The Televangelist: ‘Lost’ episode 15
May 7, 2009 at 12:02 pm by Allison Keene in movies & tv, the televangelist
ONE EPISODE LEFT: Some much to say, so little time
There’s a theory regarding the pleasures of delayed gratification via online shopping. It starts with the small thrill of buying something over the internet. It’s not yet tactile, but you know it’s coming. Depending on your shipping methods, you’re either waiting at the mailbox every day or have semi-forget about the package altogether. Either way, when that box comes, it’s a little bit birthday and a little bit Christmas. Online videos have even been posted of people carefully and deliberately opening their packages, savoring each moment before their present to themselves is revealed.
Richard Alpert is this week’s wrapping paper for Darlton’s gift that’s been carefully unveiled in small parts for several seasons now. Though “Follow the Leader” was initially rumored to be the Richard backstory episode Lostphiles have been waiting at the proverbial mailbox for, it wasn’t quite so obvious. We did see Richard (looking like a true GQ gentlemen in all spaces and places) throughout time, but it was time we’re already familiar with. The episode was Richard-centric insofar as his (never-aging) presence coherently linked our two Lostie camps.
I have to say, for being some kind of “adviser” who’s had the job for “a very, very, very long time,” Richard appears constantly perplexed. Does the island tell him anything? And who are all those Others anyway? Where did they come from? Next week’s episode appears to promise answers to some of these questions — after all, Darlton said this was going to be the last season of sci-fi business. If so, there’s a lot of island mythology that will need to be sewn up before we delve head first into the Quadrangle. (The Quadrangle is the current preferred term for the Jack-Kate-Sawyer-Juliet mess.) Though Faraday’s death last week shocked and appalled, rumor has it that wasn’t the “major” death this season. Will one of the Quad-dwellers die off?
Back to this week, “Follow the Leader” was all about power struggles. Sawyer’s former lackeys turn against him and Juliet when the other Losties start causing trouble, while Radzinsky usurps the gentle Horace’s power to take over the Dharma initiative. Eloise defers to Jack’s judgment on matters of the Jughead while Dr. Chang defers to Faraday’s evacuation suggestion via Miles. Finally, Locke takes his rightful place as leader of the Others, with a petulant Ben and dismayed Richard standing by, stunned by Locke’s plans for populism and his latest crazy idea — the killing of Jacob.
“Follow the Leader” both tied up some loose ends (such as showing how Richard knew to attend to Locke after he was shot), and set up some major action for next week as these power shifts culminate in — what else? — shootouts, moments of truth, and probably some Jack tears. And maybe the detonation of a hydrogen bomb. But let’s not get crazy. This week’s episode was like the card your mother forces you to read before you can open the present. Let’s hope the present itself delivers.
Next Week: Jack’s decision to put a plan into action to set things right on the island is met with some strong resistance by those close to him, and Locke assigns Ben a difficult task. Special appearances by Rose, Bernard, Christian Shephard and Nadia(!) but (alas) no Vincent.
Musings and Miscellanea:
- Did anyone else cheer for a moment when they thought Kate was a goner tonight? Fact: Sayid is an international badass with flowing locks, but he has terrible timing. First he attempts to kill young Ben after he made him a sandwich (ungrateful), and then prevents someone from offing Kate.
- Ben/Locke moments last night were the best: “Afraid to leave me here with my old people? Afraid I’ll stage a coup?” — Ben
- Someone finally puts Kate in her place: “It was NOT all misery!” Jack: “Enough of it was.” Amen, brother.
- Hmmm …. so the Dharma Initiative is over the bomb? Will Jack cause “the purge?” Where is young Ben? Jack, typically, was too tunnel-visioned about the Jughead to notice all the Egyptian ruins in the tunnels or bother to ask about them.
- “I want my lawyer,” Sawyer, bringing 21st-century litigation to Horace and the Dharmas!
- Who’s Hugo Reyes? “He’s the fat guy” (cut to Hugo hoarding food). And yes Hugo, you will be asked who the President is (and fail).
- Richard: “Love can be … complicated.” Understatement of the “Lost” year.
- Another great Ben moment: Ben’s face after Locke said, “Actually I did die.”
- If looks could kill, Juliet would have offed Kate herself by now.
- Kate: “When did shooting kids and blowing up hydrogen bombs become OK?”
- “We’ll buy Microsoft, and bet on the Cowboys in the ‘78 Superbowl, and we’ll be rich!” I wish Sawyer and Juliet had made it off the island … alone … but from the promos next week it looks like (of course) they’ll be back!
(Photo courtesy ABC)
May 7th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
I thought that the purge didn’t happen until roughly 1992. Perhaps this is related to ‘the incident’. Ole Jack sets us up the bomb, and in so doing, messes with all the magnetic Swan nonsense.
May 7th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
First off, I was so psyched when I thought Kate had been shot. I feel like a sociopath for thinking that but I haven’t soured on a person that fast since Katie Hutchins told me in the 4th grade that my parents were Santa. Sure enough, I went home, snooped, and found the presents. As far as I’m concerned that was the day Katie, as well as my childhood, died. Wait, Katie..Kate. Dammit.
Great writing last night. The Hurley, Dr. Chang exchange was priceless.
Interesting thought on Locke v Jacob from my brother: Locke isn’t going to kill Jacob in some sort of power struggle but to put him out of his misery. The one time that Locke had a semi-encounter with Jacob he heard the whispered cry of “help me”. Maybe that is exactly what he is about to do.
What is Eloise’s motive in working with Jack? Is it really to save her son’s life? I mean, we know years in the future she’ll set in motion a chain of events that will eventually lead her son to his death (and Widmore getting slapped, huzzah!). Maybe she is genuine now but as she gets older she realizes that things MUST happen that way since fate is fate.
I don’t know. My head is starting to hurt like I got rifle-whipped by a dashing Englishman upon a noble steed. Just give me more Richard Alpert and I’ll be fine.
May 8th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I’m not sure when Kate became so disliked. I was a total Kate groupie in season 1, but I think once the Love Triangle got really, REALLY old (circa season 3) I was over her and her inability to follow instructions that, 99% of the times, leads to trouble for everyone else.
Els, good point about Locke/Jacob. Jacob mystifies me more than any other element of the island (even the statue, Richard or Olde Smokey). I can’t wait to see what’s to come!
RSlaven (Randy is that you?) – good correction on my semantics. Definitely related to “the incident” rather than “the purge” – in fact, I believe that’s the title of next week’s ep!
May 8th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
When they showed the freeze-frame of Kate on the security video, she was sort of in the Bigfoot pose in that famous bit of fake footage.
“You fought in the Korean War?” “There’s no such thing.”
May 14th, 2009 at 8:33 am
You are correct, Ms. Allison. I read this blargh every once in a while, and now sort of regret my first post is a fanboyish correction. Sorry! I dig on this blog!