Lost-vivor: “The Man Behind the Curtain”
Posted on May 10, 2007 @ 8:10 am
Welcome to Week Twenty of Lost-vivor — all the mystery and adventure of Lost with an added dash of Survivor-style competition! Note that the section ahead contains spoilers for last night’s episode of Lost. Proceed at your own risk.
In the immortal words of Christopher Walken…wow! Wowie wow wow! After a few so-so episodes in a row, “The Man Behind the Curtain” provided us not only with some decent drama, but also actual answers to questions we care about. For instance, we now know that the Others are the original inhabitants of the island — not the survivors of the DHARMA Initiative (with the exception of Ben, of course).
Last night’s episode also introduced us to the mysterious Jacob. Well, kinda. At first, I was really digging the whole Norman Bates vibe they were playing up, but I think I like the “only Locke and Ben can hear him” angle even better. I’ve lamented the decline of random “island weirdness” in the second and third seasons, and Jacob definitely qualifies as weird (in a good way).
Of course, the cliffhanger leaves us questioning whether Locke will survive. My personal hunch is that he’ll pull through; I don’t think his spiritual journey is over. Of course, that may be wishful thinking on my part. I just get giddy whenever Locke stops blowing up submarines and starts working his island mojo instead.
When you factor in the growing divide among the Losties back at the beach, the writers are doing a great job building up to the season finale. I don’t know about you, but I feel like just about anything could happen in the final two episodes. In my opinion, its just the kind of momentum this season needed after a relatively slow start.
How’s about we take a look this week’s scores, huh? Speaking of which, I’m going to go ahead and assign points to Ben this week. Consider it unsanctioned exhibition scoring; he’s not entering the ranks, but I hate to ignore him since he was the focus of “The Man Behind the Curtain.”
Let’s roll!
| Ben: |
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| Locke: |
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| Sawyer: |
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| Sun: |
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| Sayid: |
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| Jack: |
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Only John Locke could be shot and left for dead in an episode and still manage to gain 19 points. With that, he moves out of last place and past Jack/Juliet (I’m on the verge of just merging them into a single character at this point). Meanwhile, Sawyer posted just enough points to once again pull ahead of Desmond. After twenty weeks of bowel-shaking Lost-vivor action, here are the latest rankings:
- Sawyer (163) (+2)
- Desmond (161)
- Hurley (139)
- Sayid (137) (+3)
- Jin (136)
- Kate (130)
- Sun (113) (-1)
- Naomi (112)
- Vincent (109)
- Charlie (104)
- Claire (103)
- Locke (90) (+19)
- Juliet (89)
- Jack (68) (-3)
Thanks for reading Lost-vivor! With only two episodes left, what are your predictions and/or theories for the rest of the season? The lead-up for next week’s episode, “Greatest Hits,” gives us every reason to believe that Charlie is about to depart for that glorious hobbit-hole in the sky. Personally, I still think it will be Desmond who sacrifices himself, thus demonstrating that free will trumps destiny — even when you’re a precognitive Scotsman. Also, how do you think the whole “we don’t trust Jack” storyline will play out? I keep having these sadistic dreams of Sayid interrogating Jack, but I have a feeling that’s not going to happen.
Anyway, I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comments. See you next week!
Posted by Jess | Filed Under Lost-vivor |
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Well I started the episode saying to my wife: “Locke is going to gain some points in Lost-vivor this episode!”. Now…. I’m not so sure
Not to spoil too much but:
- Richard hasn’t physically aged in, say, 40 years?
- the hostiles took over the Dharma Project in the outside world too?
- we’ll be seeing more Ben flashbacks in future episodes?
- I hope we didn’t just see one of the big deaths that the producers talked about…
Ugh, this show is so frustrating!
NO!!!
Locke goes the whole episode making me love him all over again, and now I have to wait til next week to see if he’s really dead.
Cool episode tellin’ us about the Dharma, the Hostiles, and it’s the first time I’ve physically jumped in surprise from a lost episode since season 1.
Locke won’t really be dead since the producers have already said that he is at the center of the Island’s mysteries. Or so they’ve SAID…
WHO KNOWS????
If Locke really is dead, then I’m not sure I can make it to season 4. Personally, I think “Jacob” will save him. This episode re-established that Locke’s personal journey was to awesomeness - no way can they cut that short.
I’m getting sick of Jack’s smugness. He’s been a pretty lousy leader after the initial days of just keeping people alive. They need to vote Sayid the Torturer and Deputy Sawyer in as the new top dogs.
At the very least, it looks like they’re learning from the drops in ratings and are going all out for these last few episodes.
Bowel-shaking…
From the preview of the final two episodes, it looks like Jack will be leading an all-out, kick-ass assault against the Others. I predict Juliack (Jackiet?) will at least get themselves out of last place by end of the season. I still think Desmond will one day hook back up with Penelope, so it’s doubtful that Charlie will survive (also heard rumours that the actor will not be back).
I’ve also heard producers say that the rest of Libby’s story will have to be told in flashbacks of a character that wasn’t originally on the island and met her. Could this be Naomi? Does anyone know if she’s joining the cast in Season 4?
I’ll be pretty pissed if Locke doesn’t survive - I can’t believe the writers would do that though…
Final tidbit: Lost has been announced to go for 3 more seasons of 16 episodes each (ending in 2010). Do you think it’s possible that the writers can tie up all loose ends, plotholes, retcons and mysteries in 50 episodes?
I’m with Thom; sure Locke had been weirdly annoying this season, but he was still one of the more interesting characters on the show.
Anyone have a good explanation as to why Richard hasn’t aged? “Healing” properties of the island? Hidden Lazarus Pit?
Once again, a most enjoyable Lost-vivor post. I love the “eight ways from Sunday” comment.
I love Locke, so I’m hoping his healing powers will give him a little boost. How freakin’ creepy was Ben when he gassed his dad? The guy deserved it for sure, but gahhh!
Did anyone else notice that one of the skulls had a bullet hole in it?
And Richard is c.r.e.e.p.y. He hasn’t aged a day! Does that tie in with “Joop” from the Dharma stuff? Where the hostiles actually captives from Dharma that escaped?
Velly, velly intewesting!
Gosh, how good was it to see Locke being a bad-ass again and not a bumbling moron blowing up useful resources and trying to kill people with answers. Seriously, is there anything more cool than a guy eating fruit off a knife blade? I have a feeling he’ll be getting his points for being shot back. No way he’s dying. He wasn’t shot in the head and we didn’t see him “die”. He’s already survived having his leg almost cut off and a bunch of other stuff. He’ll be running around blowing up stuff before we know it.
I think Sawyer should get more points for giving the recorder to Sayid, that’s probably the smartest move he’s ever made. However, they should both lose points for not listening to the whole tape and having Juliet make them look stupid. Wouldn’t you at least fast forward through to see if there was any more on the tape? I also think Ben should have lots points for killing Annie. No wonder he’s so angry, he’s probably still a virgin. BTW, I love the magic box that only spits out crappy homemade dolls line. That was too funny!
oh come on. i mean, i know i’m probably being stupid for still being a jack fan but he gets deducted points for being onto Julie and for not taking any of Sayid or Saywer’s crap? Geez. This is a tough crowd.
And as for Locke. please, if he’s all badass, why the hell would he turn his back on Benjamin? The second he crouched down to look at the grave I knew where he was going to end up. So stupid. And he doesn’t get more points taken off for that? ooph.
Another excellent LOST. And another excellent Lost-vivor. No way Locke is dead. Or if he is, I’m still saying its not the last we’ve seen of him.
@Jeff: My gut instinct is also that Jack is going to redeem himself in the finale. Surely the producers wouldn’t go to such lengths to make us question Jack’s loyalty if he isn’t going to come through and reaffirm himself as a good guy before the season is over.
@David: Glad you enjoyed the recap! As for Richard, I always guess “Lazarus Pit” whenever I encounter a character who seems not to age.
@Marni: Joop! Have you read the interview where the producers joked that they have a script in a glass case at their offices with a sign reading “Break in Case of Cancellation”? The premise was apparently Joop just reading off a list of all the answers to the island’s mysteries while smoking a pipe.
I say go with it!
@Adam: I think Locke is going to live through this, too. If not, that’s a mighty lame way to kill off a cool character.
@Patricia: I hate to see Jack dip down ever farther in the rankings, but if he knew Juliet was initially working for Ben and presumably wanted to switch sides and help the Losties, you’d think he might want to mention it to someone rather than cast further doubt on his own loyalties. As I’ve said before, if Jack has some awesome master plan, I’ll happily shower him in Lost-vivor points. Until he unfurls said plan, however, I’m running under the assumption that he’s just acting like a putz.
Your tally for “Man Behind the Curtain” is the best one you’ve done so far! Had me cracking up out loud! +50
As an unabashed anti-Jack-ite, he’s totally acting like an Other even if he has the Losties best interest at heart. This whole “I know something that you should know, but I’m not going to tell you, instead I’m going to drag it out until you’re ready to kill me” crap has got to stop. Is the island’s mysterious power the ability to kill direct answers to questions?
And if Jacob doesn’t save Locke, I’ll help form the mob to march down and lynch the writers!
Did anyone see Jacob sitting in the chair? I did!
Jessica, yes, very briefly right after Ben was thrown against the wall. If that’s not what you mean, maybe you should be leading the Others!
@Adam: I’ve only listened to the podcast once, but I keep an eye on the summaries posted online.
@jbdean: Thanks for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed it.
@Thom: With regards to Jack, I couldn’t have said it better myself.
@Jessica: I managed to totally miss Jabob’s brief appearance in the episode. I guess I need to start wearing my glasses when I’m watching the show. Anyway, there’s a blurry screen capture of the infamous “Him” up at Lostpedia.
First of all - love this blog. I check it every week.
Second, here are my additional thoughts about last nights episode:
1) I’ve never truly been “creeped out” by an episode of LOST before last night
2) How SAD that little Ben was going to sacrifice a bunny to the electric fence (does the white rabbit symbolize something pure about his motives as a child?)
3) I think Ben should have some extra points because his dad was such a jackass
4) I don’t think Locke is dead, and he will probably give us a HUGE surprise @ the end of this season
5) What’s going on with the girl who parachuted? How come we don’t have anymore answers from her??
Poor Richard. I just can’t shake calling him Nestor. I REALLY don’t remember his eyeliner being quite that thick on Suddenly Susan
Is the island’s mysterious power the ability to kill direct answers to questions?
LMAO. Heh. That cracked me up.
Jess: You are made of win.
Thom: WERD! I thought surely there was an editing mistake when Sayid failed to say, “YOU haven’t decided what to do about it?! Last I counted there were 40 (er whatever) of us here!”
Ange: re #2 - For a minute I really thought Jacob would turn out to be the rabbit. Kinda a la “Holy Grail”.
I’m way late at checking Lost-vivor. I wondered if you would add Jacob, and give him points for scaring the hell out of people. The episode was definatly creepy.
I can’t wait to see how the season ends, and even more, how it will start next season. No way Locke is dead. Totally wacked how Ben killed all his people. I loved this one~!
[...] 314 - Expose 315 - Left Behind 316 - One of Us 317 - Catch 22 318 - D.O.C. 319 - The Brig 320 - The Man Behind the Curtain 321 - Greatest Hits 322 - Through the Looking [...]