"Lost in My Thoughts:" My Lost Dissertation
By
BafflingBeerMan,
Posted on: 2010-07-28 24:24 in Comic and Hero-Villain Culture
Terrific. I am still waiting for the release of Season 6 to finish up but this will entertain until then.
total kick to the gut
This is like having Ra's Al Ghul show up at your birthday party.
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Just be careful reading. I make references to things in Season 6 for some of the answers/themes for Season 1.|
Originally Posted by SwellGuy
Terrific. I am still waiting for the release of Season 6 to finish up but this will entertain until then.
|
Of course, I don't describe anything too in detail, but I just want to warn you.
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa10/BafflingBeerman/teamjackface1.jpg[/IMG]
Quote:
No worries. I am not spoiler adverse. |
Originally Posted by BafflingBeerMan
Just be careful reading. I make references to things in Season 6 for some of the answers/themes for Season 1.
Of course, I don't describe anything too in detail, but I just want to warn you. |
According to Netflix Season 6 is out on 8/24 so one week after Going Rogue I can finally get Lost.
total kick to the gut
This is like having Ra's Al Ghul show up at your birthday party.
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa10/BafflingBeerman/teamjackface1.jpg[/IMG]
Season 3 analysis, ironically, the season we learn about The Purge
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa10/BafflingBeerman/teamjackface1.jpg[/IMG]
Quote:
Always a good read, but I would contend that the ash ring was only meant to keep Smokey out. Not to hold him in. When Ilana and her crew head to the cabin, it is only after seeing that the ring is broken that they become more cautious. Also, Smokey (if he was kept there) would have only been kept there a short time (compared to Smokey's life-span). The cabin was built by Horace and would have been used by him up until the Purge. I think the ring was there to assure Richard that, when he was in the cabin, it was only Jacob who was there, and not the Man-in-Black. |
Originally Posted by BafflingBeerMan
I believe the Man in Black was trapped there for a while, but some time before Oceanic 815 crashed on the Island, he escaped.
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This assumes that Richard would use the cabin to meet Jacob, since the trip to the statue was a long one to take.
@Rylas
Kill 'em all. Let XP sort 'em out.
Quote:
Good thoughts, as the added extra bit about how the ash ring was an assurance to whoever was meeting there that it was indeed Jacob and not MiB makes it more reasonable that Jacob would be there. I have always said that it seems like the statue was Jacob's home base and it didn't make sense for him to go someplace else to be "safe." The ash ring being a comforting fact for Richard (or whoever) makes that go down easier. Like the Cabin was a lunchtime meeting spot, but Richard knew where Jacob really lived and that's why he took (F)Locke there at the end of Season 5. Jacob was using the Cabin for a while, Ben saw Alpert go there numerous times, Smokey infiltrated it somehow and forced Jacob to the Statue but Ben didn't know the difference and there we go.|
Originally Posted by Rylas
Always a good read, but I would contend that the ash ring was only meant to keep Smokey out. Not to hold him in. When Ilana and her crew head to the cabin, it is only after seeing that the ring is broken that they become more cautious. Also, Smokey (if he was kept there) would have only been kept there a short time (compared to Smokey's life-span). The cabin was built by Horace and would have been used by him up until the Purge. I think the ring was there to assure Richard that, when he was in the cabin, it was only Jacob who was there, and not the Man-in-Black.
This assumes that Richard would use the cabin to meet Jacob, since the trip to the statue was a long one to take. |
Note that the Cabin being Horace's originally can be taken this way (if we are assuming MiB was "trapped" there): After The Purge (which I think is up for debate who actually ordered it: Jacob or MiB posing as Jacob. Let's go with the second theory to make this one work), Jacob realized that letting MiB roam free as he lined up candidates wasn't going to work anymore. So he tricks him into the Cabin, but Smokey still has some influence and that is why Ben thought Jacob was housed there and not the Statue.
Or, conversely, Jacob really likes to use whatever his Candidates/outsiders build as his own home (see: the Statue)
Like I said, one of the biggest unanswered mysteries.
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa10/BafflingBeerman/teamjackface1.jpg[/IMG]
Oh, and the other thing I'll eventually need to do in regards to "investigating" the Cabin is rewatch Locke's vision of Horace. Though Locke did find the blueprints on Horace's dead body, since it was ultimately MiB leading Locke to the locale, I think we need to take what vision-Horace says with a grain of salt.
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa10/BafflingBeerman/teamjackface1.jpg[/IMG]
Just 13 more days till I start watching Season 6...
total kick to the gut
This is like having Ra's Al Ghul show up at your birthday party.
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa10/BafflingBeerman/teamjackface1.jpg[/IMG]
One week from now I should have finished the first disc of Season 6...
I wish it were next week.
total kick to the gut
This is like having Ra's Al Ghul show up at your birthday party.
Cannot wait for the DVDs.
Especially "The New Man in Charge." I have been avoiding spoilers.
Ah, it is just like old times.
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa10/BafflingBeerman/teamjackface1.jpg[/IMG]
On a related note:
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa10/BafflingBeerman/teamjackface1.jpg[/IMG]
LOL
So they should have named the island 'Rick Astley'?
total kick to the gut
This is like having Ra's Al Ghul show up at your birthday party.
My (over)analysis continues with Season 5. Near the end now!
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa10/BafflingBeerman/teamjackface1.jpg[/IMG]
Got a little behind on my readings, so I read 4 and 5 both. I noticed one little thing on Season 4, though:
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In season 6 we learn that Jacob's touch can keep someone from dying/committing suicide. Being a candidate alone will not do the job. As far as we know, Michael was never touched. But this could have been done outside the story we see.| Michael He could not kill himself and Tom Friendly (the Other who took Walt) said it was because the Island was not through with him yet. We learn in Season 6 candidates cannot kill themselves, so perhaps his suicide prevention was due to his candidacy at one time. |
Also, you mention that dreams could have been MiB influencing people, but would you rule out the possibility of the island being the influence of these dreams?
Can't wait to see your Season 6 post!
@Rylas
Kill 'em all. Let XP sort 'em out.
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True about the touch seeming to be key.|
Originally Posted by Rylas
Got a little behind on my readings, so I read 4 and 5 both. I noticed one little thing on Season 4, though:
In season 6 we learn that Jacob's touch can keep someone from dying/committing suicide. Being a candidate alone will not do the job. As far as we know, Michael was never touched. But this could have been done outside the story we see. Also, you mention that dreams could have been MiB influencing people, but would you rule out the possibility of the island being the influence of these dreams? Can't wait to see your Season 6 post! |
It is hard to say if the Island itself was influencing people. We never really got a clear picture of who the visions Locke got were coming from: Jacob, MiB, or a third force. Since most of Locke's vision led him astray, I would say it was MiB, but it could just be that Locke misinterpreted his visions.
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa10/BafflingBeerman/teamjackface1.jpg[/IMG]
Okay, now that I am thinking about Michael again, I have a wildly off-the-wall theory that I am just putting out there, I don't necessarily think it is true:
Being a Candidate grants you limited immortality (as seen by Michael). However you can still die and depending on your actions, you, sadly, get to "live on" by being a Whisper on the Island. You were a Chosen One who failed to earn Jacob's Touch.
The final 6 were special because they were both Candidates and touched by an Angel, er, Jacob. The vast amount of Whispers on the Island are because they lacked the second part, the touch.
::Cue Transformers Animated Movie::
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa10/BafflingBeerman/teamjackface1.jpg[/IMG]
All good things must come to an end: Season 6
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa10/BafflingBeerman/teamjackface1.jpg[/IMG]
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Good write up, BBM! I'd argue that the sideways plot line wasn't meant to be about happiness, but that's just my opinion. |
Originally Posted by BafflingBeerMan
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I'm in the middle of watching the last season on DVD, now. I'm waiting on completing it before watching the bonus episode. I'm glad you didn't mention the details of it on the last dissertation. Very prudent move, sir.
@Rylas
Kill 'em all. Let XP sort 'em out.
Quote:
I have moved towards thinking it is somewhat a mix between trying to find some happiness and testing yourself.|
Originally Posted by Rylas
Good write up, BBM! I'd argue that the sideways plot line wasn't meant to be about happiness, but that's just my opinion.
|
Again, if we assume that each Lostie created thier own slice of that universe, we can see how they are almost tempting themselves: Sayid gets to be with Nadia, but will he fall back into his assassin persona? Locke is with Helen, but can he ever truly be at peace what with his paralysis and what his father (and what Locke allowed his father) did to him? Kate gets to be innocent, but will that keep her from running away from the important things in her life?
Now that we know what we should think about why did the Losties put themselves into those situations.
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa10/BafflingBeerman/teamjackface1.jpg[/IMG]
I am being denied Lost season 6 by Netflix for now so until they see fit to have it to send to me I continue to wait. 
total kick to the gut
This is like having Ra's Al Ghul show up at your birthday party.
Quote:
I think Desmond's words to Ben in the afterlife sum up the whole purpose of it beautifully. He told Ben he was helping Locke "let go." That was the whole point of their constructed reality, in my opinion. They needed something similar to their life, but without the island. Something with a little added twist to give them some of the things they always wanted but couldn't have.|
Originally Posted by BafflingBeerMan
Now that we know what we should think about why did the Losties put themselves into those situations.
|
For Jack, that would be a way to prove to himself he wouldn't be his father. Kate needed to lose her guilt. Sayid needed to find his goodness (Nadia was only a red herring). Some, like Charlie, didn't need much in the way of letting go. He was ready to do so from the beginning, only he needed a little help in understanding why.
When you look at Mrs. Widmore/Hawking, you see the result of someone who understands what's really going on, but isn't ready to let go. She got a life with her son, again, and couldn't bare to give it up. For Ben, it was somewhat the same case. I don't think he couldn't let go of Alex, he just couldn't let go of the things he'd done.
In fact, Hawking and Ben's predicament reminds me of C.S. Lewis' book, "The Great Divorce." People in the "grey city" are in what could be described as Purgatory or Hell, the only deciding factor was how long you stayed there. For our survivors, it was Purgatory. For Ben, if he chooses to stay too long, it could become a personal hell. Especially when you know you're dead and nothing is real. Seeing as the writers chose to reference C.S. Lewis with Charlotte's character, it's a nice comparison.
Hmm... I didn't think I'd end up running on so long about that one.
@Rylas
Kill 'em all. Let XP sort 'em out.
A few of my friends and family members have asked that I write about my thoughts regarding Lost. Like on here, in real life, I am known as somewhat of a Lost oracle, the first person people went to when they had questions or theories about the show. I just got finished with what I dubbed my "dissertation" on the show, where I comment upon what I feel are the themes and mysteries (and answers) for each season. I have circulated it around to some of my friends and acquaintances and now I will share it with you guys.
Introduction and Season 1
I plan on adding each season's analysis every Wednesday. The whole thing isn't too long, about 14 pages. I tried not to get too lost (heh) in my analysis, as there were times that I felt I was becoming Doc Jensen with his insane (but fun) theories.
Of course, there are spoilers. You have to have some passing knowledge of the show. And some of my points change each time I think about them, but I think this was a fun exercise. Please enjoy
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa10/BafflingBeerman/teamjackface1.jpg[/IMG]