Lost, Season 5, Episode 5 - This Place is Death
Some Characters' Pasts Are Revealed, While Others Remain a Mystery
Charlotte revealed that she grew up on the island, which explains why she looked so happy to be there when she fell out the helicopter last season. Just like Libby, however, she died before the mysteries of her past could be fully explored. Of course - as Christian Shephard, Boone and countless others have shown - just because a Lost character is dead doesn't mean he or she won't show up again.
Poor Daniel Faraday doesn't seem to know that, however, and his reaction to Charlotte's death was heartbreaking. It seemed appropriate that the camera pulled back to leave him alone with his grief. Before she died, however, Charlotte revealed a new facet of her relationship with Daniel: It seems that the love-struck physicist visited her as a child and warned her never to return to the island.
Another one of Faraday's relationships was revealed in this episode, which confirmed fan speculation that the mysterious Mrs. Eloise Hawking is his mother. And what's even more intriguing is the fact that he may have also visited her in the island's past. One of the Others that the castaways met in the 1950s was named Ellie, and Faraday told her she looked familiar.
The Smoke Monster Sickness
This episode also offered a glimpse into the island past of another mysterious female character: feisty Frenchwoman Danielle Rousseau. Through the eyes of a befuddled Jin, the audience saw her fellow scientists attacked by the smoke monster, which apparently infected them with "the sickness" that incited Rousseau to kill them. Although time-traveling-induced nosebleeds were not a problem for the French scientists, that sickness continued to plague the rest of the castaways.
Jin and the Audience Don't Understand
Sawyer and the other time travelers were happy to see Jin, but he was disappointed that Sun was gone and alarmed by the castaways' predicament. In a way, his confusion serves as a voice for viewers who struggle to understand the show's complexities. Similarly, one of Locke's statements to Jin seemed to address those viewers, telling them to stop asking questions and enjoy the ride: "I don't know why Jin - it just is."
With a single tear and a busted leg, Locke took the first painful steps on the path that will eventually land him in a coffin. He has always been motivated by a need to be special, and he seemed almost happy that he had been chosen to sacrifice his life.
Although Locke seems willing to do whatever it takes to save the island, Jack's father said that all of its problems started because Ben turned the frozen donkey wheel instead of Locke. When Christian scolded Locke for listening to Ben, one couldn't help but wonder if the Oceanic Six where making a mistake by doing the same thing.
What's in It for Ben?
Of course, Jack seems to be the only one who's fully onboard with Ben's plan to return to the island. Sayid and Kate refuse to trust him, Hurley went to jail to avoid him, and the only thing that stopped Sun from killing him was the prospect of seeing Jin alive again.
Ben seemed quite genuine when he told Jack and Sun he was trying to help them, but any good Lost viewer knows that the Other formerly known as Henry Gale is an excellent liar. As Sayid said, the only person that Ben has displayed consistent loyalty toward is himself, and his motivations remain unclear - for now.
What do you think about this article?
More in Film & TV
Latest Articles