'Lost': And the dead guy is ... Jeremy Bentham?!?

Chat about "Lost" here at noon PST. on Friday, May 30.

"Lost's" fourth season ended in a flurry of action, a few major revelations and whole lot of familiar beats. As a season-ender, it ranks below last year's game-changing flash-forward shocker and Season 2's four-toed statue and listening station surprise. (Speaking of the statue, I demand that be addressed next year.) But it's well above the disappointing hatch-opening at the end of season 1.

The biggest shock, of course, was the identity of the person in the coffin at the end of last season. As we learn at the beginning of the episode, the bearded Jack exists three years ahead of the just-rescued Jack. Which puts the flash-forwards somewhere around 2008. And according to Kate in 2008, the man in the coffin is Jeremy Bentham. Don't feel slow if you had to rack your brains the first time you heard the name; I thought I had missed something as well. It wasn't until a few scenes later, when Hurley alluded to Sayid that Bentham was a pseudonym, that I began to feel a little relief. There's a lot of loose ends on this show to keep track of, and I think we all live with a little fear that we've completely forgotten some important clue. (But we haven't forgotten about that statue.) Bentham, it turns out, is just a pseudonym for none other than John Locke.

The Locke twist was reserved for the very last scene in the episode, but anyone multitasking while watching could have easily figured this out through a Google search. Bentham was a noted 19th century philosopher whose main claim to fame was his advocacy of utilitarianism -- a belief that the morality of any action is dictated by its utility to the overall happiness of the group. In other words, the ends justify the means. Bentham's rejection of the traditional view of individual rights was a reversal from the beliefs of such 17th century philosophers as John Locke. In the three years between his ascendancy as the leader of the Others and his death, it seems Locke underwent a pretty major change in his value system. Just what happened on that island after he moved it? 

But enough about dead philosophers. What about the action?

For starters, we got an intense shootout in the jungle between Sayid, Kate, the Others and the Keamy Squad -- a fight the Keamy Squad ultimately lost. Then we got a bumpy helicopter ride, a thrilling dive from said helicopter by Sawyer, an exploding freighter, Ben going feral on Keamy and more assassination action from the very suave "Sayid Bond" in 2008.

All very exciting, but I have to be honest -- a lot of the beats seemed to have been lifted from previous season finales. Once again, we found the Oceanic 815 survivors adrift at sea in a little raft, only to be spotted by a boat's searchlight far in the distance. Season one may have ended with Walt being dragged away by the Others and this one may have had a reunion between Desmond and Penny, but it felt a little familiar. The same thing with the revelations of the Orchid Station. Just like last year, we found ourselves in a previously unseen Dharma Station, with the survivors confronting an enemy they thought they had previously killed. Last year it was Mikhail in the Looking Glass; this year it was Keamy in the Orchid. Then we had the moving of the island -- a process involving Ben turning a wheel hidden in a room below the station that results in the sky over the island getting whited out. Remember Desmond crawling below the Pearl Station at the end of season two to turn the failsafe key?

I choose to think these recalls were done purposely. Like great epic poetry, the themes and imagery return over and over in subtly changed ways. The alternative is that the writers are starting to run out of ideas. With two seasons left to go, that's a ghastly prospect. Let's just assume the familiarity was intentional.

Once again, the episode belonged to Michael Emerson, whose portrayal of Benjamin Linus gets deeper and richer with each passing week. One moment he was simmering with animal rage at Keamy's taunting, hiding in dark like Rambo, until he sprang out and stabbed Keamy up really good. Then he was back into coldblooded and remorseless mode, channeling his inner Dick Cheney when Locke confronted him with the idea that he was responsible for the deaths of everyone aboard the freighter. His response: "So?" (Come to think of it, maybe Dick Cheney has just been channeling his inner Benjamin Linus.) Then he was in full-on tragic hero mode as he slowly turned the wheel that would at once save the island from destruction and ensure his permanent exile from it. The growing anguish on his face as the wheel moved was truly moving.

New questions arose. The most intriguing was probably raised by Miles, when he confronted Charlotte about her previous connection to the island. According to Miles, she's been trying to get back to the island. And if Charlotte's response is to be believed, it's apparently the place she was born. This development must have been a relief to Rebecca Mader, the actress who plays Charlotte. Up until now, she's had a whole lot of nothing to do. And on "Lost," that usually means death is around the corner.

We also have to wonder about the fate of Jin and Michael. Though I'm not too worried about Jin. Remember that Daniel Faraday was on his way back to the freighter in the boat when it exploded. Jin was surely rescued by Faraday. More troubling is Michael's fate. In his final moments, he saw Jack's father, who told him he could go. It's similar to Jack's father appearing to Claire before her disappearance and I think we can begin to assume that Christian Shepherd is now functioning a little like the Angel of Death. Perhaps the Walt of 2008 (who paid a visit to Hurley) has begun seeing visions of his father. Kate has certainly been seeing Claire, who warned her in a very intense scene not to take Aaron back to the island. (Too bad Claire couldn't have been that frightening for the rest of her time on "Lost.")

Which brings us to the final scene -- Ben confronting bearded Jack over Locke's body. It seems the Oceanic Six will indeed have to return to the island. But the trick, according to Ben, is that they all must go back, including Locke. Sayid and Hurley shouldn't be a problem -- Sayid busted Hurley out of the mental ward. Kate is angry with Jack, but she's sane enough to be bargained with. Even Locke won't be too much trouble -- we've all seen the wonders you can do with a corpse in the "Weekend at Bernie's" movies. But in one of the most surprising twists, it seems Sun may have flipped to the dark side. After wresting control of her father's company, we see her meeting up with the evil, evil Charles Widmore in London. It seems Jin's apparent death was too much for her. She's out to get Ben. And what that means for Jack and company remains to be seen.

It was definitely the most hurried "Lost" finale we've seen in a while, with lots of information thrown at us almost every second. But for the first time, it really felt like the story was winding down instead of building up. Fewer grand mysteries were thrown at us. Instead we got smaller ones, little things for us to nibble on for the next eight months, instead of major questions to choke on. Desmond finally got reunited with Penny. For one couple, it seems life will move on. For the rest of us, it's stasis until 2009.

-- Patrick Kevin Day

(Photo courtesy ABC)

Comments

[oakmonster]

My first guess back in the original flash-forward was right!! I *knew* it was Locke in the coffin! There are only two people left with no family to mourn them. Jack wouldn't have cried for Sawyer and Kate would've been there, ditto if it was Sayid. But I digress.

Can someone please hand Michael Emerson an Emmy or Golden Globe already? Thanks.

Oh and score one for all of the time traveling bunnies! I don't know why, that conversation between Locke and Ben was hilarious to me.

[Matthew]

I think the word you actually need to be using here is 'revelation', not 'reveal'. I understand you are using it colloquially and it is used in the trades a lot these days, but it just makes you sound ignorant.

[Webb]

So are we to to believe Desmond needs to go back too? As for the statue, thats a homage, It's the Fred Flinstone version of The Colossus of Rhodes.
Yes Virginia, we need more numbered, time-traveling bunnies!

[Scott]

One other thing about the real-life Jeremy Bentham: He is the inventor of the Panopticon, a type of prison building that allows an observer to watch prisoners without the prisoners being able to tell whether they are being watched, thereby conveying what one architect has called the "sentiment of an invisible omniscience," according to WikiPedia.

[John Donne]

Well my DVR managed to record Lost, but lost (you'll excuse the expression) the last bit as the show ran over and my recording didn't. So can someone please explain the last 2 scenes a bit better? At 11 PM, the Oceanic 6 were in the life raft watching the island disappear and then -- no more recording. How did Desmond hook up with Penny? When did Ben confront Jack? How did they reveal that Locke is Bentham?

Thanks!

[Me]

I thought the finale was brilliant. Not as shocking as last year's, but it was well done. I agree with everything said about Michael Emerson. The man can do no wrong. He is just golden.

John Donne:

ABC.com has the episode online, you can watch whatever you missed there.

[HeckSpawn]

Nobody commenting on the insights on the actual nature of the Island? How about the chamber of "strange matter". Perhaps next season we'll see a connection between the strange matter, the "smoke monster", as well as the antique hardware in the strange matter chamber.

[Adam]

Was Sayid vs Keamy not the best hand-to-hand combat on TV in recent memory? I have never found my self so enthralled in TV fight. I was as into this fight as a Ali vs. Frazier fight in which I had money riding on the protagonist. And mostly, it was the context around the fight which made it such a gripping, emotional ride. The enmity for Keamy. Finally, having an equally skilled opponent for Sayid. I couldn't tear myself away from that scene. Dramatic action, like 87's Lakers vs Celtics.

[Claudia]

I also had the huntch at first that the dead man was Locke - but then I was thrown off by him not being one of the six.

Anyway - I disagree that Desmond and Penny are happily ever after - after all, Ben promised to avenge his dead daughter by taking Penny's life!!!!!

[Eric]

Well if I were to write an absolutely engaging TV show like “Lost” I would not want a reviewer as you dictating what episodes should and should not contain.
Perhaps it’s the intention of the writers to keep you guessing? You use your political views as a reflection of a characters motives and actions! Shame on you as a writer, it is people like you that the writers and producers should shun.
The show “Lost” with all your so called faults and questions is for the individual to figure out; this is what makes it a great show. Comparing this seasons ending to others seasons is like comparing apples and oranges. Perhaps you flunked high school physics and cannot comprehend how mass, energy, and time play an integral role in everyone’s life.

[Dr. Sick]

See the real Jeremy Bentham: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=3365

[Mike C.]

I wanted Sayid to rip Keamy's head off haha. Amazing how much hatred I could have for a character that was only in 3-4 episodes! He was one Grade AAA a-hole!

Wondering if the island really moved, or was just made "invisible" because they shifted it in time, like the bunny. Halliwax said that although the bunny was still, there, to the observer it would appear that it was gone because it shifted in time while we did not. Then the orientation tape started to rewind before he could explain any further...

[Locke's Hair]

That's great recall Claudia! I thought maybe we'd seen the last of Desmond, but that declaration by Ben to kill Penny will definitely play it's part...

[Sundance]

Thanks--it's nice to know I'm not the only viewer who thought Ben was channeling Dick Cheney (or, as you point out, that Cheney may have been channeling Ben). Yes, someone please give Emerson an Emmy. Must admit, though, that I gasped aloud upon discovering that the Coffined One was Locke. When the coffin first appeared last season, I thought it was Sawyer. Then as this episode progressed, I wondered if it might be Desmond. But I never suspected Locke. (And interestingly, this a.m. Good Morning America ran alternate endings, one with Sawyer in the coffin, the other with Desmond.) Another mystery to pique the imagination: What did Sawyer whisper to Kate just before his jump? Obviously it was the favor she later performed that so irritated Jack. The most satisfying moment: the Desmond/Penny reunion. I hope they found their happily ever after.

[Big Mike]

Recalling a character's claim that "nobody dies on the island", I was left feeling that the island represents immortality. Immortality with all its problems and lack of solutions. The reason the Oceanic Six must return to the island, is that is where they are alive, where their souls reside. If the passengers of 815 all perished in the crash, but only survive on the island, then being back home is an abomination. There was a brief scene that seemed to show "others" huddled in a small space in the forest. I thought that they may have been past characters that had died on the island, but we were being shown that they were simply out of the way. I also feel that the baby is going to play a key part in the plot motivations. He'll be deified, with the island and its immortal inhabitants awaiting his coming.

[jack florida]

I GOT LOST ON lOST IN SEASON 3.

tHE THING ABOUT jEREMY bENYHAM:: He had his body preserved and still sits in his chair----mabe a clue!

[Mark]

I'm curious as to why Ben thought he had to go through with moving the island. All of Keamy's team was already dead, and the boat had exploded as a result. Was it that he thought Widmore would be able to send someone else? Or was it that he felt he had to carry out Jacob's wishes even if the original motivation had been removed?

[Jerold Franks]

The writer/Exec. Producer Damon Lindelof was an associate of mine in 1995 - it was the first day we worked together that I thought the kid was very bright - now I think he is a genius -

trying keeping up? this dude and his colleagues are the Hemmingway's of our era - I can't even 'conceive' of writing one scene in this series. And I agree - Emmy's should be plentiful -

I think Mr. Day's comments were good, and accurate - however, don't be fooled by these writers - trust me - they have "magic" up their sleeves.

Jerold Franks, CSA
Casting Director - Hawaii "LOST" pilot

[baggis]

I luv lost and all of u guys!!

[baggis]

I luv lost and all your comments guys and girls ;p