Tonight was episode 9 of the final season of Lost, and it was indeed a special occasion. The episode was dedicated to the man, the myth, the ageless legend himself: Richard Alpert. Since first meeting Richard (Nestor Carbonell), we’ve always wondered about who he was, and when we discovered that the very same man was the very same age in many different points in time, his intrigue far surpassed all other characters on Lost.
We aren’t a website that typically covers every single episode of the popular shows out there. Usually we just stick to the premiers and finales for seasonal discussion purposes, but this episode is far too good to pass up. It must be discussed, and your thoughts shared!
Obviously there will be spoilers going on here, so don’t click over if you’re not caught up yet. And once again, if you’re not caught up, what the hell are you thinking!? It’s okay — we still love you. Just, ya know…get on that.
Tonight’s episode — titled “Ab Aeterno” (Latin; translates to “From the Beginning of Time”) — begins with Jacob having a little conversation with Ilana, where he asks her to protect the 6 “candidates” on the island. After this brief intro, we flash forward to Ilana on the island with Jack and Sun and so on. When the conversation comes to Richard, he has a little breakdown and shares a secret with Jack (and I’m loosely quoting here; this may not be exact): “You’re dead. We’re all dead. This is Hell!”
This is a brilliant way to start the episode because so many people, myself included, have had a theory of them all being dead and all being in Hell or Purgatory and so on. The episode doesn’t take long to add a couple of alternate explanations to Richard’s claim, leaving us still without a solid answer, and this is what makes it brilliant and maybe even infuriating to some. Personally? I think the producers knew what fans were saying, and this was a little nod to them. Things could play out to where this is a part of what’s going on, but with 7 episodes left until the very last episode of Lost ever, I think there’s a lot more to it than just “They’re in Hell, silly.”
After Richard’s secret, we flashback to the mid-19th century, where Richard discovers his wife is direly ill, setting him off to seek a doctor’s assistance. Sadly, this is the 19th century, and the doctor is a one-day journey there and back. When the doctor refuses Richard medicine, they get into an altercation and he accidentally kills the man and rushes back to his wife, only to discover she had already passed away. Devastated, he’s arrested for murder and imprisoned. He’s due to be hanged for his crimes, but with a turn of luck, he is purchased as a slave, and finds himself on the Black Rock sailing the open seas.
His boat trip doesn’t last too long, however, as a massive storm strikes, tossing and thrashing the waters around them. The last thing that they see is an island nearby guarded by a statue that they call “the Devil,” right before the Black Rock is thrown directly into the statue (breaking it at the leg, of course), and deep into the jungle where you’d be shocked to discover a shipwreck.
It’s not long before the mysterious Man in Black appears and is asking for Richard’s help in escaping the island. All Richard has to do, is kill the Devil by stabbing him in the heart. He reluctantly goes to do this, but is quickly disarmed by Jacob, who yells at him, tells him he’s not dead, he’s not in Hell, and that he’ll give him eternal life to help Jacob with his job. Ta-da!
Now, I don’t want to novelize the entire episode, but that’s the set-up, and that’s how Richard got to the island and is who he is.
This was easily the best episode of the season, and no doubt it was one of the best we’ve ever seen. The reason for this is clearly because we’ve known for so long that some day we were going back to the 1800s, and that we would see much deeper into the story of Richard Alpert. There was so much hype to live up to, and when we realized it was all living up to said hype and then some, it became destined for greatness.
I’m personally not going to get into too much theory spurting. So much happened in “Ab Aeterno” that I feel like I need to see it 5 or 6 more times to get everything burnt to brain. Also, as I said, though they seemed to give a lot of answers, many questions were created in-turn. We’ve come to expect this from Lost, but they’re running out of time. It’s almost like the Hydra of Greek Mythology: cut a head off, two more grow back. You have to strike the heart!
One thing worth mention is the Black Rock when it wrecks on the island. In the finale of Season 5, the episode opens with the Man in Black and Jacob talking about bringing people there, and how they’ll always do the same thing that they always do. On the horizon is an old ship. I and many others assumed this was Black Rock and Richard Alpert, but it was a clear and beautiful day in that scene and not the vicious night-time storm that brought them to the island in tonight’s episode. Peculiar.
I can only guess that maybe that was just another ship on another day. It’s been made clear that many people have been brought there, so it’s not completely absurd to think many ships had been lead there. But still, everything seems to be tied together on Lost, and a random, separate ship doesn’t seem to fit too well into the show’s general tendencies.
OK — your turn!
What’d you guys think of tonight’s Richard Alpert episode, “Ab Aeterno,” and what are your theories using the wealth of knowledge we’ve received tonight?
I can’t understand why the man in black would dislike Jacob getting people to the Island (like he said on the season 5 finale), if they are his only chance to find a ‘loophole’ and kill Jacob. Which ended up happening.
This episode was the best so far, all the 3 main actors delivered very strong performances.
Comment by Andre — March 24, 2010 @ 3:28 am
I thought this episode was definitely one of the best in the entire series. The acting was superb, the story powerful, the revelations plenty but still mysterious, and the scene shots were beautiful.
I did a write up on my blog here if anyone wants to read it.
Comment by logankstewart — March 24, 2010 @ 9:41 am
Ok im going back to my original theory that the island is where Lucifer fell from heaven, so technically hell. God made a pact with Lucifer to release him upon the earth in the last days of the apocalypse when man was no longer worthy of compassion and the ability to do good. Jacob is an archangel who is charged with keeping the devil (man in black) at bay, as well as testing humanity of their worth. When Locke escapes the island so begins the apocalypse.
Not bad for an athiest eh eeh?
Comment by jon — March 24, 2010 @ 12:56 pm
Loved the episode but,I dont believe(do NOT want to believe!)that the island is Hell. Too easy. People have been speculating about that since the beginning.To me,that would turn the whole show into a “Bobby Ewing” & I,for one,would be very pissed!I still don’t see how it’s all going to be wrapped up in just a few short weeks.Like the man said,every time we get some answers,more questions arise.Lord I’m gonna miss this show!
Comment by Reed — March 24, 2010 @ 3:52 pm
Basically, the themes are faith, and free will. Read up on the philosopher, John Locke. Also important to keep in mind–there is no such thing as “time”. How can we be sure Jacob is good and the man in black is evil ?? And the promise of “eternal life”, for Richard,( in heaven?) is that because he prayed with Faith, or is that the promise of Satan for immortality. Who is who, REALLY. Maybe “Purgatory” is actually we we learn how different paths result in “finding your way” (i.e. not LOST) Like everyone is saying the answers are only raising more questions- I’m going to miss the show too!!
Comment by Debbie — March 24, 2010 @ 6:16 pm
I don’t think calling it “Hell” is too easy…Hell is an imaginary theoretical place to those of us who have not been there, and Jacob’s illustration with the bottle is vague enough to be a framework for the island as gateway to hell. The devil can present himself as a man in black, or Locke, or a column of smoke, Mr Eko’s brother, Richard’s wife, or a big red monster with horns.
What’s not clear, and may not be answered, is what are living mortals doing there?
As we’ve seen, all the characters (as ourselves) have different levels of good and evil inside them, and with their human desires, are subject to manipulation by the Lord of Lies. Even Sayid claims to have good in him, and shows this by attempting to kill (un)Locke when convinced to (though it didn’t work). And Benjamin Linus, mean manipulator and murderer, seems to have a change of heart and we see the good in him as well, even after he kills Jacob.
So, it’s not simply a story about Hell, or Good vs Evil, it’s a story of the struggle between good and evil in each character. But what are the rules for maintaining the island and keeping Evil bottled up? In what way does Ben killing Jacob open a door for (un)Locke/MIB (since we are led to believe Ben still has goodness in him despite his sins?) If Jacob is mortal, how is he going around visiting people after he’s dead? Why all the time-travel stuff – does Jacob or anyone control that? What is Dharma all about? Is there going to be some final consequence involving the sideways-flashbacked characters?
Plus, we can’t expect to get all the answers; the producers have stated that the only answers forthcoming are those that matter to the characters.
Comment by Bill — March 24, 2010 @ 6:47 pm
This was the most moving episode ever. Award winning. Nestor was magnificant. And finally some answers about how Richard got to the island. The truth about it all is that nothing is what it seems. The bigger question is what is Richard Whitmore after? How come Hugo can see Jacob and Isabella? Is Hugo THE CANDIDATE? And what does that mean?
Comment by MzFlamingo — March 24, 2010 @ 9:55 pm
Too many holes that need to be filled for the “Hell” theory to pan out. For example:
1- If they are dead, then why do people on the island die?
2- How do people leave and come back?
3- Why would Charles Widmore pour all his power and resources towards getting back to “Hell”?
4- What role does the dharma initiative play in “Hell”?
I’m not saying it is not a possibility. I’m just saying it will be complicated to tie everything together.
Comment by Dave — March 24, 2010 @ 10:43 pm
Anne Rice: Memnoch the Devil explains it all
Comment by JKing — March 24, 2010 @ 11:29 pm
So Jacob is “God” and the man in black is “the Devil.” All of the characters are “lost” in the sense that they have made poor choices in the past. The island is a place of reconcilliation. With the new Candidates on the island, the devil is still unable to leave. His rath is contained.
Comment by MrBoggle — March 25, 2010 @ 12:32 am
remember when richard bumped into hugo and jack and they asked him where did he come from? and he said they weren’t ready to know yet? that’s what i wanted an answer to.
Comment by mo — March 25, 2010 @ 6:05 am
obviously the man in black is evil. he kills people in cold blood. duh.
Comment by jesse — March 26, 2010 @ 6:16 pm
More things from this episode and a couple of questions etc…
1. Jacob seems to know everything that is going on. In this episode he says that nobody comes to visit him without his permission (paraphrased). He had to know that Ben was coming to kill him, but still invited him in. He sacrificed himself for a larger purpose. Funnily enough, he reappears to Hurley (ring any bells) :)
2. The Black Rock was captained by Magnus Hanso. Alvar Hanso started the Dharma initiative. Connection? Can’t be a coincedence.
3. Locke left the island and was killed by Ben, but when Michael left and tried to kill himself, he was told that he couldn’t. Still to piece that puzzle together.
Comment by Nathan — March 28, 2010 @ 6:31 am