Mikhail Bakunin: 'Deathproof'

[D-Roc]

Inspired by Quentin Tarantino's "Deathproof" - anyone seen that? Cracking film! Anyway, whilst this is NOT a theory, I want to put this out there as an alternative idea..

We all know how Mikhail has a handy knack of returning from certain death - the sonic fence, the harpoon..not to mention a few near misses (Flame Station and losing his eye - how DID he lose that by the way?) and an ass-kicking from Jin and Locke. Whilst I do believe that the one-eyed veteran is finally dead, I was thinking about the concept of human evolution and it made me think of Bakunin.

Evolution states that select humans respond to the changing environment in order to survive and move on to the next threshold of human existence. What if Mikhail has certain traitswhich enable him to survive harsh encounters? It's not unproven that some people are more resilient than others. Perhaps he has an advance genetic make-up that gives him that extra kick in the battle for survival? Maybe this was why he was employed by the Dharma punks in the first place?

Whilst I certainly believe that Mikhail IS dead, I also believe that his ability to survive surpassed that of 'normal' human beings due to his advanced genetic make-up.

To conclude, Mikhail may not ultimately be 'Deathproof' but he was a tough mutha-f..and as Kurt Russel's character found out, being deathproof, doesn't mean you can't die..it's just a matter of circumstance.

Will we see Mikhail again? Probably yes..but as a Emily/Boone/Ana (etc)-type vision, or what have you.

Originally posted: http://lost-play.com/mikhail-bakunin-deathproof

[Verix]

I've always liked this idea.

In heroes I kind of get annoyed how they simply say that evoloution has caused their abilities to appear. I mean, evolution doesn't and can't work like that. How would these abilities occur in one evolutionary leap.

They couldn't basically, certainly not on such a scale.

But this idea of resiliance when tied in with evolution could be a way for someone to expain super powers. For example over the years humans have evolved (un benonst to us) to become more and more resiliant against pain or maybe we evolved so that we need less blood in our bodies to survive. Such examples would mean someone could suffer massive blood loss or a great deal of torture in a seemingly super human way.

But sadly no comic or TV show has done this yet, though now that i've said that someone probably will.

[*SP*]

It's been a while since I watched any S3 so I'm maybe way off here. Just the thing about why he worked for Dharma in the first place. Do we know he did for sure? Was that not just part of his yarn to Sayid and Locke? I mean, if he was a true Dharma-ite would he not have been eliminated with the rest of them during the purge? And he seems to have an intense loyalty to Ben which flies in the face of what you'd expect from someone involved in Dharma. I know he was in a Dharma station but it's possible that Ben, Richard and co took command of the Flame after the purge. It would obviously be advantagous to have the communications station. Whereas they probably felt that they could just leave Kelvin/Radinski down in the Swan.

As for Mikhail's genetic make-up, I think he definately has a resilience beyond that of your average human. But perhaps he gets the full healing effects of the Island because of his unwavering faith, same way that Locke did when Ben shot him. Really Locke has survived a few encounters himself that could easily have resulted in his death. I know I'm in the minority here, but I'm not entirely convinced that Mikhail is finally dead. If Locke can survive a bullet in the torso at point blank range, it could take more than a grenade to get rid of Mikhail.

I hope we do find out what happened to Mikhail's eye. Yet at the same time, it does make him even more of an enigma.

[Verix]

I agree SP.

I never believed that Mikhail was ever part of Dharma, certainly there's very little evidence to suggest it but most people that i've spoken to just assumed that Mikhail became disalussioned with Dharma so switched sides... but personally with teh others methods of winning the war i can't see them approaching Mikhail nicely and asking whether he'd like to join them. For my money they'd either just kill him, or he was never a part of Dharma in the first place.

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted by *SP*

It's been a while since I watched any S3 so I'm maybe way off here. Just the thing about why he worked for Dharma in the first place. Do we know he did for sure? Was that not just part of his yarn to Sayid and Locke? I mean, if he was a true Dharma-ite would he not have been eliminated with the rest of them during the purge? And he seems to have an intense loyalty to Ben which flies in the face of what you'd expect from someone involved in Dharma. I know he was in a Dharma station but it's possible that Ben, Richard and co took command of the Flame after the purge. It would obviously be advantagous to have the communications station. Whereas they probably felt that they could just leave Kelvin/Radinski down in the Swan.

You could be right, maybe he didn't work for Dharma, but i'm 95% certain that he did.

I don't think he was purged because I assume he arrived later (i.e. after the first purge)..I reckon that he either saw the hypocrisy in Dharma methods (ala Kelvin, Rad) or he was given a choice of who's side to be on. As you mentioned the Others needed someone to operate the comms station and Mikhail was perhaps one of the few who could do that..and who were willing to follow Ben to the otherside. Just a guess. I also believed him when he told Sayid and Kate that he lied about the other stuff, but had told the truth about being a Dharma employee. I just don't think he'd bother lie after caving in about the other stuff. He also has an unhealthy obsession with that Dharma jumpsuit..I think he is the type of person to keep such a memento like tha..a way of giving Dharma the finger..he's that kind of twisty character

Of course the above is merely my 'suggestion'.

As for Mikhail's genetic make-up, I think he definately has a resilience beyond that of your average human. But perhaps he gets the full healing effects of the Island because of his unwavering faith, same way that Locke did when Ben shot him. Really Locke has survived a few encounters himself that could easily have resulted in his death. I know I'm in the minority here, but I'm not entirely convinced that Mikhail is finally dead. If Locke can survive a bullet in the torso at point blank range, it could take more than a grenade to get rid of Mikhail.

Good point about the island..I had overlooked the obvious with that one (though like many I had acknowledged it previously). No doubt the island helps facilitate healing and regeneration on that island. I would also like to think that after all that man has been through (Lost eye, wars, near deaths, etc) there is something unique or exceptional about his genes. He's also from a region where 'generally' people are physically tough due to the harsh natural conditions.. there's no irony in the fact his hero is Nadia Comenaci(sp). Some of the best atheletes and physical specimens (in terms of stamina etc) are from Eastern Europe (esp Russia, Ukraine, Romania).

Re him being dead or undead..hmm..I don't see how he could survive such an explosion. His limbs would've blown off and it's one thing losing an eye, but losing arms, lets and craniums..I think it's unlikely we'll be seeing him as a 'living' person again. But you never know.

I hope we do find out what happened to Mikhail's eye. Yet at the same time, it does make him even more of an enigma.

Indeed it does.
I recall making a connection which suggested that he was actually Radzinsky due to the glass eye the tailpeeps found in the Arrow hatch. This would consequently link him to the film edits and to the hatch (Swan) and to Kelvin..and walla: Mikky = Raddy..

Tho it seems like a pipe dream now..

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted by verix

I've always liked this idea.

Thanks

In heroes I kind of get annoyed how they simply say that evoloution has caused their abilities to appear. I mean, evolution doesn't and can't work like that. How would these abilities occur in one evolutionary leap.

Yes, Heroes works from a very specific forumla..you really have to watch it as if it were literally a comic book to become immersed in their world, I think However I do believe that it is possible for the leaps in evolution to become wider and wider with each stride. Of course 'Heroes' sensationalises the notion, but I am open minded to changes occuring overnight, if you will. But granted, you make an equally solid point.

They couldn't basically, certainly not on such a scale.

But this idea of resiliance when tied in with evolution could be a way for someone to expain super powers. For example over the years humans have evolved (un benonst to us) to become more and more resiliant against pain or maybe we evolved so that we need less blood in our bodies to survive. Such examples would mean someone could suffer massive blood loss or a great deal of torture in a seemingly super human way.

Yes, precisely

[Kiowa Warrior]

Poor Mikhail...I hope he really is deathproof and we do see him again, but I just can't see him surviving that underwater blast. If he does pop up again I reckon it will most likely be in flashback form - either on or off the island - that could hopefully explain just how he lost his eye.

I agree with points that Mikhail is a lot tougher and more resilient than a lot of others in general, since such traits would have made him very good at his profession and Dharma/the Others/whoever would most likely have picked up on them and who knows, maybe even enhanced them somehow.

As for his surviving all those various beatings and near death experiences, I think it's just a combination of his natural toughness and survival instinct as well as a lot of good luck. It is of course possible that, like Locke, his faith/dedication played a part in his survival, but unlike Locke I get the feeling that his faith, loyalty and devotion was for Ben and the cause in general that he was part of rather than for the island itself, and so I just don't think that the island itself helped heal him.

[D-Roc]

Thanks for the input Ki,

Just to add to this and draw from something you said, perhaps 'luck' does also play a role on island events? Afterall, luck can also be viewed as 'coincidence'.

I think that the notion of 'coincidence' is one which has a lot of mileage when it comes to LOST. Of course, I myself am a man of faith, but I do accept that there is something more than faith or fate or evolution at work here. I'm not specifically talking about Mikhail, but his 'deaths' can perhaps be used as a vehicle for such a notion, a notion which sugests that coincidence is more connected..or just as relevent as fate or any other notion.

I actually think that coincidence is fate inside out.

Bit of a tangent there but I didn't want to start a new thread on this.

Will add more over the months..