LOST Season 5 finale thoughts

Let me first start off by saying that this post is probably going to be fairly lengthy so bare with me. I've watched and re-watched the finale (aswell as re-watched certain scenes) quite a bit so I have a lot to say.

Lets first start with the opening scene with who we now know to be our mystery man Jacob. The scene starts off with Jacob weaving something together. I'm still not too sure what it is but he did referance it later in the episode (or someone did). Anyways, he comes out to pick up his fish he caught and as he sits down awaiting what appears to be the arrival of The Black Rock another man [we'll refer to him as ManInBlackshirt (MIB)] from now on. First, I want to say this because I've watched this particular scene atleast 30 times that the actor playing MIB [Titus Welliver] did such an amazing job. the facial expressions, delivery, tone, everything was Perfect. I was really taken in by this scene. None the less lets get to something other than me professing my love for every detail of this show.

Jacob asks MIB if he would like some fish and he says "I just ate, thanks" and they begin talking. MIB asks about how the ship found the island while Jacob plays dumb. MIB says he knows Jacob brought them there and that Jacob is still trying to prove him [MIB] wrong. From there MIB then asks Jacob if he knows how badly he wants to kill him. Jacob replies smugly with a "Yes". It closes with an interesting statement of "One of these days, sooner or later, we are going to find a loophole my friend" and he walks away.

First, this scene is definitly one of the most important in the show. Not only because its the first time we've seen Jacob but because this conversation between Jacob and MIB are obviously what have kept this island doing whatever it's doing for as long as it has. Now, there's many ways to go with this. Most obvious to myself, and many others, is that MIB is our beloved smoke monster. This is what I have thought but now I am unsure. One question: If this is smokey then who is this guy he is using to appear as? I don't think I've ever seen him before on the show. The smoke monsnter can only be smoke or (from what we know) the appearance of dead people. So if he is smokey taking human form [we've seen this many times] then Who was that human?. That is the one reason it's hard to believe it is the smoke monster. The monster, sadly, maybe simply be what we've been told "a security system" obviously uniquely advanced but none the less.

Speculation at the fuselage say it may be that of "Esau" who according to wikipedia was Jacobs brother in a bible story. I'm not sure on this either. I don't like the whole idea of this being related to the bible and the writers have said that the island is not purgatory, hell, or anything of this sort (they could be lieing though).

So who is the man in black? I have no clue. It's obviously the other player in this game being played, but who I'm unsure. We also saw Jacob intervene in key moments of our beloved losties lives. He made sure to physically touch them all. This is of importance, but I'm unsure why right now. While this was a Jacob-centric episode to a degree we've hardly scratched his surface. It definitly looked as if he brought Locke back to life from the fall. This also explains how he "survived" the 8 story fall when his dad pushed him out of the window a few seasons back. He may of also saved Sayid from getting hit by a car. I've seen some people think that Jacob got Nadia killed and I suppose you can look at it that way, but from the vibe I got through the episode I'm taking it as he prevented from Sayid being hit.

Moving on we see Sayid and Jack dismantle the bomb and Richard breaks through a concrete wall in the tunnels which is Horaces Dharama house. They journey up where Sayid steals a Dharma suit and they walk out to try to get to the Swan. Ben's father spots them and shoots Sayid. We then see an awesome gunfight between Jack and like 10 people. Jack grabs Sayid and they try to escape. Hurley, Miles, and Jin show up in the Dharama van to rescure them and they rush to the Swan. Aburptly hitting the breaks Hurley sees Juliet, Kate, and Sawyer who are trying to stop them. We then get to see what I think a lot of us have wanted to see for a few years. Jack and Sawyer fight it out in the jungle after reasoning fails. Juliet stops them but it was still a good fight either way. They journey on to the Swan.

I'd also like to say that during their journey their visit with Rose, Bernard, and Vincent was a nice touch. It's so great how LOST doesn't forget people. They were a great addition to the episode and just wanted to say that. Not much to discuss about their particular scene though.

Now we have Locke, Ben, Richard, and the Others journeying to see the Jacob. It's a long walk and we see a few good conversations take place during the trip. Locke inquires why Ben hasn't mentioned to Richard that Locke plans to kill Jacob. Ben basically says because the monster told him to listen to Locke and not do anything to him. Locke likes what he hears and then says that Ben will be the one to kill Jacob. Ben doesn't want to and asks why. Locke has this tone and just lays it out there bluntly "You've been loyal but got cancer, you've watched your daughter be gunned down in front of you and your reward for this? you were banished" this new Locke is very motivational. He sounds like Ben. I guess so much so he actually does what Ben is best at and out manipulates the master manipulator.

We also have Richard and Locke speak right before going to Jacobs. Richard has been wondering how Locke is alive and Locke can sense Richard is curious about something as he has been staring at him. Richard mentions how Ben said he was sure he killed him and Locke just replies "That's my recollection". Richard is curious how this is possible and Locke replies with "You've been here longer than I have Richard. If anyone would know I think it would be you". Richard then replies with something important. "I've been here for a long time yes, and I've seen the island do things I couldn't begin to describe but never have I seen someone come back to life". Locke then says "I've never seen someone age either Richard but that doesn't mean it can't happen". Richard says "I'm this way because of Jacob, and if I had to guess he's the reason you're not in that coffin anymore.

That's one interesting conversation. I think this is the first time Richard has acknowledged he doesn't age to one of the characters. It also makes you wonder what Jacob did to him and why he is that way. Is Jacob magical? What's the deal? With Jacob dead does Richards agelessness go away? Will Richard die too? Everytime Richard's length on the island is mentioned it's just refered to as a "VERY long time" with very extremley emphasized. I'd hate to see Richard go, he is one of the best and most interesting characters. They continue up to Jacobs place which ironically is in the 4 toed statue from season 2 (unless there are more one toed statues....) and go in to see Jacob. Here's where it gets a bit odd. Jacob knows immeditaly that MIB is Locke. He says "You found your loophole" and Locke replies "Yep". Ben then proceeds to stab Jacob and kick him in the fire. Before Jacob dies he says "they're coming". Who is coming? Frank and company? Who are Ilana and those guys? Why didn't Jacob even try to prevent his death? He did nothing if not antognize Ben prior to being stabbed.

While this is going on we have our mystery "good guys" as they said to Frank Lapidus show up and call out "Ricardus" -- one thing to point out here is that Ricardus is of Latin origin meaning "powerful ruler" and Richard says "it's just Richard" and then she proceeds to dump out the cargo box that they've been hauling around. Oh no, it's Locke in the box!. I'm tired of Locke being shoved in boxes and being dead.

If Locke is dead in the box who is the Locke that is alive in the foot with Jacob? Has to be MIB if the loophole statement didn't confirm this than Locke in the box should. Afterall, Dead is Dead. This is sad... or is Locke really dead? Maybe, just maybe, the Locke in the foot is the same Locke in the box. But how?. Well, this is a stretch and I have no evidence to back it up. Infact, if anything, it's my desperate attempt to keep Locke alive in my head until 2010 when they tell me otherwise. Do you remember the orientation film about the bunny? The one where they time travel the bunny back in time and it appears, with another copy of itself in the video? Chang freaks out and quickly tries to isolate them and the video ends [I think it ended there]. What if the "loophole" is to be in two times and or demionsions of space at the same time? I don't know how far off that might seem and I don't think this is the case but I did remember about the bunny incident and thought it may apply here. For all we know Locke has talked to the monster (while it appeared as Christian or someone else....) and was told to kill Jacob and about the loophole and we've just not been shown this. Maybe that is how he knew what Jacob meant. Then again, it's more likely to be MIB and Locke is dead. That'd mean MIB is smokey though. If MIB is smokey than who is the person in the opening scene? Someone from prior to the Others? Who are the others? we still don't know.

Lets not forget we still have Juliet, Miles, and the losties going to the Swan with the bomb. They get there and fight off Dharma folks and drop the bomb. It doesn't go off. Juliet starts getting sucked down the hole they were drilling in and Sawyer tries to save her in what was a beatifully done scene that was very moving. Sadly, Juliet opts to let go. How the fall didn't kill her I have no clue. Then again, the island doesn't let you die if it needs you. I guess it just wasn't here time. The season ends with Juliet trying to detonate the bomb by hitting it with a rock. She is very weak and half dead. She barely can get force behind it.

The screen flashes white and that's all she wrote.

Did the bomb go off? Did they reset all the events? Did they all blow up and not reset events?

Personally, it looked more like a time flash than an explosion but that's not to say it's just not trying to fool us. I can't see a nuclear bomb detonating from being hit by her with a rock. Its not like she is using a sledge hammer and her strength is almost nothing. If the fall didn't set it off how could she?

I also don't think they erased everything they've been through.

Now, back to the opening scene. MIB says, in referance to people brought to the island [IMO, people as a whole] "they come, they destroy, they corrupt. It always ends the same". Jacob replies "It only ends once, what happens before that is just progress". That's when MIB says he wants to kill Jacob.

My assumption is now that the island is simply a play field for a game between Jacob and MIB. The game has something to do with these two entities [ghosts, aliens, gods, super beings, I'm not sure what they are] toying with mankind in an attempt to see how good they can be or perhaps how evil. MIB thinks it's a lost cause but Jacob doesn't seem to give up hope.

I'd also like to point out again how extremly easy Jacob went down. llana mentions something about "a canidate". Perhaps Jacob is going to take the body of someone else? Perhaps it doesn't matter if he "dies" because he is not human therefore his existance is not biological and cannot be killed.

We have lots of things to think about until 2010. It's going to be forever before LOST comes back. It's also going to be the final season of the series. I have a feeling it will be the BEST one yet. I'll be revisiting some of older stuff on the LOST DVDS during the break to keep fresh.

Last, but not least, a big thanks goes out to the writers and everyone involved in the show. It's an amazing show and I hope you all get lots of emmys and awards. Looking forward to season 6. I LOST.