Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A+ | 8136 USERS: C YOU GRADE IT L'chaim!
By Cindy McLennan | Season 5 | Episode 12 | Aired on 2009.04.08
1989; Jungle; Nighttime: What the hell is that? Two minutes ago, I would have told you that Michael Emerson could sell anything. And? I would have been lying like my name was Benjamin Linus, because you know what he can't play? A guy thirty years younger. I kid you not. The whole scene is a(n unintentional) sight gag that defies description other than perhaps HaaaaaaaaaWIGheeeeeeeee! BoyScoutUniformSNORRRRRRRRRRRT heeehaaahoooooo! so see for yourself.. Since they obviously thought Tom Connolly was too young to pull off Charles Widmore circa 1977, whatever made them think Emerson could play Ben in 1989, about a month after the character's 24th birthday? I think I might have more readily accepted young Sterling Beaumon as Ben in this time period. Oh my. I have to get back on track. Everyone close your eyes, wave your hands, because no matter what they tell you, sometimes even seeing isn't believing.
Anyhow, it's 1989. Ben has a 12-year-old Ethan "Rom" Goodspeed (Devon Gearhart) with him, and they're stalking poor, post-partum Danielle Rousseau. A spooky little rat bastard, even at age 12, Ethan says, "You want me to do it?" Ben shushes him or (perhaps our laughter at the absurdity of his appearance) but Ethan persists that he can do it if Ben wants him to. Ben tells him to shut up, stay put, and then goes in for the kill.