LOST: 5x07 "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham"

Initial Reaction & Comments

Overall
I realy enjoyed this Episode. We FINALLY get to see a Locke Centric episode (gee I haven't said that for a long time)! This episode beautifully mimics John Lockes Life in a nutshell. Locke seems to fail at every thing : he fails at Love with Helen, fails at his hippie pot growing commune, and fails at getting the losties to come back. He is desparate and still does not know what to do. His is unsure and constantly looking for direction from himself and other people.

NEW and IMPROVED Locke...
I like how the episode is titled as "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" and not "The Life and Death of John Locke", for Locke is 'reborn' into a NEW and IMPROVED Locke, ready to 'take command as a Leader. Only... he still seems to be a bit bumbling in trying to make sense of everything - like Columbo (Character an old TV series). Never the less John Locke is COMING OF AGE and ready to take control, and hopefully make smart(er) decisions. He must learn to NOT be so trusting and needy.

Who's the Hero NOW? -Ben or Charles
Theory: I believe that Ben is the protagonist in the story. The reasons for Ben's actions (ie: the apparent brutal murder of John Locke) were, once again, cloudy as Ben says " I'll miss you John... I really will", after leaving the room . All of Ben's lies are sprinkled with a bit of truth to continue to drag us along his manipulation game. I really want to believe Ben when he says "We're the GOOD guys Micheal"!

Ineresting Points
1) I REALLY was anticipating JACOB to be the one on the beach with Ceasar not Locke (can't explain that one -- just a feeling)

2) Kates reation to John appears 'tongue-in-cheeek' after Locke explains loosing Helen due to his "bsession" Kate says " look how far youve com [John]". as Kate believes he is obsessed with the island and himself.

3) Did Ben bring the BLUE RUBBER Glove with him to see John Locke with full intent to kill him or did he v]hasve the gloves 'jut in case. The War I hope the mention of the impending WAR (by Charles Widmore) is a reference both an Island war and a real-world happening. (the cover of the LIFE Magazine was a direct reference to "Jughead") it would be an interesting direction for the show to take in explaining the humanity, time, death, continuity, hate, violence, human weakness and motivations etc., in the world.

Top 5 Fav scenes/lines in the show:
1- Widmore to John Locke "there's a war coming and if you're not on the island the wrong side is going to win" .
2- Walt says to Locke dreams of " you're on the island [John] in a suit and people are tryng to hurt you"
3- Jack says to Locke " fate?!... its probability!... [John] you're just a Lonley old man"
4- Locke lets his heart get in the way of recruiting Walt and Sayid. After his weak efforts John says to Sayid " well.. if you change your mid call me [at the hotel]"
5- When looking at the 'people who got hurt' Ceasar said to Locke "Do you know him?". Locke answers: "Ya...he's the one who killed me"

Meaning of the Show
If the island is like the paradise symbol, eden if you will, the magical place that can heal all and exist free of time itself, it mimics the VALUE of the REAL WORLD. I like how the LOST story is told in such a way that its viewers draw the similarities of the show to the real world and make a connection with values to tim, life and death.

Unanswered Questions:
1) what are Ben's real motivations regarding the island

2) what are Widmore's real motivations regarding the island

3) How does Walt tie in? -- (and Desmond & Aaron & Christian and Jacob and on and on)

4) will we get to read the 1st mate's Blackrock journal?