Sayid: Natural Born Killer
We were shown a brief history of Sayid's life as a killer, beginning with a flashback scene in Iraq. This scene of young Sayid and his brother "echoed" a scene of a young Mr. Eko and his brother in season two's "The 23rd Psalm." In both flashbacks, our main characters killed so that their brothers would not have to. Is this a hint that Sayid will later share Eko's fate and be killed by the smoke monster? I sure hope not!
In the next scene, young Ben gives Sayid the book "A Separate Reality." The book, which deals in part with mind-altering drugs, is a clear reference to a scene later in the episode, but I interpret it a bit differently. I think that the title itself suggests that the actions of our Losties in the past is creating a separate reality, or in others words, an alternate universe or timeline. That being said, I think this that this interpretation is simply a red herring because, afterall, "what happened, happened," right?
In Sayid's Moscow flashback, we see him pursue and execute the final Widmore associate on Ben's list. I thought that the victim's attempt to bribe Sayid was odd, considering that Sayid was there to kill him and could just take the money anyway after killing him. Afterwards, Sayid walks under a sign reading "Олдхэм Фармасьютикалс" in Russian, which translates to Oldham Pharmaceuticals (this will make sense in a later scene). Ben then informs Sayid that his work is done, that there is no one left to kill. Ben tells Sayid to "go live your life," but Sayid seems lost. Without Nadia, killing is the only life he knows.
Back on the island, Sawyer attempts to help Sayid, but Sayid is stubborn as usual. Sawyer asks Sayid how he is doing and Sayid responds with: "A twelve-year-old Ben Linus brought me a chicken salad sandwich. How do you think I’m doing?" Haha, poor, confused Sayid!
Sayid refuses to cooperate with the Dharma folk, so he is taken to Oldham, who appears to be a crazy hippie pharmacist who uses a truth serum to get information from his "patients." Also, Oldham is apparently a torturer as Sawyer tells Sayid that "he's our you."
The truth serum causes Sayid to go a bit wacky and reveal how he got to the island (both times), as well as what he knows about three of the Dharma stations: the Flame, the Pearl, and the Swan. This causes Radzinsky to freak out and label Sayid as a spy, especially since the Swan hadn't even been built yet. Sayid's confession that he is from the future, however, destroys his story's credibility.
While working for Build Our World in Santo Domingo, Sayid is visited by Ben, who informs Sayid that John Locke is dead. "I think he may have been murdered," says Ben. Hmm, I wonder why you would think that?! Haha! Anyway, Ben informs Sayid that a man has been outside the Santa Rosa Mental Health Institute watching Hurley for a week. Sayid asks Ben why he would just assume that he'll kill this man. Ben reasons that Sayid is capabilty of doing things most other men are not, and how killing is in Sayid's nature. Sayid basically says that he is wrong and that he does not like killing, but as the end of the episode shows, Ben was right and had his reasons for believing this.
Back on the island, the Dharma folk vote unanimously to kill Sayid. Sawyer makes one last attempt to save him, but Sayid seems to accept his fate, reasoning that he now knows why he is here. Soon thereafter, a fiery distraction allows young Ben to spring Sayid from his cell.
Flaming Dharma Van
While escaping, Sayid and Ben meet Jin in the jungle. Jin is knocked unconscious by Sayid when he attempts to radio Sawyer. Sayid bends down for Jin's gun and quietly says "You were right about me. I am a killer." After a moment of reflection, he looks up and shoots Ben in the chest. WHAT!?!? Sayid must think that he can change the future and this must be what he was talking about when he said he knew why he was here. The episode ends as Sayid runs from the scene.
So what does this mean for the timeline? Did this always happened? Was Sayid always meant to shoot Ben? This is what I believe: Sayid did not mess up the timeline because this is what was always destined to happen. Ben is not dead. He will recover and this will be one of the defining moments that transform him from a sweet, innocent, sandwich-making kid in 1977 to the cold-hearted, manipulative murder we all know and love.
Sayid: Bad-ass, time-traveling assassin or cold-hearted child killer?
For more information on this episode, including a full synopsis and transcript, visit the Lostpedia page for "He's Our You." Something worth checking out on this page is the Bloopers/Continuity Errors section. There has seemed be a major increase in the occurrence of continuity errors this season and Lostpedia does a good job of pointing them out.
Next week's episode, "Whatever Happened, Happened," is a Kate-centric episode. Check it out Wednesday, April 1st on ABC at 9/8c!
No comments:
Post a Comment