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Lost 4.11: "Cabin Fever"
Right from the beginning, it was clear that this episode would be a stunning chunk of mythology, adding to the recent revelations and placing them in a more confusing (yet more intriguing) context. The nature of time and space has once again come under question, at least in terms of the island, and some of the speculation from previous reviews appears to be right on track.
Perhaps the most interesting development in this episode is the apparent confirmation of Locke's destiny. As a character, Locke has never questioned that his arrival on the island had a purpose. It was the kind of assumption that becomes easily absorbed by the audience, something of a shorthand for the character himself. It's not so much that the audience must believe in Locke's destiny, only that he himself believes wholeheartedly that he has one.
This episode turns that assumption on its head. Locke may have been delusional, but he was, in fact, "chosen". In this case, something inherent to John Locke caught Richard Alpert's attention before he was even born. This would imply (along with the unusual space-time properties of the island) that he was known to have potential for leadership of the Others. Yet, despite the fact that Richard and the Others attempt to bring him into the fold throughout his life, Locke continually makes the wrong choices.
Even so, Locke came to be on the island, and the process of getting there might have made the difference. Locke was the first to see the "smoke monster", early in the first season, and he survived without incident. Since that moment, his success on the island has been tied to his faith in his destiny and his purpose as the "shaman priest" among the survivors. That now ties into his apparent status as Chosen One, the new liaison between the physical world of the Others and the apparent spiritual or non-corporeal world of Jacob and his amazing friends.
It now seems clear that Jacob is not the one taking on the forms of those passed, but that the connection to Jacob is very strong. The previous episode seemed to show, through the character of Miles, that the whispers surrounding the Others are connected to the dead. The apparitions have been connected to Jacob, but also to the "smoke monster". There is an underlying rationale to all of it, and it is likely connected to the properties of the island.
An early theory for the activity on the island was that a non-corporeal intelligence was looking for a way to regain corporeal form. That turned out to be incorrect (as most early theories were), but the intersection between corporeal and non-corporeal on the island is clear. What if the souls of the dead on the island are "trapped" there, acting in some gestalt form as the "smoke monster"? Alternatively, the "smoke monster" could be something designed to allow the gestalt intelligences to act on the physical plane. Jacob, then, would be something of an interface, with the Chosen One as the voice of the dead, who combined comprise the "will of the island".
This idea is meaningful because non-corporeality, in conjunction with the space-time warping properties of the electromagnetic anomaly, could explain much of the rest of the seemingly paranormal phenomena encountered. If the anomaly heals, then it also would preserve…unless the non-corporeal beings on the island intercede. And it would appear that longevity lasts far beyond the island, once granted.
It might also explain the truth about the crash of Oceanic 815. What if neither Ben nor Widmore brought the plane down on the island? What if neither of them contrived to have the plane so far off course? What if it was Jacob and his kind, purposefully bringing the right people to the island, ensuring that particular individuals survived? (A question, in fact, that has been asked sporadically by characters on the show, though not in the same terms.)
If so, then perhaps this episode begins to suggest the timeline of events on the island. Assuming, once again, that Charles Widmore was the leader of the Others up to (and perhaps including) the arrival of the Dharma Initiative, it leads to the following speculation. What if Jacob was not pleased with Widmore for quite some time? Perhaps Widmore had a right-hand man, someone like Matthew Abbadon. Perhaps Richard was tasked by Jacob to find a replacement.
Maybe Richard had reason, based on certain signs and portents, to believe that Locke was the right man for the job. Richard tried many times to bring Locke into the fold, as a child and as a teen. But clearly, Locke’s own issues stood in the way. Around the same time, Dharma might have come to the island, perhaps based on a decision by Widmore himself. This could have been the final straw, forcing Widmore’s ouster (as well as Abbadon’s "walkabout") and the need for a replacement.
With Locke out of the running (at least, at the time), could Jacob have led Richard to Ben, a young man with very similar circumstances of birth? Could the signs and portents have been "close enough"? In the meantime, Widmore and his right-hand-man Abbadon could have learned about Locke, and could have pushed him towards his destiny, knowing that Locke could be the key to restoring their primacy over the Others and the island. Once Locke was on the way (metaphorically and, soon after, literally), Jacob could have decided that the interim leader was no longer necessary, leading to Ben's tumor. This would put the competition between Locke and Ben in an intriguing new light.
This assumes that the non-corporeal elements on the island are represented solely by Jacob. That may not be the case. The non-corporeal entities may, in fact, be in a struggle for control themselves. Jacob may represent one side of the equation, the side populated by Richard and Ben. There may be an opposing force related to Widmore and Abbadon. Jacob's side may simply want to protect the island; the other side may be wanting broader control.
If this speculation is at least close to reality, it may explain why Aaron was so important in the first season, as well as the early use of black/white imagery. Aaron could be more than just the solution to the fertility problem. He could be meant as the next great leader of the population of the island, perhaps even Locke's successor. Claire's presence in his life could be a deciding factor in which side controls Aaron's future, and thus the fate of the island and its secrets.
All of this is subject to much revision, but that is the strength of "Lost" this season. The condensed nature of the storytelling has made every moment important and meaningful to the Big Picture. It's also great to see Claire regain importance to the narrative. There's something disturbing in the sultry, dreamy, knowing look she gives Locke.
The rest of the episode is devoted to servicing the plot, setting the stage for the invasion by Widmore's mercenaries. These events are relatively straightforward, since it's clear that the ball has to get rolling for the finale somehow, but the time-distortion issue is still kept consistent throughout. Keamy is coming across as a bit over the top, but once his ruthlessness was established in "Meet Kevin Johnson", it couldn't be reduced. It is, however, the only true complaint for such a mind-bending episode.
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May 9, 2008 5:35 PM
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Claire had the look of an all knowing being. I think she's transcended in some way. Christian Shepherd was there and yet it wasn't him. The attitude and personality were not the same man. He also has transcended to a new persona.
I'm convinced anyone remaining on the island long enough becomes The Others. In essence they become a part of the island, belonging to it and anyone else is like a foreign substance invading a body - it needs to be expelled, destroyed or absorbed.
For all the things we do know, like the time dialation properties of the island etc, we seem to be still on the edge of theory and not knowledge as far as Lost goes. It's what I love about the show. No one ever quite has it completely figured out.
Question I have:
1 - Just what is Richard? Not who but what? Is he an immortal, a foreign being? How long has he been that handsome?
I still can't help thinking of Bradbury's Martian Chronicles and the Book of Job in the Bible every time I watch Lost this second part of the season.
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May 9, 2008 7:14 PM
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A question I find interesting is: which world is Clair in? Was she really there?
Is she alive? She told Locke "I'm fine" but she didn't mention being alive or "dead".
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May 10, 2008 2:04 PM
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Personally, I think Claire is "dead", though not in the sense of Danielle or Karl. She's been selected to be one of the apparition-types on the island (which clearly involves some degree of corporeality, or Claire and Christian wouldn't have been able to carry Aaron). That change of state, so to speak, has given her a new sense of serenity. (Which, apparently, involves looking damn hot and sultry!)
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May 10, 2008 2:55 PM
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