Summary: In flashbacks, we see that Locke works in a box company and aspires to go on a Walkabout in Australia. His boss Randy patronizes him for his dream. Locke also has an unhealthy relationship with a sex line worker named Helen. He eventually goes to Australia but isn't allowed to go on the Walkabout due to being paralyzed. In the present, the survivors discover boars on the island. The food runs out and Locke suggests they go hunting - he had brought a suitcase full of knives on the plane. Kate and Michael join Locke. Kate attempts to put up an antenna for Sayid but it falls and breaks when the monster shakes the trees. The monster confronts Locke who survives and returns with a dead boar. Jack decides to burn the fuselage to dispose of the rotting bodies and Claire holds a memorial service. Shannon gets Charlie to catch a fish for her to prove to Boone that she can fend for herself. Jack sees a mysterious man in the suit in the jungle. A final flashback shows Locke standing up for the first time in years after the plane crash.
The Good: Now that is how you execute a plot twist. The final moments of this episode were absolutely stellar and they are most certainly what this episode will be remembered for. While I think that there is so much more to love in the episode than the twist, there is no denying that it is the episode's best moment. But what is most impressive about the ending twist is how it immediately clarifies the murky parts of Locke's storyline while completely changing our views of not only the character, but of the story that this episode was telling. Before the twist, this episode felt like it was about Locke finally proving to all of his naysayers that he was every bit as good as he said he was. The story worked and I was invested in Locke proving the world wrong; don't tell him what he can't do! Yet all of my initial interpretations of the story were completely wrong. This wasn't about Locke proving himself to the world, rather it was about him finally becoming able to do all of the things that he always wanted to do. This was Locke living the dream in a place that has given him everything he could ever have wanted, and it had very little to do with Locke proving himself. For an episode to completely change our interpretation of its story in just a single scene at the end is downright amazing, and it is one of the finest feats of writing I have seen. Furthermore, this twist subverted our expectations in a perfect way. In an age of film and television where plot twists are often dished out left and right without a lot of meaning (looking at you "Westworld"), it's so refreshing to see a small twist that has such purpose to it. This twist is one that almost solely affects Locke's character and not the plot at all. But I think this is what a great twist should encompass. Any twist can shock the viewer, but for a twist to not only shock but make a viewer feels a sudden twinge of unexpected sympathy, pity and mystery makes it really special. I was left in a state of wonder after this twist, left reflecting on how much I had misinterpreted this episode and also thinking about what it means for Locke to have magically regained use of his legs after the plane crash. The twist was set up so well too. Randy's insults for Locke are very clearly directed at his paralysis on rewatch, and Locke's example of Norman Croucher, a double amputee, makes much more sense. Furthermore, those excessive shots of Locke's feet make it clear what he is thinking about, yet it's impossible to guess as much on your first watch. Such a brilliant way to hide foreshadowing for a plot twist in plain sight. Locke's story is a damn good one. It would have been easy to write Locke as a 1-dimensional cool survivor-type character, but where is the fun in that? By going the extra mile and adding so much more depth to Locke, the writers have crafted a character that practically every viewer will be compelled by. Locke is not some great guy, he is flawed like all of us. The flashbacks portray him as a weak old man who refuses to accept the reality of his life situation, and is constantly belittled by everyone for his foolishness. His life is so lonely that he has turned to a sex line worker for his only comforts. It's all very pitiful, but it also gives us good reason for Locke to be so at peace on the island. After all, the island has given him the ability to do everything he has ever wanted to do. The rest of this episode is just as splendid as Locke's story. I'm left impressed by how this episode somehow managed to give something to do for nearly every single character using just two storylines: the need to get food, and the burning of the fuselage. Both of the storylines make sense and are very important, so there is a sense of plot movement as the characters work through these problems. A lot of characters get great moments. The food issue allows for us to know Locke better, and we even get more information on Michael and Kate as they join in and talk a lot to each other. Michael has been in the background for most of the series, so it is nice to get to know him better, while Kate continues to show us that she does seem to be naturally nice and resourceful. The food storyline also leads to nice characterization for Shannon as we get to understand her relationship with Boone a little more. Shannon manipulates poor Charlie into catching a fish for her, which does lead to a funny scene with Charlie Hurley. Yet there is still more character work being done here with the fuselage story. We get to see Boone develop as he goes to Jack to help Rose out. So far Boone had been trying to do everything himself and making a fool of himself in the process, so it is refreshing to see him learn from his mistakes and let Jack take care of Rose. Jack himself is developing too. It's hard to imagine the Jack from the pilot giving the go-to to burn the fuselage, but with him accepting that everyone is stranded for a long time, he has no problem giving the order. I also like Sayid's role in this episode as his Muslim background would oppose him to cremating all of the bodies instead of burying them. The Bad: There were a couple small things that bothered me. Michael getting Sun to watch Walt was another good example of the show giving a background character something to do. But it makes no sense that Michael would go to the one person who doesn't speak English to watch over Walt. Additionally, I was annoyed by everybody assuming Locke was dead just because the monster was heading in his direction. Well what is he dove into a bush like Jack did? Nobody had any reason to believe he was dead, and I think it was absurd that everyone seemed to assume he died. It's even more painful for the viewer because we are even more certain that Locke wouldn't die offscreen in the middle of his own episode. The Unknown: There's another interesting detail on Kate that I won't put in The Bad because it may be intentional. In this episode Kate tells Jack she is a vegetarian, but we see her eating bacon in the last episode. This could be sloppy writing, but it also may be hinting at Kate lying to Jack to charm him, which fits my theory of her having a hidden dark side that she hasn't shown yet. Sayid has some photos of a woman in a hijab. Who is she? A girlfriend or wife? Why wasn't she on the plane with him? Rose suggests that there may be other survivors from the tail section of the plane. Is she right about this? Did Locke see the monster? The directing suggests that he did have an encounter with it. Why didn't the monster kill Locke? Or did Locke fight it and escape? Who is the man in the suit that Jack is seeing? How did Locke get his legs back? Is there something on the island that fixed him? This twist certainly suggests that there is something supernatural at play. Locke said that he has been paralyzed for 4 years. What happened that put him in the wheelchair? Best Moment: The final twist is so damn good. The scene of Locke talking to the Walkabout guy is built up really well. When Locke's condition is brought up, our mind immediately starts to think what could be wrong with him. When the wheelchair is revealed, it's a shock that explains everything but also gives us a wave of pity as we watch Locke stranded, unable to go on his Walkabout. But then there's a cut back to after the crash as Locke stands up for the first time. The scene is absolutely perfect. Terry O'Quinn's performance is wonderful, the mystery of Locke regaining his legs hits us right away, and the music plays up the emotions perfectly. It's wonderful to see the show convey that such a horrific moment in the lives of so many people is actually the best moment in the life of John Locke. Splendid storytelling. Character of the Episode: Locke. Conclusion: This episode is phenomenal. So much is accomplished in this episode and the storytelling is something really special. I didn't expect "Lost" to top its pilot episode so quickly, but it has done that with one of the best written TV episodes I have ever seen. Score: 88
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Aaron DhillonJust a university student who loves to watch TV. And analyze it way too much. Archives
March 2024
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