"He Changed the Rules."

When tonight's episode was over, Hubs turned to me and said, "So, what can you write about that?" 

It wasn't very tidy, was it?  Let's re-cap what we learned:

-- Boat people were never going to take the Losties off the island.  Not a huge surprise, but at least it's confirmed.

-- Ben is a cold-hearted snake.  Oh wait, we already knew that.  (It was hard to feel much sympathy for him when Alex died, since he seemed, to me, almost directly responsible.  He definitely won't win Daddy Of the Year.)

--  The smoke monster is alive and well.  And wasn't that an interesting twist to find yourself rooting for it?  I thought that was a Great Lost Moment, when it took out the bad guys.

-- Now we know why Sayid has teamed up with Ben, post-island.  He's motivated by revenge. 

-- Every week we learn that the relationship between Ben and Widmore is more complicated (and, it appears, more integral to the plot).  Tonight on the message boards (Yes! I read them!  Geek alert!) someone suggested that perhaps Ben and Widmore are related, kind of a good twin/bad twin thing.  This is a throwback to the book Bad Twin, which was touted in an earlier season by Lost producers as holding some answers.

What am I missing?  Did we learn anything else?

A few more observations:

-- Jack is sick!  What would we do without him?  If the producers kill him off, I'll stop watching.  Oh, who are we kidding, no I won't.  But I'll watch sullenly.

-- Sawyer.  I just love him.  When he was being so protective of Claire, my heart got a little melty.  But I still think he needs a haircut and a bath.

-- My Hubs (who, incidentally, is much cuter than Sawyer, and also has a more impressive committment to personal hygiene) made an interesting observation.  He pointed out that twice Ben referenced Widmore "changing the rules".  What rules?  And who set the rules?

-- You know what?  I have to say that I don't miss the Juliet story lines.   

If you're writing about Lost at your own blog, leave your link below.

Comments

[Kim :-)]

I didn't blog about it tonight because I'm still kinda sitting here with my mouth draped open, but I almost wish I could see the "flash fwd" to the Sayid-centric episode again when we saw him get to Ben in the vet clinic so we could hear what they said. I remember having the impression that Ben almost "owned" him and that Sayid wanted out but couldn't. Now I'm wondering what that conversation REALLY was. And did you see the painting of the Black Rock by Widmore's bed? BLAAAHH!
And Ben. Ben CALLED the smoke monster from the cave thingie with black magic, didn't he?! What was that?
And I'm very VERY mad they killed Alex. I liked her. :-(
Ok, I'm done beginning sentences with "and" now. I'm just a little... overwhelmed. (sniff)

[Shauna]

I'm not worried about Jack. We know he makes it off the island and lives at least x number of years because of his flash forward as well as Kate's and Hugo's. I was shocked about Alex and still can't believe Ben took such an extreme gamble with her life, regardless of "the rules" or whatever understanding he must have with Widmore. And it was so awful that she died after hearing and probably believing his bluff. When Ben went into the hidden room, I told my husband, I wonder if he can call the monster. I also wonder if there's some kind of doorway in Tunisia; where he popped up seems to be the same place that Charlotte found the Dharma collar for the polar bear. Her initials are CS Lewis. Is it a wardrobe of sorts? Is it related to the magic box?

[Jenn]

Me, well I am confused and sorta ticked by the whole thing - the more confused I get the more I NEED to watch - and it's almost over for the season :(

As for Sawyer OMG, I could kiss that guy!

[Cindy Beall]

Call me crazy. I felt bad for Ben when Alex died. But, I saw that coming a mile away.

[LeeAnn (AKA FrazzMom)]

I must have major PMS because I actually felt sorry for Ben and cried when he said 'Goodbye' to Alex!

My favorite moment was when Bernard correctly interpreted the morse code message... Go Bernard!

And I'm dying to know WHAT the smoke monster is... I hope they tell us before we have to wait for next season!

[Shannon]

They can't kill of Jack because we already know he is one of the Oceanic Six who gets off the island.

I think I know what Ben meant by "he changed the rules". There must have been some rule about not killing each other's kids. Hence, Ben did not ever *really* believe that Alex would be killed. And that is why now he wants to kill Widmore's daughter Penny.

[Shannon]

OH and one more thing...do you think maybe Ben had anything to do with Nadia's death? And he is just blaming it on Widmore? It is obvious from Ben's smirk after Sayid killed that guy that all along he wanted Sayid to be his sidekick. Isn't there something about how Ben isn't allowed to kill people himself? So he needs someone (Sayid) to do it for him. I wouldn't put it past Ben to kill Nadia so that Sayid would see red and join his "team".

[Runningamuck]

I should sooo be in bed instead of blogging about this. But I just had to put my thoughts down. Can't wait to hear other, more sane, people's takes on tonight's episode.

[Lorraine]

Jack is fine. He's one of the 6 remember? He'll get off the island. This is probably why he is forced to leave while others stay behind.

And I've always said I though Ben could teleport! this proves it! *S*

[Jenn]

I think you said it all..at least what I can remember anyway. I was fighting sleep the whole time since the tv schedule here changed and they put Grey's on first and I had to wait till 11 pm for LOST to come on. this preggo is not so great at staying up late but I did and I'm glad. At least for now until super-crazy tiredness hits me as I'm trying to get ready for my sisters babyshower here tomorrow. But that's neither here nor there...I love me some LOST!

I missed most of the last scene when Ben was talking to Whidmore though. how did that come about?

[Val]

First time comment-er, but I just had to say that my dh also blurted out, "I bet they're related." when Ben had confronted Widmore in his room. So... the question is, what is the relationship?

[Tony]

IF Ben and Widmore are related that could explain why Ben cannot kill Widmore. Killing him would affect Ben's existence possibly???

[Barbara H.]

They never did explain how Ben ended up in Tunisia in the opening scene, but isn't that also where Charlotte found the polar bear remains? And somehow time travel was involved because he wasn't sure what day and year it was.

When Ben pulled out that weapon and took out the two guys, my son said, "Whoa, Ben has moves!

I think Ben was trying to fake out the guy who threatened to kill Alex, thinking that if that guy thought Alex wasn't valuable to Ben then it wouldn't be worth it to kill her.

Wonder why the dr. was killed? Evidently he must have been coming with the "assault team" and one of them offed him if the people back on the boat thought he was ok.

I did wonder why Ben said he couldn't kill Widmore -- I didn't think of the fact that they could be related. But the whole Jacob and Esau came to mind (since there is a Jacob on the island). I am intrigued to know what "the rules" are and who set them and what the context is -- a competition? a game? a task?

I can't wait til next week!!!

[Barbara H.]

BTW, what Lost boards do you frequent? I've been hesitant to look at them because I don't want to see a lot of spoilers, but I like to read other peoples theories and find things they notice that I missed.

[Aaron]

Lost??? Anyway,fantastic blog you've got here ! Thanks.

[Julie]

AARRGHH??? How did I miss that??? I totally forgot that Lost was back last night. We had company and I was so tired when they left, that I forgot it was on!!! So I had to come and comment without reading anything. Thanks for the reminder. Now I have to watch it online today!!! and then come back and read everybody's comments

[Heather]

I think Ben and Widmore and playing a "game" of the ultra-rich. Somehow through special powers (like Walt) or just plain old manipulation, Ben has reached a status that puts him on the same level as Widmore. Too much money, too smart for his own good, and doesn't know how to entertain himself. IMHO...

[chilihead]

Don't forget Hurley dropped a significant line at the beginning when they are playing Stratego:

"I can't believe you're just giving him Australia. Australia is the key to everything."

[Sara Bowyer]

Okay, did I imagine it or did Ben smile as he left Sayid after the bald guy was killed? And just before he killed him, Ben said "I have a message for Widmore" Soooo, I think BEN had Sayid's wife killed in order to recruit him, knowing he would want revenge............

[Miriam]

Here are my two cents. Yes, we know Jack gets off the island. I figure they showed us that scene b/c he lied to Kate about the drugs he was taking and why. I think this is the beginning of him being a "user" like the future-Jack who was about to jump off the bridge.

I did feel sorry for Ben when Alex died. Ben is a manipulator and a game-player. This was the first time that anyone has called his bluff. He was totally trying to screw with that guy when he said he didn't love Alex, hoping the guy would release her. But he didn't and Ben got screwed. But I truly believed he loved Alex. Obviously he did or he wouldn't be out to kill Penny.

Onto that...not sure what the "rules" are but he knows it will pain Widmore even more to kill his precious daughter than to kill Charles himself.

I just find it fascinating how Ben is such a globe trotter and he does have some crazy "moves." Super creepy!

Poor Sayid...I'm so glad to know he finally found Nadia and married her. But heart-broken that she was murdered.

[Alli]

What I've been pondering on is why it's so important to Widmore for Ben to live. Ben has mentioned several times that "they" won't kill him.

THere's definitely something deeper going on between Ben and Widmore.

And now we know that at least a year after the plane crash (and probably several months after the 6 got off the island) that Widmore still hasn't found the island. Interesting...

And for someone who asked, this isn't the only Lost board, but this is the best one I've found. They're also very careful about not giving away spoilers without warning. I think it's a rule.

[Poppy]

Didn't you love how Sawyer was being so protective of his best bud, Hurley? It was kind of an "Awww" moment.

"If you touch one hair on his curly head..." ;)

[Leslie]

How do you know the people on the freighter are "bad guys?"

[Leslie]

I think there must have been a Dharma building in the Sahara Desert, as part of the zoological project. CS Lewis found there the remains of a polar bear with a dharma collar, remember? And Ben looked a little disoriented when he "woke up" in the desert. Like he expected to be lying in a room or something. I think there is a way to transport from one dharma facility to another...to make travel from the island easier or something. I like the idea of a wardrobe from another commenter. Very interesting.

[Alli]

I forgot to add the link for the Lost board I read...sorry. Here it is:

http://www.filmfodder.com/tv/lost/