Lost in Thought: "Dr. Linus"

I am not going to have much in terms of theories this time around, because this episode was not about background or plot. It didn't even really answer any questions and I am perfectly ok with that because what this episode of Lost dealt with is really what this show is about. It is about redemption. There is nothing hidden away and it was not distracted with the plot and the questions and I thought it may be one of the best episodes to date.

Lost is veiled in mystery as way to draw the audience in and push the story forward. It uses elements of fantasy and science fiction in order to be able to create analogies and examples of the bigger questions of what it means to be human. And that's what good science fiction should do.

The beauty of the flash sideways was really apparent in this episode. It was pretty much the second chance that Ben wish he had with Alex on the island.

What we saw in tonight's episode will most likely win Michael Emerson a second Emmy and he completely deserves it with that scene with Illana in the jungle. After being asked why he would go to Locke and he's voice falters as he responds, "Because he's the only one that will have me." Here is the man who has done terrible things in the name of the island and he admits his guilt and knows what he deserves and then he is given the only thing that would save him and that comes from the gracious words of Illana, "I'll have you."

Lost, you get me in the heart. This episode found a good place in the story. We have just come off a depressing, dramatic encounter at the Temple last week, ending the first act of the season and the second act begins with this peaceful story of redemption, giving us a glimpse of hope in the midst of what could be a grim season.

Now, let's get back to the meat of the mystery. Right after I get this sawdust out of my eye. Trust me, it's nothing. I wasn't crying. It's nothing.

There are three interesting notes in this episode in terms of what is going on. One being the fact that Ben and his dad have both been to the island and were apart of the Dharma Initiative. It brings about the question of what actually causes the island to sink. It could not have been the bomb that set it off. Which would also imply that in the sunken island realm, that Jack and the others did not go back in time there in order to detonate it. What the sunken island realm could be is a parallel universe that is a mirror of the Lost realm.... oh my. It could very well be that the show's name is about this whole universe (not just the strange island) that is lost because it eliminates itself for the good of the sunken island realm. And because it does sacrifice itself, it also gives the sunken island realm the possibility of redemption. Still doesn't answer how the island is sunken, but I'll think about that in another post.

Another interesting event is Jack and Richard almost blowing themselves up, but they cannot because they were touched by Jacob. The rule surrounding it seems to be that if you are touched by Jacob, you are not able to die by your own hand. Thus why the dynamite did not go off because Jack cannot kill himself. Another rule we can assume from being a touched candidate is that the Monster cannot kill them either. The Monster was warned that he cannot kill Sawyer and had indeed saved his life.

The other event that is noteworthy is the appearance of Widmore which was not a surprise at all, especially since he is the new complication to introduce in the second act. The next piece of the story will be revolving around this third party and what that means for the island's struggle between Locke and Illana.

I think that once you can figure out the connection between the Lost Realm and the Sunken Island Realm, then I believe you are going to reveal the majority of the mystery of Lost. I know aliens was an idea that was floated around by some and I was starting to think that that would have to be a possibility as well, but it may not be the case anymore. I think Lost may stick to a non-extra terrestrial answer and I hope it does because otherwise it may be a bit too deux ex machina. We shall see.