Re: Lost--Benjamin Linus: Action hero! ("The Shape Of Things To Come"

Jim Gysin <jimgysin@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> writes:
>This is a *very* good point.  I agree that Ben's efforts at manipulation 
>only work (or work best) on "the good guys."  This could also help 
>explain why he can't work his mind game magic with Widmore.

Yep. Ultimately, Ben's games work by appealing to reason, or perhaps more
accurately, manipulating reason. When up against someone who doesn't work
on that level (Locke (sometimes!), Keamy, Widmore), his games backfire in
his face. 

Ben knew that either he couldn't be killed by Keamy, or that Keamy would
be
under orders not to even try, so Ben's thinking is that by removing Alex
as
leverage, Keamy would have to fold. And, he expected Alex to be treated
similarly.

Of course, Keamy *did* lose his leverage by killing Alex, and got his ass
handed to him for it. Ben's offer to walk away was the *right* one for him
to take, but he was too crazy to see it, didn't really understand what Ben
was capable of, or was under orders to do what he did. I'm sure we'll
learn
more about the implications soon. *
-- 
* PV   something like badgers--something like lizards--and something
       like corkscrews.