Today’s Topic:  He’s Our You

Mood Music:  Disarm by the Smashing Pumpkins

Dudes.  Here’s your recap for the week.  Again, it’s ripped right from the pages of Lostpedia, but this week it ain’t for lack of trying.  I typed up a fairly introspective review (with plenty of quotes and tidbits) earlier this morning (spent 2 hours doing it in fact) and right when I tried to save it…..you guessed it…..nothing but the first paragraph remained.  So, maybe next week you’ll get a little more in-depth recap from yours truly, but for today enjoy…Season 5, episode 10…..He’s Our You:

ON-ISLAND

Sayid is in the DHARMA Initiative’s jail. Young Ben brings Sayid a sandwich and a book, asks if Richard sent him, and says he will help Sayid. Sayid is later questioned by Horace Goodspeed and Radzinsky, but does not reveal anything. When Sawyer learns of this, he goes to Sayid one-on-one and tries to convince him to give a false confession of being a defector from the Island’s native population, the Others, yet Sayid refuses.

***I love how the scene plays out when Horace comes in to question Sayid.  He carries in a pair of garden shears and you can sense the tension and possible fear as Sayid (and the audience) believes that he might be using those to try and get a confession….maybe cut off a finger or 2.  It’s interesting to see the script flipped on Sayid and I have to believe (from previous island occurences) that this is the island’s way of almost punishing Sayid for his past transgressions.  Also interesting is the way Sawyer mentions to Sayid that he would ruin everything that they’ve built there if he just lets him go.  Sawyer finally has some semblance of a REAL life….he’s got the house, the girl, the job, and he’s trusted….and we all can only sit and wait, knowing that at any moment the rug will be pulled out from under him.

Young Ben brings Sayid another sandwich, but finds his father, Roger, already in the room. Ben tells Roger he has brought the sandwich for him. Roger assaults Ben and forces him to admit the sandwich was actually for Sayid. Sayid is subsequently taken to Oldham, DHARMA’s resident interrogation expert. When Sayid asks Sawyer about him, Sawyer regretfully tells Sayid “He’s our you”. Oldham gives Sayid a few drops of a drug on a sugar cube which forces him to tell the truth. Sayid reveals his knowledge of DHARMA stations: the Flame, the Pearl and the future yet-to-be-built Swan Station. This causes Radzinsky to get nervous and asks how Sayid could possibly know how they were going to name the Swan, as they haven´t even built it yet. Sayid tells them that he had previously been on the Island for 100 days and that all the members of DHARMA Initiative are going to die. Finally, he reveals that he is from the future, which causes Oldham to exclaim that he must have given Sayid an overdose of the drug. Sayid laughs hysterically and replies, “You gave me exactly enough.”

***again…another great scene that demonstrates the island’s ability to force people to almost relive their worst moments from the past…except on the other side.  this time, Sayid is the one being tortured.  It’s amazing to see the fear in his eyes when he realizes that Oldham is going to have him strapped to a tree and force him to take some kinda drug.  Man, very creepy scene and it’s great seeing Sawyer pacing in the background, unsure as to what Sayid might tell them

That evening, several members of the DHARMA Initiative take a vote to decide whether to execute Sayid.  Radzinsky mentions that they can ask Ann Arbour what to do if they don’t do the right thing now.   After an impassioned speech from new mother Amy, holding newborn Ethan (creepy still), about being unable to sleep, worrying about their children’s fate while that man is here, they all vote in favor of execution. After the vote, Sawyer attempts to let Sayid escape one last time, but Sayid refuses again, stating he has found his purpose for returning to the Island.

***interesting about Ann Arbour….there is an overall power that IS running all this stuff from somewhere else…very interesting

The next morning, Juliet expresses her concern to Sawyer that their life with the DHARMA Initiative will be jeopardized because of Kate, Jack, and Hurley’s return to the Island. During breakfast at DHARMA cafeteria, Kate asks about Sayid’s fate, to which Jack has no answer. When she says she’s going to ask Juliet about it, Hurley mentions the fact that Juliet and Sawyer are in a relationship. Kate is shocked at this, and learns that Jack knew about it. Later, Juliet shows Kate around the motorpool where she will be working. Kate reveals she knows about Juliet and Sawyer because Hurley told her. Juliet says it’s a relief because she didn’t know how to say it without making it sound like she was telling Kate “to stay away”. Both women still appear uncomfortable, but they are interrupted from further conversation by Sawyer walking by the motorpool holding a captivated Sayid.

Later in the evening, Sawyer goes to Kate’s house and asks her why they came back to the Island. She tells him that she doesn’t know why the others came back, only why she did.  Before she can delve into that, a flaming DHARMA van runs through the barracks and crashes into one of the houses. While everyone is distracted by the fire, Ben helps Sayid escape from the holding cell, and they flee into the jungle.  Sayid is spotted by Jin, who drives by their location in a van. Sayid approaches Jin and tells him that Sawyer allowed his escape, but when Jin radios for confirmation, Sayid knocks him unconscious and takes his gun. Ben is impressed with Sayid’s combat skill and suggests that they keep moving. While still crouched over Jin’s body, Sayid quietly says “You were right about me. I am a killer.” After a moment of reflection, he shoots Ben in the chest.

FLASHBACK

Tikrit, Iraq

Sayid’s father drags Sayid’s older brother outside to kill a chicken, telling him that it is about time he became a man. When the brother argues, the father asserts his authority, telling him that he will remain outside until the chicken is dead. A young Sayid steps in to help after the father leaves, and without hesitation, he wrings the chicken’s neck. When their father returns and discovers the chicken is dead, he congratulates the brother, who admits Sayid is the one who killed the chicken. Their father responds that he is glad at least one of them will be a man.

Moscow, Russia

Sayid pursues a man called Andropov into an apartment in Moscow, Russia. As Sayid trains the gun upon him, Andropov offers a bribe in exchange for his life, only to be gunned down instead. Sayid leaves the building that appears to have a sign reading 32 Oldham Pharmaceuticals in Russian. Sayid walks at a brisk clip down a street with Saint Basil’s Cathedral in the background. He turns and enters through a double gate, where he meets Ben. Ben informs Sayid that he has killed the last of Widmore’s people that were a danger to the Oceanic 6 and that Sayid is free to go live his life. Sayid expresses confusion that this is the end.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Sayid is seen helping to construct a school as part of a charity called Build Our World. Ben appears to inform Sayid of Locke’s death, attributing it to murder by one of Widmore’s men in retribution for their activities, including Sayid’s murders. Ben forewarns the danger Sayid is in, of being found as easily as Ben found him. He also apprises Sayid of a man perched outside the Santa Rosa Mental Health Institute watching Hurley for a week.

Sayid determines that Ben’s true mission is to prod Sayid into killing that man. Ben reasons Sayid’s capabilty of accomplishing things most other men can’t, and how killing is in Sayid’s nature. Sayid tells Ben that he is mistaken, as he does not like killing.

Los Angeles, USA

Leaving the marina following the events of “This Place Is Death“, Sayid is drinking MacCutcheon whisky at a bar when he is approached by Ilana. They flirt, and end up going to a hotel room. As they kiss and lie back on the bed, Sayid starts to take off her boot, only to receive a kick to the head. Ilana holds him at gunpoint and reveals she has been employed to take Sayid to Guam by the family of Peter Avellino, whom Sayid previously had killed for Ben. (The Economist)

The next day, Ilana escorts Sayid to the airport. After noticing some of the Oceanic Six (Kate, Hurley, and Jack) about to board Ajira Airways Flight 316 to Guam, he asks to be put on a different flight, but Ilana sarcastically suggests that Sayid buy a rabbit’s foot, and will not yield. On the plane, Sayid sees Ben Linus board and accuses Ilana of working for him, which she denies. He describes Ben as a liar, a manipulator and a monster. When Ilana asks Sayid why anyone would work for a man like Ben, Sayid replies “I did.”

Tidbits and Questions

- what’s up with the food drops?

- where are Rose and Bernard?

- I love the little things that these guys seem to put into every single episode….the MacCutcheon whiskey is a great example in this one…so is the poster of Geronimo Jackson on the wall of cafeteria

 

- how great is William Sanderson (the actor playing Oldham)…he’s perfect as the slightly insane dude that would be Dharma’s resident “mad scientist”…he also make us believe that he’s a man that Sayid might actually fear, from not being able to interpret his intentions…..great job William…or my other brother Daryl….or E.B. Farnum

- the book Ben gives Sayid, “A Separate Reality” by Carlos Castaneda is an allegedly non-fiction book about a man’s experience working with a self-proclaimed sorcerer (Don Juan Matus).  The authenticity of this book has been a topic of debate since it was published.  Part of the story is about the effects of plants that caused mind alterations, like mushrooms, that can help people “see”.  Don Juan talks about “allies” in the book that can take on many forms including one he calls ”little smoke”.

- the writing on building “32″ in Moscow when Sayid exits translates into “Oldham’s Pharmaceuticals”……hmmmmm.

- interesting how the “Daddy issues” theme continues to surface over and over in the show….we now know that Sayid can be added to the list (as well as Ben) of Losties that had problems with their father at some point in their life

- nice to see how Sayid got onto the plane….I like the way the show is giving us answers this season without smashing us over the head with them (other than the Jeremy Bentham ep.).  So, is Ilana telling the truth, is she working for Ben, or maybe Widmore?

and finally…..

- is Ben actually dead?

Quotes

“how you doing?” – Sawyer to Sayid

“a 12 year old Ben Linus brought me a chicken salad sandwich, how do you think I’m doing?” – Sayid to Sawyer

“sweet kid huh?” – Sawyer to Sayid

“what do mean they’re TOGETHER?” – Kate to Hurley

“you know, together like you guys were…I thought it was kinda obvious, I mean, who couldn’t see that coming?” – Hurley to Kate

“how dumb are you that you got captured by these idiots?” – Roger Linus to Sayid

“and yet you’re the one that mops up after them” – Sayid to Roger

“don’t be afraid, just turn your mind off, let it take effect….it’s beyond your control, so fighting it is a poor use of your energies….you see, whether you struggle or not, one thing’s for sure friend….you WILL tell us the truth” – Oldham to Sayid

“maybe I should’ve used half a dropper….oops” – Oldham

“you used exactly enough” – Sayid

“you’re going to answer for what you’ve done” – Ilana to Sayid

“even a new Mom wants you dead” – Sawyer to Sayid

“I know exactly why I’m here” – Sayid to Sawyer

Finally….I’m gonna get a little deep on you all for a second, so bare with me…..

Lost has always been a show that’s based on the characters that we have all come to know and love.  Yes, there are mysterious things occuring (smoke monster, time travel, etc…) but ultimately (I know I’m kinda repeating something from a previous post, but hang on) it’s about the characters.  The main point that the show seems to try and make with all of these characters is that they are trying to atone for past sins…..Charlie and his drug use, Eko and his drug smuggling/betrayal of his brother, Michael and his decision to leave the Losties behind by taking the Other’s offer/the abandonment of his son….you get the point.  In this episode, we learn that Sayid has been fighting the notion that he’s basically a cold-blooded killer his entire life.  He desperately wants to shake that feeling that it’s inescapable, but I believe we see him come to terms with it at the end of this episode…almost as if he realizes that his whole life has led him to this point (killing young Ben without remorse).  The show is just so great when it comes to character-centric episodes…..Sayid talks about wanting to get out of his line of work to Ilana….Ilana tells him that he will have to answer for what he’s done….the torturer becomes the tortured….and finally, the reluctant killer becomes simply…..the killer he was supposed to be.  Well played Lost. 

***one note on this…..notice that the list of 3 people that I mentioned above all ended up dying after they came to grips with their own fate….does that mean that Sayid might be kicking the bucket soon…..hmmmm.

That’s it for today folks.  Sorry a little late.  Enjoy.  I’ll talk at you all again later.

“the killer in me is the killer in you”