By Paula Perry
OK Lost FANatics, Richard’s entire story is revealed in this episode, Ab Aeterno, in Latin means “Since the Beginning of time”. The Oceanic survivors went through years of tragedy and time travel to find out who the Smoke Monster is. Within several days of Richard or “Ricardo”, crashing on the island he meets Man in Black) MIB, Smokey and Jacob, the main guys running the island.
Richard crashed on the island in 1867 and now it is 2007, so he has been island bound for 140 years. He never ages and is always around, no matter what year it is. We don’t know hardly anything about him and then boom a whole show about him. I see now why he is ready to die, he lived a lie his whole life. (I liked the 1800 Richard character a lot. He was so honest, loving, and devoted, and that accent!)
It all started when his wife, Isabella is very sick and dying back in the 1800’s. He rides out for a doctor, a half-day’s journey. When Richard finally arrives riding all night through the rain, the Doc has a very bad bedside manner. They get into it, Richard only wanting to save his wife. Richard ends up pushing him away and accidently kills the Doc.
Now Richard is in prison ready to be killed for his sin of murder. A priest comes to visit Richard to absolve him of his transgression. As Richard prays for forgiveness of killing a man, the priest is like “oh no, you can’t be forgiven for the sin of murder, you must die”. Pretty harsh I thought, no slack at all.
Then in walks his savior, or is he, Mr. Whitfield. Richard wants to go to the New World, the good ol’ US of A. He is checked out like a piece of meat and since he can also speak English, he is reprieved from his death sentence and going aboard the Black Rock for the New World. He says Ricardo is now the property of one Magnus Hanso, the owner/captain of the Black Rock. Ricardo is bought by Mr. Whitfield from the priest. Wonder what souls went for back then?
So now they are traveling through some pretty heavy storms and CRASH they are on the island. Ricardo or Richard is chained below. Whitfield goes below and starts killing other prisoners that are chained. Ricardo is the last prisoner left, he screams, “Why are you doing this”? He says because eventually you will come after me to kill me. Smokey enters with his usual “whispery” entrance and kills everyone but Richard. Why is he spared?
Isabella, his dead wife, shows up. She is there to save Ricardo from Smokey or as she calls it the “Devil”. Richard tells her to run, she doesn’t want to leave him, but eventually runs up the stairs and the noises of Smokey getting lunch is heard. Poor Ricardo lost her again, or was that really Isabella?
The Man in Black (MIB) comes bearing a gift of water for Ricardo and wants to be his friend. (Something is always wanted in return.) The MIB tells Richard “HE” probably has her, Isabella. MIB refers to HIM as the devil. Ricardo asks if he is in hell. MIB says he has been there a very long time. MIB makes Richard promise he will help him before he takes the chains off. Richard, without many choices, agrees.
So now Richard is free, or is he? MIB gives instruction to Richard, just as Dogen did to Sayid, to kill Jacob with this special dagger. He even says don’t let him speak to you first, just as Dogen said. MIB tells Richard Jacob is the black smoke. So I have been thinking MIB is the smoke monster, so is it Jacob or what? I always perceived Jacob as the “good” and MIB as “evil”. Maybe it is the other way around.
MIB tells Richard the only way to get his wife back is to kill the smoke monster, knowing he will do anything for his Isabella. Ricardo says murder is wrong. MIB replies we can argue all day about right and wrong but do you want your wife back?
MIB tells Ricardo where to find Jacob and off he goes on his mission. Jacob takes the knife upon Ricardo attacking him. Richard wants to know where his wife is, Jacob doesn’t know who is talking about. Ricardo tells Jacob she is dead like me. This seems to really upset Jacob because Richard thinks he is dead. He takes Richard into the water and is drowning him. “Do you still think you’re dead”, Jacob screams.
Jacob tells Richard his name and that he brought their ship to the island. Jacob has a corked bottle of wine, comparing the corked wine to the evil on the island that must never be released. Good analogy. He then goes on explaining to Richard that the Man in Black sent him on the murder mission because he believes every man is corruptible because it is in their very nature to sin.
Recall the MIB's speech "They Come, They Fight, They Corrupt, They Destroy" Recall Jacob's "You're wrong, it only ends once. Everything before that is progress." Jacob says that he brings all of these people to the Island to prove him wrong.
Jacob tells Richard that there were many people brought to the Island before him and that they're all dead. Richard asks why Jacob didn't help any of them. Jacob says he wanted them to help themselves and to know the difference between right and wrong without him having to tell them. It would be meaningless if he had to force them to do anything. (Sounds like God’s free will for people, let them choose good or evil, right or wrong.)
This is where Richard gets his Advisor position. He could be Jacob's representative to people he brings to the Island. Richard wants something in return. First he asks for his wife back. Jacob states that he cannot do this. Second he asks to be absolved of his sins so he doesn't go to hell. Jacob states that he cannot do this either. Third, Ricardo then says he never wants to die, he wants to live forever. Jacob touches Richard's shoulder and says "Now, that I can do!" And hence, his never ending life that he just wants to end now.
Man in Black is not even upset when he finds out Richard didn’t kill Jacob. He knows that Jacob can be very convincing. Richard then says that Jacob asked him to give MIB a white stone. MIB tells Richard that if he ever changes his mind and he means "EVER" his offer still stands. And then he gives Richard his wife's gold cross.
Richard buries the cross by a bench and says goodbye to his wife. In 2007 we find Richard arriving to the same location and watch him dig it back up. He then screams over and over for the Man in Black saying that he has changed his mind about his offer.
Only Hurley shows up, he has been talking with Isabella and she wants to know why Richard buried the cross. Richard is confused and doesn’t know how Hurley knows that, Hurley says she is right here. She tells him to close his eyes and Hurley will tell him what she says "It wasn't your fault that I died. It was my time. You have suffered enough, Ricardo." Richard misses her and would do anything to be with her again. Isabella says they already are together and then she kisses him and disappears.
Back in 1867 Man in Black is sitting and overlooking the Island holding the white stone. Jacob comes to him all happy acknowledging he got the present. MIB says he doesn't have to gloat.
Jacob said as long as he is alive MIB is not going anywhere. And he said even if MIB kills him somebody else will take his place. And then MIB says the one thing that defines what side he is truly on (his own). "Then I will kill them too!"
Jacob then gives MIB the bottle of wine and tells him it is to pass the time. "I'll see you around" MIB: "Sooner than you think" he then breaks the bottle symbolizing his escape from the Island. This season I believe is reveal the “good” and the “evil” people or person. This whole thing is like a Bible School story with Jacob gathering his flock and giving them free will to chose. (He did help all them get back to the island and gave Hurley the guitar case.)
A great episode from start to finish! Only seven more shows till the end. There are still many many unanswered questions. The main one being will Locke, Smokey, make it off the island? What happens when there is no one to take Jacob’s place? Ilana was suppose to ask Richard, according to Jacob, but Richard only wants to die; hardly a leader. Will the present day island or the side flashes be reality?
Oh yeah, Jacob tells Ilana that there are 6 people he needs her to protect and this is what she has been preparing for. So, a couple things stand out here to me. Jacob gave Ilana the number 6. Ilana tells Sun there are 6 remaining candidates. Ilana also knows that John Locke is dead and that there are still 6 candidates. So we still have the question, who are the six.
The other thing was the whole concept that Ilana has been preparing for this day. It would seem like Jacob has had a team of people preparing off Island for the day that the candidates would be called to take over for Jacob. So how did he manage to get killed before Ilana got there to protect him and gather the candidates? Probably another wicked twist in this fantastic story!
I know I haven't posted in days...I'll try to work on that. School has been very busy right now and I've been all sorts of stressed out. I pick classes tonight, so I don't plan on reviewing Parenthood like I normally do. I may be multitasking and reading and/or writing a paper at the same time. I may post a short snapshot review of it tomorrow afternoon sometime, but don't plan on it. Feel free to comment here with what you thought about the episode.
I first heard both Mat Kearney and Ingrid Michaelson on the TV show Grey’s Anatomy, and were both on one of the Grey’s Anatomy soundtrack CDs (I get a lot of my music from television and movie soundtracks—it’s a great way to get introduced to new music). Kearney even released a music video of “Breath In and Breath out” featuring scenes from Grey’s Anatomy that was released on Itunes for free. I became, I would say, addicted to Michaelson, however, after listening to “You and I” several times with my roommates, and singing along. When I learned about her playing a concert in Philadelphia—I just knew we had to go. "