Michael Emerson interview
Here’s a portion of an interview Crave Online did with Michael Emerson who plays Ben Linus. This portion gives us a little insight into Emerson’s perspective on Ben. In an earlier post, I mentioned more of Emerson’s thoughts on Ben’s. If you missed it, you can check it out here.
Crave Online: At the end of season two, Ben said you were the good guys. Are you disappointed Ben has become a villain?
Michael Emerson: Oh, I don’t know that he’s any more a villain than he ever was, to tell you the truth. I’m still holding out hope that when the details of his real mission are revealed, we’re going to think he’s a little more heroic than we have.
Crave Online: I believed him and I’m waiting for that big switcheroo.
Michael Emerson: At the very least, I think he meant what he said. Now, whether his point of view is skewed by his life’s experience or not, I don’t know but I think he believes himself to be a good man and he’s under some pressure. He’s fighting some kind of war. I can’t tell exactly what it is but he has a terrible responsibility I think.
He was also asked what his theory about the show is, and this was his answer:
I have thought right along that Benjamin Linus and his people are rebels or renegades or freedom fighters of some sort and that they are at war with whoever the real powers were that built and control the island. But I don’t have a lot of evidence for that either. That’s just sort of a feeling I have. I do feel like there are worse people out there than the others. I don’t know if worse is the right word. That implies a sort of value judgment. Maybe I should say there are scarier people out there than the others.
The entire interview can be found here.
Lost, Michael Emerson, Ben Linus
January 16th, 2007 at 9:17 am
I still don’t like him. Even if he turns out to have a noble cause in the end.
January 16th, 2007 at 9:59 am
He is still creepy to me. I don’t think I will be able to see him in any other roles in TV or film without seeing him HenryGale/Ben.
January 16th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
I love how the Ben character has affected the show, though. He’s fantastic in this role. His creepiness is what keeps me interested in trying to figure him out. To me, that’s great television and great casting.