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Template:Infobox Lost character Benjamin "Ben" Linus is a fictional character portrayed by Michael Emerson on the ABC television series Lost. Ben was the leader of a group of island natives called the Others and was initially known as Henry Gale to the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. He began as the antagonist during the second and third seasons, but in subsequent seasons, becomes something of an uneasy ally to the main characters; even so, however, throughout the series, he is persistently characterized by spontaneous coldblooded actions and the shroud of moral ambiguity. Other characters frequently describe him as loyal only to himself, though it is also often hinted that he may be driven by some higher purpose.

As with most characters on Lost, Ben's history is revealed through flashbacks and episodes set in other time periods which are revealed slowly as the series progresses. Sterling Beaumon first portrayed a young Ben late in season three, in the character's first centric episode, "The Man Behind the Curtain". Ben's childhood is further explored in the fifth season of the series, partially set in 1977. Fifth season episode "Dead is Dead" explores Ben's fragile state following the events of the fourth season, in which his arrogance led to the death of his adoptive daughter Alex (Tania Raymonde), and flashbacks show the audience Ben's original acquisition of Alex and his rise to leadership of the Others, after exiling his rival Charles Widmore (Alan Dale). Originally cast for three guest appearances in the second season, Emerson's role was expanded. As leader of the Others, Ben became a regular cast member from the third season onward. Reviews of the show would often focus on Ben's mysterious motives. Emerson's portrayal garnered many positive reviews, resulting in nominations for the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor year-on-year from 2007 to 2010, winning in 2009.

Arc

Prior to the crash

Flashbacks during "The Man Behind the Curtain" show Benjamin Linus being born in the woods outside of Portland, Oregon, to Roger (Jon Gries) and Emily Linus (Carrie Preston). Emily dies after giving birth to Ben. When Ben is young, he and his father move to the Island, after his dad is offered a job working for the Dharma Initiative. On the Island, Ben begins to see visions of his mother, while Roger starts drinking heavily and verbally abusing him. Ben develops a hatred for the Dharma Initiative and one day runs away from the Barracks. He comes across Richard Alpert (Nestor Carbonell), one of the Island natives known to the Initiative as the "Hostiles", in the jungle, who agrees to Ben's request to join his group but tells him he needs to be very patient.[1]

File:Lost-3x20-YoungBen.jpg
A young Ben arrives on the island.

Several episodes in the fifth season feature the young Ben. In "Namaste", Ben comes into contact with a captured Sayid Jarrah (Naveen Andrews), who has been brought back in time from 2007. In the following episode, "He's Our You", Ben helps free Sayid under the impression Sayid was sent by the Others to bring him to Richard. Sayid instead shoots Ben and leaves him for dead. Lacking a trained physician to treat Ben, James "Sawyer" Ford (Josh Holloway) turns to Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox), who flatly refuses to help the boy who will become their tormentor. In a desperate effort to save Ben's life, Kate Austen (Evangeline Lilly) and Sawyer take Ben to Richard, who informs them Ben will henceforth lose his innocence and always be one of the Others. He also loses the memory of the shooting.

In 1988, Charles Widmore, leader of the Others, sends Ben to kill Danielle Rousseau (Melissa Farman). However, when Ben learns Rousseau has a child, he kidnaps the baby Alex Rousseau, warning Rousseau to never come looking for the baby if she wants either of them to live.[2] Four years after this, it is revealed in flashbacks Ben kills his father with poison gas, then discovers every Dharma Initiative member dead, also from poison gas. Shortly after this event, he banishes Charles Widmore from the island and assumes his leadership role, as he is the only one who can allegedly interact with their real leader, Jacob, and communicate his will to the group.[1] It was later revealed that Ben never met Jacob, at least until the season 5 finale.

Two days before the crash of Oceanic Flight 815, Ben discovers he has a spinal tumor. After witnessing the crash, he sends Ethan Rom (William Mapother) and Goodwin Stanhope (Brett Cullen) to investigate. He chooses Goodwin in order to remove Ben's competition for the affections of Juliet Burke (Elizabeth Mitchell), a woman recruited to the island three years previously in order to help the Others with their fertility problems.[3]

After the crash

In the season 3 episode "Exposé", Ben and Juliet enter a Dharma station, the Pearl, and watch Jack on a monitor. Ben tells Juliet he will convince Jack to perform surgery on him.[4] After Goodwin dies, Ben shows Juliet the corpse, so she knows she is Ben's and will be on the Island forever.[3]

File:Lost-OneOfThem.jpg
Ben is questioned by Locke and Sayid.

In the season two episode "One of Them", Ben is caught in a trap set by Danielle Rousseau (Mira Furlan). He pretends to be Henry Gale, a man from Minnesota who crashed on the island while traveling via hot air balloon. Rousseau turns him over to Sayid, who takes him to the Swan Station, where he is held captive and interrogated.[5] Ben is exposed as a fraud when the body of the real Henry Gale is found.

Michael Dawson (Harold Perrineau), a crash survivor whose son has been kidnapped by the Others, later sets Ben free.[6] When Michael successfully brings Jack, Kate, and Sawyer to the pier, Ben gives him a boat so he can leave the Island with his son.[7] Ben then takes Jack, Kate, and Sawyer to a smaller island nearby.[8]

In the beginning of season three, Ben gives Juliet the task of interrogating Jack, while Kate and Sawyer are kept in cages.[9] He admits to Jack about having a tumor on his spine, and asks him to remove it in order for him to leave the Island. During the surgery he wakes up, where Jack refuses to finish until Kate and Sawyer are safely away from the Others.[10] After they escape, Ben's operation is finished.[11] He returns to the Barracks with the rest of the Others, and Jack in tow.[12]

When Locke comes to rescue Jack, he and Ben have a confrontation. Ben tells Locke of a "magic box" which can produce whatever someone wishes for and shows him his father, Anthony Cooper (Kevin Tighe), who they are holding captive and was brought to the Island because of the box.[13] Ben offers Locke the opportunity to join the Others, but only if he kills Cooper; Ben knows he won't kill in cold blood, and so makes the offer as a way to humiliate Locke.[14] Locke returns a few days later with Cooper's corpse, having used Sawyer to do the deed for him, so Ben takes him to meet Jacob. When Ben discovers Locke can hear Jacob, he shoots Locke and leaves him for dead.[1] He returns to the Others' camp, and tells Richard, now his second-in-command, to lead the remaining Others to the Temple. Ben takes Alex with him as he attempts to prevent Jack from sending a radio message to a nearby freighter. He reunites Alex with her mother, and claims if Jack contacts the freighter, every single person on the Island will die. Ben is beaten and taken hostage, and forced to watch as the freighter is contacted.[15]

In the first episode of season four, "The Beginning of the End", the survivors divide into two groups. Those who believe the people from the freighter to be dangerous, Ben among them, join Locke and head to the Barracks.[16] After Ben confesses the freighter crew has come to capture him, Miles Straume (Ken Leung), a medium from the freighter, makes a deal with Ben, asking for $3.2 million in exchange for reporting Ben as dead to Charles Widmore (Alan Dale), the man who sent the freighter. Ben agrees after Miles rebuffs his claims such a small fortune is beyond him.[17] Ben eventually gets his freedom when he tells Locke who sent the freighter.[3]

Once free, Ben urges Alex, and her boyfriend and mother, to travel to the Temple, for protection from the people on the freighter. However, they are ambushed en route by mercenaries from the freighter and all but Alex are killed. Alex is taken hostage after revealing herself to be Ben's daughter.[18] In "The Shape of Things to Come", Martin Keamy (Kevin Durand), the leader of the mercenaries, threatens to shoot Alex if Ben does not come forward; Ben staunchly denies any attachment to her, which results in her execution. Ben claims Widmore has "changed the rules", then summons the smoke monster to attack the mercenaries. He then leaves with Locke and Hugo "Hurley" Reyes (Jorge Garcia) to communicate with Jacob.[19] Locke enters Jacob's cabin alone, and returns stating they need to move the Island.[20] They go to the Orchid, a Dharma station which allows them to do this. Ben sends Locke to become the new leader of the Others, then enters a secret level of the Orchid. He turns a large frozen wheel in the wall, which teleports the Island to a new location.[21] Ben himself is transported to the Sahara Desert, specifically, Tunisia, which was formerly the ancient country of Carthage.[19]

Return from exile

Ben awakens in the Sahara Desert.

The flashforwards in "The Shape of Things to Come" show Ben arrives in the Sahara Desert ten months ahead of when he left the Island.[19] Ben finds Sayid at the funeral of his wife Nadia (Andrea Gabriel), and recruits Sayid as his personal assassin, telling him Widmore ordered the assassination of his wife.[19] Ben provides Sayid with a list of targets, all of which he successfully kills over the next three years. At one point, Ben infiltrates Widmore's penthouse apartment in London to inform him of his intention to kill his daughter, Penelope (Sonya Walger), as retribution for the death of Alex.[19]

When John Locke leaves the island to bring the survivors back to the island, Ben tracks him down. After getting Locke to reveal what he knows about returning to the island, Ben kills him and stages it as a suicide. Ben visits Jack in the funeral home housing Locke's body, telling Jack he will help him return to the island, but the only way to get back is to bring everyone who had left it; that includes bringing the body of Locke. Ben boards Ajira Airways Flight 316 with the rest of the Oceanic Six and returns to the island. Jack, Kate, Hurley, and Sayid are transported to 1977, while Sun and Ben remain in the present with a resurrected Locke. The plane crash lands on the Hydra Island, so Ben attempts to take a boat to the main island. Sun strikes him in the back of the head and takes the boat with Frank, so Ben is left in the care of the other survivors, including Locke.

After Ben regains consciousness and finds Locke to be alive, he is visibly surprised but able to convince John he knew bringing him to the island would resurrect him, and he stopped Locke's suicide attempt merely to gain information. He tells Locke he was trying to reach the main island to be "judged" by the Monster, having broken the "rules" by returning to the island, though Locke later comments it is for killing his daughter. Locke travels with Ben, taking a second boat. A fellow passenger, Caesar, attempts to stop them, so Ben shoots him in the chest with the shotgun Caeser had taken from the Dharma facilities shortly after crashing.

File:DeadIsDeadLost.jpg
Ben faces the Smoke Monster.

As Ben fails to find the Monster at his house, Locke, knowing the location of its lair, heads to the Temple with Ben and Sun. Ben and Locke enter a series of tunnels beneath the Temple while Sun waits outside the entrance. Suddenly, he falls through the floor, and Locke leaves to get something that he can pull him up with. The Monster flows out of a grate below the picture and surrounds Ben, showing flashes of decisions he made in his life involving Alex. It flows back into the monument without harming Ben. Moments later, Alex appears and pushes Ben against a wall. She says she knows Ben is planning to kill Locke again, and if he does she will hunt him down and destroy him. She orders him to follow Locke and do whatever he asks, then disappears.

Upon returning to the Others' camp, John gathers the group together and announces he is taking them to see Jacob.[22] Richard agrees to lead them to see Jacob. As they are walking, John tells Ben he plans to kill Jacob. Ben relates his experience with the Monster and his promise to do whatever John asks. John then convinces Ben to kill Jacob as John points out Ben owes Jacob no loyalty.[23] Richard leads them to the base of the statue, where Jacob lives. Ben and John both enter despite Richard's protest. Within, they are met by Jacob (Mark Pellegrino). Jacob greets John and observes he had found his loophole; this Locke is not really Locke, but another man in his form who is trying to kill Jacob. Ben confronts Jacob about why he never revealed himself at any time during Ben's tenure as leader. Ben relates his loyalty and service to Jacob, without reward or recognition, and concludes with the question, "What about me?" Jacob dismissively replies, "What about you?" Infuriated, Ben stabs Jacob twice, killing him.

After Jacob's death, "Locke" tells a rattled Ben to go and fetch Richard, as he wants to speak to him. However, when Ben exits the statue, Richard violently grabs him and throws him down beside the corpse of the real John Locke, which has been brought to the statue by a group led by Ilana (Zuleikha Robinson). Shocked at the sight, Ben is forced by Ilana's group (sans Ilana herself) to bring them to "Locke". After "Locke" reveals to the group Jacob is dead, they start shooting at him, but "Locke" disappears, before reappearing as the Monster and killing Ilana's group as Ben cowers in a corner. "Locke" then returns to his previous form and mockingly informs Ben of the real Locke's last thoughts, while being strangled by Ben: "I don't understand", deriding Locke for being "pathetic." He then reveals his own goal: to return "home". Afterwards, Ben comforts Ilana when he finds her crying in Jacob's chamber and sets off with her, Sun, and Frank Lapidus (Jeff Fahey) to bury Locke before going to the Temple, where they believe they will be safe from the Monster. At Locke's funeral, Ben provides the eulogy, calling John a believer, a man of faith, and a better man than Ben himself could ever be. He then expresses his sincere apologies for killing Locke.

He travels with the group to the Temple afterward, but arrive at a wrong time: "Locke", who is in fact the Smoke Monster as well as the mysterious Man in Black in "The Incident", is ravaging the place. Ilana's group recruits Miles and Ben runs off to find Sayid, only to realize Sayid is now "infected" and thus an ally of the Man in Black. He escapes the place and rejoins Ilana and her group. Ilana, however, makes Miles implement his medium skills to uncover the truth about Jacob's death, with Jacob's ashes as the object of communication. Miles tells everyone Ben is Jacob's murderer.

They arrive at the beach where the Oceanic 815 survivors spent most of their time residing, as a temporary shelter, and Ben attempts to make amends with everyone, to no avail. Ilana then forces him to dig a grave and has his leg chained to a tree; when inquired, Ilana responds she will kill Ben for murdering her father figure. As he digs, he attempts to bribe Miles with the $3.2 million, but this fails. Later, the Man in Black visits Ben, telling him to join him and then magically frees Ben. After the Man in Black walks off, Ben escapes, Ilana chases after him, and the two come face-to-face at the jungle when Ben points a rifle at her. However, Ben explains to her why he really killed Jacob, particularly grieving his daughter. Ilana understands and allows him to rejoin their group, which he does.

Hurley, Jack, and Richard show up and joins their group. When they have a meeting, deciding what to do next, Richard storms off, claiming he no longer trusts Jacob and wants to join the Man in Black. Ben thinks Richard has lost his mind. The next day, Ben goes to collect mangoes when he sees Sun bumping into a low-hanging branch and falling unconscious. He wakes her up and asks what happened, but surprisingly Sun is unable to speak English, though she manages to tell him "Locke" is responsible. Back at the beach, Richard returns and reveals they should stop the Man in Black from escaping by blowing up the Ajira Airways airline on the other island. However, Ilana mishandles the dynamite she brought along, causing an explosion which kills her instantly. Ben later acknowledges her death as an inconvenience to the Island.

After Hurley destroys the rest of the dynamite from the shipwrecked Black Rock for his own views of everyone's safety, Richard insists he will find other explosives, mentioning the Dharma Barracks. Ben and Miles join Richard, while the rest decide to go talk to the Man in Black. When they arrive at the Barracks, Widmore is there, and is soon joined by the Man in Black. The Man in Black makes an offer to Ben for the Island to be his if he does what he asks. Ben informs the Man in Black where Widmore is and murders Widmore before he is able to make a deal with the Man in Black to spare his daughter.

The Man in Black and Ben find Desmond and the Man in Black forces him to go with him to the Heart of the Island to destroy the Island, which contradicts the deal he made with Ben. They run into Jack's group and they both go to the heart of the Island. When Desmond removes the cork of the Island, the Island begins to collapse and when a tree is about to collapse on Hurley, he pushes him out of the way and saves him. When Jack kills the Man in Black, he and Hurley volunteer to stay behind on the Island with Jack to assist him relighting the Heart of the Island. Jack tells Hurley and Ben he will die doing this and Jack gives Hurley the new position of being protector of the Island. Jack puts the cork back into the heart of the Island and the light comes back on. They bring up what they think is Jack, but turns out to be Desmond. Hurley then asks Ben for advice, and Ben advises him to approach his Island duties with his kindness and helping people, and to start off by helping Desmond get back to his wife and child. Hurley thinks Jacob wouldn't allow it, but Ben assures him there may be a better way than what Jacob did. Hurley then tells Ben he will need an advisor with experience and asks Ben if he would like to become his. Ben says he would be honored to do so.

After an undisclosed period of time but presumably in 2010, Ben, on orders from Hurley, arrives at the DHARMA Logistics Warehouse in Orote Peninsula, Guam. After speaking to the two workers currently working there, he instructs them that the facility is being shut down, and so they are free to go, handing them their severance pay and then answering "one question only" about the island, including showing them the Hydra Station Orientation film. Afterward, Ben arrives at the Santa Rosa Mental Hospital and asks to see a patient, revealed to be Walt, telling him that he is still special and that he can still help his father, Michael, even if he is dead, offering Walt a job to return to the island. When Ben and Walt reach the Dharma Van, Hurley is waiting for them in the back seat. They exchange pleasantries and Ben starts to drive off stating that they are going home. Ben then lives for an undisclosed number of years on the island with Hurley and presumably Walt, and his death is unknown.

Afterlife

File:BenLocke.jpg
Ben and Locke reunite in their afterlives.

In the season 6 episode "The Substitute", Ben Linus is shown to have survived the destruction of the Island in 1977 and is now a teacher of European History in a Southern California public school. In Dr. Linus, Ben laments his life in general, particularly because his principal, Reynolds, does not care for the school. He is living with his father, Roger (Jon Gries), who is on life support. During a dinner together, Roger and Ben comment on their time spent with the DHARMA Initiative on "that Island". At school, he is shown to have a close relationship with one of his star pupils, Alex, as she aspires to be a history major. He also befriends a substitute teacher, John Locke, particularly after Locke suggests Ben should be principal of the school because of his concern for the students.

While studying together, Alex tells Ben that Principal Reynolds is having a sexual affair with one of the school nurses on campus. Ben attempts to blackmail Reynolds, threatening to reveal his affair and citing his position as principal as the demand. However, Reynolds swiftly retaliates by saying if he makes good on his threats, Alex's chances of going to Yale University will decrease substantially, as he is requested to write her a recommendation letter. Wanting to save Alex's educational future, Ben backs down.

Days later, Ben notices Desmond Hume waiting outside the school in his car for an extended amount of time. Suspicious, Ben speaks with him, but is convinced when Desmond insists he recently moved to the area and is checking out the school for his son Charlie. When Ben leaves, however, Desmond runs over Locke, and swiftly drives off. Ben alerts someone to call 9-1-1, while telling Locke to not move. As soon as the ambulance arrives, Ben gets in and sits next to the critically-injured Locke, assuring him everything will be all right.

When Locke returns to the school, Desmond does as well, and Ben catches him. He beats Ben severely saying he was only trying to help Locke let go. He has a vision from his previous life during Desmond's beating. Ben believes him and relays Locke this information. When Alex sees how badly Ben was beaten, she invites him to her house where her mother, Danielle, fixes him supper. Danielle tells Ben that Alex views him as a father, and Ben begins to cry.

Ben waits outside the chapel where the Oceanic survivors plan to cross on, and he sees Locke for the last time. Ben apologizes to Locke for killing him, saying he was selfish and jealous: "You were special, and I wasn't." Locke tells Ben he forgives him, and Ben says he appreciates it more than he can express.

Hurley later comes out of the chapel and invites Ben into the chapel. Ben politely declines saying he is not ready to move on. Hurley then tells Ben he was a good #2 in life, and Ben tells him he was a great #1. Ben decides to remain in the flash-sideways universe for an undisclosed amount of time, saying he "has a few things to work out".

Personality

"That's what my father does - he manipulates people. He makes you think it's your idea but it's his."

Alex in "The Man From Tallahassee"

Ben has an impeccable ability to lie and manipulate the people around him, even when he is at a physical disadvantage.[24] He claims to have been born on the Island,[9] leading to him being thought of as a miracle by the Others, as pregnant women die on the island;[25] but later confesses to Locke that he was lying.[1] He unsuccessfully tries to convince the survivors he is Henry Gale,[26] although succeeds in manipulating Locke to turn against Jack whilst held prisoner under this guise.[27] While he claims he will not sacrifice innocent lives in order to accomplish his goals,[18] he has been shown to do quite the opposite. In the third season finale, Ben is informed by Tom (M. C. Gainey), an Other, that they have captured three of the crash survivors: Sayid Jarrah, Bernard Nadler (Sam Anderson), and Jin-Soo Kwon (Daniel Dae Kim). When Tom tells Ben they are unwilling to reveal any information about the rest of the survivors, Ben quickly replies "Shoot Kwon... You want them to answer questions, kill Kwon - do it now".[15] Conversely, Ben refuses to allow his spy on the freighter to destroy it long before it reaches the Island, as he would not kill anyone who "did not deserve to die".[18] Furthermore, when Locke confronts Ben about causing the freighter to explode, Ben coldly replies, "So?"[21]

"I have full sympathy [for Ben]. I believe he has a mission and an agenda that he hasn't shared with us yet. The survival of the earth may depend on Ben's work, so it justifies his ruthless behavior. Maybe I'm just fantasizing or deluding myself."

Actor Michael Emerson, who plays Ben[28]

Ben's unclear motives have led to speculation about his possible status as a villain. Ben Rawson-Jones from Digital Spy describes Ben as a "supposed villain", pondering "Could he really have been the good guy all along" following the fourth season episode "The Shape of Things to Come".[29] Actor Michael Emerson suspects where Ben's loyalties lie will always be ambiguous, making this a "wonderful role".[30] He is rarely shown losing control of his emotions, but when he does, it is done in a big and childish way.[31] Emerson explains "He's cold because any trace of warmth makes him vulnerable to his enemies".[32] Ben is also known for his commitment to the island and doing whatever is necessary to protect it.[33] He has no qualms with Locke attempting to kill Naomi (Marsha Thomason) and even Jack after the survivors begin to call the freighter.[15] He undertakes the risky and unpredictable step of moving the Island to prevent the freighter crew, and thus Charles Widmore, from finding it.[21] He always has a plan and is described by Kevin Thompson from The Palm Beach Post as a "know-it-all",[34] which another reviewer thinks is because "[Ben] talks quietly, in a menacingly measured drawl... with lots of pauses and emphases".[35]

Ben also appears to know Turkish, as he asks the bedouins on horseback "Türkçe biliyor musunuz?" late in season 4.

Development

Michael Emerson was cast on the show after receiving an Emmy for his role in The Practice

In 2001, American actor Michael Emerson won an Emmy award for his guest appearance as serial killer William Hinks on The Practice.[32] The Lost producers liked his work on The Practice, so they were keen to cast Emerson in the role of Ben, then known as "Henry Gale", as they thought he would fit the character well.[36] He was originally contracted to appear in just three episodes of Lost,[37] making his first appearance midway through the second season, in episode "One of Them". The producers were so impressed by him that they contracted him for a further five episodes, citing the scene at the end of "The Whole Truth" where Ben asks for milk as the moment they knew he was a "keeper".[32] He was then made a part of the regular cast from the third season.[38] Had Emerson not worked out during his initial appearances a different actor would have been cast for the leader of the Others, but it was always intended the survivors would have the leader right under their noses and not realise it.[37] During one episode of the Official Lost Podcast, the producers state they always knew Ben would be the "Big Bad".[39] Emerson had no idea of his character's importance during his second season recurring role. He was told nothing about Ben's backstory and would only receive scripts at the last minute.[40] He enjoys how the ambiguity of Ben's motives allows him to "paint it the way [he] please[s]".[30] Sterling Beaumon was cast to play Ben in the flashbacks of episode "The Man Behind the Curtain".[1] Emerson's wife Carrie Preston was cast as Ben's mother following Emerson telling people at parties she was desperate for a part on the show.[40]

Referring to the scene in the third season where Ben seemingly fits Sawyer with a lethal pacemaker, Emerson comments "Sadistic may be the word, but he doesn't seem to take much relish in it. He's just sort of detached, he looks at it coldly. I sometimes feel like everything to him is a sort of scientific experiment and he is interested in a dispassionate way in how the experiment runs its course. I think some day if we ever find out what his parentage is, that his parents were people of science".[41] Elizabeth Mitchell, who plays Juliet, did not think it was a "huge surprise for Juliet that Ben had feelings for [Juliet], but I still think it was... it was horrifying under the circumstances". She also thought "[Juliet has] this kind of wonderful mind, and I think that Ben probably has a tremendous respect for that. It's not because Juliet is so enticing, it's just the fact that she's got this amazing mind, she has this amazing, you know, intelligence, and I think that's what intrigues him, that's what draws him into her".[31] During season four the producers deliberately left it ambiguous as to whether Ben was a part of the Oceanic 6 (six survivors of the plane crash that make it off the Island) after he appeared in one of Sayid's flashforwards.[42]

Reception

Critical reception

During the beginning of season three, Chris Carabott from IGN described Ben as "one of the best 'villains on television', due to his 'eerie manner' and 'methodical delivery'".[43] Later in the season Carabott had a problem with Ben being so deceptive, as "anything he imparts must be taken with a grain of salt".[44] Jeff Jensen of Entertainment Weekly also noted this, saying "I don't trust Ben. I have no idea when he's lying and when he's telling the truth. The only thing I'm reasonably sure of is that everything he says is for the purpose of impacting a character — and the audience".[45] Ben's father issues revealed towards the end of season three are described as "not the most original Lost character trait by any means but it is the thrust behind Ben's development into the genocidal maniac he eventually becomes".[46] Following the penultimate episode of the season, Carabott stated "Even with his limited screen time, Michael Emerson's performance shines through and we hope that he survives the events of the finale because we love seeing his character every week."[47] Erin Martell from TV Squad picked the Others as one of her season three highlights, partly due to the development of Ben, adding "I cannot even picture the final three seasons without Ben".[48] Martell also gave six reasons to look forward to season four, one of which was Ben Linus.[49]

Aubry D'Arminio of Entertainment Weekly describes "savvy Ben" as a "captivating minor character".[50] Jeff Jensen of Entertainment Weekly praised Emerson's acting in the beginning of season four, calling him "a genius in [the] role".[51] Alan Sepinwall from The Star-Ledger worried "the actor is so good and the character so popular that he's kept alive even though it makes all the heroes look like idiots".[52] Following "Confirmed Dead", Entertainment Weekly's Jeff Jensen felt "Isn't the whole business of Ben manipulating Locke with the promise of Island secrets getting just a little bit old?"[53] SyFy Portal's Dan Compora said that "The more I hate Ben, the more I realize that Michael Emerson is just a very fine actor doing his job".[24] Don Williams of BuddyTV said "consider my mind blown again", referring to the flashforward in "The Economist" where it is revealed that Sayid is working for Ben.[54] Oscar Dahl of BuddyTV called Emerson an acting "god".[55] Chris Carabott from IGN found one of the best moments of "Eggtown", was the power struggle between Locke and Ben, because "Their scenes together are amongst the best in the series and the one that opens "Eggtown" is a perfect display of how well Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn work together. O'Quinn captures Locke's uncertainty perfectly in the opening scene and it's always fun to watch Ben prey on any weakness of character."[56] Kevin Thompson of The Palm Beach Post wrote "with those big ol' eyes of his, [Emerson] could always say more with a lengthy stare than he could with twenty pages of dialogue.... [He has], once again, proved why he has become Lost's star as well as its heart and soul.... an Emmy should belong to [him]."[34] Jennifer Godwin of E! wrote that "no one has ever done better work humanizing a supervillain."[57] Matt Roush of TV Guide puts Ben in "The Shape of Things to Come" in the top 20 moments of the week, stating "Michael Emerson on Lost. It doesn't get better than that".[58] Ben Rawson-Jones of Digital Spy describes Emerson's performance as "fantastic", with "many layers of intrigue and humanity".[29] John Kubicek of BuddyTV also found his performance "fantastic", adding "he nailed it".[59] Critic Kelly Woo, from TV Squad, placed him on second on her list of "Seven new characters that worked", ranking just below Desmond Hume, also from Lost.[60]

Awards

In 2006, Michael Emerson was nominated for the Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - TV Series, Miniseries or TV Film, but lost out to Ugly Betty's Tony Plana.[61] Following the third season in 2007, Emerson was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Program, losing to Masi Oka from Heroes.[62] He was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor - Drama Series but lost out to fellow Lost cast member Terry O'Quinn (Locke).[63] Later in the year, he was nominated for Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - TV Series, Miniseries or TV film again, this time losing to David Zayas from Dexter.[64] Emerson won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Program, beating fellow Lost actors Terry O'Quinn and Josh Holloway (Sawyer).[65] Emerson was also nominated for the Teen Choice Award for Best Villain.[66] In 2008, Emerson was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards, but lost to Damages' Željko Ivanek, who has also appeared on Lost.[67] In 2009, Emerson was nominated again for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards, this time winning.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Bobby Roth (2007-05-09). "The Man Behind the Curtain". Lost. Season 3. Episode 20. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  2. ^ Greg Yaitanes (2004-11-17). "Solitary". Lost. Season 1. Episode 9. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  3. ^ a b c Eric Laneuville (2008-03-06). "The Other Woman". Lost. Season 4. Episode 6. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help) Cite error: The named reference "The Other Woman" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ Stephen Williams (2007-03-28). "Exposé". Lost. Season 3. Episode 14. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  5. ^ Stephen Williams (2006-02-15). "One of Them". Lost. Season 2. Episode 14. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  6. ^ Paul Edwards (2006-05-03). "Two for the Road". Lost. Season 2. Episode 20. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  7. ^ Jack Bender (2006-05-24). "Live Together, Die Alone". Lost. Season 2. Episode 23. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  8. ^ Stephen Williams (2006-10-25). "Every Man for Himself". Lost. Season 3. Episode 4. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  9. ^ a b Jack Bender (2006-10-04). "A Tale of Two Cities". Lost. Season 3. Episode 1. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  10. ^ Tucker Gates (2006-11-08). "I Do". Lost. Season 3. Episode 6. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  11. ^ Stephen Williams (2007-02-07). "Not in Portland". Lost. Season 3. Episode 7. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  12. ^ Paris Barclay (2007-02-21). "Stranger in a Strange Land". Lost. Season 3. Episode 9. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  13. ^ Jack Bender (2007-03-21). "The Man from Tallahassee". Lost. Season 3. Episode 13. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  14. ^ Eric Laneuville (2007-05-02). "The Brig". Lost. Season 3. Episode 19. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  15. ^ a b c Jack Bender (2007-05-23). "Through the Looking Glass". Lost. Season 3. Episode 22. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  16. ^ Jack Bender (2008-01-31). "The Beginning of the End". Lost. Season 4. Episode 1. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  17. ^ Stephen Williams (2008-02-21). "Eggtown". Lost. Season 4. Episode 4. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  18. ^ a b c Stephen Williams (2008-03-20). "Meet Kevin Johnson". Lost. Season 4. Episode 8. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  19. ^ a b c d e Jack Bender (2008-04-24). "The Shape of Things to Come". Lost. Season 4. Episode 9. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  20. ^ Paul Edwards (2008-05-08). "Cabin Fever". Lost. Season 4. Episode 11. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  21. ^ a b c Jack Bender & Stephen Williams (2008-05-29). "There's No Place Like Home". Lost. Season 4. Episode 12, 13 & 14. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  22. ^ "Follow the Leader". Stephen Willams. Writ. Paul Zbyszewski & Elizabeth Sarnoff. Lost ABC. 2009-05-06. No. 15, season 5
  23. ^ The Incident, Part 2
  24. ^ a b Compora, Dan, (March 7, 2008) "Lost Review", SyFy Portal. Retrieved on October 4, 2008.
  25. ^ Jack Bender (2007-04-11). "One Of Us". Lost. Season 3. Episode 16. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  26. ^ Karen Gaviola (2006-03-22). "The Whole Truth". Lost. Season 2. Episode 16. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  27. ^ Stephen Williams (2006-03-29). "Lockdown". Lost. Season 2. Episode 17. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  28. ^ Ravitz, Justin, (May 25, 2007). "‘Lost’: What Can Ben Tell Us About Season Four?". New York Magazine. Retrieved on February 19, 2008.
  29. ^ a b Rawson-Jones, Ben, (May 4, 2008) "S04E09: 'The Shape Of Things To Come'", Digital Spy. Retrieved on September 29, 2008.
  30. ^ a b Webb Mitovich, Matt, (May 28, 2008) "Lost's Michael Emerson, Part 2: More Burning Questions", TV Guide. Retrieved on September 29, 2008.
  31. ^ a b Official Lost Podcast March 6, 2008.
  32. ^ a b c Denise Martin (September 17, 2008). "Michael Emerson's 'Lost' world". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on September 30, 2008.
  33. ^ Day, Patrick Kevin, (April 25, 2008) "'Lost': Ben Linus gets tough", Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on September 29, 2008.
  34. ^ a b Thompson, Kevin, (April 25, 2008) "The Night Belongs To Big Ben", The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved on May 19, 2008.
  35. ^ (May 3, 2008) "Lost's big question: why is this man so scary?", Telegraph. Retrieved on October 12, 2008.
  36. ^ Audio commentary for "The Man Behind the Curtain, Season 3 DVD set of Lost
  37. ^ a b Official Lost Podcast March 26, 2007.
  38. ^ (August 4, 2006). "Back to the land of the 'Lost'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved on September 30, 2008.
  39. ^ Official Lost Podcast May 11, 2007.
  40. ^ a b Denise Martin (September 15, 2008). "'Lost' start Michael Emerson: What you didn't know". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on September 30, 2008.
  41. ^ Weightman, Stuart (January 2007). Actor Michael Emerson – It's a Small World, TV Zone Special 74. pp. 92–97. Retrieved on November 13, 2008.
  42. ^ Official Lost Podcast February 28, 2008.
  43. ^ Carabott, Chris, (February 8, 2007) "Lost: "Not in Portland" Review", IGN. Retrieved on October 6, 2008.
  44. ^ Carabott, Chris, (May 3, 2007) "Lost: "The Brig" Review", IGN. Retrieved on November 29, 2008.
  45. ^ Jensen, Jeff, (May 3, 2007) "Getting Even With Dad", Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on October 4, 2008.
  46. ^ Carabott, Chris, (May 10, 2007) "Lost: "The Man Behind the Curtain" Review", IGN. Retrieved on October 6, 2008.
  47. ^ Carabott, Chris, (May 17, 2007) "Lost: "Greatest Hits" Review", IGN. Retrieved on October 6, 2008.
  48. ^ Martell, Erin, (May 31, 2007) "Lost season three highlights", TV Squad. Retrieved on October 6, 2008.
  49. ^ Martell, Erin, (January 29, 2008) "Six reasons to look forward to season four of Lost", TV Squad. Retrieved on October 6, 2008.
  50. ^ Aubry D'Arminio, "TV on DVD," Entertainment Weekly 1026 (December 19, 2008): 58.
  51. ^ Jensen, Jeff, (March 6, 2008) "The Loves of Juliet", Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on October 4, 2008.
  52. ^ Sepinwall, Alan, (February 7, 2008) "Who Ya Gonna Call? Miles!", The Star-Ledger. Retrieved on June 21, 2008.
  53. ^ Jensen, Jeff "Doc", (February 7, 2008) "Chute First, Ask Questions Later", Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on March 15, 2008.
  54. ^ Williams, Don (February 14, 2008). "Lost: Episode 4.3 "The Economist" Live Thoughts". BuddyTV. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
  55. ^ Dahl, Oscar, (March 8, 2008) "Every Episode is a Ben Episode", BuddyTV. Retrieved on October 4, 2008.
  56. ^ Carabott, Chris, (February 22, 2008) "Kate Causes Trouble for Locke and His Group", IGN. Retrieved on February 23, 2008.
  57. ^ Godwin, Jennifer, (April 25, 2008) "Death, Dear Ones and the Monster: Michael Emerson Talks Lost", E!. Retrieved on April 25, 2008.
  58. ^ Roush, Matt, (April 25, 2008) "Week in Review: 20 Unforgettable Moments", TV Guide. Retrieved on October 4, 2008.
  59. ^ Kubicek, John, (April 25, 2008) "Lost Easter Eggs: 'The Shape of Things to Come'", BuddyTV. Retrieved on April 26, 2008.
  60. ^ Woo, Kelly (September 30, 2008). "Seven new characters that worked". TV Squad. Retrieved October 3, 2008.
  61. ^ "2006 11th Annual SATELLITE Awards". International Press Academy. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
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  63. ^ United Press International, (September 16, 2007). "'Lost' star Terry O'Quinn wins best supporting drama actor Emmy". RealityTVWorld.com. Retrieved on February 19, 2008.
  64. ^ "2007 12th Annual SATELLITE Awards". International Press Academy. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  65. ^ Gregg Kilday (June 24, 2008). "'Enchanted' runs rings around Saturn Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 24, 2008. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  66. ^ Adam Finley (July 3, 2007). "Teen Choice nominees announced". TV Squad. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
  67. ^ Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, (July 17, 2008) "Complete 2008 Nominations List". Retrieved on July 17, 2008.

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