Isn't it interesting how this last episode, "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" contrasts Widmore and Ben? For one brief hour, they seemed so completely polarized that you could be sure Widmore was the "good guy." Yet we know he's a cocky, greedy, and ambitious. And he got exiled from the island! That doesn't happen just because you were late for campfire songs! In truth the only thing that could potentially deem him is the fact he has (had?) a daughter which makes him a little closer than human. Compared to Ben, who has been completely transparent about the fact he cares only for himself, for a moment in time, Widmore might have won our affections with the kindness he showed to Locke.
Personally, though I doubt this is an intended connection, I remembered back in my high school days a little computer game called Myst (hey! wasn't that about an island too?) In that game their were two brothers locked away and you inevitably had to choose which of the evils you would help. So having to choose between the two of them, who would you side with?
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3 comments:
I LOVED Myst! It was the best game!!
But I think I am more on Widmore's side right now. Ben has never done anything but lie and has proven himself to have zero conscience when it comes to others' lives ("Not my problem" and "so?" come to mind when people have pleaded with him for the lives of others.)
What makes Widmore so evil? We still don't know for sure WHY he wants to get to the island, but he's as ruthless as Ben, I guess, when it comes to murder. (A large freighter with a scary military man who hunts me in my nightmares comes to mind.) But Ben killed an entire colony of people, so you're right, they're pretty much in the same handbasket... I just don't believe what Ben says about Widmore, that he wants to exploit the island for money. I just don't know what else it would be.
P.S. - Do you ever read EW? http://www.ew.com/ew/package/0,,1550612,00.html
I'm not sure that I have enough info on Widmore to really make a choice. We know little of him, granted what we know of Ben is not good but we have seen much more of his life and actions.
Obviously choosing between the two I would choose the lesser of the two evils, but don't feel I can fully say that is Widmore at this point.
Both Ben and Widmore did want all of the Oceanic 6 to return to the island so they must have some things in common.
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