Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A | 904 USERS: A YOU GRADE IT Ben, You're Always Running Here and There
By Cindy McLennan | Season 6 | Episode 7 | Aired on 2010.03.09
Ben tries to offer his help to Ilana, but she ignores him. Once Miles is out of earshot, Ben adds, "You know -- psychics..." He doesn't say piffle, but it's so very implied. "Totally unreliable. Miles actually tried to blackmail me, once, into...." Ilana walks off. Frank follows at a respectful distance, and never looks at Ben, even as he cracks, "You make friends easy -- dontcha?"
L.A. Reality: While waiting for a frozen meal to heat up, Ben catches sight of his reflection in the microwave door. I love how they've carried this theme through the season. He's making this frozen organic (and not "Lean") dinner for his father, Rotten Roger, who's sporting a nasal cannula for oxygen, and very little hair. I can't decide if he's balding in an old-man way, or in an old-man way combined with an old-man-with-cancer way. Between the hair and the air, I can't help but think of Miles' mother, Lara, and wonder how many other Dharma refugees are now ill. And that's totally relevant, because...
In the course of conversation Sideways Roger reveals that he and Sideways Ben were with the Dharma Initiative years ago. When Ben expresses dissatisfaction with his professional life, Roger feels for him. "This isn't the life I wanted for you, Ben. I wanted so much more." He wonders aloud, "Imagine how different our lives would have been if we'd stayed [with Dharma]." Ben patronizes him. "Yes, we'd have both lived happily ever after." Roger emphasizes that he's serious. "Who knows what you would have become?" Ooh, ooh. I do. I do. Ben switches out Roger's old oxygen tank for a new one, and I can't help but remember that in the old world he gassed his father to death, where in this brave new one, he's gassing him to life.
The doorbell rings, and it's none other than Ben's favorite student, Alex! She was concerned when she got to history club and he wasn't there. He apologizes for not leaving a note and explains about covering detention. After joking, "What'd you do," Alex explains she was counting on some help studying for her AP History exam, so they make plans to meet the next morning at 7:00, in the library. Alex is buying the coffee. Alex is also showing too much cleavage for a high school student who has just popped in on her old-maid-man teacher, but what do I know?