This is a rare case of two Lindelof/Cuse episodes being aired back-to-back, and even though this episode ("Bentham" for short) certainly has its flaws it's a quality episode. Ambitious, sweeping, heartbreaking, pick your adjective.
People love to focus on the continuity errors so let's address them now. Yes, there's a disconnect between what Locke says to Jack in the hospital and what Jack SAID he said in There's No Place Like Home (Locke had supposedly told him about bad things happening to people on the island). Yes, Walt seems to magically know Locke's alias even though we don't see any reason why he should. Yes, Locke inexplicably doesn't know who Widmore is even though Ben showed him a video clearly showing his face.
These errors, along with others which have been cited on Lostpedia and elsewhere, still don't stop this episode from being very entertaining.
This was my first time rewatching Bentham since the series finale, and I can tell you there's a world of difference now. I can no longer rely on denial to spare me the heartache of Locke's tragic death. The good news is, Bentham now feels like a fitting grand finale for the real John Locke as he visits Walt and the Oceanic Six.
I didn't realize it at the time but those visits were actually chances to say goodbye. I wonder how Kate feels knowing her last words to Locke were hypocritical lectures? She probably feels like Jack or Hurley, who also pushed him away like he was some kind of lunatic.
Even as the O6 reject Locke's plea on-by-one, his tragic story isn't quite complete. Abaddon takes him to the grave of Helen Norwood in a scene which pretty much socked me in the gut. Locke sacrificed himself for a broken heart, loneliness, and rejection by the Oceanic Six. And yet he was right about most things all along.
Meanwhile, the question soon arises: who's actually manipulating Locke here, Widmore or Ben? Answer: both. Locke was caught in a perpetual power struggle between both maniacs, both of them wanting to restore their position of power with the Others back on the island. So if you're like me and have a tendency to try to pick "good guys" versus "bad guys," you can relax a little. There wasn't a good guy between Ben and Widmore, both of them had plenty of innocent blood on their hands.
This episode was not only a sweeping tribute to real John Locke — it was a 45-minute portfolio of Terry O'Quinn's amazing talent. Every single visit has a different dynamic and flavor to it, mostly because TOQ knows how to shift his demeanor based on the person Locke is speaking with. He's straightforward with Sayid, more gentle with Hugo, more vulnerable with Kate. A lesser actor would stay unrealistically consistent, despite the fact that we all tend to behave a little differently based on who we're talking to.
The "suicide" scene is now officially a monumental and heartbreaking moment thanks to TOQ and Emerson's performances. If they'd added some quick flashbacks covering Locke's moments on the island I think this scene would almost be too painful to watch.
All of the visits were interesting to watch but Jorge Garcia did a great job with the Locke/Hurley scene. I laugh every time Hurley takes a glance at Locke and assumes he's dead, saying, "You didn't make it huh? It's cool, no biggie."
I was very tempted to deduct points for Said Taghmaoui's performance as Caesar, mostly because he kept addressing Locke by his full name and I found it very annoying. Some might insist it's a cultural thing, but I've worked with people from all over the world and they've never addressed me as "Darren Mart" in the middle of a sentence. But alas, I don't know if it was the script that called for using his full name or Said's instincts so I'll say he broke even.
I'm not surprised this is a Jack Bender episode, for it flows so smoothly across so many different landscapes. No wonder Bender's an artist, he practically paints a picture with his directorial methods.
The first example comes early when a "resurrected" and hooded Locke sits at the Ajira camp. Did you have any deja vu in that scene? If so, it might've been the fact that we panned around Locke in the same manner as Tabula Rasa, this time from the opposite side.
The second example is the frenetic sequence with Locke being transported to a Tunisian clinic so his leg can be reset. I'm sure I was wincing and gritting my teeth through most of that scene, so credit goes to Bender for capturing the intensity of the moment.
The BEST example is the moment Abaddon gets shot (disturbingly realistic) and the subsequent car crash in the intersection.
Deductions for the repeating extras in the scene with Walt and Locke, including the infamous "Lavender Sweater Lady" who passes by Locke a minimum of four times.
The story of Locke is so tragic, and this episode so heavy, that the Longevity rating suffers a bit in terms of rewatchability. It's not something I'd pick to watch on a lazy Saturday afternoon because of its emotional weight.
Clearly this is one of the most significant episodes of Season 5. Locke's death allowed the O6 to re-create their conditions for the Ajira flight — although I would've suggested they kill Ben and slap Christian's shoes on him instead. I'm half-kidding, I realize Emerson's just as crucial to the series as TOQ.
Locke's death also sets up the arc for late S5 and all of S6, not to mention allowing Ben to move forward with unwittingly executing MiB's loophole.
With all the scenery changes you wouldn't think an atmosphere could be properly established, but in my mind it certainly was. Right from the get-go I sensed this episode was meant to be a pivotal moment in the series, and that was before I even saw it as Locke's final "victory" lap (in quotes because that's one of the most depressing victories I've ever seen).
This is a rare case of an episode having relatively low emotional impact on first watch (thanks to denial), then very high impact more than a year after it aired. When I really start to think about Locke's sad life, how he was briefly reinvigorated by his importance on the island, it honestly breaks my heart. The saddest part is there are many people in the real world mired in a similar sense of despair — but they're still looking for their island moment.
