March 22, 2007
Now that's some Lost
A compelling flashback, intriguing character interaction, new revelations and some forward momentum -- what's not to love about this Locke-centric episode?
What stood out for me:
The sleazebag dad: It's unsurprising that Daddy Dearest was involved with Locke's injury, but wow, I was shocked that it was that sudden and direct. I figured him more for someone who would hire a thug to attack Locke, or slam into him with a car.
So here's yet another handy lesson from sad-sack Locke: If you're dealing with a known sleazebag, especially one you suspect of murder, don't confront him alone. Non-island Locke was such a schmo, it's understandable -- if not necessarily forgivable -- that he wants to leave that life behind.
This theory has been floated, and I'm a believer: Daddy Dearest has just got to be the same con man who destroyed young Sawyer's family. His scumbagginess is far too vast to be confined to just one storyline.
And now Daddy Dearest is imprisoned on the island. Which makes me wonder:
As Johna speculated, is there actually something mystical afoot here, where your desires become manifest, or are the Others in touch with powerful people (Daddy Widmore?) capable of tracking down the scumbag of your choice and delivering him into your hands?
Assuming there is some kind of outrageous "want-it-and-it-comes" effect, though, is the man shown in the island prison really Locke's dad -- the real-life, one-and-only human being plucked from Mexico or whatever -- or just some kind of conjured manifestation of Daddy Dearest? I know, contemplating what is real on Lost just takes us down the rabbit hole of hours of theorizing with no end in sight, so let's move on.
Locke-Ben mind games: Watching these two try to one-up each other and get the edge psychologically ... good stuff. Obviously, Ben came out on top, for the time being. (My displaying your twisted dad trumps your ability to walk! I sunk your battleship!)
I would say this latest exchange continues the long-standing tradition of the Others kicking Lostaway butt. Let's see, by episode's end, Jack isn't getting off the island after all, Kate is once again handcuffed somewhere or another, Sayid is also locked up, and Locke is ... well, with the reappearance of Daddy Dearest, he's certainly not left in a stellar position.
Although he did fire off the line of the night at Ben's expense: "I hope that box is big enough for you to wish up another sub." Hee, that's the tough-guy, Island shaman Locke I fell for.
Morality play?: Locke has been delivered his greatest enemy on a plate. Now what? Was Daddy Dearest sent to Locke as some kind of test? And would showing mercy or going medieval be the course that would please Locke's Island?
That's a tough one to answer, given what we've seen so far of the Island passing judgment, and other life-or-death decisions made on the show.
Eko, after all, seemed to be the man striving most obviously to overcome a past filled with evil deeds. And what did he get for his efforts? Taunted by the I'm Not Your Brother apparition and bashed to death, that's what.
Meanwhile, the few people who don't have a history of killing prior to Island life (that we know of) -- think Sun and Locke as examples -- now seem to be willing to take life without a jot of soul-searching. (Locke, who wasn't threatened with anything but Patchy's loose lips, was especially cavalier about his kill.)
The Others, so quick to kill Lostaways without a backward glance, appear to have quite the stringent code when it comes to their own people.
And let's not forget, as Charlie put into song, that "The Monster Ate the Pilot" before the poor man could even have his flashback.
Movable Type 4.1
Ethan implanted a control device in Claire when she was his captive. The others can trigger her to be sick. Juliet travels to the Losties camp to cure Claire.
Paulo & Nikki start searching for diamonds on the island and encounter spiders that paralyze you when they bite you - as in Voodoo Zombie "He is clinically dead let's bury him" type of paralyzation. Nikki learned about this from her teacher - who was the same guy blown up by the dynamite. They end up finding diamonds and Nikki somehow arranges one of the spiders to bite paulo. After Paulo gets bit she accidentally gets bit as well. When they are found they are presumed dead and are buried alive. This is in the final cut. It is possible that Paulo getting shot was another take meant to throw off rumors? Maybe. But this is now 100% certain - The 2 new losties get killed because they are presumed dead and buried alive.
Locke find the submarine that Juliet was brought to the island on and blows it up (old news by now). Juliet's cancer ridden sister was supposedly cured by Henry Gale.
For now, it seems like Jack is becoming one of the others.
Source: Nate
I just re-watched part of this episode again and realized that Locke was watching "Expose'" in his apartment before the scene where the son questioned him about the kidney transplant. If you listen closely to the TV you'll hear them talk about "The Snake." I just like how everything is connected.