'Lost' recap: Starting Over

JACOB’S SHACK Though nobody ever came right out and said it, I think we were suppose to infer from the episode that the flickering entity that we thought was Jacob in Jacob’s shack was actually not Jacob at all. First of all, I always interpreted that haunted house, with its circle of occult ash, to be a kind of prison for the being inside it. But during Jacob’s visit with Hurley, he specifically said he had never been in jail. There was also Ben’s confession that he was just pretending to commune with Jacob. In truth, he had never seen him. What I’m wondering now is if the Shack was a prison for Jacob’s adversary, the nameless Man in Black. And as part of his loophole conspiracy, he duped both Locke and Ben into thinking it was Jacob inside. I was also intrigued by the break in the ash circle, which implied to me something of a prison break; whatever was trapped inside the Shack managed to find its way out, probably due to some help from foolish mortals. Regardless, remember: The current Island story takes place in 2007 — and the last time we saw Locke and Ben at the Shack, the year was 2004. Given that the cabin looked pretty trashed, it’s safe to assume to there’s a story or some stories to be told about these three missing years of missing Island history.

BERNARD AND ROSE See? There they are. And just in time for Rose to cut the A-team castaways down to size with a couple of knowing quips about show dynamics. I’m going to call it: They’re the Adam and Eve skeletons.

WHAT’S A CANDIDATE? Just asking.

BEN IN CRISIS No one believes him. Happens when you’re a liar. But the tricky thing for Lost is this: Can the audience believe him? The past couple weeks have asked Michael Emerson to play a humbled, defeated, exposed Ben — but just like Sun, I have to admit, I don’t really believe him. He told at least one lie last night. He said to Locke that he was a Pisces (another fish reference for you) — but according to established mythology of his birthday (Dec. 19), he’s actually a Sagittarius. I was moved by Ben’s anger toward Jacob, his bitterness and resentment toward his Island god for being so distant from him, for insisting on distance. At the same time, watching the final bloody scene between Ben and Jacob, I couldn’t help but wonder if everything was proceeding according to some prearranged plan between the two of them. For now, I’m going think otherwise. I was really intrigued by Jacob’s response to Ben’s angry question, “What about me?” When Jacob redirected the question back to Ben — “What about you?” — it landed like a dismissive insult to Ben. But, thinking all the best of Jacob, I don’t think that was his intention. Instead, I saw a face full of sympathy for guy whose life has been marked by a lot of neglect, a guy who, like Jack, really has no clue who he is or wants to be. I don’t think Jacob was trying to hurt Ben as much start him on the road to enlightenment. Of course, as Flannery O’Connor can attest, revelation and redemption are often, by necessity, painful, searing experiences. I look forward to seeing if Ben can find a real sense of self next season.

UNRESOLVED I was bummed that we didn’t get to see the reunion we had been waiting all season for: Jin and Sun, together in the same time period. (Sorry, the flashback doesn’t count.) Also: Remember when Sawyer, Locke, and company were flashing through time and they were at sea in the outrigger and another boat fired them upon. Who were those guys?

GOODBYE? No! Especially since I have a nagging feeling that I’m leaving some stones unturned. I’m giving short shrift to all the Jack-Kate and Kate-Sawyer and Sawyer-Juliet ‘shippers out there. Quickly: I got choked up over Juliet’s sacrifice and Sawyer’s grief, and rolled my eyes over Jack’s second chance yearning for Kate. Sawyer’s exasperation with Jack was mine, and the beat down he administered offered some catharsis. Seriously: I hope he beat some sense into him. (Again, a sentiment that’s very Flannery O’Connor.) I’ll have some thoughts about the finale and the season in my final Doc Jensen column of the year, as well as the next episode of “Totally Lost,” both posting Wednesday. But let me take the opportunity to say that I have greatly enjoyed the privilege of guiding you through the season...and leaving you feeling more lost than ever before. Theoretical physics, Utilitarian philosophy, Gnostic gospels, Egyptian mythology, New Age mysticism — we went down some rabbit holes, didn’t we? Thank you, by the way, for your patience, your indulgence, and your good humor. Be well — and be seeing you.