Go Get A Ruler: Character Cup Consolation Round

I am probably flushing whatever future I might have had writing on DarkUFO down the toilet by addressing this ultra-sensitive issue. I wrote a long piece on the love triangle (A Couple of Bandaids, A Bottle of Peroxide in the Theories section) that received my lowest ratings of any work on this site. People made some intense criticisms and accused me of being a Jater, because I tried to show Jack’s side of the issues alongside Sawyer’s side. Still, I couldn’t resist offering my two cents. Keep in mind that the following judgments are completely subjective. If you disagree, then feel free to comment with your own breakdown of each category.

The Consolation Round: Jack vs. Sawyer


Attractiveness - Physical

As a male, I must say that I would rather look like Matthew Fox than Josh Holloway. To use a football analogy, Jack looks the part of a quarterback while Sawyer looks the part of a linebacker. Jack is not only attractive because of his physical characteristics, but he is also attractive because he looks intelligent enough to be a doctor. Admittedly, I have a strong bias towards the lean, short-haired, Ivy League standards of masculinity than the heavy, long-haired, Red State standards. Nevertheless, I’ll defer to the ladies on this issue, who seem to worship Holloway as some sort of god.

EDGE: Sawyer


Attractiveness – Personality

This category would most likely generate the strongest difference of opinion among Lost viewers. I’ll use the same standard I used to compare Locke and Desmond. Which guy would you rather have dating your daughter? If you were to read some people’s opinions on Jack, you would hear that he is the worst protagonist in the annals of television, the most despicable human being on the face of the planet, the most incompetent leader in political history, the cruel dictator of an authoritarian regime, a misogynist woman abuser, and the devil incarnate. If you watch the show, you would find that he is none of these things, but just one lost soul in a cast of many. Strangely, only a minority of fans and not a single one of the characters on Lost agrees with that assessment of him. I have watched every episode several times and I still have absolutely no clue where these people are coming from. Although the shipper debates will rage on, more men and more women wanted Kate to be with Jack according to the Polls section of this site. I’ll defer to their judgment. If you can honestly say that you would prefer to see your daughter dating Sawyer rather than Jack, then feel free to choose him in this category.

EDGE: Jack


Admirability

Again, I will use the same standard I used before. Which man would you prefer as a role model for your child? People will most likely hold wildly varying opinions on this topic. Neither character is perfect, and their flaws are vastly different. For the most part, I would feel extremely proud to raise a child that mirrored the adult life of Dr. Jack Shephard, and I would feel much less proud to raise a child that followed the adult life of James Ford. This comparison still may be unfair, because Sawyer was forced to raise himself. Not every person who experiences a traumatic childhood, though, leads a life similar to Sawyer's. Once again, if you can honestly say that you would consider Sawyer as a better role model than Jack, then feel free to reverse this category.

EDGE: Jack


Humor

One of Sawyer’s main functions is to provide comedy in the midst of the island drama. Jack takes his responsibilities on the island very seriously and rarely does he have time to launch into a joke. When Jack once felt that he was not in the mood for jokes, Hurley made the ironic comment that Jack is ‘usually Mr. Ha-Ha.’ Intentionally funny Jack Shephard moments are few and far between, while Sawyer manages to score a few laughs nearly every episode.

EDGE: Sawyer


Mystery

Neither Jack nor Sawyer has involved themselves in the island’s mysteries to the extent of other characters. Jack witnessed visions of his father early during his stay on the island, and still never located Christian’s body. Jack also survived two close scrapes with the Smoke Monster, and played a key role in the exploration of the Swan hatch. Sawyer heard whispers in the jungle early on. Later, he became involved in the Magic Box mystery through his encounter with Cooper. The Season Three finale, though, pushed Jack’s mystery component over the edge. The mystery of the coffin has become one of the most compelling questions through the show’s history. In the flash-forward, Jack is shown actively seeking the island for unknown reasons. Although this situation could change in the future, right now there are larger question marks surrounding Shephard than Ford.

EDGE: Jack


Episodes – Lead

Jack Shephard boasts an impressive catalog of flashback (and flash-forward) episodes that rivals any other character: Pilot, White Rabbit, All the Best Cowboys, Do No Harm, Man of Science Man of Faith, The Hunting Party, A Tale of Two Cities, Stranger in a Strange Land, and Through the Looking Glass. The Season Three finale won the DarkUFO Episode Cup, while the Season One and Season Two premieres both reached the Semi-finals. We can forgive the tedium of Stranger in a Strange Land, because all of the other episodes were so strong. Regardless of your interest in the flashbacks, Jack takes center stage in the island conflicts of each of those episodes. Amazingly, Sawyer has only appeared as the lead character in four episodes: Confidence Man, Outlaws, The Long Con, and Every Man for Himself. Although each of these episodes are fairly strong, the stories are also quite smaller and more personal. Only a major Sawyer fan would list his flashback episodes among the series’ top efforts. Many fans indifferent to Jack’s character would still list his episodes among the top episodes of the series.

EDGE: Jack


Episodes – Support

Both Jack and Sawyer offer some strong supporting turns in a variety of episodes not focused entirely on themselves. Both men have interacted with nearly every other character on the island. It is no coincidence that both Jack and Sawyer have made appearances in 65 and 64 episodes, respectively. Throughout all three seasons, Jack and Sawyer always have something to contribute to the story, whether to add to the conflict of an episode, to drive along the overarching plot, to divert the audience on a side plot, or simply to say a few words about the situation. For better or worse, both men hold strong opinions on nearly every topic, and the writers let us hear them out.

EDGE: Even


Acting

I have read people write some very nasty comments about the quality of these two actors. Personally, I think that both Matthew Fox and Josh Holloway have done a tremendous job to create extremely convincing characters. Neither actor is perfect, of course. For the most part, Holloway relies upon two stock facial expressions in almost every scene, either the Forehead Scowl, or the Dimpled Grin. He also stumbles upon the occasional awkward delivery of a nickname. Fox overuses a few stock techniques as well, particularly his crying and his frequent scoffing. Fox shows more inventiveness with his facial expressions, but some people regard these efforts as goofy attempts at overacting. We’re not exactly talking about Laurence Olivier and Marlon Brando here, but both actors are consistently high-quality on the whole.

EDGE: Even


Identifiability

The audience of Lost is primarily made up of adults, and Jack’s plotlines revolve around many more problems relatable to most adults. Off the island, Jack struggles with his parents, his marriage, and his career. On the island, he also struggles to balance his personal relationships with his larger responsibilities. By contrast, Sawyer’s range of experiences (his childhood and his criminal past) only speaks to a much smaller portion of the audience. As further evidence, check out a recent survey from the Polls section of this site. 21% of voters responded that they see themselves most as Jack, while 11% of voters said they see themselves most as Sawyer.

EDGE: Jack


Complexity

One of the most frequent arguments posed in the Jack-Sawyer debate centers around the question of static versus dynamic characters. People on both sides have made such accusations about the other character. I think that neither of these positions are correct, because both characters have undergone constant changes. Jack and Sawyer continue to face different challenges, and to respond to those challenges differently. To take two examples from late Season Three, Sawyer was forced to decide whether to kill Cooper, and Jack was forced to decide whether to let three people die to help save the rest of them. Both characters embraced an extraordinarily complex series of motivations in their decision-making process, their reactions in each situation were difficult to predict, and the aftermath of both crises was even more difficult to foresee. Both men represent extremely complex characters, which will continue to evolve in the face of new challenges.

EDGE: Even


Conflict – Internal

In a sense, both Jack and Sawyer suffer from similar conflicts of identity. As I wrote previously, “Essentially, James needs to decide which identity represents his true self. If he continues to go by the name Sawyer and to lead a life with no defined moral standards for himself, then Cooper will have won the ultimate battle for his soul. Ironically, although the death of the original Sawyer released Locke from Cooper’s influence, the man from Tallahassee still dominates the mind and life of James Ford more strongly than ever.” Jack’s most important internal conflict centers around the roles of faith and empiricism in his life. Locke described Jack’s conflict very well: Jack believes in destiny, but he has not come to terms with those beliefs yet. The end of Through the Looking Glass showed just how greatly this conflict had affected him. Jack took the rational course of action and sent his people off the island, but ultimately found a meaningless existence apart from the island. Jack has become a man of faith, and his beliefs match Locke’s more closely than ever. While both of these identity conflicts are understandable, James reflects upon his struggle more visibly. On the island, Jack was always been too wrapped up in the larger action to stop and think about himself. Only after leaving was Jack able to pause and reflect, but he waited far too long to pay attention to his own crisis.

EDGE: Sawyer


Conflict – External

Both Jack and Sawyer possess strong personalities that put them constantly in disagreements with other characters. Most of these disputes are minor in the grand scheme of things. Essentially, Sawyer has three major nemeses on the island: Jack, Tom, and Cooper. Sawyer killed two of those men at the end of Season Three and arrived at an understanding with his third. Perhaps Sawyer will find new enemies in the upcoming seasons, but a great deal of his intrigue has already been eliminated. Jack essentially competes with three main doppelgangers: he rivals Sawyer in efforts to win Kate’s heart, he rivals Ben as leaders of two warring factions, and he rivals Locke for spiritual control over the island’s destiny. These three nemeses help define Jack’s character perhaps better than any other. All three of Jack’s primary conflicts remain as complicated as ever, and all three of these rivalries will attract viewers to the show in the upcoming seasons.

EDGE: Jack


Suffering

On the island, both men have suffered through painful ordeals. Jack was forced to bear the burdens of several tragic dilemmas (the Marshall’s death, Joanna’s death, the kidnapping of Charlie and Claire, Boone’s death, the loss of Michael and Walt, etc.). Although Sawyer did not involve himself very much in those circumstances, he did suffer through his own journey, during which Cooper forced him to relive his childhood trauma. To evaluate this category, though, simply compare the actions of their two fathers. Christian Shephard made Jack think that he hated him, in order to ‘turn soft metal into steel’. Sawyer’s father shot his wife and then shot himself, while 8-year old James watched helplessly under his bed.

EDGE: Sawyer


Expected Future Contributions

The end of Season Three left Jack and Sawyer in different places, but facing similar challenges. Sawyer has not been the same person since his encounter with Cooper, and it might take him a long time to begin to heal. Kate’s possible pregnancy might play an important role in the future. Aside from his personal identity crisis, and his relationship with Kate, Sawyer’s story might be complete, for the most part. With Jack, we still need to find out the details of the rescue, whether he will be able to return to the island, and what his relationship to the island will be once he returns. At this moment, Jack appears to offer the potential for a much more central involvement in the storyline.

EDGE: Jack


Prediction: Sawyer
Preference: Jack

I am not one to change my predictions midstream, so I still expect Sawyer to win this contest. I may have underestimated Jack’s popularity a bit throughout this Character Cup, but I still think that Sawyer had better odds at winning it all. Regardless of your personal opinions on the two characters, you must admit that Jack and Sawyer have always played some of the most important and the most memorable roles on the show. The Jack-Sawyer debate can bring out the worst in people, but it can also bring out the best. We should credit the creative minds behind the show for developing two characters that are so different, and yet so similar. Supporting either Sawyer or Jack does not make you any better or worse of a person. Interestingly, although you might not realize it by reading fan wars, the characters themselves have become close friends, with a great deal of mutual respect for one another. Perhaps one day the fanboys, fangirls, and shippers alike will all be able to support their men in peace. Today, I’m going to cast my single votes for Jack and Locke, and then leave with a clear conscience.

One Snowman to Another: Character Cup Finals

Throughout the Character Cup, DarkUFO readers have shared a remarkable variety of reasons to vote for or against different characters. For the Character Cup Finals, I have decided to examine the top four characters according to many of these criteria that people mentioned. Ultimately, no one person can decide the best criteria for evaluating a character. You might decide that this list of categories is not valid, you might decide to weigh certain categories more heavily than others, and you might disagree with my evaluation in each category. Regardless, at least try to have some fun. Understand that this peice represents one man's opinion, and every opinion has a reason behind it.

The Final Round: Desmond vs. Locke

Attractiveness - Physical

Personally, I think that I bear a strong resemblance to Terry O’Quinn. On a related note, I also think that O’Quinn does not deserve enough credit for his good looks. I sincerely hope that I look as good as he does by the time I reach the age of 55. Even though I am strongly biased towards Locke’s favor in this category, I still cannot even consider selecting him over the Scotsman here.

EDGE: Desmond


Attractiveness – Personality

This category is much more difficult to judge, particularly for a male. I think the only objective way to assess it is to ask yourself: which guy would you prefer to have dating your daughter? Both men ran away from the women they loved in order to prove themselves to domineering paternal figures (Cooper and Widmore). Although Desmond has dedicated himself to getting back to his Penelope, Locke has ceased caring for his old flame Helen and has fallen in love with an island instead. (On a personal note, I think that the episode The Brig could form the beginnings of a Locke-Cindy romance in the seasons to come. If so, then count me as the captain of the Lindy ship.)

EDGE: Desmond


Admirability

This category requires another highly personal, highly subjective judgment. I think one way to objectively address it is to ask yourself: which man would you prefer as a role model for your child? The answer must be Desmond. Both men are selfish in their own ways, but Desmond seems more genuinely concerned with acting for the good of mankind rather than fulfilling his own personal destiny. Now, I still might be tempted to try to raise my son to become the next John Locke, but, as the Scots would say, that would be bloody insane.

EDGE: Desmond


Humor

Both of these characters embrace serious dramatic roles without much pause for comic relief. Neither Desmond nor Locke depends upon jokes for their appeal in the way that Charlie, Hurley, or Sawyer does. Most of Desmond’s funniest scenes involve drunken antics, while most of Locke’s humor derives from his crazy-calm demeanor that adds levity to serious situations. Both characters are capable of delivering laughs when the story demands it, but their plots rarely depend upon it. Neither one has done much to distinguish himself in this category.

EDGE: Even


Mystery

Flashes Before Your Eyes was supposed to be the episode that answered the question: what happened to Desmond after he turned the failsafe key? In actuality, it did not reveal any satisfying answer for how Desmond survived the implosion. Not even Desmond himself can answer that question, but he could only describe what he witnessed. As always on Lost, the episode offered more questions than answers. No one can be certain at this point what role his precognitive abilities will play in the overall story. Is Desmond receiving visions so that he has the power to change future, or are those visions merely geared to manipulate him into causing the desired outcome?

As intriguing as Desmond's powers are, John Locke has possessed a special connection to all of the island’s powers since Season One. Desmond has been mainly a passive observer, while Locke has taken an active role in trying to unlock the secrets of the island. Name pretty much any island mystery, and Locke has wrapped himself up in it somehow. The plane crash revealed the first instance of the healing properties, he encountered the Smoke Monster twice and live to tell about it, he received visions and clues that guided him to three separate Dharma stations, he apparently brought Cooper to the island (according to Ben), he heard Jacob’s plea for help, and witnessed Walt lift him up from near-death to ‘do more work’. Even by the end of the series, we still might never be sure whether the island represents a benevolent force or whether the island is manipulating him for other reasons because he is especially susceptible to coercion. Either way, we will enjoy the ride.

EDGE: Locke


Episodes – Lead

Desmond Hume boasts two of the most unique flashback episodes in the entire series, the first two-part flashback in Live Together Die Alone, and the longest continuous flashback in Flashes Before Your Eyes. His third episode, Catch-22, was much more conventional, but still regarded as an above average effort. Locke benefits from a larger catalog of starring turns in Walkabout, Deus Ex Machina, Orientation, Lockdown, Further Instructions, The Man From Tallahassee, and The Brig. Season One’s Walkabout and Season Three’s The Man From Tallahassee include most of his strongest moments, but each of his other episodes have their own merits as well. On the whole, the two characters have demonstrated an equal ability to lead an episode, both in flashbacks and on the island. There are no good and bad episodes on this list, but only Great ones and Not-Quite-As-Great Ones.

EDGE: Even


Episodes – Support

While Desmond’s main plotline is fairly strong, he has not contributed much to other character’s stories outside of his own plot. In Season Two, Desmond’s actions were only concerned with the button, and in Season Three, Desmond was constantly preoccupied with his future flashes. He made some only a few small contributions to Expose and by interacting with Sawyer in Left Behind. Locke, on the other hand, has consistently offered a unique perspective on the struggles of nearly every other character on the show. Throughout the course of three seasons, Locke has had meaningful island interactions with Jack, Charlie, Boone, Sawyer, Walt, Michael, Shannon, Sayid, Hurley, Rousseau, the Smoke Monster, Kate, Desmond, Sun, Eko, Ana, Rose, Paulo, Mikhail, Alpert, Cooper, Jacob, and of course Ben. Not even the loveable Hugo can boast such an impressive list of defined interpersonal relationships. One of the most acclaimed episodes, The Man Behind the Curtain, includes perhaps his most impressive supporting turn, and Locke nearly steals the show from Ben. (The Man Behind The Curtain easily could have been used to support O’Quinn’s case for the Emmy award just as much as Emerson.) Even if you were to disregard Locke’s back-story completely, his contributions to other episodes would be enough evidence for him to earn consideration as the top character.

EDGE: Locke


Acting

Actors Henry Ian Cusick and Terry O’Quinn have made their characters stand out above the rest. Cusick earned an Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Guest Actor category for Season Two, while O’Quinn earned two nominations in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category for the first and third seasons. As we all know, O’Quinn actually won his award, even over stiff competition from colleague Michael Emerson. Although the Emmy Awards are by no means an objective measure of acting quality, most people would agree that O’Quinn has accomplished much more in his 58 episodes than Cusick has in his 20 appearances. O’Quinn has transformed a supporting character into a living TV legend. Maybe, down the road, Cusick can do the same with his character, but he still has a long way to go.

EDGE: Locke


Identifiability

Locke’s central conflict is one of identity. Even though he is one of the oldest characters on the show, Locke still remains on a quest for self-discovery. Locke believes that he is supposed to achieve some great deed in his life. Although he has found the perfect place for himself to achieve that destiny, he still has yet to find the right path for himself. Nearly everyone ponders these questions of purpose, but love remains perhaps the most universal of all human emotions. Desmond’s love story is a simple one, perhaps best summed up by Penny’s quote: “All we really need to survive is one person who truly loves us. And you have her. I will wait for you. Always. I love you.” What human being has not felt such emotions towards at least one other person during their lifetime? The universality of its message makes it very easy to identify with Desmond, no matter where you are in life.

EDGE: Desmond


Complexity

Desmond’s story derives much of its power from its simplicity. Ultimately, Desmond holds only one motivation for his actions: he desires to return home to his beloved Penelope. Although he struggles with cowardice and has shown a darker streak at times, his motivations remain essentially pure. It is no coincidence that Desmond draws parallels to the epic hero Odysseus. Heroes in the epic genre face different challenges that expose their same basic characteristics again and again. Locke follows the mold of protagonist from a Greek tragedy much more closely. The motivations behind a tragic hero are always more complex and less predictable. As I wrote before in the Supporting Actor Showdown, “John Locke continues to defy any traditional categorization. Locke is a walking mass of contradictions: a paraplegic who became an imposing hunter, a zealot who remains a frequent skeptic, a man of great potential with a track record of failure, and a strong-willed individualist who desperately seeks acceptance.”

As much as any other character on Lost, Desmond fits the description of a fundamentally good person. Locke’s actions, however, refuse to adhere to any traditional standards of good and evil. When the series is complete, we may see Locke as a hero, or as a villain, or we still might have no idea where he fits.

EDGE: Locke


Conflict – Internal

The internal conflicts experienced by Desmond and Locke offer some interesting parallels. In different ways, Locke and Desmond both sought out great challenges to prove their self-worth. Both men struggled with issues of faith and an uncertainty about their purpose in life. Desmond’s struggle with cowardice closely matches Locke’s desire to prove himself as a hunter rather than a farmer. Both continue to doubt their special gifts and their own capacity to achieve greatness. Ultimately, these conflicts are so similar that this category is too close to call.

EDGE: Even


Conflict – External

Desmond has not embraced the 815 camp fully yet. Even though he battled against his Cyclops foe at the end of Season Three, he seemed more motivated by a desire to save Charlie than by a struggle against the Others. Currently, his only central interpersonal conflicts involve the Widmores. G-Man noted that Sawyer and Desmond have rarely crossed paths, but Desmond also rarely clashed with the large majority of the main characters. He might take a more active role next season against Minkowski’s crew, but Desmond remains primarily a loner. Locke’s story, on the other hand, puts him constantly at odds with virtually every other character on the island. Jack, Ben, and Cooper have been his most notable nemeses, but he has also quarreled with Michael, Sayid, Charlie, Eko, Cooper, and Sawyer to varying degrees in the past. Locke’s battles of wills against Jack and Ben (and perhaps Jacob) will remain a drawing point to the series for the foreseeable future.

EDGE: Locke


Suffering

I will let both Desmond and Locke speak for themselves in this category. According to Desmond, Charles Widmore “tried to buy me off. And when I didn't take his money, he took away the only thing in the world that I ever truly cared about. [..] His daughter. I was unsuitable on several levels.” Aside from his humiliation at the hands of Charles Widmore, Desmond received a dishonorable discharge after spending a number of years imprisoned for cowardice. Soon after his release, Desmond ended up in another prison of sorts, trapped inside the Swan hatch. After turning the failsafe key, the island forced Desmond to relive the experience of losing Penny. Desmond was also forced to watch Charlie die again and again, until his fate came to fruition.

According to Locke: “I never even knew who my parents were. A couple of years ago my birth mother found me, and uh, she told me I was special. And through her I met my real father. Great news, right? Well, he pretended to love me just long enough to steal my kidney because he had to have a transplant. And then he dropped me back in the world like a piece of trash -- just like he did on the day that I was born.” Cooper not only abandoned him at birth and stole his kidney, but Locke’s weakness for his father caused him to lose Helen in the midst of a marriage proposal. When Locke finally stood up to Cooper, his father pushed him out an eight-story window, causing him to suffer through four years of paralysis. The island initially led to a joyous rebirth, but it took away his ability to walk just long enough to cause the death of Boone, his surrogate son.

To me, it ultimately comes down to this question: would you rather spend a few years in prison and three years in the isolation of the hatch, or four years in the confines of a wheelchair? Both men were pushed to the brink of suicide under that type of despair. I would choose the hatch over the wheelchair. Think back to Locke’s flashback during Exodus, in which something as simple as boarding a plane and picking up a magazine off the ground became an insurmountable task for him alone. No scene in Lost has ever pushed me to the brink of tears, but I came the closest when Locke awoke unable to move his legs during Through the Looking Glass.

EDGE: Locke


Expected Future Contributions

Neither Desmond’s journey nor Locke’s journey is close to completion at this point. The finale of Season Three offered two excellent cliffhangers for both characters. After his confrontation, Locke walked off alone, either to search the island on his own, or to usurp Ben’s position as the leader of the Others. Desmond’s story left off with the Scotsman inside the Looking Glass station. Desmond came within seconds of speaking with Penny, but ultimately learned nothing more than Charlie’s ‘Not Penny’s Boat’ message, which should become important in the early stages of Season Four. Even though Charlie has died, I doubt that Desmond’s flashes storyline is complete. Both Locke and Desmond offer exciting prospects for the upcoming season, and their best moments may be yet to come.

EDGE: Even


Prediction: Locke
Preference: Locke

John Locke has always been the show’s most irreplaceable character. Matthew Fox earned his categorization as the show’s lead actor, but Terry O’Quinn has become the true face of Lost. Locke has developed a special connection with nearly every character on the island, as well as every one of the island’s mysteries. There is not much that can be said about Locke that has not been written already. When Ben shot Locke at the end of The Man Behind the Curtain, many of us pondered what the show would possibly be like without John Locke’s presence. Thankfully, Walt arrived in time to remind him that John still has a lot of work left to do.

Eight Men Out - Elite Eight Breakdown - Part Two

Eight Men Out – Elite Eight Breakdown – Part TwoIn honor of the final eight characters in G-Man's DarkUFO Character Cup (seven of whom will eventually be eliminated), I am counting down each of their top five moments, Greatest Hits style. Part One below contains Michael, Eko, Charlie, and Jack, while this article contains the top four contenders: Desmond, Sawyer, Hurley, and Locke. Enjoy!

Desmond’s Greatest Hits

5. “I'm going to win this race, Pen—his race. And in a year, I'll be back. […] I have to get my honor back, and that's what I'm running to.” (Live Together, Die Alone)

In terms of character flaws, there are not very many negative characteristics that you can list about Desmond Hume. If you could change one thing about him, though, people would most likely ask him to stop caring about what a heartless bastard like Charles Widmore thinks of him. Penelope loved him, and she was willing to accept him despite his meager accomplishments. One could interpret Desmond’s desire to prove himself to spite Widmore as immature and selfish. Personally, I understand Desmond’s decision completely. Every man has a right to challenge himself, particularly in the face of doubts. He did not embark on a journey just to earn Widmore’s respect, but to win back his own respect for himself. There is truth in an old saying: how can Desmond let Penny love him until he learns to love himself? Winning the race around the world would have been an amazing achievement, but, as we all know, the island had much greater challenges in store for Desmond.

4. “Please, let me go back. Let me go back one more time. I'll do it right. I'll do it right this time. I'm sorry, Penny. I'll change it. I'll change it.” (Flashes Before Your Eyes)

The episode Flashes Before Your Eyes remains something of a controversial departure from the initial tone of Season Three. I wholeheartedly wish that Lindelof and Cuse had not tried to force one canonical view of the events, when the episode had worked so hard to promote two interpretations. Like any of us, Desmond can only tell us what he witnessed, and not even he could decide if it was all real. Whether Desmond actually traveled back in time or whether he merely traveled inside his memories is ultimately irrelevant. By all indications, Desmond did not change any of Lost’s past as we know it. Ironically, Ms. Hawking’s explanation to Desmond was false: he did not end up on the island because he was supposed to, he followed that path because he chose to. Every one of us has felt the same sense of regret that Desmond expressed upon his rebirth in the jungle. None of us will ever have the opportunity to travel back in time to change anything. As sincere as his words sound, Desmond’s actions cast doubt on whether any of us actually would make different decisions even if we had a chance to do so. We cannot help but feel just like Desmond in the jungle, pleading for a chance to make things right, but we cannot change the past. We can only change the future.

3. “You don't have to do this, Charlie. I'll go. Maybe, I keep seeing you die because I'm supposed to take your place. What about your girl? Besides. I might be luckier than you. Keep your memories to yourself. I'll take it from here.” (Greatest Hits)

Throughout the bulk of Season Three, Desmond spent most of his time on the island trying to save Charlie from his impending death. His efforts to save Charlie eventually failed, but not due to any lack of effort on Desmond’s part. Catch-22 represented a low point in this journey, as Desmond considered letting Charlie die in order to serve his own interests. The story explicitly referenced the Biblical tale of Abraham and Isaac as an analogous situation. Desmond himself expressed his intuitive displeasure with Abraham’s decision to sacrifice his son. Without entering into a religious debate, I still must say that I prefer Desmond’s reaction. I admire Desmond for telling whatever higher powers exist in the universe, that they were free to take him if they pleased, but he would not intentionally sacrifice anyone else. Sadly, though, Isaac survived in the original story, but Charlie did not survive this modern revision of the tale.

2. “Every single day. And for all our sakes, I hope it's not real.” (Orientation)

Desmond sacrificed three years of his life inside the Swan hatch, even though he wanted to return to Penny more than anything in the world. Desmond’s reply to Jack’s challenge reveals the true extent of that sacrifice. He doubted the Orientation video every single time he pressed the button, but he continued to push it anyway. Interestingly, the film itself did not mention the potential consequences, but it merely asserted that ‘the button must be pushed.’ The mere possibility that Desmond’s actions might cause harm convinced him to give up his life. He thought that it might be an experiment, and he hoped that it was fake, but those doubts and hopes could not persuade him to willingly do harm. In one sense, one could argue that Desmond kept pushing the button in order to save Penny. On the other hand, though, you could say that the experience of love for Penny taught him to love the entire human race. Inside the hatch, he could not see the faces of anyone in the outside world, but, for all of our sakes, he decided to imagine Penny’s face on everyone.

1. “Three days before you came down here, before we met, I heard a banging on the hatch door, shouting. But it was you, John, wasn't it? You said there isn't any purpose—there's no such thing as fate. But you saved my life, brother, so that I could save yours. I've got to go. And you've got to get as far away from here as possible. I'm going to blow the dam, John. I'm sorry for whatever happened that made you stop believing. But it's all real. Now I've got to go and make it all go away. I'll see you in another life, brother.” (Live Together, Die Alone)

Many men lived inside the Swan hatch for many years to push the button and prevent a catastrophe. All of them had a way out, but none chose to use it. Kelvin once pondered whether he had the courage to ‘take his finger off the dam and blow the whole thing up instead’. Kelvin himself could not go through with turning the fail-safe key, but Desmond found the courage when it mattered most. Clinging to nothing more than pure hope in the power of love, Desmond destroyed the hatch without any realistic chance at survival. As Locke once noted, the island will give you something you need, but only if you give it something in return. In order to ‘save the world’ once and for all, Desmond gave his life to the island, and, in exchange, he was reborn. His new gifts will no doubt play a central role in the remainder of this series. Desmond’s story draws many parallels to The Odyssey, perhaps the oldest surviving story in Western civilization. Although both characters suffered through epic journeys to return home to their beloved Penelope, Odysseus was never willing to value anyone’s life above himself. Desmond’s degree of self-sacrifice puts Odysseus to shame.


Sawyer’s Greatest Hits

5. “That's it? That's all you got? Splinters? No wonder we kicked your ass in the Gulf! No. Don't stop now. I think my sinuses are clearing.” (Confidence Man)

DarkUFO poster Jacob’sChair commented that many similarities exist between Sawyer and another famous TV character, Dr. House. Both characters project an outward display of misanthropy, and both men have the uncanny ability to point out flaws in other characters in an entertaining fashion. For the most part, Sawyer’s barrage of verbal abuse is not as sophisticated as House’s language (after all, House is the main character on his own show every week). The writers overuse so many nicknames, pop culture references, and meta-references that his realism tends to suffer. Hurley’s no-nickname challenge to him presents a step in the right direction. Sawyer should be smart enough to display the same degree of insight without resorting to name-calling. The torture scene from Confidence Man was one of the first instances in which Sawyer began to evolve out of his stereotype into something deeper. Sawyer expertly manipulated Jack and Sayid into revealing their true colors. His brilliant response to Sayid’s torture also demonstrates that Sawyer is not just about nicknames. He can use words every bit as impressively as House or any other character on television.

4. “'Cause I wanted you to believe we had a goddamn chance.” (I Do)

During his stay at the Hyrda station, Sawyer explicitly referenced his apparent mantra: It’s every man for himself. In light of his actions on the island, though, the title of Sawyer’s flashback episode could not be more ironic. Sawyer did not waste any time looking after himself, and instead devoted all of his attention to easing Kate’s pain. At the end of that episode, Ben pointed out that even the threat of a lethal pacemaker could not keep Sawyer in line, but his behavior only changed after the Others threatened to harm Kate. Even though Sawyer was dedicating his efforts to lifting Kate’s spirits, he refused to let her know exactly the burden that he was carrying. He could live without hope for himself, but he could not bear to see Kate lose hope. After constant questioning, Sawyer finally broke down and told her the truth about their situation. The rest of the scene is history.

3. “FINISH IT!!!” (The Brig)

When Locke drew Sawyer out into the jungle in Season Three’s The Brig, Sawyer remained adamant in his assertion that he would not kill anyone. James soon learned the truth that Anthony Cooper caused his father’s muder-suicide, but he still did not decide to commit murder. James learned from the mistake he had made with Frank Duckett: shooting first and then asking questions later. In his encounter with Cooper, Sawyer chose a different approach, and gave himself a chance to hear the man out before acting. If Cooper had chosen to read the letter, and if he had expressed sincere remorse (in a fashion similar to Sayid’s confession at the end of Enter 77), James probably would have spared the man’s life. However, Anthony Cooper never displayed the ability to feel a single ounce of remorse. He was capable of forgiving Cooper for stealing away his parents, but he could not forgive him for tearing up the letter written by a child. There was no way on earth that James could ever make Cooper feel his pain, so he dished out the only type of pain the man was capable of feeling.

2. “Set up a new account. It don't matter what bank, just make it in Albuquerque. Put it in the name of Clementine Philips. And I want it so there's no way she can ever find out who the money's from.” (Every Man for Himself)

Sawyer spent half of his life in the pursuit of material gain. He conned women into believing that he cared about them, and then betrayed their trust to steal their money. When Sawyer found out that he had a daughter, though, he convinced Cassidy that he did not care about her, and then gave away the largest sum of money than he had ever stolen. Sawyer did not care about the money, and he did not care about getting credit for his generosity. He only wanted his daughter to have a better life than he did. At the end of The Long Con, Sawyer once commented: “I’m not a good person, […] never did a good thing in my life”. Despite his self-assessment, the audience has witnessed Sawyer behaving selflessly at times. Most people tend to behave most morally in public, and only violate those rules in the dark. Sawyer reverses this trend completely, and he only feels comfortable doing good deeds when no one else is watching.

1. [We see Juliet drinking from a canteen and chatting with another guy. Sawyer is unloading a barrow full of rocks nearby, and watches them. Juliet notices him staring and throws him the water canteen. He catches it and then empties it on the ground. He watches Kate hacking away at the rocks. He thinks a second, then marches up to her and kisses her. Pickett and another guy run over, shouting. Pickett smashes Sawyer in the head with the butt of his rifle. A fight ensues with Sawyer fighting three of the Others. He gets a taser away from one guy, but it doesn't work when he tries it. He gets a gun that's fallen on the ground.] (The Glass Ballerina)

As I said before, many of the greatest scenes on Lost do not require any dialogue. I could not come up with a recognizable name for this scene, but I refer to it as the ‘Non Serviam’ scene. Just about any other character would have readily accepted a drink of water while doing manual labor under the island sun. Sawyer saw Juliet's action for what it truly was, though, not a genuine act of kindness, but a thinly disguised attempt to appease her own conscience. The Others kidnapped them at gunpoint, caged them like animals, and forced them into doing labor through their resident slave driver, Pickett. If you use physical intimidation to take away someone’s freedom, Sawyer is not going to give you any favors. Dumping out Juliet’s canteen was an inspired move, but kissing Kate to force them to act was an even more brilliant move. Sawyer exposed their hypocritical hubris better than anyone else could. This was one of the few moments on Lost that caused me to literally stand up and cheer. I'm sure that I wasn't the only one.


Hurley’s Greatest Hits

Against my better judgment, I decided to rank Hurley ahead of Sawyer in the Character Cup Power Rankings. I used the justification for myself that I thought Hurley would fare better against Ben and Locke than Sawyer would. Apparently, I overestimated Hurley’s popularity a bit. In his own way, Sawyer generates just as many laughs as his rotund counterpart, but he boasts a nicer physical appeal, stronger flashbacks, and more all-around action (both sex and violence). Hurley will not be advancing to the Final Four, but he deserves a spot every bit as much as any remaining contender.

5. “Nikki and Paulo. I guess we didn't really know you very well. And it appears, you killed each other for diamonds. But I know there are good parts to you too. You were always nice to me. And you're a member of the camp. And, er, I really loved Exposé. OK then, goodbye...” (Expose)

Hugo Reyes possesses the unique ability to recognize the good qualities in just about anyone. Throughout the series, Hurley has been one of the few characters to reach out to the camp’s resident misanthrope, Sawyer. Although his optimism towards Sawyer is remarkable, his parting words for fan punching bags Nikki and Paulo is even more remarkable. Not many Lost viewers gave Nikki and Paulo a chance, and, even in this Character Cup, almost no one credited them with any redeeming qualities. Even after their eventual farewell party in the episode Expose, the most common fan reaction towards the supermodel pair was closer to relief that they were gone than gratitude for what they brought to the show. Even though the flashbacks in Expose center on Nikki and Paulo, the episode showcases Hurley’s virtues as the camp’s leader. We can forgive the fact that he buried the two poor souls alive, because he did everything he could to protect and to heal the community. I agree with Hurley’s eulogy: Nikki and Paulo were still members of the camp, and I really loved Expose too. It takes a special type of person to see the good in all people, and Hurley has that ability. (If you’d like to read the most insightful piece of criticism ever written about Lost, far better than anything I’ve ever written, check out MetaLost38’s Reading of Expose in the Theories section of this site.)

4. “Look, I don't know about you, but things have really sucked for me lately and I could use a victory. So let's get one, dude. Let's get this car started. Let's look death in the face and say, "whatever, man." Let's make our own luck. What do you say?” (Tricia Tanaka is Dead)

Reactions to the episode Tricia Tanaka is Dead have been decidedly mixed. The flashbacks were not particularly well-written, Cheech Marin was underutilized, much of the humor was shamelessly low-brow, and the editing in the climactic scene required downright cheating to build tension. Despite all of these criticisms, though, the episode still managed to bring Hurley’s ‘Curse’ storyline to an extremely satisfying conclusion. After blaming himself for countless misfortunes, Hugo finally decided to break the power of the curse through an act of pure will. In the process, he also managed to lift his friend up from a serious state of depression, and put Charlie back on the path to fulfill his potential. The reality of the situation might not be as simple as the slogan ‘you make your own luck,’ but nothing positive ever results from a defeatist attitude. Regardless of whether the curse was real, Hurley decided that he would not allow his own negative feelings to dominate his life.

3. “This is the greatest guy I know, my, my, my grandpa, Tito. He's worked three jobs for -- how long has it been now? 52 years. 70 years old, and the closest thing he's had to a vacation is when they put a pacemaker in him 4 years ago. So the first thing I'm going to do with the money is, uh, finally give him the rest that he's earned. That's really what it's all about for me, to be able to do things for the people I care about, because I really put my family through a lot recently, and, um, well this way I can make it up to them. You know, maybe even buy my mom a new house.” (Numbers)

Hurley was the last main character to receive their first flashback episode during Season One. I have read some people complain that the Numbers storyline amounted to nothing more than a cheap attempt to make him appear interesting. People win lotteries every day, and few of their stories are worth telling. However, Hurley’s appeal does not stem from the fact that he won a 114 million dollar fortune, but his reaction to it. He gained enough money to lead a hedonistic lifestyle for the next hundred years. Instead, though, he decided to spread the wealth with the people he loved, and felt willing to give it all away if it could help them. Hurley’s selfless desire to help his grandfather makes Grandpa Tito’s subsequent death all the more devastating. He even kept Randy around as a way to say thanks to his undeserving former boss. Of all the horrible things that we witness people do to each other in the name of money, both on this show and in the real world, Hurley’s stance towards his money reminds us of what human beings are truly capable.

2. “So, I had an idea. I'm out here looking for some psycho with Scott and Steve, right? And I'm realizing who the hell are Scott and Steve? Look, if I was a cop and some woman got attacked, we'd canvas, right? Knock on doors, find witnesses. But we don't even have doors. Look, we don't know who's living here and who's still at the beach. I mean, we don't even know each other. My name isn't Hurley, it's Hugo Reyes. Hurley's just a nickname I have, alright? Why? I'm not telling. Point is, we've got to find out who everyone is. Yeah, a registry, you know a name, what people look like, who's related to who. I mean, we start laying down the law, maybe we'll stop attacking each other. It seems like someone's getting punched, or stabbed, or something every other day here. We've got to find out who did this to her.” (Raised by Another)

In Hurley’s Round Four match-up against Sayid, a few people commented that Hurley ultimately did nothing for the camp in Season One except provide comic relief and build a golf course. To anyone who truly believes this claim, I suggest that they watch Raised by Another once again. The episode belongs to Claire and Charlie, but I consider it to be the best episode for building Hurley’s character. After Claire’s attack in the caves, neither Jack nor Sayid took charge of this situation, but only Hugo was capable of solving the mystery. His method of protecting the camp did not depend on guns or torture, but just relied on talking to people. His solution was unquestionably effective. Boone criticized Hurley’s actions as ‘setting up your own little Patriot Act,’ but Hurley used his charisma in that episode to pull even the most guarded individuals (Locke, Sawyer, and Ethan) willingly out in the open. Hurley’s interactions during the episode convey the sense that he had two motivations for surveying the camp; not only did he want to get to uncover the culprit, but he was also genuinely interested in interacting with and learning about all the other people.

1. “Attention, Others. Come in, Others. If you're listening in, I want you to know that we got you bastards. And, unless the rest of you want to be blown up, you best stay away from our beach...” (Through The Looking Glass)

The vast majority of characters on Lost are killers. Throughout the course of all three seasons, it appeared that Hurley would never cross the line to take another person’s life. In the Season Two finale, Hurley even refused to carry a gun during their mission to confront the Others. In Through the Looking Glass, though, we learned that Hurley was not afraid to use lethal force under the right set of circumstances. Hurley will not kill for revenge, and he certainly will never kill for greed. He will not kill anyone who surrenders and begs for mercy. However, if you happen to be holding three of his friends at gunpoint, ready to execute them, Hurley will find a way to stop you. His speech on the walkie-talkie afterwards describes his intentions perfectly: his words are not vengeful or sadistic, but merely protective. I was one of the viewers lucky enough to avoid reading any of LostFan108’s spoilers before the Season Three finale, and I am eternally grateful for it. Although I did figure out the flash-forward twist early in the episode, I had absolutely no idea that Hurley’s inspired rescue attempt was coming. For me, this moment offered the most pleasant surprise throughout the entire series. Most of us could not have figured out that the van was the ideal weapon in that situation, but we all new that Hugo had it in him to do what was necessary.

Locke’s Greatest Hits

5. “I'm an ordinary man, Jack, meat and potatoes, I live in the real world. I'm not a big believer in magic. But this place is different. It's special. The others don't want to talk about it because it scares them. But we all know it. We all feel it.” (White Rabbit)

In Season One, Locke became the first character to avoid merely reacting to situations and who began to look at the situation with a broader perspective. He served as a some-time mentor for Walt, Jack, Charlie, Boone, Sawyer, Shannon, Sun, and even Paulo, as a result of his unique perspective. This quote holds even greater significance in the grand scheme of things, because we could have easily replaced the word ‘Jack’ with ‘Matthew’ and ‘place’ with ‘show,’ and the sentiments would remain every bit as sincere. Many parallels exist between Terry O’Quinn’s career and Locke’s journeyman past. Both men bounced around from one challenge to the next, searching for something with greater meaning. Although he has always been a tremendous actor by anyone’s standards, the audience can tell that O’Quinn identifies with Locke more than any of his past roles. O’Quinn portrays Locke with such joy, partly because he feels the character achieving his destiny and partly because he feels himself achieving his own. As the elder statesmen on the island, both O’Quinn and Locke possess a unique appreciation of how special their situation really is, and seek to impart that wisdom on to the younger individuals, who tend to be too wrapped up in their own interests to stop and appreciate the ride.

As always, though, O’Quinn himself says it best: In his recent interview with Lost Magazine, re-published on this site, O’Quinn commented: “This is unique – and I’ve told the other cast members – some of whom are younger and haven’t done much in the TV/film industry – This isn’t going to happen again. You’re going to do this once in your life. You might go on to do other good things, and you might be on things that are more successful, but you’ll never be in anything like this again.” Terry O’Quinn clearly understands how unique this series is, many fans understand just how special it is, and I hope that all of the writers and actors will treat it with the same reverence during this historic ride over the next three seasons.

4. “We hunt. […] We know there are wild boar on the island. Razorbacks, by the look of them. The ones that came into the camp last night were piglets, 100, 150 pounds each. Which means that there's a mother nearby. A 250 pound rat, with scimitar-like tusks, and a surly disposition, who'd love nothing more than to eviscerate anything that comes near. Boar's usual mode of attack is to circle around and charge from behind so I figure it'll take at least three of us to distract her long enough for me to flank one of the piglets, pin it, and slit its throat.” (Walkabout)

By his own admission, Locke enjoys playing games. He chose to spend his lunch breaks playing war simulations against his friend. He was distracted from guarding Mikhail by computer chess simulator that enticed him with the phrase ‘your move’. Locke seeks out these challenges, because they place man against man and man against machine. At one point, though, his favorite game on the island involved pitting himself against the forces of nature. His speech before his first boar hunt describes all of the characteristics that attract him to the sport of hunting. Locke embraces hunting as an intellectual, a physical, and a spiritual exercise. It should be no real surprise that Locke abandoned hunting after he found the hatch. He lost interest in killing boar as soon as they ceased to provide an adequate challenge for him. He proved to himself that he could survive in the wild, but then he needed to prove to himself that he could open the hatch. Locke leads his life as a quest to find things that people think he cannot do, and then do them anyway. Admittedly, he makes such decisions for selfish reasons, but how can anyone deny him the right to define his own existence in this way?

3. “You're conning her, aren't you? You're going to marry her for her money, right? I want you to end it. I want you to call off the wedding. [...] Because it's not fair! You make people think that you're their family. And then you leave their life in ruins. And I'm not going to let you do it again!” (The Man From Tallahassee)

Locke was never one to interfere with another man’s prerogative, and famously questioned whether he could tell anyone what they can or cannot do. When he found out that his father was planning to destroy another life, though, Locke made an exception to his rule. Locke could live with the fact that Anthony Cooper had ruined his life, from birth all the way to his marriage proposal to Helen. However, he could not live with the fact that Cooper was planning to do the same thing to someone else. It did not matter to him that Cooper was stealing from an old rich woman whom Locke never met. He still could not sit by idly knowing that another person was about to relive the same pain he felt at the end of Deus Ex Machina. Locke decided to intervene, and, as we all know, on Lost, no good deed goes unpunished. In order to do the right thing, you need to pay the consequences. His decision cost him his back and indescribable emotional anguish over the course of his four years of paralysis. Only later, through an act of pure will, did he become whole again.

2. “Because you're cheating! You and your people. Communicate with the outside world whenever you want to, you... you come and go as you please... you use electricity and running water and guns... You're a hypocrite! A Pharisee. You don't deserve to be on this island. If you had any idea what this place really was... you wouldn't be putting chicken in your refrigerator!” (The Man From Tallahassee)

The philosopher John Locke used the idea of a metaphorical state of nature to analyze political systems. The character John Locke sees the return to a state of nature as a much more literal construct. Locke’s belief system on the island presents a profound challenge to the status quo. His stay on the island has been an extended walkabout, ‘a journey of spiritual renewal in which one derives strength from the earth and becomes inseparable from it’. In order to ensure his communion with the earth, Locke looks to the island to provide everything that he requires. Locke still uses technology, but only as a means to destroy other technology. We live in a world in which we depend upon countless products created by others to survive. Dependence on such technology distracts us from spirituality, but more importantly, it prevents us from struggling to survive. As Locke once commented, struggle is nature’s way of strengthening us. Much like Native American belief systems, Locke’s values carry a special quality that one cannot help but respect. He would prefer to struggle against nature, in order to make himself stronger.

1. “Hey, hey, don't you walk away from me. You don't know who you're dealing with. Don't ever tell me what I can't do, ever. This is destiny. This is destiny. This is my destiny. I'm supposed to do this, dammit. Don't tell me what I can't do. Don't tell me what I can't ...” (Walkabout)

The final flashback of Walkabout is perhaps the most famous moment in all of Lost. The scene works on its own as a painful and tragic moment. Many people credit it as a twist ending on par with Hollywood’s best efforts. Others commend it as the first moment that introduced the audience to the island’s special powers. While these factors are all important elements in the show, the scene itself has much greater significance for building the John Locke character. What did it reveal about him? He actually planned to go hunting in the Australian outback, even though he knew he was paralyzed! Locke was absolutely convinced that he could survive in the jungle even without the use of his legs. As he said, he lived with his condition for years and truly believed that it would never prevent him from doing anything. Locke is not an interesting character because he was healed, he is amazing because of what he planned to do, even though he might never be healed. Regardless of whether his actions qualify as insanity or genius, the man’s courage and determination are astonishing. Like Norman Croucher, Locke believed that he could use his brains and his will to triumph over the limitations of his body. In The Brig, Ben demanded that Locke commit an ‘act of free will,’ before joining the Others. While eliminating Cooper was an important step, Locke had already made a much more meaningful gesture of free will, and the island recognized it. More than anything else, this singular belief in the unlimited power of his own will sets him apart from all of the other characters.

Congratulations to Terry O’Quinn for winning his long-overdue recognition from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. I already wrote a previous piece (Supporting Actor Showdown) in which I laid out my case for why O’Quinn deserves his Emmy. I predict and I hope that Locke will also earn his equally well-deserved recognition as the show’s finest character. Right now, it’s Locke’s time to shine.

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.

Predictions Revisited and Sweet Sixteen Power Rankings

LOCKE: Come here. I'm going to show you something. What do you suppose is in that cocoon, Charlie?
CHARLIE: I don't know, a butterfly, I guess?
LOCKE: No, it's much more beautiful than that. That's a moth cocoon. It's ironic, butterflies get all the attention; but moths -- they spin silk, they're stronger, they're faster.

I recently watched The Moth as part of my off-season re-watch. When I first heard Locke’s description of the moth cocoon, I thought that Locke was speaking about himself. In White Rabbit, he recently passed up a chance for leadership and instead mentored Jack into that role. Locke had decided to be the strong, independent provider rather than the focus of everyone’s attention, and he was happy with his decision. Upon watching it again with the context of Season Three fresh in my mind, I could not help but stumble upon a different interpretation. Lost is full of butterflies, who go to great lengths to get our attention, and moths, who go largely unnoticed despite all of the beauty they bring to the show. During Round Two of the DarkUFO Character Cup, we witnessed a few of our most beloved Moths die out, but we can take solace in the fact that a few of them remain.

Round Two Predictions Revisited

The Pretenders: Libby (9%), Liam (11%), Penny (13%), Boone (14%), Aaron (18%), Cindy (23%), Hawking (31%), Vincent (38%),

I was not surprised to see any of these characters suffer defeat in the second round. However, it was a bit surprising to see that none of these bottom eight characters squared off against each other. It was an equally unlikely outcome to see that none of the top eight characters faced off against each other in Round Two, either. This development had two major effects the second round. First, it ensured another series of blowout victories over the past week. However, the collision course between the top characters cannot be avoided, only postponed. The second impact was to ensure that some major characters from the middle of the pack would be eliminated early.

The Spoilers: Cooper (6%), Tom (11%), Alpert (24%), Mikhail (35%), Christian (46%), Rousseau (56%), Smoke Monster (62%), Ethan (69%).

Before the second round, I identified eight secondary characters as potential spoilers, and eight main characters as The Pack. I still think that any one of these characters could have advanced or fallen given the right match-ups. There were two possible routes to become a bona fide spoiler in this tournament. The first route, taken by Ethan and the Smoke Monster, involves beating up on the characters below them. Perhaps Mikhail, Tom, Alpert, Cooper, and Christian could be representing the Spoilers in Round Three, if they had managed to face the likes of Vincent and Hawking. The second route, taken by Rousseau alone, involves beating a main character outright. While Danielle’s feat is more impressive, I think Rousseau stumbled upon one of the few main characters she could have defeated. Christian Shephard nearly pulled off the same type of upset against Walt, but he could not close the gap. Still, 46% is pretty respectable for a guy who has been dead for the duration of the series.

The Pack: Sun (30%), Jin (42%), Claire (44%), Walt (54%), Charlie (58%), Kate (65%), Michael (77%), Eko (89%).

A few main characters from the Pack were bound to fall during Round Two. Claire, Sun, and Jin turned out to be the sacrifices that the Cup demanded. If the match-ups had been reversed, I think that this trio of characters could have easily replaced Walt, Michael, and Kate in the third round. However, it seems fitting to watch Claire and the Kwons fall from this round of the tournament. Claire, Sun, and Jin represent the human element of the Lost through their family attachments. We have already seen that character-based episodes like Par Avion and The Glass Ballerina can be easily forgotten amidst all of the razzle-dazzle of Season Three. Even though the relationships between parent-and-child or husband-and-wife make our world what it is, most of us would prefer to watch the Butterflies.


Sweet Sixteen Power Rankings

16. Ethan – The Blank Slate

Ethan Rom is perhaps the only remaining character without a truly defined personality. The series has shown us a few glimpses of Ethan’s actions, but very little sense of his motivations. We know nothing of the Other Man’s past as an individual apart from his membership with his group, and it is most likely that we never will. As such, Ethan’s popularity comes from his mysterious nature; you can read as much or as little into his relevance as you wish. Even so, Ethan is due for elimination. He just might be popular enough to eliminate someone like Michael for instance, but I doubt it.

15. Smoke Monster – The Novelty

Whenever the Smoke Monster enters a Match-up in the Character Cup, a small contingent of voters is bound to voice their objections. Is Cerberus a character? If it is a character, then how are we supposed to judge its merit? If this competition were an Acting Cup, then there would be no controversy about this issue. The Smoke Monster defies categorization as one of Lost’s most unique creations. The island’s security system has displayed characteristics of both mechanical objects and biological creatures. At the very least, the Smoke Monster seems to have something in common with the vast majority of the remaining competitors: Smokey is a murderer as well. However, I don’t think anyone would list the Smoke Monster on a list of their ten favorite characters, so its inclusion in the Elite Eight seems far-fetched. (Note: At the time of posting, it became clear that the Smoke will be eliminated from the tournament.)

14. Michael – The Judas

There are three main categories of reasons to vote for Michael. The first justification is to say that Michael Dawson is ultimately a good guy who was thrust into an impossible situation. The second way is to say that Michael may have made some very bad choices, but he will find a way to redeem himself in the future. The third route is to say that even though Michael is ultimately a bad person, he still makes for an extremely interesting character. Personally, I tend to alternate back and forth between all three of these sentiments. Michael’s story has done wonders to improve the series, and he deserves recognition as one the show’s top characters. Even so, I think Michael has advanced as far as he can in this tournament, barring some major luck.

13. Walt – The Boy Wonder

Walt Lloyd is by far the youngest participant in this contest. His inclusion in the Sweet Sixteen is a credit to the work of young Malcom David Kelley and the writers behind the scenes. As far as 10-year old characters go, Walt is more interesting to watch than any other of his television peers. It is interesting to consider what might happen if certain characters could have been considered as pairs rather than individuals. The Michael-Walt combination might be a lot stronger than either of the two characters separately, just as Rose-Bernard, Boone-Shannon, Aaron-Claire, and Sun-Jin might have improved their relative chances. Although, rather than live together in this tournament, these characters were destined to die alone. Walt, like his father, is due for elimination in the face of stronger competition in Round Three.

12. Rousseau – The Bracket Buster

The poster ‘Radzinsky’ commented that Danielle Rousseau deserves consideration as a Contender in this tournament. That argument is not without its merits. Danielle Rousseau’s track record in this contest so far seems to reinforce that notion. She earned a record 98% of the votes against Susan in Round One, and then defeated a main character, Claire, courtesy of 56% of the voters. As a non-main character who never received a flashback episode, it is extremely difficult to gauge her popularity. I still stand by my prediction that Danielle, like the rest of the Spoilers, has no realistic chance at making the Final Four. She could luck out and beat someone like Kate, but, even then, the odds would be against her.

11. Eko – The Forgotten One

If the Character Cup took place immediately after Season Two, Mr. Eko might have stood a realistic chance of winning the whole tournament. Currently, though, he seems like a long shot to make the Final Four. There are several factors that contributed to his fall from favor. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje did not want to make a long-term commitment to the series, so many fans might harbor some resentment against the actor. Through no fault of his own, Eko’s arc coincided with what most people consider to be the low-point of quality for the series, the bulk of Season Two and the mini-season to introduce Season Three. His ultimate demise seemed quite pointless and arbitrary rather than meaningful and poignant like Charlie’s death. As such, Eko has become the forgotten one. His story seemed to exist in its own separate universe, without much of a connection to the larger mythology. His impact on the series now exists only in our memories.

10. Kate – The Wild Card

Indecisiveness is one of Kate Austen’s defining characteristics, so it seems fitting that opinions on her are decidedly mixed. The poster ‘Cyrus’ argued that Kate is more of a contender in this tournament than Juliet, and it’s easy to see why someone would think so. The general consensus seems to be that Kate was once an outstanding character, but she has since regressed due to some questionable choices by writers. Many of Kate’s strongest moments have been her interactions with other female characters, but her contributions to most episodes center around the men in her life. Even viewers obsessed with the love triangle seem to focus upon the positive qualities of the male characters without explaining why they should be interested in Kate in the first place. Kate certainly has been an important character throughout all three seasons, but we have not seen enough development to distinguish herself from the big names above her.

9. Charlie – The Long Shot

Charlie Pace also has been an integral component of the series throughout all three seasons. If you were to graph Charlie’s relative popularity over the course of three seasons, the graph would most likely form the shape of a V, with peaks at the beginning of Season One and the end of Season Three. Season Two’s Fire and Water probably represents the low point for his appeal (and, in many opinions, the series itself). The Island has shown time and again that it likes to tear characters down before building them back up. Charlie had hit rock bottom, but he enters this contest at the height of his appeal. Ranking him as one of my personal favorites, and taking into account his famous death, I was tempted to include Charlie among the Contenders. He might stand a slim chance of beating some of the characters above him, but I think each of those characters ultimately will be too strong. Charlie’s Death won the Best Scene award, but I doubt whether this tournament could become the Charlie Pace Memorial Cup.

8. Jack – The Mayor

Just as Charlie has already earned recognition in the Best Scene awards, Jack Shephard’s influence previously dominated the DarkUFO Episode Cup. Jack’s flash-forward episode in the Season Three finale easily won the highest prize for an individual episode (and many of his other episodes put forth good showings as well). Uniquely, Through the Looking Glass was universal enough to appeal equally to the Jack fans and the Jack haters alike. The Character Cup does not afford him that luxury. It would probably be too much for even the strongest Jack supporter to expect him to come out on top in both Cups. As G-Man pointed out, we can expect that the approximately 18% of voters who voted for Aaron Littleton last round will vote against Jack no matter what the opponent.

7. Juliet – The Queen Bee

If there was any doubt that Juliet currently ranks as the most popular female character, Juliet put that doubt to rest with her 70-30 victory over Sun. To me, this outcome was the most surprising result of the tournament so far. I predicted that Juliet would win the match-up, but it was a shock to see her win by such a large margin. Juliet received far more than twice the number of votes as her counterpart, which indicates that her popularity is incredible at the moment. To me, the Juliet-Sun battle represents the best example of a Butterfly beating a Moth. Plenty of razzle-dazzle intrigue surrounds the Juliet character, while Sun’s story is much more down-to-earth. There was a time when the show could focus almost exclusively on character without delving into the mythology. As one poster phrased it, remember when all you had to give was a flower?

6. Desmond – Mr. Congeniality

Desmond continued his strong showing as he dispatched Libby without much difficulty. Desmond Hume certainly has a lot of things going for him and very few things working against him. He possesses winning looks, a good-hearted personality, and a special power, which help him appeal to three major types of voters. If Desmond does go down in the next two rounds, we will certainly hear a large outcry from a number of voters. G-Man even played upon these emotions, by hinting that Desmond might have to face Locke in Round Two. Desmond is absurdly popular, but he still seems bound to fall when he eventually faces one of the more central characters.

5. Sayid – The Dark Horse

Sayid Jarrah absolutely dominated his appearances in the first two rounds. He decimated Leonard with 96% of the vote, and then destroyed a much stronger opponent, Boone, with 86% of voters. Henry Holland aside, it is difficult to find anyone who dislikes Sayid. He’s not only as strong and intelligent as anyone else, but his stories are also as deep and conflicted as almost any other character. If we were voting on the most underutilized character, or the character who most deserves additional screen time, Sayid might win that honor. Much like Rousseau, I have difficulty predicting exactly how Sayid would fare against some of the other main characters. Realistically, Sayid could still walk away with the Cup.

4. Sawyer – Mr. Popular

I can’t escape my increasing suspicion that Sawyer is going to win the Cup. He previously defeated Locke in a major poll at IMDB.com. He benefits from a strong group of female (and some male) fans who will vote for their man against any opponent. He earned the highest number of votes in Round Two, against a pretty formidable opponent in Anthony Cooper. I would not have expected that Cooper would garner the lowest vote total in the second round, but he received only a small fraction of the ballots against his younger counterpart. To put this in perspective, Cooper was not only a flashback character, but an actual participant on the island as well. As a villain, Cooper even overshadowed Ben’s evil in The Brig. Even still, those factors only convinced 6% of voters to prefer him over James Ford.

3. Ben – The Unstoppable Force

Ben’s popularity seemed to increase exponentially over time since his first appearance as Henry Gale in Season Two. After Juliet’s defection and Ethan’s death, Ben Linus remains the sole active representative for the Others camp. In Every Man For Himself, The Man From Tallahassee, One of Them, The Brig, and The Man Behind the Curtain, Ben steadily became a darker and darker force on the island. Depending on the swing vote, he might be able to beat any other opponent in the Cup right now. Undoubtedly, nearly every fan hopes to see plenty more from him in Season Four.

2. Hurley – The Immovable Object

If you were to make a graph of Hurley’s relative popularity over the course of three seasons, it would most likely form a horizontal line near the top of the chart. Even in the light of some mediocre flashback episodes, Hurley remains near the top of almost everyone’s rankings. The most recent survey in the Polls section of this site offers some insight into exactly why so many people love him. He currently leads all other characters in that poll with 24% of voters who picked Hurley as the ‘character you see most as yourself’. Even though I didn’t vote for him, I understand this appeal. Take, for instance, Hurley’s reaction to Arzt’s demise (“Dude, that was messed up. He just exploded right in front of us.”). I would expect that a number of viewers had the exact same reaction during the commercial break. Now, some people would argue that identification with a character has no real bearing on our character preferences. (Methosrocks and Nicolas even found the idea offensive, for example.) I, however, believe that our character preferences do reflect our own value systems indeed, and Hurley will benefit greatly from the contingent of voters who identify with him so strongly.

1. Locke – The Face of Lost

The photo of Locke from Round Two showed Locke at his absolute worst moment. He had just made the biggest mistake of his life, and caused the death of his new family member. Even at his weakest, though, audiences still love him. His picture won the Best in Show Award because of his flaws and not despite them. I made my case for Locke in my previous post, and my prediction remains unchanged after Round Two. Can any other character expect to sway more than half of the voters to vote against John Locke? Hurley, Ben, and Sawyer stand the best chance, but he is likely to edge them all out. He’s not as attractive as Sawyer, not as diabolical as Ben, and not as likeable as Hurley, but none of those factors will likely matter in the end. John Locke has always been one of the Moths on Lost, but the fan-base has always treated him like a Butterfly.