I don't know I if any other episode made me have sympathy for Ben than this one. That look on his face by the window sitting down after Alex was shot was so heartbreaking, especially his last words to her were essentially I don't care about her, but he was trying to save her, but he felt guilty. Ben's goodbye scene to Alex was the most human and vulnerable we've seen him and amazing acting from Emerson. It was hard not to wish a bloody death on Keamy after he shot Alex but he's still alive. Of course they kept Ben dark (and complex) by promising to kill Penelope, which is wrong, and I hope doesn't happen but Ben's feelings come from his grief. If Emerson doesn't get an emmy nomination for this episode alone than they just aren't fair.

Emerson is amazing. I shed a tear as he mourned Alex.

Keamy is a rat bastard. I *really* hope he gets capped soon and very soon.

It was an excellent move, storytelling wise, for Ben's character.

This episode humanized Ben more than any I've seen so far. He truly did care about someone, and was truly shocked and upset by her loss.

Slowly but surely I am having a harder and harder time seeing Ben as the villain. Widmore is taking over that spot, and for the first time I am on Ben's side.


I assume "Keamy" is the gunmen? Well, I'd say he got his. Didn't Smokey devour him?

I totally agree. What a heartbreaking scene that was. I love ME, he truly is a gifted actor.

It was an excellent move, storytelling wise, for Ben's character.

This episode humanized Ben more than any I've seen so far. He truly did care about someone, and was truly shocked and upset by her loss.

Slowly but surely I am having a harder and harder time seeing Ben as the villain. Widmore is taking over that spot, and for the first time I am on Ben's side.


I assume "Keamy" is the gunmen? Well, I'd say he got his. Didn't Smokey devour him?
I've always thought that the trajectory of Ben's character was one toward redemption because he has done some dark things in the past. Michael Emerson and the writers have always let a little humanity creep through Ben and now with the introduction of Widmore and the freighties we know why. Isn't it ironic that Ben might actually be the only hope for the people on the island? I thought Sayid's reaction to their first meeting in Tikrit was interesting it was more annoyance than hatred, almost like he had come to think that Ben is the most evil man anymore. Keamy is alive because he was in the promo for next week's episode, that was some redshirt freightie smokey killed. I knew they weren't going to kill Keamy they need a threat on the island and when he does get killed it'll be more rewarding for the audience(personally I'm hoping Claire kills him or Bernard, don't underestimate he's a badass). I wonder how many of the gunmen Smokey killed, I'm predicting others are still alive.

I've resisted admitting that ME is a talented actor all of these years, b/c I hated the dominance of Ben's character in the show.

In this ep, I was surprised how much I CARED about Ben. Between the story and ME's amazing depth as an actor, I was intrigued with Ben even before Alex's death. But, when he told Locke he had to say goodbye to his daughter, that choked me up. That's the first time for me too, woland, that I had sympathy for this character.

His plan to kill Pen makes me hate him again, but now I am a fan of his character and the actor.

I have always enjoyed Ben's character immensely since he was first introduced as Henry Gale in season two. ME is really a great actor, on a par with TOQ, or maybe even a little better. I have loved watching all his manipulations and weirdnesses and power plays. But tonight I related to him as a human being for the first time. The look on his face after he kissed Alex' forehead spoke of such devastation and grief it went right through me--I literally felt it in my gut. God, it was heartrending and I wanted to hug him and comfort him. At least now we know he is not totally unreachable on a human level and he can care for people. He even seemed to be taking care of Sawyer, Claire, Miles, Hurley, and Locke, warning them of Smokey's coming and telling them where to go to be safe when it came. It would have been easier on him to let everyone but Hurley and Locke die, but he didn't.

I like Ben since season 3, but always have my doubts about him. Is something big (a great good) behind his "bad" actions...?

Agreed, everyone. I've always found him to be a sympathetic character though. Sympathy for the devil? It's more like Sympathy for the "Devil" for me.

Ben's involved in quite a war. I'm so thrilled to be learning more about it. Shape of Things to Come is one of my favorite episodes. ME is truly special, and the character of Ben is exquisitely written.

I've always liked Ben. With an upbringing like his, who wouldn't have a skewed sense of right and wrong. His reaction to Alex' death was heart-breaking. He had such confidence in his ability to manipulate people, it probably never occurred to him that he would fail this time.

I've always hated Widmore. His treatment of Desmond has been appalling.

I'm suspicious of Penny. Maybe she can be taken at face value, but she hasn't treated Desmond all that well either and I'm not at all sure she hasn't been working for her father all along.

I'm starting to have more compassion for Ben, even before this episode but this episode DEFinitely increased it for me. And yeah, I think there is a 'greater good' that Ben and the Others are fighting for, far beyond any financial gain/power as Widmore seems to be after.

Although I enjoy Ben, I still have no sympathy for him. He was playing w/ Alex's life & he lost. She wasn't his to begin with and stole all those years from Danielle. I was thinking, that at least he felt bad about Alex dying. It's the first time we've ever seen any remorse on his part - but it wasn't enough to make my sympathize with him.

I had have always Sympathy for this little Devil Ben, but I start to think that nor Ben neither Miles, or Widmore are really "black" like Devil; they are all "gray".

Except Keamy. I hate Keamy. Keamy is insane.