The Seven Deadly Sins Of 90s Bodybuilding

Summary

This script delves into the darker side of '90s bodybuilding, exploring how the pursuit of physical perfection often intertwined with the seven deadly sins. It examines the stories of iconic figures like Flex Wheeler, Lou Ferrigno, and Dorian Yates, revealing their battles with pride, greed, envy, and other sins. The narrative highlights the personal sacrifices and the struggle for self-mastery amidst the relentless drive for greatness. It serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that true champions are defined not only by their physiques but by their strength of character in overcoming temptations and adversity.

Takeaways

• 💪 The pursuit of physical perfection in bodybuilding is often accompanied by the darker forces of the seven deadly sins.
• 🏆 Pride is a significant sin in the world of bodybuilding, where arrogance and self-love can overshadow personal growth and lead to a downfall.
• 🤳 Gym selfies and mirror flexing are manifestations of pride, where the quest for personal validation can become obsessive.
• 🦁 Flex Wheeler's story serves as an example of how unchecked pride can lead to a downfall, but also how redemption and reflection can follow.
• 🤑 Greed is another prevalent sin, influencing bodybuilders to exploit their fame and tarnish their legacy, as seen in Lou Ferrigno's story.
• 👹 The sin of envy, as exemplified by Ray, shows how the desire to possess what others have can lead to bitterness and fractured relationships.
• 🛌 Sloth can erode the discipline necessary for competitive bodybuilding, with some succumbing to the temptation of shortcuts or extended periods of inactivity.
• 🍰 Lust, in the context of bodybuilding, can extend beyond sexual longing to include a broader yearning for sensory pleasure and indulgence.
• 😡 Wrath, or uncontrollable anger, can have devastating consequences, as seen in the tragic story of Craig Titus, where it led to a life behind bars.
• 🍕 Gluttony, the overindulgence in food, is a common sin in the off-season for bodybuilders, where the balance between indulgence and restraint is tested.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The 1990s bodybuilding scene serves as a microcosm of human nature, where the strength of character and self-mastery are what truly define a champion.

Q & A

What is the darker side of the world of bodybuilding that the video discusses?

The video discusses the darker side of bodybuilding as a place where the seven deadly sins—pride, greed, sloth, wrath, lust, envy, and gluttony—manifest, often influencing the actions and attitudes of competitors.

How does pride operate within the culture of bodybuilding?

Pride operates as both a driving force and a silent saboteur in bodybuilding culture, shaping the very foundations of the sport. It can lead to arrogance and a relentless craving for validation and superiority.

What is Flex Wheeler's story in relation to the sin of pride?

Flex Wheeler's story serves as a cautionary tale about the sin of pride. Despite his physical prowess and rise to the top, his arrogance was seen as a shield for his insecurity and a cover for a traumatic past. His journey illustrates how unchecked pride can overshadow one's achievements.

How does the sin of greed manifest in the world of bodybuilding?

Greed manifests in the world of bodybuilding as athletes navigate the fine line between ambition and avarice. The story of Lou Ferrigno serves as an example, where his fall from grace involved exploitative behavior and a series of legal battles over wealth and fame.

Envy, the desire to obtain and possess what others have, can drive individuals to greatness but also lead to bitterness, resentment, and fractured relationships. Ray's quest for the Olympia title, which remained out of reach, is an example of how envy can affect a competitor's legacy.

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How does the sin of sloth affect bodybuilders?

Sloth, or the temptation of shortcuts and complacency, can erode the discipline necessary to reach the summit of competitive bodybuilding. Kevin Levrone's story is an example where his complacency and periods of inactivity may have cost him his full potential.

What is the broader implication of lust in the context of bodybuilding?

Lust, traditionally associated with intense sexual longing, can also encompass a broader yearning for sensory pleasure, indulgence, or excess in various aspects of life. Chris Cormier's narrative illustrates the pursuit of sensual gratification that may compromise competitive success.

How does the sin of wrath affect the gym environment and bodybuilding competitions?

Wrath, associated with anger and aggression, can cast a shadow over the gym environment and turn competitive rivalries into battlegrounds of status and dominance. Craig Titus's story exemplifies the tragic consequences of unchecked anger and violence.

What is the role of gluttony in the world of bodybuilding?

Gluttony, typically associated with the overindulgence of food, transcends its culinary confines to encompass the feast of desires. For some bodybuilders, the offseason serves as a hedonistic counterbalance to strict dietary sacrifice, with Lee Priest being an example of embracing culinary indulgence.

What does the video suggest defines a true champion in bodybuilding?

The video suggests that a true champion in bodybuilding is not merely defined by their physical prowess or trophies, but by those who conquer their demons, rise above their desires and temptations, and develop self-mastery over virtue and vice.

How does the video portray the '90s bodybuilding era?

The video portrays the '90s bodybuilding era as a time when the pursuit of physical excellence often collided with darker forces, with larger-than-life personalities and intense competition serving as a microcosm of the human experience.

What is the ultimate message of the video regarding the pursuit of physical perfection?

The ultimate message of the video is that the pursuit of physical perfection is not just a test of the body but also of the soul. It is the strength of character forged in the crucible of adversity that separates legends from the lost.

Outlines

00:00

💪 The Dark Side of Bodybuilding in the '90s

This paragraph delves into the darker aspects of the bodybuilding world during the 1990s, focusing on how the relentless pursuit of physical perfection often intertwined with the seven deadly sins. Names like Dorian Yates and Flex Wheeler dominated the scene, where personal sacrifices were made in the quest for greatness. Pride, in particular, is highlighted as a driving force and a destructive element, exemplified by Flex Wheeler's story of arrogance and eventual self-realization. Greed is also discussed, with Lou Ferrigno's fall from grace and subsequent actions reflecting the perils of unchecked avarice.

05:01

🤔 The Consequences of Greed and Envy in Bodybuilding

The second paragraph continues the exploration of sin in the bodybuilding community, specifically greed and envy. It discusses Lou Ferrigno's legal battles, which demonstrate his relentless pursuit of wealth, leading to a tarnished legacy. The narrative then shifts to Ray, who represents envy, as his desire for the Olympia title remained out of reach, causing bitterness and resentment. Ray's tactics of psychological warfare against his opponents are also mentioned, reflecting his narcissism and the impact of envy on his career and relationships.

10:03

🏋️‍♂️ Sloth, Lust, and Wrath in the Pursuit of Bodybuilding Glory

This paragraph examines the sins of sloth, lust, and wrath within the bodybuilding culture. It talks about how some bodybuilders succumb to laziness, taking shortcuts or relying solely on genetics, using Kevin Levrone's story as an example of wasted potential due to complacency. Lust is expanded beyond sexual desire to include the broader pursuit of sensory pleasure, with Chris Cormier's narrative illustrating the potential compromise of competitive success due to indulgence. Wrath is portrayed through the story of Craig Titus, whose anger and violence led to tragic consequences and a life behind bars, emphasizing the destructive nature of unchecked aggression.

15:06

🍕 Gluttony and the Struggle for Self-Mastery in Bodybuilding

The final paragraph discusses the sin of gluttony, which extends beyond overeating to represent the indulgence of desires in various aspects of life. It uses Lee Priest's example of embracing dietary excess during the off-season and the potential impact on his career. The paragraph concludes by reflecting on the '90s bodybuilding scene as a microcosm of the human experience, where greatness often comes at a price. It emphasizes that true champions are defined not just by their physiques or trophies, but by their ability to conquer their demons and develop self-mastery over virtue and vice.

Keywords

💡Bodybuilding

Bodybuilding is a sport that involves developing one's physique through intensive weight training and dieting. It is central to the video's theme as it explores the darker side of the sport, where athletes' pursuit of physical perfection often intersects with personal sacrifices and the seven deadly sins. The script mentions iconic bodybuilders like Dorian Yates and Flex Wheeler, highlighting their struggles and achievements within the competitive realm of '90s bodybuilding.

💡Seven Deadly Sins

The seven deadly sins, also known as the capital vices, are a classification of vices in Christian theology. In the context of the video, they are used to illustrate the moral challenges and temptations faced by bodybuilders. The script delves into how each sin, such as pride, greed, sloth, wrath, lust, envy, and gluttony, manifests within the competitive world of bodybuilding, affecting the athletes' personal lives and careers.

💡Pride

Pride is considered the first sin that gives rise to all others, often associated with excessive self-love or arrogance. In the video, pride is exemplified through the character of Flex Wheeler, whose rise to the top of the sport was accompanied by a reputation for arrogance. However, the script also reveals that Wheeler's pride was a facade for his insecurities, illustrating the complex relationship between pride and the athletes' self-perception.

💡Greed

Greed, the excessive pursuit of wealth or material possessions, is discussed in relation to Lou Ferrigno's story. The script describes how Ferrigno's fall from grace was marked by acts of greed, such as exploiting fans for photos and engaging in legal battles over the family business and assets. This reflects the darker side of ambition and the potential for avarice to overshadow personal and professional achievements.

💡Envy

Envy, the feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, is personified in the script through the character of Ray. Ray's unattainable quest for the Olympia title led to a legacy marked by bitterness and resentment. The script uses Ray's story to explore how envy can drive individuals to excel but also to self-destruct, highlighting the double-edged nature of envy in competitive environments.

💡Sloth

Sloth, traditionally understood as laziness or the avoidance of work, is discussed in the context of bodybuilding discipline. The script mentions Kevin Levrone's complacency during the off-season, which led to a loss of his competitive edge. This serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of complacency and the importance of maintaining discipline, even when the immediate rewards are not apparent.

💡Lust

Lust, often associated with intense sexual desire, is expanded upon in the video to include a broader yearning for sensory pleasure and indulgence. The script explores Chris Cormier's narrative, where his insatiable craving for earthly pleasures, particularly during the pre-contest period, may have compromised his competitive success. This illustrates the potential conflict between indulgence and ambition in the pursuit of bodybuilding excellence.

💡Wrath

Wrath, related to anger and aggression, is exemplified in the video through Craig Titus's story. The script describes Titus's violent outbursts and the tragic consequences that followed, including legal troubles and the loss of his legacy. Wrath is portrayed as a destructive force that can overshadow an athlete's achievements and lead to personal downfall.

💡Gluttony

Gluttony, typically associated with overindulgence in food, is discussed in the context of bodybuilders' dietary habits. The script highlights Lee Priest's unapologetic embrace of culinary indulgence during the off-season, which contrasted with the strict dietary sacrifices required for competition. This keyword serves to illustrate the balance between discipline and indulgence in the pursuit of physical perfection.

💡Self-Mastery

Self-mastery, the ability to control one's emotions, desires, and actions, is presented as a key to overcoming the challenges presented by the seven deadly sins. The video suggests that true champions are those who can rise above their desires and temptations, developing self-mastery over virtue and vice. This concept is integral to the video's message, emphasizing that it is the strength of character that ultimately defines a champion, rather than just physical achievements.

Highlights

The world of '90s bodybuilding is explored, revealing the darker side of the pursuit of physical perfection.

The seven deadly sins are shown to intertwine with the competitive realm of bodybuilding.

Names like Dorian Yates and Flex Wheeler are mentioned as examples of the era's pursuit of greatness.

Personal sacrifices are highlighted as a cost of the relentless pursuit of physical excellence.

Pride is discussed as the sin that gives rise to all others in the context of bodybuilding.

Flex Wheeler's story is used to illustrate the arrogance born of pride and its consequences.

Greed's influence in bodybuilding is examined through Lou Ferrigno's story.

Envy is portrayed through the lens of bodybuilders' desire to possess what others have.

Shaun Ray's career is discussed as an example of envy and its impact on relationships.

Sloth is presented as a threat to the discipline necessary for competitive bodybuilding success.

Kevin Levrone's story is cited as an example of complacency and its effects on potential.

Lust is explored beyond sexual longing to include broader yearning for sensuous pleasure.

Chris Cormier's narrative is used to discuss the pursuit of carnal gratification and its consequences.

Wrath is associated with anger and aggression within the competitive bodybuilding environment.

Craig Titus's story illustrates the devastating consequences of unchecked anger and violence.

Gluttony is examined in the context of bodybuilders' indulgence in food during the offseason.

Lee Priest's embrace of dietary excess and its impact on his career is discussed.

The 1990s bodybuilding scene is highlighted as a microcosm of the human experience.

The importance of character strength and self-mastery in the pursuit of physical perfection is emphasized.

Transcripts

in the echoing chambers of the gym where

sweat mingles with the burning fire of

determination the Relentless pursuit of

physical Perfection unfolds a tapestry

of human desire ambition and

Temptation and the world of bodybuilding

celebrated for its discipline and

dedication Harbors a darker side a

canvas where the seven deadly sins

intertwined to form an intricate

portrait of human

nature on his excellent Channel big

Craig showcased a lineup of modern day

influences embodying the sinful seven

but this video delves deeper into the

competitive realm of '90s bodybuilding a

time when the pursuit of physical

Excellence often collided with the

darker forces of Pride greed sloth wrath

lust envy and

gluttony in this era where names like

Dorian Yates and flex wheeler reign

supreme the pursuit of greatness came at

a cost a cost measured not only in

titles one but in personal sacrifices

made it's a journey through the iron

forg world of modern bodybuilding where

each sin Finds Its embodiment amidst the

clanging of weights and the Relentless

pursuit of physical

Perfection where are we ven why are we

here because of me what are we going to

do now we're going to follow me come on

throughout time pride is the sin giving

rise to all other sins and in the eyes

of the Ancients no sin was more

punishable by the gods than that of

hubris bodybuilders stand at the Apex

when it comes to the Arrogant love of

the self the gym once a temple of

self-improvement has transformed largely

into a stage where egos are showcased

and comparisons become the daily

ritual the sin of pride has found a home

in every gym selfie and every mirror

Flex enter any gym and you'll witness a

legion of weightlifters strutting around

like peacocks in a poultry pageant

mirrors no longer serve to check your

form therefore for admiring the

sculpture that is

you it's a world where the pursuit of

perfection Teeters on the precipice of

hubris and the Quest for personal growth

morphs into a Relentless craving for

validation and superiority

in the gym Pride operates as both the

driving force and the silent sabure

shaping the very foundations of

bodybuilding at its

culture one such figure Flex wheeler

embodied the arrogance born of Pride

blessed with some of the most perfect

lines and proportions the sport has ever

seen Wheeler's meteoric rise to the top

was accompanied by a palpable veneer of

deep-seated conceit and overbearing

cubis yet Wheeler's Journey also serves

as a cautionary tale a reminder that

unchecked Pride can overshadow the

Brilliance of any physique leading even

the most gifted astray no one was more

maligned for their insolent Swagger than

wheeler and even he admittedly conceives

that his arrogance was a shield of

insecurity wielded as cover for a

traumatically dark past ignoring lack of

self-belief and bodybuilding like I said

I I I I came across very um cocky

arrogant cuz I was terrified you know

any of the videos you watch when I

tapped a person on the stage next to me

you know people looked at that like wow

look how arrogant he is you know he's

showing that he's better no actually it

wasn't it was I was trying to do like a

slight of hint so if you're looking at

us and I'm uncomfortable if I put my

armor around this guy i' just

transferred all my energy to him so now

you're going to look at him you're not

looking at me after a precipitous fall

involving extensive soul searching and

Exorcism of demons past Flex is both

Redemptive and reflective of his many

Pride fuel brushes with self- imulation

it would have been unfortunate that

Pride cost a physique of his caliber the

status of a forever tarish Legend but

pride is but one thread in this tapestry

of sin greed too holds sway over the

world of bodybuilding as athletes must

navigate the fine line between ambition

and avarice Lou Faro's story stands tall

as a legendary bodybuilder whose greed's

become a long-established and much

maligned industry meme once the

sympathetic Underdog of pumping iron and

immortalized for his iconic portrayal of

the Incredible Hulk frigo's Fall From

Grace is marked by exploitative Tales of

charging young fans for photos evading

cameras and dispatching security teams

to chase down unauthorized snapshots

acts of pure greed that have shattered

The public's Goodwill and respect for

the former star proving the only thing

larger than fno shoulder was the chip

that's forever resided there he returned

in the early '90s to compete in a sport

which had unflinchingly passed him by

fno therefore set his comeback SES on

the Masters Olympia which Joe weer had

undoubtedly both created and ordained

for lur as a slam dunk to

win yet when the Ageless Robbie Robinson

emerged from the mountaintops of Europe

victorious in snatching the inaugural

Olympia Crown from ferno's grasp lose

backstage tantrum at the loss of the

prize that he perceived rightfully his

revealed the true monster lurking

beneath this fragile facade of a greedy

man but figo's greed also extended

beyond the stage manifesting in a series

of bitter legal battles with his own

family lawsuits against his father and

brother over the use of the family name

in their gym equipment business followed

by a dispute over the color of the gym

painted Hulk green and most recently

legal action against his own daughter

alleging exploitation of his wife's

condition all underscore fros Relentless

pursuit of wealth at any cost

accusations of trapping his wife in a

marriage to maintain control over their

amassed assets how further tarnished

Forno's Legacy painting a portrait of a

man consumed doomed by his insatiable

desire for wealth and a tragic figure

and snared in the very greed he once

condemned in the end frigo's obsession

with chasing the green has left him

mired in a life of misspent misery

turning him into both a super villain as

well as a cautionary tale of the Perils

of unchecked

avarice and speaking of green-headed

monsters very few figures in the annals

of bodybuilding stand as polarizing as

that of sha Ray the sin of Envy

represents a desire to obtain and

possess what others have and Ray's quest

for the Holy Grail of bodybuilding the

coveted Olympia title for Ray remained

for him frustratingly forever Out Of

Reach and while Envy is a natural

byproduct of human nature in the

competitive Spirit the legendary Olympia

Champion Doran Yates aptly described its

double-edged power

capable of both propelling individuals

to Greatness and destroying them in the

process foray Envy undoubtedly drove him

both to excel but it also led to a

legacy marked by bitterness resentment

and fractured

relationships bodybuilding you can look

at it from two ways you can look at it

from an individual standpoint of making

uh progress on an individual level and

not trying to please everybody all the

time or you can self-destruct and get

mad at the judges and lash out at the

fans and get mad at your competitors

because of your own shortcomings uh I've

turned bodybuilding into a positive for

me no longer am I doing it just for

myself I realize there's a lot of people

pulling for me supporting me I'm trying

not to let them down but at the same

time keep my head up and remember where

I came from and keep my eye on where I'm

going and that is straight to the top of

Mr Olympia Renown for his intelligence

articulate outspokenness and calculating

nature Ray's career Drew equal parts

admiration and

revulsion initially hailed as the Golden

Boy of bodybuilding Ray's outspoken

critiques of the sport and his peers

quickly earned him monikers like the

fastest lip in the west and eventually

the

mouth to some sha Ray embodied the

mythological figure of Cassandra a

prophet cursed with the gift of Truth

yet ignored for the foresight of her

message others viewed Ray as motivated

by a desperate desire to cling to the

fading Spotlight of relevance leading to

perceptions of envy driven malevolence

Ray sometimes insensitive poorly timed

and malicious provocations nevertheless

reflected a level of narcissism

ultimately earning him the label the

most hated man in

bodybuilding Ry admitted these tactics

as a form of calculated psychological

warfare aimed at undermining his

opponents subverting their strengths

exploiting their weaknesses and

provoking their

insecurities in hindsight many of Ray's

criticisms ring true with the passing of

time and hindsight yet time will tell if

his legacy emerges unscathed from the

recent tarnish of his mostly valid yet

possibly Envy driven

criticisms while the world of

bodybuilding glorifies the virtues of

pushing one's physical limits the

Insidious Spectre of sloth lurks in the

shadows threatening to erode the

discipline foundations necessary to

reach the copian summit of competitive

bodybuilding's height

the Relentless grind undoubtedly wears

on the Mind Body and Soul some succumb

to the temptation of shortcuts resorting

to increased dosages or coasting solely

on favorable genetics others having laid

their groundwork surrendered to extended

periods of sloth disconnecting from the

arduous Endeavor altogether Kevin

levrone's tale serves as one poignant

example renowned for his dramatic

offseason and Transformations draining

and shrinking down to a mere shadow of

his heroic former self Kevin's

complacency ultimately robbed him of his

full potential in his pursuit of

greatness so I'm not going to waste my

time training on the offseason if

there's not a contest six or seven

months away I just don't do that I'll

eat whatever I want I won't train for 4

months and then I'll come into the gym

and I'll bust my ass for four months

only it's going to be a

challenge the p mage of time with its

fleeting opportunities cast a lingering

sense of unfulfilled potential and a

Goring Shadow of Doubt cast over his

career a sense of unfinished business

that psychologically drove him towards a

controversial comeback albe it with a

significantly diminished return to the

stage one can't help but wonder what

might have been had lone committed all

his effort and resources when the season

was ripe the Olympia record May well

have been altered with levrone's name

written into the history books

accompanied by some sandals of his own I

have better genetics than Doran I never

was six time missia he was because of

his work ethic lust traditionally

associated with intense sexual longing

can also be extended to Encompass a

broader Yearning For sensy Pleasure

Indulgence or excess in various aspects

of

life when one pursues pleasure whether

through physical sensation sensory

experience or similar

gratification it often marks the

beginning of a perilous journey into

hedonic desires misplaced priorities and

a profound sense of existential

emptiness Chris cormier's narrative

embodies this lustful pursuit of censal

gratification delving deeper into this

theme in my video sex lies and muscle

Cormier openly acknowledges that his

insatiable craving for Earthly Pleasures

particularly During the pre-contest

period may have ultimately compromised

his potential for greater competitive

success in chasing after the fleeting

Thrills of the flesh Cormier found

himself at the crossroads where

Indulgence clashed with ambition

potentially robbing him of the accolades

he so fever sought on the bodybuilding

stage throughout history many voices

have cautioned against the corrosive

nature of anger with Mark Twain famously

liking it to an acid that eats away at

the vessel containing it rather than its

intended

target in the sanctum of

self-improvement that is the gym many

seek Solace and release from the pental

emotions and frustrations of daily life

yet the sin of Wrath with its

association with anger and aggression

often casts a palpable Shadow over the

zero some game which is competitive

bodybuilding within this Arena of

limited prize pools and subjective

placings comaraderie can swiftly morph

into a battleground of status

hierarchies where perceived slights

escalate into silent Wars of dominance

competitive rivalries wild often

dramatic can sometimes spiral into

tragedy none exemplifies this more than

Craig Titus whose wrath spilled over

into devastating conse quences claiming

lives and tarnishing his own legacy does

anybody believe

this

anybody Jesus

Christ Craig was Infamous for his gym

floor brawls threats of violence towards

other bodybuilding competitors and

journalists or indeed anyone who dared

cross his path a cocktail of androgens

and recreational drugs

fueled an ever increasing paranoia which

culminated in the eventual unliving of

personal assistant Melissa James Craig

was sentenced to a life Behind Bars and

even if Titus was perhaps innocent of

the deed itself it's inarguable that a

lifetime of percolating anger and

violence became the karmic manifestation

of a life destroyed by the sin of

Wrath the rigorous dietary restrictions

of compet competition and discipline

nutrition often give way to a carnival

of indulgence where forbidden treats

become The Spoils of hardfought battles

of

perseverance mountains of pizza oceans

of ice cream and decadent feasts unfold

in a celebration of excess the sin of

gluttony typically associated with the

overindulgence of food transcends its

culinary confines to Encompass the Feast

of desires

satisfied for some bodybuilders the

offseason serves as a hedonistic

counterbalance to the rigors of strict

dietary sacrifice and

restraint among them Lee Priest stands

out for his Unapologetic Embrace of

culinary Indulgence and dietary

excess his unabashed love for fast food

soaring balloon to almost 300 lb a

trajectory that invited speculation of

imminent Health disaster and threaten

lucrative Financial opportunities in the

form of of guest posing appearances

which he forwent in favor for his

desires of the

pallet fortunately priest possessed the

discipline of genetics to reign in his

offseason

indulgences ultimately translating them

into respectable competition placings

yet one can't help but Ponder what

Greater Heights priest might have

achieved had he tempered his Primal

Cravings the 1990s bodybuilding scene

with its Larger than Life personalities

and intense competition serves as a

microcosm of The Human Experience a

reminder that greatness often comes at a

price and as we reflect on these Tales

of sin and Redemption we're reminded

that the pursuit of physical Perfection

isn't just a test of the body but also

of the

Soul it's not merely the Chisel

physiques or the gleaming trophies that

Define a champion it's those who conquer

their demons Rising above their desires

and

temptations those that develop

self-mastery over virtue and vice do so

in the eternal struggle lurking within

the Shadows of the iron temples of each

man's heart and mind for in the pursuit

of physical Perfection it is the

strength of character forged in The

Crucible of adversity that ultimately

separates the legends from the

Lost