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

PV sent the following on 4/29/2008 12:53 PM:
> 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.

Reason or personal weakness, as in manipulating Locke's low self-esteem.

> When up against someone who doesn't work
> on that level (Locke (sometimes!), Keamy, Widmore), his games backfire
in
> his face. 

And psychotics like Keamy have little use for self-inspection and/or are 
very good at suppressing the things that Ben's Jedi magic could 
otherwise manipulate.

> 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.

We should probably be careful about assuming that Ben's line about 
changing the rules was related to Alex's *death*.  It could have been 
the case, or it could be something related to the death, or something 
that the death signifies, or a process that the death sets in motion, etc.

> 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. *

It'll be interesting, for sure.

-- 
Jim Gysin
Waukesha, WI