The (Slightly) Funny Story of How I Became a Michael Emerson Fan

Bonus Chapter: Michael Emerson Acting For 30 Minutes Straight

So for my bonus chapter, I'd like to share some of what I think are Michael's most AWESOME acting scenes, from LOST, POI and beyond. There are SO many I wanted to put here, so I ended up just picking one from every season of POI and LOST and then some extras from other stuff. This is gonna be FUN!

                                                    LOST 

Season Two

       One word: ICONIC!!! THIS is confirmed by the writers to be the scene that convinced them to keep Michael in the show permanently. It's just so subtly creepy, I don't know how he does it! And the nonchalant way he says "you guys got any milk?" at the end? CLASSIC.

Season Three

      I've said it before, and I'll say it again: The Man Behind the Curtain had one of the GREATEST endings of all time. I get goosebumps EVERY TIME I watch these back to back. Michael's nonverbal acting is so good in the scene when he walks back to the village. Even though he's wearing a gas mask, you can tell that deep down, when he sees Horace's body, he's sorry. You can see it in his eyes. And I love how forcefully he takes off his mask. It makes him seem so exhausted, and it gives off just the smallest hint of "why did it have to be this way?" But when he's asked if he wants to get Roger's body, all that evaporates. When he says "Leave him out there", there is nothing in his voice but hate.

       Now the second clip is such an iconic villain moment for Ben. First of all, is anyone else obsessed with the way he says "that DITCH"? He says it so disdainfully, so...spitefully. This scene is DRIPPING with spite. He is SO angry this whole scene, and it's brimming just under the surface. The way his eyes seem to pop out of his head, the slight tremor in his voice when he says "I'm not gonna ask you again" ... Except for maybe when he kills Keamy, this is Ben at his most PSYCHOTIC. And then, when Locke says "He said "help me"", a flash of SOMETHING passes over Ben's eyes. Guilt? Fear? Whatever it is, that something still fascinates me a year after watching this episode.

Season Four

     Like I said before, Alex's death was the scene that sealed my investment in Ben's character, and the scene that convinced me he had a heart. I love the way Michael delivers the whole "she's not my daughter, she means nothing to me, I'm not coming out of this house" bit, because you can tell from how unstable his voice sounds that despite appearances, it is KILLING HIM to say those things. And then, when he hears that "BANG" of the bullet hitting Alex's head, it's like someone just snatched all the air out of him. THIS is how to do a shocked face. His eyes widen and his jaw drops just the right amount, and you can see his grief sink in as he realizes his daughter is gone and it's his fault.

      And when he stumbles to her body...gosh. Michael does have a really young face, but it's like he's ten years older in this scene. He just looks so utterly broken. After he kisses her and lifts up his face and he's crying...without any words, I can tell from that one expression that he has never been in more pain.