'Lost': My recap for "Ab Aeterno" is live
Whew. That was...well, that was something, "Lost" fans. More than most episodes, I wish I had a few days with it before posting my initial thoughts. First time through? Didn't really like it. Couldn't figure out why. During my second viewing (during which I write up a lot of my recap), I recognized what the problem was: "Ab Aeterno" was so damn different than what I thought it was going to be, that I couldn't make sense of anything onscreen. The dissonance had me distraught. Second time through? I thought it still imperfect, but miles better than I thought during my initial viewing. It's below "The Substitute" and "Dr. Linus" in terms of top-to-bottom quality for me, but above everything else. That's subject to change, naturally, but that's where I'm at right now.
Most importantly? I realized that this episode is vital for no other reason in showing two of the most pivotal moments in "Lost" history: The Man in Black's first attempt to leave the Island and Jacob's recognition that his 100% hands-off approach would always end in failure. Crucial moments, and both feature the heretofore enigmatic Richard Alpert. Right on.
Read my full recap here. Questions for both "Letters from the Flame" and this week's podcast can be left below. Code word this week: ISABELLA! Now, for some shut eye for yours truly.
Ryan invites you to join the hundreds already in Zap2It's Guide to Lost Facebook group.
Photo credit: ABC
Your taste is poor. That was one of the best Lost episodes of all-time, if not THE.
While this may not add much to the overall discussion, OMG!
Didn't really love it either, Ryan, but I, too, felt more strongly about it as I thought it over and wrote a recap. Anyone is welcome to check it out if they like. Simply click on my silly name at the end of this comment.
Yeah, it was too much screen time devoted to stuff that I thought was just unimportant and uninspiring. As character driven as I have always been, sometimes to the total exclusion of mythology, it's just far too late for me to get emotionally involved in Richard's Chiquita banana love story. Parts of it were closer to the Latin Jack Donaghy episode of 30 Rock than they were to a top ten Lost episode.
WHAT!!! Are you kidding??? This is at least even with The Constant as the best episode if not better. I usually expect at least one reviewer to dislike a good episode, but when i was watching this episode i thought there would be NO WAY any one could possibly not love this episode, let alone "not really like it."
One of the best hours of television ever. I can't believe how someone couldn't appreciate the briliant writing and even more biliant acting.
Best episode this season by far!
By the way, considering there is a 300 foot stone statue on the island, is it really so hard to imaging someone managed to build a 3 foot stone bench?
I realize some people might not accept me merely "really liking" it as opposed to "unconditionally loving" it, but opinions are just that.
They don't negate yours, just exist alongside it. Ranking it 3rd best episode isn't damning it with faint praise, y'all.
The scene where Richard meets the Man in Black for the first time reminded me a lot of the scene in "The Stand", where Lloyd Henreid meets Randall Flagg in the prison.
So the island is the gateway to hell and Jacob was the gatekeeper? Weird.
Also, the way Jacob handled Ricardo clearly showed that he was more than capable to defend himself if he chose to. I guess he actually wanted to be killed and be replaced by the candidate?
ISABELLA!
- Do you think Dogen's dagger and the method of deicide that apparently both MiB and Jacob's followers both know is part of "the rules" in place that governs what the two sides of the conflict can and can't do to each other? Does the dagger not even matter and intent the only important piece? Because Ben didn't use a fancy dagger, but his intent was just as strong as Richard's.