Orchid - Greenhouse Effect

[D-Roc]

I love the idea that the Orchid is a "greenhouse". Even though that was probably a ruse to fool all of the dharma lower-ranks, it's still a good potential analogy for what is about to happen in the upcoming episodes - that is, moving the island.

Consider a greenhouse at it's literal definition - a structure which seperates one environment from another - that is, the outside from the newly harvested inside environment. This is effectively what moving the island could entail. Whether the island will be moved through time or moved through space (physically), it will..or 'could' end up in a different environment. From the slight change, to the extremes of a much hotter (desert) or much cold (artic) environment. Ben himself said that the nature of moving the island isn't an exact science..it presumably relies upon 'variables' which can either move the island through time or through space to a slight degree..or a large degree.

This is potentially backed-up by Ben's presumed time-travelling in "Shape of Things to Come" when he suddenly appeared in Tunsia...wearing a jacket suitable for much colder climes. In a nutshell we had the two extremes..extremely hot and extremely cold.

I just like the idea of the Orchid being a 'greenhouse', because it looks set to literally seperate the island from it's original..or rather 'current' environment.

Also..maybe it's just me and my Other-addiction. But i couldn't help but think back to what Tom said to Jack about stones and glass houses, when Ben mentioned that the Orchid was a greenhouse. Not a connection, but it just made me smile.

[D-Roc]

Hurley: "Right, well how are we gonna do that (move the island)?"

Ben: "Very carefully.."

great stuff

[D-Roc]

Interesting that Ben now believes that it's time to move the island - Hurley asks the question of why he didn't just do it before.I like Ben's reponse that "it's a measure of last resort", as it highlights the fact that the man is a strategist..I guess he said it best when he told locke that he ALWAYS has a plan.

Also, I find it interesting to consider that Ben believes that this is his last resort - meaning that he truely believes that there are no other viable options..no other 'choices' which could yield him and the island success. Is this another subtle shout to the notion that Ben can either see, or has retain snippets from the future/past of this very event? Probably not, but I like the way that his 'last resort' line can be compared with the notion of freewill and choice. Ben is choosing to move the island, but in reality he 'has' to.

..and from a man who deems destiny a 'fickle so and so'. I just find him so intresting in this episode..from sitting on the wings in the previous episode, to taking charge in this one. Nothing happened except dowing half and apollo bar and Locke telling him what Jacob had said..

I guess Ben also needs direction at times, and Jacob's further instructions have refueled his desire and resharpened his focus

[TheDharmaShark]

Theres so much to think about with all this, like, what is actually in the Orchid? If theres some sort of teleportation device, how are they going to use it to move an entire Island, if its the same thing Ben was using?

[D-Roc]

I always considered the moving through time and space to be more spiritually achieved rather than scientifically - however it would appear that the Orchid's method of 'moving the island' is hard cold science..perhaps it's hybridised with some ancient island property which facilities such movement.

I still think that Hurley has an important role to play in the moving of the island, however - it hasn't been lost on me that he moved Jacob's cabin from within the ash circle. I think his minds-eye could play a role. but again, at the moment the Orchid would appear to be scientific in it's operation.

Should be interesting.