LOST: Who’s Bad, Ben or Widmore?
Television January 22nd. 2009, 9:15am
Few shows can capture our attention for three hours without us grabbing our computer and surfing the web or checking email. With the exception of a TIVO pause (to skip the commercials), we devoured all three hours of LOST last night, uninterrupted. Phenomenal night of TV, as usual.
We’ll need a consensus: So this “game” between Widmore and Ben … clearly one is bad, and the other isn’t. The producers have done a great job of keeping everyone guessing. We’re fairly confident Ben is the bad guy but then we start wondering if, just like everything else, maybe it’s just a cunning ruse.
Just two questions from last night: Who is Daniel Faraday’s mom, and was that her meeting Ben at the end? If so, is Faraday a double agent, working for Widmore and Ben? We’re assuming he’s not a triple agent, and time-traveled back to when they were originally drilling for the station with the wheel at the bottom of it.
Juliet: Annoying or seductively hot?
Here’s the EW premiere preview; we’ll link up the recap when it gets posted. [UPDATE: It's up.] Here’s a running diary from one of our readers.
60 Responses to “LOST: Who’s Bad, Ben or Widmore?”
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January 22nd, 2009 at 9:18 AM
umm…what? This hasn’t been about bad and good since season 2. In fact, the idea of bad and good has been flipped and reversed so often that it’s obviously a ploy by the creators of the show to change your perceptions of such basic ideas.
How’s this: they each have their own desires for the island, which most negatively effects the characters you like the most?
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Juliet – HOT.
Spectacular 3 hours last night. Rarely does a TV show keep me riveted. My eyes never left the screen last night…
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:20 AM
took me like half an hour to figure out old lady ben talked to was faraday’s mom. she was in that episode when desmond traveled through time.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:20 AM
I think that lady meeting Ben was the one that sold Desmond his engagement ring. Might be wrong though, would be cool if that was his mom.
I don’t think Faraday is a double agent, for all we know that scene at the beginning of the season took place two weeks after they started leaping back and forth in time. He’s probably trying to move the Island back?
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:20 AM
Yes, Daniel Faraday’s mom is the mysterious Mrs. Hawking, or so the EW recap says. It’s up, by the way, TBL. Me thinks once they get Locke’s body back to the island he’ll come alive again, so long as they keep him cold in a meat locker for the time being, Universal Soldier-style.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:23 AM
oh and juliet = hot.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:23 AM
Who is Daniel Faraday’s mom, and was that her meeting Ben at the end?
i thought ben said it was mrs. locke at the end?
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:24 AM
I want Juliet and Kate to make out.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:25 AM
So is this show supposed to be about commercials, or about an island? Because they shared time pretty equally last night. That was annoying.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:26 AM
I’m not sure one of Ben or Widmore is good and one is evil, more like shades of grey. Lost is way too complex for it boil down that simply in the end.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:28 AM
They have to milk Lost for all of its worth, as far as commercials. Nothing else on ABC worth watching, except for Wife Swap.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:29 AM
The fat guy was funny on Curb your Enthusiasm as the drug dealer.
/Lost sucks
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:29 AM
I think Widmore is definitely the “bad”. His daughter said there is no stopping my father.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:29 AM
I think Fatty McChaseDanielsPants is about to punch out Mike Greenberg on air. Kudos to him if he does.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Who’s Bad, Ben or Widmore?
Neither. And this notion that Ben is somehow good was shot down last season. He hasn’t changed. Jack, as usual, is just an idiot.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:32 AM
They have Scrubs now – so there’s 2 things I watch on ABC.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Juliet: Annoying or seductively hot?
Dumb and hot.
Who was the meat locker lady?
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Needed more Jack last night. He really carries the scenes he’s in. It’s like you think you know exactly what to expect, and then he does something incredibly random and amazing.
/Bizarro NickP
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:32 AM
I’m still laughing over “Why is there a dead Pakistani on my coooooooouch?” and the “I heart Shih Tzu’s” shirt.” I hope Hurley has to wear that for several episodes.
I know everyone hates Jack, but he’s my favorite character. He doesn’t want any of this responsibility, he’s never wanted it, but everyone always seems to look for him to fix everything. And because of his relationship with his father, he’s constantly unsure of whether or not he’s up to the task. I think he’s the best written character on the show, even if Sawyer gets the better dialogue and will end up with Kate’s stupid (if extremely hot) ass.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:34 AM
I loved Hurley’s explanation of events to his mother. Sounded like me trying to explain Lost to non-viewers.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Saw for Hire > LOST
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Speaking of Sawyer, he’s been on the island for 108 days and he still has that mini-Charlie Weis gunt? The dudes on Survivor work that off in 2 weeks.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:36 AM
the lost recap is pure insanity.
“The opening sequence, in fact, revealed that at least Faraday is destined to make a stop in the mid-seventies Dharma Initiative past — perhaps right about the time Ben and his widowed father arrived on the Island. If this is where/when the season is going — if the rest of the time traveling castaways will be joining Faraday in the Dharma heyday — the implication is clear: Ben has probably known the castaways — or known about them — since he was a kid!”
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:37 AM
I liked using a hot pocket as a weapon. I know Sayid told Hurley to do the opposite of anything Ben said, but why would Hurley listen to him over Ana Lucia? AL told him not to get arrested, what was he thinking? Oh yeah, he’s loco.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:38 AM
False. He’s got a martyr complex the size of my dong (enormous for all you ladies watching at home).
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:39 AM
this is the kind of shit that annoys me. you know the writer knows more than he’s offering:
Those would be the simplest answers, though they hinge on the assumption that Sun is all about Jin grief. But what if she isn’t? What if Sun has moved on? What if Sun has a new man, a man worthy of her station, possessed of money and power, a man whom Ben would want dead because he threatened his need to get all of the Oceanic 6 back to the Island? My friends: What if Sun is knocking boots with ”The Economist” — the never-seen money man that Ben wanted Sayid to assassinate last season? What if Sun is trying to bump off Ben to protect her new life, not avenge her old one?
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:39 AM
Life on Mars is good. The lead is kind of wooden (getting better), but Gretchen Mol and Keitel are great.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:39 AM
That was a nice meta reference to Michelle Rodriguez’s on-island DUI. I definitely laughed at that.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:42 AM
I thought the Economist was Widmore?
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Faraday kept telling Sawyer, Juliet Charlotte etc. that they couldn’t change what happened. If it didn’t happen in the past it can’t happen now. Does that mean the flaming arrow attack has happened before? Did the Dharma Initiative almost take out Juliet & Sawyer in the past? Has the crash and everything already happened before?
Saw this thought on another site… The english Dharma guy who almost took off Juliet’s hand is Charlotte’s father…
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Speaking of Sawyer, he’s been on the island for 108 days and he still has that mini-Charlie Weis gunt?
Not only that, but he is considered the male sex symbol of the show. I’ve never got it. Granted, Hugo is part of the competition, but he just looks like slightly overweight white trash. Perhaps I’m not gay enough to get it.
Bsanders – Jack had a good run at the start of the series with the storyline about his father. I just don’t get how he goes along with everything without asking questions (or more specifically, follow up questions). I know it’s part of the show, just bugs me. My wife digs him.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Yeah, because of his dad, like I said. I know everyone else hates him, I’m cool with that. But if not for Jack about half of the fuckers on that island would’ve already died from one ailment or another. I hope he hooks up with some hot bitch just to rub it in Kate’s face. She’s the character I don’t particularly like, but that’s probably because friends who’ve worked with her tell me Evangeline Lilly is the mega seaward.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Bsanders, can you talk to your ew peeps about proper print formatting? I have to hit print 6 different times if I want to read the recap in the pooper.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:44 AM
I thought Sun had the line of the night…
‘No, I don’t blame you Kate. Soooo how’s Jack?’
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:45 AM
wouldn’t it be like desmond, where he would all of a sudden acquire a memory, not knowing them since he was a kid?
i dont think all of them go back, it looks like faraday was firmly entrenched in that dharma time, right now they are moving every 15 mins it looks like.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:46 AM
Ditto on what Clown said and TBL’s 9:39.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:47 AM
please put me down for Widmore somehow being “good.” i’ll accept ridicule if im wrong here. might be leaning this way because ben is such a prick.
that’s probably totally accurate
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Yeah I was really hoping they’d change the multi-page formatting when they did the redesign a couple years ago. No such luck. You should see how mind-numbingly slow it is when they post photo galleries online. No longer their traffic is about 1/10 the size of People.com’s. Well, that and there’s no photos of celebs with their babies.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:48 AM
@ Flying Sanders:
I think Faraday was saying that the Losties can’t change what’s already happened, but you’ve seen from Locke’s journey that the past can react to the Losties.
It’s beginning to sound like some of the crazy theories from “What the Bleep do we know?” and “Slaughterhouse 5″.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:49 AM
The opening scene of the first episode was FANTASTIC. Give me more Edgar Hallowax, please.
And I’m not sure if Mr. Hawkings (whose pendulum seemed damn cool) is Faraday’s mom. The writers probably set that up.
And we know that Faraday has memory issues — it’s also why he has stuff about The Orchid in his notebook, but can’t recall where or what it is.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Speaking of Sawyer, he’s been on the island for 108 days and he still has that mini-Charlie Weis gunt? The dudes on Survivor work that off in 2 weeks.
i thought sawyer looked a little bit fatter. almost like how is this dude getting fatter while stuck on an island?
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:53 AM
Oh, and best comic relief line was Sawyer’s “Son of a …” “Bitch.” between time jumps.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:57 AM
This asshole is going to absolutely destroy Star Trek, and I hope he dies of ass cancer.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:57 AM
I thought Sun had the line of the night…
‘No, I don’t blame you Kate. Soooo how’s Jack?’
And that’s how they left it between the two. I think Sun could have something against Jack for Jin’s death. Sun said she forgives Kate and understands, but Jack was pretty much “Nope. Jin’s dead, Sun. Get over it. He’s gone.”
We have a broad scope in reverse here of the season finale from last year.
Last year we were left to wonder how these six people all over the island could possibly get on the helicopter together. Now we have to wonder how the same six — all over the world — will agree to go back.
And there was too much Hurley last night. Give me more Desmond, brotha.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:59 AM
I thought the Hurley scenes definitely dragged a bit last night.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Hurley’s stupidity is just too incredibly frustrating to watch. First he picks up the gun and looks over the railing, then he runs to the cops.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Star what now?
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Oh, I dont get Sawyer’s sex appeal either. Jack’s always been my man, Desmond too.
I dont think Jin’s dead. I think when the freighter disapeared he was left floating in the water and he’ll turn up somewhere on the island soon.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Hey, EW didnt even mention this… when Richard gave Locke the compass last night… did anyone remember the scene in a prior season where Locke is a child, and Richard comes to his house? He puts some objects on a table and asks Locke to pick out which one he thinks is his. The objects: baseball glove, a book, a small bottle of sand, A COMPASS, a comic book, and a knife. Locke picks the knife and Richard gets mad and leaves. HMMMMM
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:12 AM
I dont think Jin’s dead. I think when the freighter disapeared he was left floating in the water and he’ll turn up somewhere on the island soon.
who really knows with all the time travel. i wouldn’t be surprised if they had some time travel event where Sun got to see Jin again somehow.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:33 AM
I am waiting for Jack and Ben to bring back Locke ‘Weekend at Bernies’ style, and the entire show changes to a buddy comedy about two guys trying to use a rich’s guys life.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:36 AM
I think Sun could have something against Jack for Jin’s death. Sun said she forgives Kate and understands, but Jack was pretty much “Nope. Jin’s dead, Sun. Get over it. He’s gone.€
I am confident that Jack is the second of the two people Sun blames for Jin’s ‘death.’ We already know Ben is one of them.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:49 AM
I thinkn Jin’s dead. He was off the island when he died so he wasn’t involved in any time travel. Doc Faraday also has said “what happened has happened and can’t be undone.” The only way I can see Jin being alive is if he survived the explosion and was found drifting at sea. Although, it seems like he would have rehooked up with Sun by now.
/armchair quantum physics guy
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:00 AM
TBL, the recap of the second hour is up, http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20253910,00.html
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Isn’t the chick with the white hair that Ben is talking to at the end of the episode, the same chick that was asking Jack about his tatoo when Ben and the others captured Jack, Sawyer, and Kate a few season back. I am pretty sure she is the same lady.
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:25 PM
Stupidest popular show in the history of television. Seriously, isn’t it obvious these writers are winging it? My wife loves the show, so I caught part of the recap segment last night, and those two creators kept looking at each other like two high school pranksters trying to keep their bullshit stories straight in the principal’s office. This show is reflective of the dumbing down of society, where viewers need constant plot twists to keep them riveted — even if the plot twists are pointless and nonsensical. “Lost” is laughable.
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:46 PM
I’ve heard that the tv folks that cover LOST got the first three episodes. So, they are probably going to tease stuff to their readers that they’ve already seen. Same with that woman from the Trib who posted an interview the other day and then redacted parts of it and said “come back after the season premiere.”
And I will take Juliet over Kate and most other chicks on the show. Charlotte is now in second, passing Sun.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Isn’t the chick with the white hair that Ben is talking to at the end of the episode, the same chick that was asking Jack about his tatoo when Ben and the others captured Jack, Sawyer, and Kate a few season back.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Look, I’m all for Juliet and Sun and Charlotte, but let’s not get silly here. Kate is white hot…
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:16 PM
First things first- great opening two hours; absolutely great. Second- I think both Ben and Widmore are bad guys; one is just a little less bad. It’s kinda like “Payback”, where there were no good guys, but Mel Gibson’s character had just a little less bad than the rest.
Third- Elizabeth Mitchell(Juliet) is smoking hot. You want annoying? Charlotte is annoying. Claire was annoying.
That lady at the end? I do think it’s Daniel’s mother. It’ll be interesting to see what happens if and when Desmond gets to her.