LOST
Ab Aeterno,
or Richard’s History with the Island

I admit it – I’ve waited for Lost’s “Ab Aeterno” for two weeks!  I always wanted to know more about Richard and couldn’t wait until this episode to find out.  Little did I know that more questions about the island would be revealed and some answered?

Richard was living mostly unhappily in a Spanish speaking country with his wife and great love Isabella.  Isabella is sick and Richard (Ricardo) goes for a doctor.  Unhappy with the doctor’s attitude, he struggles with the doctor killing him.  This makes Richard guilty of murder and he finds Isabella has died upon returning home.  He asks for forgiveness which the priest would not give and he is sentenced to death by hanging.  Instead, he finds himself in chains on the Black Rock setting out for a life in service to a man named Hanso.   As they get near the island, a storm of hurricane proportions hits and one of his fellow slaves gets a glimpse outside and sees “the devil” (the statue and Smokey).  (By the way, thank goodness for subtitles!)

The boat goes inland due to the storm and Ricardo awakens to find many of his fellow slaves either injured, unconscious or dead.  Hanso comes down and proceeds to stab everyone who has survived because there is not enough food or water for all.  He gets to Richard and pulls back his arm only to have old Smokey show up.  Smokey proceeds to finish off everyone but Richard who is left alone, in chains, in the hold of the ship.

Richard tries to get free and during that time it starts to rain.  Richard isn’t able to get to the water his body desperately needs.  When next he awakens, it is to a vision of Isabella who tells him that they are in hell.  As she tries to help him, the sound of Smokey returns and Richard tells her to flee.  When she leaves the hold, he hears her screams from above.  I’m not sure exactly how much time passes, but he awakens soon after to find our enemy, the man in black sitting there who not only frees Richard and provides him with water but tries to recruit him to kill Jacob.  Old Smokey uses the usual trick, Jacob has Isabella.  The only way Richard can get her back is to kill Jacob before he speaks to him.

Richard goes out and finds the statue.  While looking for Jacob, Jacob finds him and a fight ensues.  Jacob then tells Richard that Smokey is the one who must stay on the island or darkness will come to the world.  It is Jacob who gives Richard purpose and Richard accepts Isabella is gone.  He buries her crucifix under a bench.

Of course, this is all prefaced with what we saw last week – Richard telling Jack they’re in hell and running off.  The opening is nicely bookended by the scene of Hurley finding Richard and acting as a “ghost whisperer” for a message from Isabella.  Richard, who had every intention of turning dark and answering Smokey’s call to service, instead listens to Isabella’s plea, feels her spirit and says goodbye.  He puts on the crucifix and good old Blocke lurks nearby.

Actually an excellent episode that convinces me that the finale will feature the ultimate battle between good and evil.  Spoilers say that no regulars will be in either the finale (or an episode near the end).  I can’t seem to confirm which is true here but I believe that it must be just as I believe that two of the Losties are destined to stay behind in this never ending battle of keeping total darkness away from the world.

So what do we learn last night.

1.  The island isn’t hell.
2.  Jacob cannot give Richard the absolution he craves or Isabella back but can grant him eternal life.
3.  Smokey has been trying to get off that island for many, many years.
4.  The island is a prison for Smokey and Jacob is the jailer.
5.  Richard’s faith has been tested.  I do not think yet that he’s made his final decision on the side he will ultimately find himself on
6.  Smokey thinks all men can be manipulated to his purpose but have found that it isn’t so he kills.
7.  Richard isn’t dead so neither are the Losties (except Blocke).

When I watched last night’s episode, I must admit I saw images of the suffering of Job in the life Richard faced.  Richard had to overcome the temptation of doing evil and turning the world to the darkness.  His life has been a series of temptations.  I would honestly believe that he is on the side of good except for one little thing.  The promotional pictures still have him seated on the baddies side.

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