Category Archives: Television

‘The Man Behind’ Benjamin Linus

“The Man Behind the Curtain” was an episode that was quite important, we thought, for establishing many facts about the island’s past. These facts, though, are less about its mystical properties and more about its history. And, it seems, Benjamin Linus has played a very integral part in that history. We learned a few things about Juliet and Jack’s plan in the episode, and there’s kind of a stunning cliffhanger I won’t mention here for fear of major spoilers, but it was really all about figuring out who Ben really is. In learning about his actions, his traits, his acquaintances, we come to terms with his character, and where he heads from here.

But, before I do so, I need to make something clear: this was perhaps one of the most exhilarating episodes of Lost in the show’s history. It was heart-pumping television, and watching it in HD with Surround Sound was something to behold. The show remains on its roll, and I don’t think it can be stopped with only two weeks remaining. But, for now, onto the various facets of Ben’s character revealed this evening.

Ben the Mommy Killer

Yep, that’s right. Ben was, in his father’s eyes, responsible for his mother’s death when he arrived two months premature out in the middle of the woods while hiking. This has a few ramifications: it mirrors the death of pregnant women on the island, and it also kind of explains why he was attracted to Juliet, since his dead mother bears a striking resemblance to her.

Ben the Liar

We learn that Ben, in the present, is lying about certain things. Most importantly, and all that he reveals to Locke before episode’s end, is that he wasn’t actually born on the island. We knew he was a liar after the entire Henry Gale arc last season, but now that trait is becoming more important considering the shadowy nature of Jacob’s existence.

Ben the Friend

Yes, we got to see Ben have a little relationship of sorts with a young girl named Annie, who gave him a doll of sorts for his birthday when his drunk alcoholic father got him nothing. It’s a weird relationship, because Ben has kept that doll all of these years and yet we don’t see the continuing of that connection…especially when we consider the likely fate of Ms. Annie within the episode.

Ben the Homicidal/Genocidal Maniac

Wondering where we’ve heard the name Roger before? Well, it was the name of the skeleton found in the VW Bus in Tricia Tanaka is Dead, and it turns out that the skeleton was Ben’s father who he murdered with a gas of some sort for being a terrible father. However, this is not the only blood on his hands; he was also responsible for working with the hostiles (The non-Dharma natives to the island) in order to purge the entire Initiative and its peace-loving ways.

This is, of course, the purge that Mikhail has referred to in past episodes, and it’s interesting to see how closely Ben was involved, and how there happens to be a memorial of sorts where the final act takes place…and it’s a doozie.

Ben the Lackey

Here’s the really interesting thing: Ben, as far as this flashback tells us, is not the leader of the Others but rather a young man who they picked up from their employment. Their leader appears to be Richard, who we’ve seen as part of The Others…but he doesn’t seem to have aged a day. He looks no different now compared to when Ben was a child, which makes me wonder whether the island does have some form of fountain of youth properties as well.

Ben the Crazyman(?)

This is the question the episode leaves us (Other than the obvious one you’ll see from the cliffhanger): Ben is depicted as somewhat of a crazy person, until it’s clear that Locke shares his vision of Jacob for a split second. To what extent, then, is Ben crazy? He was clearly acting, but was it all a ploy to learn more or rather an attempt to…ah hell, we basically know no more about his current state now than we did before.

Well, that’s about all we get about Ben, but what about a term that pops up that might mean something, or you might be curious about?

Wikipedia ‘Behind the Curtain’

Namaste – The greeting given to the new Dharma recruits as they arrive on the submarine. According to Wikipedia, it’s a gesture of the hands in Hindu culture in which one hand represents the spiritual, and the other the worldly self, and the coming together of those two parts…which sounds a lot like the island, no.

Lostpedia also has some information in terms of Dharma’s meaning, and how Namaste might fit into it. There’s some interesting stuff there which could provide even further analysis, and it makes me wish I had taken comparative religion at some point.

And that’s that. Haven’t watched the episode yet? Want to catch up on what occurred in this mind-blowing hour of television? [Edit: Also, with thanks to Ripclawe at NeoGAF, there’s an animated gif of the brief glimpse of the mysterious Jacob.] For the full recap of the episode…

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