Episode 9: “The Package”
Each week, “The Patriot” will offer insight and analysis about the latest episode of “Lost.” There are spoilers present in this, so read with caution. For a full summary, check out the official website of “Lost.”
Sayid’s apathy
Kate: Okay, even Sayid’s voice has changed: it’s gotten much deeper. Is part of the sickness he is apparently infected with the reason why he no longer has any strong emotional responses?
Candidacy
Kate: Jack sounds positively (real) Locke-like right now, promoting the ideas of destiny and fate. All of the candidates are bound to be a part of the future of the island, but it’s almost shocking that Jack is the one promoting the message.
Joey: Jack was always the leader and the guy to turn to when the survivors were troubled by the various peoples and spirits. Now, Jack just seems obsessed. I don’t see how he or anyone could benefit by taking Jacob’s position.
Kate: There is no clear leader of the survivors anymore, so I guess the Man in Black and Jacob (through Hurley, Richard, and Illana) are filling that void. However, by the end of the episode, Jack begins to step up again, as he promises Sun that he will help her find Jin. He seems to have gotten back some of that confidence we had seen in earlier seasons.
Sun’s sassiness
Kate: Even though on the island it took Sun a significant amount of time to break free from Jin (after she finally admitted that she spoke English), she still stands up to him in the alternate universe. Basically, all of the characters in their alternative timelines develop similarly to the way they develop on the islands. It just happens in a different way.
Joey: Now we know that even off the island, Sun would have been a sassy wife. It took her some time to transition from her quiet self on the island, but this week in the alternate real world, she held nothing back, including her shirt.
Ben’s role
Kate: I really don’t like how this season, all Linus offers is a few snarky comments. He was a much better character as the guy you loved to hate, when he still had power over what was going on the island.
Joey: It seems like this season, the black smoke has become the almighty manipulator instead of Linus. I’m starting to like Linus. There is something I never thought I’d say two years ago.
Kate: I enjoyed disliking Linus and actually thought he was hilarious in an extremely dry way. The Man in Black/black smoke doesn’t have the same appeal.
Brainwashing
Kate: I think that’s the same video that Karl watched in season three.
Joey: It’s even creepier the second time.
Return of Richard
Kate: Jacob knows what he’s doing— Richard has come back to lead Jacob’s team. I hope that whatever their new plan is, it involves taking down the Man in Black.
Joey: Hallelujah to Hurley’s speaking-to-the-dead ability from last episode. Now, Illana can follow Richard, and the Man in Black is still a loner.
Widmore
Kate: So if “[war] just got here,” according to the Man in Black, does that mean it’s a three-way battle? Widmore vs. Man in Black’s forces vs. Jacob’s camp? Two of the three are going to align in the end if this is really how it’s going to go.
Joey: I’m still amazed by Widmore’s portable black smoke fence. If only everyone on the island could keep away from the Man in Black, there would be no more manipulation, and Locke’s body might go back to the grave. Everyone would win.
Kate Froehlich can be reached for comment at [email protected]
Joey Hoff cna be reached for comment at [email protected]