'Lost': It's my Locke in a box
It became fairly clear to me about midway through Wednesday's Lost just who "the man from Tallahassee" was, so that last scene didn't really shock me. What it made me do was think of Jennifer Garner whimpering "Mom?" at the end of season one of Alias, which I recall as a much more jaw-dropping revelation.
Maybe because that last scene felt a little telegraphed, what was otherwise a pretty decent episode -- particularly the crackling work of Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson in their scenes together -- left me feeling a little underwhelmed.
It felt kind of like a cheat that Locke's dad apparently came to be on the island courtesy a mysterious box that, when you open it, contains whatever you wished it would (and which will be known from this day forward in this space as the LockeBox). If, as Lost's producers have claimed, there's a world-as-we-know-it explanation for just about everything on the island, how's that happen?
That's kind of a big question, and the fact that it hangs there drags down my enjoyment of the episode. Which is a shame, because I was really digging the back-and-forth between Ben and Locke. ("On this island, there's a very large box, and whatever you imagine ... when you open that box, there it would be. What would you say about that?" "I'd say I hope that box is big enough to imagine yourself up a new submarine.")
What was so interesting to me is that they appeared to want the same thing, more or less -- to understand and be part of whatever it is that the island can offer them. I'm sure Ben was relishing the thought of having the outsider do his dirty work of blowing up the submarine, thereby forcing Jack and Juliet to stay put. But Locke seemed to be onto that (hence his brushoff of Alex's warning about Ben being manipulative), and what's more, he didn't seem to care.
And yeah, he set back the cause of escape or rescue for the Flight 815 survivors back immeasurably. But his action was maybe the clearest statement yet that we've seen of his belief in a connection to the island and his desire to stay on it. So I'm willing to go along with that, and not least because it promises a renewal of one of the show's more intriguing Big Ideas: the science vs. faith question as embodied by Jack and Locke.
It's clear, too, that Ben is pretty upset that the island hasn't healed him the way it did Locke. How the hell is it, he's got to be thinking, that I spend my whole life here and end up wheelchair-bound (at least temporarily) while this joker gets a free pass from day one? (It was probably a smart move on Locke's part not to mention the brief moments we've seen him lose feeling in his legs.) I'd be very interested to see the show explore that some more.
And, oh yeah, the flashback. Our patience (if Lost fans have any patience left) was finally rewarded, and we got to see how Locke ended up in his wheelchair. It was not especially poetic or ironic, but damned if I didn't flinch when Daddy defenestrated him like that. (And that looked a lot higher than eight stories.)
Odds and ends: I liked Sayid's exchange with Alex about her mother, but I'm not sure we needed the scene of Rousseau beaming at her daughter at the sub dock. And I'm curious what angle Tom might be working in being so friendly to Jack, as evidenced by his warning the doc to keep his voice down in the rec room with Kate. Is Tom just a nice guy, or is he one of those folks Ben mentioned who aren't sufficiently committed?
What did you think of this week's Lost? Did the final scene surprise you? And what would you wish for in the LockeBox?
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I still say the LockeBox is a metaphor, and Cooper was there for some unrelated reason -- fleeing the country or whatnot.
Other than that: Best. Episode. Wait for it. Yet.
The only downside: After the strides made in the last few weeks returning back to the status quo, we were once again with Kate and Jack and the Others. Oh well, there's always next week.
In retrospect, ABC's decision to impose a long gap between the first 6 eps and the rest of the season was a major gaffe. Especially since these new episodes have been pretty solid thus far. Tonight's Locke ep was overdue but worth the wait. Always great to see Terry O'Quinn in fighting form. Was the final scene contrived? Yeah ... but in the context of the show, I think it works. I'm actually looking forward to catching Lost again. Noticed no Dancing with the Stars promos running under the show. Wonder if ABC got flak about that?
Best line of the episode, hilarious actually, was Locke to Ben, "You're not gonna start talkin' about the magic box again are you?" Locke's dad is creepy, hope karma gets him.
Oh, and any interaction between Jack and Kate, is worth the price of admission (patience). Matt Fox is such a good actor on this show, so good, as is Evangeline Lily.
I see Jeff is a Barney fan, me too, HIMYM rocks.
I liked it a lot, but wish ben hadn't said "Get me the man from Talahasee" early in the episode so that maybe just maybe the reveal at the end could have been a surprise. not sure how it built suspense (since it seemed obvious who it was) and since locke was already, well, locked up at the end, it's not like there was a time issue. ah well.
and yes, the episodes since the gap have been much much better. almost seems like the old show at times.
i dunno NG. i thought the best line in the episode was when locke asked ben about the electricity.
:we have two giant hamster running on a big wheel....: or something like that. haha!
but yes. best episode yet
Thought it was just okay. I was surprised by the ending. Apparently the "man from Tallah***e" clue was over my head. I am so over Locke's Dad even if Locke isn't ready yet. I was more shocked to learn that eyeliner guy from "Not In Portland" was still on the island.
I know, eyeliner guy shocked me too. And yeah, the hamster electricity line was my favorite too.
I like having as many characters as possible in an episode, but it's hard to fault anyone for only covering the "others" territory in this one I think. There was enough going on there that going back to the beach would have seemed like an afterthought. Next week it certainly looks like we'll be spending some significant time at the beach. Although, really, a Nikki and Paulo episode?...
Great episode. Seriously fine acting from Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson. They have really great chemistry. It was also nice to see mellow Jack again as opposed to the constantly yelling Jack of late. Though the look on his face after that sub blew up...
Am I crazy, or does anyone else think that Cooper could be the "real" Sawyer?
I've been thinking that Cooper is the real Sawyer since early last season. That's the only explanation that makes sense. James Ford is searching for the con man who caused the deaths of his parents and Locke's father is a con man. Just too coincidental to be otherwise.
Great, jaw-dropping, maddening episode. I don't know if this was the major bomb that the producers have been refering to, but it was a great episode, even though Locke is being a jerk about not leting Jack and Juliet leave the island (the survivors probably have a better chance of killing each other than being killed by the others). The dual bomb in the sub and Locke being pushed out the window was cool too.