Analysis: 4.6 The Other Woman
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By AngeloComet
- Analysis: 4.6 The Other Woman
- Created: Mar 10, 2008
- Last updated: Aug 14, 2008
- After episode: 4.6: The Other Woman
- Status: Current
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Whilst the episode got busy not allowing us to learn much about Juliet, we learned a lot about Ben.
— AngeloComet
If you’re a Lost fan, The Other Woman was a continuity-plugging, plot-filling piece of the show’s puzzle. And if you’re Juliet Burke, The Other Woman is, well, you! Yet despite being a Juliet-centric episode, The Other Woman told us very little about Juliet. Constantly Juliet was deflecting the focus from herself. “It’s safer for you if I don’t talk about it,” she remarked, and “Trust me, Jack, you don’t wanna see my file,” she evaded. By keeping us away from what Juliet was about, about what she was keeping within, we were forced to view her at surface-level.
How Juliet looks once more became a focus. “You look just like her,” Harper said, but didn’t disclose whom she was talking about. I would guess it might have been Emily Linus, Ben’s mother, but more logically she was referring to Annie, Ben’s childhood sweetheart. (Harper didn’t know Emily, but would have known Annie, and so would have been able to judge how alike Juliet was to her.)
Think back to during The Cost Of Living, when Ben pointed out to Jack, “Has it not occurred to you that Juliet bears a striking resemblance to your ex-wife?” This was Ben’s own plan – “Get you to trust us” – that he thought would be effective on Jack. Perhaps the reason Ben figured it would be effective on Jack was because it had worked on him. . .
See, whilst the episode got busy not allowing us to learn much about Juliet, we learned a lot about Ben. This guy has issues that threaten to overwhelm him. Richard Alpert remarked to Locke in The Brig, “Ben has been wasting our time with novelties like fertility problems.” As Ben himself pointed out, if The Others had wanted him back they could have stormed The Barracks. This, for me, is all building into quite the revealing portrait. We’re getting indications here that Ben’s emotional and psychological issues run deeper than we realised. Was his warning speech about how being a leader makes you worry about people second-guessing your decisions purely Ben messing with Locke’s mind, or was he revealing his own insecurities?
Putting the puzzle pieces together, I can envisage a story about Ben that goes like this: A young Ben befriends his childhood sweetheart, Annie. They grow together on the Island and fall very much in love. They perhaps marry, and Annie becomes pregnant. And then the dream turns sour. Annie dies in pregnancy. Bitterness creeps in and grips Ben. The fertility issues that dog the Island, that claimed Annie and his unborn child’s life, become a driving force. And then along comes Juliet – a fertility doctor here to save the unborn babies of the Island! – who looks like Annie. No wonder Ben became smitten. His deceased love and the answer to his fertility issues all in a Juliet-shaped package. “You’re mine!” he stated, with the cold-eyed reasoning of the deeply insane.
Suddenly Ben’s motivations are called into question, most neatly by the plight of Goodwin. Having realised quickly that Juliet and Goodwin were conducting an affair (notice how he was looking into the microscope during his moment of realisation; seeing up close what cannot normally be seen) his instruction to send Goodwin out to the tail-section survivors is cast into new light. Goodwin wasn’t chosen because he was most suited (his opinion about Ana Lucia displayed as much), he was chosen so he could be removed.
Juliet’s assertion, and the message the episode was attempting to convey, was that Ben may turn out to be a mass-murdering lunatic after all. Did Ben really send Harper out into the jungle to order Juliet to kill Daniel and Charlotte. . .?
Harper swooped in on the crest of ‘the whispers’ to apparently deliver a message to Juliet from Ben. The manner of her entrance, and exit, reminded me of when Cindy Chandler disappeared from the tail-section group during Abandoned. ‘The whispers’ sounded and, suddenly, Cindy was nowhere to be seen. Similarly, the whispers sounded and suddenly Harper had vanished. Maybe this is no coincidence. Maybe some Others have some special ‘whispers’ trick that allows them to come and go, and they used it to snatch Cindy. . .
It’s a thought. But probably not a very good one.
However, back to Harper, and her saying that Ben had, from the comfort of his cell, delivered a message to instruct Juliet to kill Dan and Charlotte. If we are to believe Dan and Charlotte (and, despite their mission in the never-mentioned-before Dharma Tempest Station being simultaneously vague and borderline silly I do believe they were acting with good intentions) then Harper’s message would have meant the continued existence of a lethal gas that could kill every man, woman and child on the Island.
I have to assume that Dan and Charlotte, in the act of trying to neutralise the deadly gas, triggered the system. Thus, when Juliet arrived Dan and Charlotte were not releasing it, rather trying to act against a failsafe that had been set off after they had tampered with it. Trouble is, I have to assume - I don’t know for sure. I would rather have gone with Kate and Charlotte at the end of the episode and heard the explanation for what had just happened rather than hang around with Jack and Juliet and watch them kiss. (Why did Jack kiss Juliet? Just mere days ago on the Island he had told Kate that he loved her! I guess, when he heard Kate say she had stayed over at The Barracks he figured, rightly, that she hadn’t been staying there alone and was hurt and so, oh yes, he turned to his Other Woman!)
So what to make of Harper and Ben? I’ll tell you what I think, happily running the risk of being flat-out wrong. I can believe that Ben would send Harper to meet Juliet. Harper is the other Other Woman, and a sly way for Ben to remind Juliet of Goodwin and his “You’re mine!” message. And I do believe that Ben would want to stop Dan and Charlotte from neutralising the deadly gas. If Widmore is plotting a take-over of the Island, the gas could be Ben’s last ditch measure. He could release the deadly toxin all over the Island. Ben’s plan could be: If I can’t remain on the Island then I’ll make it so no one can. In that respect, The Freighter sending a small team in to neutralise the gas threat first makes perfect sense. Since that plan has now been “shot to sunshine”, maybe that’s why Ben is later seen in flashforward real world, assassinating people with Sayid’s help. . .
One of the earliest images in the show was of Juliet drawing wavy, parallel lines. I think that’s iconic of how there are layers upon layers, and nothing is straightforward. Once you look past the surface in Lost, generally you’ll find another layer even more confounding than the last.
If Ben’s claim of “We’re the good guys” is true, however dubious his warped mentality may twist it, I think we can now at least be certain of who our bad guy is. The savage beating of the blindfolded Other told us one thing: Widmore is tough and he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty.
Interestingly, we could interpret the Island as being ‘the other woman’. Just as with Juliet, Ben seized control over her from Goodwin’s clutches to claim, “You’re mine!” Transcribe that idea to the Island, Ben’s other great love that he jealously guards. The stage is set, battle lines are drawn, as to who between Ben and Widmore, when it comes to the Island, will get to claim, “You’re mine!”
Ran into work, even with the terrible weather in the UK (Thanks Canada) to start discussing our latest helping of Lost. As always +1 for another great analysis Angelo.
Any episode featuring that much of Ben is a winner in my book, and it suggested so much throughout that my head is spinning. Heres the ideas the episode gave to me: Ben has a back up plan, obvious really. Widmore & Co. have limited knowledge of Ben and the island but enough to know the gas was used before and its location. If communcations to and from the island has been stopped by Ben for seemingly a while, their knowledge might be coming from someone previously with Ben and the others. Not going to take a guess as to who. Either way they’re guessing, acting on the limited knowledge they have while Ben is ready, waiting and importantly “exactly where he wants to be”.
Juliette said Ben will win this war, and I don’t doubt her for a second. So why is Ben off the island in the flash forwards? If Widmore the ‘economist’ is still alive then he needs to be eliminated simply for the knowledge he has and to stop any attempt in the future. However Ben and the others always say they’re the good guys, and now we have the bad guys. It makes sence then the fate of those left behind is determined by Widmore, as the others have never gone O.T.T in any of their actions towards the losties. A condradiction there and I’m not even going to attempt to solve it, just something to think about.
For me, the episode confirmed that the plane crash was set up. Think about this: Why would Widmore send a plane and freightor? Even if you sent the plane to try and find the island, you’d hope going through that much expense and effort to crash the plane that it would pay off. What I’m getting at is why didn’t Widmore put one person on the plane, someone who would benifit him. Instead Ben gets a spinal surgeon, pregnant women, children etc. Just putting The idea out there that Ben knew abouts Widmore attempts for ages, decided to foil them by turning the idea around on him. Ben lied when he said the video was all he knew about Widmore, we know Ben too well to fall for that. I’m starting to believe Ben somehow altered the flight, knowing it would crash. He had the files on the passangers ready, used their emotions against them and through them can protect the island and win the war!
Oh, almost forgot something. Remember Lockes drug-induced visions of the airport? It was Ben working at the flight desk, letting people on the plane. Maybe my usual over analysing but it stayed with me and was worth pointing out.
That’s a lot of drive-bys for a post that nobody’s actually picked fault with.
You’ve asked a lot of questions here and given a lot of sound potential explanations. With regards to the gas issue I had assumed that Ben had triggered the build up and that the two freighter folk had arrived just in the nick of time, but the idea that they triggered the failsafe makes a lot more sense.
The last time I heard about the whispers accompanying a character’s astral projection to the scene was when Walt appeared to Shannon, so I’d forgotten completely about that idea. It makes a lot of sense considering that Walt was taken for his as yet undisclosed ‘abilities’. As with most things I think we’re going to have to wait and see.
+1
+1 Angelo, another interesting theory. I agree with most of what you’ve written.
I love your take on Charlotte and Dan triiggering a failsafe while trying to neutralize the gas. And I, too, would rather have gone with Kate and Charlotte. lol
I’m just not sure about Harper. Was she on the island when Annie was? If so, why wasn’t she gassed too? I think she was referring to Ben’s mother, whose picture she could have easily seen in Ben’s house at any time.
Anyway, keep posting, great theories always. :)
I agree with your assessments. Juliet seems to be always in the role of the other woman, in one way or another, whether as the wanted one of the unwanted one. First her ex-husband, then Goodwin, then Jack. She is also the other woman to Ben, a substitute for Annie.
If it was Ben who sent Harper, it would indeed be a reminder to Juliet as to what he is capable of, as well as a reminder of the extent of his reach, that she can never escape him. He could have sent anyone to deliver such a message. The fact that it was Harper of all people speaks volumes.
As for Ben, I won’t even go into that piece of work, you already said it. Ok, maybe one word. Psychotic.
AC, A good analysis as always! I always enjoy reading them. Now,the person I am going to focus on is *Harper. In ” The Other Woman ” she is shown in the scene where Ben,Juliet and others are coming out of their houses to see flight 815 breaking apart. This is what I am wondering about, in that scene they show Harper as one of the group that are coming to see it,I can’t be certain but in the original telecast of “Tale of two Cities”, I don’t remember seeing her in it. I am going to need to look at that again! If she wasn’t in it then it seems pretty evident that some of the story is being made up as they go along. +1
I didn’t check to see if someone made this connection, but if the story about Annie is true and she did die during child birth, imagine what that would do to Ben having lost his mother the same way and being treated so badly by his father b/c of it. I’m sure that being blamed for your mother’s death and then losing your wife the same way would send someone into a fragile emotional state.
In a land of ever-increasing watered down pubs… it’s nice to know I can still drop in for a real pint every now and then.
Nice work AC… you’re one of few core users I consistently read.
+1 bro
Cimmerian I do find myself resisting the idea that the crash of Oceanic 815 was deliberate for two reasons. 1. Desmond’s timing of not pushing the button and the crash involved a level of coincidence that is staggering. And 2. That the guarantee that passengers intended to survive would survive is unfathomable.
If I could reconcile the crash as deliberate, grander schemes might click in as part of the puzzle. As is, I try not to confuse coincidence for fate… :o) Until I learn different, of course!
MacCutcheon By now I think you’ll have read some of the stuff I have since read; that the whispers point towards some form of fissure opening and closing that an Other may pop in an out of. It does futher the ideas I was having here… but you’re right that we always have to wait and see to be sure!
Annie & *Ozzig - Thanks as ever. Do I sense a cold shouldering towards dear Benjamin from you now, Ozzig?
KSJ - The Barracks/Oceanic 815 crash scene we saw in The Other Woman did have Harper and the shared exchanges between Juliet and Goodwin added in from what we originally saw. Although I’d defend against them ‘making it up’ a little, since we did see Juliet rolling around with Goodwin in S3!
Ipimp - Most definitely, if it’s the case, Ben is to be pitied and understood. It’s just a matter of how twisted before he’s too twisted for sympathy, perhaps?
Masterlocke - Those are heartening words in a distinctly disheartening time on lost-theories. Cheers!
snaps bubble gum, twirls hair
Like, +1 and stuff.
;)
Seriously, well done AC.
That cold shoulder toward Ben you’re sensing is just the tip of the iceberg. No wait, not cold at all. Red hot fire, like a branding iron for Ben, just before he gets smothered by red hot lava from a volcano. Evil evil man.
A little off topic but I just thought of the perfect song to do an ABC Juliet music video to…
There’s been a Jack video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_pYtKLSQ2A
A Kate video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTkycnBksvU&feature=related
A Sawyer video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPMuucRMDaM&feature=related
And even a Hurley video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS8pAxzqN5Y
My choice for Juliet would be the Beach Boys “I Get Around” because well, she sure has. ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkSnqEn1hLw
Very nice analisys and comments i’ve found here.
Something came up while i was reading… It becomes clear that Ben still have influence outside The Barracks, even when he was still arrested. He sends Harper to tell Juliet to kill Dan and Charlotte, BUT Ben knows she wouldn’t, because he uses the same trick that he used with Juliet to gain the confidence of the losties at her first appearance back at the camp:
Triggering Claire’s sickness chip and saving the day. Dan & Charlotte triggered the gas so they could stop it and have Jack to be certain that they are against Ben.
Ben could have shot Charlotte knowing she had a vest.
Not a theory, just a comment… xD
I just think the appearance of Harper was disturbing… If that were really a menace to all living person on the island, she could go and stop them, but she emphatizes that Ben wants Juliet to do it. Something like “I still have my hands on you!”, and i don’t think he would put everything at stake just to do some psycho game to Juliet.
Re the idea that the wavy lines in the sand were “iconic of how there are layers upon layers, and nothing is straightforward”.
I thought at the time that the straight lines represented the standard illustration of parallel timelines. This was then changed into a waveform. It is timelines folding round to meet themselves that allow wormholes to exist. +1 though.
Can’t believe this is on page 3 already!
Good Analysis AC +1.
Just a couple of things from me. Could Harper have been a smokination? If so could it be sent by Jacob and not Ben?
If Harper was sent by Ben then it brings back lots of questions from when Ben was held in the gun store in the Swan. I always maintained that his comment about thin walls was odd given they only worked one way, you couldn’t hear much from Sayid torturing him for instance.
So is Ben communicating through telepathy? Or is he actually able to appear where he pleases and is only maintaining an illusion of being imprisoned so he can mess with Locke. ‘I need you to want to set me free John’.
Blimey, you Sky+ lost on Sunday, watch it on Monday, report back on Tuesday only to find this gem all the way back on Page 3 already!
Excellent summary AC, not that I expect anything less these days. Its getting more and more of a struggle to fight through the negative threads to find these beauties though.
Still convinced Ben’s people haven’t “come for him” yet because he’s told them not to beforehand. And re the Harper message from Ben, I still dare not try and explain that one. The explanation thats sits best with me is Smokey rather than telepathy.
After all if Smokey is the security system, it makes sense that it would want to keep a mechanism that allows for a final last roll of the dice for the island should all else fail.
+1 my good man.