Admittedly after the first three episodes of the final
season, I have tried to kind of let it all sink in. With the emergence of fresh
characters and a “sideways” (I have read this is how Cuse and Lindelof consider
the “off-island” actual landing of the Oceanic, following the main leads after
their leaving the plane) subplot to boot, I realize that managing to keep up
with it all will be a bit of a challenge. I’m personally up for it, although
the inclusion of Sayid succumbing to darkness after the pool at the temple for
which the Others (led by Dogen and his interpreter, Lennon (John Hawkes))
reside didn’t “heal” him of his “infection”, resulting in a “faulty”
resurrection, is quite a plot development to digest. Just talking it over with my friend today, coming off the lips in conversation we had a good giggle about it. Dogen (Hiroyuki Sanada) is presented as a major character within
this final season, attempting to convince (and failing) Jack to get Sayid to
take a poison pill. Jack, loyal to Sayid, tested Dogen by taking it himself.
Dogen rushed to Jack, making sure he didn’t ingest the pill into his system. I
have tried to look at Jacob and his adversary (considered, from what I gather, The
Man in Black) as humans with extraordinary abilities. Obviously if Jacob could
visit off-island his “crew” and talk to Hurley after Ben stabbed him repeatedly
(resulting in his death when The Man in Black kicked him into the fire), he had
certain powers typical mortals do not. And if The Man in Black can assume the
form of others, black smoke, and Locke; he obviously received powers as well on
the island.
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| Poison pill |
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| Temple where Dogen remains with Others |
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| Sayid is "tested" |
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| With interpreter, Lennon, Dogen looks at Sayid |
There are little things I noticed starting this season like
Cindy’s (Kimberley Joseph) sudden resurgence as a character despite very little
real depth in previous seasons (she appears minuscule when compared to Ana,
Libby, Eko, Bernard, and Godwin). She is recognized on the plane in the “sideways”
subplot, speaking to Jack, and later she’s featured as a member of the Others
under the leadership of Dogen at the temple (along with the kids Ana cared
about and felt guilt over losing). If anything, much like the remerging Claire,
the somewhat creatively forgotten Cindy has been “heated up” by the writing
team.
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| Cindy, on-island 2007 |
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| Cindy in "sideways" |
There is a nice bit of continuity for Jin and Sun in the “sideways”
subplot where you hear him “requesting” her button up her shirt. And when his
money is confiscated during a luggage check at the LAX, Sun denies
understanding English as Jin is asked to be questioned. With Jin trying to find
Sun on the island in 2007, how different they are from 2004 on the plane (and
off at LAX) is so vital to the five seasons of character development put in by
the writing team and actors involved. This also plays into the thought
regarding how not landing on the island as opposed to landing in Los Angeles
could be right the opposite of a positive endeavor. Although they have been
through absolute hell, Jin and Sun have grown closer and love each other far
more intensely and passionately on the island while LA offers the distinct
possibility of real trouble due to her father’s criminal ties. To see such
different characters due to the island experience is quite impressive.
While I thoroughly enjoy how Ben finds himself continuously used
and dismissively viewed by Jacob and The Man in Black, Terry O’Quinn’s tweak on
Locke through the revelation that he is not the one walking about on the island
in 2007 has proved to be an even more satisfying surprise. O’Quinn has given
this form of Locke some sinister qualities, including a certain confidence and
blunt, confrontational style which often startles Ben. His conversation
regarding Locke’s final thoughts when Ben was killing him (“I just don’t
understand.”), but the desire to stay on the island leads to a clear motivation
for The Man in Black is that he wants to go “home”. Obviously I don’t know
where “home” is yet, so this is information that serves as a piece to keep in
mind going forward. Speaking of O’Quinn, I really like his work as Locke at LAX
when talking with Jack. Also Locke’s conversation with Boone on the plane,
seemingly okay with the disappointments of his trip to Australia, feeling the
need to not reveal the inability to attend a walkabout while also accepting
life in a wheelchair…which would appear to leave his life more or less a dud
not worth expending too much effort on. It is understandable that the Locke on
the island wanted to stay considering the satisfaction during certain intervals
while walking, tracking, and hunting as opposed to the uncertainty in a
wheelchair where he was seemingly limited. Although those in a wheelchair might
take some offense to being presented as insignificant, with Locke life with
active legs on the island seemed like a better future than in LA knowing his
father was out there taking advantage of folks he might influence away
possessions.
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| Man in Black, Jacob's adversary |
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| Using Locke as a disguise |
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