# Lost 3.5: The Cost of Living **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 1, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769 "2006-11-01T19:20:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/201 "2006-11-06T04:24:22Z")
[QUOTE=Rilchiam] What kind of evil does Claire have in her, though? I’ve been reading Charlie’s (semi-requited) crush on her as more of him torturing himself: she’s so virtuous, he feels he can never be worthy. I don’t see any dark/light in Claire; she’s all light. [/QUOTE] Doesn’t her name even mean “light” in French? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/202 "2006-11-06T04:31:58Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] Sure, but unless we’re going to get extremely theological, Turniphead kind of messes up the Purgatory theory, IMO. [/QUOTE] I would say that the fact that Desmond’s girlfriend was shown interacting (in a small way,) with events on the Island proves it’s not Purgatory. That, and the fact that the producers have said outright that it is NOT Purgatory. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/203 "2006-11-06T05:03:57Z")
[QUOTE=BayleDomon] If they had simply started the surgery, Jack might’ve taken it into his own head to botch the operation intentionally, to try and get back at the Others. [/QUOTE] I don’t see Jack making that kind of decision, at least not on his own without coercion or reason from outside. I’d say Jack values his own integrity as a doctor (especially as he’s fought all his life to prove himself to his father) to decide on his own to intentionally violate his hippocratic oath. Even with this “proposal” by Juliet, I think that’s still going to be Jack’s internal conflict. Choosing to trust Juliet (which he probably feels is smarter than trusting Ben) vs. his own personal expectations of himself as a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/204 "2006-11-06T05:34:05Z")
Anyone seen the preview on the abc site? It has a scene where Kate is brought in and begs Jack to do the surgery. She tells him they’ll kill Sawyer if he doesn’t. But he does, the they’ll let them go. It also features another recapitulation from season one: Jack: It’s gonna be ok. ---
**Author:** ![Ultros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ultros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultros)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/205 "2006-11-06T16:26:29Z")
[QUOTE=AttackOfTheSmurf] Why would iron dust sound like an old wooden rollar coaster being pulled up a hill? [/QUOTE] In order to be consistent with this theory, the mechanical sounds could be interpreted as the magnetic machinery controlling the cloud moving through its underground tunnels. > [@tanstaafl](#): > > Something I have thought of is that Ben has told Jack that he will take him home. Whether Jack believes him or not is a different question, but the offer has at least been made. > > What has Juliet offered Jack? Nothing. Yeah, she made him a hamburger. True, Jack has absolutely no reason to want to help or even trust Ben, but he has absolutely no reason to want to help or trust Juliet either. > > Ben has at least offered him something. Juliet hasn’t. But she has planted the idea that Ben is dangerous and a liar. If she’s telling the truth, Ben’s offer to get Jack off the island could be meaningless. I personally don’t think that Ben and Juliet are in cahoots on this thing; I think Juliet’s attempt at mutiny is real. Unless the Others are so skilled at manipulating people that they KNOW with 100% certainty what Jack’s decision will be if they push his buttons a certain way, they can’t afford to take the risk of putting Ben’s life in Jack’s hands once they’ve suggested that they kill him. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/206 "2006-11-06T18:39:49Z")
Why assume anything we’ve been told about the surgical issue is true? Everything we’ve heard is what’s being told to Jack, a person they are definitely trying to manipulate. The times we’ve seen Ben and Juliet together outside of Jack’s presense, they appear to be working together. Juliet might be lying. Ben might be lying. Both might be lying. The x-rays might be somebody else’s or might be a complete fake. It could all be a psychological attack on Jack via his sense of medical ethnics. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/207 "2006-11-06T18:51:39Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] Why assume anything we’ve been told about the surgical issue is true? Everything we’ve heard is what’s being told to Jack, a person they are definitely trying to manipulate. The times we’ve seen Ben and Juliet together outside of Jack’s presense, they appear to be working together. Juliet might be lying. Ben might be lying. Both might be lying. The x-rays might be somebody else’s or might be a complete fake. It could all be a psychological attack on Jack via his sense of medical ethnics. [/QUOTE] Can’t find a transcript right now, but I seem to recall a conversation between Ben and Juliet where Ben asks her why she discussed his condition with Jack. She says something like, “I didn’t, but it looks like you just did.” Jack wasn’t present for that conversation, so it probably isn’t part of the manipulation. But I think there was some ambiguity about precisely what Ben was talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Ultros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ultros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultros)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/208 "2006-11-06T18:58:16Z")
[QUOTE=Gfactor] Can’t find a transcript right now, but I seem to recall a conversation between Ben and Juliet where Ben asks her why she discussed his condition with Jack. She says something like, “I didn’t, but it looks like you just did.” Jack wasn’t present for that conversation, so it probably isn’t part of the manipulation. But I think there was some ambiguity about precisely what Ben was talking about. [/QUOTE] As I recall, it was at the funeral, while Jack was out of earshot. Ben said “why did you show him my x-rays?” And Juliet replied, “I didn’t tell him they were yours. But I guess you did.” ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/209 "2006-11-07T01:40:38Z")
Somehow, I can’t imagine Jack taking up Benry or anyone else on an offer to get off the island but leave all his pals on the beach behind. I just can’t see him saying “See ya!” and zipping away in a motorboat. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/210 "2006-11-07T01:55:38Z")
[QUOTE=vivalostwages] Somehow, I can’t imagine Jack taking up Benry or anyone else on an offer to get off the island but leave all his pals on the beach behind. I just can’t see him saying “See ya!” and zipping away in a motorboat. [/QUOTE] Why wouldn’t he take that chance with the idea of mounting a rescue mission from the outside, and assuming that the odds of getting everyone off is abotu nil if he stays on the island? ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/211 "2006-11-07T02:54:14Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Why wouldn’t he take that chance with the idea of mounting a rescue mission from the outside, and assuming that the odds of getting everyone off is abotu nil if he stays on the island? [/QUOTE] He could take such a chance assuming that he could actually find his way back. Michael and Walt haven’t yet. _Yet._ ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/212 "2006-11-07T03:57:10Z")
[QUOTE=vivalostwages] Somehow, I can’t imagine Jack taking up Benry or anyone else on an offer to get off the island but leave all his pals on the beach behind. I just can’t see him saying “See ya!” and zipping away in a motorboat. [/QUOTE] It’ll be preceeded by a series of flashbacks that tell us that Jack actually always bails at the first opportunity. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@The\_Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Octagon)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/213 "2006-11-07T04:10:51Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] Doesn’t her name even mean “light” in French? [/QUOTE] No. Clear. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/214 "2006-11-07T06:36:29Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] Not necessarily. If you accept the idea of the island being purgatory,… [/QUOTE] I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/215 "2006-11-07T08:10:26Z")
> [@](#): > > He could take such a chance assuming that he could actually find his way back. Michael and Walt haven’t yet. Yet. It’s hard to remember because of the way the series is paced but the events on the island are happening over a much shorter duration then the broadcast would suggest. November 27 - Jack, Kate, and Sawyer are captured. Hurley is released. Sayid finds the abandoned village. Michael and Walt leave on the boat. November 28 - Jack, Sawyer, and Kate are put in cages. Jack meets Juliet. November 29 - Kate and Sawyer break rocks. Ben talks to Jack and shows his the Red Sox tape. The sailboat arrives at the dock and Ben orders the commando team to capture it. Sayid and Jin set their ambush but the team boards the boat and Sun shoots Colleen. Hurley returns to the camp. November 30 - Jack unsuccessfully tries to save Colleen and sees the x-rays. Sawyer gets his supposed pacemaker. December 1 - Ben takes Sawyer on a walk to show him the other island. Jack and Ben talk about his tumor. Jin, Sayid, and Sun return to the camp. Colleen’s funeral is held. December 2 - The expedition to Pearl Station. Juliet tells Jack to kill Ben. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/216 "2006-11-07T16:11:38Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] What does TCM stand for? (I didn’t watch season 1 and so I wasn’t in these threads when you established the early terminology…) [/QUOTE] A good reason not to have any weird terminology or silly-assed nicknames. Like “Benry”. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/217 "2006-11-07T16:24:53Z")
[QUOTE=vivalostwages] He could take such a chance assuming that he could actually find his way back. Michael and Walt haven’t yet. _Yet._ [/QUOTE] It has only been about a week, plus Michael has good reason not to tell anyone about The Island-- he murdered two people there, and the Lostaways know that. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/218 "2006-11-07T17:00:40Z")
Has anyone seen Benry’s toes yet? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/219 "2006-11-07T17:29:27Z")
[QUOTE=Hampshire] Has anyone seen Benry’s toes yet? [/QUOTE] Okay, well _that_ almost caused a coffee-spraying incident. Be more careful, dammit. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769/220 "2006-11-07T17:33:42Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally Posted by OpalCat_ > What does TCM stand for? (I didn’t watch season 1 and so I wasn’t in these threads when you established the early terminology…) CFL said TCM was a security system. TCM = Tree Crushing Monster. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-3-5-the-cost-of-living/378769.md?page=12)