Lost: Dr. Linus Episode 6.07: Recap and Analysis

Dr. Linus was the focus of Lost Season 6, episode 7 (Lost 6.07) on March 9, 2010. The previews hinted at the demise of Lost's villain, but fans know Lost is never so open about its intentions. What happens to Ben in Lost's Dr. Linus episode. Warning: if you have not seen the episode this review will spoil it for you. If you haven't seen it yet you can watch it in its entirety (43 minutes and 29 seconds) on ABC's Lost.

Lost: Dr. Linus Episode 6.07 and Lost: Sundown Episode 6.06

Sayid and Ben

Lost turned the tables on viewers with the back-to-back episodes of "Sundown" (Lost 6.06), a Sayid-centric episode and "Dr. Linus." Everyone on Lost has a side to choose, a choice to make, and an ultimate fate that is determined by free will. The black and white, good vs. evil, fate vs. determination battle is in full-swing and each Lost survivor will end up on one side or the other. The only character that does not appear to be a candidate for the dark side is Hurley. This may leave him as the final candidate to be protector of the island.

Last week we watched as Sayid, who struggles with his moral compass, succumb to the darkness inside. As much as he tried, on the island and in the sideways or alternate reality, he could not move beyond the evil he had committed in his life. Sayid finally gave in, and moved completely to the dark side.

Lost: Dr. Linus Episode 6.07: Dad and the Air We Breathe

In Lost's Dr. Linus, the man who logged more murders than anyone else on the island, takes a turn for the better. In the reality where the plane did not crash we see Ben changing his dad's oxygen tank, which is the polar opposite of gassing his father like he did on the island.

We also learn that Ben and his father were on the island, but left by choice, according to Ben's father. Either they left before the bomb exploded, or the bomb never went off.

Lost: Dr. Linus Episode 6.07: Digging His Own Grave

In this episode, in both views, Ben is digging his own grave. On the island, it's and actual grave, and in the sideways reality, it's a metaphorical grave for his soul. On the island, Miles reveals that it was Ben who killed Jacob. Ilana chains Ben to a tree and instructs him to dig his own grave. The rest of the survivors including Lapidus, Sun and Miles attempt to rebuild the beach shelter.

Dr. Linus and Another Chance With Alex

In the sideways reality, Ben starts digging the grave to bury his soul. Locke shows up as a substitute teacher where Dr. Linus teaches history. He plants a seed in Ben's head about how he should be principal and be the man in power at the school. In order to do this, Dr. Linus needs to enlist the help of a disgruntled science teacher and convince him to hack the school's computer to find illicit emails between the nurse and the principal. As Ben digs deeper in the muck, ready to blackmail the principal for having an affair with the school nurse on school property, he discovers there will be a victim in his wake.

It was Alex, Ben's daughter on the island, who told Dr. Linus about the affair, while he was tutoring her. In order to complete his plan, Dr. Linus would have to use that information told to him in confidence, to gain power. What he did not foresee was that the principal would use Alex as a proverbial body shield. Dr. Linus would have to agree to not let the principal he is about to oust write a recommendation letter to Yale. The choice seems minor compared to Ben's devilish actions we've seen on the island.

Dr. Linus backs down from his power coup, and Alex receives the glowing recommendation for Yale. He seems pleased with himself for making the right decision.

Gravedigger and Locke's Tempting Offer

Back on the island, Ben is tempted by Locke to join him at the Hydra Station. Locke offers Ben the power position on the island. After a heartfelt talk with Jacob's bodyguard, who had Ben digging his own grave earlier, she asks Ben why he would go with Locke.

"Because he's the only who will have me," Ben said.
"I'll have you," she replies.

With this small exchange of words, Ben is welcomed onto the beach, and may be on the road to redemption, after many years, murders and missteps.

Lost's Dr. Linus and the Easter Egg

While searching through a beach tent, Ben finds a magazine, but in the foreground is a book: Chaim Potok's, "The Chosen." The book is a reference to the candidate choosing that is underway on the island, but it could also be a hint about the former inhabitant of the tent. The magazine in the tent was one that would have suited Sawyer, a candidate to take the place of Smokey, since he can't stay in Locke's body.

Sources

ABC's Lost, Air date March 10, 2010, 9pm, EST, ABC
ABC's Lost, http://abc.go.com/shows/lost