Underappreciated 'Lost' Theatre: Live Together, Die Alone
We're ending Underappreciated "Lost" Theatre week with an episode I myself had overlooked. And it was only through the good taste and sound judgment of my readers that they reminded me to add this episode to the week's itinerary. Smart folks I have for readers. Is it possible to not appreciate a season finale? Apparently so!
Is there a season finale more maligned than "Live Together, Die Alone"? Granted, that's a statement based on a curve, what with the season finales generally standing out in people's minds as either epochal or OMFG-esque. And it's true that "Live" gets its fair share of props when looking at the show's history. But I'm pretty sure it doesn't get enough, and that's why it's underappreciated and qualifies for this week's analysis.
Why it's overlooked
Jack's stubborn insistence on going along with Michael's plan, with full knowledge that it was a trap, marked the first time many people started to hate on the good doctor. Desmond's actions in aiding Locke, when viewed in light of eventual revelations, seem to function more as a plot device than a series of organic character-based decisions. At a time when our characters were having their hats handed to them on a weekly basis, the almost total defeat suffered at the end of the episode by most major characters can be a tough thing to endure, none more so than an utterly humbled and pathetic Locke admitting his wrongdoing to Eko.
Why it's underappreciated
Look at the mythology dropped: Widmore, the statue, the purple sky. Look at the revelation of the real world still existing, something that until that moment wasn't confirmed. Look at that pile of freakin' capsules in the middle of nowhere! Look at the almost effortless way in which a peripheral character (Desmond) got a flashback that cemented his status as legendary in the "Lost" community. Dear Season 6: get me loving Des/Penny as much as I did after this episode, and you'll have succeeded in producing a worthy final season. In a few brushstrokes here and "Flashes Before Your Eyes," you set the stage for the emotional wallop of "The Constant." I want that couple back.
When compared to the stunning endings of the other four seasons, it's easy to put "Live" at the bottom of season finales. But based on the strength of the flashbacks, coupled with the mythological signposts only recently reached, I'm not sure this episode deserves such a distinction.
Where does "Live Together, Die Alone" rank among the five season finales? Leave your thoughts below!
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This isn't just the best season finale, it's the best episode of the series period, a really transcendent, epic experience.
Well put, Patrick!
Again (as with "S.O.S."), I'm surprised to hear that this episode doesn't get as much love as I assumed. To me, it is a far better finale than the (in)famous Charlie's death finale or the (in)famous [hit it Krusty!] "we're sending our love [and atomic bomb] down the well (all the way down!)" finale.
SLIGHTLY OFF-TOPIC RANT ALERT!
(Proceed at your own risk.)
Even putting aside Charlie's pseudo-suicide itself, isn't anyone else besides me really bothered by either:
1) the fact that he quickly and stupidly reveals to Ben (via the intercom) that Juliet betrayed the others (rather than coming up with some convicing lie or just taking the beating), almost causing the plan to destroy the others to completely fail;
2) the fact that the only reason Charlie's stupidity (or worse, cowardice) doesn't ruin everything is because just seconds before Ben calls his minions to warn them of Juliet's betrayal they turn their radios off. (How convenient!)
As Eko might say, it's important to not mistake the death of a beloved character for good writing.
I forgot to mention that my favorite moment in the whole series may be when Desmond turns the key to the sound of Penny saying "all you really need in this world is one person who truly loves you".
No matter how bad things get sometimes, I always remember how true that is.
Another excellent choice (and essay), Ryan!
I don't think this one is underappreciated. This and Through the Looking Glass (We Have to Go Back!) constantly battle to be the best of the finales in my mind. Live Together cemented Desmond as a title character and favorite through Season 4. Since the island is not yet done with him, I'm guessing we'll be seeing more of him come February.
This is one of my favorite episodes, actually. Desmond's flashbacks, Locke/Eko scenes, Desmond's self-sacrifice by turning the key while not knowing what would happen... Great stuff. While the other finales have great individual moments, I find LTDA to be more consistent.
you know, i remember this episode mostly because this was the only episode my husband really ever watched of lost. and he was actually fascinated by it. while i would have ignored the mention of the statue, he actually stated he thought there was something about that statue. maybe he is lost psychic.
anyhoo. i agree also with the selection. it was a big game changer to me. it really set up everything to lead to the rest of the story - so much of the depth of what later happened began in this episode. ha! and this is why i read your blog. to keep my brain lost active.
hey! i just thought of something! you might have already done this. as always, feel free to ignore me because it probably has nothing to do with the bigger lost picture.
but. penny's letter to desmond makes me think of the different ways in which lost has shown the method in which their characters love other people.
penny and desmond
jin and sun
rose and bernard
then you have that whole jack/kate/sayer/juliet thing that kind of like a quandrangle.
locke and helen
michael and his baby momma
charlie and claire
jack and the ling
etc.
Good to see some appreciation for this all-important episode- one wonders just how much Darlton had mapped out by then about all the big things set up in this episode. If they had most or some of that future mapped out at this point, that would eliminate all doubts that they made the big picture up as they went. I also feel that same way about what they set up in "Flashes Before Your Eyes"[i.e Eloise] and Man Behind the Curtain[i.e whether they really had MIB in the cabin scene all along]
I also felt the need to plug this ep since I wrote a lot about it in my self-published Lost book, "Lost: The Island's Greatest Hits" now available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble- which recaps S5 and has my list of the 42 greatest characters, scenes and episodes in Lost history. "Live Together" placed fairly high on the episode section.
Not underappreciated in my eyes at all. This was a great episode. Loved everything about it. One cannot help but be fascinated by full episodes of Desmond. His character really rocks. If they ever did another series of the Prisoner or Robinso Crusoe, Desmond would be the perfect character. For his time alone in the hatch was not unlike those characters and the acting is fabulous.
I think a lot of people really DO appreciate this episode...I know I do! I loved it the first time it aired I thought it was an amazing way to end season two. It has me SOOOOO excited for season 3, and then we had all the cage episodes and bai ling. :( But it was a great build up and it had some really incredible moments. I love this episode. I really want to do a top ten list, and this MIGHT be on there.