tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post1953790932159275725..comments2024-02-04T05:13:04.501-05:00Comments on Nik at Nite: 6.09 Ab AeternoNikki Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463618183850438914noreply@blogger.comBlogger298125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-60152713040578984112010-04-02T22:32:50.091-04:002010-04-02T22:32:50.091-04:00OOPS... that was supposed to go on 6.10. My bad. ...OOPS... that was supposed to go on 6.10. My bad. I can't delete it or I would.Rainiernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-20311439779973508522010-04-02T22:29:35.197-04:002010-04-02T22:29:35.197-04:00@Lisa(until further notice): Of course, Alpert sho...@Lisa(until further notice): <i>Of course, Alpert should be first, but I think of him so much as Richard (Ricardo), that when I was compiling my list, I could only think of him by his first name...ike Cher or Madonna. OOPS!!</i><br /><br />Hmmm... I might just put Richard first whether in alphabetical order or not. He sure is purty.<br /><br />@ Gracie: yep, you got the palatableness thing right. I wouldn't kick any of them off, either.Rainiernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-71134634922668120792010-03-31T18:51:57.074-04:002010-03-31T18:51:57.074-04:00Was it her [or] Jacob who said he had to stop the ...<i>Was it her [or] Jacob who said he had to stop the man in black?</i><br />Actually, I think it was Hurley adding that on his own, nudging him towards what Ilana had said about Jacob telling her that Richard would know what to do next, and not Hurley directly parroting Jacob — an important distinction on one hand, but admittedly irrelevant to the argument of whether it was still Isabella's spirit speaking or something that Hurely tacked on.Blamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07342343767763035991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-22990368886940282762010-03-30T17:15:53.737-04:002010-03-30T17:15:53.737-04:00@catherinelavalle: I think you're mixing two d...<b>@catherinelavalle:</b> I think you're mixing two discussions.<br /><br />Discussion 1. Isabella inside the ship just after it crashed. Was it Richard <b>hallucinating, having a vision or MIB posing as her</b>?<br /><br />Discussion 2. When Isabella is talking through Hurley to Richard. Was it <b>her of Jacob</b> who said he had to <b>stop the man in black</b>?Bennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16036549649615941601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-2089833175787290482010-03-30T17:06:46.122-04:002010-03-30T17:06:46.122-04:00Y'all can stop speculating about whether the I...Y'all can stop speculating about whether the Isabella who spoke to Richard through Hurley was MIB or not. Remember Ilana said that since Jacob was dead he was stuck in Locke's form and could no longer shape-shift. So it coudn't have been him anyway.<br /><br />I would like to know when Isabella got a chance to shop in the same clothing store Richard has been to and get those nice contemporary duds!Your Pet Domestichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02887340939797992154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-2654936253218604972010-03-29T18:30:16.796-04:002010-03-29T18:30:16.796-04:00A quick pointer about the mythology surrounding Mt...A quick pointer about the mythology surrounding Mt. Teide, in Tenerife. The Devil in the guanche –the original inhabitants of the island- myths was called Guayota (a big black dog). It was imprisoned in the Teide, after the tried to kidnap the sun.<br /><br />The Wikipedia entry on Guayota has a few more details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guayota<br /><br />Actually, probably all volcanoes ha similar stories attached to them.Pedrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11133487270066668384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-78435167546317465542010-03-29T11:02:19.115-04:002010-03-29T11:02:19.115-04:00One thing I do not understand is why are there so ...One thing I do not understand is why are there so many candidates from the same time period? Did Jacob "see" that Ben would kill him, so he then recruited Ilana to protect the candidates? What is the time frame with the "candidates" and Jacob's death? <br /><br />So you are telling me that the candidates are from 2004 until now only? What about all those other years? Also, so Jacob could leave the island and time travel so time travel had nothing to do with the Dharma initiative? The Dharmas just "found" it? How did they equate magnetic fields with time travel? Daniel's book? That is like saying I read my diary from 1982 and now I have invented space travel. The answer I need is why all Oceanic 6 are important and no one else from the time of the Black Rock to current has ever been important. (except Rousseau, but was she a candidate?) I love all of them (especially Jack and Sawyer) but are they really that important? No one has been important until then? I also think this because their "candiate numbers" are so low. Or are they re-used? Could someone from 1940 been number 4, etc?<br /><br />Just for fun... I received a birth announcement from some old friends, and the name they chose for their daughter was... drumroll... Ilana! I got chills! Beautiful name and they are not LOST fans, so I saw it as a sign!CBP68noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-90070805308617097222010-03-28T17:21:51.514-04:002010-03-28T17:21:51.514-04:00Benny To me, the entire episode, the tale of Ric...Benny To me, the entire episode, the tale of Richards episodic journey, was a play within a play. And I had an instant connection with Don Juan in Hell on that level..Connecting the dots between Lost and Don Juan in Hell (and maybe even Man and Superman, not sure I want to dive into that one yet) was also a bonus delight. I'm always amazed at the literary connections , let alone the sociological, philosophical, artistic, scientific (ad infinitim) connections the writers draw upon.. It's as if the writers exist in the collective mind. Or the other way around.. I'm on an iPod now, awkward. But will back to this subject if it resonates with you, too? Believe me, making the creative leap to Don Juan in Hell sent shivers up my spine... Didn't know if I was alone in this observation .. ?Patricianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-41341608299500872932010-03-28T00:44:38.928-04:002010-03-28T00:44:38.928-04:00@Teebore: And if the Others do something in Jacob&...@Teebore: <i>And if the Others do something in Jacob's name that he disagrees with, like brainwashing or purging or being, in general, dicks, well, Jacob's not going to step in and tell them that. He wants them to figure it out themselves (of course, we could point out that such passivity in the face of such bad things is hardly "good", but that's another debate).</i><br /> <br />Well, yes. This really gets to the heart of the debate about free will, and it is a problem for religions in general, not just strange little cults. no religion is free of this difficulty; the intent and wishes of the worshiped is often at odds with the actions of the worshipers. <br /><br />@Benny: My point about the island not being able to float was admittedly not a very smart one. Most days, I really do know better vis a vis what is possible and not on Lost (namely, pretty much everything and almost nothing, respectively.) But the writers do seem to try to inject some science into the plot some of the time. And I <i>have</i> seen physicists postulate ideas about how time travel might be possible...<br /><br />My posts on this episode have not been particularly smart. It's been a bad week, I have been running on very little sleep, and my brain seems to have turned to cheese curds some time ago. Sorry 'bout that.Rainiernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-67270191192808500612010-03-27T19:29:00.682-04:002010-03-27T19:29:00.682-04:00I know i'm pretty late in the game but that wa...I know i'm pretty late in the game but that was such an amazing episode-probably one of my new all time favourites- that i just had to comment. And it wasn't just me, I had an anti-lost sister watching it with me and she stopped complaining about two minutes in, watched the rest in silence and told me it was pretty good for Lost. Thats what I call success!<br />Great re-cap Nikki, and it took a while but the comments have some really interesting theories.<br /><br />@M9 EGO<br />I think you're right, that if escaping the island means destroying it, then the AU with the island on the bottom of the ocean isn't what would have happened if the H-bomb went off, but what happened when another enormous event happned, like Jacob being killed and defeated which would allow the man in black to escape. Maybe the AU isn't in fact an alternate universe, but what will happen at the end of the<br />series if the MIB escapes and time is reset with Jacob never existing. Maybe the reason that<br />Jacob doesn't want him to leave is becasue if he does, he will stop existing and time will progress differently, without everyone ending up on the island. That would mean that the flash sideways that we seeing are in fact what will happen to the losties without Jacobs 'touch' or influence. Whether they act and react differently to the same situations will be teh MIB's ultimate victory<br />in proving Jacob wrong about the true nature of humans.<br /><br />'If he did nothing then surely Smocke would be stuck forever and the island would be secure ?'<br /><br />Good point. I think the fact that he does take that chance and bring people to the isalnd means that by proving him wrong, it will somehow benefit him. If he acheives his goal of proving him wrong, maybe Jacob will get the only thing he wants, the love and respect of the MIB. That's assuming the theories that they are brothers or father and son are correct. <br /><br />I hope that made some sort of sense!EvaHarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047750533995811019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-85783968568357573432010-03-27T18:54:33.201-04:002010-03-27T18:54:33.201-04:00@patricia: hmmmmm.... intriguing. but which part a...<b>@patricia:</b> hmmmmm.... intriguing. but which part are you calling the 'play within a play' exactly. Was it a specific scene/sequence or the entire episode a full length flashback?<br /><br />I just want to be clear so I can share in your reflection!<br />Thanks.Bennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16036549649615941601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-17811010696636758492010-03-27T18:34:27.660-04:002010-03-27T18:34:27.660-04:00Am I the only Lost Soul out here who experienced a...Am I the only Lost Soul out here who experienced an epiphany regarding the fact that Ab Aeterno stood on it's own merit, totally out of the box, a Play within a Play? A classic example of that ploy would be Bernard Shaw's "Don Juan in Hell." As I remember it, Shaw creates a dream sequence (within "Man and Superman") by taking the Don Juan legend into new territory, engaging the Devil and Don Juan (and a couple of other characters, including one of Don Juan's conquests and her father's statue,) in a marvelous philosophical debate concerning the merits of hell vs the boredom of heaven. Shaw doesn't take the complex and multi tiered subject of Don Juan lightly. In his preface letter to Walkley. Shaw expressed his opinion that Mozart was the last person to take on the subject of Don Juan with any degree of competency, and says his own version of Don Juan is "a man who, though gifted enough to be exceptionally capable of distinguishing between good and evil, follows his own instincts." Jacob? Jack? Locke? Sawyer? The man in black? All of the above? Or is this character description one that defines the last remaining Candidate? The hero with a thousand faces: the last man, or woman, standing. (As I recall Shaw explores the fact women are the life givers, and as such should be considered superior beings.)<br /><br />OK, now I'll have to find the entire script, and read it all over again.. this is getting way juicy. Lost coming up with a perfectly timed, perfectly rendered play within a play ...how much better can it get? It could be yet another riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.. But this close to "The End"? I don't think so. I think we're in for a wild ride to the finish. And I don't think the Devil wins.<br /><br />Every time the writers of Lost do a blink and nod to the collective conscious ( or collective unconscious) we get closer to what Stephen Hawkings called a glimpse into the mind of God. To me, whether it's a game or a mystery or a circus come to town, Lost is a mirror masquerading as a challenge.patricianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-72664635272952722552010-03-27T05:29:16.698-04:002010-03-27T05:29:16.698-04:00Great Episode.Isn;t is amazing how Tenerife looked...Great Episode.Isn;t is amazing how Tenerife looked soooo much like Hawaii !<br />Anyway question :<br />Jacob is bringing people to the island to prove that 'man' is no corrupt..but why ? by doing this he is taking a risk that Smocke may escape the island. If he did nothing then surely Smocke would be stuck forever and the island would be secure ?<br />Also at the end Smocke smashes the bottle ..does this signify that the other way of escaping the island is not to kill Jacob but to destroy the Island (hence why we see it under the ocean at the beginning of S6) ????M9 EGOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04953944098834603403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-61753117905772556002010-03-27T02:22:21.705-04:002010-03-27T02:22:21.705-04:00@benny: yeah, science could be seen popularly as s...@benny: yeah, science could be seen popularly as supporting free-will. Part of the social narrative of science is how it has freed us from the chains of religious dogmatism. I don't know if the showrunners are going with this idea. (Actually it is wrong. Science more or less tells us things are predetermined. That's what a lot of people took from Newtonian science, and why they tried to reapply it to social sciences--ergo Positivism. For more on this see J. Richard Gott's equation which is an extension of the Carter Catastrophe predicting the extinction of humans). <br /><br />But let's stick with the story. Is predetermination part of religion? If your a Calvinist, you bet. The "elect" get to go to heaven, the rest don't. Is that akin to Jacob's candidates? Maybe. But there is also in religion the concept of free-will (Erasmus argued such against Luther). Afterall, without free-will, God would be cruel and capricious in sending those to Hell whom he created knowing they were predestined for Hell. <br /><br />But I like the idea that Jacob may be supporting the idea of free-will. In other words, Jacob is an Erasmian (or Pelagian) follower, rather than Augustinian or Calvinist. Pelagian's heresy was that one might acheive grace through one's actions. Richard's belief he can work off his sin.<br /><br />But I have another view of Jacob. He is a Nietzschian. In true LOST form, Nietzsche called free will the "highest power of fate." He believed that free-will belongs to the universe of determinism, and consciousness could liberate itself from the world. Free consciousness experiences the world as a struggle to free itself from. Very much like Locke's discussion of the moth, that he could liberate it, but then it would not survive. Jacob's hands-off approach resembles the relationship between the teacher and the pupil. The teacher does not assist, but allows the pupil to struggle, and only thereby come to real knowledge (I had teachers who's philosophy was either sink or swim--needless to say, many math courses taken twice over). <br /><br />If we follow Nietzsche then we may have to think of Jacob as Zarathustra. It is not that coming to the island we have inherent in us the "good", but that through struggle on the island we achieve the "good". I see the "good" not as moral, but a higher individual, a being that acts for a future being that is beyond humanity. In this sense, the MiB does not believe such a future exists.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01474623954925835867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-83040608354255123502010-03-26T22:59:37.505-04:002010-03-26T22:59:37.505-04:00@JS: A few ideas but there are not enough ways to ...<b>@JS:</b> A few ideas but there are not enough ways to connect them or there are too many inconsistencies between them to elaborate a GUTL (Grand Unified Theory of Lost).<br /><br /><b>@Fred:</b> Interesting thought on the imagery of colours. Let me just throw an idea and let me know what you think. Jacob is being followed as faith, but he insists on humans following their own choices without intervention.<br />Often we associate free-will with science and predetermination (MIB=precondition to evil) with religion - not necessarily evil.<br /><br />While Jacob might be seen as a religious figure by his followers, could he not be someone who tries to defend the 'science/rational thought' side of things?<br /><br />If we take his words at face value that is. Then:<br />Jacob => defending free will => science => white<br />MiB => preconditioned => religon/faith => black.<br /><br />It's a far reaching extension, but thoughts?Bennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16036549649615941601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-1519888572498531242010-03-26T22:50:30.094-04:002010-03-26T22:50:30.094-04:00@Benny @Teebore - Thanks. Nothing on the ultimate...@Benny @Teebore - Thanks. Nothing on the ultimate mystery? I thought you guys would be good for some theories :)JShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06219841452322761803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-77513139156860903532010-03-26T22:46:54.773-04:002010-03-26T22:46:54.773-04:00A seminal image that emerged out of this episode w...A seminal image that emerged out of this episode was the man in black. Three in fact. The doctor. The priest. And MiB. Each has an association with power, or religion. Then I wondered have we seen men in white? Yes, we have. Jack and his father are dressed in white coats. The other white coats would be scientists, such as Juliet. So white is associated with science, or knowledge of life. So we have a simple equation:<br /><br />Black= power, religion<br />White=life, science.<br /><br />On the island, white is associated with Jacob, a figure of faith. This is the inverse of the of-island world. So in fact the island is Alice's Wonderland, a mirror image where what was once up is now down. White is Black, and Black is White. The dead exist, and probably are the whispers. The living think of themselves as dead. Jack said in the opening Season, we all died 3 days ago. Even Hurley at one point said they were all dead. So in such a topsy-turvy world, we shouldn't immediately assume white=the good side; nor that black=the bad side. In the end we may discover the fight between Jacob and MiB is nothing, as between the Red Queen and the White Queen.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01474623954925835867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-21400694119276395842010-03-26T18:38:41.755-04:002010-03-26T18:38:41.755-04:00@JS: Had not seen that. Thanks, it's pretty co...<b>@JS:</b> Had not seen that. Thanks, it's pretty cool.<br /><br />Haha.. yeah, I wasn't too serious about the Isabella/Richard dialogue. <br /><br />I know it was a story telling device, my point was that not seeing Isabella tell Hurley that line was also a story telling device resulting in the audience receiving the same shock as Richard at receiving said message.<br /><br />I actually just sent an email to the Lost podcast on whether we'll have an answer or if it will be all left to interpretation.Bennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16036549649615941601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-48687684782896954382010-03-26T18:30:08.898-04:002010-03-26T18:30:08.898-04:00@JS: After typing your comment and entering the wo...@JS: After typing your comment and entering the word verification, there's a box (beneath where you "choose your identity") that you can click ("Send follow up emails to" or something to that effect) that will ensure all subsequent comments make it your mailbox. <br /><br />It does make keeping up with things much easier!Austin Gortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-20114035406226897612010-03-26T18:24:31.702-04:002010-03-26T18:24:31.702-04:00Oi I'm so late. How do you subscribe to comme...Oi I'm so late. How do you subscribe to comments in email.<br /><br />Anyway, <br /><br />@Blam, et al - I am still questioning the instructions on the no talking before stabbing, and also stabbing with the special knife. I do not know if there is any validity to those instructions since, a-they were given by both sides, and b-Jacob got stabbed with an “un”-special knife after a whole conversation. <br /><br />ALSO He defended himself against Richard, an action which contradicts his whole "I cannot intervene" mantra, but not against Ben, where he seems to take it to the ultimate degree. We have seen him push/influence people. So there is some contradictory information here - surprise.<br /><br />At this point, the real mystery for me is why these candidates, why now, and what is going to happen in the next 9 hours to bring this centuries long battle to "the end". It cannot be just good and evil, or even fate versus free will. I do not believe Jacob is JUST bringing people to the island to prove they can choose good. Why would that matter? Would it change the nature of the black smoke, making it/him inert, or repent, or whatever change needs to happen? I do not even understand how MiB can be killed if there is no body. Are we supposed to believe that "malevolence" will be neutralized? And who does Jacob take his orders from anyway.<br /><br />I think I woke up angry today and am taking my frustration out on Lost theories. Help me, if you are still out there….<br /><br />@Benny – re: island being the cork, etc. - have you seen this fan art? http://mbradyclark.tumblr.com/ . Also, <i>“re-watching it daily”</i> – I need to do that too.<br /><br />@Blam – thanks for re-posting what Jessica wrote on Hurley’s Dave being Libby’s David, and encouraging Hurely to off himself due to jealousy, I missed that.<br /><br />@Teebore & @Jessica – I was hoping for at least 1,000 years old….<br /><br />@Benny – I think us seeing Isabella and Richard “talking to each other” was a story telling device so we didn’t have to listen to Hurley repeat everything that Isabella said. Richard had to ask Hurley if she was gone. OR I may have watched one too many Ghost Whisperer episodes. OOPs I just read the rest of your post, I agree with you. And @Donna S – yes, I think that was a Hurley add. Scooby-doo’d indeed.JShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06219841452322761803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-3067287176589250902010-03-26T18:19:17.305-04:002010-03-26T18:19:17.305-04:00FLASH SIDEWAYS THEORY
The theory of the bomb crea...<b>FLASH SIDEWAYS THEORY</b><br /><br />The theory of the bomb creating the flash-sideways was brought up several times and I've attempted to disprove it.<br /><br />Here is not only what I call proof its inaccuracy, but I also present an alternative theory.<br /><br />Hopefully you'll enjoy: <a rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/SidewaysTheory</a>Bennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16036549649615941601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-68943584087997349062010-03-26T17:46:03.680-04:002010-03-26T17:46:03.680-04:00ON ISABELLA
Question: why was Isabella talking to...<b>ON ISABELLA</b><br /><br />Question: why was Isabella talking to Hurley and asking him to follow Richard?<br /><br />It certainly seemed (to me) like she was reclaiming his faith in her and be more open to accepting her message. She knew he'd listen more if she had a heart to heart prior to asking her request than if Hurley had asked him outright.<br /><br />p.s.: she could have told Hurley at the beach, we didn't see all of the conversation, that could be why she sent him after Richard.<br /><br />-----<br />I wonder if we'll have a similar discussion next week!Bennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16036549649615941601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-11768491925012893292010-03-26T17:44:21.328-04:002010-03-26T17:44:21.328-04:00Benny...Just saying that, considering that the who...Benny...Just saying that, considering that the whole rest of the conversation was about her love for Richard, any additional instructions about the MIB seem out of character for her.<br /><br />Gotta run!dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-79682357141096032772010-03-26T17:37:15.584-04:002010-03-26T17:37:15.584-04:00@DonnaS: There is indeed a debate and only an affi...<b>@DonnaS:</b> There is indeed a debate and only an affirmation from the involved parties (Hurley/Jacob) will confirm any theory.<br /><br />You can't say that 'the message' was out of character since there is no 'character' to base this on, we've only seen her talk with Richard then. In fact, THAT could have been out of character.<br /><br />I'm not trying to argue either way in this post, just saying yes there's a debate and that I don't think we can use the 'out of character' argument.Bennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16036549649615941601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-91983780083080072552010-03-26T17:27:02.689-04:002010-03-26T17:27:02.689-04:00In reading the comments, there's a discussion ...In reading the comments, there's a discussion about the Isabella/Richard/Hurley scene: Was it REALLY Isabella who told Hurley that last bit about stopping the Man in Black?<br /><br />My opinion is that Hurley got that part from Jacob. My reasoning:<br /><br />1) Richard asked, "Is she gone?", and Hurley confirmed that she was indeed gone. Then, <br /><br />2) A really sneaky look came over Hurley's face as he added (paraphrasing) "Oh, yeah, one more thing...") And,<br /><br />3) Isabella's entire conversation with Richard was to reassure him of her love, and then she disappeared. Why would she then tack on a "BTW, you need to stop the MIB" ?? It seems totally out of character for Isabella to say that. However, Jacob, on the other hand, is ALL about stopping the MIB. And we KNOW that he and Hurley are "best buds". <br /><br />So, IMO, Hurley is passing on Jacob's message, only telling Richard the message is from Isabella in order to better move him to action.<br /><br />Hurley "Scooby-Doo'd" Richard, methinks.Donna S.noreply@blogger.com