02/25/2010 - Michael Emerson - Beverly Hills, CA. USA © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos
Nobody is beyond redemption. Last night's stellar episode of Lost took Benjamin Linus, the most conniving character in the show's history, and gave him the forgiveness he so desperately needed.
Masterfully acted by Michael Emerson and written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz, "Dr. Linus" featured a sideways story that at first appeared mundane and pointless. Even the episode title seemed more straightforward than usual, until you understand that the "Dr." prefix is Sideways Ben's way of asserting his power, what little he has.
Michael Emerson was outstanding in "Dr. Linus," as Ben finally found redemption in both the Island and Sideways worlds. Photo courtesy of ABC.
In the alternate timeline, Ben was a high school teacher of AP European History. His lunch buddy was science teacher Leslie Arzt (the victim of the unfortunate, but hilarious, dynamite explosion in Season 1). The two of them did little but complain about their students and the administration.
At the end of the day, Ben would go home to take care of his ailing father. This relationship is a big shift from the story we are familiar with--Island Ben resented his father and ultimately killed him.
An interesting conversation passed between them that helps us contextualize the Island's place in this Sideways World. Roger said he had hoped that joining the Dharma Initiative be good for Ben--"Imagine how different our lives would have been if we'd stayed…Who knows what you would've become?" So they still went to the Island, but at some point after they left, it became submerged at the bottom of the ocean. We still don't know how it got there, but it had to have been sometime in the late 70s or after. (That narrows it down…a little.)
I avoid Lost spoilers like the plague, so it was a pleasant surprise when Tania Raymonde appeared in the episode. Sideways Alex was a bright student and eager member of the History Club. Dr. Linus was her favorite teacher, and you could tell that they had a special bond. She confided in him about Principal Reynolds having sex with another member of the faculty on school property. Then Ben got that glint in his eye that we have seen time and time again--he was scheming to use this knowledge for his own ends.
He got proof of the affair and threatened to show everything to the school board and Principal Reynolds' wife if he didn't resign. Very reminiscent of the way that Ben got control of the Island from Charles Widmore…
Then, the tables turned on Ben when Reynolds gave him a choice between his own ambitions, and Alex's desire to go to Yale. She needed a glowing recommendation from Reynolds, an alumnus, in order to be accepted. So Ben could take the job as principal, but Alex would get burned in her rec letter.
You could see the conflict going on inside Ben's head. Alex, or his power? All he had ever wanted was power. This was true of both Island Ben and Sideways Ben. We had seen what that cost Island Ben in Season 4--Keamy shot Alex right in front of him. When Ben enters the principal's office and walks over to the desk, I truly thought he had done it again, until Alex entered bouncing with excitement over the wonderful letter Principal Reynolds sent to Yale for her. It was a happy moment, indeed, to see that Ben had finally done what was right.
What made this episode even more emotional was that Island Ben found his redemption, too. He has been tagging along with Ilana, Sun, and Lapidus ever since they left the Statue. Miles joins them after the massacre at the Temple and uncovers Ben's lie about how Jacob really died. Ilana loved Jacob like a father, so she ties Ben to a tree and says he must dig his own grave for what he has done. Locke Ness Monster arrives and offers him a way out. If Ben would join his group on the Hydra Station island, he could be in charge of the Island again when they all left.
The temptation was great for such a power-hungry man. We've seen how far he has fallen since his introduction in Season 2--from being the leader of the Others with a clear purpose on the Island, to being usurped by Locke who was so "special," to losing all his authority, and worst of all, watching his daughter die. Here was his chance to regain something.
Ben takes off running through the jungle for a gun left for him by MiB, with Ilana following close behind. He gets to the gun, but instead of shooting her, he says he wants to explain. Completely broken down, Ben tearfully tells her about how he let his daughter die when he could have saved her. All he had ever wanted to do on was serve Jacob and the Island, but Jacob didn't even care enough to help him understand what he was supposed to do.
Ilana asks why he is going to Locke. "Because he's the only one who will have me." Michael Emerson's performance in this scene, and with that line in particular, is absolutely breathtaking. And afterwards, Ilana makes a big decision of her own. She could let him leave, but her reply opens the door for Ben's redemption: "I'll have you," she says, before turning around and walking back to the beach camp, with him following.
Also in this episode, Hurley and Jack met up with Richard Alpert and went to the Black Rock. Their storyline nicely paralleled what was happening with Ben since Richard is another disappointed and confused servant of Jacob. He clued us in to why he never ages--Jacob gave him a "gift." He touched him and thereby gave him a purpose to fulfill on the Island. Only now, with Jacob gone, Richard feels burdened by eternal life. He wants Jack to blow him up with the dynamite from the ship.
Jack lights the fuse and sees this as a good time to get some answers. He tells Richard about the Lighthouse and how Jacob has been watching him since childhood. Not only that, but Jack realizes that Jacob wanted him to know about it. He is embracing his destiny. He closes his eyes as the fuse runs down, tempting Fate. Nothing happens. Richard asks Jack what they should do next. Let's go back to where it all began. So at the end of the episode, Hurley, Richard, and Jack walk onto the beach.
Reunion scenes are always wonderful. Michael Giacchino's beautiful music plays as these characters--former strangers, now friends held together for life by their special experiences on the Island--greet each other with smiles and hugs. This is Jacob's team, and there stands Ben, at last where he's supposed to be. Nobody knows that a submarine is approaching, wherein sits Ben's enemy, Charles Widmore.
So much happened, and we are only nearing the halfway point of Season 6! What were your favorite moments from "Dr. Linus"? And what questions are you most anxious to have answered?
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