What's Hot: 6x05: User Requested Images
What's Hot: 6x05: User Requested Images
"The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" aired to very mixed reviews this week. It is the first "controversial' episode this season. The grades ranged from perfect 10's to a low of 3. The three came from admitted John Locke fan Lil. This alone is raising eyebrows. The rating average came out to a season low 7.86. The expectations for this episode were high and many believed that the episode did not deliver. This may have lead to some to grade this episode more harshly. Click the link to see what the SLWS members had to say of "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham."
The reviews got off to a big start with Razzle-Dazzle giving it a 10. He loved the scene with Ben and Locke at the end. DaveJohnson brought up a common belief that the episode paled in comparison to 316. "Coming on the heels of "316", this was a let down, but there were some gems that could be pulled out. I think the problem is that "316" really launched the arc that will end the show- so it's kinda hard to follow up on." Sauget.diblosio agrees that "it was a bit of a letdown, maybe too many high expectations. This gives just a sample of the wide range of responses of this episode. Some people loved it and some were very disappointed in an episode that they wanted to be great.
Leading the 10 parade was Lakie. She feels it "was one of the most important episode of the season yet. Lakie believes that this episode was all about faith. "To the real world faith looks weak, passive, isolated, crazy delusion. In the world that matters, (the island) faith is proactive, strong joyful, alive and overcoming." She believes that the conversation Locke had with the Oceanic 6 were very important. That the Oceanic 6 gave "statements against faith. This is the genius of these writers. They let skepticism try to define faith and they showed us faith getting totally beaten up in this episode. But her thrill came when they "showed John on the island. Nicely dressed, thoroughly enjoying the fruit of the island, unafraid to tell his story. And the best moment was the final reveal - "that is the man who killed me." Was he afraid of Ben? No. Can he handle him better than ever now that he has passed from death to life? Yes. John is resurrected - heaven only knows what he will be able to accomplish now."
On the other end of the spectrum is admitted Locke fan Lil. She was completely let down by Jeremy Bentham. "What were they thinking? That was the biggest waste of our man Locke's time, and he gets killed by Ben in the end. It was blah and lacked quality we have seen in the past. It was not well thought out or delivered. It was anticlimactic as we know that they got back to the island and we knew Locke was dead. The back story telling has typically provided us with some knowledge. Okay we know a bit more about Widmore and Abbadon, but now Abbadon is dead! Granted we got turn the wheel and exit to Tunisia." To add insult to injury here Lil actually brought up the lowest tale ever in Lost history. "Oh and last but not least another Nikki and Paulo?" Oh yeah, she went there!!
I found myself between Lakie and Lil. I gave the episode a rating of an 8 but I feel it is closer to a 7. I was really bothered by the lame attempts by John to get the Oceanic 6 back to the island. I did not see this as an issue of faith, just a case of a man who has no leadership ability and is incapable of accomplishing his goals. I did like the discussion between Charles Widmore and Locke. The ending with Ben and John were intense and well acted. I am hoping to see a confident Locke rise to his expectations of being status as "special".
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: "Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" Rating Review.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://lost.cubit.net/cgi-bin/mt5/mttb_xyz2.cgi/921
You hear enough of our opinions on this site! We want to know what our users think! Do you have an idea for an article, review, spoiler material, humorous commentary, parody, or other materials regarding LOST or SWLS? We want to publish your articles on SWLS! Just submit your well written and captivating article to us, and if we like what you have to say, we'll publish it!
Jugdish: I know and I thought it was a funny line! Sorry I didn't say that in my post.
But it just got me thinking about what was the worst episode -- Although a bad Lost is better then a good American Idol (or something like that)
I was referring more to that fact that everyone hated Nikki and Paulo so much then a personnel favorite or non favorite episode
>To add insult to injury here Lil actually brought >up the lowest tale ever in Lost history. "Oh and >last but not least another Nikki and Paulo?" Oh >yeah, she went there!!
Ok, I am sorry, but the lowest tale in the history of lost was Jacks Tattoos.
Nikki and Paulo was filler when they did not know how many episodes were left. It wasn't lost great but still enjoyable - (I still laugh when I think that Paulo's big scene was using the bathroom of the pearl).
But the Jack Tattoos episode was awful. Especially after all the commercials leading up to it saying how "a big secret of the island would be revealed" -- and they were talking about Jack's tattoos -- WHO CARES....
anyway just mho.
I wish I had been able to leave a post before today. I think this was one of the best episodes Lost has ever had. The fact that it has stirred this varied a reaction is proof to it's quality. First of all I always give extra points when a show, any show, can surprise me. I didn't think Ben would kill Locke. didn't see it coming and I think I am pretty good at predicting things. More importantly I thought it was the best acting we have seen from Terry O'Quinn. What he thought was his path to failure was really his path to redemtion. Kate commenting on how Locke hasn't changed from the time he was with Helen...insightful and pushed Locke down his path.
I am one of those who is not satisfied with an episode of Lost unless there is some time given to action on the island. There wasn't much in this last episode but the few scenes got me very excited. There is a whole new group of "Losties" and they are learning about the island in much the same way those of Oceanic 815 did. I can only assume these folks were "meant" to crash there too. I hold more hope for this storyline than that of the "tailies" who are all dead at this point.
Overall, a well written, acted and contrived episode that may not have had a smoke monster but had something much more frightening...the exposure of Locke's soul.
I'm still thinking that maybe Ben knew he would have to kill Locke. He's probably going to see Locke again soon and just like last time he "killed" him, Ben will say "I should have known better. When he shot Locke at the Dharma grave, he was jealous of Locke. I really hope it turns out that he did it because he knew it had to happen, not because he was jealous again.
This was my favorite episode of the season so far. I'll admit I did not like to see Locke's death, but other than that it was overall a 10 for me. Had actually begun to wonder again if Ben was a good or bad guy till that moment. The best scene for me was the one between Widmore and Locke. It gave a lot of answers but left me with a lot of questions, too.
I am proud to lead the charge about the brilliance of this episode. It was a watershed. Ben is for the first time ever in over his head.
I loved this episode. I put it up there with Walkabout and Cabin Fever. Locke never disappoints.
I definitely agree with that last part about the "new" Locke being more confident in his leadership abilities. He's always had doubts about himself but I think that with his new situation he will finally leap at the chance to lead his "people".