOR BEN BECAUSE HE KNEW THERE WERE PEOPLE OFF SHORE. I THINK HE GAVE MICHAEL SPECIFIC COORDINATES TO GET OFF THAT ISLAND BECAUSE THAT WAS WHERE THE FREIGHTER WAS DOCKED.
Ben is trying to make out like he and they are enemies to throw the losties off suspiscion. The ship is simply Bens ship that is regularly moored off island so he can come and go.
I THINK BEN HAS SOME SORT OF HOLD OVER THE DHARMA/FREIGHTER FOLK BECAUSE HE IS THE KEY TO THE REPAIR OF THE ISLAND. WHATEVER WENT WRONG AND WHATEVER PREVENTED IT FROM BEING FOUND WAS HIS DOING, AND HE’S A DOUBLE CROSSING MANIPULATOR, SO WHILST HE MIGHT NOT BE DHARMA’S FAVOURITE PERSON, HE IS NEEDED BY THEM TO BE ABLE TO RECOVER THEIR PROJECT.
Clue 2- that is how he knew so much about the female hostage, as she is working for him. That is why he is reluctant to give up the mole or spy on the ship, because they are all his spies and moles.
MAYBE NOT WORKING FOR HIM BUT CERTAINLY HE KNOWS ABOUT THE FREIGHTER AND WHO IS ON BOARD. I THINK THEY ARE TELLING THE TRUTH WHEN THEY SAY THEY DONT KNOW HIM, AND THEY DONT KNOW WHY THEY HAVE TO RECOVER HIM, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT SENT THOSE FOUR HAVE KEPT THAT TO THEMSELVES FOR A REASON
Sayid must ahve confronted ben and ben threatened to kill all the losties hence ben being sayids boss in the flash forward.
WHO SAYS SAYID IS HAPPY ABOUT WORKING FOR BEN? WHATS TO SAY HE IS NOT THE PERSON WHO’S TELLING SAYID THAT BY TAKING THESE PEOPLE OUT, HE IS KEEPING THOSE LEFT ON THE ISLAND ALIVE AND SAFE? IF BEN IN THE FLASH FORWARDS HAS STILL GOT SOME SORT OF CONNECTION TO THE ISLAND, AND CAN PROVE TO SAYID THAT HIS FRIENDS ARE OK, THEN THERE’S EVERY POSSIBILITY THAT HE IS PICKING OFF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT PREVENT THEM FROM RECOVERING THE REST OF THE 815 PASSENGERS. BENEFITS BEN AND BENEFITS SAYID, BUT DOESNT MAKE THEM THE BEST OF MATES
Comment by Kelly — February 16, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
The freighter people are infact on Bens side and have been sent in to come and rescue him from the losties.
I DON’T THINK THE SUBMARINE TOOK bEN AND HIS FOLK TO THE MAINLAND, I THINK IT TOOK THEM TO THE FREIGHTER. I THINK IT WAS LESS OF A CONCERN FOR BEN BECAUSE HE KNEW THERE WERE PEOPLE OFF SHORE. I THINK HE GAVE MICHAEL SPECIFIC COORDINATES TO GET OFF THAT ISLAND BECAUSE THAT WAS WHERE THE FREIGHTER WAS DOCKED.
PS, BY LESS CONCERNED, I MEANT ABOUT THE SUBMARINE BEING DESTROYED.
PPS: sorry re caps lock, lol
Comment by KELLY — February 16, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
I’m sure as Lostophiles, you’ve read Doc’s Vile Vortex theory. I find it compelling and coherent and I’m going to assume it for the purpose of my explanation. (More on why I believe the theory at the end.)
Remember there is a 31 minute lapse for “tangible” objects getting to and from the island, but not for electromagentic signals (the sat phones, radio transmissions). My guess here is that there is some (dare I say it) vortex these tangibles have to pass through to explain the Mittelos - oh, sorry I meant ‘lost time’,
I agree with Dan above: The Oceanic 6 (whom I believe are Jack, Kate, Hurley, Sayid, Jin, and Sun) leave. All other (living) members of 815 stay - because they want to stay. They do not want to be found. This is the secret they are keeping - they do not want the island found - mostly to protect their friends, but also because (by that point) they will have learned more about the magic properties of the Island and don’t want it found by anyone. This offers an explanation as to why Sayid would work for Ben.
And as for why Ben is off the island - well, contrary to a previous post, Ben may have said that he’s never been off the island, but we all know that is clearly a lie. (He came when he was a teenager. The passports shown in The Economist provide justification for the belief that Ben has been, in fact, leaving the island (somewhat frequently) for quite some time - and he knows the exact bearings to do so (check when he sent Michael & Walt off in the tugboat - told them to follow these exact bearings). This is repeated by Farraday to Lapidius.
Ben is not a member of the Oceanic 6. Ben has his own means of getting to and from the Island. (And I’m going to stick with the vortex on this one.) Moreover, I believe that Ben is the only one who knows how the vortex works - such that when he dies (I think Ben is in the Coffin in TTLG) Jack is terribly depressed that his chances of returning to the Island are forever gone.
On a side note, when I watch Lost, I have my full theory in mind at all times until something is done that outright refutes it (by canon, by the writers, etc.). I find the show even more enjoyable, since instead of asking ‘is Ben leaving the island’ or ‘why is he leaving the island’ - I ask ‘where is he going’ (assuming he’s using some vortex. In general I find having a working theory always helps in a show so beautifully layered in complexity.
The Vile Vortex theory has just the kind of mystery, disappearance, misplaced objects in the middle of nowhere, global deposit dump nuances that fit into some of the show’s ongoing mysteries. It answers the most questions and has the least potent objections. What more could you ask from a theory?
Comment by Scott — February 16, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
here’s my guess at the last 2 oceanic six
1 - sawyer - at the end of season 3, kate says that “i have to go, he’s going to be wondering where i am” the only one i can think of she’s referring to is sawyer and by now i think it’s clear she ends up with him and not jack, i think she convinces him to leave the island with her and “play house”
2 - coffin - let’s think about this, the clues we’ve been given. Jack is torn up to some extent, but he’s not family or a friend, and kate does not like this person enough to say “why would I go to the funeral”, she says it in a stern voice. i can only think of 2 people that fit this category, michael and locke. and considering that it was in an African American neighborhood, it has to be michael
thoughts?
Comment by peak — February 16, 2008 @ 11:57 pm
I went back and looked at a few Sayid-centric episodes and began to question whether Ben may actually be wrapped up in military intelligence. Does anyone else recall an episode when Sayid is out of Iraq but roped back into some intelligence work? Also — in a past Sayid-centric episode with flashbacks to Iraq, he is riding in a transport vehicle with American forces — one asks if he has family and then looks at a picture of a woman who looks a lot like Kate. Not such a big deal perhaps but I wonder what if anything may become of that.
Also — While watching those episodes I was reminded that in earlier seasons there was much made of a communincable disease that people on the island were vulnerable to. Ben referenced it when he was first introduced to the story (captured by Sayid). It did in Rousseau’s colleagues — the last I remember any airtime being spent on this was when Michael began to see lesions on his arm. For that plot line to have petered out is a bit of a let down…I think the writers need to weave it back in somehow before they get too caught up in the excitement of the rescue — otherwise they will have imagined a story in which the flight 815 survivors potentially bring this terrible disease back to civilization.
Comment by locke_look_alike — February 17, 2008 @ 2:14 am
One possibility not yet mentioned, what if the two remaining Oceanic Six are Walt and Michael? No spoiler that they’re returning - you just need to read the names on the titles.
Comment by Sayid_and_Hugo's_lovechild — February 17, 2008 @ 6:44 am
First post to this site, so please be gentle…
I think that one of the Oceanic six may be Aaron… but not Claire. I think that Kate may have “adopted” him, and the “he” that she was talking about in the season three finale was Aaron. This would likely be revealed in the next episode, since it is Kate-centric. This would of course make us question, “What happened to Claire?”
If this is true, I think that the remaining member of the Oceanic Six is Walt. Of the remaining major characters, I think Sun and Jin wouldn’t leave without the other, Sawyer and Locke don’t want to leave, Rose and Bernard wouldn’t leave without the other, and Michael (who will obviously be returning at some point since the actor playing him is already showing up in the credits), will likely be killed by another Lostie at some point for his treachery.
Speaking of Michael and Walt, I think that Walt is the “man on the boat” that Ben speaks of. Since we know that they will return to the show at some point, this would certainly make sense. Ben’s bearings that he gave Michael at the end of Season 2 could have been intended to send Micheal directly to the boat, where Ben promised that he would be “rescued.” Obviously, Walt has a connection still to the island and Jacob, as shown in the Season 3 finale, so perhaps Walt and Micheal are being held on the boat as prisoners, and Walt is communicating back telepathically to Jacob/Ben/?. The apparent time difference we saw in the last episode (By the way, 31 minutes is 8 + 23 and 15 + 16… the numbers subtly resurface!) could be used to explain how Walt has grown up (Locke noted that he was “taller” so it is obviously an upcoming plot element).
So the time difference, obviously, isn’t a constant 31 minutes, and it apparantly isn’t linear either. By rewatching the scene where the boat launches the rocket, about 15 seconds elapsed from the time the payload was launched and the rocket was expected to arrive. But the actual time was approximately 120 times that. If Mike and Walt left on day 67, and the last episode happened on day 93 (http://tviv.org/Lost/Timeline_4) then 26 days have elapsed since Walt left the island. 26 x 120 = 3120 / 365 = ~8.5 years! It didn’t appear that Walt was THAT much older, but one can see how it could be explained that he he has significantly aged.
One final thought. We have ONLY seen Jacob’s cabin at night, so maybe it only appears at night. This would explain why Locke didn’t find it during the day. When I first saw the dark dust on the ground last season, I assumed that it was placed there to somehow “imprison” Jacob to a set area. However, now I think it was placed there by “Others” to mark the perimeter where the cabin appears. This might explain why it seemed to “move” when Hurley was running from it earlier in the season.
That’s all I got… I welcome your comments…
Comment by Dwayne Stevens — February 17, 2008 @ 7:04 am
“One final thought. We have ONLY seen Jacob’s cabin at night, so maybe it only appears at night. This would explain why Locke didn’t find it during the day. When I first saw the dark dust on the ground last season, I assumed that it was placed there to somehow “imprison” Jacob to a set area. However, now I think it was placed there by “Others” to mark the perimeter where the cabin appears. This might explain why it seemed to “move” when Hurley was running from it earlier in the season”.
I really like that, makes you wonder about the comment made re the strange way the light falls. I agree maybe the gravel is an indicator rather than a prison??
One thing that confuses me though is why its not always there, maybe the cabin is the vortex, maybe it cant be in two places at once, and maybe it needs light in order to disguise itself.
Additionally, how come that grvel never looks like its been pelted with hard rain, cos lets face it, its always neatly piled despite the fact it rains on that island ALL the time
Comment by Kelly — February 17, 2008 @ 7:42 am
Does anybody think there is any validity in making a connection between Else’s boss, who dislikes new technology, and Jacob, who dislikes the flashlights/technology?
Comment by Jonathon — February 17, 2008 @ 9:36 am
I’m thinking that the person Kate has to get back to in the season 3 finale is Ben or someone who has some level of control over her. If you remember, Ben has a liking for Kate, he forced her to have dinner on the beach in a past episode. Ben definitely has control over Sayid and probably Kate as well.
Comment by lost phenatic — February 17, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
sorry if sum1 has already suggested this but wasn’t the time difference 7 minutes? as on the profs clock it said 24/25 and on the one from the rocket it said 31?? wer’nt they supposed to be running in time with each other?
Comment by ian — February 17, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
Didn’t Jacob in S3 say that he didnt like new technology and went a little crazy over a torch?? Maybe the Economist is Jacob…..
Comment by LostLover — February 17, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
The guy that plays Ben was on the View this past week and he said that a character that we have come to love will be killed off soon…. I’m thinking that it’s Desmond once he’s on the ship he will be killed. I hope it’s not Sawyer!
Comment by fwannee — February 17, 2008 @ 6:12 pm
On sawyer being off the island because Kate said “he will be wondering where i am”
remember she’s a convict so maybe she’s made some deal, i dont speak you get me off the hook, and its her parole officer or something.
Person in coffin, now weren’t they shot? Sayid is assassinating by shooting…
Comment by Grinspoon — February 18, 2008 @ 3:12 am
Ok, i dont think it is Michael on the Freighter, it looks like it is him at the mo, but it cant be because when Naomi and co got to the island they seemed shocked that the losties were there, now surely if Michael had met up with the freighter, then surely he would have told them about the island and try to get the losties rescued… thoughts?
Comment by jim-bob — February 18, 2008 @ 5:02 am
Has anyone else noticed how no-one has slept for over two days, yet no-one is tired?
It’s true, if you watch ‘Greatest Hits’ through to ‘The Economist’ it seems that events unfold pretty much non-stop. Night falls twice during these episodes (the first night the Others come for the pregnant women, the next night Farrady parachutes to the island).
I could be wrong, but it seems that the events of ‘Greatest Hits’ took place two days ago in island time, and no-one has ever stopped to sleep. Yet they all seem to be performing at 100% despite all the trekking they’ve been doing.
Comment by Ross H — February 18, 2008 @ 5:14 am
I have to say I did wonder why there was a delay in the signals showing up between the physicist, then miles took ages for his signal to kick in and then the girl was later too, maybe that might be another example of the time delay?
Comment by Kelly — February 18, 2008 @ 6:00 am
About the 31 minutes, don’t jump to conclusions about what that means. I’ve thought about that ALOT and can’t settle on one interpretation of what that means. Bottom line: don’t forget that Desmond’s System Failure Printout said that the plane came down on 9/22/04 ISLAND TIME. And that was the same day as OUTSIDE WORLD time. And Desmond dodn’t appear incredulous that it said 9/22/04, so this must not have contradicted his estimation of how long he had been on the island, so the Prinout wasn’t just tracking outside world time. Let’s face it: there is no time discrpancy between the outside world and the island. And if there is, it’s only 31 minutes max, and it’s constant. But what would that mean anyway? Would that mean that the islnd doesn’t EXIST in the present? It couldn’t mean that. The Island of Hawaii existed 31 minutes ago, and now it’s 31 minutes later and it still exists. If anything, a 31 minute time discrepancy can only mean that wheb you arrive on the island you go back in time 31 minutes.
Comment by BobW — February 18, 2008 @ 6:49 am
Remember when Michael and Walt left the island Ben told them to “stay on this heading” and “a freighter will pick you up”.
Comment by Greg — February 18, 2008 @ 7:31 am
Thoery here, I beleive the person in the coffin is….Hurley. the reason know one would be there is because when Hurley gets back to the island he is still cursed and all of his loved ones have perished. the reason I beleive this to be true is because when Hurley meets with Jack in the “future” he regrets his decision to join team Locke. Since joining team locke Hurley had already betrayed the trust of Sayid and Kate by pretending to be tied up and left behind. When Hurley gets off the island his is driven mad by the something that happens on the island, that he feels tremendous guilt about. The prompts Hurlye to want to get back to the island, but with out either Jack or Locke to guide him he is “lost” and is either killed by Mr. Abbandon or commits suicide. I know that would be crazy, but think about it. When Jack learns of Hurley’s death he is driven almost to suicide himself and I think that is because he felt guilty for not helping or beleivng in Hulrey when Hugo first tells him that they have to go back.
Also, Ben is not a murderer, he was not really responsible for the gasing of the Dharma group, but rather just someone who knew it was going to happen. Even though there was chance that he would have been killed when he said the Tom was going to kill Sayid, Jin, and Bernard he ordered that Tom just fire shots in the ground. Does it seem fishy to anyone else that all of the sudden Ben is on a killing rampage, except for one thing everyone he shoots doesn’t seem to die. I know for sure that Ben knew that Locke’s left kidney was removed yet he shot him in that exact spot. Also this is something that the writer’s pointed out to us. And as for Charlotte, Ben happen to shoot her in the place wear she was protected by a bullet-proof vest. Another thing I noticed and it’s hard to tell, but I know Lapidus is not wearing a vest and it doesn’t appear to me that Faraday is wearing one either. I don’t know what that means, but it could mean something. The incident with Charollte isn’t as pecuilar, but the fact the he shot her and she didn’t die just like when he shot Locke is pecuilar(?).
I don’t think that the “economist” is Jacob I could be wrong, but as far as new technology is concerned a pager is a big step up from a flashlight, that’s not even condsidering that he would have to use a phone just to send a page. I do think that whomever Elsa was working for is the same person that the freighter people are working with at least Naomi, judging by their matching bracletts.
Comment by Eric Larson — February 18, 2008 @ 8:31 am
sorry, one more comment on my dead Hurley theory, the last time that Hurley was in a mental institution was when a few people died when the deck that he was standing on collapsed. I think that people die again and Hurley feels guilty about it and is driven to mental help, again.
Comment by Eric Larson — February 18, 2008 @ 8:36 am
sorry, just trying to tie loose ends. The reason Kate doesn’t go to Hurley’s funeral is because she is mad at him about something that happens on the island and blames Hurley for it. Jack however either isn’t there when this incident happens or doesn’t blame Hurley and that is why it is not a stupid question when Jack askes it and Kate’s answer isn’t ridiculos to Jack when Kate she says “why would I go.”
Comment by Eric Larson — February 18, 2008 @ 8:46 am
I was wondering if the reason Locke and Ben might have traded Miles is because he can speak to the dead? Jacob seems to be a ghost or some sort of supernatural being - what do you think?
Comment by loramacabar — February 18, 2008 @ 12:31 pm
Great correlation to Faraday’s experiment and Walt’s potential projected age! I want to address each of these watercooler questions separately, though…..
Who was Elsa’s employer and why did Ben want him and other specific people dead?
I too had a flash that it was Ben; we only need to remember how bloodlessly he ordered his other hatchetman, Mikhail, to eliminate Bonnie and Greta so they wouldn’t tell other Others that Ben had been deceiving them…..I haven’t seen mention of this anywhere else yet, but did anyone else notice how much Elsa looked like she could be Alex’s (Tania Raimonde’s) sister? Mere coincidence? On THIS show? Interesting that one aspect of “The Economist” focussed upon Ben’s magic closet and a drawer bulging with various currencies - money is the first thing upon which Sayid’s eyes fall - anyhow, I surmise that Ben was targeting Elsa all along for some reason…..one other note: I’m not convinced that the bracelet she was wearing is identical to that of Naomi’s, only that it reminded Sayid of the similar deceit that also took her life.
What’s up with Jacob’s teleporting shack?
Hard to answer this one just yet, but see my answer to the next question for possible clues…..
What do you believe the explanation is for the delay of Faraday’s rocket?
This was a convincing demonstration of how the Earth’s electromagnetic field affects life, gravity and, yes, time…..Time is, after all, the measurement of frequency/vibration and it regulates body rhythms, possibly explaining why mothers are dying on an island whose local field may preempt normal cues from the EMF. Whether the Hatch imploding has changed these circumstances may be ultimately revealed by Sun’s - and Kate’s? - fate, as well as shed light on how it is that Rose and Locke’s health had so markedly improved (cancer is, above all else, a disease of time discrepancies, directly related to a cellular biological clock running too fast, failing to stop as nature intended - and, by the way, virtually identical to prenatal cells). While the empirical measurement of time elapsed may not differ by a mechanical clock, that instrument is in some ways not an accurate one - Time is often quite subjective and that may have everything to do with one’s aggregate vibrational rate (baseline average predicated by that of all molecules, cells, organs and systems in the human body; see the second-season ep “SOS” for more clarification about how location relates to resonance, and Google ‘vivaxis’) within an EMF, which has a dampening effect on ours and the Earth’s vibrational rate as field strength increases. If Daniel’s misgivings are any indication, the time elapsed to maintain a cloak of invisibility over the island may be rapidly decreasing - and it may be soon completely VISIBLE. No question that Abbadon’s team is, at the very least, familiar with the nature of DHARMA’s work…..
How do you feel about the moral shakiness that Hurley and Sayid displayed in this episode?
That it has become accepted is disorienting, but the survivors’ moral compass really began to malfunction in Season 3. Hurley is emotionally exhausted from so many deaths he hasn’t been able to properly mourn (Libby, Ana-Lucia and of course, Jesus Charlie - the meeting between he and Hugo The Baptist was telegraphed in Charlie’s “Fire + Water” visions of Hurley in a robe - also, Charlie’s sacrifice is very reminiscent of Sydney Carton’s in “A Tale Of Two Cities” - the Season 3 premiere’s title now carries with it added significance) that his equilibrium is really precarious, which is how Locke can still exert so much control over him. As for Sayid, he has straddled any line all along and is giving in to a pure survival mode, which is second nature to a former member of the Republican Guard. He’s doing “what needs to be done”, as he intoned to Charlie on the beach in “One Of Them”.
Has Ben been leaving the island regularly? If so, why and how?
I’m wondering if DHARMA’s experiments with environmental manipulation and bi-location has provided the ability for Ben to use those properties for some sort of teleportation, or maybe he’s just able to sneak out from time to time using more conventional modes - OK, so a submarine may not exactly fit that description - unless, as some people have theorized about Desmond’s time-tripping, the island’s properties can facilitate some sort of highly-directed lucid dreaming that Ben too is utilizing to project himself off-island, which all explains why the reaction to Walt’s similar tendencies…..
Who is RG?
I’m almost positive that R.G. stands for ‘Regina’, and before I saw the picture of Zoe Bell (actually thought that was the actress who played Elsa, who could pass for being of Scottish descent - Bell is a Scottish surname) I suspected we might be again singing a certain out-of character Alice Cooper tune [i.e., "Clones (We're All)", 1980] since more than a few posters have observed how much Regina sounded like Naomi and the sentiment, ‘I’ll always be with you,’ doesn’t really do much to dissuade anyone from that line of reasoning…..could also indicate that some sort of organ donation took place or that the two were at least twins, anyhow…..
Comment by ogam5 — February 18, 2008 @ 3:59 pm
I have come up with a possible theory after seeing The Economist. These are not spoilers because I have no idea what is going to happen, just my theory.
What if the next mind-bending twist turns out to be that Ben is actually the bad guy? I mean, we already know he can be bad in some ways, but what if he is REALLY the bad guy and the end game of Lost is that the Losties will figure this out, get rid of Ben, and return to the island to live there forever without the fear of being shot, attacked, kidnapped, killed by Smokey, etc.
I keep thinking - what if it turns out the Dharma people were actually the good people? From what we saw of their life on the island, they didn’t seem like such terrible folks. They had little pastel houses, kids in their own school, kind of like they were a group of hippies who wanted to have their happy commune or something like that.
Maybe Ben, in his twisted mind, just associated the Dharma initiative with his dysfunctional and mean father and that’s part of why he had them gassed. Now he knows he is in big trouble with whatever group is after him, because they know he killed off Dharma and they are trying to reclaim the island. What if Ben is actually working for Hanso/Widmore or whoever the bad guys are supposed to be? I never would have thought that as a possibility until this episode. Maybe he’s not really trying to save the island at all, just himself.
Also I sort of wondered if Elsa was also working for Ben, due to the fact she told Sayid her boss was in Berlin only once or twice a year. We know Sayid and Ben were in Berlin at the same time. If Ben is traveling back and forth to the island, it would make sense he would only be in a city once or twice a year.
I don’t necessarily think the photo of Ben was taken off island. Judging by his outfit and the older monitor in the background, it looks like it was taken around the 1970s. Maybe it was taken on island, since we know they had computers and stuff there. It could have been taken before the purge, maybe by someone who was with Dharma at the time.
It’s just a thought. With this show, nothing would surprise me!
Comment by msintn — February 19, 2008 @ 8:32 am