Across the Sea and Into My Brain

After watching “Across the Sea”, I gave up my long-standing belief that Nemesis is “evil”. I think the Smoke Monster may be not-such-a-good-thing, but Jacob’s brother just wanted to leave the friggin’ island. Jacob ends up creating the Smoke Monster, so HE is responsible for his brother being “stuck” that way. Throughout the episode, I just felt worse and worse for Jacob’s brother. He was curious, independent, strong-willed, and just wanted to travel and see what was out in the world. His mother held him down and Jacob continued to do so after her death. I feel that Jacob is the protector of the Source and that if the Smoke Monster gets off the island, it may not be such a good thing. However, if Jacob’s brother were allowed to just leave as a man, he would never have become the Smoke Monster to begin with. What a tragedy. Kudos to Titus Welliver for a very good performance.

I also loved to see that it was Jacob’s brother who built the Well-Wheel (was going to call it the frozen wheel, but it wasn’t frozen just yet, and “donkey wheel” just pisses me off). The combination of water and Source energy seem to have an “odd” effect; it appears that turning the wheel mixes some water with the Source, creating a discharge effect. The Smoke Monster itself was created in the cave where the water met the Source as well.

Pretty damn good episode, if you ask me.