Official UK 4.09 The Shape of Things to Come Discussion Thread

[D-Roc]

SEASON 4 EPISODE 9:
'THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME'

This is the official discussion thread for Episode 4.09. This episode was shown on Sky One on 04/05/08.

Writers:

Director:

Episode Centric:

Synopsis

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Thread Status: OPEN!

Enjoy watching and discussing the episode!
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[D-Roc]

Shoot! thought I had opened this.

*opened*

[monster-eats-pilot]

Oh smokey I loved you in this eppy

[Him]

I have many thoughts on this episode (that I've decided to wait to post in the Sky pace thread for some bizarre reason):

Great, great episode. Extremely well paced, with lots of plot development, plenty of emotion and tension throughout, and a flashforward not to be sniffed at. Easily the best episode of the season. I thought it had everything you could ask for from a Lost episode. It even brought back ye olde games theme.

[Kennindra47]

Awesome episode

I shall just spurt out some random thoughts that come into my head ...

I think we can alllll agree that Ben is a murderer after this episode (I still like him though ) Having said that, I really hope he doesn't kill Penny Penny and Des have to be together. THEY JUST HAVE TO! lol

Oooo for once Bernard was actually of use. Shock horror I totally didn't get the true message though. "What are you talking about? The doctor is fine." If that isn't the doctor, then who the heck is he?

What has gotten into Locke recently? I understand Ben barracading himself in the house and not giving a crap about anybody else but I did not expect that from Locke At least Sawyer and Hurley had some balls. I'd still like to know how Claire survived that house explosion

Alex died! Nooooooo! I really liked her I can't believe would risk something so important to save his own skin .... or whatever he's trying to save

PMSL at Ben opening the piano stool and pulling out a shotgun. Does he have a shotgun in like every piece of furniture in that house or something?!

Pmsl at Hurley and Sawyers game too .... oo but the funniest moment has to be Kate's advice of "eating some crackers." I can't believe she said that to a neurosurgeon. I can just see Jack going, "Oh God yeah! Crackers! Why didn't I try that BEFORE the antibiotics?"

Really confused as to why Widmore will never find the island. Surely he already has I'm also confused as to why Ben can't kill widmore ... "We both know I can't do that." Btw anbody else think Widmore sounds like Maximus whatshisface out of Gladiator?

As for the hut with Jacob .... why is Hurley the only one who can find the cabin? How did Ben find it before he met Hurley?

Now we know that Ben can control the smoke monster. Does that mean he chose when Eko etc died?

Finally, one thing that's been bugging me. I wonder what Sayid would have done if Shannon hadn't died and then he found Nadia when he got off the island

[Beach Crew]

I adored this episode, and you'll have to excuse me but I'm going to gush about how wonderfully heroic Sawyer was, in fact, I think it deserves it's own thread, but we'll get to that.

Anyways. The flashforwards broke my heart! So Sayid found Nadia but then she died?! Why would they do that?! I wanted him to be happy with Nadia. It was so heartbreaking to see Sayid'd puppy dog eyes filled with tears. Poor lamb. Ben was interesting - by the end I was thinking the whole desert thing and Sayid was a setup but who knows. Also - Penny cannot die! Can-not!

On the island - this was brilliant. I have never screamed "Sawyer!", "James!", "Don't you dare!" and "Get away from the window!" so much . It was hilarious. I just kept screeching at him. But god, what a hero. He first wanted to resuce Karl and Co. and then went for Claire. That was beautiful. And he called her sweetheart. His love for Hurley also came through in this episode too. And he seemed to accept Miles. He was just so lovely, but kept his edge. Perfect. Sorry, I'm gushing. I did warn you.

Smokey! Wow. I didn't know smokey could do that! How incredible. And I loved how Miles ran, Hurley ran, Sawyer grabbed Claire and then they ran. I would've been long gone before the four of them

Alex! I can't believe she's dead. I kept saying "maybe she's just stunned?" but no, she was dead. Poor Ben. I really did feel sorry for him but I can't believe he would risk his daughters life. Still, it wasn't fair.

Um, what's wrong with Jack? His spleen? Appendix? Lol, I love how I presume the worst. Kate annoyed me "Have a cracker" - yes, because that helps

Anyways, I have so much more to say but I'm so giddy right now I can't think of them. Loved this episode so much. Best of season four by far!

[esn]

Great episode. A very different episode buyt a great episode none the less. It was almost like a thriller or a detective novel even (Moriaty reference anyone?). It still didnt reveal much though which was great. I actually reckon for acting, it was the top performance of the season.

I actually think that Sawyer was a bit of a hero, which make a change, and he didnt take any guff either which was good. And whilst Ben was creepy, I actually enjoyed his performance and it was great to see Bernard being of some use - must mean he dies next LOL. Im glad that Claire wasn't killed, but can't help but they are hinting at Claire dying this season in the same way they hinted for Charlie.

I wonder if Ben ordered that guy somehow to kill Nadia - or even just made Sayid think that he killed her just to manipulate him

Also, like the effect of both Ben and Charles' face been lit up half light, half dark, us still not knowing whos which - though that Moriaty reference might be a bit of a clue though

10/10 for the acting alone

[E Pluribus Unum]

Awesome episode..

Ben waking up in the middle of a desert was very similar to Des' waking up in "Flashes"
Ben seemed overally confident that Alex wouldn't be executed, a bluff perhaps but maybe it's because Ben has 'seen' or is able to 'restrict' what happens. Widmores "and it (the Island) will be mine again" could mean this 'ability' switches hands from Ben to Widmore, allowing Widmore to "change the rules"

What the hecky peck did Ben do to get Smokey to enter and then attack the hit squad?

Was it Ben who really had Nadia killed so that he could manipulate Sayid into working for him? The sinister smile would suggest so

Are Ben and Widmore as bad as each other, they seem happy to play 'games'; moving pieces and manipulating events without actually getting their own hands dirty. Is Widmore Ben's father?

What's up with Jacky boy? I can't imagine he's just a 'little ill', somethings gunna happen

The shootout was rather poor, I thought (although the subsequent Alex execution was surprising and expertly done). 3 extras run out and get shot in something reminiscent of Hot Shots and then Sawyer puts on his invisible 'bullet avoiding cloak'. He was hiding behind a picketfence for Petes sake!

[Easily confused]

I never would have believed that I could enjoy a Ben centric episode so much (but that in no way means that I am giving Ben the credit for making it so good)

Parts I enjoyed

Hurley, Sawyer and Locke and their interaction with each other
The phone ringing and door bell later on
Sawyer trying to save Claire (he has come along way from that selfish man that he was when he first arrived on the island)
Keamy and Alex - very well acted could so easily have been over done imo but it was kept simple
Bernard knowing morse code

Parts I didn’t enjoy

Jack telling everyone that the man with the slit throat has had his throat slit
Jack and his pill popping
Black smoke

Intriguing stuff

Ben and Wide more - oh so many questions - but the main one has to be why can’t Ben kill Wdemore and why can’t Widemore’s men kill Ben is it that maybe if one of them dies so does the other one ??

[firebreathingfishies]

I think the funniest part of that episode was Kate's 'have a cracker' bit. She just told Jack that she eats crackers when she has the runs I know, childish And Sawyer's face when Ben whipped out that gun

I loved this episode, by far the best one of season 4 along with the constant. I mean... smokey! And i was devestated when Alex got shot And Keemy... oh I love to hate that man. He's my new love-to-hate person

I can't really say anything else that's already been said... apart from

[Easily confused]

Originally Posted by Kenni

I totally didn't get the true message though. "What are you talking about? The doctor is fine." If that isn't the doctor, then who the heck is he?

my take on its that is all due to the time difference stuff ie as far as the boat people are concerned whatever happened to the doctor hasn’t happened on the boat yet and that’s why Daniel lied about the message as he doesn’t want the Losties to know about the time difference business as he seems to be cagey generally on that subject.

Originally Posted by Kenni

Really confused as to why Widmore will never find the island. Surely he already has

that’s what I thought too

Originally Posted by Kenni

Now we know that Ben can control the smoke monster. Does that mean he chose when Eko etc died?

that’s a very good point you must be right

Originally Posted by Beachy

I'm going to gush about how wonderfully heroic Sawyer was

wasn’t he just I have really fallen for him now

Originally Posted by Beachy

Sayid was a setup but who knows. Also - Penny cannot die! Can-not!

do you think Ben is expecting Sayid to kill Penny ?

Originally Posted by esn

I actually reckon for acting, it was the top performance of the season.

yeah I have to agree with you (well apart for some of the beach stuff) but definitely in the barracks the acting was top grade

Originally Posted by esn

I wonder if Ben ordered that guy somehow to kill Nadia

I wouldn’t be surprised either I can’t help think that Ben and Charles are working with and against each other at the same time there is certainly a lot more to their story than has been revealed so far

Originally Posted by EPU

Ben waking up in the mi