Get Ready: The Shape of Things to Come

After weeks of cursing the writer's strike, LOST is back! Season 4, episode 9 of LOST, The Shape of Things to Come, is airing tonight. We'll be podcasting this weekend, so post your comments here, send us an email or leave an audio comment on our automated voicemail by calling: 206-339-6080. You can also contribute by visiting the LOSTCasts fan forums.

Comments

[Mark B]

Yeah first ! Nice to get the comments section up before the epi airs, but still most of the comments are in the forum now.

[Loney Childress]

Yeah! New Lost. Been looking forward to it. I understand that :

We may be seeing the monster tonight

Should be a cool episode.

[ninety-nine]

Wow. I forgot that new episodes return beginning tonight. I had gotten used to Lost not being on again. It is pretty easy to do that with the break between seasons, WGA strike, and the recent break. How many episodes are they going for this season?

[Wizlee]

http://www.lostcommunity.co.uk good lost

[kb]

Wow! I loved "the key to the game is Australia"

Best. Episode. Evar.

Looking forward to an epic podcast!!

[Memnoch]

Definitely, "the key to the game is Australia." I am sad about Alex though. She was hot. But excellent episode.

Was not crazy about Claire. Is she another Mikhail?

[Loney Childress]

Wow, what an episode. They totally had me thrown off about the monster because of that Juliet episode last season where it couldn't get in the fence.

[oddjob]

Is frogert dead?

[Paul]

@Loney Childress - the fence was turned off by Alex to let the 'security' people in, so that's how the monster had free reign.

[aaron whatley]

will desmond die if penny does? she is his constant. A great exchange between ben and widmore. I did not want the episode to end.

aaron

[lostieboy]

damm...ben is one bad mo fo....lol

[Captain Kirk]

wow...great episode.

my absolute favorite was when "ensign jimmy" walks out of the house with pile of firewood... like "hey guys.. what's all the gunshots?" and then BAM! dead. classic

[Memnoch]

the fence was down already...thats how the Freighties got in. Presumably they didnt make Alex put it back up.

[Rachel]

Wow! only 13 comments!?!!?!?
Anybody got any good theories??

[Jes']

Maybe Ben doesn't know what the Monster *is*, but it wouldn't necessarily mean he couldn't manipulate/control it. I had the feeling that Ben wouldn't be outdone by the guy who was holding Alex' hostage. He's always got an ace up his sleeve.

Even in the Sahara. That was some Sayid-type s**t. Y'all gotta admit: that *was* bad-ass!

[Leeward]

Ben woke up in the desert wearing a Dharma jacket with the name "Halliwax" on it. In the Orchid orientation video Marvin Candle gives his name as Edgar Halliwax. So I'm thinking the Orchid is some sort of teleportation device. Which would explain the polar bear skeleton found in the same desert. Scientists always send animals first. And I'd wager the teleporting is sorta touch and go as far as where and when it takes you. Since Ben arrived wearing a thick winter jacket and had to ask what the date was when he got to civilization. Maybe that polar bear got sent to the same desert but a few hundred years before Charlotte got there and discovered its skeleton.

[Leeward]

I know this is probably totally wrong, but could Ben and Widmore be brothers? That whole scene with them last night struck me as childish sibling rivalry. Ben stole what was Widmore's (the island) and they've been fighting over it ever since. The whole "you changed the rules" line just reeks of sibling rivalry. Like they're playing some game with each other. I know in the bible Benjamin was a son of Jacob. But none of Jacob's other sons have names close to Charles Widmore. Did the biblical Jacob's sons fight over birthright? I don't know enough about the bible to say.

[mona lisa]

I know this is starting to sound cliche, but i have to say that:THE BEST EPISODE. EVER. I BETTER WATCH IT AGAIN. AND AGAIN...

[rok]

I have to concur, this was a great episode. Also, I think this means that every time Ben has gotten the snot beaten out of him, he's LET himself be beaten. I'm also really glad to see Ben get more and more screen time. He's really made the show HIS the past couple of seasons.

[Pedro]

WTF! I'm in shock, so many questions. What an episode.

I guess that pretty much means it's the end of Rousseau (I thought there may have been a chance she'd survived).

Where did Ben go? Somewhere deep underground to summon the smoke monster? The entrance to the tunnel look like it was made of old brickwork. Is this a remnant of the previous Island inhabitants? Was New Othertown built on a previous settlement?

What are the rules? Do Widmore and Linus have some kind of Island treaty or rules of engagement that they must adhere to. Is this ultimately why Widmore still doesn't have the Island in the future?

What is to be the fate of Desmond and Penelope? Can I bear to see this hopefully happy ending destroyed? Will Ben push Sayed to a point where he comes to assassinate Penelope that he begins to realise he's as bad as the people he is hunting?

Is it no longer a case of who is the most evil between Widmore and Linus? Are they as bad as each other in their pursuit of the Islands Power?

When Ben arrived in the desert he seemed to be smoking, did he experience some kind of thermal effect when teleporting/timetravelling?

Can wait for the podcast, I think you may need to do an extra long one for this episode as there is so much to try and cover/theorise.

[TTD]

Wow! That was a great episode! Soooo... Ben has at least the ability to control smokey through whatever method. Does the 'changing of the rules' imply this is the first time he's controlled it as such, or is it referring to something we don't know about? Basically, can any of smokeys actions in the past be attributed to Ben? Eko's death? Trying to pull Locke down the hole? Death of the pilot?

Or did smokey do those through choice/programming/etc but has the option of somehow being controlled? And to what extent can it be controlled/comanded?

So many questions thrown up by this!

And I hope Penelope doesn't die! I really would hate that as she and Desmond are two of my favourite characters, it'd be a tradgedy if they're not reunited at all/for long! And I really hope Desmond wouldn't die as a consquence..

Loads of great little bits as well this week! New Dharma logo (or was it the Orchid's, I can't remember the latters..) And referencing to Hallowax!

Looking forward to you guys' views on it! And forgot to say last weeks podcast was fantastic, back to your high standard!

Cheers, Pete

[Jeremiah Owen]

@ Leeward Excellent point! ..... hmm could there be some weird familial relationship between Widmore, Ben and Jacob? Maybe Jacob gave the "birthright" to Ben when it was supposed to go to Widmore? Here's the breakdown of the Biblical account of Esau and Jacob. http://www.essex1.com/people/paul/bible25.html

[jonny]

any one catch the painting in windmores penthouse?
it was behind ben during their conversation. to me it looked like the mural in the swan hatch. go check it out.

[spalz]

TOLD YOU all that smokey was Ben's bitch. haha, but seriously, one of the best episodes to date.
Couple things....
1) ben and widmore have some kind of connection. I dont know if it is from my watching AVP last night, but perhaps they are from another planet or time and they are fighting for control of the island. Widmore had it, Ben took it, and they have rules. No hurting eachother or close family, but anything else goes.
2) Now we know how Ben tricked Sayid to work for him. He was smiling as he walked away, I think he conned him into it.
3) Ben tried to do a mind trip on the Rambo guy and it didnt work, he looked shocked he couldnt control the situation.
4) I like the idea of them being brothers, and will take it a step more and say that Jacob is their dad.

[holla balloo]

Does anyone else think that Ben has a certain sex appeal with those googly eyes?

[Cihan]

Just want to throw out there that I dont believe Ben was responsible for Nadia's death. Not only would it be stretching it with bad writing, but also by 2005 Ben doesnt look like he has the means to orchestrate anyone's death, simply becaue he has no people to do it for him. Everyone who worked for him is practically dead or on the island. Ben is the kinda guy who changes situations in his favour, that's what his victorious smile was about when he walked away from Sayid.

Anyway, awesome episode, you'd never see it in a 26 episode run except as a season-ender. Shortening the seasons has really brought out the action and drama.

[LostFree]

Best episode ever :
http://www.watchlostfree.com

[pearson]

that has to be the best episode of Lost,

Ben doesn't control Smokie, he only released it.
see the look on his face, not the look of a man who controls it.

[rok]

I like the fact that when the smoke monster arrives, it sounds like a freakin' freight train rolling in, almost, well, ENRAGED. Like it's the embodiment of Ben's rage against the gunmen.

[Dave Scott]

Dharma logo on pocket.... J. wood posted it... it looks like it could represent transportation in some way

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2133/2441091502_788407c266.jpg?v=0

[MorninStar]

AWESOME episode. Ben showed up in the desert, with frost coming out of his mouth and Hallawax's parka on--does anyone think he may have come from Penny's polar station where she has the Portuguese team attempting to find the island? That Ben may have gotten the injury to his arm fighting with them and then proceeded to one of the other time-travel portals...in Tunisia?

Obviously Ben & Widmore know each other very well..but I don't know if they could be one another's constant..Ben took his sweet time making contact with Widmore. We saw Ben being born..his mother was quite young (and then died)so I don't know if Widmore could be his brother (intriguing idea though). Why is it said that Widmore 'can't find the island' when he has a freighter/helicopter that obviouly made it there? Why does Widmore think that Ben cannot find Penny? He sure seems quite capable of finding people. Widmore's statement that the island was *always* his... always is a looong time. How old IS Widmore? Could he be like Dr. Alpert? Why did he leave the island?

I think the island is a living enity..like a 'VALIS' and Smoky is Cerberus (three headed watchdog of Hades from mythology).. an ancient watchdog of the island-one that only does what is in the best interests of the island..Ben might be able to unleash it..but I don't think he can control it. And Abbadon.. the guardian of the Abyss. How does he fit in? And what about Mr. Paik? Hmm

[jamie]

Does anyone know when it starts again in England?

[elaine]

It back on Sunday 3rd May on sky one in the UK.

[al]

The way Ben tackled those desert people was quite pleasing to watch. And then, to conclude his achievement, the way he said 'Yah!' to the horse just made me burst out laughing! :D

[Cihan]

Yeah, the 'yah' made me laugh too. :D

Also: are we sure he's time-travelling? Maybe his comment to the hotel lady was a red-herring, maybe he just teleported and wanted to make sure he HADN'T time-travelled.

[jamie]

thanks Elaine!

[Ralph]

So, has anyone else noted the big C.S. Lewis reference? Ben goes into his passport room, into the closet/wardrobe, and into a secret passage that leads to the rest of the world, perhaps? The official podcast said earlier in the season that Narnia had a big influence on the story line this year.

[elaine]

Anyone know what music Ben was playing on the piano?

[elaine]

Just had a thought, Clare seems to have been in the back yard/garden when the house blew up (mainly from the front) according to where she ended up. I know Sawyer said she was 'still asleep' but maybe she woke up and had an urge to get some washing out on the line :) thought the boots under the debris looked a bit 'wizard of oz' ? Also, the way in which Sayid was 'recruited' by Ben in this ep; I thought it may have turned out to be more related to how they all got off the island; seemed they have tied up that loose end, or anyone think there will be more to that story? It's good we're starting to see the storylines moving; I agree the pace is quickening and is entirely due to the shorter seasons. Finally anyone feel even a little bit sorry for Ben when Alex got shot? I did. A bit.

[al]

But the real hero of the episode is still Sayid! To "sense" that you are being photographed... Now is that f###ing COOL or what?!!!

[foxinsocks74]

Total guess:Something in the established rules would have made it impossible to kill Alex, just like various others (Locke, Michael just two examples). So Ben was confident that 'the island' would somehow protect her.

But then she died.

So Ben snaps and runs into the wine cellar. There was a coat rack there with various disguises. Did he grab a parka and jump into some kind of time warp in his basement and fall out in the Sahara?

We know he knows that the mercenaries served in iraq, and when with Sa'id he says 'Iraq is nice this time of year"-- Did he go there 'before'/after Tunisia to settle the score? Is the smoke monster just the mechanism by which order is restored in 'deux ex machina?' in the parallel island world / time warp / whatever?

So the secondary (or primary) mission was then to go to Widmore to let him know that he would be avenging his daughter because he changes the mysterious rules?

Did all this happen in a parallel time 'zone' -- 2005 in Tunisia so not far from the actual island date and then he returned back through the rabbit hole in time to watch smokey 'correct' things? Note his clothes were quite soiled upon his return, more than a mere few minutes would suggest.

[underground fence]

Yes, i agree Ben does have that appeal, no doubts about that.