Lost: The Final Season - Questions, WTF moments, and Sweater Vest Redemption

This episode reminded me exactly why I love this show. I should have known a Ben episode would bring the goods. Michael Emerson, you complete me.

Ben's Off-Island life? We find out in his flash sideways that Ben not only has an infinite amount of adorable sweaters, but that he's not as manipulative as he is on island. One would assume that it was because his innocence was never taken and he was never on the island but no! Ben is chilling with his old sickly dad eating some tv dinners (who else was hoping that it was a hot pocket in that microwave?) and Roger lets it be known that they did in fact go to the island to join the Dharma Initiative. Why did they leave? Would Ben still be the nice guy teaching Alex history and eating lunch with Artz and John? I wonder how old Ben was when he left the island. If Sayid never landed then he never could have shot Ben. My brain.

Jacob and Ilana? So where exactly did Ilana come from? What is her relationship to Jacob? She told Ben that he was "like a father" to her. Only like? How did they meet? Does she act on faith alone? She is PISSED when Ben is caught in his lie about Jacob's death and forces him to dig his own grave. He really ticked off the wrong girl. No one else in the group seems particularly perturbed that Miles found out Ben was Jacob's murderer. I guess they're used to him by now. Is he really sorry? Speaking of Miles and his revelations..

Jacob didn't want to die? For awhile now I've been telling myself that Jacob wanted to die..or that he was at least okay with dying. That his Godly essence was above all that and that was why he chose not to fight back. According to Miles however, we learn that Jacob actually didn't want to die and up until the moment of his stabbing, he was hoping he was wrong about Ben. Now that's just heartbreaking. You didn't give Ben much to go on Jacob. Talk about the ultimate test of good. Let a guy sacrifice his entire life to serve you, then tell him you don't care and expect him not to be a little upset? That's asking a lot from Ben I think. What was and is Jacob's plan?

Richard!! Jacob may not want to die but Richard does. Nooo!! Save your beautiful self and never ever say that again Ricardus! Jack and Hurley meet up with Richard in the jungle and he tells them not to trust Jacob while leading them to the Black Rock. Oh my God! Did we just get confirmation finally that Richard did indeed come over on the Black Rock? He goes into the ship for the first time since leaving it, touches some shackles and chains, grabs some dynamite and gets Jack to agree to blow him up. Why can't Richard kill himself? Richard finally gets to show an emotion and the emotion is heartbreak. He has a scene so heartbreaking that it parallels Ben's scene in the season 5 finale.

Faith? Richard has lost all of his faith and needs Jack to give it back to him. Talk about a role reversal. How did Jack get so content and sure of himself? After his trip to the lighthouse, he seems to be back on track with destiny and Jacob. Jack can't kill himself either and the dynamite doesn't go off. Why?

Jacob's touch? Has Jacob's touch become a form of protection? Richard describes Jacob's touch as a blessing that's actually a curse. Who else has been touched? Is his touch the reason some Losties can't kill themselves? Jack never jumped off that bridge and Locke never shot himself when he was lying in that ditch. Remember when Michael wasn't able to kill himself in season 4? Ilana says she is on the island to protect the 6 losties who are considered candidates to replace Jacob. Why do they need her? What exactly are the conditions of being touched by Jacob? Are there Pros and Cons that we haven't yet seen?

Ben's Redemption? We got to see another side of Ben this week. A truly regretful side and a not so evil side. In his flash sideways, Ben chooses to not sacrifice Alex for his own personal gain. It's actually pretty touching and makes you wonder, What if? Has Ben not had to suffer through anything that would make him the manipulative con artist we know and love? Because that guy is still on the island and he still has issues. He tries to explain himself to Ilana and seems truly sorry for what he did to Jacob. He's a lost and broken man who sacrificed everything and made a mistake. Are we seeing Ben's redemption? Is this the beginning of a new Ben? A good guy? Ilana seems to think so and Ben chooses to stay with her and leave Flocke. For how long?

I thought this episode was amazing and it really had its moments. I always love seeing Bocke together and I was more than a little disturbed when Ben picked up the porn. The ending was a great cliffhanger with Widmore once again making his way to the island, only this time in a sub. How did he find it? And whose side is he actually on? Jacob's? Flocke's? His own? On a happier note, you should all check out this website: http://www.ianleino.com/ He has some awesome Lost designs that have caught the attention of the show's creators. He even gifted me a fantastic T-shirt last week.