The Man Behind the Curtain

When 'Lost' was in its prime, it was must-watch television. Remember first watching it, found it remarkably easy to get into, was hooked from the start and was on Season 3 by the end of one week. The general consensus is that the final season is a disappointment and cannot disagree.

Alongside "Not in Portland", "Flashes Before Your Eyes", "Enter 77", "The Man from Tallahassee", "One of Us" and "The Brig", "The Man Behind the Curtain" for me is one of the best Season 3 episodes up to this point of the season. Also feel that it is one of the best of Season 3 in general, one of the best episodes of 'Lost' up to this point and among the best of the show in general. Every aspect of "The Man Behind the Curtain" is brilliant and with all the trademarks for a 'Lost' classic.

The episode has pretty much everything that 'Lost' is all about. It's taut and thought-provoking, also providing some answers and surprises, with an edge-of-your-seat tension and a lot of emotion.

On top of all that, it advances characters, shows plot progression rather than repeating itself or being filler and there is some nice foreshadowing and a few shocking revelations. Ben's story is enthralling, with a superb mix of edge-of-your-seat tension and emotional impact. There is plenty of tension, fun and emotion everywhere else in the episode, the betrayal of Juliet and the events centred around it being the most intriguing.

Can't fault the performances, particularly from Michael Emerson, showing why he was one of the best and most consistent actors on 'Lost', and Sterling Beaumon as an intensely moving young Ben.

Nor the stylishness and atmosphere of the visuals, nor the effective use of music, taut writing and the tightly controlled direction (one of the best of the season and perhaps of the show).

In summary, brilliant and classic 'Lost'. 10/10 Bethany Cox

"The Man Behind the Curtain" shifts the focus to Ben Linus, providing a deeper understanding of his character through a series of revealing flashbacks. Directed by Bobby Roth, the episode begins with the survivors discovering Ben's true origins and his complex relationship with the mysterious Jacob.

Michael Emerson delivers an exceptional performance as Ben, portraying him with a mix of cunning, vulnerability, and menace. The flashbacks reveal Ben's traumatic childhood on the island, his strained relationship with his father, and his rise to power within the Others. These revelations add significant depth to Ben's character, making him both more sympathetic and more sinister.

The writing in "The Man Behind the Curtain" explores themes of power, manipulation, and the cost of leadership. The flashbacks are intricately woven into the narrative, providing crucial context for Ben's actions and motivations. The episode's focus on the mysterious figure of Jacob and the mythology of the island adds a layer of intrigue and complexity to the series.

The cinematography captures the episode's eerie and unsettling atmosphere, using creative camera angles and lighting to emphasize the island's mysteries. The editing ensures a smooth transition between flashbacks and present events, maintaining a steady pace throughout. The sound design, featuring suspenseful music and ambient island noises, heightens the episode's tension and mystical quality.

In conclusion, "The Man Behind the Curtain" is a compelling and revealing episode that delves deep into Ben Linus's character and the island's mythology. Michael Emerson's outstanding performance, combined with the strong writing, direction, and cinematography, creates a rich, engaging narrative that significantly enriches the series' overarching themes.

Review after review of people saying how great Locke is?

Wtf are you watching? Yes, the character is great. But Locke is NOT a good guy. He is NOT a hero. How many people have been killed for his quest? How many people does he use to get what HE wants? Every episode. Like the last one. He makes Sawyer kill his father, then takes the credit. 2 episodes ago, he blows up the submarine killing everyone's only chance to get off the island, because HE wants to stay. Boone died because Locke used him for another quest of his. Everything is always about Locke.

Sorry folks, you need to stop sticking up for this horrible character. Stop defending his self centered actions. Maybe look up what the writers knew that you don't seem to comprehend. Locke was never supposed to be a hero. Or the good guy. Does that make for a great character? Great drama? Yes. But thinking he ids the good guy doesn't say much for your morals. Jack should have killed him the second he admitted to blowing up the submarine I know I would have.. Get your head out of your ..., and stop defending a guy simply because he killed a boar. Big whoopie.

"The Man Behind the Curtain" had a huge impact on "Lost" fans and sent the countless internet fan sites into a frenzy. I was one of the many who was completely taken by the episode and found it a worthy way to cover a number of significant events, make a number of important revelations, introduce us to Ben's history (and to say that this episode failed to deliver a character story with real depth would be nitpicking, the script had a lot to accomplish and is mostly satisfactory), and still provide one or two surprises. Upon further reflection the episode's still very, very good, but remains a triumph of imagery and an iconic success more than an episode that works on many levels, as the best episodes on "Lost" do.

And the iconic imagery is plentiful indeed. The dolls, the cabin scene, the period DHARMA scenes, the patricide, the mass DHARMA grave, Alpert's surprise appearance, and even more scenes and images remain burned into every "Lost" fan's memory, surely. The performances help the episode attain its iconic status; imagine if Michael Emerson didn't have that indescribable look on his face, behind the gas mask, during the purge. If he hadn't been so convincing in the cabin. Imagine if the child actor playing Ben hadn't been as genuinely talented as he is, and had over-acted. It's an episode with a ton of information, and for those who watch the show only for the mystery and mythology it is paradise.

On the other hand, the episode, while it is still great entertainment in my estimation, doesn't do much else other than attempt to blow your mind with every successive scene with some sort of revelation or intentional bit of iconography. It's good entertainment, but doesn't have a truly cohesive emotional base on which it builds on. All things considered it's probably as good as it could have been- perfect and mind-blowing on first viewing, and iconic and entertaining on repeat viewings. The trouble with this is that on repeat viewings I start thinking about my reaction the first time I saw it, while when I watch truly great episodes, such as the one that came just before, "The Brig", I never flash back to my reaction on first viewing, but am totally drawn into that world all over again. The episode's not disappointing however, only in relation to its reputation as a classic. Also, the direction by series newcomer Bobby Roth is poor.

The Jonestown Massacre of 1978

There is a brief shot of dead people lying about the Dharmaville compound after Ben kills them with poisonous gas. The imagery of bodies strewn about the compound is a spooky reference to photos and camera footage from the Jonestown Massacre of 1978.

There are parallels between Dharmaville and Jonestown, as well. Both can be considered cults escaping the constraints of social pressure in order to pursue a more idyllic, enlightened lifestyle. "The Dharma Initiative" ran Dharmaville. "The People's Temple Agricultural Project" ran Jonestown. Both "The Dharma Initiative" and "The People's Temple Agricultural Project" contain religious elements in their names. Both Dharmaville and Jonestown had a cult like reverence for their leader. Dharmaville during the Others occupation had Ben, a manipulative schemer who claimed to have a personal relationship with the island 'deity' Jacob. Jonestown had Jim Jones, a manipulative schemer who claimed his cult status through more traditional religious beliefs.