Episode 305 - The Cost of Living

Written by six from the blog The Lost Chronicles on 12 Apr 2007
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Episode 305
The Cost of Living

I knew that someone would die this season because I have friends who have told me so. But apart from that, this is Lost; someone has to die. But to kill off Eko! No; that I find impossible to fathom and almost as impossible to accept.

However, I knew it would be Eko the minute Yemi appeared and told him it’s time for the final judgment. What else could it possibly be but death for the island’s resident priest and holy man? But why kill off Eko? What purpose does this serve to further the story line? I can’t see any purpose in his death other than to let us know that the monster is well and truly a monster. It’s not just a little smoke cloud like it’s been pretending to be.

The monster (lostzilla, as it has been named by fanatical fans) slamming Eko around is not something I am likely to forget in a hurry. It was cruel, it was monstrous, and it was so unexpected. And as puzzled as I am at the direction this show is going in, the writing is nothing less than superb. I love how the writers do this to us every time – lull us into a false sense of security and then strike when we are at our most vulnerable.

In previous seasons, Lost has followed a pattern almost; we had one truly excellent episode generally followed by a few mediocre or just plain good episodes. After last week’s incredible shock revelation moment, I didn’t think that this week’s episode would be that drastic. Yes people, I admit it, I became complacent and now I have paid the price.

Eko had been a man troubled by the things he had done in his life. As much as I think that Eko truly believes that he did the best with the life he was given, there is still a part of me that thinks that Eko doesn’t completely believe that. He struggled with the things he had done, and I can understand why. Eko was not an evil man, nor was he a bad man, in my opinion. He was forced into that life, and forced into becoming something he so obviously didn’t want to be.

RIP Eko. You will be missed.

If I was Bernard, I’d start worrying - Bernard is the only tailie left.

Something else I am sure we all want to discuss is that monster! Just what is it?? Apart from being ridiculously scared by it, it intrigues me as well. I can’t help but think that this monster is very selective. Danielle has been living on the island for 16 years, and it’s left her alone. The losties waltz in and out of the jungle and it hasn’t attacked anyone apart from the pilot, Locke and Eko so far.

Locke tells Eko that he saw bright light and it was beautiful. I’ve been thinking, for a while now, that lostzilla is a manifestation of the lostie’s fears. After this episode, I’ve changed my mind. Maybe it’s a manifestation of the losties deepest desires? Locke wants to believe so much that he has been “called” or chosen by the island, hence the white light. Eko wants to be free of the guilt he’s carried on his really muscular shoulders. Ah, but what about the pilot, you may ask. What about him? We don’t know what he “saw” or experienced before he died. But whatever the monster is, it’s mean and evil.

And it’s after Locke and co next!! Locke informs Sayid that Eko’s dying words were that they were next. Who? Locke? Sayid?

Meanwhile, in Otherville, Benry tells Jackass that he is the man with the tumour and Juliet tells Jackass that the Others are ready for a change and want his help in getting rid of Benry. Ooh. I don’t trust either of them!

I really don’t know if this is just another setup. On the one hand, I think that there seems to be a huge power struggle between Benry and Juliet. There is unspoken tension between the two, and I would loathe to find out that it’s because they were a couple at some stage. It wouldn’t surprise me, but how cliché would that be!

On the other hand, I just don’t trust either of them. Benry tells Jack that they had such a brilliant plan to break Jackass, how can we be so sure that this is not part of that plan? If I was Jackass, I’d thread very carefully, and not trust either of them. But it seems that there is some sort of “relationship” developing between Jack and Juliet. Very Dangerous. I’d suggest he Thread Carefully around her. Between her and Benry, I am not entirely sure who the more cunning, dangerous one is.

Questions to add to our ever growing list

• Pirate guy!!!! Just who is he? Where is he? Did he see them?

What we learnt this week

• Benry is tumour man. He wants Jackass to operate on him
• Juliet wants Jackass’s help to “get rid of” Benry
• Nikki and Paulo seem to be friends, or a couple
• Locke is all open and friendly now. What happened to secretive Locke who kept the hatch secret?

Screencaps that are really interesting!