Lost 3.11: "Enter Seven Seven"

Written by Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse
Directed by Stephen Williams

In which Kate, Locke, and Sayid find the mysterious location of the man with the eyepatch, and learn a great deal about the Dharma Initiative and the Others in the process…

Status Report

The odd effect of airing six episodes in the fall, almost as a mini-season, is that this episode is the mid-point of the third season, even though it feels like the show has hardly resumed since the long hiatus. In keeping with the usual arc structure, however, this episode manages to reveal a great deal while setting the stage for additional complications in the near future.

The flashbacks in this episode center on Sayid. Considering how long it’s been since Sayid had a moment to shine, this is a welcome prospect. This particular set of flashbacks had a more subtle meaning in terms of the “present day” action, which is also a nice touch. Sometimes the parallels are too obvious or the connections are too literal. In this case, it was more about emotional resonance and how Sayid’s process of reconciling his past affects his current actions. Some might have found that boring or repetitive, but in keeping with the structure of the series, Sayid remembers a time that reflects his psychological state, not the will of the viewer.

Besides, there is little reason to complain. This episode was full of information. Some of it appears to complicate the situation with Dharma and the Others needlessly, but upon deeper reflection, that’s simply not the case. It’s now clear that the Dharma Initiative was once a separate entity from the Others. The Others were designated “the hostiles”, which ties into comments made by Kelvin in “Live Together, Die Alone”.

The Others, apparently, were there long before the Dharma Initiative came along. This ties into the history of the island itself. If there were people already on the island (and the statue of the four-toed foot in “Live Together, Die Alone” certainly suggests it), why did the Dharma Initiative choose to set up operations there? It was more than just the EM anomaly under the Swan Station. For that matter, why would the Others, if they were the descendants of the island’s original inhabitants, be primarily European in origin?

There have been hints over the course of the series, and during the Lost Experience, that the Dharma Initiative had predicted the end of the world (the Valenzetti Equation, with the “numbers” as key factors in the survival of humanity). Dharma was supposed to discover a means of changing that fate for the human race. Studies were undertaken involving “life extension” and “climate adaptability”. Was the human population of the island seen as a group to be studied as part of the overall Initiative?

If the properties of the island were such that vessels were constantly running aground, that could explain the odd demographic of the Others. That would also lead, to a certain extent, to population issues. Inbreeding could cause problems, requiring the addition of fresh blood. This has long been speculated as the reason for abducting children and other “good people” from the AnaLucia tribe. This could also explain why the Others would be interested in Juliet’s research.

So the Dharma Initiative may have seen value in monitoring and studying a group of people in perpetual survival mode. They could have set boundaries and exchanged information, setting up a “security system” to ensure that the Others would respect those boundaries. In the wake of the 1987 incident, which led into the end of the Dharma Initiative project as it was originally conceived, the Others could have turned on the remaining members of Dharma, taking over certain facilities in the process.

Several episodes, however, have made it clear that the Others have resources beyond the island. “Not in Portland” is the most obvious example. Did the Others cut a new deal with those behind Dharma? If so, then all of this could explain why Dharma resources are still in use around the world and why it appears that certain individuals were chosen to be on Oceanic 815. The plane crash could have been contrived to bring new blood to the Others. It could also explain why systems that were put into place to destroy Dharma stations were never utilized, and why some former Dharma members might be among the Others.

All of this is simple speculation, but it fits the information provided over the course of the series. If it’s true, then the Others would be remaining on the island because it is, quite simply, their home. Tom’s conversation with Jack from “The Hunting Party” make a lot more sense. The Others choose who will be absorbed into their tribe, who will not, and they only intercede when the rejected become a threat.

Some things aren’t quite so easily explained if this is true. Ben’s penchant for psychological manipulation fits the pattern of Dharma. If most of the new Others are children when they are absorbed into the tribe, it’s hard to imagine how they would advance far enough to understand the information appropriated from the Dharma facilities. Then again, it’s unclear how often new members are absorbed.

Whatever the case, one long-standing mystery is resolved in this episode. Dharma and the Others have a submarine, and the cable leading into the ocean (found way back in the first season) now makes sense. This leads into the confirmation that the Dharma facilities are connected through communication cables, which leads to the location of the barracks seen in “A Tale of Two Cities”. It’s all coming together, despite the complaints from impatient and unobservant members of the audience.

Sayid’s decision to allow Mikhail to live is an interesting contrast to his struggles in “One of Them”. Sayid was more than happy to torture Henry/Ben (and himself), and this time, he is far more reserved. It’s fitting that his memory recalls a time when the situation was reversed, and his life was in someone else’s hands. In Ben’s case, letting him live could have been a horrible mistake, given what happened afterward. If nothing else, having Mikhail could lead to a thread that helps unveil more of the island’s mysteries. Sayid is also taking back, to a certain extent, his role as the tribe’s sheriff.

Locke is also playing his role as the restored shaman of the tribe. Ever since “Further Instructions”, he’s been more than happy to follow whatever “message” the island gives him. Finding the Flame Station in this episode reinforces that faith, because his decision to follow the directions supplied by Eko’s staff led them there. His decision to follow the computer’s instructions might have seemed foolish or even stupid, but for Locke, it was never a matter of doubt. He’s following the signs and portents.

Back on the beach, Sawyer tries to restore his place as the “merchant prince” of the tribe, with results that harken back to the second season. It’s an amusing subplot, but the writers must remember that Sawyer lost much of his edge when they made him look foolish. The result was an episode that was meant to give him back his dangerous edge, and missed the mark in the process (“The Long Con”). Sawyer feels isolated, and that will probably lead to another power play. With none of the other archetypical leaders on the beach at the moment, it shouldn’t be long before he makes that move.

In the end, this is a move that could mirror the situation in the second season. Many complained that the first half of the second season was filled with too much material regarding the AnaLucia tribe, filler episodes for the JackLocke tribe, and a controversial death. Things didn’t turn around fully until “One of Them”, when Ben arrived upon the scene. This season has been a lot more inconsistent, so it’s hard to say that this is a sign of improvement. But it certainly manages to add of important detail to the world of “Lost”.

Final Analysis

Overall, this is a very good mid-point episode for the third season. A lot of questions are answered, even if those answers are still relatively vague, and the characters are falling back into familiar patterns. It’s great to see the story picking up more forward momentum, even if it’s still not enough to placate the impatient fans. If the writers continue along this vein in terms of mixing advancement with revelation, it should be a powerful second half of the season.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4

Final Rating: 8/10

(Season Average: 7.4)