'Lost': the one

"What They Died For" is a lot of things. It's a fantastic episode of "Lost," one that moves like a rocket. It's a big, relatively well-handled infodump that makes sure we know how everything and everyone fits into the big picture, mostly. It's a reminder that even though the show is going to do big mythology episodes now and again, it's always going to return to the characters we loved from the regular cast. It's an episode that makes sure everyone is in place for the finale. It makes a big case for the flash-sideways as being completely necessary to the series' narrative. In some ways, it's an episode that makes last week's "Across the Sea" seem retroactively much more important (and I'll be very surprised if the finale doesn't make it seem even more important). But most of all, it's a thematic episode, an episode that's all about the scary and thrilling process of letting go.

There's a moment in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (and by now, it should be obvious the Indiana Jones movies are huge influences on this series, no?) in which Indy is in the temple that holds the Holy Grail. He's made his way past the first two tests in the Grail temple, the one in which he has to kneel to avoid the whistling blade of doom and the one in which he has to spell out "JEHOVAH" in classical Latin on a giant alphabet in the ground. And now, he comes to the final one, a giant chasm he seemingly has to pass. Thinking over the clues he's been given, Indy decides, at long last, to take a leap of faith, extending his foot and tipping forward into the abyss. And because he does so, he catches something he would have missed had he taken a running leap, a small bridge over the gap that is painted to blend in perfectly. He carefully makes his way across and into the house of the Grail.

I thought of that scene a number of times while watching "What They Died For." This is an episode in which a number of characters have to take that leap of faith, have to let go of everything that's been holding them back. Jack is the only one who can let go of his attachments to the mainland to become Jacob's replacement. Flash-sideways Locke lets go of his reservations and agrees to let Jack perform surgery that might help him walk again. Jacob lets go of his need to be cryptic and just deals directly with the remaining candidates straight-up. And there are others who simply can't let go of their own concerns and needs and end up on the wrong sides or out of the big picture. Ben, for instance, ultimately can't let go of his own need for power and his hatred for Widmore, and he seemingly ends up on the side of Smokey. So it goes.

The letting go is something that also applies to "Lost" fans, people who have been to Hell and back with this show and are hoping the series pulls together an ending that makes a sort of sense or at least doesn't completely embarrass the series and/or fans for investing so much time in this show. I'm on record in a lot of places as saying that I'm more interested in the characters' journey than a lot of other things on the show, and this episode certainly validated for me that this show is going to bring these people to a fitting end, for the most part. (I still have my issues with the handling of Sun and Jin's death, particularly in regard to their daughter. But that's a debate we can have for years after the series has ended.) But I think tonight's episode also suggested that the mythology is going to come to a satisfying end, particularly those questions that directly affect our characters.

I think we could debate over and over whether having Jacob sit the candidates down earlier in the season and have him tell them what the deal was with the Island and its protector might not have been a better idea. At the very least, it could have set up a number of scenes in which everyone argued over who was going to take the job. Although I can see where this would have been tiresome, and I've liked the way the show handled this, simply by showing the candidates displaying on the job, as it were, why they were the right people for the job, I do think that the show made a minor misstep by not having Jacob sit down and at least suggest why the job was important. Protecting the Island means protecting it from the Smoke Monster (or possibly the Man in Black). You've got to keep him away from that light because he wants to snuff it out. And if he accomplishes that or destroys the island or somehow escapes? Everyone and everything on Earth will die, apparently. We still don't know exactly why it's so bad for Smokey to get out into the general populace, but if we'd at least had these hints -- no matter how vague -- about seven or eight episodes ago, it might have been easier to care about just who became Jacob's replacement.

Just having that scene here immediately crystallized why we're supposed to care about the Jacob versus Smokey battle. We don't know everything yet, but we do know that everything that's happened has happened because Jacob has been carefully cultivating people without a lot of attachments, with a lot of grief in their pasts, to bring them to the island. When they form those attachments, he crosses them off his list, as he did with Kate's name when she became a mother (or, presumably, as he did with Desmond's name after he and Penny got married and had a child). But he's also offering these people a choice. They can opt out if they want, though he warns something very bad will happen. Vague until the end, that guy.

I think this scene has the same catalyzing effect on the Jacob versus Smokey storyline that the appearance of Desmond in the flash-sideways universe had on that storyline. When Desmond turned up there, the whole thing suddenly had a sense of purpose, and it made some of the sketchier flash-sideways from before the reveal play much better after the reveal. I don't know if the same effect will happen to the old, vague scenes about Jacob's desire to find his replacement, but I wouldn't be surprised. The scene takes some of the series' biggest mysteries and grounds them in the characters we love. "Across the Sea" hinged almost entirely on whether you could bring yourself to care for the men Jacob and the Man in Black were. Those who couldn't tended to not like the episode. Those who could were able to appreciate it. "What They Died For" works in this regard because it takes these questions and gives them to characters who, at least in our eyes, deserve to ask them.

There are times that I think that the producers of "Lost" have been tuning this season particularly to the complete DVD release of the series. There's stuff being revealed even now that will color how we view the earlier episodes, all the way back to "LA X." This is to say nothing of how the revelations about the series' deeper storylines might affect how we watch the earlier episodes. Will we find the opening scene of the pilot that much more interesting now that we know Jack is only a few yards away from the very thing he will end up protecting? Will all of the more boring flashbacks to the characters trying to set their off-island lives right play better now that we know these were the pivotal moments Jacob was watching? In some cases, probably not. But if the ending of the story doesn't tie everything together in a plot sense, it certainly ties everything together in a more thematic sense.

I also love that the episode directly deals with the question of just why these people have to die. I like even more that the show places these questions in the mouth of Kate. I'm not the world's biggest Kate fan, but she feels -- particularly with her attachment to Aaron -- like the character who might be most offended by everything Jacob has done. I liked the sad look on Jacob's face when he admitted that the deaths were deeply sad but, he believed, necessary. And, to switch over to the other plot, I love the way that Smokey seems to have completely gone around the bend, having come so close to his goal and still have to wipe out a few people. And to do that, he's going to need Desmond, Widmore and Jacob's "fail-safe." 

I'm not entirely sure as to whether we should believe Widmore when he says that Jacob came to him, but I can certainly believe that Desmond is the fail-safe, the last-ditch option to stop Smokey should all of the other candidates die. I wanted a little more of Widmore's story, but I also loved the great moment where Ben guns him down, his voice barely restrained as he says that Penny doesn't get to live, not after what happened to Alex. (Alex drifted throughout the episode, something welcome in a season that threatened to lose track of Ben far too often.) Ben, as one of my favorite characters, is someone I hoped would play a bigger role in the final season, but he's been sidelined far too often. Still, the storyline featuring him here was fantastic. He went with Alex and her mom to dinner, and I half expected the knowledge of the other world Desmond bestowed upon him to split open and reveal to him that in that other world Alex and Danielle are both dead. (And were there romantic sparks between Ben and Danielle?) And on the island, he signed up with the bad guys and almost seemed resigned to his choice, as though this were the only thing he knew how to do anymore, the thing that was always going to happen, so it might as well happen now. There's a sense throughout "What They Died For" that suggests fate snapping into place, but sometimes snapping into place because the characters choose to let it. Ben doesn't choose. He simply gives up.

The flash-sideways storyline is maybe the most fun that it's been in quite some time, as Desmond wanders the greater Los Angeles area, tying together people who shouldn't have any reason to be tied together, paying off Ana Lucia to get her to let him, Sayid and Kate out of the prison van and putting a plan in place to crash the benefit concert it seems like every character will be at. There's more portent to this than anything else, a sense that things are moving and snapping into place more than an actual storyline, but "Lost" does portent really well. When things start to move, no show is better at making all of this seem like it is full of significance.

But it all comes down to the letting go, both for the characters on the show and for we patient, faithful viewers of it. The question ultimately becomes if you have the kind of faith in the show that it's pretty much demanding at this point. Without that faith, the prospect of the finale is probably a disquieting one. With that faith, the finale looms as a great closing chapter to what's been a great story. I can still see where I'll be ultimately disappointed by the way the story ends. I don't want the series to unequivocally state that all of this was destined to happen or that the Island needs a protector or anything like that. I'm fine with these sorts of answers, but I like it better when the show leaves some ambiguity. Will I get it? I hope so. But, like many of the characters and like many of you, I'm watching this episode with one foot extended into darkness, poised to drop.

Some other thoughts:

• Hey, I'll bet you missed this list of the 10 best "Lost" regular characters. I did. But I'll reveal to you here who was in spots 11 and 12. Those characters were, respectively, Mr. Eko and Richard. I'll bet you're thrilled you know this now!
• Nice symmetry: The episode opens with Jack's eye opening, just like when he woke up in that bamboo forest at the show's beginning. Jack stitches up Kate, just like she did to him in the pilot. I'm sure there were others I'm missing.
• I have trouble believing that Richard is actually dead. For one thing, I doubt Smokey can kill him. For another, it seems like it would completely go against his deal with Jacob. For yet another thing, it seems like it'd be against the "rules." But if it is the end for the guy, what a shocking moment, particularly for a character who's been so important.
• What do you suppose Des means when he says that Ana Lucia isn't "ready" yet?
• OK, I'm firmly in the "David's mom is Juliet" camp at this point. This means that when Sawyer inevitably comes to the benefit and sees her, he can have his "waking up" moment.
• Nice acting from Josh Holloway tonight. I particularly loved the moment when he was mocking Jack's choice to become the new protector and then ... just ran out of words at the momentousness of the occasion.
• Man, it seems like everybody's going to be in that finale. Here's hoping that Lapidus is the orchestra conductor.
• I liked the explanation of why Ilana was keeping Jacob's ashes around. Whether she knew it or not, it was what was allowing Hurley to see the guy, seemingly. I also liked getting confirmation that the little boy was Younger Ghost Jacob.
• I said it up above, but I think this episode makes "Across the Sea" seem even more important, particularly in its placement within the season. I'm not going to say that those who wish it had come earlier are wrong, exactly, but I have trouble imagining this episode having as much impact if it hadn't come immediately after "Across the Sea," where everything about the transition to a new protector goes wrong. Here, it pretty much all goes right, and the moment is one of quiet beauty.
• I think I'm most sad for Ben when considering what will be lost if the sideways universe goes away. He'll lose his daughter all over again.
• I love the biblical references on this show, so Jacob mumbling over the water to bless it (and, perhaps, turn it into wine) was fine by me. That said, I was really worried he was going to follow up "Drink this" with "in remembrance of me," and I was going to have to roll my eyes. Fortunately, all involved showed restraint.
• And that's it for now. I'll be back ... oh, pretty much every day this week (though "Lost" Wednesday may have to wait until Thursday again, thanks to my traveling tomorrow). If you have stuff you need to get off your chest, check me at my e-mail or Twitter. Have a good finale week!

--Todd VanDerWerff (follow me on Twitter at @tvoti)

Photos: Above: Jack (Matthew Fox, left) and Sawyer (Josh Holloway) have to make some pretty big decisions. Below: Jack (right) and Jacob (Mark Pellegrino) perform the ritual to turn protection of the island over to Jack.

Credit: ABC

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Comments

[joel]

The finale is going to anger all those folks who are skeptically sitting on the sidelines but the true believers will love it because they've gorged themselves on the kool-aid. At this point it seems obvious that the finale will be all action and offer few answers to the numerous questions that remain. I would like those answers, but I'm willing to accept that we're not going to get them.

And was it just me, or did anyone else get a little queasy when Jacob invited everyone to sit down so he could answer all their questions (which he obviously did not). I suddenly remembered the late info dump ep of Battlestar (No Exit) and thought, "Oh god, they're just going to spend 20 minutes telling us everything because they didn't work it in." Thankfully, as much as I want the damn answers, they didn't bury this episode with exposition.

[Kristina]

I don't think Ben has gone back to the dark side. I think he is setting up to be nearest to Flocke/Smocke/MIB when serious things start going down so he can stop him. Or at least slow him down. He'll have a story of redemption and considering he killed Jacob, according to the principles of the series, he may have the role of balancing that out.

[katie Emery]

I don't have anything profound to say, except "thanks" for another great column. I agree with you on everything! I'll miss reading your Lost analyses once the show is officially over. :-(

[Bronzethumb]

To destroy Island, insert Desmond into glowy cave and turn counter-clockwise.
But in all seriousness, what I find interesting about this is that Jacob thinks the destruction of the Island is preferable to the Man in Black getting his mitts on the Light. Which means that the world can continue on without it. So I'm not giving up on the idea that the Island's magic will go away at the end of the series...

I feel vindicated in my season-long declarations that Benjamin Linus is the Gollum of this saga, but I'm also sad, because I was hoping his heel-face turn would stick. (Also, I'm an alt!Ben/alt!Danielle shipper now--is that wrong?)

Now, here's my theory about something that'll happen in the finale: the journey to the Cave of Light will take Team Jacob (or should that be Team Jack now?) through the caves, at which point Miles will read the bodies of the Mother and the Man in Black, and he'll give us some vital bits of info on the Island that even Jacob did not know, and/or something that'll help them defeat the Man in Black. Maybe it'll be something on exactly how the Light is connected to every single living person.

[Gracie]

Until the moment that Jack charged on up to the plate and volunteered to take Jacob's place, I was convinced that Jack would be his ultimate replacement. The predictable choice, yes, but in the end the only way it could plausibly end. Now, though, I can't help but think that Jack isn't going to survive the finale. The transfer of power on the Island just can't be that simple. It's the typical TV show formula: convince the audience that one of the main conflicts has been resolved early on, and then at the end of the finale you see, say, the Cylons turning up on New Caprica on BSG, or the Doctor erasing Donna's memory on Doctor Who, and suddenly everything goes straight back to hell. Now we think that Jack has been cemented as Jacob's replacement, but what happens if he dies? Someone else takes his place? Desmond, perhaps? That's my bet. We've sort of come to think of him as the catalyst for Fate--the friendly usher who gently nudges everyone into place. But his tendency to turn up in people's lives at opportune moments is rather Jacobian, no? And his seemingly innate understanding of the supernatural makes him better equipped than most to comprehend the purpose of the Island. He'd have to sacrifice his family of course, but do you think there is anything Desmond wouldn't do if he thought it would save his family--even if it means never seeing them again? Then if Ben stayed on the Island as the Man-in-Black figure--the dark to balance out Desmond's light--the transfer would be done.
That's just my guess, of course there are about a million other possibilities. Still, though, I'm convinced Jack is doomed. He'll probably sacrifice himself for Kate or something dumb like that just to piss us all off...

[Gary B]

Fantastic episode! As for you question about Ana Lucia not being ready my theory she is not ready to accept the other time line. Although others know about the other time line, Desmond is the only one that can live in both at the same time. Remember what Juliet's final words were supposed to be, and it was important; It worked. Jack's plan worked. But it can't happen until they kill smokey in the present and trap him in the past by sinking the island which also forever protects the light. Jacob said it only has to end once. And maybe that once is killing the man in black. And will we ever find out his name? And will Hurley ever see Locke's ghost? What role will Miles play? What did Alex say to him? Will he find "Adam and Eve" and can they give him any clues on how to stop Not Locke? So many questions!

[Jeremy]

I am thinking maybe the surgery on Locke in sideways world will have something to do with what happens to Smokey on Island world. Will it cripple him in some way? If at a key moment when Smokey is about to kill Jack or Kate or someone will the healing of sideways Locke incapacitate Smokey. Make him vunerable and allow the Island Losties the chance to kill him?

[Katie]

I like to think that Ben is conning the Smoke Monster at this point. It may be wishful thinking, but it would seem to fit with Ben's character - getting played by someone over the course of decades would not sit well at all with Ben, and it's hard for me to imagine him not wanting to get a bit of revenge on Smokey. If winning his trust involves popping off Charles Widmore, well, that was probably icing on the cake for Ben.

He seemed very tightly wound (even for Ben) during the porch scene, which could be attributed to him essentially giving up, but I'm going to go with the fact that he's processing the fact that he's trying to con a smoke monster that just threw an immortal guy 50 feet into the air.

[Scott]

The "flash-sideways" universe is also a "flash-back" one that takes place at the time of the original plane crash in the "main universe".

So if Desmond was gathering the Lost crew up back then in the sideways universe, where are they now at the time of the final showdown between Jack and Smokey.

I have a feeling this will become an important plot point in the Finale...

[Nate]

I really liked last night's episode, but in the tradition of whiney internet anonymity, I want to talk about my two minor quibbles (which mirror yours).
1) I was shocked at Richard's (apparent) death. It wasn't just that he had been this fan favorite character for all these seasons, but we just got his backstory a few episodes ago! I imagined he would die before the season was over, but I assumed we would get this quasi-reunion with his wife or at least an acknowledgment of her. Especially, as you said, if the writers were crafting this season with the DVD in mind, it seems like Richard would get a better send off since his origin episode was so fresh. Now, killing him may be against the rules - we'll see. I hope so, because as of right now, Lapides' "Oh, crap" was a better adios.
2) Ben's killing of Widmore - I really hope Ben has some ulterior motive other than "Shucks, I'm bad now." As someone who was really looking forward to the final season of Lost being a Charles Widmore versus Ben Linus grudge match, I will be bummed if those two go out (1) a pawn of Smokey and (2) such a wuss he just tells Smokey what he needs to know and then gets shot. Hopefully, if either one of these characters lives up to what the show made them, one or both of them are playing Smokey in some way. It seemed a weird bit when Linus killed Widmore and Smokey said "that's cool, he told me what I needed anyway." That's just a strange - and, if it stands on its face, sloppy - scene that I think the writers should do better handling these major characters. I'm still holding out for there to be more to it, but I have been burned before this season - see The Temple episodes.

I didn't hate the sideways universe like some others, but am I wrong in saying Desmond can make ANYTHING awesome? He was even rocking despite the heavy makeup they caked on him in his first scene watching Locke at the school. I really enjoyed Sidewaysverse last night, and I noticed at the beginning of the episode the two worlds bled together a little bit with Jack again (the blood on the neck, like the appendectomy scar earlier this season).

Good episode, enjoyed the write up (especially the Lapides as conductor line and absolutely agree Danielle was, as the kids say, trying to "get up on that"), and can't wait for the finale! (if nothing else, so I don't have to hear "penultimate" anymore - how many reviews/media outlets said that over this last week - when Hollywood Squares guy said it on Dancing with the (sorta) Stars as said "that's it, you've killed the phrase")

[TD]

I thought the episode was decent at best but overall was disappointed. I feel like the Finale will not payoff for all the time spent watching the show. There are still too many unanswered questions, especially about Jacob which I feel will be left open. One thing that bothered was Ben and his motivation to "help" Smokey. I understand that Smokey promised Ben the island when he leaves, but the fact that Smokey now wants to destroy it leaves Ben with nothing.

[Laura]

Great recap! I really liked this episode, and I agree pretty much with what you are saying.

A couple of things did bother me. For one, if Kate's name was crossed out because she became a mother, why was Kwon still there? Jin and Sun both became parents, and the kid is too little to be "flawed" enough to become a candidate. I've said it before - the writers seem to conveniently forget that Ji Yeon exists when it gets in the way of the story.

I'm still trying to figure out why Kate is still around. She ruins pretty much every scene she is in. When they are watching the stuff from the sub come up on the shore, it was moving until Kate put her head on Sawyer's shoulder. She is pretty much the opposite of Desmond, who can make any scene he is in even better. (Since Desmond is now driving to the concert with Kate, I am hoping his awesomeness will cancel out her lameness.)

Otherwise, a great episode. Loved seeing a cleaned-up Rousseau, and the implication of an upcoming romance with Ben. (Alex would get both of her parents, without all the pain and suffering of the island world.) I also really liked the little family scene with Jack, David and Claire. It was so sweet in a very genuine way.

[KarenJ]

Another episode that left me near speechless. I could only find one point that I saw as disappointing - Whidmore and his sidekick just 'happened' to be at Ben's house? Huh? I know it's just 'where they needed to be'. But still - WAY too convenient. But - not a big deal in the scheme of things. (I never got the whole 'Whidmore' thing anyway? Just another foil for Ben and Desmond? No matter - he's gone.)

My thoughts on Ben - working both sides of the game as always. And I agree with Katie - I doubt that his being 'duped' most of his life by Smokie has gone over well. But, I have a hard time believing Ben is on either side. He's always been on 'his' side.

The blood on Jack's neck, in the sideways, has shown-up twice now. I'm very interested in finding out how that plays in.

In the last 2 or 3 'sideways' episodes, I've also come to think Juliet may be Jack's ex. She hasn't shown up yet, and she was too important to the story line for her not to. And, she and Jack were attracted to each other when they met. (Think Sawyer will show-up at the concert too? I'm bettin...!)

I just assumed Richard was 'tossed aside' by Smokie?! I sure hope he hasn't been killed... I didn't think he could? We'll find out soon though huh?

I once hoped that the sideways story line would be how many of these characters would end up after this was all over. I know now that can't be so. (sigh...) But, maybe some will actually be able to go on there? Maybe Sun and Jin? We know they're in the sideways - but has Desmond tried to 'recruit' them? Probably just hopeful thinking. I imagine most of our beloved characters will end-up, well... gone.

Well - looking forward to the last wild ride!

[Yaz]

I don't think Ben is gone to smokey's side either, he always has something up his sleeve and this time i think it has something to do with the walkie talkie that he gave to Miles, maybe with the help of Miles he will expose Flocke's plan to Jack and his group.

I loved the FS too Desmond always makes the show better.
So its becoming clear that Juliet is Jack's ex since she is the only one unaccounted for in the alt world. Can't wait for Sunday when everyone comes together at the concert.
Sunday will be such a bitter-sweet day to finally see what happens and then LOST will lost forever. Thanks for great 6 yrs filled with mysteries that made us think.

[Aaron Gunsaulus]

I'm undecided about Ben's loyalties. Killing Widmore isn't the same as killing, say, Hurley. After all, Widmore really was largely responsible for Alex's death, since Keamy was acting under Widmore's authority. That said, Ben as Gollum would be a good play, but so would Ben as Snape.

What I don't get is how Ben was able to kill Widmore. They're not supposed to be able to kill each other--it's against the rules. So either I've missed something, the producers have missed something, or Widmore isn't dead.

[KarenJ]

to Aaron - the candidates can kill each other 'til the cows come home - as people do. MIB can't kill candidates, and the brothers (Jacob and MIB) can't kill each other. MIB can kill anyone who's NOT a candidate (The Others, Whidmore's lackey lady, etc). That's why Sawyer pulling the wires was able to kill candidates. Ben was able to kill Jacob (the loophole). (Richard was special, he may have been a candidate, but was given immortality as payment for working for Jacob.) Kinda confusing really. Hope I got it all right!

[Laura]

@Aaron - I was thinking the same thing. I remember that time when Ben snuck into Charles' room in London and said that they couldn't kill each other. Either Widmore is not dead or the rules have changed. (Or Ben broke the rules, and I'm not sure what that means for him.)

[Aaron Gunsaulus]

Karenj: Yes, I agree with what you've said. But it was established earlier in the season that Widmore and Linus cannot kill each other. Yet Ben (presumably) killed Widmore last night.

[mia]

I love your posts! Thanks for feeling such respect and awe for a show I love so very much, a show that can be so easily misunderstood. When I try to talk about the emotional and philosophical effect Lost has had on my own life, people just look at me like a fan-girl-nut-job. That's why I come here and read what you have to say. I've been watching since I was a freshman in high school, and am finding the idea of a Lost-less world to be rather daunting. Do you think there will be a support group for us fans? Let's hope so...

[Roy G. Biv]

All the darkness came about because a good man, Jacob, acted foolishly and caused Smokey to come to be, threatening the island and the world. As I have said elsewhere Evil comes out of Good (i.e. a limited mistaken good). Nazi Germany rose to power in the wake of the greed of 'good side' who perpetrated the great depression that destabilized the Weimer Republic, etc. We like to see Good and Evil straight up, but it is far more complex; as Evil comes out of Good, even as Good comes out of Evil. Jacob knows this and tried to redeem himself, while still trying to rally the troops against the evil he unleashed on the Lost world.