Lost, Season 6 – “The Candidate”
We were promised that some of the show’s most beloved characters wouldn’t make it to the final episode, and despite its flaws, “The Candidate” delivered on that promise. At least three longtime Losties and one minor fan-favorite took their final breaths this episode, and while it was very sad to see them go, the episode as a whole seemed a bit too rushed for their deaths to have much impact. So much happens in the course of this episode that I almost felt that many of the characters didn’t get a proper sendoff, but I guess with only three new episodes to go until the finale, the writers feel the need to get their asses in gear and get us to the finish line, characters be damned.
The episode picks up with Jack waking up in “Locke”‘s camp after being rescued from Widmore’s attack last episode. Locke convinces Jack to help rescue Sawyer and his band of mutineers from Widmore’s group, stating that he still needs them in order to get off the island. Jack agrees but says he’s not leaving. After springing Sawyer and company, they make their way to the Ajira plane, which “Locke” finds rigged with C4, courtesy of Widmore, he says. They then make their way to the sub, where “Locke” gets suckered again and winds up on the dock with Claire while the rest of the group makes a break for it. Everything seems fine until Jack finds the C4 in his backpack, rigged to a watch with less than four minutes to go until it blows. He tells the group that they should just leave it alone, hoping that the stunt he pulled with Richard on the Black Rock will work again this time. Sawyer doesn’t want to take that chance and unsuccessfully tries to defuse the bomb. Most of the group makes it to shore, but several others meet their doom on the sub.
Meanwhile, in the Flash Sideways story, Locke wakes up in a hospital bed, a little groggy but otherwise alive after his vehicular altercation with Desmond. Jack tells him that he would be a perfect “candidate” (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) for an experimental surgery that may grant him the use of his legs again. Locke refuses, which puzzles Jack, who tries to find out exactly how John lost the use of his legs. His search ultimately brings him to Locke’s father, Anthony Cooper, and Locke eventually tells him the story of how both he and his father got in an accident and why he doesn’t want to walk. If this is the same Anthony Cooper in this reality that Sawyer was looking for, then he’s in for a big disappointment when he finds him, if the writers even have time to further explore that plotline.
“The Candidate” did a lot to move the plot along, which is necessary if it hopes to achieve a satisfactory ending. It seemed, however, that this episode was trying to do too much and ultimately wound up not doing much for me. The two big twists of the previous episode (Sawyer and company being taken captive by Widmore’s group and Jack being taken in by “Locke”‘s camp) didn’t really amount to much of anything other than getting all the characters together one more time, and the flash sideways, while important in showing more of Locke’s story, failed to have much of a narrative tie to the events on the island. Also, as mentioned before, the deaths in this episode, while significant, failed to have much effect since they occurred with so much else going on. But I guess that’s the price we pay for following a show with such a large ensemble cast and with such a huge, overarching plot. Here’s hoping that the final three episodes will have more of the balance of plot and character that we have come to expect from Lost. “The Candidate” earns only 3 out of 5 Tearful Farewells.
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PoP! Top Six-Pack: Joss Whedon Character Deaths – Focusing on the deaths of more beloved TV characters
Did you even watch the episode? He did find Anthony Cooper. You left a lot out.
Julie–
I had to read that part twice to understand what the writer meant. He means if SAWYER tracks down the con man who caused his parents’ deaths, he will find the catatonic Anthony Cooper, and won’t feel any satisfaction from getting “revenge.”
I thought I made that clear…sorry. And why no Fred and Wesley?!!
I agree with the article’s analysis, this episode was poorly constructed and written, it rushed through scenes for no purpose other then to get through. After six years, it ended the lives of 3 important characters in such a trite manner. Jin, Sun and Sayid deserved more attention and care. Not rewarding after seeing these characers through their lives on screen for six years.
Pissed that they killed off Shaggy. He was my favorite character!
Ben, I’m sorry, I couldn’t disagree more.
1) The point of this flash sideways was to show Jack beginning to realize the connection between the 815 passengers. Locke, Bernard and Rose, and Claire… all on the same flight? Jack’s starting to put the pieces together. We also got the scene of Locke’s fever dream of the main reality. I’m also going to guess Locke’s plane got grounded by some sort of EMP, and I’m thinking we may see that by the final episode. This flash sideways was about connectivity.
2) Two of the deaths had my stomach turning. At first I thought they’d make it, and then, by the time I realized they wouldn’t, I literally felt sick. Mind you, something about Hurley and Jack’s emotional reactions took me OUT of that moment, but… whatever.
3) The one person that we didn’t see ACTUALLY die may not be dead. It would be very Lost (reminiscent of Season 3, in fact) to see that character show up alive and well just in time to save the day somewhere down the (very short) line.
4) The fourth person? Do we believe he CAN die at this point? I mean, sure, maybe. And if so, you’re right – they sold him a bit short. But, that said, that’s kind of the way that HAD to happen, no?
@ Kerouac
Regarding the flash-sideways: Yeah, I got that, but it could not have been presented in a more uninteresting way to me. At least John saying “Push the button” and “I wish you had believed me” in his sleep were kind of cool. They’re definitely going somewhere with this, but it just didn’t hook me like it has in previous episodes.
Two of the deaths were pretty emotional, but the first one seemed like a real disservice to such a complex character. That said, you’re right, we haven’t seen a body yet, so ya never know.
3 out of 5? I would of given it a 4 out of 5.
I shed a tear for the Titanic ending scene. I wasn’t expecting Sayid to take the bomb with him like that. With just a few more episodes left, I hope the island doesn’t end up becoming a dream sequence courtesy of alt reality Locke when he falls sleep.
It was still sad!!!!!!!!!!!
Why has everyone forgotten Frank!? T_T”
(Kerouac & the beginning of the article mentioned him, but the rest of the commenters, along with the characters in the show all did…)
<:-(
Frank will definitely be missed.
Psst… it’s because he’s not dead.
Why wouldn’t he be? Is there something we still need to know about him? Is there a one-liner he hasn’t uttered yet that the audience must hear?
Here’s how I see it:
Lapidus was knocked unconscious and everyone’s supposed to think he’s dead. But he’ll have been swept out of the sub and washed safely ashore. The remaining Losties will be in a dire situation, likely held at gunpoint, when their captor will be shot. Lapidus will be standing there, gun smoking. “Frank!? We thought you were a goner” “I go knocked out and washed up on shore. I’ve been trying to catch up to -” BANG. Frank will be shot dead.
It’s the kind of holy crap thing they did with Mikhail before. I could totally see it happening.
Before the bomb goes off it seems like Jack and Sayid turn back into the characters they used to be. It’s only for a few moments but I really liked that.
Like Jason said. The plane is still in play, so must Lapidus. The Island demands it!
You claim that almost too much happened, yet it takes you two small paragraphs to recap the plot. I didn’t get a rushed sense at all. Not much happened in my opinion, but in a good way. If that makes sense. lol.
And I love Lapidus but god he better be dead. I don’t want him showing up somewhere.
I’ve always thought Lapidus was there for a particular reason. I mean, he’s tied to the island as much as the others with the exception of not being in the pilot’s seat on the first episode. Plus, I’ve enjoyed the heck out of the character. I could just be hoping.
At any rate, let’s not forget the rule from the comics: If you don’t see the body, they aren’t dead.
Not to mention what happens when the two timelines get merged. Will we get our friends back since they are alive over there?