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  • TV Series: Lost
  • Episode: The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham
  • Starring: Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Josh Holloway, Michael Emerson, Terry O’Quinn, Jeremy Davies, Ken Leung, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Elizabeth Mitchell, Henry Ian Cusick, Jorge Garcia, Naveen Andrews
  • Written By: Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse
  • Directed By: Jack Bender
  • Network: ABC
  • Series: Lost

Lost: The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham

Joe’s Not so Random Lost Thoughts

By Joe Oesterle     February 26, 2009
Source: JoeArtistWriter


John (Terry O’Quinn) takes center stage in LOST: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JEREMY BENTHAM(2009).
© Mania.com/Robert Trate

 

Hello again fellow LOST junkies, I have returned from the island. Well, not LOST Island, but Cozumel. My girlfriend and I went on a 4-day cruise, and shortly after taking my shirt off to grab a few rays by the pool, I realized I was way too harsh on Josh Holloway’s less-than-rock hard abs in the season opener.
 
   The nice thing about a cruise though is no matter how out of shape you think you are, there is always a guy about two deck chairs away who makes Hurley look like Jack La Lanne. (That’s right I said Jack La Lanne. If LOST is going to time travel from 1954 to 2008, I’m going to need a fitness guru reference who will work in all of those decades)
 
   Thanks to Stephen Lackey for filling in for me and also for doing some nice work on short notice; and a special thanks to AmishPirate for at least asking where I was. Thanks for caring Amish.
 
Sully vs. Lapidus
 
   Ok, on with the show. Let’s get this out of the way right away – Frank Lapidus is a much better pilot than that fat guy from Heroes. Lapidus not only lands the plane completely intact, but there doesn’t seem to be a single casualty. Lapidus’ air bravery is rivaled only bythe US Airways pilot who landed his plane safely in the Hudson River. I’m betting however that Sully can’t grow as cool an old man goatee as Lapidus: Advantage Lapidus.
 
   Did anybody else think they saw a runway right next to the plane site? Caesar and Ilana are definitely walking down a paved road from the Hydra Station Caesar was rummaging through; was this part of the runway Ben forced Sawyer and Kate to build back in the bad old days of the cages? AND, if so, did Ben have them build this runway because he knew he’d be crashing there sometime in the future? That Ben… He always has a plan.
 
    Of course the LIFE magazine cover from 1954 was a nice bit. The Atomic bomb blast coincides nicely with the US army and the Jughead bomb. Looks like Caesar found some Faraday-type notes in that office, and it’s nice to see the new castaways are no more trusting of each other than the original bunch. Caesar hiding the sawed-off shotgun was nice. He’ll need that soon. Not sure why yet, but maybe to shoot at Sawyer, Juliet and the rest of the canoe paddling stay-behinds.
 
Yeah, But Can He Walk On Water?
 
   When we see Locke back on the island for the first time, we definitely are meant to feel a measure of religious overtones. There he is, sitting serenely cross-legged, the center of focus, (as in any Renaissance painting worth its salt) spiritually cloaked in his Shroud of Airjira Airways complimentary blanket.
 
   Then Ilana gives Locke a mango, which is obviously reminiscent of his famous orange slice smile scene, and Locke says it’s the best mango he’s ever eaten. Of course after coming back to life, lima beans would have probably tasted pretty good too.
 
   So Ilana and the rest of the new Lost’ies are a little freaked by Locke standing in the middle of the ocean in a suit. Why? Because they didn’t notice him on a plane? Come on. I just flew a leg from Denver to Orange County California, and my plane, just like flight 316 was only about one fourth booked, and if we crash landed on an island of mystery, I wouldn’t have been able to account for even half of the passengers on board, crazy old bald guy or not.
 
   When people fly, they’re preoccupied, often exhausted, or if not, looking forward to a vacation. They have books, magazines, iPods, Sudokus, they’re not conscious of every “special” bald guy on board.
 
   And why does his manner of dress freak her out? Jack was dressed pretty nicely too. Do people find it so strange that people dress up for a plane ride? It was just a ham-handed writer’s device to get Locke to say he suspected he was dead, and was supposed to be buried in that suit.
 
   I want to play poker with Locke. That guy will tell me what’s in his hand any time I ask. He’s too honest. Here’s a hint John, people are freaked enough when they crash land on an island. Don’t tell an already wary mob that you’ve been recently resurrected and expect them to look to you with much trust – or faith, which is the underlying theme here.
 
We’re off On the Road to Tunisia
 
 Tunisia has been getting more foot traffic lately, so Charles Widmore decided to monitor the situation. It’s unclear if those cameras were there during Ben’s drop-in, but if not, that’s just sloppy micromanaging on Widmore’s part. If they were there, then we can assume that Ben bitch-slapped some of Widmore’s top guys – AND if that is true, who the hell put such a beating on Ben last week at the docks? Is Desmond that tough? Scottish Royal Guardsman, I know, but Ben may be close to Sayid-level in hand to hand combat.
 
   One thing I know, though I’ve never experienced it. I bet popping up in the middle of Sahara with a bone sticking out of my leg, and laying there for hours in the cold desert night air would suck pretty hard. Then throw in a nasty bout of puking up some milky white substance.
 
   What would suck worse than that? I know. Getting picked up and thrown in the back of a truck, bouncing around to some shithole hospital, and having the doctor force some pills and a filthy glassful of brownish water down my throat, and then snap my leg back together. I’m betting whatever came out of Locke for the next few days after drinking from that glass was anything but milky white.
 
   Locke wakes up and he sees Charles Widmore sitting beside him. Widmore is genuinely fascinated. He probably knows as much about the island as anyone, but Locke’s appearance is blowing his mind – like an old Geronimo Jackson album. Widmore really seemed to be laying it all on the table for Locke. And of course, he gets to Locke by saying the one thing Locke always responds to – “You’re special.”
 
 Without a doubt, the funniest moment in the whole show was when Widmore gives Locke the name Jeremy Bentham, because like the name John Locke, Jeremy Bentham was also a British philosopher. Get it? Damn that is funny. Widmore could have gone with Thomas Hobbes, or Bernard de Mandeville, but in true Python-esque style, Widmore hit it on the nose - Jeremy Bentham. Whooo, hoo, hoo, I’m still laughing. Those Brits are hysterical.
 
Driving Mr. Locke
 
   Anyone else think it was stupid for Abaddon to escort Locke to the SUV in a wheelchair? I mean, I know it was another writing device, to show Locke’s fear of returning to that thing, but I’d have just slung his arm around my shoulder and put him in the back seat. You put 185 pounds of Locke in a wheelchair on loose desert sand, and you’ve just made this 20-foot trip to the car into an Olympic event. An event the tall lanky Abaddon isn’t even built for. You’d need a short stocky guy for that. Like the guy who was messing with Sawyer back in the bad old cage days.
 
   Poor Sayid. He’s like Michael Corleone. Every time he tries to get out, they keep pulling him back in. Sayid tries like hell to be a good guy, but he’s going to revert back to a killing machine before long. All this murder can’t bode well for his immortal soul, but an ass-kicking Sayid is way cooler that a hut-building Sayid.
 
   Sayid, like everyone else Abaddon brings Locke around, says no. Kate was pretty harsh about it. Hurley’s scene was hilarious. There he is painting deserts and sphinxes, and he’s no longer afraid of ghosts – Living people who get him nervous now.
 
   It was especially nice to see Locke and Walt again. Those two did have a special bond back in Season One. Walt still seems to have powers if his dream of John being harmed is true. I like that Locke couldn’t bring himself to tell Walt his dad is most likely dead. He skirts the issue nicely enough. Locke makes his first post-island executive decision there too. He felt Walt’s been through enough, so he didn’t ask him to come back. The biggest difference between Locke’s attempts to get everyone back on the island and Ben’s attempts is that John always deals in truths, if not always complete ones, he at least won’t lie.
 
   Ben on the other hand lies as often as the rest of us breathe, and it seems to work well for him. As a matter of fact, every time Ben tells the truth, he pushes people away. See Hurley, Sayid, and Kate’s reactions to Ben’s honesty. But he lies to Jack and he lies to Sun, and they’re on board.
 
The Death of Peg Bundy
 
   So Helen died of a brain aneurism huh? Isn’t that the same thing that killed good Charlotte and Mankowski? Has Helen been to the island before? Does that explain her anger management issues? Was she also a pawn to get Locke to board Oceanic 815? I don’t think we’ve seen the last of her, because I don’t think she’s dead.
 
   It does look like we’ve seen the last of Mathew Abaddon however. Eh, he was cool, but he was too aloof to care about. I liked him, but like Locke, I wouldn’t have noticed how many times his lifeless head hit the back of my car before it landed on the pavement in my escape from the cemetery.
 
Hey Jack, Stop Being Such a Dick
 
   Jack may be a great surgeon, but his bedside manner is for shit. There’s Locke, bones sticking out, contusions, scrapes, possible internal bleeding, and Jack just starts ripping into him, as if Locke got into a potential fatal car accident on purpose just to f-up Jack’s day. Jack accuses Locke of being a delusional old man. Damn it Jack, didn’t they teach you in doctor school that hope is one of the greatest healing tools? You’re just a dick sometimes, man. A serious dick. No wonder Kate is gonna hook up with Sawyer first chance she gets. Whap-am! It’s gonna be all bumpin’ and grindin’ just like the bad old days of the cages.
 
    Here’s what bugs me about Locke though. Why doesn’t he just tell Jack he used to be paralyzed from the waist down? I know a plane crash seldom, if ever, cures paralysis, and I’m not a doctor. It’s probably often the reverse, again, I’m not a medical expert, these are just opinions. Surely Jack has access to the hospital database and could look up to see if Locke is telling the truth. If Jack saw evidence Locke was telling the truth, wouldn’t even he have to believe that the island is at least as special as Locke claims it is? I did like Locke throwing in the “your dad say’s hi” line. That should send Jack rushing for another oxyicodone and vodka cocktail and the latest issue of Weird Beard Weekly. Nice F-U parting shot, Locke.
 
 
   Of course Jack shook Locke’s faith too. He writes the suicide note, after visiting Angel’s Hardware Supply Store. For All Your Home Repair And Self-Asphyxiation Needs, Come To Angels.
 
Oh Yay, It’s Ben! He’ll Save the Day. WTF?
 
   I couldn’t believe Locke was punching a hole in that dirty ceiling. That building is pretty old, and I’m betting they never had to replace the asbestos. That asbestos can kill a guy, but I guess Locke felt hanging was more dramatic. So just as has happened every time someone the island isn’t done with has tried to off themselves, something stops them. This time, the something was Ben. Ben the hero. Ben the savior. Good old Ben.
 
   Obviously the question of the day is why did Ben save John, just to strangle him moments later? Was it the knowledge that Jin is still alive? That did strike an uneasy chord with Mr. Linus. Was it the mention of Ms. Hawking? That one made his bug eyes bug out even buggier than bug usual. Was it some type of religious thing? Like suicide is a mortal sin, and Locke would not be redeemed if he hung himself?
 
   I have to say, I still want to believe Ben is one of the good guys, but strangling a crippled old man right after giving him the hope to live on makes it tougher to believe Ben is all that altruistic.
 
   The scene with Ben kneeling before Locke was very much a Renaissance painting, with Locke, arms outstretched, ever the Christ-figure. You couple that with Ben’s speech last week about St Thomas, and although there’s a ton of reasons to believe Ben is a bad guy, I still hold out that Ben is on the side of good, but his methods aren’t all that sweet. Ben understands the term casualties of war quite well. Not exactly a Christian philosophy, but Ben is a flawed disciple, which would explain Jacob no longer communicating with him.
 
   Here’s what gets me. Richard Alpert (who definitely seems to have the island’s best interests at heart) said the only way Locke could save them is if he (Locke) died. (Again, very Jesus-y. Dying to save others) Widmore said he wouldn’t let that happen – Locke dying, but Widmore and Alpert clearly had some issues during Widmore’s stay. And Ben saves Locke from suicide so he could murder him. Alpert and Ben have had an uneasy alliance for a few years now too, but in the final analysis, Ben makes sure Locke’s destiny is carried out. Ben might prefer to think of himself as St Thomas, but as it was Judas’ destiny to betray Christ with a kiss, Ben had to strangle Locke with a cheap extension cord from a hardware store with a heavenly name.
 
   The island wouldn’t have accepted John if he lost his faith, but it did need him dead, so Ben not only restores his faith, and then takes John’s life, insuring him life-after death, he also gives that old fleabag hotel a cleaning like it hadn’t had since that LIFE magazine article was current.
 
   When Ben says he’ll miss John, I think it may have been Ben saying goodbye to everything he knew. He’ll miss the old John. New John is going to be really, really special, and Ben was hoping he’d be the really, really special one. Now Ben doesn’t know if he’ll survive a flight he isn’t “meant” to be on. He knows he’s no longer Jacob’s golden boy, and he assumes he’ll have a price to pay when reckoning day comes. Ben was on the path of virtue, but like a young Anakin Skywalker, he was tempted by the power. I believe by the end of this series, we’ll see Ben hugging a proverbial Ewok in a tree house with Billy Dee Williams.
 
   The rest of the gang disappeared off the plane, and they are presumably in the 70’s getting all kinds of high, and grooving to mellow sounds of Geronimo Jackson. I’m guessing Lapidus didn’t take the canoe with Sun, because it was the Oceanic 5’s destiny to be reconnected with Sawyer, Juliet, Jin and the rest – here on Mystery Island. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.
 
    So until next week, fire up your Hi-Def TV, (Imperative if you’re expecting to make cover dates on out of print magazines.) make sure you hit the record function on your TiVo, (For multiple viewings, and freeze framing purposes immediately after watching the show the first time.) keep your laptop nearby, (You’ll never know when you might need to Google what continent Tunisia is in – I’m terrible at geography.) load up that bong, (For some of us, LOST isn’t our only drug of choice.) and get ready to get LOST.

COMMENTS AND RESPONSES

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superrichtheman 2/26/2009 3:52:53 PM

Ah Joe- Good to have you back.

superrichtheman 2/26/2009 3:54:30 PM

Ah Joe- Good to have you back.

hanso 2/26/2009 5:18:51 PM

Joe you magnificent bastard!  We missed you buddy, glad to have you back.

How can you not like Abbadon?  That dude was bad ass.  I thought that dude was bad ass, I've always liked him since he showed up and wanted to see more of him.  "I help people get to where they are supposed to", that was nice.

As usual great episode, lot of little things that I personally enjoyed. The Locke & Walt scene was one of them.  Walt looks like he's 18 years old.  You think through his dreams he can reach the island, that's why Locke saw him when Ben shot him in Season 3?

Jack vs. Locke scene, awesome.  I always enjoy the Man of Science vs. Man of Faith showdowns. 

Widmore and Locke.  "There's a war coming John"  Hell yeaaaaa!  When is it coming?

I thought this episode clearly made Ben the villain in the Lost story.  When Ben turned the Frozen Donkey Wheel he knew he wouldn' be able to make it back to the island.  He got all the information on how to get back and what it would take to get back from Locke.  Locke was no longer needed, he killed him and now he could return like the golden boy.  Widmore told Locke Ben betrayed him and in Season 4 when Ben and Widmore have their conversation, Widmore says everything Ben has he took from Widmore.  I think Ben was basically doing the same thing to Locke and that's why he killed him.

I read this today and it got me thinking cause it's true.  Where does the story go from here now that they are all on the island?  When the Season started they producers said the season would be about getting back to the island.  We are 7 episodes in and they are already there.  Now what?  I have no clue, but I like it!

JoeArtistWriter 2/26/2009 6:13:29 PM

Super Rich, super nice off you to welcome me back.

Hanso, mere words can never do justice to our bond. We're like Walt and Locke, but I have no idea which is which. My growth spurt stopped over 20 years ago though.

I have to say, I am more certain than ever that Ben is doing not just what is good for Ben, but what he believes what is also in the best interest of the island.

Here's my thinking. Widmore looks like the good guy - he says all the right things, and he swears he won't let Locke die. He knows if Locke dies, then like Obi Wan, he'll have an even stronger connection to the force. UNLESS, of course, Locke kills himself. Then the island will see Locke as not strong enough to lead, and that will make the island weak, and easy for Widmore to plunder.

Widmore sends Abaddon to accompany Locke on a soul-crushing tour, knowing full well each member of the O6 will say no, pushing Locke closer and clloser to the brink. I'm not sure if Locke is aware he can't return if he kills himself after he's lost faith, but I bet Widmore knows - AND he's banking on it.

Ben rushes in, just in the nick of time, and talks Locke out of suicide, talks him back - faith-wise, and then, knowing he has all the pieces he needs to save the day, he murders Locke, assuring he dies full of faith, while Widmore is convinced he hung himself after losing the faith.

This is also why Widmore staged Helen's death. I didn't write about that, but I always like to leave a little something for the comments box. If Locke believes his true love is dead, this sends him further down the depression spiral.

Of course the converse could be also true - If Locke found his true love, as Kate and Sayid hinted at, he'd forget all about the island and never return. The gravestone could be Ben's doing - making sure Locke doesn't have any interest in staying, or Widmore's doing - making sure Locke gets all nice and depressed before his next visit to the hardware store.

Mark my words, Hanso, Ben is a good guy. Flawed.... he may even be wheelchair bound as penance for a while, but he's ultimately more concerned with the island's welfare than Widmore.

gimpythewonder 2/26/2009 6:27:24 PM

i want to believe Ben is good as well.  just as i was saying how much i like the character to my wife (she hates him) he kills Locke!  and i think it was because he got the 411 on Mrs Hawking, Locke says her name and Bens face does his suprised look and his next action was strangulation.  I think Ben IS doing what's best for the island, but Ben's version of that, what he thinks is best for it, not necessarily what anyone else might say is best.

overall i liked this episode more than the others this season.  maybe b/c i always dug on Locke (though for a Locke centric ep there were copious side players) or maybe b/c we are seeing just how far ben will go to get his way.

JoeArtistWriter 2/26/2009 7:13:37 PM

Gimpy, regarding Ben, keep the faith. It's still too early and too easy to find he's been a bad guy. Maybe I'll be the last delusional Ben suppporter, and let's face it, the man is not a tradtional hero, but he's starting to come around and he's trying to learn how to be selfless.

Is there anyone else out there on Ben's side? I need to hear from you guys. Seriously, I've got my Angel's Hardware credit card in my hand, and if I don't start hearing some support for the great BL, I'm jumping. I swear, I'm gonna jump!

LittleNell1824 2/26/2009 8:43:42 PM

Abbadon had to die so that his spirit could fulfill its contractual obligations to Fringe. The character is dead but the actor journeys on.

mortellan 2/27/2009 3:24:23 AM

Joe, reading your column after seeing the episode makes it that more entertaining. Thanks!

And yeah, when I saw Abaddon on Fringe I kinda knew he was toast for Lost.

AMiSHPiRATE 2/27/2009 7:10:08 AM

I'm glad they mixed in some scenes showing what happened with flight 316.  I was worried this was just going to be a straight flashback episode.

So yeah, Ben's a tough cookie to read.  Why does he need a dead Locke to return to the island?  Is it to parallel the oceanic flight with the dead christian shephard?  If so, why does it need to be Locke who is dead?  Locke moved the wheel, but so did Ben.  If Locke gains all sort of super power by returning to the island in a body bag, why wouldn't Ben want that for himself (and thus let himself be killed prior to the return flight)?  Good commentary on Locke's death, chief.  I like the idea that Locke needed to die with faith intact, but I'm not sure if that's entirely the case.  His mentioning of Mrs. Hawking was definitely Ben's trigger.

With Locke alive and interacting with people, it makes me wonder about Christian.  Is Christian alive in the same fashion as Locke?  is he an intangible ghost (thus making his lantern a ghost lantern)? Does he just exist in people's minds?  If Christian is truly back from the dead, how did he get in the cave of time with Locke?  Does Locke have similar bamf powers now that he has been resurrected?  Are they both cylons?

Did anyone else think Walt seemed really disinterested in Locke?  Locke was all gushy and happy to see his friend again, and Walt was kinda, "yeah, so, we'll have to play backgammon on facebook sometime.  later."  Also, Walt knew Locke's cripple secret waaay back in season 1.  Wouldn't it intrigue Walt to see Locke crippled again in the real world?  

After this episode, I'm leaning more towards the island being Eden then Atlantis.  Secretly, I'm still hoping it's all a crossover with the Choose Your Own Adventure series (Cave of Time 4EVA).

Welcome back, Joe.  And way to make me sound like a brown noser ;)

JoeArtistWriter 2/27/2009 7:56:29 AM

LittleNell, nice call on the Fringe thing. I guess that's the one drawback of filming entirely in Hawaii. It's tough for actors with contracts in LA to make regular appearances. I long for the good old days when Oscar Goldman was never too busy to not only back-up up Jamie Sommers when she ran afoul from a team of dealy assasins, but also had time to help Steve Austin conquer Bigfoot.

Mortellan, thanks for the compliment. I love doing this column, and it's always nice to know my work is being enjoyed.

Amish, my man, Brown-noser? No way. Your insights and commentary are always apppreciated, and it was just nice for me to return home and see someone mentioned my absence that week. (By the way, I loved the episode 316, and after the two previous episodes I was bummed I wasn't going to be able to write the review) 

I have no idea yet why Locke needed to die in order to return. But that was through Richard, not Ben. It's obviously the island's decree, and that island loves a sacrifice. As for Mrs Hawking being the trigger, I honestly believe that is nothing more than classic LOST misdirection. The change of mood music, Ben expressions - just the old switcheroo.

I think after hearing about Jin, and then Hawking, Ben was now armed with enough information that he could carry the burden of making sure the gang returns, but he felt Locke, while he was once again a man of faith, was in jeopardy of falling under Widmore's spell again - which could again lead to depression, which could lead to suicide, which would make him null and void for being really really special. KILL LOCKE NOW AND DO THE REST OF THE HEAVY LIFTING HIMSELF. Ben knew Locke would be fine in his next life, and Ben, not Abaddon, was the one who brought Locke where he needed to go. Hurley was right. Abaddon was evil.

Killing Locke was one of the most selfless things Ben's ever done in his life. He guarantees Locke returns to the island, more connected, ala the aforementioned Obi Wan. Ben thought at one time that he might have been Obi Wan (he even had the perfect first name for the gig) but he realizes Jacob hasn't spoken to him on a regular basis in quite some time. He may or may not understand exactly what he did to fall from grace, but he now accepts it, and like Sayid building the huts in Santa Domingo, Ben is searching for redemption. (Remeber Sawyer singing the Redemption Song on the raft with Michael? Redemption is a huge theme in this season, faith being another biggie.)

I do not uinderstand Christian's powers, so I'm not sure if they're on par with Locke's, but I assume they are different some how.

After seeeing Jack's grandfather in 316, I get the sense the Shephard men have been on and off that island for decades now. I noticed a couple of people have been saying they think Jack is his own grandfather, and I have to admit, that thought jumped at me as soon as he called him Grandpa.

Ray Shephard is bored out of his skull in the facility. He's been an important man, a man of action his whole adult life. He needs to mix it up. Are Ray and Jack the same people? I'm not sure, but the builds, height, facial similaritiies are all striking to me. More so than Jack and Christian. We'll see. I just wanted it duly noted.

As for Walt, Amish, I was half expecting him to be hidden on that plane too. I'm not ruling that out yet, but I'm only putting it at about 15% right now... and that's probably too high. The only reason I give it odds at all is because he was a pretty important figure in season one, and he was never really explained. Most likely that scene between the two was the show saying goodbye to Walt more than Locke or the Island.

Hanso, it sounds as if you believe Walt still has his powers. (as I do) I think they still need to pay the Walt character off. What say you Hanso? More Walt, or is he finished?

Everybody else, let's hear from you! The purpose of my reviews are just the jumping point. We want and need to hear oppposing viewpoints, confirmations, crazy theories (as long as they're well thought out crazy theories) and any things big or small that you've either noticed or need help wrapping your minds around.

This is a pretty deep show, as we all know. They mix in religion with Planet of the Apes, Classic literature with the Green Lantern, respected philoshpers with Cass Eliot and ancient mythology with cartoon shorts from the 40s.

We need everyone's expertise on this. So sound off. there's a war coming, and we need soldiers for the cause.

 

 

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