Lost: Season 5, Episode 10 Review: He's Our You
He’s Our YouOriginal Airdate: March 25, 2009
Writer: Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz
Director: Greg Yaitanes
The biggest mysteries introduced in “316” were about how some opposed to returning wound up on the plane. It’s no surprise that the subsequent episodes would explain what happened that changed their minds or forced their hands. First up is Sayid, who would fall into the latter category. This returns to the more traditional flashback formula, albeit flashbacks for a time after the original crash, but taking place after the main action thanks to the time loops.
The Oceanic Six who went to 1977 had a lot to deal with, and one of the biggest was dealing with a 12-year-old Ben Linus, then an innocent boy dealing with an abusive father. That revelation hit Sayid the hardest. Besides Locke, Sayid has had the most contested relationship with Ben of the lead castaways. Sayid’s anger and distrust for The Others stemmed from Shannon’s death, but ironically found himself killing people Ben listed after Nadia’s demise.
I originally suspected he went rogue after the Ilsa incident in “The Economist”. However, it turns out Ben ended Sayid’s rampage after a hit in Russia. It lacks some dramatic effect this way, so why would Ben call it off now? Perhaps his list was real, even if ultimately it’s treated like a MacGuffin.
With no more vendetta to fulfill, Sayid turns to building houses for charity. It doesn’t last long as Ben soon finds him with information of Locke’s death, which he perpetrated and manipulated to Sayid, and Hurley’s surveillance, which unleashes the calculated killer in Sayid once more. While Sayid is often the Captain Sensible of the castaways regarding strategy, his emotions continue to drive his decisions when he loses his cool.
Throughout the episode Ben shows his talents manipulating Sayid, dangling pieces of information that will make him want to kill. For all we know the man Sayid gunned down in “There’s No Place Like Home” was just some unlucky dude waiting to pick someone up. Of course, that comes back to bite him when Sayid finds himself in 1977 and, thinking he can alter history, tries to kill Ben.
There are parallels throughout the episode for season two’s “The 23rd Psalm”. At the heart are the choices of two men who have lived lives filled with violence. Each begins with the central character killing in place of their brother, who is reluctant (one wonders what Sayid’s brother did during Saddam’s reign) then ultimately making major events push them from that end towards redemption. Although it was in part to write the actor out, Eko would later change his mind, which could mean there is redemption possible for Sayid.
Sayid shooting Young Ben was a shocking moment not because he tried, but that he succeeded. Since time travel was introduced in season three, Lindelof & Cuse have made it clear in interviews that there wouldn’t be paradox. Whatever happened in the past happened and no matter what events would course correct to correspond with the present. Meaning Young Ben can’t die from his gunshot wound. The rules weren’t explained to Sayid, even cursory like Sawyer did to Kate, Hurley & Jack. This begins the big question of the season: despite what we’ve been told, can the past be altered?
It’s also shocking for them to shoot a 12 year old and show it. On 24 a few seasons ago they ignored following up on a similar scenario where a girl would’ve certainly been killed to protect the villains. They never even mention her or her mother, someone who worked with and was trusted by one of the main characters. Here, it’s the jaw dropper to cap the episode. Perhaps the only way they got away with it is because this kid grows up to be Ben, but still.
Sayid’s flashbacks offer our first glimpse of one of the new 316ers off island life. Here we see Ilana playing a possible one night stand until she takes Sayid into custody for the death of Mr. Avelino. Of course we already doubt that story, and her being at the exact bar and waiting until they’re alone to bust him points to her not being an agent of any kind (she didn’t even have a badge to flash).
The belief that Dharma is some front for an illegitimate operation gains further traction with their decision to execute Sayid. It’s interesting to see how they are operating since The Island isn’t a sovereign nation in the traditional sense. The conflict with The Others has caused them to create their own law, which leads them to imprison people and execute without due process. It’s telling of how Dharma acclimated to the island than the 815ers, especially when Dharma had easier access to the main land.
The episode drops the ball and never fully regains it with Oldham, the “He” in the title. Throughout the episode he’s hinted at as this guy you don’t want to cross. However, the pay off is limp. His method of torture is tying Sayid down and giving him acid? Granted, drugging someone isn’t a nice thing to do, but considering most of Dharma probably indulged in drugs, this is hardly an interrogation that would inspire so much fear among Dharma.
Oldham reminds me a little of Isabel, the Others’ ‘sheriff’ from season three, in this respect. There was this build up and no pay off. She’s never seen, heard from or mentioned again (and pronounced dead by the producers in an interview, a less ceremonious send off than Poochie). Oldham has a similar fate, like they knew this was a mess and decided to pretend like it never happened.
Like their arrival signified the end of happy times at Dharma, this episode shows the new arrivals actively ending it. Besides Sayid’s action, by being there Kate is throwing a wrench into Juliet and Sawyer’s relationship (of course Kate being a Dharma mechanic doesn’t hurt that cliché). This may be where the antipathy towards Kate picks up steam. People embraced Juilet and Kate’s the other woman.
Despite the big twist and major question asked by the twist, this episode is a misfire. While I compare it to “The 23rd Psalm”, the writing there was much tighter. Ultimately the disappointing lead up to Oldham really damaged the episode. While he could’ve been a psychopath who somehow convinced Sayid to do what he did in the end, it just fell flat.
Overall Score: 6/10
The Oceanic Six who went to 1977 had a lot to deal with, and one of the biggest was dealing with a 12-year-old Ben Linus, then an innocent boy dealing with an abusive father. That revelation hit Sayid the hardest. Besides Locke, Sayid has had the most contested relationship with Ben of the lead castaways. Sayid’s anger and distrust for The Others stemmed from Shannon’s death, but ironically found himself killing people Ben listed after Nadia’s demise.
I originally suspected he went rogue after the Ilsa incident in “The Economist”. However, it turns out Ben ended Sayid’s rampage after a hit in Russia. It lacks some dramatic effect this way, so why would Ben call it off now? Perhaps his list was real, even if ultimately it’s treated like a MacGuffin.
With no more vendetta to fulfill, Sayid turns to building houses for charity. It doesn’t last long as Ben soon finds him with information of Locke’s death, which he perpetrated and manipulated to Sayid, and Hurley’s surveillance, which unleashes the calculated killer in Sayid once more. While Sayid is often the Captain Sensible of the castaways regarding strategy, his emotions continue to drive his decisions when he loses his cool.
Throughout the episode Ben shows his talents manipulating Sayid, dangling pieces of information that will make him want to kill. For all we know the man Sayid gunned down in “There’s No Place Like Home” was just some unlucky dude waiting to pick someone up. Of course, that comes back to bite him when Sayid finds himself in 1977 and, thinking he can alter history, tries to kill Ben.
There are parallels throughout the episode for season two’s “The 23rd Psalm”. At the heart are the choices of two men who have lived lives filled with violence. Each begins with the central character killing in place of their brother, who is reluctant (one wonders what Sayid’s brother did during Saddam’s reign) then ultimately making major events push them from that end towards redemption. Although it was in part to write the actor out, Eko would later change his mind, which could mean there is redemption possible for Sayid.
Sayid shooting Young Ben was a shocking moment not because he tried, but that he succeeded. Since time travel was introduced in season three, Lindelof & Cuse have made it clear in interviews that there wouldn’t be paradox. Whatever happened in the past happened and no matter what events would course correct to correspond with the present. Meaning Young Ben can’t die from his gunshot wound. The rules weren’t explained to Sayid, even cursory like Sawyer did to Kate, Hurley & Jack. This begins the big question of the season: despite what we’ve been told, can the past be altered?
It’s also shocking for them to shoot a 12 year old and show it. On 24 a few seasons ago they ignored following up on a similar scenario where a girl would’ve certainly been killed to protect the villains. They never even mention her or her mother, someone who worked with and was trusted by one of the main characters. Here, it’s the jaw dropper to cap the episode. Perhaps the only way they got away with it is because this kid grows up to be Ben, but still.
Sayid’s flashbacks offer our first glimpse of one of the new 316ers off island life. Here we see Ilana playing a possible one night stand until she takes Sayid into custody for the death of Mr. Avelino. Of course we already doubt that story, and her being at the exact bar and waiting until they’re alone to bust him points to her not being an agent of any kind (she didn’t even have a badge to flash).
The belief that Dharma is some front for an illegitimate operation gains further traction with their decision to execute Sayid. It’s interesting to see how they are operating since The Island isn’t a sovereign nation in the traditional sense. The conflict with The Others has caused them to create their own law, which leads them to imprison people and execute without due process. It’s telling of how Dharma acclimated to the island than the 815ers, especially when Dharma had easier access to the main land.
The episode drops the ball and never fully regains it with Oldham, the “He” in the title. Throughout the episode he’s hinted at as this guy you don’t want to cross. However, the pay off is limp. His method of torture is tying Sayid down and giving him acid? Granted, drugging someone isn’t a nice thing to do, but considering most of Dharma probably indulged in drugs, this is hardly an interrogation that would inspire so much fear among Dharma.
Oldham reminds me a little of Isabel, the Others’ ‘sheriff’ from season three, in this respect. There was this build up and no pay off. She’s never seen, heard from or mentioned again (and pronounced dead by the producers in an interview, a less ceremonious send off than Poochie). Oldham has a similar fate, like they knew this was a mess and decided to pretend like it never happened.
Like their arrival signified the end of happy times at Dharma, this episode shows the new arrivals actively ending it. Besides Sayid’s action, by being there Kate is throwing a wrench into Juliet and Sawyer’s relationship (of course Kate being a Dharma mechanic doesn’t hurt that cliché). This may be where the antipathy towards Kate picks up steam. People embraced Juilet and Kate’s the other woman.
Despite the big twist and major question asked by the twist, this episode is a misfire. While I compare it to “The 23rd Psalm”, the writing there was much tighter. Ultimately the disappointing lead up to Oldham really damaged the episode. While he could’ve been a psychopath who somehow convinced Sayid to do what he did in the end, it just fell flat.
Overall Score: 6/10
posted by Matt @ 2:59 PM
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