Titus Welliver is phenomenal inBosch, but his science-fiction series with 86% on Rotten Tomatoes is a masterpiece. Allseasons ofBoschandBosch: Legacyare well worth watching, with Welliver’s portrayal perfectly bringing to lifeHarry Bosch from Michael Connelly’s books.
Despite the cancellation ofBosch: Legacy,Titus Welliver is already back as Harry BoschinBallard, a Prime Video spinoff series focused on Renée Ballard (Maggie Q).Regardless of whether he is the protagonist or a supporting character, Bosch has become Welliver’s most iconic and enduring role.However, his true masterpiece show isLost.
Titus Welliver Plays Lost’s The Man In Black
The Man In Black Takes On Many Forms
InLost, Titus Welliver portrays the Man in Black, who is eventually revealed to be the show’s overarching villain.Welliver does not make his debut until the opening scene of the season 5 finale “The Incident”, which is a flashback featuring him and Jacob (Mark Pellegrino) as they watch a ship sailing toward the island and debate their conflicting beliefs.
Despite Welliver’s late debut and only starring in three episodes by the end of the series,his character appears in other forms throughout all ofLost’s seasons. This is because the Man in Black is alsoLost’s Smoke Monster, who has been heard and seen in the show since season 1.
Season 5, episode 16
Season 6, Episode 15
“Across the Sea”
Other forms that the Man in Black takes on include Christian Shephard (John Terry), Yemi (Adetokumboh McCormack), Alex Rousseau (Tania Raymonde), Isabella (Mirelly Taylor), and John Locke(Terry (O’Quinn),the last of which is the form he primarily appears in throughout seasons 5 and 6.
Before Welliver appears in season 6, episode 15, “Across the Sea”, the episode explores the Man in Black’s birth and his childhood, with the younger version of the character played by Ryan Bradford. While the episode is divisive, itadds significant depth and complexity to Welliver’s character.
The Man In Black Is An Equally Tragic & Ruthless Villain
He’s Far More Than A Smoke Monster
Welliver’s performance asLost’s Man in Blackhelps cement the character’s tragic and ruthless nature, as do his origins. With his biological mother, Claudia (Lela Loren), murdered moments after she gives birth to Jacob and his brother,it only takes seconds for the Man in Black’s life to become tragic.
Regardless of what his adoptive mother and Jacob do, it is tragic that the Man in Black kills them.
Even as a child, he is curious about the outside world and wants to leave the island, and he only becomes more fixated on this idea when his adoptive mother (Allison Janney), who murdered Claudia, and Jacob try to stop him. Regardless of what his adoptive mother and Jacob do, it is tragic that the Man in Black kills them.
In the three episodes where the Man in Black appears,Welliver brings a sense of tragic longing to the character, who feels trapped and is desperate to be free. At the same time, that desperation is used to manipulate, kill, and endanger others on multiple occasions.
The Man in Black is not only willing to kill his family, but is alsowilling to kill all of Jacob’s candidatesand anyone else whose existence stands in the way of him escaping the island. Even worse, the Man in Black transforms into survivors' deceased loved ones to manipulate them into doing his bidding, since Jacob’s rules prevent him from killing the candidates directly.
The Man in Black is unable to change his form from John Locke after Jacob dies.
It is easy to see a column of smoke as evil, but it is more challenging when the character ispresented via Welliver as a seemingly rational person seeking an understandable goalafter being treated unfairly. This makes the Man in Black threatening in a more subtle way than he ever was in previous seasons.
Lost Is A Sci-Fi Masterpiece That Has Yet To Be Surpassed
The Show Is Truly In A Class Of Its Own
The Man in Black is one of the manykey pieces that makesLosta science-fiction masterpiece. FromLost’s time travelto the Man in Black becoming a shapeshifting Smoke Monster, there are plenty of fantastical elements that capture the imagination, create compelling mysteries, and that will excite anyone who enjoys the science-fiction genre.
Part of the reasonLost’s science fiction works so well is because it is always used to purposefully enhance the characters' journeys and the show’s central themes.The Man in Black’s endgame and his conflict with Jacob perfectly encapsulates the show’s exploration of faith and whether people can change and grow despite their flaws.
The show’s time travel is used just as effectively, asthe"whatever happened, happened,“rule ensures that the characters' choices have consequencesand cannot be changed.Lost’s time travel also fits perfectly into what the show has to say about faith and destiny.
While there are other science-fictionmystery shows likeLost, none have been able to balance their character development, world-building, themes, and intriguing plot as seamlessly throughout their entire run. The series not only resonates the first time, but itactually gets better during each rewatch.
Lostis streaming on Hulu and Netflix.
The Man in Black is a perfect example of this, as once his whole story is revealed, the show can never be watched the same way again.It is a richer experience when thinking of the Smoke Monster, various dead individuals walking around the island, and Welliver’s Man in Black all being the same character.
There have been some particularly exceptional shows with a similar feel toLost, includingThe LeftoversandFrom, but no story has quite reached those heights. Despite being so well-known forBosch,Welliver and all his co-stars will always be associated with their characters in the masterpiece that isLost.
Lost
Cast
Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the passengers must work together to survive the island’s seemingly deadly intentions.
