Comments on: A New Ben

By: TheresaFallsUpTheStairs

TheresaFallsUpTheStairs — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:27:14 +0000

Completely agree with you Roland. My theory of Ben being Judas from the story of the Bible stated the same about him having to make a sacrifice. He is easily my favourite character of the series.

By: imisscharlie

imisscharlie — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:54:48 +0000

Agree with all of you–best episode of the season so far, with the best actor of the series.

By: Roland

Roland — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:00:28 +0000

The scene at the end with all of them standing on the beach with Ben separate from the group leads me to believe he will have to prove himself a changed man over and over again. I think in the end Ben will sacrifice himself to save someone.

By: highbrow

highbrow — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:42:29 +0000

I was thinking, as they walked back to the camp, that she was going to turn and shoot him once they got back…

That’s the kind of thing this show has taught me to expect.

By: waycurious

waycurious — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:13:41 +0000

“with those horrible eyes”

By: SawyersGirl45

SawyersGirl45 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:28:00 +0000

I swear to god, when Ilana said she will ‘have him’ and she turned to walk back to camp, i thought Ben was gonna shoot her in the back.. So i was pleasantly surprised to see this new redeemed Ben..

Even though i have to admit i do love that evil manipulative cretin!

By: dabiatchishere

dabiatchishere — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:15:24 +0000

SkipDrocer, I loved this episode about Ben. In the ‘flash sideways’ he made all of the right choices concerning his father and Alex.

For the first time, we see Ben being selfless. You also had to admire that although Nemesis offered him everything he had previously held close to his heart, (control of ‘the island’), that he chose to stay with Ilana and her group.

Both instances paralleled each other. Ben has come full turn in his ‘karmic’ path.

By: waycurious

waycurious — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:23:15 +0000

What WAS the ‘right’ choice in the Alt Reality?

That he didn’t defeat the evil guy … or that he didn’t do it by any means necessary.

Ben’s greatest regret was letting Alex die. He sacrificed her for the island (and the others).

How cathartic that he didn’t sacrifice her for ‘the others’ here. [But that principal needs to go DOWN!]

I love evil, manipulative Ben, but I always appreciated his humanity. Michael Emerson took an initially throw away character and (with the excellent writing) developed him into one of the greatest, most complex characters in television history. What a great actor!

By: itsdesmondbrutha

itsdesmondbrutha — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:16:45 +0000

It seems as though Ilana has granted absolution to Benjamin Linus after his confession. His obvious repentance was genuine and heartfelt, as evidenced by the tears in Ilana’s eyes and her willingness to forgive his trespasses and allow him back into the fold. Ben – you’ve come a long way, Baby!

Perhaps, the reason Ben made the “right” choice in the Alt Reality is because he wasn’t tainted or changed by the Temple water. Presumably, if 815 didn’t crash, and Sayid was never on the island – Ben was not shot and didn’t require saving by the Temple waters. (Richard said Ben would never be the same if they saved him.) We see some of the same traits in Ben in the Alt Reality – however, it seems as though his internal scale is tipped toward the good; whereas on the island it has been tipped toward the bad (until recently anyway). I will be curious to see if Ben will stay on the righteous path, or whether his need for power will win in the end.

By: waycurious

waycurious — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:15:37 +0000

Ben has only wanted to be loved and accepted – is that so wrong!?!

The power was always a lure, but he really
DID do everything for the island.

If he’s a *new* Ben, it’s one that feels forgiven and accepted, and it’s a big relief to serve.

Maybe:
1) Losing his ‘innocence’ from the temple water could be naivity of ‘the big picture’.
2) Widmore lost his, too, but saw things differently.
3) Both chose to be island’s protector, but in a different way. (Ilana has, too.)

Always loved this Ben’s life to Cash’s Lost
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_NJY0xJ6qE
Even more poignant, not.