I may be still floating on euphoria, but I thought last night’s episode was one of the best episodes since the Pilot. Exceptional acting. Great plot. Beautiful scenes. Some revelatory moments, and still more mystery. All in all, an exceptional episode and one that I don’t think I’ll forget.
First, the simple, heart-moving plot of 1867. Richard loved Isabella, and, when she got sick, he told her he would save her. After accidentally killing the stubborn doctor, he rushed back home to find his wife dead and gone. Richard was taken and sentenced to be hanged. While in prison, a padre visits him and refuses to absolve him of his sins, saying he doesn’t have time to work off his penance. He tells Richard that he is going to hell. Before he is hanged, however, a man buys him to work as a slave and they board the Black Rock.
On rough and choppy seas, the Black Rock is swept to the Island, where it crashes through the Statue Thing. Richard awakens to find that he is alive, but soon the first mate comes to the slave quarters and begins stabbing men. (At first I thought he had the “sickness,” but I guess not.) Richard asks why and the man gives a reason, but is interrupted by a strange, clicking noise above deck. People begin screaming and blood pours down through the cracks and ports. The smoke monster busts through and takes the first mate, leaving Richard alive and alone. The black smoke then studies Richard and leaves.
He gets attacked by Jacob, who is yelling at him like he’s some sort of crazy man. (I liked seeing Jacob like this.) He disarms him, discovers why Richard is there, attempts to drown him to show the man that he is indeed alive, and then offers him a job. In exchange for working for Jacob, Richard will live forever, since Jacob couldn’t bring back Isabella or forgive him of his sins. Jacob then explains to Richard a bit of what’s going on, that the Man in Black is like the wine that’s stored in the bottle. If it’s broken, then the wine will spread and cannot be contained. The Island is the cork, keeping the wine in. The newly devoted Richard goes back to the Man in Black and delivers a white rock, and the Man in Black gives Richard Isabella’s necklace, telling him that if he ever changes his mind to let him know. Richard mourns as he buries his wife’s necklace.
Back in 2004, Richard has left the beach and heads to where he buried Isabella’s necklace. Hurley follows and finds Richard yelling that he’s changed his mind. Hurley says that Isabella sent him. Richard is shocked. Hurley then communicates to Richard for Isabella and they talk briefly. The acting here is superb and believable. Richard’s love was real. Richard says that he wants to be with her again, and Isabella says that they are already together (kind of like Juliet telling Sawyer that it worked?). Soon, she is gone, leaving Hurley one last message to deliver. There’s something Richard has to do. He has to stop the Man in Black or “we [will] all go to hell.”
Thoughts and Observations
- I can’t stress enough how much I liked this episode. Nestor Carbonell’s performance was amazing.
- Did you catch that Magnus Hanso was the captain of the Black Rock? This is Alvar Hanso’s great-grandfather, and Alvar, as we know, is the chief source of funding for DHARMA. He was shown back in the “Orientation” film.
- Funny how the writers play with the viewers. Richard telling Jack that they were all dead and in hell. Those writers…
- I’m reminded of Job after this episode. Satan wanted to tempt Job and prove that he was corruptible and fallible, that the man would curse God. God said go on and try, just don’t kill him. This reminds me of Jacob and the MiB’s relationship. If the Man in Black believes that all men are corruptible and weak, then does that make him the devil? And Jacob said he wants men to do for themselves, that he doesn’t want to step in.
- I feel like there’s a lot more to discuss from this episode, but I cannot remember it all.
- Next week is titled “The Package.”
8 comments:
Logan, do you remember though last season when we first see Jacob and MiB talking they see the Black Rock sailing in the distance with clear skies, etc? I asked this question last night of those with me and the only reconciliation we could come up with was that they had seen the ship from very far off and the storm had come up very suddenly.
Also, I absolutely loved Hurley's line "This isn't about you, Jack" when Jack wanted to know who/what Hurley was talking to over by himself. I just think the show tends to center on Jack a little too much at times, albeit this episode is certainly not such an example.
In all, I'd say it was nice to learn more about Richard, and I believe we gained more insights to what Jacob isn't, but I'm waiting for more unification of story and theme.
Aye, friend, I remember, though we don't know that that was the Black Rock they saw. We do know that Jacob has brought other people to the Island, and this could one of those examples, or it could be like you said, as storms do rise up suddenly on the Island.
I still like Jack a lot, but I thought that was pretty funny, too.
And you said it exactly. We've gained insight to what Jacob isn't, but we still don't know exactly what he is. Just 9 or 10 hours left of the show!
I so loved this episode, but I think that is a given :) After the superb story and acting of this week, I think I'm going to be disappointed with next week's episode. But maybe not.
I actually really liked the part where Jacob dunked Richard in the water. To me, it seemed like a baptism. And one of my friends today mentioned how it almost seems like they're setting up a Holy Trinity on the island ... Jacob as the Father, maybe Richard as the Son, and she couldn't figure out the Holy Spirit part lol. But I thought it could be a good theory.
I'm so sad that we only have 8 weeks left :( I like answers, but yet I think I'd prefer to keep some things mysterious.
Amanda, I thought it seemed like a baptism, too. The Triune thing is interesting, though I wouldn't be surprised if Jacob and MiB are somehow connected, like two faces of the same being.
Oh, I believe there'll be plenty of mystery left when the show ends. It'd only be fitting, after all.
Jacob is the devil don't be fooled by the red herring; MIB and Locke seems to have always told the truth and for him to lie that he is the devil in not in his character's nature; it is however in Jacob's and when he says what did he tell you ; watch his reaction when he said he said you are the devil, we are all being lead to believe Locke is bad and one thing Lost has done is twist our minds..Locke says a wise man said war is coming; and the side that is going to win is also been refrenced to Wigmore so wait and watch MIB and Wigmore defeat the devil Jacob.
@Anony: Thanks for commenting and offering your theory. I think the writers of Lost are trying to fool us all into believing that Jacob is the bad one of the two, though he actually isn't. However, he's not entirely good, either, I don't think. Just like with everything else in the show, lines are too blurry and everything is grey between Jacob and the MiB. Both have good and evil qualities, but it's all a matter of perspective and the endgame.
I did think Jacob's reaction to him being accused of being the devil was interesting, though. Perhaps it was disbelief.
Thanks again for commenting.
Now that I've been thinking about it, I'm beting: on "The Substitute", the person the young blond kid refers while talking to Claimed Locke is, for me (without doubt), Richard! MIB/Claimed Locke seems not able (and so not capable) to kill him...
@Anony: Quite possible, I say, but I don't think I'd go as far to say it "without a doubt." Although, if Jacob gives Richard eternal life, then the MiB shouldn't be able to kill him, I don't think.
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