Lost Reviews and News
Key Points from "The Man from Tallahassee"
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Season 3, Episode 13 Episode Air Date: 03/21/07 |
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Point 1
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Oh ... my.
Prior to this episode, the phrase "Ben's Magic Box" was merely an immature euphemism that didn't hold much relevance (beyond being gross ... and kinda funny). But now, "Ben's Magic Box" might just be the most important thing in this entire show. And the thing is, the Magic Box was only one of many jaw droppers in "The Man from Tallahassee." So let's get to it! The episode picks up where "Par Avion" left off -- Locke, Kate, Sayid and Rousseau watch incredulously as Jack cavorts/plays football with their mortal Other enemy, Tom. Juliet appears in the Other yard and saunters over to Jack all flirty and casual. Kate blinks -- she can't believe that 80 days of coy smiles and tight jeans and "whoopsie, I just came out of this steamy shower half-naked" maneuvers have been wiped from Jack's memory by that diabolical blond hussy. The scene gets even more intriguing when Jack cheerfully accompanies Juliet back toward a nearby bungalow and Juliet rolls an on-the-mend Ben out in a wheelchair. Jack shakes Ben's hand and the two appear to share some sort of thought/comment -- and for once, that thought or comment doesn't involve Jack threatening to nick one of Ben's vital organs. As all of this plays out, Rousseau silently walks off. She smells a supple young boar lounging unaware in the sun. Lunchtime! Locke, who's watching the Jack-Ben proceedings through binoculars, lowers his peeping-tom specs and utters the understatement of the episode: "This is going to be more complicated than we thought." Now, I'm no military genius, but I never did quite figure out how Locke, Kate, Sayid and Rousseau were going to pluck Jack from a fortified Other stronghold. I'm not sure they figured it out, either. No matter. Jack's apparent assimilation into the Others' collective forces the Jack Rescue Group to rethink its plan. Locke says they should lie low, wait for dark, and then meet with Jack privately to see if he actually wants to be rescued. Night falls and the trio watches as Jack and Juliet share a quiet moment outside Jack's "apartment." The pair bid each other goodnight and Jack quietly closes the door behind him ... alone. Locke, Kate and Sayid sprint across the dark lawn like ninjas -- really loud ninjas. Each is supposed to cover a specific area, or monitor a specific spot, or some such nonsense. Kate successfully creeps into Jack's apartment and moves quietly down a hallway. Jack is playing piano in a nearby room. Kate appears in the doorway, but Jack doesn't notice her. He stops the tune and slowly turns. "Hi," Kate says, not sure if she's supposed to smile or frown or lift her shirt (it works for Sawyer). Jack isn't pleased. He's not pleased at all. His eyes dart toward a corner of the room and Kate sees a closed-circuit security camera. Jack pleads/orders her to leave immediately, but Kate holds her ground -- she came all this way to rescue Jack, and that's what she intends to do. Or not. The front door to Jack's apartment busts open and a platoon of armed Others spills inside. Kate is pushed to the ground as additional Others drag Sayid into the room. An Other digs his pistol into Kate's neck and demands to know who else is with them. Kate looks at Sayid. Sayid looks at Kate. "Nobody, it's just us," she lies. And this little lie opens the door to an epic showdown between Locke and Ben. With the Others temporarily convinced that Kate and Sayid are working alone, Locke is given time to break into Ben's bungalow. Ben's recent surgery prevents him from sleeping upside down as he normally does. Instead, he's splayed in a Craftmatic and when he hears a noise in his living room, he mechanically whirs himself into a defensive position (Setting No. 108). Locke appears, his gun trained on Ben's buggy eyes. Ben wastes no time offering Locke exactly what he wants. "I can show you where Jack is," Ben says. And this is when Locke pulls the rug out. "I'm not looking for Jack," Locke says. "I'm looking for the submarine." Locke wants the sub? Ben feigns ignorance. "Uh, submarine? What submarine?" A knock sounds at Ben's bedroom door. It's Alex. Ben's mouth quivers and he starts to ask Locke to leave her out of their little conversation ... but Locke flings open the door and drags Alex inside. At that exact moment, Tom pounds on the front door of Ben's bungalow. Locke pulls Alex into Ben's closet (bumping into an assortment of gimp paraphernalia) as Tom and another Other enter Ben's bedroom. Tom doesn't realize that an Oceanic Interloper is hiding in the room, and Ben doesn't offer any hints because his daughter is being held captive (to Locke's credit, he doesn't point the gun at Alex -- he just shoves her in the corner and tells her to keep her pie-hole shut). Tom tells Ben that Sayid and Kate have been captured and Ben offers some sort of directive ("tie 'em up" or "lock 'em up" or "make them watch the '04 World Series tape"). Tom leaves and Ben's attention turns to the second Other. His name is Richard, and judging by his height, weight and the faint smell of eyeliner wafting from his orbital sockets, it appears to be Richard Alpert, the guy who recruited/dragged Juliet to the island in "Not in Portland." "I want you to bring me the man from Tallahassee," Ben instructs Richard. Uh ... what? Is that code? Richard leaves and Locke drags Alex out of the closet. He has a plan: He wants Alex to find Sayid and retrieve his backpack (this is the same backpack containing the C4 Locke plucked from the Flame station). Alex shows a momentary glimpse of concern for Ben -- the first we've seen from her -- then scampers off to find the pack. This leaves Locke and Ben alone for a few minutes ... and oh what an interesting time we're about to have. Ben asks Locke to help him into his wheelchair so he can roll around while doling out island mysteries and lies. Locke at first resists, but Ben plays to Locke's past. "I just want some dignity," Ben says. "You of all people should understand what it means to want some dignity." If Ben had a handlebar mustache, he'd be twirling it. As Locke moves to help, Ben continues his devious deconstruction of Locke's psyche. He asks Locke how he intends to pilot the Others' submarine (thereby confirming the sub's existence). Locke puffs his chest and says that for all Ben knows, he's a former submarine captain ... a decorated captain with lots of medals and lovely ladies in every port. Ben stifles a smile ... he's really going to enjoy this next bit. Ben takes a breath and loads up for a classic Henry Gale monologue. In the span of the next 30 seconds, he tells Locke exactly what he knows about him:
Locke blinks. That was unexpected. "Tell me, John. Did it hurt?" Ben asks, evil dripping from his chin. "I felt my back break," Locke says. "What do you think?" Sidenote 1: Remember this dialogue. It's going to be very important later on. Sidenote 2: Ben's comment about Locke's employment at the box company seems a little off to me. Judging from what we've seen of Locke's backstory, I always figured that Locke went to work at the box company after he was in the wheelchair. If we're to believe Ben's timeline -- i.e. Locke was in the wheelchair for four years -- then it seems Locke couldn't have worked at the box company for more than four years, which is a significant period but not the ungodly amount of time Ben seems to imply it is. Or am I missing something here? Moving on ... The power balance in the Locke-Ben conversation soon shifts to Locke because Ben can't contain his curiosity. He asks -- in a giddy and uncharacteristic way -- if Locke regained use of his legs immediately after the plane crash. Locke confirms he did, but then he arches an eyebrow and gazes at Ben. He knows why he's so curious. "You're wondering why it's not the same for you," Locke says, a grin carving across his face. "How'd you get sick in the first place, anyway?" Touche, Mr. Locke. Ben's temper rises and his defenses come down. He says he knows Locke isn't going to pilot the sub -- he's going to use the C4 he stole from the Flame station to blow it up. He knows that Locke doesn't want to leave the island because the island has given him life, and if the sub is gone, there's no escape. It's quite a conclusion -- especially that bit about the C4 (Ben masterfully connects the dots: Locke was in the Flame station, which means he found the C4, which means he can use the C4, which means Locke now has legitimate power ... if Ben wasn't so damn evil I'd admire the little bugger's detective skills). Locke tosses off Ben's conclusion and the moment passes. The pair moves to the kitchen so Locke can munch chicken wings and scarf Dharma juice. Ben realizes his psychoanalytic tactics aren't working, so he opts for the direct route. Rolling up to Locke (whose face is covered in chicken bits), Ben puts on his Honest Eyes. "If you blow the sub up, I have a big problem with my people," Ben says. Locke stops munching. Ben tells Locke that he's one of the few Others who was born on the island. Most of his comrades were recruited and brought in, and despite their loyalty to the Others' way of life, these folks need to know they can leave anytime they want. If Locke blows up the sub, Ben can no longer dangle the "leave anytime" carrot, and that's going to call Ben's leadership into question. Ben continues: Since Locke already has a clear affinity for the island, Ben is willing to share the island's secrets if Locke does him just one wee favor: don't blow up the sub. "I can show you things, things I know you want to see very badly," Ben says. "Let me put it so you'll understand. Picture a box. What if I told you that somewhere on this island there's a very large box and whatever you imagined, whatever you wanted to be in it, when you opened that box there it would be. What would you say about that, John?" Locke pauses, mulling over Ben's Magic Box. "I'd say I hope that box is big enough to imagine yourself up a new submarine," Locke spits sarcastically. Now, Locke's comment is funny and fitting, but you know the 8-year-old boy trapped inside Locke is screaming "Show me the box! I wanna see the box!" Ben's frustration swells. He asks Locke why he's so angry and Locke, in a twist, admits that his anger stems from the Others' hypocrisy. He's mad because, in Locke's mind, the Others are "cheating." They're living on this mystical and wonderful island, but they're doing it with electricity, and submarines and refrigerators full of delicious chicken. To Locke, this is anathema. Sidenote: This "hypocrisy" bit taps into a part of Locke's personality that's been dormant for a while. At the beginning of season one, Locke's desire to be an explorer and to commune with nature was one of his essential motivations, but all the business with the hatch and the Others and Eko's death put Locke's nature-boy side on the back burner ... or so I believed. Apparently, it's still a key part of his personality. Anyway ... Ben snaps at Locke's "hypocrisy" comment. "How do you know this island better than I do?" Ben sneers. "Because you're in a wheelchair and I'm not," Locke snorts. Locke appears poised to push Ben down a flight of stairs, but fortunately for Ben all the Other bungalows have single-floor designs. More fortunate still, Alex arrives with Sayid's backpack and Locke's attention is diverted. Locke orders Alex to guide him to the submarine. He moves to leave, but Ben wants to make one last-ditch attempt to stop Operation Boom. Ben tells Locke that Jack made a deal with him, and in less than an hour Jack is going to leave the island in the submarine. The problem is, the Purple Sky incident -- Ben calls it "the anomaly" -- knocked out the Others' communication systems, so the sub cannot return. "Whether you destroy it or let it go, the end result is the same," Ben says. "No one will find this island." Locke remains unconvinced. He points Alex toward the door and the pair exit Ben's bungalow. Ben huffs then rolls toward the TV to catch the last half of a "Golden Girls" marathon. So Alex guides Locke to the shoreline and points out the submarine. Locke apologizes to Alex for involving her in his plan and with that Alex is free to go. She zips back through the trees and disappears from sight. But in an interesting twist, someone is watching from the bushes ... It's Rousseau! A single tear drips through the deep cracks in Rousseau's cheek as she realizes that her daughter is alive. But enough of this Rousseau family drama, we've got a sub to blow up! Locke goes into the sub and roots around, looking for the best place to attack its weak point for massive damage. The sub itself isn't Red October, but it's much larger than you'd expect. It's lined with beds and contains at least three compartments -- maybe more. Moments later, Locke emerges from the sub (oddly, his pants are drenched -- did he put the C4 on the outside of the sub?). He casually walks back down the dock, but his exit is blocked by the arrival of Jack, Juliet and a group of armed Others. It just so happens that Jack and Juliet were about to leave the island ... Yeah, about that. The armed Others force Locke to his knees. He looks up. "I'm sorry Jack," Locke says with faux sincerity. "Sorry for what?" Locke doesn't answer. He waits ... three ... two ... one ... BOOOOOOOOOOM! A massive fireball blows into the sky as the C4 detonates. Jack, Juliet and the Others dive for cover, but Locke stays put -- he doesn't even turn to admire his handiwork. That sub is toast. Jack glares at Locke. The problems these two had in the past don't even compare to the issues they've got now (Man of Rage, Man of Boom). Locke is brought back to the Others' compound and chained in a boiler room (apparently, "Lost" and "24" are sharing sets now). Ben is rolled into the room by Richard Alpert, but Locke isn't in the mood for Ben's nonsense. See, Locke knows Ben could have lifted the C4 from his bag, but he didn't, and that means that Ben wanted Locke to blow up the submarine. But Ben has a little twist on this argument. He rolls closer to Locke. See, Ben is a man consumed by power -- actually, check that, he's consumed by maintaining power -- and up until recently he was in a bit of a power pickle because his deal with Jack showed weakness, and weakness cuts leaders off at the knees (so to speak). On the flip side, Ben couldn't kill Jack because he gave his word and if he went back on his word that, too, would cast aspersions on his leadership. But then Locke opted to blow up the submarine and Ben's problems were eradicated in that glorious fireball. Now, Ben can keep Jack on the island without reneging on his deal. He tells Locke all this and Locke seems momentarily dazed; Locke isn't sure if he just helped or hindered his cause. Ben instructs Alpert to uncuff Locke. Since Locke has been so very helpful in keeping Ben perched on his Other throne, Ben wants to reward Locke with a little glimpse into the island's Magic Box. Alpert and Ben move out of the boiler room and guide Locke down a short, dirty hallway (it looks subterranean). Alpert unlocks a heavy metal door and cracks it open. Ben looks up at Locke. We need to pause a moment because this next bit's massive revelation is infinitely more jaw-dropping when Locke's backstory is added to the mix. So this seems like a good time to ... CUE BACKSTORY SWOOSH This episode's backstory is the most revelatory in series history because we discover -- undeniably -- the answer to one of the show's very first questions: We see how Locke ended up in the wheelchair. Here's how it plays out:
But Locke is in no mood to dredge up the past, so he tells Peter that the kidney donation was anonymous and he doesn't know Seward/Cooper at all. Peter departs and Locke continues shuffling through his pathetic little life.
Returning to the island ... Ben, Locke and Alpert are clustered outside the metal door. In the adjacent room, a Magic Box surprise awaits. "When I asked you earlier if it hurt when you suffered your injury, I think you misunderstood me," Ben says, rubbing his hands in anticipation. "I really wasn't asking about the physical pain ..." Locke looks down. "I wanted to know what it felt like when your own father tried to kill you." Locke's eyebrows pop. How does Ben know this stuff? Ben keeps pounding. He concludes that Locke is afraid of his father ... and this island is the one place in the world where Cooper can never find him. That's why he doesn't want to leave. That's why he destroyed the sub. Locke tries to shake off Ben's psycho babble. It stings. Ben is entranced by the web he's weaving; he can't stop pushing. He narrows his eyes. "I don't know how it happened, but you seem to have some communion with this island, John, and that makes you very, very important ... I want to help you." "Why?" Locke asks. "Because I'm in a wheelchair, and you're not," Ben says, his eyes bulging to bug-like proportions. Ben looks toward the metal door. Locke slowly pushes it open. The door swings ... Locke looks inside ... No friggin way. There's just no way. "Dad?" Locke sputters. Cooper is in the room, bound and gagged and beaten! The Magic Box produced COOPER! Wha wha wha?! And that's when it ends!
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Point 2
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About half-way through this episode, Jack and Kate share a quiet moment that's supposed to be revelatory, but I really don't get it at all -- I simply don't understand the motivations of these characters.
Anyway, here's how it goes down. After being discovered in Jack's apartment, Kate is shackled and tossed into the Others' pool hall (yes, they have one). Kate's biggest fan -- Tom -- stops by to visit and he brings Jack with him. Oddly, Tom seems to be helping Jack -- he points toward the ceiling of the pool hall and tells Jack to be careful about what he says because someone is undoubtedly watching and listening. So, Tom departs and Jack and Kate are left to talk. The pair do their customary talking without saying anything nonsense. There's lots of "are you hurt?" "no" "are you hurt?" "no," but what they're really saying is "can we disable that camera and go at it like bunnies on this pool table?" Or something like that. Anyway, Kate asks a few questions, such as:
See what I mean? The entire scene plays out like this. Kate moves toward Jack and touches his hand and the two get all close and intimate. Jack tells Kate he made a deal and he's going home first thing in the morning (this all happens before Locke stages his submarine demolition). Kate is clearly hurt -- she had dreams of raising a family of wee doctors and fugitives in a bright oceanside bungalow. Jack claims this is their best chance for rescue; he'll bring back help. And this is when Kate asks Jack why he trusts the Others. Why does he believe they'll let him go? "I trust them because you told me to, Kate," Jack spurts. "When you asked me to save Sawyer's life." "What did they tell you?" Kate asks. The question remains unanswered because Juliet appears at the door and tells Jack they need to go. "And don't get too close to that con man's chick ... we're running low on penicillin" Jack nuzzles next to Kate and whispers in her ear. "I will come back for you," he says. And with that, he leaves ... and I grow more confused by the second. So let me see if I've got this straight: Jack developed "trust" for the Others when Kate asked him to save Sawyer? I assume he's referring to the brief exchange they had in "I Do." In that scene, Kate told Jack that if he successfully operated on Ben, Juliet promised to let them all go. So, are we to assume that this conversation cast the die? Was this the motivation for Jack's operating room double-cross? But here's the thing: It seems that Jack's real motivation came when he saw Sawyer and Kate in flagrante delicto over the security camera. Kate doesn't realize that Jack knows about her dirty deed, but Jack appears to be using that as a deal-breaker. Since Kate is now with Sawyer (so he believes), he's willing to leave the island. Is that right? I dunno. I still don't get it. If anyone can connect the dots, please do so in the comments area.
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Point 3
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Poor Sayid. He has one minute of total screen time in this episode, and much of it happens while he's tied to a swingset.
Anyway, the big Sayid moment comes when Alex appears to retrieve the backpack with Locke's stolen C4. Sayid immediately realizes that Alex is Rousseau's daughter and, in a refreshing twist, a "Lost" character finally does more than look incredulously at another character. "You're Alex, aren't you?" Sayid asks. Alex turns and asks how he knows her name. "Because you look like your mother," he says (FINALLY). "My mother is dead," Alex says flatly. "I'm sure that's what they told you," Sayid says quietly. "And after you meet her, you'll wish you were dead because, good lord, that woman is ripe." Alex walks off and Sayid receives a swift punch in the gut from his Other security guard. And that's that.
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Point 4
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A few closing questions and observations:
That's all I've got! Be sure to drop by our "Lost" Forum for stimulating conversation and conjecture. |
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Next Episode:
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| "Expose" -- The truth behind Sun's season two abduction comes out. Elsewhere, Paulikki get their own backstory. Airs Wednesday, Mar. 28, 2007 at 10 p.m. on ABC. | |
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Review by Mac Slocum. All photos and episode descriptions © ABC Inc. |
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Posted by Mac on March 22, 2007 12:34 PM | Email This
Great review Mac... loved the episode!
→ 2. Posted by: LostFanInPR at March 22, 2007 12:38 PMokay. so we learn during the episode that locke breaks his back, and that his dad is an evil biotch, but i never expected him to PUSH HIS SON OUT THE WINDOW!!! I couldn't believe it!
But at the end when Daddy Locke shows up in the holding area, was incredible. Does this mean that the mysterious box of glory does exist? Or maybe they brought him in on the sub...which doesnt work.
Anyway i think Locke is gonna pull a Sayid and torture his dad until he says hes sorry. Then Locke will give him his other kidney.
And did anyone else realize that Ben and Locke are so similar, they could be best friends. Maybe it will happen...
anyway those are my thoughts!! great episode!
→ 3. Posted by: nina at March 22, 2007 12:42 PMAwesome!. Up while it's still lunch time.
→ 4. Posted by: Cecil Rose at March 22, 2007 12:43 PMHey Mac,
Looking forward to your recap - just wanted to put in my 2 cents. If last night's episode doesn't prove to the naysayers that the show is finally back on track and as bada$$ as ever then nothing will.
Loved the ep, now on to reading the recap.
→ 5. Posted by: Mr. Grimm at March 22, 2007 12:52 PMOn a personal note....all of these overt references to Tallahassee are about to drive this UF Gator to the brink! Honestly, of all places to imortalize. Puhleez.
→ 6. Posted by: GatorGal at March 22, 2007 12:53 PMdoes anyone know what time of Locke's life it was when he was holding up the undercover cop in the pot farm? remember "I'm a hunter"?? I'm having trouble fitting that part into the timelline.
→ 7. Posted by: nina at March 22, 2007 12:54 PMYou rock, Mac!!! That was great.
→ 8. Posted by: kittikat at March 22, 2007 12:54 PMGRAA, Mac.
Wow! I did not see that coming. When Ben led John to the door, I said to myself, Self (cuz that's what I call me) there's no way they're going to let us see what's in there. And even if they do let us see what's in there, it couldn't possibly be truly worthwhile. But Locke's dad? Holy (with all due respect to Frank Barone) Crap! Talk about your Daddy Issues…yeah, I guess I'd be a mite tiffed if my daddy had pushed me out an eight-story window.
Methinks Ben's armor is beginning to chink…first he allows Juliet to lead the book club with a discussion of a (gasp) Stephen King novel, then he gets himself captured (on purpose or otherwise) and shot and ass-whupped, then he has to promise to let Jack and Juliet leave if they fix his tumor, and now he's in a wheelchair and his daughter has a gun to her head…his "daughter" who he had told Mommy Dearest had slipped the mortal coil only to find out from a cuffed and sweaty Republican Guard that Mummy may not be quite as deceased as previously thought, and now his submarine has a bloody great hole in it. Great gosh a-mighty…Ben's starting to look like Charlie Brown trying to kick a football.
→ 9. Posted by: ransomjackson at March 22, 2007 12:55 PMas soon as ben said "did it hurt?" i felt that anthony cooper was involved, though i dont believe its a magic box that makes whatever you want appear
→ 10. Posted by: daniel at March 22, 2007 1:04 PMIt might of just been me, but wasn't the song that Jack was playing on the piano the music LOST tends to use at the end of episode. When they do those montages. I have listened to is 3 times and it sounds really close. Anyone else think the same? Not that it is really important, but kinda interesting.
→ 11. Posted by: Jon is FOUND at March 22, 2007 1:05 PMSorry, I don't get this episode. The Sayid/Locke/Kate rescue party had all the grace of a bull elephant in a china factory. I agree with Mac, Jack is leaving in a love torn hissy fit.
I knew Locke's dad was going to be in the box the moment Locke was led to it. And while I am at it, a "magic box"? I think the shows writers must be seriously asking themselves how long they can string this out before the whole thing appears overly contrived. By the way, I love the way Locke's dad was able to stop himself from crashing through the window. And if Jack & Juliet were leaving who was going to pilot the sub? Regardless, you have to love actor who plays Ben. Great work dude.
I think Locke's dad is "The Man From Tallahassee", and I believe that he's been on the island for a while now. Maybe that is where he disappered to. Mr. Alpert asks what they need him for, as if he has been there a long time, and that he was thought to be useless. I think that they just dressed daddy-dearest up to look like he was beaten and new on the island. That, OR . . . what if "smokey" is portraying his daddy? We know he can change his shape to appear as people (Eko's bro).
→ 13. Posted by: Adam at March 22, 2007 1:09 PMHere's a theory: What if "the man from Talahassee" is SMOKEY?
In other words, maybe the Others have an actual shape-changer, who can appear to be anyone, and also read minds. And they call him "the man from Talahassee".
So then, Ben told Richard to put Smokey in the box, after Locke left w/ Alex. I'm assuming - as Mac seems to agree - that the 'Magic Box' is most likely a Ben con. (Like the Pacemaker Rabbit!)
Anyway, I see three possibilities:
(1) Cooper appears in the magic box b/c Locke wished it.
(2) Cooper somehow came to the Island and got trapped by the Others.
(3) Cooper isn't really Cooper!
Which is more likely? Actually, what makes this a great show is that ANY of these may be likely! (But I'm rooting for #3!)
→ 14. Posted by: Herobill at March 22, 2007 1:10 PM@Adam: You might be on to something there with the Smokey connection. *If* Smokey was able to take the form of Eko's brother, Yemi, it happened *after* Smokey read Eko.
Smokey also read Locke, so it's quite possible that Cooper is a similar manifestation. -- mac
→ 15. Posted by: mac at March 22, 2007 1:11 PMSolid all around.
The first thing I noticed, which I will have to confirm, was when we saw Jack at the beginning of the ep frolicking. When he went over to shake Ben's hand, it looked as if there was a large tattoo on his left arm, inside the elbow. I immediately said, CLONE! But the rest of the ep ended up with me thinking I just saw a shadow. But Jack was a little off from the normal doc we know. Any thoughts?
→ 16. Posted by: Red...Neck...Man at March 22, 2007 1:12 PMWonder if the box is the reason why the Others are willing to die without putting up a fight. Maybe someone can bring them back!?!
The producers have said that Jack's dad is dead but what if Jack brings him back? Didn't they also say that since someone is dead, they are not gone? We assume they'll appear in flashbacks but maybe they can be brought back.
Maybe not...just wondering.
Great recap! Great show!
@Red...Neck...Man: You definitely saw a tatoo. I checked it a couple times and it's there -- on the underside of his left arm. -- mac
→ 18. Posted by: mac at March 22, 2007 1:14 PMWas Locke the guy falling out the window when Hurley was in the office of his financial manager in season 1????
→ 19. Posted by: Mary at March 22, 2007 1:14 PMI don't know how I feel about Cooper being on the Island. It feels too convenient. How are they going to explain it? He just appeared out of a magic box? puh-lease. One thing I have always clung to is the fact that the producers have said that everything is scientifically explainable, but how do you explain a magic box that spits out cast-away's evil parents?
If the explanation of this phenomena is decent, than I will accept it for what it is, an interesting plot twist that helps make the back-stories relavent (Haven't fans been complaining about this for ages as well?). If there is no forthcoming explanation of the magic box, I think I'm going to be a little miffed. They might as well strap some water skis to Ben's wheel chair and have him lasso the Dharma Shark to go for a ride!
That being said! I thought the rest of the episode was pretty fantastic (and the Cooper revalation could be as well, it all depends on how they explain the box!). I was glad Sayid made the first step in connecting Rousseau and Alex, I liked the exchanges between Locke and Ben, I liked that they showed Richard Alpert being on the island.
I thought the exchange between Jack and Kate was odd, they never just say what they mean, you know?
I did like that he said that he was going to come back for her though, that was sweet.
But now what? Ben doesn't have to let Sayid and Kate go, becuase he only promised he would when Jack got off the island. Where does this leave Jack now? Will he be a prisoner as well, or will he be "one of them"?
Why did Jack say that the children and the others who were taken were "Safe"? What does that even mean? That was the same thing Goodwin had said. Is he just not "allowed" to reveal what is going on, and since he knows they are being reconded, trying not to get himself in trouble by revealing too much info?
I don't know, folks, but I am itching for next week's episode!
→ 20. Posted by: sarah c at March 22, 2007 1:15 PMI think the "Magic Box" was just a metaphor for the Submarine, I beleive that Cooper was bought to the island when Ben realized that Cooper (Lockes dad) was Sawyer (the man Sawyer has been tracking.)
→ 21. Posted by: sky at March 22, 2007 1:15 PMWhat a fun episode this was....there was a lot to digest on this one. Yeah, the whole Jack and Kate dynamic was a little strange and I'm not sure where that is leading.
Ben; don't you just hate the guy? I sure do. And poor Locke....after yet another sabotage stunt, he's either going to get his @ss kicked very soon by one of the Losties or have to redeem himself somehow in a major way. But first, he obviously has to deal with Dad.
Another aspect I liked of this episode was that we finally get to see the Losties getting under the others' skins. Notably, some of Locke's comments to Ben and Sayid's exchange with Alex. Oh yes...the tables are turning.
Mac, as always..thanks...you get better with each one!
→ 22. Posted by: petew at March 22, 2007 1:17 PM@mac - Does it mean anything? Does Matthew Fox have a real tattoo there and it's just bad camera work? Was he branded? Also, usually you can see his shoulder tattoo peaking out under his t-shirt. Didn't see that either. That bothered me all episode.
→ 23. Posted by: Red...Neck...Man at March 22, 2007 1:19 PMI personally think Rousseau knew Ben was the leader of the others when she captured him in her net, and that she need the castaways to help her track down her daughter since she could not do it herself for whatever reason.
→ 24. Posted by: Joe at March 22, 2007 1:22 PMAnother great exchange in this episode:
Locke: "Was that some code?"
Ben: "No John, we don't have a code for a man is holding my daughter in the closet with a gun to her head. But maybe we should." (not verbatim, sorry)
I agree Mac, the hamster comment was hysterical. More likley two polar bears. :)
Anybody else read flan o'briens "the third policeman"? It was one of the books desmond grabbed when fleeing the hatch. There could be a catch to this magic box.
→ 26. Posted by: robot by the river at March 22, 2007 1:25 PMI had a problem with the lack of reaction from Alex when Syid tells her about her mom. No disbelief, no look of hope, nothing, and no questions for dear old dad. La la la, let me just lead big bad Locke straight to the sub and stroll back home.
→ 27. Posted by: ej at March 22, 2007 1:30 PMGreat review Mac…thanks again for your humor and insight. I really felt like Ben was channeling your mojo when he made the comment to Locke about Bensylvania being powered by two giant hamsters!
Speaking of mojo, Lost certainly does have it back!!! Awesome episode. Terry O’Quinn and Michael Emerson (Locke and Ben) both deserve Emmys for their performances. Simply stellar acting.
I’m totally eating crow about Locke. I’ve said previously that though he wants to stay on the island he would never sabotage his fellow Losties’ chances to leave. I was WRONG! Knowing that Jack was about to leave on the sub he still had no problem blowing it up. So maybe he really did purposely turn the Flame into the Cinder! And now it’s ironic that he’s stuck on the island with his own daddy dearest! Can’t wait to see how that plays out. Jack is going to want to kill Locke now...should be some great and very tense scenes in the future.
I really do want a plausible explanation for how Locke's father got on the island. Whether it means an explanation of the magic box or some other way we need to know soon.
I also can’t wait for next week’s Nikki-Paolo-centric episode. You know, the one that makes them become our favorite Lost characters!
I don't think that it was necessarily Locke's father in the box. Earlier in the episode, Ben stated that you can see anything you imagine in the box. I believe that's why Ben made Locke talk about his dad immediately before opening the door. Just a possibility....
→ 29. Posted by: Carl at March 22, 2007 1:32 PMej,
Maybe Alex knows that if she brings up "mommy" now, Sayid could get beatin' badly. It may take some time for it to sink in. If someone you loved always told you one thing and a stranger says another, I could see ignoring it at first. I bet it will bother her until she asks him.
→ 30. Posted by: MrEko237 at March 22, 2007 1:36 PMMac,
Great review! If I didn't know better, I could've sworn that you consulted in the writing of this episode. Seriously, between the plot line and the witty conversations, I could've sworrn it had your finger prints all over it.
I don't think Cooper is the man from Tallahassee. That's too obvious for Lost standards. Wouldn't be suprised if it turns out to be the yet unknown Jake or might have something to do with Sawyer. Remember Sawyers comment, "I spent some time in Tallahassee and lets just say the sun wasn't the only thing burning."
As far as the birth right thing goes, it would make sense as to why Alex hasn't been branded, vanished, or killed yet. She was born on the island but despite all the times she has refused or violated orders, she seems to be left alone and continues to be trusted. Definately think it has something to do with being born on the island.
→ 31. Posted by: Sam at March 22, 2007 1:37 PMDoes anyone know why Locke was dripping wet when the sub blew up? He wouldn't have to get out of the sub to plant the C4...
→ 32. Posted by: Ryan at March 22, 2007 1:38 PMej,
Maybe Alex knows that if she brings up "mommy" now, Sayid could get beatin' badly. It may take some time for it to sink in. If someone you loved always told you one thing and a stranger says another, I could see ignoring it at first. I bet it will bother her until she asks him.
→ 33. Posted by: MrEko237 at March 22, 2007 1:38 PMMAC - Awesome recap. Much like the show your recaps are in top form again.
One point you left out - probably on purpose - was when Jack and Juliet went to see Ben for the "one last favor". Ben made it perfectly clear that yes he would release Jack's friends - as soon as he left the island. This scene only confirms how evil Ben can be, and how good he is at being evil. He already knew that Locke was gonna make the sub go boom. Now he doesn't have to release John, Sayid, or Kate and he won't be breaking his word to Jack. Technically if Jack is still on the island then he doesn't have to release anyone.
Then there is the scene where Alex tries to warn Locke that he's playing right into Ben's hands. That Ben manipulates people, "That's what he does, he gets you to think it was your idea from the start". Smart girl, but John being John couldn't hear anything past his immediate desire.
Oh well.
→ 34. Posted by: Mr. Grimm at March 22, 2007 1:38 PMYou know, how old do you think Ben really is. Is it possible that being a "product" of the island, assuming that he is the result of a Dharma project, makes his physically developmental age accellerated. No even sure that matters but his mannerisms are sometimes childlike.
I guess we have to assume that Lockes dad was brought to the island before the anomoly. It seems that we have only touched the surface of Lockes importance to the others not to mention the "Big Cheese" we haven't met yet.
Very Interesting.
→ 35. Posted by: SF at March 22, 2007 1:40 PMAwesome. I could see stuff coming from a mile away ("don't go near the window, Locke!") but still, great episode. Leave it to Locke to get this show back on track.
My only question is, why did Jack suddenly turn into a sell-out bee-atch?
→ 36. Posted by: Rob at March 22, 2007 1:41 PMdoes anyone know what time in Locke's life it was when he was on the mj farm??
→ 37. Posted by: nina at March 22, 2007 1:46 PM@Mac - loved the "supple young boar" comments - LOL
Since this is an ABC show and ABC is owned by Disney, do you think the sub was an old sub from the now defunct 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride? ;oD
When is Randolph Mantooth gonna show up to save his old partner from "Emergency!"? :D
→ 38. Posted by: Connie at March 22, 2007 1:46 PMI believe when they showed Locke soaking wet, it was after the sub exploded. I'm sure when that happened it caused quite a splash.
→ 39. Posted by: bt at March 22, 2007 1:49 PM@Adam
I was thinking that too, the magic box has to be smokey, its the most logical of all... if logical can be said about LOST.
Smokey is the box and it can transform into anything.. sidenote: remeber the backwards talking Walt in season two? maybe that was Smokey.
Its due time that Smokey makes another appearance, in its normal form
→ 40. Posted by: sierramark at March 22, 2007 1:49 PMBen knows that the Losties have been to the communications HQ, and that they met Mikhail. Yet Ben does not ask about Mikhail or Ms. Klugh. Does he fear the worst? Ben never asks how they got into the compound... wouldn't he be curious? They are all walking around just fine, brains intact and all.
I like Carl's comment about how Cooper was the last thing Locke was thinking about when he looked in the room, and there's Cooper. If Locke had been thinking about Donuts, would the room have been full of donuts?
I also like the idea that what we saw as Cooper is really Smokey taking a new form. But following that train of thought, so far we've only seen Smokey take the form of people who were dead on the island (Yemi and Christian), so could that mean that Cooper really had been on the island at some point, but is now dead?
Is the Room we saw, the "Box" that Ben was talking about, or is the Box somehwere else, and the room is just where they are keeping what popped out of it?
→ 41. Posted by: sarah c at March 22, 2007 1:50 PM@Adam
I was thinking that too, the magic box has to be smokey, its the most logical of all... if logical can be said about LOST.
Smokey is the box and it can transform into anything.. sidenote: remeber the backwards talking Walt in season two? maybe that was Smokey.
Its due time that Smokey makes another appearance, in its normal form
→ 42. Posted by: sierramark at March 22, 2007 1:50 PM@ Mary--Locke falling out the window past Hurley is just pricesless. I never put that together. Need to watch that epi again and see if it is Locke.
The magic box is interesting, but we'll have to wait and see how it pans out. I knew Locke wanted to blow up the sub the moment he told Ben he was not 'here for Jack.'
GRAA, mac. Keep up the good work. The hamster line was almost as good as "That's a helluva Jesus." I do want to know how the EMP did not cripple the sub, power generation, etc. I only knocked out communication. hmmm...
→ 43. Posted by: onelostdude at March 22, 2007 1:50 PMI forgot to mention this in the review, but Locke's swan dive was on par with the classic "Helen-Hunt-Drug-Freak-Out" from "Desperate Lives." -- mac
→ 44. Posted by: mac at March 22, 2007 1:52 PM@bt:
Locke was wet before the sub exploded. For some reason he swam off the sub instead of walking the pier. It's possible that he placed the C4 on the outside of the submarine, close to where he thought the fuel tank would be.
→ 45. Posted by: Mr. Grimm at March 22, 2007 1:55 PMHere's my take on the "magic box".
The magic box is the smoke monster, and the Others's don't control it. It's a part of the island that they discovered, and sometimes it's useful to them, but ultimately they can't make it do whatever they want it to do.
It can appear as anything the viewer imagines/desires.(?)fears...
o Kate's horse
o Sawyer's boar
o Jack's dad
o Hurley's friend
o Claire's Walt
o Eko's brother
o Desmond's visions?
o the whispers?
o whatever makes the island invisible
to the rest of the world?
o LOCKE'S DAD
OK, if so, then almost all the puzzles of the island reduce to "What the heck is the Smoke Monster?"
The writers have said that no magic, supernatural, religious, or alien/UFO explanations are involved.
However, remember Clarke's Third Law:
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
-------------------------------------
A few more questions:
Why was it necesary to use a submarine, rather than a surface vessel to reach the island? (Maybe because there's something you're not supposed to see as you approach it.)
Why was/is a beacon necesary for the sub to find the island? Normal submarines are quite capable of navigating without them.
If so, how was the island discovered in the first place, before the beacon was placed there?
As to why Ben doesn't want anybody to leave, and Locke also seems to want to prevent anyone from leaving, maybe they both realize that if the outside world ever discovers the island, everything that is special about it will be ruined - maybe the island is fragile in some sense we don't yet understand.
Welcome back Locke the mystic!
-------------------------------------
Other extraneous issues.
I don't think Locke was the person falling past the window when Hurly was at his accountant's office. Locke's dad was in a residential building or
hotel, which don't often mix with office space, plus the times don't seem to work out.
If, like my wife, you said "That's why I don't like being in high-rises with glass sides", let me assure you that in the real world, Locke's back might have been broken hitting the window, but not the ground. That structural glass is incredibly tough.
Good Luck, and Namaste!
You skipped over what was a poignant moment in the episode - Locke's physical therapist comes into his room and wants to put Locke in his wheelchair, but Locke says he can't. The therapist says "John, you fell 8 stories and survived. I don't want to hear about what you can't do". When Locke goes to the wheelchair, I think he's crying because of his brush-with-death revelation. And this is also, presumably, the origin of Locke's "Don't tell me what I can't do!" motif.
→ 47. Posted by: Phil at March 22, 2007 2:08 PMMac, what an excitement it is when your review pops up the day after LOST!
@ Mary -- Wow! Locke falling during Hurley's flashback??!! Cool.
Last night ...
Did I hear Locke's dialogue incorrectly? I thought, when he was talking to Ben about the C4, that he said something like, "you put the C4 in my pack for Sayid to discover." Am I on crack? Or did he not say something like that?
I love the Alex set-up with Sayid's few but well-chosen words. Alex reacted the way she did because it probably never entered her head to believe that her mother was *not* dead.
"The Man from Tallahassee" (TMFT) ... hmmm. I'm going to keep it simple and assume the easiest answer: When Ben said to bring "TMFT", he meant Cooper (Locke's dad). That's why, at the end of the episode, Cooper was perfectly placed inside the room for the reveal.
As to why they would call Cooper "TMFT" ... I don't get it. I probably believe what I've read on other boards that Sawyer/Kate/Cooper probably have a flashback in common that we have not seen yet.
Now, as for the whole "magic box" concept....
(1) Why are you people believing what Ben is saying ???!!
(2) I don't think Cooper literally sprung from the box. Nor do I think the room that he is in is the box.
(3) Other than that ... I really don't know. But I am VERY CURIOUS to see where they're going with this!
Kate and Jack's scene touched me immensely. I guess I didn't pay that much attention to the dialogue, LOL. I wish we had a TRANSCRIPT of it. To me, the gist of the scene was that Kate sort-of asked Jack about the whole Sawyer sex thing, but Jack was obtuse with his answer.
Again, I am going to assume that there's some other strategic things going on with Jack. Although ... it was pretty clear in the 6-episode arc that Jack adamantly asserted that he wanted off the island *after* he saw Sawyer and Kate in their post-sex position.
Could Jack's motivation to get off the island now simply be jealousy and disappointment that Kate hooked up with Sawyer ????
Finally, [please don't hate me for this one] I cringe when anyone mentions "clones". I really don't think that's what's going on. And I don't think that's the way the writers are going with this show. Plus, it's too easy of a plot-device. I think the writers are smarter than that.
Oh yeah ... Terry O'Quinn was brilliant in this episode. Emmy, anyone??
→ 48. Posted by: Matt at March 22, 2007 2:09 PMDon't take the box idea too literally. If they had a real box that produced anything they wished for, why would they be eating Dharma brand imitation Frosted Flakes (with twice the fiber and half the sugar)? Who would be wishing for Dharma Frosted Flakes? Tom?
→ 49. Posted by: jiggy at March 22, 2007 2:09 PMre: Jack's Tatoo
He's always had a tatoo on the inside of his left arm, all the way back to season one.
re: The Magic Box
I don't think Ben's Talking about a box litereally, but the island figuratively. Ben wished for a spine surgeon and one fell out the sky.
Cooper falling off the grid after going to Mexico could just mean he finally got conned himself and ended up on Dharma World with a much better conman in charge.
→ 50. Posted by: Josh at March 22, 2007 2:10 PMI am liking what I am reading (as well as what I was watching last night...) here in LOSTland....the smoke monster as Locke's dad (and Eko's brother, and Jack's dad, and Hurley's friend, and Kate's horse (well, maybe...)...). I think that is one darn good theory...As is the clone of Jack theory...
Who is Benry really playing in all of this? In one breath, he goes from telling Locke that the sub is an "illusion," there to make his people believe they can leave at any time to explaining he made a deal to allow Jack to go home using said sub...so which is the lie? The one to Locke or the one to Jack? Both? Neither? I guess it doesn't matter now, as Benry so politely thanked Locke for helping him with...
I noticed the rum Cooper poured was the same kind Desmond's future father in law was drinking...as were Des and Charlie and Hurley...
I thought Jack's new tattoo looked like a heart with wings...
I do find it hard to believe that Sayid and Kate and Locke could scamper across the grounds of Losteria Lane unnoticed, but as soon as they went inside somewhere, there were cameras to catch them. Why no such security to watch the outside? Why only the inside? Why weren't there cameras in Ben's room/house? How did no one else know Locke was in there?
WGNABB...that's for sure!
→ 51. Posted by: Vikki at March 22, 2007 2:10 PMYou would want to place the explosives on the outside hull of the sub. You get much more bang for the buck, that way, because the water tamps the explosive force and concentrates it toward the sub.
For the same reason, the RAF's 699 squadron in WW II developed techniques to skip-drop bombs that would then sink in the water on the upstream side of the Ruhr dams. The explosives broke the dams open, whereas the same amount of explosive on the air side of the dam would have just scratched the concrete.
→ 52. Posted by: Cecil Rose at March 22, 2007 2:11 PM@Jiggy
Although completely irrelevant, that was an excellent & thought out post. Touche.
→ 53. Posted by: Sillygirl0630 at March 22, 2007 2:14 PM@Red...Neck...Man - Matthew has a lot of tattoos that have to be covered for the show. I'm assuming that they didn't know that one would be visible for the scene and didn't take the tons of time to cover it.
Knowing Lost fans and the show's usual attention to detail, I'm a little surprised by that.
→ 54. Posted by: HyperJen at March 22, 2007 2:14 PMExcellent point Sky on the possible Cooper/Sawyer connection!
→ 55. Posted by: gables79 at March 22, 2007 2:16 PMWhat happens to Locke's ability walk if he kills Cooper?
Will the Island punish him the way that it punished Eko?
→ 56. Posted by: dave at March 22, 2007 2:17 PMNow *this* is the show that I thought this show was going to be before it quit being the show it was!
I don't see the profit in straining for workarounds to Ben's 'magic box' monologue. Ben's modus operandi is to allways tell the truth. It's just that his manner of truthiness is often 'misunderstood', likely as Alex tells/warns us, because he deliberately intends it so.
The magic box talk is just metaphor for a phenomenon that Locke has already discovered: if you want something bad enough, and you focus on that desire, the Island will provide. Locke demonstrated/taught that secret to Charlie when Charlie 'found' his guitar. The hint/foreshadowing of this phenomenon has been with us from episode 2, when it appeared a polar bear had been conjured from Walt's imagination. Be careful what you wish for little lostie, or the Island will surely provide it.
Let's run with this as a true proposition for a moment. The Man From Tallahassee (TMFT) showed up to *Ben*, not Locke, and he arrived at the Barracks before Locke did. I seriously doubt that TMFT is *Locke's* wish fulfillment. It logically follows that it's *Ben's* wish fulfillment, just as a surgeon 'falling from the sky' represented wish/need fulfillment to Ben. Ben realizes that TMFT isn't here because he's what Locke needs/wants, but because he's what Ben needs/wants. That's not what he's going to lead Locke to believe though.
Interestingly, though, it appears that Ben genuinely has no clue how he's supposed to leverage this gift from the Island into what he really wants. But the apparent implication is that what Ben needs/wants is, ultimately, something Locke needs to provide. This power that Locke holds over Ben is underscored by the repeated observation about who is in a wheelchair and who is not.
Anyway, that's my theory and I'm sticking to it.
This show has picked up some ferocious momentum the last couple of weeks. Good times. Good times.
→ 57. Posted by: Deep Cover at March 22, 2007 2:19 PMThis might be nothing, but in the scene where Locke is talking to Peter Talbott you can hear a car alarm going off outside. Maybe that was just to imply that Locke was living in a bad area, but could it have been a reference to something that happened in another back story? Maybe not, but it seemed kinda prominent to me.
→ 58. Posted by: mturczyn at March 22, 2007 2:22 PMBen must have found Locke's dad and brought him to the island after he escaped from the hatch. He had wanted to meet Locke ("I came for you") because he wanted to check out Locke's connection with the island even way back then. Since then it's only been a matter of waiting until after his back was operated on to finish his business with Locke. It would be a real loss of power if Locke proved to have a better connection with the island than Born-on-the-island Ben and Ben knows this. The reference to the "magic box" was only a metaphor Ben used to pique Locke's interest and keep him manipulatable and in Ben's game. Ben is one smart and evil cookie. Ben will keep Locke's dad hanging over Locke's head to get what he wants even though Locke's island connection gives him the upper hand (although he may not know this)
Since I have always believed there are 3 groups on the island (losties, dharma leftovers and hostiles) here is my theory about the smoke monster/island connection: This "island connection" is probably what gave the dirty caveman-like hostiles the upper hand over the original high-tech Dharma people and why they won against them and forced them to live in a fenced in part of the island. When the Dharma drones went out of their "safe area" and met up with the Losties they dressed as hostiles so the Losties would blame the hostiles for the kidnappings and killings and such. But I do wonder if the hostiles carry some diseasee that threatens Ben's group as all the hatches had quaratine signs on them. Since they innoculated Claire's baby with something (in uteero) maybe this disease kills young chidren and makes women infertile? Or the disease (experiment gone awry) turns you into a hostile and that's where they came from
Any thoughts?
@DC: two things:
1. Nice use of "truthiness" Stephen Colbert would be proud ;)
2. You're right about the momentum. The last three episodes have really kicked it into gear.
→ 60. Posted by: mac at March 22, 2007 2:30 PMI caought the following refrences to the numbers in this fantastic episode...
- Locke fell EIGHT floors.
- There were FOUR stones (or something!) lined up on top of the piano that Jack was playing
Again, for the record, I think there is a serious DADDY ISSUES theme going on here. Think about it...every character we know about has 'em:
Locke (his tried to murder him after stealing an organ!)
Sawyer (his was a conman who killed his mom)
Jack (his was a cad, a drunk and an overbearing jerk)
Claire (hers was nonexistent in her life and then pops in and tries to get her to pull the plug on her mother)
Kate (hers was a drunk and leach who abused her mother)
Walt (his was uninvolved, althoguh this was not on purpose, per se. Still they did not have a relationship until the crash)
Shannon (hers died and left her evil step-monster in charge; no one to take care of poor Shannon)
Hurley (his left him one day and only came back when he learned his son was a millionaire)
Sun (hers is a controlling underworld typrant who does bad things to people)
That leaves us with:
Sayid
Charlie (can anyone weigh in on daddy issues here?)
Jin (any issues with his fisherman dad?)
In the first episode of Season 3, we see Otherville for the first time. I might be wrong, but when the camera zoomed out, wasn't their camp in the middle of the jungle, surrounded by trees? If that's the case, how do they have a submarine (and a dock) within walking distance? Those two scenes don't match up. Leads me to believe the writers either don't do their homework or hope we don't catch things... Just a thought.
→ 62. Posted by: Charles at March 22, 2007 2:37 PMThe others dont need the submarine to
come and go, they have the bigger boat
available unless Locke finds it. Jack
also knows about this boat as he was ferried w/the others from the work island not long ago. Makes you wonder how far Mike and Walt got in the Others smaller boat last season and where they wound up. I also dont believe Ben is stuck in his wheelchair, he's a bug-eyed lying lier that lies.
@ Mary, Locke falling from the sky: Great theory, but it was not him. I had to think about this for a while. I do like the theory though. Hurley had only been a multi-millionaire for a short time (months?) when he came to the island. Locke was in the wheelchair for four years. The timelines don't match up. Great theory, but, this myth is BUSTED!
→ 64. Posted by: onelostdude at March 22, 2007 2:46 PM@Vikki:
I though the same thing about why no security to watch the perimeter. But it kind of makes sense.If you had a "Sonic Death Fence", would you really think it necessary to put up cameras as well. Also, no camera in Ben's room because he's the leader and there's no need to monitor him, security wise. The camera in Jack's house was to keep an eye on him. He was still a prisoner, just on a longer invisible leash.
That's just my take on it though.
→ 65. Posted by: Mr. Grimm at March 22, 2007 2:46 PM@MrG: Since there are cameras in the rec room (and a lot of other places), I'd say that everyone is a prisoner, to a greater or lesser degree. I continue to think that the idea that the sonic death fence is primarily for keeping people *in*, not out, is going to be proved correct.
→ 66. Posted by: Deep Cover at March 22, 2007 2:50 PMThe Daddy issues thing has shown up so many times, but regarding Gator Gal's Post, Jin denied his father, told Mr. Paik he was dead. He was deeply ashamed of him. As far as I remember, we never met Sayid's Dad, but when Kelvin showed Sayid a video of the Republican Guard destroying a small town, didn't he say Sayid had family there? Did Sayid's army kill his father? (and does Sayif feel some responsibility for that? This is a stretch, I know : ) Regarding Charlie, we only met his Dad in a dream/flashback, he was a butcher, we never saw his face, but he was slicing the heads off dolls (serious Daddy issues, if you ask me) and the gist I got from other Charlie Flashbacks was that the Father wanted Charlie and Liam to become butchers as well, and not waste their time on music. Also, Sawyer's Dad was NOT a conman, he was Conned by the original Sawyer (Cooper?) and killed himself and his wife because of it.
Just wanted to add my two cents!
TYVM, Mac :-) Don't you think Ben and Colbert have a lot in common, when you think about it? Fanatical devotion to a cause, a willingness to elevate 'truth' above facts, an obsessive fear and loathing of bears . . . it's all there.
→ 68. Posted by: Deep Cover at March 22, 2007 2:55 PMJoão Mealha from Portugal here.
Just wanted to say this is THE BEST place to go after watching a new Lost episode.
I love Lost and I love your work Mac!
→ 69. Posted by: JoaoMealha at March 22, 2007 2:57 PMI'm glad to see that someone else picked up on the conman reference that Cooper made. Seriously - how many conmen can one show have? I think that Cooper is the one to blame for Sawyer's dear old daddy killing himself and his wife when Sawyer was killed. Further wish fulfillment anyone?
→ 70. Posted by: irish76 at March 22, 2007 2:59 PM@Gatorgal:
Good catch on the characters having Daddy issues. One misstep though - Sawyers dad wasn't a conman, his wife was conned by a conman and their life savings were gone. That's why Sawyer's dad lost it killed her before killing himself.
But dead on on them all having Daddy issues. Locke's got the mother of all daddy issues.
→ 71. Posted by: Mr. Grimm at March 22, 2007 3:00 PM@mturczyn -- yes, I remember hearing the car alarm during that scene and thinking, "What a strange sound cue. Could they be planting something for later?"
@Deep Cover -- All good points, for sure.
ONe more small detail from last night: During the Locke flashback I noticed the television news was playing a story. Again, I thought "What an interesting sound cue". I looked it up on Lostpedia and they said the news story was about "a Bolivian gold deposit" being stolen the evening before.
Finally, I watched the Locke/Ben scene (after Locke eats chicken) again. I noticed the decor of Ben's apartment: Lots of masks. They don't look African to me. But definitely primitive. I think I saw a Buddha statue on Ben's table. Also ... the shot of Ben with the clock and the photos of young Alex was interesting. I can't help but wonder why they composed the shot like that and what it meant. Ben looked away from Locke to that wall before turning back to Locke. I guess it's interesting that Ben has all those photos of little Alex.
→ 72. Posted by: Matt at March 22, 2007 3:05 PMArrggh - this is what I get for not checking my posts before setting them up! LOL! Sawyer wasn't killed (obviously!!) I meant when he was a kid. Gonna go get myself some more coffee, I think!
→ 73. Posted by: irish76 at March 22, 2007 3:06 PMCharles - the sub can probably be reached by an underground tunnel.
→ 74. Posted by: myloststory at March 22, 2007 3:07 PM@ DeepCover:
You might be right about the SDF (Sonic Death Fence) being used to keep people in instead of out, but the result is the same. The bars and high walls in a prison are to keep the prisoners in but it also keeps people out.
→ 75. Posted by: Mr. Grimm at March 22, 2007 3:12 PM@DC: All Ben needs is Ben Jr. flying around ... come to think of it, maybe the Hurley bird is Ben, Jr ... hmmm
→ 76. Posted by: mac at March 22, 2007 3:18 PM@ GatorGal: Go 'Noles! ;) (Although you do have our old coach now, so I can't hate you *too* much.)
@ Mary: I don't think it could've been Locke falling past the window in front of Hurley because he'd been in a wheelchair 4 years before coming to the island and Hurley only won the lottery a year or so ago (if I have deduced correctly his "about a year ago" reference in a S1 ep.)
→ 77. Posted by: Trinity at March 22, 2007 3:21 PMI don't know if anyone else thought it was interesting when Ben told Locke (re: the leftover chicken) "Sorry, I ate most of the dark meat." I guess I always thought of Ben as a white meat kinda guy.
→ 78. Posted by: Trinity at March 22, 2007 3:23 PMCan someone answer this...Is Cooper really Locke's dad, or did he pose as Locke's dad to get a kidney? Maybe he conned Locke's mom too? I dunno! All these Daddy Issues are too much to keep up with!!
→ 79. Posted by: keluha at March 22, 2007 3:26 PM@mac - "If Ben had a handlebar mustache, he'd be twirling it."
Thanks for the best...mental...picture...ever!
You're recaps are brilliant and down right hillarious.
This episode? AWESOME. Literally jumped off the couch at the end. Can't wait to get home and watch it again. Why, oh why did they move it to 10:00? I'm usually too drunk to remember any of it when I stay up that late.
Cheers!
→ 80. Posted by: BunnyLover at March 22, 2007 3:30 PMThe Locke Ness Monster really showed up last night.
If Locke's desire is to stay on the island because this is the only place where people around him respect/admire/like him, then his actions are doing the opposite--- destroying a means of escape will alienate him with the plane crash survivors.
I knew that Locke's injury would be caused by his father's con, just not in the manner shown last night. But it did give us a possible link (via the family brand of whiskey) that the rich Talbott Cooper was to con is related to the Widmores and Penny. We assumed that Penny was looking for Desmond - - - what if she was really looking for the man who conned her mother?
@ mac "Man of Rage, Man of Boom" HA!
"Oddly, Tom seems to be helping Jack"
Remember Juliet's flash card message in the fish tank? She said that, "Some of us want change?" I don't think she was talking quarters and dimes. There seems to be a faction of the Others that do not agree with what is going on there but do not dare oppose Ben. We get a glimpse of this from Ben's conversation with John where he talks about the illusion of Others being able to leave the island when they want and how it is important to his maintaining leadership. Tom is probably one of these that are kinda stuck between the two groups. Helpful yet faithful.
→ 82. Posted by: bcre8ve at March 22, 2007 3:44 PMok ok....got a question from the very first episode that still hasnt been answered....how did everyone surivive the plane crash?!?!?!?!?!!?!?! id imagine they fell pretty freaking far up there. is it the healing powers of the island or something? were they dead and now they ve come back to life somehow?!?!? other than that nice blog mac, gotta looooooooooove LOST
→ 83. Posted by: Ross at March 22, 2007 3:45 PM@gables79 "...you have to love actor who plays Ben. Great work dude."
Agreed! Michael Emerson does a supurb job playing the role of Ben. I've not seen any of his other work (no pun intended) but am now wanting to.
→ 84. Posted by: bcre8ve at March 22, 2007 3:46 PM@Red...Neck...Man "When he (Jack) went over to shake Ben's hand, it looked as if there was a large tattoo on his left arm, inside the elbow."
Jack has always had that tat. The most noticeable time that comes to mind was when he was in the Hydra hanging from the chains.
→ 85. Posted by: bcre8ve at March 22, 2007 3:47 PM@Ross: dude, come on. you kidding me?
Here's a question...What is air?
→ 86. Posted by: Red...Neck...Man at March 22, 2007 3:49 PMCan someone answer this...Is Cooper really Locke's dad, or did he pose as Locke's dad to get a kidney? Maybe he conned Locke's mom too? I dunno! All these Daddy Issues are too much to keep up with!!
→ Posted by: keluha at March 22, 2007 03:26 PM
I believed Cooper is John's Dad. He would need a tissue match to get a Kidney from him. Typically a blood relative is your best match. He probably knew that John’s mother had his child, found her when he knew he needed a kidney, and then worked the con on John.
Otherwise he would have had to go through medical record to find a match, then find that person, then con them.
→ 87. Posted by: michael at March 22, 2007 3:51 PM@lost addict re: three groups on the island theory
That's the same theory I've been working off of for a while in my state of "What-the-heck-is-going-on-here-edness?" I think you're right on with it.
I took the comment about the 'magic box' as a metaphor. Didn't Ben say, "Imagine, if you will, a magic box and when you open that box whatever your heart desires..." or something along those lines? I don't believe the room is the box or the box is elsewhere. I think the island is the box.
→ 89. Posted by: Jennifer at March 22, 2007 3:52 PMObservations:
re: Sayid's conversation with Alex
It's refreshing to see that Ben is not the only one that can play mind games. Sayid had just a fleeting chance to interact with Alex and in doing so made the most of it. Alex will be wondering about his comments for a long time. Alex certainly now has stock in wanting to see Sayid freed - or at least keeping him alive. Smart move Sayid. It will interesting to see where this leads.
re: Locke
Locke in his attempt to keep daddy away has now locked himself in the cage with him. Reminds me of the old Three Stooges short where they were attempting to lock the door to keep out the monster that is standing in the room right behind them. Instead of locking his fear out, by blowing up the sub, he has now locked himself in the room with it!
→ 90. Posted by: bcre8ve at March 22, 2007 3:58 PMDugg!
http://digg.com/television/Lost_Recap_Locke_s_Backbreaker_is_Revealed
If you haven't Dugg it, do so. And if you haven't signed up for Digg, do it and Digg it. We need great content like this on the Web and must spread the gospel of Mac's "Lost" blog!
→ 91. Posted by: Rob at March 22, 2007 4:07 PMDid anyone else feel that Locke's actions in this episode (and the last few) were incredibly selfish. I mean serioiusly, he blows up a sub after he knows jack is about to escape off of it. If he really doesn't want to leave the island, why does he have to stop others from leaving as well? He travels all the way over to Losteria Lane to blow up a means of escape that otherwise would not come to bare effect on him if he just stayed on lostie beach.
Seems incredibly selfish and although I love Locke and his character this gap in intentions makes me angry. Damn you Locke if you really want to stay so bad then let the other losties go and sit on the beach chatting with Rose and Smokey!
Dugg!
http://tinyurl.com/ys255r
If you haven't Dugg it, do so. And if you haven't signed up for Digg, do it and Digg it. We need great content like this on the Web and must spread the gospel of Mac's "Lost" blog!
→ 93. Posted by: Rob at March 22, 2007 4:10 PMLove your review!
I also don't believe the "box" is anything other than a closet. It has been referenced a few times that Locke was Other "List" worthy, so I am thinking they brought the dad to the island to somehow recruit Locke to their side. I'm not sure how they would use him, but to me that is most logical right now.
Ben got Locke talking about his father to make it seem like Locke made him appear in that closet. I think the "magic box" is somewhere else on the island.
→ 94. Posted by: Michelle at March 22, 2007 4:11 PMcould Ben have brought Cooper to the island because he probably shares the same DNA makeup as Locke and Ben wanted to study cooper so he could learn why Locke can heal his paralysis and Ben Can't? Ben did state again " that's why I'm in a wheelchair and you're not" right b4 he showed Locke Copper was behind the door.
I also think cooper was there way befor
→ 95. Posted by: Art at March 22, 2007 4:11 PM@bcre8ve - The only other place I can remember seeing Michael Emerson is in the movie 'Saw'. Very solid. I'm sure you could check out imbd.com and get all his credits.
→ 96. Posted by: Red...Neck...Man at March 22, 2007 4:18 PMI agree with some of the other posters that the "magic box" is simply a metaphor for the island. I also noticed that Cooper poured two glasses of MacCutcheon's right before he tried to kill Locke.
Locke definitely wins the prize for Daddy issues--no one else comes close! And I wouldn't be surprised to find out that Locke's dad is the real Sawyer.
→ 97. Posted by: copwife at March 22, 2007 4:22 PMI see a lot of comments regarding "Daddy issues" and I fully agree that pretty much everyone on the island's got 'em. My question is...what's the relevance?
Seems like pretty much everybody I know - let alone the Losties - has issues with one or both of their parental units, so maybe this is just fodder (shameless plug) for the writers and producers to throw out there so we skip over the truly salient bits.
BTW - I think the "magic box" is Locke's mind...subconsciously working in concert with the island's metaphysical capabilities.
Like Yoda told Luke, "All that's in there is what you take with you."
→ 98. Posted by: ransomjackson at March 22, 2007 4:26 PMI haven't read all the comments yet, but I had to say this before I forgot. Does anybody else think that Cooper has enlisted help(2 detectives, someone to play Peter Talbot) to further (#^%$%&)"mess with" Locke's mind. A family fortune of 200 mil. you certainly might need a little help fleecing that sheep. What Daddy Coop's motives might be I don't know but maybe Daddy Coop wanted Locke on that island.
→ 99. Posted by: BigNameJames at March 22, 2007 4:28 PMLOST is back at full tilt ! Awesome episode ! Still the best show I have ever seen. The acting keeps getting better. This season was slow until these last 3 episodes. It is now back on stride !
When Jack is seen throwing the football at the end of last weeks airing, it looks like he has a large tatoo or injury on the inside of his elbow. Anyone catch/mention that ?
"we're gonna need a bigger boat"
→ 100. Posted by: thinng at March 22, 2007 4:35 PMHey mac just wanna say AWSOME review it had me laughing from start to finish...and the episode last night was also amazing...i just had one thought, could lockes dad have ended up on the island very soon after he tried to kill locke...when locke was still in the hospital the detectives came and said that he had gone to mexico and then left and that he could be anywhere...this could mean that during his escape attempts cooper ended up on the island...possibly he was travelling by boat and ended up on the island like desmond or he could have been on a small plane and crashed...if this is true it means that lockes dad has been on the island for about 4 years...
→ 101. Posted by: sawyer<3 at March 22, 2007 4:46 PM@ mac,
Great Review and great episode!
Loved the Monty Python reference!!
→ 102. Posted by: Castaway at March 22, 2007 4:50 PM@GatorGal
Just read your post. I'm glad the writers chose Talahassee. UF's got every thing else going for them. Give Florda State a break.
Go 'Noles!!!!!
→ 103. Posted by: Castaway at March 22, 2007 5:14 PM@Cecil Rose: There was a real case not long ago where someone in a new high rise wanted to prove how safe the picture windows were. He leaned against it, it popped out, and he splattered. Even though that's not what happened last night, it is not impossible to be defenestrated. (Gosh, I've always wanted to use that word!)
→ 104. Posted by: hurling at March 22, 2007 5:16 PMThursdays are always so blissful with your review Mac. The 1st paragraph of your review shares the same sentiments I have of Ben's Magic Box - freakin' creepy. My fav line: "I'd say I hope that box is big enough to imagine yourself up a new submarine." You can just feel Locke's anger building. Kick his ass, Locke!
It's excellent TV if you're yelling at the top of your lungs "blow that mutha****** up," says my boyfriend. And last night's epi was pure goodness. All I can say is that I'm on the path with John Locke and I hope his slow smackdown on the Others continue.
@ Adam - Initially I was shocked out of my gore when Anthony Cooper became the product of the Magic Box. Then I got to thinking about Smokey (I prefer to call it the "Smoke Monster). Then I thought, why would Smokey get involved with the Others or is Smokey a part of the Others? Or is Smokey giving Locke a gift like Locke did for Boone (helping him get over Shannon)? Then my head blew up.
@ Mac about Ben's timeline of Locke. I was confused too! From what I've seen is that Locke was 1st employed at (I think) Toy R Us (shows his vast knowledge of games - particuarly mouse trap). It's also were he met his Mom & Pop. After his kidney giveaway, he was a house inspector (he met w/ Nadia - Sayid's love interest). Then he hung out at the weed colony for a bit after Helen gave him the boot (I totally think Helen and Anthony Cooper were in the con together). Locke must have went into deep depression after losing the best family he ever had at the weed colony and then re-established a tragic connection with his Dad only to be splatted 8 stories below from his Dad's pimp shack. In season 1, we saw him working at the box company but NEVER saw him walking or in a wheelchair UNTIL he was turned down in epi "Walkabout". When Ben stated that Locke wasted his time at the box factory perhaps he was just saying it was just purely a waste of time. Time that could have been better spent on the island with him...lol Hey, maybe Ben's the gay character? I dunno.
-amelia
→ 105. Posted by: amelia at March 22, 2007 5:19 PMBen can't understand why Locke has a natural connection to the Island.
The Other's society seems to value Island birth.
John's father is on the Island - is he really a prisoner - is this really his first time there?
John was brought up in a foster home - he doesn't know much about his background - when he finally meets his mother, she tells him he is special, part of a design (though that's later said to be a con).
My new theory: Locke is Island born - probably the eldest Island born - and that is why Ben's in a wheelchair while he isn't.
→ 106. Posted by: Danny at March 22, 2007 5:23 PM"Why is Locke wet on the pier??"
I don't believe Locke blew up the sub!!! I think he just creates the illusion of an exploding sub (by blowing up the pier). I think he may actually know how to pilot the sub (he makes reference to this possibility earlier in the episode), submerges the sub, gets out of the sub somehow (thus getting wet), and calmly walks down the pier just prior to the explosion. I think Locke just wants Ben to THINK the sub is gone, which is what Ben wants anyway. Eventually (after Locke learns the secrets of the Island/Others), Locke will use the sub for his and the other castaway's escape......what do y'all think???
→ 107. Posted by: MazGator at March 22, 2007 5:24 PMWow, great episode.. I love Locke, he is by far my favorite LOST charachter so I hope all ends up well for him but now his dad is there..oh boy
***On a side note...I find the actor who plays Ben so damn attractive and I don't know why!?> He is a wonderful actor and I hope he has much success in showbiz after LOST ends****
→ 108. Posted by: Amy at March 22, 2007 5:30 PMThis may have been mentioned so it's not big deal but did you know Ethan is Tom Cruis's cousin?? Funny huh?
→ 109. Posted by: Amy at March 22, 2007 5:33 PM@mac@adam
What about this idea: If the smoke monster is the magic box and if the monster is only able to recreate people from existing memories (Yemi, Jack's dad, Hurley's friend, Walt, etc.), then maybe Locke is another recreation, but modified with spinal correction? Ben brought in Cooper to continually smoke monster out Locke from his memory (thus the lack of paralysis). Locke had two purposes: one, to blow up the hatch (for Ben), which caused the end to communications and rescue; two, to blow up the submarine (for Ben), which now eliminates any escape. Locke is now expendable. Ben expects to die on this island, and his plan is to take everyone with him. Jack has merely extended his life here. The whole plane crash was planned as a background for Locke, who isolates the island while making Ben look good.
→ 110. Posted by: Loz at March 22, 2007 5:39 PMplease...please....please...someone tell me how long cooper has been on the island!?!?!?!?!?!?
→ 111. Posted by: richie rich at March 22, 2007 6:08 PMSorry to be negative, BUT:
petew mentioned that the tables are turning in favor of the Losties. And it seems that everyone is totally ga ga over last nights airing.
What I see is (1) the almighty ex Republican guard, trained in military matters to the nth degree, fails yet again to have an impact or do anything positive to aid the Losties cause, (2) Locke needs to be locked up (pun intended) for the crazy things he has done, and
(3) Although the Losties have had their moments the past few episodes, AT THE END OF THE DAY, they are (once again) in the hands and at the mercy of the Others.
Regardless of all their zany, funny and heroic efforts, Kate, Sayid and Locke are prisoners once more (oops).
However, Rousseau is still on the loose - perhaps she will turn into Lynda Carter and save the day.
No wonder they named it Lost. I think the producers and writers are indeed, lost. It is so boring to watch the Losties do everything wrong - do any of them have an ounce of sense at all?
@vikki I do find it hard to believe that Sayid and Kate and Locke could scamper across the grounds of Losteria Lane unnoticed, but as soon as they went inside somewhere, there were cameras to catch them. Why no such security to watch the outside? Why only the inside? Why weren't there cameras in Ben's room/house? How did no one else know Locke was in there?
Excellent point!
→ 112. Posted by: ButchM at March 22, 2007 6:17 PMI don't know if this was mentioned already; forgive me:
Ben and Locke do seem to have some similarities, only one is evil and the other is good. Notice that when Locke is getting chicken from the fridge Ben apologizes for having eaten all the DARK meat (dark=evil) so all that's left for Locke is WHITE meat. Just another repetition of the dark/light, black/white symbolism surrounding Locke. I love it.
I'm trying to grasp what's up with good ol' Coop. He was kidnapped, crashed there, in on it all, he's smokey, he simply forgot to tell Locke he loved him before a little love tap that resulted badly. Could be anything.
What I do like was the simple acting that took place. I tried to gauge the look on Coop's face when he TOO saw John for the first time. Total terror! I originally thought that was part of the act. But seeing your son - STANDING THERE NO LESS - after you took his legs would put a little terror into me as well.
So that's it, I'm done thinking about it. Cause we'll all have the friggin answer in a couple eps anyways, right?
→ 114. Posted by: Red...Neck...Man at March 22, 2007 6:27 PMHere's a thought....and man am I smart.
Why haven't Locke or especially Jack asked Ben the most obvious question of all? Why didn't the Others just take ALL of the survivors of Oceanic 815 into their community? It was only like 60 people I think. Why couldn't they take them in...slowly assimilate them to 'what's going on'...if they dig it, they stay...if they don't dig it and resist, throw 'em in bear cages for all to see.
The sinister (ya I said sinister) ways of the Others will be revealed. The emporer has forseeeeeeeeeen it.
→ 115. Posted by: Red...Neck...Man at March 22, 2007 6:38 PMSome points of curiosity:
Could the con-man that Sawyer's been looking for and has always eluded him be Cooper?
What kind of vibe would Desmond get in close proximity of Ben and/or his Magic Box?
Here's something that's been bothering me for a while now: What in the world has happened to Rose & Bernard?
→ 116. Posted by: CA Mileham at March 22, 2007 7:02 PM@Mary
wow, great theory and it really made me think. Kudos for remembering a small part wayyy back in 1st season.
But, I just rewatched that scene "Numbers", season 1 and it wasn't Locke. In last nights episode Locke fell backwards, face up. The man falling in Hurley's flashback was face down (I could tell by the arch in his back)
Nice idea though.
→ 117. Posted by: sierramark at March 22, 2007 7:14 PMSince I'm on an extended concert engagement I haven't seen the past three episodes yet, but just reading your reviews is certainly wetting my appetite! When I get back to town this Sunday, there's definitely going to be a three hour couch-potato event going on in my den!
Just writing to you Mac, to tell you that your spell check let you down in one of the paragraphs . .
>Ben instructs Alpert to uncuff Locke. Since Locke has been so very helpful in keeping Ben perched on his Other THROWN, Ben wants to reward Locke with a little glimpse into the island's Magic Box. <
I think you meant THRONE, as in a King's chair.
Thanks for the reviews.
DRH
This makes my head hurt!!!!
→ 119. Posted by: johnny at March 22, 2007 7:17 PMA lot of people speculated that Locke was a bad guy initially in season one. We've seen before that Locke is willing to resort to extreme measures to carry out his objectives (knocking Sayid unconscience and breaking the radio, sending Boone into the plane, breaking the hatch computer, etc). I don't think Locke is 'evil' but for a long time I've felt that he would emerge as the main antagonist of the Losties (as in he opposes the ultimate goal of most castaways -to be rescued).
My new theory is that as the show progresses the two factions will feature one side, lead by Jack (the man of science), comprised of the bulk of the Oceanic survivers and few Others that switch sides with a common goal of escaping the island. The other side will be lead by Locke (the man of faith) and be made up mainly of Others and few castaways (possiably Rose and Bernard and the tailies/children) who want to remain on the island and keep it hidden.
→ 120. Posted by: Recluse8747 at March 22, 2007 7:39 PM@MazGator - that is an excellent reason why Locke is wet! I don't know that he's planning on helping the other Losties escape, after all, I'm sure he blew up Mikhail's place on purpose. But there's no reason to think he doesn't have his own plans for the sub. Couple points:
1- Alex warned him about Ben's manipulation. So even if Locke really wanted to blow up the sub, once he realized that's what Ben wanted him to do, he may have changed his plans just to thwart Ben.
2- We have no reason to think Locke has been trained in how to pilot a sub, but (a) he used to play those war games and may have read instruction manuals, (b) it looked like Juliet was going to pilot it for Jack and herself, so maybe there was some simplified control panel - you know, big stickers with arrows saying "push this to go down, remember to close the hatch."
Jack glares at Locke. The problems these two had in the past don't even compare to the issues they've got now (Man of Rage, Man of Boom).
One word for that mac; Amazing. Your reviews are the highlight of my Thursdays... along w/ Grey's Anatomy but that's besides the point :)
Well, I must say that karma has a way of coming back and kicking you in the a$$; Locke is a prime example. He destroys everyone's chances of ever leaving the island, and BAM! the person who tried to kill him by shoving him out an eight story window shows up on the island you can't leave. All I can say is haha Locke. (I've never been a fan of Locke)
Well, I thought the moment between Jack and Kate was really sweet, and I understood it. Yeah, Kate "chose" Sawyer, but we all know that she loves Jack, but she thinks she can't be with Jack because she can't ever have anything good, and Jack is good. Granted her logic is a little messy but I'm guessing about 10 years (I think its about that long) on the run can do that to yeah. And Jack loves Kate, but he think he can't be with her because she "chose" Sawyer and he doesn't want to mess that up. Really, if he hadn't seen Skate on camera this situation wouldn't be so messed up. So anyways, Jack loves Ktae, and even though he can't have her, he's still gonna be the hero and come back to so he can save her. Of course that plan of action went up in flames (haha literally :])
When I heard Ben say to Jack "Once you leave the island, I'll let your friends go" I went "oh no. That can't be good"
Sorry I wrote so much but I had a lot to say :)
→ 122. Posted by: lostfugitive at March 22, 2007 7:53 PM@MazGator
My thoughts exactly. While watching last night I told my daughter that there was no reason for Locke to be wet if he put the C4 in the sub. I also think he moved it and blew up the end of the pier. I do think the reason for this was not because of what Ben said but because after he was told that Jack was leaving, he didn't want to close that door entirely. When he gets a chance, he can tell Jack that he can still leave.
→ 123. Posted by: SUPDRAGON at March 22, 2007 8:26 PM"...into a defensive position (Setting No. 108)."
Haha, no one can do that better than you do, mac. Yes, keep 'em coming!
I'm worrying about Sayid, tho. Now that he's held captive, would Ben torture him in revenge?
And the magic box... Is this the answer of all mysterious creatures found in the island? I recall that Walt spend a lot of time reading a comic with a polar bear in its cover, and then it did came out of nowhere. Maybe the box only respond to Locke (and Walt) wishes.
We all must remember ONE thing: The Lost producers have not closed or made anything "final". So we all talk about these theroies,but they can go in any direction. Is Ben telling the truth? Is that really Lockes dad? Who really knows. The beauty of this show is that we don't know shiiiittttt!!! We think we understand but do we really?? This is all fun but what direction is up and what is down? The sub. Why a sub? Maybe they (on the island) are actual under water. Some sort of under water cave. The need a sub to go under water to go up to the "real world"???? Who really knows. Thats why we all love this show.......danthe man
→ 125. Posted by: dantheman at March 22, 2007 8:29 PMPoor GatorGal. Say, do you know what Tallhassee has that Gainesville doesn't?
The National High Magnetics Lab.
It seems a little far reaching, but with all of the other magnetic clues on the island, it could very well be that Tallahassee wasn't just picked for its musical nature (Aerosmith has no songs mentioning Gainesville), but also for its scientific advances.
Oh, and it's not all strip malls and Waffle Houses. That's totally off base.
And Cooper/Seward is totally the Original Sawyer.
→ 126. Posted by: ShawnL at March 22, 2007 8:35 PM
Totaly think the fence is to keep people inside and the people that are on the outside were either kicked out or dont want back in.
I can't comprehend that the button ment this much to the island and it was not being watched better then by some random ship wrecked people.
Maybe it is all just a head game and some very rich people in the real world are watching them and recording what is going on on the island and the losties are ruining there game only kidding
great review thanks mac
→ 127. Posted by: Dakota at March 22, 2007 8:50 PMWhen Locke tells Ben he wants a "submarine", Ben doesn't realize he means he is hungry and wants a sandwich. Ben is thinking that now they have a pilot. (Why else would the craft be unguarded?) Locke gets chicken instead and the bonus, blowing up the "submarine" and pissing off Jack (again).
→ 128. Posted by: lostsox at March 22, 2007 8:53 PM@ Deep Cover: You are my hero! Thanks for putting the whole wish/need fulfillment theory into such an eloquent and understandable post. I TOTALLY agree with you, BTW..so, in response to your "That's my theory and I'm sticking to it" I say, "Me, too!"
Here is a further thought on the wish/need fulfillment. Consider this:
If we accept that the island can manifest things based upon wishes/needs/desires, then those with the most vivid imaginations would be the most powerful, right? And who does this apply to more than CHILDREN! Children believe in everything (Santa Claus, the toothfairy, monsters in the closet, giant spiders on the wall, etc). So, I think this is why the others took the children first. Because their imaginations/wishes/desires/beliefs are more powerful and vivid (and possibly dangerous) than those of adults. This is why they there are safe but probably isolated somewhere in the bowels of Losteria Lane.
@Castaway and Trinity: OK, OK. I apologize for the Tallahassee comment. My bad! Just jealous that Gainesville wasn't chosen to be immortalized on this awesome show instead.
→ 130. Posted by: GatorGal at March 22, 2007 9:08 PM@Deep Cover - I usually stay away from these "magic" theories, but I think you have something here. Especially if @MazGator is right and Locke didn't blow up the sub, this little feud between Locke & Ben will get veeery interesting. If Locke is catching on, he's the only one who can match Ben's wits - and he did get some good zingers in.
→ 131. Posted by: hurling at March 22, 2007 9:13 PMOkay, I need someone to explain something for me.
At the beginning of Locke's flashbacks, we see him meeting with someone for a review of his disability benefits. He mentions that he stopped going to therapy because it wasn't doing any good, so the caseworker suspended his benefits, but stressed it was only temporary until Locke resumed the therapy. To which Locke replied, "you think my disability is temporary?", or something of that nature. The whole time I figured Locke was in his wheelchair and this part of his backstory was being shown to us as another way that he was down on his luck, but then, HE WALKS OUT?! I didn't understand that. Why was he receiving disability benefits? What was his disability? Why was this relevant? Anyone?
→ 132. Posted by: AmyK at March 22, 2007 9:14 PMAs all first posters do - I bow before the great MAC and express my appreciation for the insight, humor and ramblings.
I have to wonder - how did Locke and Alex get around the "Security System"?? I don't believe the death fence crosses the ocean (and therefore the submarine also).
→ 133. Posted by: Rayman at March 22, 2007 9:16 PMCooper could be Jacob
→ 134. Posted by: c at March 22, 2007 9:18 PMLOL @ what is air
@Matt---Locke's intentions and motivations arent changing by season. He has always done what HE thought needed to be done including causing the original hatch implosion/explosion.
I thought this was the most dynamic episode to date. Every line/scene barring the Jack/Kate scene was intensely acted/written and perfectly intrigues the viewer. (except maybe one or two posters including one expert at pushing ppl through windows without falling out himself. AND @ ButchM--the Lost writers are not lost and if watching the losties was so boring you wouldnt still be watching it....and reading blogs about it.)
I loved how the opening scene gave the appearance that John was already in a wheelchair while talking to the social worker. Then he stands up.. seems to be written to put doubt in our minds about other flashbacks and what we REALLY saw.
Perhaps the most important lines in the whole episode are from Alex to John: "Thats what my father does...he manipulates people...he makes you think its your idea, but its his." John replies.. "I'll have to keep that in mind."
John coming off the dock wet was not a mistake by the writers...that certainly meant something important. Someone will find out the condition of the sub soon.
I find it interesting that "bring me the man from Tallahassee" means gag and tie up Cooper and stuff him in the hold. Unless, as some of you have theorized, that Cooper IS smokey in a new form, it is code for "get the wish box ready I'm bringing John to see it."
I find it more plausible that somehow this is a master plan to recruit John. Thinking too much about it makes my head spin though.
Sidenotes:
There are pictures in both Jack's and Ben's quarters of an island valley near waterfront.. minus the barracks.
First post? Totally awesome episode!!
→ 1. Posted by: Red...Neck...Man at March 22, 2007 12:38 PM