I would agree that the island and everything that happened on the island was real life. The only thing that wasn't real life was the sideways timeline, which was some type of timeless limbo holding place. I wouldn't put too much weight on the plane crash scene at the end, it was just a nice shot for the credits to roll to, also there were no bodies and footprints in the sand. If anything it seemed to say: "yes, the plane crashed and everything that happened on the island was real".
As for the island...I think it was the geographical "cork" that held heaven and hell, or good and evil, which ever you prefer. I think time travel and all the other weird shit was possible because of the supernatural powers of the good and bad lights.
As for Jacob and the MIB, it seems that God empowered Jacob to guard the MIB, who was the devil (evil) incarnate; not allowing the MIB to kill him. God left a loophole in case Jacob became corrupt and needed to be killed, the MIB realized this loophole and set about to get someone capable of killing Jacob (Ben) to kill him. Jacob was aware of this loophole and that's why he was looking for a replacement.
Since Jack was able to protect the light, everyone who helped him do so, was allowed to "move on" (back to the pure light) once everyone had died of their natural causes. That's why Ben, Michael, Walt, etc.. didn't get to move on, because they didn't help Jack protect the light. Basically being a huge metaphor of western religion: do good and go to heaven, work for the light go to the light.
I think the subtle and most brilliant part of the finale was Hurley, the Dude, Buddah, being the final winner. Jack who was the obvious Christ-figure, dies but doesn't rise again, only moves on in the after life as equal as his friends, (something Christians won't realize) and Hurley is the new Jacob, only he isn't gonna run things like a Christian would (good and evil, blah blah blah) because Hurley is the most chill, laid back, dude ever. I think the real ending to the season was the triumph of The Dude. I thought it was a really interesting choice, to pick Hurley. Someone who was kind of always undecided, very neutral. And the kicker was that he chose Ben to help him, Ben the man who killed the one appointed by the philosophically western God. The finale seems to being saying "fuck you western religion, die: Hurley and Ben are gonna run things different.
On a personal note: when Vincent laid down next to Jack, so he wouldn't have to die alone, I nearly lost it. Dogs are awesome like that.
Anyway, thats how I see it. I'm sure I'm missing a lot.
|