Dead Is Dead
"Dead Is Dead" is the 12th television episode of the fifth season of ABC's Lost. The 98th episode of the show overall, "Dead Is Dead" aired on April 8, 2009, on ABC in the United States and aired on April 12, 2009 on Sky1 in the United Kingdom. It was the least-watched episode of the series during its run in the US. The episode was written by an editor Brian K. Vaughan and co-executive producer Elizabeth Sarnoff and directed by Stephen Williams.
In 2007, Benjamin Linus summons the Monster in order to atone for his sins. In flashbacks, the origins of the strained relationship between Ben and Charles Widmore are revealed.
Plot
Flashbacks
In 1977, Ben Linus wakes up in the Others' camp, not remembering that he was shot. He meets the leader of the Others, Charles Widmore, who tells him he's one of them. In 1988, Ben kidnaps Alex as a baby from her mother Danielle Rousseau, whose life he spares. Before leaving, Ben tells Rousseau to run in the other direction if she hears whispers. He returns to the Others' camp with the baby, which disappoints Charles, who wants Ben to kill both mother and daughter. Years later, Charles is banished from the island for breaking the rules by leaving the island frequently and fathering a daughter to an outsider. Before he leaves the island, Charles tells Ben that Ben will ultimately be banished as well, because he is unable to sacrifice Alex's life. Following Alex's death, and his leaving the island Ben, just before boarding Ajira 316, confronts Penny Widmore, Charles's daughter, and shoots her husband, Desmond Hume. Ben states his intention to kill Penny in retribution for his own daughter's death, but hesitates upon seeing Penny's son. Ben's hesitation allows Desmond to recover and severely beat him.2007
In 2007, Ben wakes up after having been knocked unconscious by Sun-Hwa Kwon, and is greeted by John Locke, whom Ben previously murdered. Ben tells Locke that he has broken "the rules" by returning to the island after he left it and that he must be judged by the smoke monster. Locke agrees to accompany him to the main island.Upon arriving on the main island, Ben and Locke travel to the Dharma Initiative's barracks, where they find Sun and Flight 316 pilot Frank Lapidus. Sun shows him the photograph of Jack Shephard, Kate Austen and Hugo "Hurley" Reyes, who has traveled back in time to 1977 and joined the Dharma Initiative. Sun also tells Ben that Christian Shephard instructed her to wait for Locke because together they will be able to rescue the others from the past. Frank decides to return to the smaller island where he is taken hostage by Ilana and several of the other 316 survivors, who ask him if he knows "what lies in the shadow of the statue." Meanwhile, Ben, Locke, and Sun travel to a temple belonging to the island's native population, called the Others. Underneath the temple, Ben is separated from Locke and confronted by the smoke monster, which replays several of Ben's memories of Alex. The smoke dissipates and a manifestation of Alex appears to Ben, telling him that she knows of his intention to kill Locke again. She warns him to follow Locke's lead without question if he wishes to live. Ben agrees and his life is spared.
Production
"Dead is Dead" stars Michael Emerson as Ben Linus.Release
"Dead is Dead" aired on April 8, 2009 on ABC.Reception
Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Jeff Jensen named the episode one of the best episodes of season 5.Writing for The A.V. Club, Noel Murray praised the episode's flashback storyline. Murray added that while he usually dislikes the mystical elements of Lost, he enjoyed how they were integrated into "Dead is Dead".