Greetings!
So, since I didn’t get to a recap last week, my original plan was to write a “double recap” this week to cover the last two episodes. However, after watching “The Constant” a few times, I cannot stop thinking about it. Therefore, this installment of my LOST ramblings will mostly cover Desmond’s episode and the HUGE reveals we received.
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“The Constant” -Episode 4.05-
Get Down With the Sickness — A rapid and fluid switch in consciousness from two different time periods.
I think this revelation has finally answered some HUGE questions that stretch as far back as season 1. While the plot did not move significantly forward in this episode, it might have been the most revealing yet…
1) Possible Issues Solved:
*Is Desmond’s side effect the sickness that has been referred to since season 1? When Danielle and her crew arrived on the Island (allegedly 16 years ago) she claims she had to kill her entire crew because they became “sick.” Now, looking at Desmond in this episode, you might not think he would be much of a danger. But imagine you just crashed on this mysterious Island and all of a sudden, your crew begins passing out and waking up confused and disoriented, bleeding from the nose, falling all over the place, etc… For a woman with child, I can see how this would be extremely frightening. What’s more interesting to me, however, is why Danielle did not contract the disease. According to Faraday, exposure to electromagnetism or radiation is a factor for these “side effects,” so is it possible that since Danielle was pregnant, she was bedridden and did not do much on the boat, keeping her free from exposure to any of those things. *sigh* Who wouldn’t LOVE to see a Rousseau flashback???
*This experience of Desmond’s could also shed light on the flashbacks we’ve been seeing since the beginning of the series. It is possible that the side effect of coming or leaving the Island on the wrong bearing gives you FULL awareness of this consciousness shift? Could all of our LOSTies be experiencing some varying degree of this? That is, some sort of subconscious consciousness shift? Whenever we see an 815er’s flashback, the way it snaps back into Island reality looks a LOT like Desmond’s experience in this episode. This would be an awesome revelation, making the flashbacks not just some random plot device, but an actual subconscious reliving of the event by the characters.
*Throughout the series we have been exposed to several encounters with “the whispers.” Could this perhaps be the traveling consciousness of those who have lived on/died on/visited our Island? This also makes me think of the possibility that the consciousness of the dead can still travel to different places and times. What comes to mind is the most recent (and extremely bizarre) encounter between Hurley and Charlie in the future where Charlie says, “I’m dead…but I’m also here.” Whaaaaaaaa???
*Could this also somehow explain the nature of Jacob? Is Jacob somehow trapped between these worlds? Could he somehow be “stuck” and “unstuck in time” (Slaughterhouse Five, anyone?) at the same moment? Is this why he needs Locke’s help?
*What I would love to know is if this “power” can be harnessed and manipulated. Is there some sort of device that can replicate this process? Was that one of Dharma’s interests? Now, of course, if there was one person who could do it…it’s Ben. Could this explain how he could leave this Island without anyone knowing? Does he have the ability to visit any place in the past, present or future? Man, this would give Ben a LOT of power.
Now I know there are holes in all of these theories, but I think this episode truly proved that we have reached the answer portion of the series. Things are all starting to fall into place and they are NOT afraid to finally give us clues as to what the frick is going on!
2) the other Others — One of my LOST buddies recently asked me about the other Others. Like, where did Richard Alpert & Company go and what the heck have they been doing? Well, remember it has only been a few days so, what seems like a year to us, is practically a blink of the eye in TV land. Anyway, I have a GOOD feeling that we will be learning more about our Other friends very soon. And I am very interested in learning more about the Temple (which is where they are according to a reference from Ben late last season)!
3) the new Others — So it’s pretty obvious that our friends on the boat and the new ones on the Island have a higher understanding of the Island and its properties. Charlotte was very adamant about not saying anything to the LOSTies and keeping up the act that they have no idea what’s going on but…gotta love Daniel. He’s like the freighter Hurley in that he rarely keeps his mouth shut. But that’s good news for us!
4) Desmond’s Flash-all-over-the-place — There are a couple of significant differences between the previous Desmond time jump and this one. First, there was no constant flow the two periods of consciousness in “Flashes Before Your Eyes.” Desmond simply relived that one experience and then came back (with flashes of the future). I see this as a side effect of turning the failsafe key, and the most recent experience as a side effect of leaving the Island.
The other difference between the two Desmond episodes is this: in “Flashes Before Your Eyes,” Desmond’s 2004 consciousness traveled back in time, and in “The Constant,” Desmond’s 1996 consciousness traveled forward in time to 2004. Could these just be side effects of the failsafe key and leaving on the wrong bearing? Anyone, anyone? And now that Desmond has found his constant, does this consciousness shift continue? Can he manipulate it??
Oh, and one thing I wanted to note about Desmond’s time traveling in this episode was the scene with Charles Widmore. First of all, papa Widmore was at an auction with Black Rock/Hanso-related paraphernalia and he ended up purchasing the journal of one of the Black Rock crewmembers. Also, didn’t he treat Des with a small amount of respect? I mean, I know he said he wanted Penny to tell Des himself that she didn’t care for him, but even this was a change from the previous Widmore that would do anything to be sure they didn’t even make contact. So, when he gave her address to Des, a red flag went up in my mind. Then he left the water running after he clogged the drain (at least that’s what it looked like to me). The sound of the water running was the first sound Des heard when he returned to 1996 and could have been the cause for him jumping back. Does Widmore know more than we think? I'm not sure how to interpret that scene…all I know is it gave me a funny feeling.
5) (current) Des and Penny scene (FINALLY) — One of my favorite scenes this season, hands down. We’ve waited SO long to see this moment and I think it solidified the importance that these two have in the overall series. It was awesome to watch 1996 Desmond smile as 2004 Desmond spoke with Pen for the first time in three years.
Ooo, and Penny said, “I know about the Island”...confirming many theories that the Widmores are instrumental in the current power struggle for the Island.
6) Favorites from “The Constant” (feel free to add more):
*Opening scene when Desmond brings his 1996 consciousness with him to 2004 and says to Sayid, “WHO ARE YOU???”
*First time we see Fisher Stevens (aka Minkowski): “It’s happening to you too…isn’t it?” (However, I don’t think that will be the last of him…)
*ALL of the 1996 Des/Dan scenes!!! (especially when Daniel puts on his radiation vest and Des asks, “What do you do about your head?”)
*Final scene when Daniel looks through his journal to find that Desmond Hume is his constant. He’s SO gonna get unstuck in time…if he isn’t already…
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I know I didn’t get to a lot of the big things in the episode but, as usual, I just hope it serves as a starting point of discussion. If something isn’t clear (I know I can go on some tangents) feel free to message me and I’d be happy to...attempt...an explanation. =)
I can’t wait to see what’s next!!!!
Until next time…
Namaste…and good luck.
SFO
1) Possible Issues Solved:
3) the new Others — So it’s pretty obvious that our friends on the boat and the new ones on the Island have a higher understanding of the Island and its properties. Charlotte was very adamant about not saying anything to the LOSTies and keeping up the act that they have no idea what’s going on but…gotta love Daniel. He’s like the freighter Hurley in that he rarely keeps his mouth shut. But that’s good news for us!
5) (current) Des and Penny scene (FINALLY) — One of my favorite scenes this season, hands down. We’ve waited SO long to see this moment and I think it solidified the importance that these two have in the overall series. It was awesome to watch 1996 Desmond smile as 2004 Desmond spoke with Pen for the first time in three years.
