"We're Very Close To The End" - 6x16: What They Died For

Okay, I'm starting this post at 12:49 a.m., so if it's brief, forgive me, but I'm keeping my eyes opened with toothpicks at this point.

I just finished watching tonight's penultimate (how rare is the occasion to use that word?) episode of LOST, "What They Died For," and I have to tell you two things:

1. I loved it.

2. I was a little emotional throughout the entire episode because I think it's finally hitting me: this wonderful universe we've been living in, this ultimate escape from our lives, this mysterious Island that we've spent the last six years on in our minds and hearts, will only exist for five more days. That's it. Five days. There's no telling how it will end, or what kind of life it will take on after the final "LOST" appears on our TV screens, but I do know that this excitement we feel, these discussions we have, the anticipation, confusion, wonder, anger, sadness, and every other emotion one can feel from watching this show will never be experienced again. No other show will be like this.

I've been thinking about loss quite a bit lately, and among the many, MANY thoughts and emotions, good and bad, that come out of that process, one that I felt so strongly tonight is appreciation. Losing something like this makes you appreciate it in and of itself, but also the role that it has played in your life, and how it has changed your life. I know that some of you out there have had a similar experience of this show coloring, and sometimes even clarifying, your life, as it has with me. If you haven't had that same experience, I suppose this all sounds awfully hokey, but hey, it's my blog.

So, before Sunday, I hope you all have a chance to appreciate this show for what it has done for you, whether it has provided you with entertainment, or whether it has quite literally changed your life. Either way, this journey we have been on which is quickly coming to an end was worth it. And hopefully, the destination will be just as worthwhile and satisfying.

So, my post tonight will be written through the lens of someone who had a big smile on his face throughout the episode, who shouted "Holy shit!" at least twice, and actually is having trouble remembering all of the details of the show because I was just so thankful to be sitting on my couch on a Tuesday night at 9:00pm watching LOST. Because it will never happen again.

So I guess my biggest point, and I'm not quite sure why it's coming up first, was my biggest "Holy shit!" moment: Ben blowing away Widmore! WTF?!?! Yeah, we knew he'd been wanting to, but what happened to 'you know we can't kill each other, boy'? What's changed? What did I miss? Was that all b.s.? As shocking and somewhat frustrating as it was, I have to say that as a Ben fan, it was also a little satisfying, especially after he says that he didn't want Widmore to have his daughter back.

Is Ben reeeeeaaaally helping the Monster out now? "Who else can we kill?" Really, Ben? What's his endgame? Will he be the one to eventually kill the Monster? Or, now I'm thinking that he will be the new Richard Alpert...

...who apparently was thrown into a tree and was killed by the Monster? But he can't die...right? Since Richard's apparent demise happened right in front of Ben, and based on their history, it's sort of poetic that Ben would be the new advisor. He and Richard are both responsible for a death that they are truly sorry for. We know Richard is (was? I'm really trying to figure this out...) immortal, and suspect that maybe, since he was healed in the Temple pool when he was a child, Ben is, too. Maybe he doesn't even know this. Regardless, when the Monster freight-trains Richard, they way that Ben calmly looks around and then sits in a patio chair was priceless.

The other great moment was the meeting around the campfire. This will probably be one of those scenes that some fans will complain about as being forced, like the entirety of last week's episode, or the reveal of what the whispers are, but I thought this scene was very natural and weighty. We know why Kate was crossed off the list in the cave (but again, not in the lighthouse - are only the dead crossed off that one? I'll have to look back and see if maybe that's the explanation): she's a mother to Aaron. She has someone at home off the Island to be responsible for, so she is not the ideal candidate - but of course, Jacob gives her the choice to be the protector if she wants to. We know why he brought them to the Island: because their lives weren't good, because they were lonely, and because they all needed to be fixed. I found that part of the conversation especially touching, and was getting some pretty strong religious vibes going on. And we know who the new protector will be: again, whoever chooses to be the protector. And it came as no surprise that Jack speaks up, and that he agreed to drink the blessed water to officially become the new Jacob........so we think...! I still have a feeling that there's going to be more to it than that, but we'll see.

Another interesting thing about that scene is that Jacob, in his child form, takes the ashes from Hurley (why he had to be his 13-year-old self, I have no idea), and then puts them into his campfire. Once the fire burns out, Jacob will be gone. I'm not sure what to make of that at the moment - I'm sure there's something there of significance, but I'm not getting it right now.

I'm almost beginning to think that there is no magic to being the protector. A lot of fans have been pondering if there is any magic to Jacob at all. The only thing I could say to confirm that he is magical, if you will, is that he hasn't aged (or is this due to time travel? Have the years that have passed for him been a lot more brief than we assume because the Island has been time-traveling? Could he have actually killed Brother last year in Island time?), and that he only appears to those he chooses to appear to.

Oh, another great scene was Hurley showing up to help Ana Lucia - Ana Lucia! - break Des, Kate, and Sayid out of the transfer to the county lock-up! It was a lot of fun. Hurley apparently remembers everything after his moment on the beach with Libby - including Ana Lucia! - and they're all going to the museum for the Widmore's concert for Daniel. (Sorry, but I have to say this - I cannot wait to see Kate in that dress Des chose for her - I'm biting the palm of my hand like Lenny as I type this ; )  ) David, Jack's son, mentions a concert that he wants to make sure Jack goes to, too - it must be the same one, right?

My mind is already working on how a scene will play out with all of our Losties in one place, suddenly remembering their Island lives, and then............poof? Flash? What will happen?

I literally cheered out loud when Alex told Ben to let her and her mother drive him home, and Danielle got out of the car! I was so excited to see Rousseau again! And they hit us over the head with it, but obviously a Ben - Danielle relationship is in the offing. Creepy, yes, but in this alternate story, very appropriate.

Finally, yet another Jack and Locke scene that I loved. Locke has finally come to the realization that it's fate that he keeps crossing paths with Jack, even if Jack warns him not to "mistake coincidence for fate," and he decides he wants to do the surgery.

And the great thing is that we now know that if they're going to give us answers, they have to do it in the next episode, because it's the last one!

(See? That's thinking of it positively, right?)

What did you all think of this episode?

Well, tonight was the kick-off of my own LOST finale week. On Thursday night, I'm going to the Quick Center at Fairfield University to see a simulcast of Damon and Carlton being interviewed live by the New York Times. Then, unfortunately, on Saturday night, I'm working, so I will miss the re-airing of "Pilot," the first episode of LOST, which I means I will miss watching it for the 7,435th time. I am DVRing it, just in case they do something special.

And then on Sunday is the big finale party! Again, if any of you that didn't get the Evite and would like to come, please comment on this post and let me know! You are more than welcome to join us.

That's all for now. I'm assuming I will likely post one more time before the finale, but this week is jam-packed for me, so I may not get the chance. Either way, until next time,

Namaste & Good Luck,

~ Matt