Season 6, Episode 16:
What They Died For
Ben and Widmore have their face-off. The Man in Black recruits another ally. The remaining Candidates trek across the Island to find Desmond, only to meet someone entirely unexpected. In the flash-sideways timeline, Desmond continues to bring the passengers of Oceanic 815 together, and Locke makes a decision.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Bond One-Liner: After Ben kills Widmore, attempting to rob him of the chance to save Penny by telling the Man in Black what he needs to know.Ben: He doesn't get to save his daughter.
- Brutal Honesty: When Sawyer says that he was doing just fine before Jacob brought him to the Island, Jacob bluntly tells him that this isn't true.Sawyer: What made you think you could mess with my life? I was doin' just fine til you dragged my ass to this damn rock.
Jacob: No, you weren't. None of you were. I didn't pluck any of you out of a happy existence. You were all flawed. I chose you because you were like me. You were all alone. You were all looking for something that you couldn't find out there. I chose you because you needed this place as much as it needed you. - Chekhov's Gun: Ben asks for Widmore's walkie-talkies, giving one to Miles and keeping the other.
- Due to the Dead: On returning to the Barracks, Richard reveals that he buried Alex near the playground after Keamy shot her. Ben quietly thanks him for taking care of his daughter's body as he didn't get a chance to do so himself.
- Heel–Face Door-Slam: It's finally confirmed that Widmore's intentions in opposing the Man in Black are good, with Jacob having convinced him of the error of his ways, and that his ruthless attitude towards the survivors was just an extreme case of Good is Not Nice. However, Ben, refusing to forgive him for Alex's death, kills him, ending any chance that he could properly redeem himself.
- Heel–Face Revolving Door: The Man in Black convinces Ben to rejoin his side by promising to give him the Island when he leaves, with Ben selling out Widmore and killing him.
- I Lied: The Man in Black promises Ben that he'll be in charge of the Island once he leaves, but then reveals he actually wants to destroy the Island.
- It's All My Fault: Sawyer tearfully admits that he is responsible for the deaths of Sayid, Jin, and Sun, but Jack reassures him that no matter what, Locke killed them.
- Parental Substitute: In the Flash-sideways, Danielle tells Ben that he is the closest thing Alex has to a father, which he is very visibly moved by.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: When Locke shows up at the DHARMA Barracks, Miles's self-preservation kicks in and he decides to get the hell away from there.
- Wham Line: After realizing that Desmond was Widmore's "failsafe" to ensure he never left, the Man in Black reveals to Ben what his masterplan is."I'm going to destroy the Island."
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: The Man in Black kills Zoe before she's even had a chance to be useful to begin with, deeming her "pointless" because Widmore told her not to talk to him.
