Metropolis Pt 1

"It only ends once, anything that happens before that is just progress" - Jacob, Lost

The season five finale of Lost may have had the best opening scene, ever. Immediately we see the statue, the Black Rock, Jacob [and Cerberus] and in one scene the scope of the overall story dramatically increased, revealing the epic nature we have been waiting for. My only disappointment, is that I now wish we hadn't seen the statue earlier this season. If this had been our first view of it since season two, the dramatic impact would have been more intense. As the story spirals out further each season, we see that the conflicts of the main characters are insignificant to the overall story, and they only are significant in particular events of history. But , it would seem the overall conflict involves Jacob and "Man #2", shown in a black/white dichotomy. This episode had a very biblical feel to it, and this character may be Esau, as they were both mentioned in the fictional book Bad Twin. There are also overtones of Cain/Abel and Set/Osiris. I suspect, however, that the Jacob / Nemesis situation may not be as simple as we have been shown and perhaps some of what has been attributed to Jacob may in fact be his other (i.e. the cabin). It would also seem that the Cerberus monster fits in here somewhere. At this point the Nemesis and Locke (or Locke-2) would seem to be the best candidate for being the monster, as he appeared after Ben summoned him. This all seems to go back to the first episode, when Locke was explaining backgammon: "Two players. Two sides. One is light, one is dark."

I suspect that the time loop flight 815 is caught in may only be part of a larger time cycle. This is why the island "is not done" with certain people, and why when these people try to do things like kill themselves they are told "the island won't let you." Because this all may have happened already and can't be changed. Jacob clearly represents freewill and freedom of choice, emphasizing to each person he encounters the freedom of their choice. This is a polar opposition to the notions of fate and destiny we have seen attributed to the island. Perhaps this has to do with Jacob's nemesis, the two of them defining the archetypes of opposing groups on the island. These differing schools of thought are played out by evermore social groups of "others" who are constantly changing and reforming. The Nemesis takes a pessimistic viewpoint and views newcomers as ones who "fight, destroy and corrupt", while Jacob is more social and optimistic, unconcerned about the future. This would fit with the Nemesis being the monster, the security system of the island. The theme of immortality is also introduced , and besides Richard, it seems that Jacob is an immortal, unable to die, yet ready for it. Finally, everything has changed, reversed, with this episode and its white ending. The season 6 teaser shows eyes opening, presumably Juliet, though they have become a different color [1]. I propose that the explosion will neither destroy the island or reverse time, but rather propel the survivors back to their original time, where their exile and search for meaning will continue.

As a side note, I still believe that Desmond is a major part of the center of the story (he is certainly is the dramatic center). So far he has been the only one to experience two timelines, or rather a changing single timeline, making him "special. He seems to me to be a Christ figure, although that may have something to do with Henry Ian Cusak once playing Jesus. After he imploded the hatch he traveled back to his former life, and then was forced to choose returning to the island, although changed. This echoes Christ's decent into hell and resurrection (and I mean that in a Last Temptation sort of way.) He may be the one that saves them after all.


I am reminded of the Dream Theater song Metropolis, inspired by the ancient tale of Romulus and Remus. In this rendition, the two twins are locked in conflict throughout time in the lives of others. In any case, the underlying tone of this episode evoked this song in my mind.

The smile of dawn
Arrived in early May
She carried a gift from her home
The night shed a tear
To tell her of fear
And of sorrow and pain
She'll never outgrow

Death is the first dance, eternal

There's no more freedom
The both of you will be
confined to this mind

I was told there's a miracle for each day that I try
I was told there's a new love that's born for each one that has died
I was told there'd be no one to call on when I feel alone and afraid
I was told if you dream of the next world
You'll find yourself swimming in a lake of fire

As a child, I thought I could live without pain without sorrow
But as a man Ive found its all caught up with me
Im asleep yet Im so afraid

Somewhere like a scene from a memory
Theres a picture worth a thousand words
Eluding stares from faces before me
It hides away and will never be heard of again

Deceit is the second without end

The citys cold blood teaches us to survive
Just keep my heart in your eyes and well stay alive

The third arrives...

Before the leaves have fallen
Before we lock the doors
There must be a third and last dance
This one will last forever
Metropolis watches and thoughtfully smiles
Shes taken you to your home

It can only take place
When the struggle between our children has ended
Now the miracle and the sleeper know that the third is love

-Dream Theater, Metropolis from Images & Words, 1992


[1] Read Lost is a Game for an extraordinary theory of the show. While I'm not convinced its the absolute solution, his research and attention to recurring details is amazing (the change in eye color, for example)