The Plot: Season 4 (Others vs. Keamy)

As this extended Others Week ends, I want return to the last time we saw the Others. My discussion has dealt almost exclusively with the first three seasons because the Others largely disappear after the Others’ raiding party is blown up. This post asks, where do the Others stand in the post-Ben era?

As Locke’s prisoner in the barracks, Ben downplays his importance and insists that the Others are still strong. He tells Locke that if the Others still wanted him as a leader, they would have stormed New Otherton long ago.[1] But if the Others are so strong, why do they wait so long before taking out Keamy’s team? Because once the remaining Others, led by Richard and back in their jungle-wear, attack Keamy’s commandos, the Others easily kick ass. As always, the Others inflict their greatest damage without guns. They kill two commandos with jungle traps Ewow style.[2] They take out another with the taser and Omar is blown up by grenade.[3] It’s not even clear why Richard needed to Kate and Sayid’s help when the Others expertly appear out of the jungle like the animals we once thought they were. I guess Kate helps pull Ben out of the line of fire. I have no doubt the Others could have killed Keamy on their own, but maybe Keamy would have taken out Ben in the process if Kate hadn’t gone in first as a decoy.[4] Interestingly, when the Richard does try to kill Keamy with a gun, he fails. Richard shoots Keamy in the back multiple times, but Keamy survives only to be stabbed [5]to death later by Ben.

[1] “The Other Woman”
[2] “There’s No Place Like Home”
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Id.