I'm a little confused why "Christian" said this to Michael right before the freighter exploded. I took it to mean that Michael had been trapped in life, unable to die, until the island was done with him... but now, it seems that he is trapped in death and the island is still not done with keeping him around. Do you think that's what Christian meant to say ("You can go to your death now, even though you'll STILL be stuck on this island... bahahahha!")?
Good catch...don't think Michael's return was planned (makes sense since neither was Libby's) so they gave it finality in the freighter scene. In light of his reappearance, I guess the freighter scene can be interpreted as a dismissal...like Michael was just an errand boy..."run along to the island...I'm done with you"
"You can go now," I would argue, wraps up the storyline about the island not letting Michael die. He's done what the island needs him to do, now his ghost has to hang around on the island. No real contradiction here.
There is certainly a contradiction, even if it is just in the emotional through-line of the narrative. Michael couldn't die because he had to do something to help put things back in order after all the wrong he had done. The message was that the Island was finally through with him and he could rest in peace. His death was both his atonement and his reward.
I understand that they are bringing back characters like Michael and Libby for a final "curtain call" -- and I love it. Yay! It's great to see them again. But to learn that Michael is still wearily trudging along, mired in his own sins, stewing in purgatory, contradicts his earlier death scene, certainly.
I don't think it necessarily does. Prior to this episode, all we know is that Michael seeks death. We are lead to believe that death will provide him peace. Irony of ironies, we discover that we, and Michael, are wrong.
There is certainly a contradiction, even if it is just in the emotional through-line of the narrative. Michael couldn't die because he had to do something to help put things back in order after all the wrong he had done. The message was that the Island was finally through with him and he could rest in peace. His death was both his atonement and his reward.
While I agree with your analysis of what the line SHOULD mean, I remember thinking that the tone the line was delivered in was very, very cold. To me, it didn't seem like Christen was promising any sort of reward.
Side note: I don't think it could have been Smokey in Christen's form, because Smokey can't travel over the water. So, once again, I'm wondering if Jacob can take other forms.
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