Lost Review: Season 6, Episode 7 : The Redemption of Benjamin Linus

For those of us who have followed the labyrinthine ABC series Lost over the course of its' 6 seasons, the tagline "The Answers Are Coming" that preceded the current run could not have been fulfilled quickly enough. 

We have ended up a far way from where we started. Initially, I was massively interested just by the situation of Lost, the meeting of a diverse group of people of different cultures, ages and experiences. The sheer ambition of it, the expense, making what effectively amounts to a short film each week, just showed so much balls. It Lost (excuse the pun) quite a few followers along the way as people became frustrated with its' ever-increasing number of backstories, subplots, and surreal plot twists, which provoked more questions than were answered with each single episode. I stuck with it, and now I am particularly glad that I did. 

The makers of lost, JJ Abrams and his cohorts, insist that they knew what they were doing all along, and it was always intended to be what it is now. Some kind of supernatural, time-travelling tale, a brutal fight to the death to be a super human king (or queen) of the island, now that, in this the series, mythical, mysterious figure of Jacob has been violently murdered by his long time acolyte, Ben Linus.

There has always been something incredibly fragile, sensitive, and delicate about Ben Linus, in the way he looks, that has always been at odds with his capricious, deceitful and treacherous behaviour throughout the series. He makes me think of another baddie in another series altogether, Heroes, where Zachary Quinto's mass murdering anti-hero Sylar always leaves you feeling he may have a good heart, despite his violent actions.

When Sylar was redeemed just a few weeks ago in the season finale of the recent Heroes series, it was done in a perfunctory manner, to quickly tie together various strands of the plot, and hurriedly rush the current run to it's conclusion. I believe Sylar had good in him, but the way it came out, I just didn't believe it, it was too saccharine, too easy the way he suddenly said he was a good guy out to help get the bad guys.

But in this episode, which shows another Ben in the parallel universe that the Lost gang have somehow ended up in, we see the gentle, kind, caring man he could have been, were it not for the terrible things that had been done to him as a child. We see the Ben we know confess to Jacob's murder (albeit at gunpoint), revealing his anger at Jacob, and his realisation, too late, that after years of fighting tooth and nail to protect the island, he chose it over the life of his own daughter, and that was the wrong choice. For once, I believed him when he spoke.

Plenty of other stuff happened, this week in Episode 7. We saw the completion of the transformation of Jack, from a cynical man of science and medicine, unsure of himself and his worth, into a man of faith, taking up the space left by the original man of faith, Locke.

For a series that's often been more frustrating than rewarding during its' time, the days that pass between the current episodes can't come fast enough. 

Why I Love Jonathan Ross

Since maverick BBC presenter Jonathan Ross announced his forthcoming departure from the nations' public broadcaster last Thursday, the British press has been awash with rumours, speculation and opinion on the veteran broadcaster. For what it's worth, here's my 2 cents on the matter.....

I have always loved, though occasionally been exasperated by the 49 year old presenter. For me, he is the embodiment of good, high profile broadcasting of the kind that only a few people in this country, namely Terry Wogan, Chris Evans and Chris Moyles, can pull off. He's the superior of all of those as far as I'm concerned, because, as a man who came of age in the punk era of the late 70s, he has always retained an element of danger, of risk, to his presentation ; I think it would be fair to say he has been an anti-establishment figure who has found himself at the heart of the establishment, and it is for this reason, among others, that his head had to roll sooner or later.

Some might say £6 million a year to present exclusively for the BBC is an obscenely large amount of money, and yes, this now infamous and oft quoted (never confirmed) figure was agreed in 2006, before today's current recession the payment of someone who is essentially an entertainer from the public purse does seem out of place. For my (licence) money, he's worth every penny, and all such claims are born of the great British disease of jealousy, something at which we excel in this country. Rather than aggresively defend its decision to fight to keep its' talent, the BBC unfortunately has to tread extremely delicately in the current political and media environment, where it is clear that forces of private media ownership have organised a hate campaign against them. Ross indiscretions, Sachsgate, his enourmous salary, talk of  "fucking" Gwyneth Paltrow on his Friday night show (hell, who wouldn't) just became made him a stick with with the Daily Mail could beat the BBC Trust. It's a true shame that they capitulated, as the right wing press have claimed it as a victory and been emboldened by it.

I always warmed to Ross because, particularly in these post 9/11 times, as a British Asian, I've felt conflicted about being British, and the sense of tolerance in his broadcasting made me feel accepted. There is an inclusiveness about his show and a warmth about his personality that makes you feel ok, it's clear in his love of black culture, and his enthusiasm and warmth towards guests who are of colour, whereas one suspects readers of the Torygraph and Daily Hate would rather be watching Jim Davidson calling black people picanninies on a Friday night. He can be like an excitable child at times, which is by turns annoying and endearing, while his mocking persona clearly belies a fierce intelligence - he clearly knows the history of music and movies, and is authentically passionate about advocating the best of the present popular culture, whereas somelike Michael Parkinson's idea of cutting edge is Jamie Cullum and Robbie Williams.

When he wasn't getting over excited on his Friday night show, I was always impressed by his journalistic instincts. He would bluff his way into the affections of his guests with his daft persona, before asking them the most personal, pressing and intimate questions, the questions that few interviewers had the courage to ask. When Rhianna came on his show, you knew he'd ask her about the domestic abuse she'd suffered at the hands of her boyfriend Chris Brown, and he even had the nerve to ask Hugh Grant why he wasn't married with kids at his age, something few journalists would do in this age of the sycophantic celebrity interview.

Yes, he could say things that occasionally offended people, but that made me all the more proud that we live in a country where the national broadcaster allows presenters to take risks, and occasionally offend people, albeit without malice, rather than a country like America, where free speech exists in theory until you actually practice it.
So, yes, JRs' departure from the BBC may be cause for rejoycing in the homes of narrow-minded little Englander households up and down the country, but for me, I'll always be left with the feeling that the bad guys won and a national treasure, however imperfect, has been allowed to slip away.

Celebrity Big Brother : LiveBlogging the Beginning of the End

K, it's that time again, fillies and fellas...Tis January, and time for the very final Celebrity Big Brother. It is soooo low rent, but it's time to see what Davina, and the trashiest show on TV has to offer...

21:10 : It's 10 minutes in a Page 3 hottie Nicola T is displaying her wares for an assembled audience of screaming BB fans, and enters the house.....her and Steve "Usual Suspects" Baldwin are meeting, and bonding. Something I thought I'd never see.....

So, we've had a glimpse of what the house is like, some messages from the sponsors, and she's back. Queen of BB, Davina is now introducing cross-dressing cage fighter (TM Tabloid-speak) Alex Reid, and asking specifically about the spat that has appeared in todays' tabloids. He says "catagorically no", he didn't go in for fisticuffs action with Dane Bowers, and he's on his way into the house......


21.21: Now Stephanie Beecham is being introduced. Via a glamourous A-List introduction, which includes both Marlon Brando, Dynasty and Coronation Street (what a combo), and she climbs the stairs, and after a brief intro from Davina, looking resplendent, and rather tasty, she goes in those famous doors, into the pimped house.

Davina is disgusted that Steve doesn't know who the Beecham is. Chavsexual Lady Sovereign is being introed. I must say, the hot little scally should make good telly, but this isn't quite the spicy lineup I was hoping for, not quite what tabloids promised, but there's still more to come......

Oh, and it looks like "sov" is bonding with the mates, though there's a lot of mutual wondering who the hell everyone else is in the house.......

21.30: So far, so BB. over at unrealitytv.co.uk, Lisa McGarry isn't happy that Nicola T's nips made it just after the watershed. Personally, I was pleasantly surprised to see those babies. Not sure how Mr Baldwin will take it, given that he's a born again Christian, though.....

Now it's time for "Thon Th Thon thon thong Song" Sisqo. Last year it was Coolio. Looks like they're following something of a tried and tested formula here, and it's the job of the Thong man to be the ladies man / villain?

He singing about butts on the podium for the fans. It's bizzarre.

21.36 His impromptu performance of the mighty Thong Song gains cheers from the crowds, and he tells the big D he likes the ladies, and through the doors of the pimp house he goes.....

They're discussing Satanism. Sisqo seems surprising nice, warm and polite.

21.38 It's only Dane "Out Of Your Mind" Bowers. And tonight is full of revelations, as Davina confirms there was no bust-up this morning, despite rumours to the contrary in todays' tabloids. HOLD THE FRONT PAGE EVERYONE. People seem the know the words to an Another Level tune as he walks down. He confirms there was no bust up with Alex Reid. Seems the only boobs at last night's party were the plastic ones that belonged to Katie Price.

21.43: One more for the confirmed lineup: Heidi Fleiss. Hollywood madam. Her intro makes her sound like a ready-made tabloid story, though she's someone that most people in this country haven't heard of till now. She knows enough about who's used the "services" of her girls in Tinseltown to cause a tabloid frenzy, and Davina politely asks her to spill the beans when she's behind bars. She plays it cool, and rolls in. Looking straight at Steven Baldwin, she says "I've seen you before". This will surely be in tomorrow's papers!!

21.51: As expected by the media, cheesy trance meister Basshunter is on, aka Jonas Altberg. He's single, apparently, and tells Davina he's going to touch "bass", and then "go hunting". He seems to have a penchant for getting his kit off for PR shots, as well. Nicola rushes over to say hello when he walks in. Stephanie Beecham, subtly but perceptably licks her lips. Heidi likes him too. I suspect he's going to be popular....

One more for the house. It's only Ron Wood's Ex, Katia Ivanova! Ok, this show is turning into tabloid dynamite. The girl who was about 4 decades younger, and allegely beaten by the Rolling Stone walks up, looking like a mousy, blond and rather waify version of Bjork. In a weird half-London half-Eastern Europe accent she tells Davina that Ronnie is "still a friend", and so he supports her decision to join the show.

Now Ex-Wimbledon hardman turned Hollywood 'ard geeza Vinne Jones up. Davina asks if he's gonna be well 'ard. He dodges the question, and tells Davina he's gonna "av a larf". Dressed rather dapper, in a pork pie Mod hat, and jacket. In a bizarre reversal of fortunes, he says hello to the housemates, before sitting down, and telling Stephanie Beecham he lives on Muholland Drive.

22.09: Big Brother is chipping in with his first, "icebreaker" task: How many people can you fit in a mini Cooper in 5 minutes.

After that initial flurry of insanity, we're getting all 5 minutes, live from inside the house. The car is decorated up as a devil. After a bit of a squeeze, they're back out, and Davina is back on that podium saying bye.

And that was it. The tabloid baiting show that has insipired questions to be tabled in Parliament, and effigies to be burned in India is back on TV, for one last show. the first glasses of wine are cracked out, and Paul Oakenfolds' familiar theme tune plays out the final moments of the show. In many ways, BB has defined the past decade of celebrity culture, and here we are at the beginning of a new decade, 3 days in, and it's back on, one last time. Surely with the lineup so reinvigorated, so ripe for tabloid speculation, it can't be the last time we'll see this show? One suspects Channel 4 are going to have to come up with a similar reality TV format to replace one after its' last bow this year, but for now, let the games commence......

V 2009 : First Episode Exclusive Review

In a UK exclusive, I've been able to see the pilot for the remake of classic 80s sci-fi/horror TV show 'V' (Diana leader of the original Visitors, is pictured, right),and shall be sharing my thoughts ***PLOT SPOILERS FOLLOW****

While the 1983 TV miniseries 'V' was a clever allegorical stab at the dangers of countries falling for the romance, manipulation and propaganda of Nazism (the scary red jumpsuits were a giveaway), incfluenced by the 1935 novel Sinclair Lewis novel It Can't Happen Here, the writers of the ABC remake have given the new show a contemporary, 21st century spin, that is very distinctively now.The basic premise is the same ; an alien race hover huge flying saucers above the major cities of the world (a bit like Independence Day), before revealing their human faces, and telling the human race they come in peace, to trade supplies of water, etc., in return for their advanced technologies, and medical knowledge. The 'Visitors' set about gaining the trust of the earth's population, curing terrible diseases like cancer, and opening their spaceships to young teenagers of earth, encouraging them to form various chapters of a visitor "peace corp" around the world to do charitable work. They are all extremely good looking to boot, and set about a closely controlled media campaign to woo the earthbound public. But behind the facade of friendship and peace, they hide a terrible secret: they are in fact green lizards underneath their skin, and want to use the earth's population as food.

There are notable differences. in the 2009 show, the story is partly seen through the eyes of FBI agent Erica Evans (Lost's Elizabeth Mitchell, pictured second left), and her teenage son (Logan Huffman, pictured far left). Since it's the paranoid post 9/11 noughties, Erica is an agent who works on uncovering terrorist cells, and it turns out that a lead on one such cell reveals that the Visitors have been among us all along, in positions of power, waging wars, and causing havoc.

The conflating of the conspiracy theory reguarding the existence of the  Illuminati into the story is inventive enough, but the promise of Universal Health Care, the introduction of a peace corp, and the premiering of the show one year on from Barack Obama's electoral victory give clear indication that the show can be read as a allegory endorsing right wing paranoia and mistrust of liberal initiatives by the US President, suggesting behind these good intentions lies the creation of a New World Order. Evil Glenn Beck and Fox News must be loving it.

The appropriation of one of the greatest TV shows of the 80s by a right wing agenda somewhat spoiled my enjoyment of the show, as did it's underlying message that we should mistrust kind outsiders who are different from us as they may be hiding something- in modern day America, those strangers are most likely Muslims, and, so the Republican line goes, they're hiding bombs strapped to their chests.

In 2009 V is definitely still compelling, though, despite my reservations, and I shall certainly be tuning in to find out if the human race organises a resistance and survives the onslaught.

V will be showing in the UK  on the Sci Fi Channel in 2010, and it continues on ABC in the US for 3 more shows during November and December before returning in March.

X FACTOR: RESULTS SHOW #5 - LUCIE IS VOTED OFF

'Tis Sunday night, and it saddens me to say it, but Welsh teenage hottie Lucie Jones (pictured, right) has been voted off the X Factor, after going head to head with infamous Irish twins John and Edward Grimes, more commonly known to the world as Jedward.

The two acts were in Sunday night's "bottom two", going head to head against each other, with the terrible twins performing Robbie Williams' 'Rock DJ', and Lucie choosing to sing Whitney Houston 'One Moment In Time', both sadly rather cheezy. When fourth judge Simon Cowell came to vote, he decided to leave it to the public vote, knowing that John and Edward have a strong following and were likely to win, without making himself into a villain by sending the increasingly popular twins home. The blogosphere is therefore full of lots of angry Syco comments tonight.

Personally, I think Simon got it totally wrong from the begining with the lovely Lucie Jones, who had the potential to go on and be as good as Leona Lewis or Alexandra Burke, but it is my belief that a gullible public have a tendancy to vote whichever way Simon says. Did the judges get it wrong? Tell us what you think....

FlashForward

Ahhh, autumn, autumn. The leaves are going brown and falling from the trees, the days are shorter and colder, it's back to school and college for many of us, and the festive hat trick of Bonfire night, Halloween and Xmas awaits. Oh, and everyone is indoors, huddled around their TVs to enjoy a packed autumn schedule, which , aside from the X-Factor and Strictly, this year once more bring us another raft of big US TV dramas. This time it's Generation Kill (C4) from the makers of The Wire, ultra-cool vampire series True Blood (C4), Stargate Universe (Sky 1), with the return of much loved series Heroes and Lost to follow next year.


Then there's FlashForward, a new series premièring on Monday nights on Channel , which is based on a 1999 novel by Canadian writer Robert J Sawyer who devised the show along with co-creator David Goyer (writer of The Dark Knight, and Blade: The Series, amongst other things), and and Brannon Braga (24). The major league pedigree is complete with a cast which includes top notch British actors, as usual, this time in the form of Joseph Fiennes who plays FBI agent and recovering alcoholic Mark Benford, his wife Olivia (Sonya Walger, an escapee from Lost), somewhat bizarrely, Jack Davenport, best known to older viewers as posh toff Miles from ground breaking nineties drama This Life, and more recently the Pirates of The Caribbean movies. With American John Cho (last seen rolling an enormous joint as Harold in the Harold and Kumar movies), and, somewhere in the first season, an appearance by former Hobbit and hairy-faced Mancunian Dominic Monaghan also in the cast, the list of vaguely familiar faces is complete.

The show is clearly a contender hoping to follow in the footsteps of the televisual behemoth that is the ratings and critical success of Lost, and as such, it is centred around a “high-concept” premise ; everyone in the world has blacked out for precisely 2 minutes and 17 seconds, with many experiencing a dream like vision, which turns out to be a “Flash Forward” to where they will individually find themselves 6 months from now, at 10pm on 29th April 2010. Such an inscrutable mystery poses countless questions, which will no doubt be strung out over countless episodes with not much resolution and more questions than answers. Thankfully, frustrated fans of Lost will be glad to know that the makers promise it will be nowhere near as convoluted as the show it hopes to replace in their affections.

In the early shows, we have already found that the central character of Mark Benford has envisioned his descent back into alcoholism, the collapse of his marriage, and his future role as an investigator of the mystery posed by these visions. As the FBI officers struggle to make sense of the ensuing global crisis, they have set up a website, Mosaic, for people to describe and compile their visions, to see if they correspond. Meanwhile, Marks' surgeon wife Olivia is disturbed to find the man with which she has had visions of having an affair walk into the hospital where she works, and Benfords' partner Dimitri (Cho) is troubled that he has no visions at all : in this future, is he alive? Are these visions of the future “real”? And who is the mysterious man clad in black, caught on CCTV walking through a baseball stadium in Detroit, while all around him, and the world over, everyone else has blacked out?

Flash Forward continues on Mondays, 9pm on Five.