LOST - Dead is Dead: Episode Analysis

Dead is Dead is the type of episode that can either enhance or weaken a viewer's love of Lost. Filled with interesting flashbacks, oddball science fiction and somewhat over the top story telling, Dead is Dead really trying hard to appeal to the hardcore Lost fan. So, although I may have loved it, I think this type of episode hurt the appeal to the casual fan who just wouldn't get the sci-fi story telling that Lost is quickly moving towards.

The Horse Whisperer
Ever thought you'd see Charles Widmore come in on a noble steed with flowing black locks to meet up with Mr. Eyeliner himself, Richard Alpert? It's like a competition of who looks better on a romance novel (maybe that's why Alpert had the long hair that one time).

So we meet up with Mr. Widmore chatting with Mr. Alpert about bringing "the boy" to the temple. And of course, Alpert is one to drop the Jacob name once in a while.

After Widmore processes that he has to take this boy in, he calmly speaks with injured Ben about how he was healed by the island. However, I guess when you are healed by the island, you magically forget why you were healed in the first place. Although this small issue has been considered a cop out by many, I think that the writers will bring up this memory issue once again in the future, as we delve deeper into the mysteries of "The Others" and the "Temple" that they reside in.

You Have to See it to Believe it

Remember that talk Ben had with Jack regarding the story of Thomas? And how he had to touch Jesus' wounds, in order to believe he came back from the dead? Well, Ben didn't need much convincing, other than what he saw. This scene showcases the tremendous chemistry both Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn have, as they play off each other's emotions and reactions. All in all, Ben tells Locke that he needs to be judged, as he broke the rules. Locke showed some surprised satisfaction at Ben's goal, which will lead us to revelations of Locke's new demeanor and confidence.

What's in the crate?

Ilana and that other dude are up to something. Don't know what. But I tried to figure out what that somewhat "innocent" conversation Ben had with them meant. He basically asked them "What's in the crate?" and "Can I help?", as they kindly brushed him off and said that they are good, as Ilana gave Ben a slight look. Could this mean they are in cohoots with Ben, in some form or fashion? Or are they actually Widmore's people, hired to follow Ben's every move. But if so, why didn't they follow Locke and Ben to the other island? So many questions...

You stole my baby!

First off, Ben's haircut was awesomely bad. He looked like George Mcfly from Back to the Future.

Well, this was one of the more anticipated revelations that Lost fans had been looking forward to, which was the kidnapping of Alex. And I must say, it underperformed. It was nice to see Ben's continued sympathy for mothers and their children, as well as his eventual attachment to Alex, but come on Danielle... You really couldn't have put up a fight with Mcfly here? And on that note, why didn't Danielle kill Ben after she caught him in the net in Season 2? Why did she give him over to Jack and Sayid if she knew this guy stole her daughter?

Help me Help You
Locke begins to appear more calm than ever, rather than agitated, as he confronts the man who just murdered him. You can just see from his expressions that he doesn't buy any of the BS that Ben is spewing about getting the Oceanic 6 back on the island, and that he knew Locke would come back to life. But John doesn't really care at this point. He just wants Ben to feel small. He wants Ben to squirm for answers and feel insignificant compared to Locke. That is the ultimate revenge for John. And that, in turn, may also be the ultimate revenge of the island.

Et Tu Ben?

Caesar may have surpassed Paulo and Nikki as the most useless character if this is how he goes. After telling Ben that he has his back, Ben saws Caesar off some lead right in the breadbasket. Unfortunately, we don't actually see Caeasar "dead", so for all we know he had 5 inches of bulletproof metal under that A&F shirt.

But the best part of this scene was Ben naturally spewing out "Consider that my apology". I guess it's better than a postcard.


Kill it

Ben doesn't have much regret when it comes to killing everyone in the Dharma Initiative. But he sure did defend that little baby's life, asking Widmore "You do it". Maybe this was the catalyst that started Ben's ascension towards the top. His name dropping of Jacob, his compassion for children and his awesome hair.

On a side note, where is Ellie? Didn't Richard say he didn't answer to Charles OR Ellie? Where did she disappear to?

Hairy chests add to the drama

I don't know why Lapidus' shirt was unbuttoned so low. Was it hot? Was he trying to set the mood with Sun? Did he think he needed to look more manly? Who knows. But what we do find out is Ben had no idea the Oceanic peeps were in the Dharma Initiative. So what do you think went through his head at that point?

1. Did I just kill Jack and team? Wow, I'm pretty damn evil.
2. How could I not remember this? Who gave me the flashy thing from Men in Black?
3. Someone has some mad photoshopping skills.

My money is on #1, with a little bit of #2. It should have occurred to him when he was captured by Danielle and given to the Oceanic group that these people were the same Dharma folk he lived with, until the purge. Now, in retrospect, he doesn't seem to remember that happening at all. So what exactly is occurring here? If "what happened, happened", how could Ben not have remembered that Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hurley, Juliet, Miles and maybe Sayid were a part of Dharma?

My initial guess is that something is going to happen in between the time Ben is healed by the temple and then goes back to be with the Dharma folk, in which the Oceanic people will not be part of Dharma anymore. It's possible some of the Oceanic people (maybe Sawyer/Juliet) are forever banned for something they did and end up being "Adam and Eve" from Season 1 by the caves. I guess we will find out soon enough.

I can't control him

Born-again Locke "has some ideas" for Sun, in regards to finding Jin. I found it eerily similar to the Season 4 finale, where Ben said he "had some ideas" for Jack, in regards to getting back to the island. It goes to show that if you are the supposed "leader" of the island, you suddenly turn into a bag of vagueness and mystery.

Then came the mysterious conversation between Ben and Sun. Earlier in the episode, Ben said he KNEW Locke would come back to life. He was just surprised that it actually happened. However, in this conversation, he told Sun he had no idea Locke would come back to life. "Dead is Dead", as he calmly states it. You don't come back from that.

So, this adds to the intrigue of what exactly Ben knows. Did he, or didn't he know that Locke was going to come back to life? My initial reaction is he did NOT. All he did off the island to help the Oceanic 6 return to the island wasn't for the good of the island or his compassion for these people. It was always about Ben, alone, to return back to the island. But to see that Locke was able to come back to life completely flustered him and he is probably trying his best to make the most out of a no-win situation for him. I think in the final season, we will see Ben's true motives for returning to the island, because I doubt it was to be judged.

Muddy Water go down the hole
I know I kind of went out of order here but... What the heck did Ben do in his closet? Flushing some water down a hole? That's how he summons the smoke monster? If that's all he has to do, why is that such a privilege? I'd rather be Alpert and not age, rather than summon a monster after digging my hand in mud.

It's not a train John. It doesn't run on a schedule

Smokey is shy sometimes, refusing to show up for Ben's judgement. So instead of waiting it out like he's used to, Ben is forced to follow Locke to the source. To Ben's surprise, the source was right under the place he considered his safe haven - The Temple.

I enjoyed the conversation Ben and Locke had about knowing where to go. How did John know exactly where to go? Did it gradually come to him or did he suddenly grasp the meaning of the universe? Whichever one it is, what we do know is Locke is definitely not the same complaining, in-over-his-head Locke. This is what the web has called "Locke 2.0".

Hello. My name is Benjamin Linus. Your Father Killed My Daughter. Prepare to Die.

So we find out that Ben is bruised and bloodied, not because he couldn't put up a fight, but because he was mesmerized by little Charlie. We are again introduced to sympathetic Ben, as he contemplates stealing Charlie's mother away, as Ben's mother was stolen away from him. In the end, he lowers his gun and then is blindsided by punch machine Desmond Hume. Ben must be a really bad shot if Desmond was able to bounce back so quickly. Next time, Ben should use the same gun he shot down Abaddon with. He seems more accurate with that.

Don't look into the eye of your dead daughter

So we end the episode on a high, with Ben coming face to face with the monster. We've seen in episodes past where the monster has confronted the likes of the Oceanic pilot, Eko and Danielle's crew. We still don't know exactly why it kills certain people with no remorse, while retreating in front of other people. In this case, Ben was confronted with his past transgressions, when it comes to his daughter. He is forced to watch as they show Alex growing up and eventually be killed by Keamy. Ben shows real remorse, and perhaps that is why he is forgiven. It is similar to Christian belief where you must truly be repentant of your sins to be saved. If you cling to your transgressions, you will be judged accordingly. Ben was able to escape fate this time around, but I don't think this will be the last time he will be judged. Ben has done a lot worse than letting his daughter die.

So, his reward for being repentant is seeing his daughter once again. At least her physical state. She shows off her biceps by lifting up Ben and slamming him against the wall and demands Ben follow Locke's every word. I think what we are to make of this is the island is now using Alex to make Ben do it's bidding, which is to listen to Locke. But why has Locke become so important? How did he become one with the island? It he really alive? Or is he the walking dead, ala Christian? If anything, these questions are making me yearn for Wednesday already.

- Stephen