Dr. Linus, I presume

Just notes this week, no intro:

Ben teaching class and discussing “the island” (of Elba) was a bit too heavy-handed for my liking, what with the exiled, powerless dictator who might as well have been dead.

However later in the staff lounge, Locke and Ben shared a look not unlike the one that Jack and Kate shared in “LA X,” which I found quite intriguing.

Interesting that Ben seemed to know Dogen and Lennon so well.

After Miles reads (the best description I can think of for what he does) the ash, Ilana states that Jacob was the closest thing she had to a father (and Miles hilariously comments “Uh oh!”). Ilana seems to know a good deal more than ANYONE else on the Island right now (save MIB). I wonder since she too is (seemingly) protected by Jacob’s touch, why she isn’t a candidate also. Her crying over Jacob’s ashes later on (before the reunion scene) does reinforce Jacob’s goodness for me.

Miles has been used so sporadically this season, it was nice to see excellent extended use of him. He got off at least half dozen great lines throughout and made a Nikki/Paolo reference, which was just fantastic. I think he called them ‘jabronies’ which makes it even better. (I couldn’t make out the word exactly, but that’s what I heard.)

Roger Workman! Nice to see you again! Also, it’s nice to see that you made peace with your son. He may think life would have been better with Dharma, but I was very happy to see Ben and his father getting along.

Alex! I certainly did not expect to see her at Dr. Linus’ door.

As soon as Richard showed up, this episode went from entertaining and interesting to OMFG. (And for me to use such an acronym in my notes must mean something.) Absolutely EVERYTHING with Richard was awesome.

“I lied.” – Richard (That just made me laugh.)

“Something I need to do…to die.” So we visit the Black Rock again, and we get (further) confirmation that that is how Richard came to the Island.

“Jacob gave me a gift” Jacob touched Richard and gave him immortality. Did Richard have to be party to this act to make it so? Does this explain the names/numbers? A master list of all the people that Jacob has touched? When I rewatched “Lighthouse,” I noticed that ‘Dawson’ was on the list and we know that Michael was not able to kill himself – no matter how hard he tried. I wonder when Harold Perrineau appears if it will be a flashback to when Jacob touched him.

“Now let’s talk.” Well, damn Jack, there’s the hero that you were always supposed to be! I can get behind this Jack and actually root for him. That’s probably the best moment Jack Shephard has ever had on the show.

And Nestor Carbonell really did some great work in these scenes, showing us the desperation of a man at the end of his rope. He’s all out of faith and feels like he’s made some horrific choices to get him to where he is now. (Actually, now that I write that, he strikes me as a more interesting Jack.)

“Pretty lascivious stuff” – Ben to the principal. Don’t get a lot of ‘lascivious’ in everyday conversation, and Ben is probably the only person on the show that could pull it off without me crying BS.

When Ben walks into the principal’s office and looks at his nameplate, I was ready to give up on him. If he had thrown Alex under the bus (again), there really was no saving Benjamin Linus.

I now will reproduce two different quotes spoken by Ben in his confrontation scene with Ilana:

“I had a chance to save her, but I chose the Island over her - all in the name of Jacob. I sacrificed everything for him, and he didn't even care. Now, I stabbed him. I was so angry, confused. I was terrified that I was about to lose the only thing that had ever mattered to me - my power - but the thing that really mattered was already gone. I don't expect you to forgive me because I can never forgive myself.”

(When Ilana asks why he would go with MIB) “Because he’s the only one that will have me.”

And I reproduce those lines because written as they are, I think they come off a bit cheesy. However, in the hands of Michael Emerson, they actually become moving and had an impact. I feel like every week, I gush about a different actor on the show, but when you have a show so full of quality actors, it’s hard not to. And since this was Ben’s episode, how could I not discuss the genius that is Michael Emerson?

Once again, I found myself rooting for SidewaysBen, even though I really should have no investment there. He’s at peace with Roger, he helps provide Alex with a better life, and although he seems like a bit of a cranky fussbudget, he genuinely seems happy in a way that IslandBen never has been. It was his father that was really wistful about the Island, not Ben. Ben seemed more at peace, no matter how snarky he was.

And so, with Ilana’s offer, we take the first real steps toward IslandBen’s redemption. I am pleased that he (presumably) will find some redemption/peace and that he has chosen (presumably) the side of good, but sad that I am 99% certain that it will end with his death.

Oh, and before I finish: Widmore’s on the sub!

Is this the person coming to the Island that Jacob was talking about? (I’m guessing yes and I’m still hoping Des is with him.) If so, does that mean that Widmore was “good” all along? This conclusion is colored by my assumption that Jacob wants/needs the person that he referenced in “Lighthouse.” Maybe this isn’t the case, and Widmore is just another piece of the puzzle and Jacob was just stating that someone was coming to the Island. I hope we find out next week.