I gave this episode a 10.
It was one of the most important episodes of the season yet. I wrote in another thread that I thought it was really a statement on what faith is. 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.
John was back in his wheelchair, trying to get people to do something they've already decided is worthless. Look at how each of the O6 (minus Sun, of course) responded to him:
Sayid says "Do something really good" (build homes, don't walk around trying to save an island and its inhabitants).
Hurley says "You're dangerous and I don't trust you."
Kate tells him he only loves the island (and its agenda) because he's never loved anyone else.
Jack tells him that the delusions are to prop up his ego.
THESE ARE ALL 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.
And then the final insult and loss, Locke had to die. The only reason his suicide attempt was a failure was because Ben (who I will now refer to as Satan) needed info from him that Ben himself WAS NOT PRIVVY TO -- Eloise Hawking found and was using the lamppost. Do you all realize that the scene in which Ben strangulated Locke and then sanitarily left the scene was a scene of complete horror? Why is no one screaming about BEN?!
I honestly think that people can't think about this story properly because they are so concerned with propping up Ben. Ben is the villain. Ben is the ultimate manipulator. Ben is the devil. I thought that it was a huge reveal that Ben truly didn't know how to get back to that island. He rode Locke's coattails to the lamppost, he has ridden the O6's coattails back to the island. I believe that the great war that is coming is to topple him and his regime of terror.
But the other reason I ADORED this episode is because of how they showed John on the island. Nicely dressed, thoroughly enjoying the fruit of the island, UNAFRAID to tell his story to Alana, happily aware that his "friends" must have brought him back there (if it is no one else than Jack, John is pleased -- who gets to have the recipient of their suicide note respond to them?!?). 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.
HUGE PROPS to you on this! I don't know if it's true, but it's a great theory and I love how you succinctly review the topic of faith being seen as weak. I thoroughly enjoyed this post!
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