Anti-Climacus

LOST BLOGGING, MARK II:

I'm not quite so mad about it as Jacob Levy (who drops some well-deserved criticism on the "it was about the characters" folks), but this attempt to salvage the finale is really disappointing. Two snippets:

Still, despite his grand plan, Jacob wanted to give his "candidates" (our Lostaways) the one thing he, nor his brother, were ever afforded: free will. Hence him bringing a host of "candidates" through the decades and letting them "choose" which one would actually do the job in the end.

and then this:

[On the flash-sideways:] It's a really cool and spirtual concept that fits the whole tone and subtext the show has had from the beginning. These people were SUPPOSED to be together on that plane. They were supposed to live through these events — not JUST because of Jacob. But because that's what the universe or God (depending on how religious you wish to get) wanted to happen.

So... The entire point of Jacob is that he allowed people to choose freely, but the entire point of the show was that everything was fated to happen? I don't think that's playing with fate-v-free will (and can I get a moratorium on Philosophy 101 in movies and tv?) so much as it's a complete inability to plan coherently.

ARRRRRRRRRRGH:

But the writer's took it even further this season by contrasting this Sideways "purgatory" with the Island itself. Remember when Michael appeared to Hurley, he said he was not allowed to leave the Island. Just like the MIB. He wasn't allowed into this sideways world and thus, was not afforded the opportunity to move on. Why? Because he had proven himself to be unworthy with his actions on the Island. He failed the test. The others, passed.

In other words: perpetrate genocide (and never feel bad about it): have proven yourself worthy. Try to get your son off the island: clearly unworthy.