Eight Men Out - Elite Eight Breakdown - Part One

During the past two rounds of the DarkUFO Character Cup, I have enjoyed writing some predictions and reflections on the outcomes of the tournament. The characters on the show itself are interesting enough, but viewer reactions to the characters are equally fascinating. I think that I have already expressed my predictions about the outcome very clearly. I feel tempted to alter my rankings slightly, and move both Jack and Sawyer ahead a few spots in light of their impressive victories against stiff competition. However, I would rather not be like one of the many prognosticators who picked the Colts to win the Super Bowl, then picked the Patriots to win the AFC Championship, and then looked like fools for doubting themselves. I will stick with my original rankings, which in light of the most recent developments, now become: (8) Michael, (7) Eko, (6) Charlie, (5) Jack, (4) Desmond, (3) Sawyer, (2) Hurley, and (1) Locke.

This cast of remaining characters in the Quarterfinals presents an unusual spectrum of male characters characteristic of the show’s quality. On the surface, they seem to possess some superficial similarities: they are all very physically attractive, with the possible exceptions of Locke and Hurley, but many people see beauty even in those unconventional faces. At times, each man has been capable of acts of great heroism. Each one is a physically strong and probably capable of beating the large majority of the population in a fight. More importantly, though, they all demonstrate tremendous degrees of emotional vulnerability. They struggle. They suffer. Their suffering, more than anything, draws us to identify with them. I think that anyone could make a compelling argument that any of these characters deserves the title of Lost’s finest creation. Sadly, all of these characters except one are bound to fall. In honor of the departed, I have decided to count down each of their five best moments, Charlie-Pace-style. I hope you enjoy reading.

Michael’s Greatest Hits

As much as any other main character on Lost, Michael Dawson represents a lightning rod for negative criticisms. The writers seemingly have made extraordinary efforts to ensure that audiences will dislike him. He spent a great deal of time during the first two seasons in shouting matches with fan favorites Locke and Sawyer. He freed Henry Gale and killed AnaLucia and Libby, just as the two characters were starting to grow on people. He betrayed Jack, Kate, and Sawyer, left everyone other than himself and his son to die on the island. Underneath all of these surface flaws, though, there lies a tragic, touching story about a man who only wanted the best for his son, even though fate had other plans. Many of our favorite Lost characters have killed other people for much less admirable reasons. Who are we to judge him?

On Lost discussion boards, people also enjoy launching constant complaints about Harold Perrineau’s acting. I think that most of these criticisms against him are unfair. For the record, Harold was asked to scream ‘Walt!’ four times in Exodus, ten times in Adrift, and five times in And Found. Realistically, I don’t know of any actor who could remain compelling screaming someone’s name nineteen times over the span of three episodes. Also, I’m sure that if I were in Michael’s situation, I would have screamed his name many more times than nineteen. Regardless of these complaints though, Harold has shown time and again that his acting can shine through whenever the writers give him a decent chance. Even after writing an impassioned defense of Michael, though, I understand that he stands no chance of advancing any further in this tournament. Here are my five favorite Michael moments.

5. “I'm not giving you anybody.” (Exodus)

Sawyer once claimed that Michael did not give a damn about anyone except himself and his kid. Michael’s words in this instance showed that Sawyer’s assessment was not always the case. One cannot help but admire Michael’s initial reaction to the Others, one of uncompromising defiance. Even though he had spent the entire season constantly at odds with Jin and Sawyer, Michael did stand up for them too. Sadly, though, the Others later succeeded in breaking him down. He eventually compromised all of his principles, but only after weeks of overwhelming pressure. I wish that Michael had remained true to his original stance, unwilling to sacrifice anyone. (On a personal note, Walt’s abduction holds special significance for me because it was the first Lost scene I ever watched. Even though I had no sense of his back-story, the scene still had a devastating impact, and inspired me to keep watching.)

4. “They keep it guarded 24/7. 2 guards, 2 guns. And 2 guns is all I saw. They're barely armed. Most of them are old and half of them are women. I wanted -- I couldn't save him. So I came back to tell you -- tell you that we can take them. As soon as I get my strength back, I will take us back there. And we are going to get my boy back.” (Two for the Road)

ABC spoils many great scenes through commercials, and I truly wish that they had not revealed this gem early. How could they resist though? He gives such a rousing speech that everyone would want to find out what happened next. Even though Michael was being dishonest about his intentions here, I still get chills every time I watch this scene. If there was one scene from Lost that could be broadcast on the scoreboards at football games, Michael’s speech would be the one. No other moment on Lost has made me feel so inspired to go out and fight against ‘Them,’ whoever they are. As much as we try to analyze the concepts of Other-ness on Lost objectively, it’s impossible not to identify with these feelings on some level. I am sure that there must be some sort of evolutionary chemical trigger inside the brain that causes this sensation, a relic from our origins as tribes competing for survival. When Michael said ‘We can take them!,’ I was ready to get up off of my couch and go to war.

3. “What are we talking about doing now? Looking for another excuse to get chased down and killed by whatever lives in the jungle? Guys, we can't keep doing this. Building water filtration systems? Playing golf? Making a sweet little home here? We need to get off this island. […] I have a suggestion. Yeah, we build a raft.” (Special)

The raft story was a great addition to the Season One storyline, and it makes perfect sense that Michael came up with the idea. Not only is Michael the person most obsessed with getting himself off the island, but Michael was also the most capable at undertaking such a construction project. Things worked out for Tom Hanks with a much lesser raft, but they did not work out quite as well for Michael Dawson. There was not a single character who thought that Michael’s plan would fail. Most likely, the plan would have succeeded on an ordinary island, and Michael would have been the man responsible for their rescue. He did not want credit, but he just wanted to leave. Unfortunately for Mike, though, he was not on any ordinary island.

2. “We tried. It just didn't work out, so -- our lives, our interests -- we just went in different directions. You never saw me because your Mom didn't want me to. She did what she thought was best for you.” (Exodus)

Michael is certainly lying here, but for a good cause. Michael tried very hard to be a part of Walt’s life, but Susan did not make any effort to make things work. Michael could have blamed Susan entirely for alienating him from his son, and he would have been completely justified in doing so. Nevertheless, he chose to take the high road. Out of respect of Walt and his mother, Michael forgave her for what she did, and even shifted half of the blame onto himself. There was no real need for Walt to know the details of his custody battle, so he spared his son any grief. Not many people can swallow their pride on such a sensitive issue so easily.

1. “But, you know what? I just want you to know that no matter where you go that I -- that your daddy -- yeah, your daddy -- he loves you very, very much. And I always will. Always, okay.” (Adrift)

Fatherhood is a major theme on Lost, but nearly all of these paternal figures are portrayed negatively. (Aside from the delightful Mr. Kwon) Has any other father on Lost ever said anything comparable to what Michael told young Walt? How much misery might have been spared by all of the characters if their fathers had taken the time to make such a promise to their children? You can question Mike’s actions all you wish, but it is much harder to dispute the purity of his intentions.

One last word on Michael, though: his best is yet to come.

Eko’s Greatest Hits

Mr. Eko represents of an anomaly in this Elite Eight. He always considered himself to be a loner, and did not define himself through personal relationships. The only relationships that truly mattered to him were those with his dead brother and his god. His journey on the island was a much more personal, spiritual journey than anything else. Here are my top five Eko moments.

5. “No. Go. Go. And tell your friends that I let you live -- that Mr. Eko let you live.” (The 23rd Psalm)

Physically, Mr. Eko is a force of nature. He was able to carry around Sawyer, a man of above-average physique, like a rag doll. Using nothing except his hands and the occasional knife or club, Eko retains the ability to defend himself against one, two, or three men with ease. Whether fighting against two Moroccan drug dealers, three Nigerian warlords, two Others operatives, or three crash survivors, none of these teams could match his strength. The power to kill is quite impressive, but Eko embraced an even more remarkable power. Even though he had the ability to kill effortlessly, Eko eventually decided to pursue a peaceful existence. Whether or not you agree with his religious beliefs, you still must respect Eko’s decision to achieve greatness as a priest rather than a warlord.

4. “Please. What do you want? Peace? Revenge? Justice? And you are going out with all these guns? What do you want?” (Collision)

Many of the most popular characters on Lost tend to use guns very often. During his tenure on the series, we witnessed Mr. Eko using a gun only once, as a small child. Eko understood that a gun is a coward’s weapon, and by all accounts he managed to survive ruthless life circumstances without them. With a different value system, Eko believed that a scripture stick was his best self-defense, and that the scripture kept him every bit as safe as the stick itself. As a whole, the episode Collision works as a brilliant cautionary tale about the dangers of gun possession. In this particular quote, Eko himself became a bit preachy on the subject, but he can get away with it because he happens to be an actual preacher.

3. “This cross was worn by my brother, Yemi. Yemi was a great man, a priest, a man of God. And because I betrayed him he was shot and died. He was placed on a plane which took off from an airstrip in Nigeria half a world from here. Then, the plane that I was on crashed on this island. And somehow, here, I found my brother again. I found him in the same plane that took off from Nigeria. In the same plane that lies above us now -- that has concealed this place. And I took this cross from around Yemi's neck and put it back on mine, just as it was on the day I first took another man's life. So let me ask you -- how can you say this is meaningless?” (Question Mark)

During Season Two, as Locke’s belief in the island began to waver, Mr. Eko assumed the mantle as the show’s resident man of faith. Both men had reason to believe that the island was a special place, as it made them whole again in different ways. Eko’s miracle may have not been a physical one, but it remains equally remarkable nonetheless. It was Immanuel Kant (my favorite philsopher by the way) who pointed out that absolute belief in a higher power was an equally credible stance as the absolute belief that there was no higher power. Without any way to observe the unseen forces at work in the world, one person’s guess is as good as the next. The majority of the world’s population believes in one faith or another, and Eko’s words remind us that no one is in any position to tell them that they are wrong.

2. “I was not afraid of it.” (The 23rd Psalm)

Charlie was correct: most people run when they see a creature made of swirling black smoke. Mr. Eko does not react like most people. In watching Eko confront the Smoke Monster, one gets the sense that just about anything could have popped out of the jungle and he would have had the same reaction. He could have been staring at a polar bear or an army or the devil himself, and he still would have remained standing without any fear. Eko absolutely refused to let anyone intimidate him in life, whether man, beast, or monster. He was at peace with himself, and believed that cowardice in the face of a threat would be worse than death itself.

1. “I ask for no forgiveness, Father, for I have not sinned. I have only done what I needed to do to survive. A small boy once asked me if I was a bad man. If I could answer him now, I would tell him that … when I was a young boy, I killed a man to save my brother’s life. I am not sorry for this. I am proud of this! I did not ask for the life that I was given, but it was given nonetheless. And with it, I did my best.” (The Cost of Living)

Eko made many memorable speeches throughout his one-year era on the show, but none more memorable than his last one. He died the way he lived: apologizing to no one, and answering only to his god. I consider his final statement to be the most meaningful quote on Lost. Ostensibly, Eko is only talking about himself here. However, the quote could apply just as easily to any of the other main characters. None of them asked for the lives they were given, but they each tried to make the most of it. Eko’s example is remarkable, because he lived with an absolute courage in the face of any punishment, whether in this life or the next.


Charlie’s Greatest Hits

At the time of writing this piece, it appears that Charlie will indeed be eliminated from the Cup by his mate Desmond. Cusick only appeared in about half of the episodes as Monaghan did, and maybe our judgments of him will differ as soon as he catches up. Charlie's legacy in the show's history is a unique one. Will we remember the weakness of Fire and Water, or will we remember the strength of Greatest Hits? Here are my top five Charlie moments, although noticeably different from Charlie's own list.

5. “Just like you ordered. Oh, there is one thing. It's extra smooth. […] It's full, full to the brim, with stick to the roof of your mouth, oh, god, makes you want a glass of milk extra smooth. It's the best bloody peanut butter I've ever tasted. You want some?” (Confidence Man)

Since the very beginning of Season One, the Charlie and Claire dynamic has been one of the brightest spots of the series. Many men would be turned off by a ‘ticking time bomb of responsibility,’ but Charlie embraced the idea. Even when Claire’s pregnancy seemed to remove all sexual tension, their love story remained as delightful as any relationship on television. Charlie’s devotion to Claire is truly touching, and many of their interactions represent the happiest moments on the series. The peanut butter scenes provide the best example of their special rapport; Charlie was not merely trying to score points with his girl, but he was genuinely concerned with improving her well-being. Sometimes a mere gesture of wanting to help can be enough to lift their spirits. In the season three awards, Kate and Sawyer narrowly edged Claire and Charlie as the season’s favorite couple by 2% of the vote. I was part of the 21% of voters who preferred watching Charlie and Claire interact. Their relationship will be noticeably absent in the seasons to come.

4. “Give them to me. I've made my choice.” (The Moth)

Charlie crashed on the island suffering from an intense heroin addiction with his stash running low. He was bound to suffer through painful withdrawals, but Locke helped to convince him to give up his supply before it ran out. I could try to give my own interpretation of the meaning of Charlie’s action, but Locke said it best: having choices, making decisions based on more than instinct, is the only thing that separates man from beast. His story should be an inspiration for anyone ever affected by substance abuse. Instincts and chemical urges are powerful sources of human motivation, but they are not omnipotent. The mind can triumph over the body. Many audience members felt betrayed while watching him fall into temptation during Season Two, but as far as we know, he never used heroin again after this moment. His choice in the Moth was genuine and permanent. Even when other people lost their faith in him, and believed he was using again, Charlie held firm to his decision.

3. “Aaron? Claire, I will get him back. Promise.” (Exodus)

Charlie’s struggle with addiction did indeed strengthen him as Locke predicted. The events at the end of Season One showed just how far Charlie had progressed. Charlie’s efforts to save Aaron were a significant sign of his development, but his verbal promise was every bit as significant. Charlie and Liam had descended into a state in which their promises had become meaningless. On the island, though, Charlie regained not only his courage to, but also his ability to believe his own word. He pledged to himself that he would keep Claire and Aaron safe, and he did everything possible to live up to that challenge. Different characters on Lost set different goals for themselves. Charlie’s goals might not seem as ambitious as Locke’s or Ben’s or Jack’s plans, but they are every bit as important in the grand scheme of things.

2. Every scene involving Charlie in Through the Looking Glass

Charlie’s farewell episode demonstrated all of the elements that made him such a beloved character throughout the series. It is impossible to pinpoint one single moment in the episode, because everything worked to maximum effect. He provided a few instances of genuine humor, showed an unwavering courage in the face of danger, demonstrated a unique verbal rhythm that rivals Sawyer’s, and finished with an emotionally poignant tribute to his loved ones. Sadly, all of those qualities of his character will be present no longer. Through the Looking Glass gave a proper sendoff to a character that will no doubt be sorely missed in upcoming seasons.

1. “#1 The night I met you. [...] I want you to give this to Claire for me. It's the five best moments of my, sorry excuse for a life. My greatest hits. You know, memories. They're all I've got.” (Greatest Hits)

In the final scene of Greatest Hits, Charlie Pace fulfilled his destiny and willingly sacrificed himself to save his loved ones. The humility of this scene is unbelievably touching: not only his wish that he could have done better things in his life, but the very fact that he lists meeting Claire as his greatest moment. Claire and Aaron gave him purpose in life, and he dedicated himself completely to that purpose. Even so, it was difficult for him to give up his worldly attachments, to say goodbye to the memories and relationships that defined his existence. In my judgment, Charlie’s dive into the abyss represents the single best acting moment in Season Three: better than Emerson in Every Man for Himself, better than Cusick in Flashes, better than O’Quinn in Tallahassee, better than Mitchell in One of Them, better than Holloway in The Brig, and better than Fox in the Looking Glass. The emotions on his face are beyond words. I am not a fan of Monaghan’s work in Lord of the Rings by any stretch, but he has certainly evolved into something much greater. Three seasons ago, neither Charlie Pace nor Dom Monaghan would have been able to execute this scene so well. This year, though, they did, and we should remain eternally grateful for their contributions.


Jack’s Greatest Hits

During Round Two, Ben Linus defeated Richard Alpert by approximately the same margin by which Jack defeated Aaron. Judging from this result, it seemed reasonable to assume that Ben deserved to be the favorite against Jack. On other hand, though, Jack’s slim victory over Ben Linus should not be all that surprising. As HipsterDoofus wrote, how can you choose the mass murderer over the doctor on the anniversary of September 11th? Fans flooded to the site in droves to ensure that Jack would not lose to the leader of the Others. I still stand by my original rankings, and I believe that Ben actually stood a better chance of winning it all: Ben probably would have beaten a wider variety of characters than Jack. Two thousand votes for Ben is respectable by anyone’s standards. Nevertheless, though, Jack turned out to be Ben’s Kryptonite. The battle between the two leaders became a case of apples versus apples, and fans voted for the leader of the 815 camp rather than the dictator for the Others. Jack will stand less of a chance in an apples versus oranges match-up, when he faces a supporting character.

5. “Tom. Are you there? I'm going to lead my people up to the radio tower. And I'm gonna make a call. And I'm gonna get em all rescued, every one of them. And then I'm gonna come find you, and I'm gonna kill ya.” (Through The Looking Glass)

Among other things, the Season Three finale chronicled Jack Shephard’s loss of self control both on and off the island. The flashback structure has always worked wonders to explain both causes and effects. The first flash-forward episode still addressed these same themes, but in reverse order. Jack’s actions in the future show us what happened to him, while his experience on the island shows us why. I would pinpoint this moment from the finale as the instance in which Jack lost control over his sanity. As Jack first arrived on the island, he held firm to his belief that he was not a killer. Every man has his breaking point, though, and Ben forced him into the situation that destroyed his psyche. Ben caused Jack to bear the burden of letting Sayid, Jin, and Bernard die. Even though they survived, the experience alone was enough to transform Jack into a much different man than he was originally. There is nothing truly admirable about wanting to kill Ben and Tom for revenge, but Jack’s emotions are human, believable, and cathartic nonetheless.

4. “I just made a small incision in Ben's kidney sac. Now, if I don't stitch that back up in the next hour, he's dead. Now, get in there, and bring me that walkie-talkie!” (I Do)

In podcasts, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse promoted the episode I Do as ‘Kate’s decision,’ the episode would put the final nail in the coffin for the love triangle. As always on Lost, though, no situation is ever as simple as it seems. When Jack watched Kate and Sawyer on the surveillance cameras, he could have responded in the same way that he initially reacted to learning that Sarah was sleeping with another man. Instead of lashing out in jealousy, though, he demonstrated the same growth that he displayed at the end of A Tale of Two Cities. Jack was no longer concerned with ego, but merely concerned with the question: Is she happy? Jack loves Kate enough to wish for her to be safe and happy, even if that happiness requires being happy with someone else. When he agreed to do Ben’s surgery, Jack made sure Ben (and the audience) believed that he was doing so for selfish reasons. They underestimated Jack, however, as we learned that he only agreed so that he could dictate the terms for the escape of Kate and Sawyer.

3. “He's not breathing. C'mon breathe, Charlie. C'mon, breathe. C'mon. C'mon. C'mon. No, no. C'mon. C'mon.” (All the Best Cowboys)

Jack Shephard has always been stubborn to a fault. In some cases, his unwillingness to give up causes more harm then good. When Jack was pursuing the kidnapped Charlie, though, his stubbornness became his greatest asset. The scene creates the impression that Jack might have continued delivering CPR for hours, still screaming ‘C’mon’ over and over. Kate was willing to give up rather than watch Jack deliver any further punishment to himself and to Charlie. Even after she caused him to stop his resuscitation efforts, though, Jack started once again. There are not that many people who would have been able to save Charlie in that situation, but the obstinate Jack Shephard turned out to be the ideal man for that job.

2. “A couple of guys jumped Mark Silverman.” (White Rabbit)

As a young boy, an older bully beat Jack up and told him that he should have stayed down. Afterwards, his father also told him that he should have stayed down. Young Jack, though, would have chosen to take the same beating, on any day of his life. DarkUFO’s famous contributor FishBiscuit has pointed out that Jack’s story does not follow the same archetypal Hero’s Journey matched by most characters. FishBiscuit makes an interesting observation, but Jack’s uniqueness does not necessarily make him any less of a character. Unlike many other characters, Jack did not need to go on a journey in order to become a hero. Jack's heroism did not come in a spraycan as some people claim, but it did come naturally. He was already a more courageous as a child than most adults. One could argue that this characterization makes for poor storytelling, or that it opens up countless new storytelling possibilities. His arc is different from most, and it will form the shape of a parabola rather than an exponential growth curve. Generally, there are two types of reactions to Jack, and this scene illuminates them both: some people take Christian’s stance and condemn him for trying to do too much, while other people still see Jack as that same young boy just trying anything to save his friend. You can choose to view him either as a false saint or as a sympathetic protagonist.

1. Opening Scene (Pilot)

Some of the best scenes on Lost do not require any dialogue. The very first scene of the Pilot episode reveals as much about Jack’s character as any other scene. Jack wakes up in the jungle in pain, with physical signs of shock. He feels confused and frightened, with no memory of how we ended up in this situation. As he turns to examine his serious wound, he finds a miniature bottle of liquor in his pocket. The object triggers his memory in a rush, and then the situation transforms his face. Many viewers suggest that Jack Shephard offers a direct comparison to President Bush in post-9/11 America. If you have ever seen the film Fahrenheit 9/11, though, then you understand exactly how weak the comparison is. Compare their two reactions in the face of similar crises: one man sat still and continued reading a children’s book, while the other man decided to run toward the burning wreckage himself. Jack is not the perfect leader, but his initial reaction provides an inspirational example for us all.

I have used this analogy before and I’m sure that other people have used it as well: Jack’s stay on the island has been the equivalent to spending several months inside an operating room. People all around him continue to die and fall into danger, and people keep looking to him to make decisions. In the series’ opening scene, Jack decided that he would hold himself responsible for the safety of the group. Under such intense pressure, it is no surprise that he lost control of himself upon leaving the island. Many people have criticized his demeanor, his decisions, and some people have even criticized his intentions. To all of those individuals, I hope that they never need to live through anything similar. Whether or not his attitude is justified, his suffering still remains as real as anyone else's pain.

Coming soon, Elite Eight Breakdown – Part Two with the remaining top four characters.