Episode 5.12 — "Dead is Dead"

Greetings!

So, yeah, I knew this episode would be epic. I mean, have we ever had a Ben-centric episode that didn’t leave us with our jaws open? With three episodes left, in addition to the two-hour finale, “Dead is Dead” really began to pick up the pace (if that’s possible) to lead us into the end game for Season 5. Are you ready??

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1) Locke and Ben — I know I claimed last week that the Miles and Hurley time travel discussion was one of the best exchanges in LOST history. If I knew what was coming in this episode, I would have curbed my enthusiasm until the airing of “Dead is Dead.” It was extremely refreshing, albeit strange, to see the tables turned on Ben. Honestly, it was getting painful to see Locke manipulated by Ben over and over again. But I’m confident that Locke now appreciates all of these experiences as they have taught him the ins and outs of Ben’s weaselly ways.



So what exactly does Locke know? Was he resurrected immediately upon returning from the Island? I do not think so. I think he showed up at the camp a day or two after the crash and that’s what freaked everybody out. So I wonder if his body was taken to the Temple (or elsewhere) to be resurrected and infused with the Island’s knowledge. Locke claims he is the man he always was, but I’m not so sure about that. I think there might be more here than meets the eye.

2) Ben’s future — What is Ben’s purpose now? I assume since Smokey let him live, he still has some role to fulfill before the Island will let him die. The Big Black Beast did not kill Ben because he is not yet worthy to enter the afterlife. Some say that by coming out alive, Ben actually failed his test. He might have more redeeming to do before the Island is finished with him. This might explain why Ben seemed almost disappointed in the results of his encounter with the apparently ancient beast. Is following Locke’s every word worse than dying by the hands, or rather the plumes, of Smokey?

One thing this episode showed us is that Ben became a leader very similar to that of Charles. It seems like they both ended up letting their lust for power take control and followed what they thought was best, not necessarily the Island or Jacob. I’m curious to see if Ben has actually changed, or if he will still attempt to follow his will in order to aid the outcome he wants.

Another interesting scene in this episode was the kidnapping of Alex. According to the story Danielle told the LOSTies, she saw a plume of black smoke the day before “they” came and took her baby. As we saw in the episode, Ben was ordered to do it (as part of his Other training?). I don’t know if Danielle’s story is completely accurate, but I do know I am now a lot more open to believing she doesn’t remember everything so well and we cannot take what she says as face value.

3) Ilana, Widmore and the War — Hmm, so are several passengers on the plane really plants provided by Widmore, who is setting up for the War? Or are they some other faction attempting to gain an upper hand on the Island? Ilana turned evil rather quickly and I was surprised to see her lash out at Lapidus the way she did. C’mon, he’s just a harmless “lawnmower man!”

The riddle—“What lies in the shadow of the statue?”—immediately reminded me of Desmond and the snowman riddle his replacement was expected to know the answer to. So was this a way to identify who was on their side of the War? And what is the answer to this riddle? My initial guess was the Temple, which makes sense because it is probably a huge piece in the Island chess game. Another guess could be Jughead. Maybe Widmore sent another team to take care of that before he attempts to venture to the Island himself?

The outriggers were mentioned again in this episode, which makes me think we will see that outrigger chase scene from earlier this season very soon. Remember, when the Lefties flashed to the “future,” found outriggers on the beach formerly known as LOSTieville, and then Juliet shot someone in a pursing outrigger after they stole one? Any guesses on who got shot? Well we know it wasn’t Caesar…

4) Cerebrus — What did you think of the carving on the stone directly above Smokey’s vent? It looked like a depiction of Anubis (Egyptian god associated with mummification, death and guiding souls into the afterlife) summoning or interacting with Smokey, or as some call it, Cerebrus. But who is in charge here? Is Anubis trying to appease Cerebrus, or is Cerebrus under the direction of Anubis?



Remember Radzinsky’s blast door map? You know, the invisible painting on the wall in the Swan hatch? Some say there is a reference to "Cerebrus" in that painting, which many believe is a name given to Smokey. I find it a fitting name since we have seen, on several occasions, Smokey access the memories and images in someone’s mind and then projects them back to the person.

If Radzinsky was indeed referencing the Smoke Monster and its vents, that means the Dharma elites knew a lot more about the Island than we were originally led to believe.



5) Big Questions — Here are some things we should be asking questions about as the season progresses:

*The Island — I have shared some thoughts on this before and will most likely continue as more and more layers are peeled back. So is the Island a portal to the afterlife? This can be supported by the many Egyptian references we have been seeing a lot of recently. Or is the Island the lost Garden of Eden? Many believe Eden was where life began and it would make sense that life as we know it would also end there, no? Was Eden sucked through one of the electromagnetic pockets, falling into disarray and eventually taken over by the Others, or Death Guardians? Is the Island some sort of space/time ship sent from the future to prevent some sort of disaster??

*The Others — Who are they? Where did they come from? Are they sent from the future? Are they a blend of Island natives and recruits? Are they ancient, ageless, immortal beings? Wait, Richard is the only one we know who doesn’t age, right? Charles ages. Ben ages. Both were leaders of the Others. Hmm. Were some passengers of the Black Rock who were transformed by the Temple/Smokey? What is the work they are doing? What are they trying to accomplish? Or prevent? Are they guardians or guides to the Underworld/afterlife?



*The LOSTies — Are they going to end up being rulers of the Island? Maybe even Others? They are the only time travelers we have met on the show, and that gives them some special favor with the Island. There has been more than one encounter where the LOSTies have provided the all-knowing Richard with some info he didn’t expect anyone to know. I think they are more integral to the Island and its purpose than we realize…even at this point.

6) Favorite lines/scenes (feel free to add your own):
-Ben telling Locke he has no idea what the Island wants and John responding, with his creepily calm smile, “Are you sure about that?”
-SMOKEY!!!
-The Wizard of Oz-esque scene where Ben sees some of the horrible things he has done. Was anyone else expecting the Wicked Witch to fly by on her broom with that cackle of hers?
-Des beating Ben to a bloody pulp



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I would love to hear what you thought about this episode. Personally, I think it will go down as one of the best in LOST history, although I am certain that we will get another episode to top it. Maybe even this season…

Feel free to post comments or send me a message if you have any questions about what I have shared or things I did not discuss.

Until next time…

Namaste…and good luck.

SFO