Circular Locke



I have to credit You All Everybody from The Transmission episode about Jughead for starting me off down this path. Here goes.

In 1954 Widmore meets John Locke and witnesses him having a big tete-a-tete with Alpert, consigliere of the Others. Clearly this level of access makes Locke important. In fact young Widmore may have discussed the meeting with Alpert and learned exactly what John claimed namely that he is the leader of the Others in 2005.

In 2003/4 Abaddon intercepts wheelchair-bound Locke in rehab and encourages him to go on a walkabout, said walkabout that will result in John being on Flight 815 on September 22, 2004.

The encounter between Locke and Abaddon and Abaddon's relationship to Widmore has always puzzled me. But now that I know Widmore has known about time traveling Locke since the 50s, it's starting to make a bit more sense. Widmore sends Abaddon to Locke to make sure he's in place for that plane trip because Locke must crash on the Island. What's more, he must crash on the Island in order to replace Widmore's nemesis, Benjamin Linus.

It makes me wonder, will we see some time cop, an Other, Mrs. Hawking, Abaddon, etc. making sure that Kate's Australian farmer knows about her fugitive status and the much-needed reward about a week or so before 9/22/04? I've always suspected that someone got to Claire's psychic after all he gives her the ticket for Flight 815. Does that mean someone killed Christian Shephard? Did Paik set the timing for the watch delivery trip at Widmore's behest?

And were there wildcards? We've seen almost step by step how Hurley went to Australia after his father tried the fake psychic bit and how he almost missed the plane. And what about Sayid? Same sort of thing. But for Islamic burial traditions he would have left a day earlier. And what about Michael and Walt? Did someone send Walt's stepfather at just the right time? In fact did someone insure Walt's mom's death at just the right time?

But back to Locke. We've already seen him send Richard to his birth? Does he also have Widmore send Abaddon? And is Locke in fact Jacob? And old theory, but a goodie, sending not only others to help him along the way, but telling Locke himself to "Help Me." I can certainly picture Locke screwing things up in such a way that would allow Ben to manipulate him for those years he ruled the Island, getting trapped by an ash ring or what have you. Still doesn't explain the Others reverence for Jacob as we saw in various Juliet flashbacks or the Room 23 film. But hey, we've got most of two seasons left after all.

Anyways (ding) I just wanted to get this down early in case it pans out.

Did Christian Tell Locke To Keep Jack On The Island?



In There's No Place Like Home (pt. 2) Locke and Jack talk leader stuff at the Orchid. Locke tries to talk Jack out of leaving giving him the whole destiny spiel once again. But he fails to mention that a guy named Christian has told him to move the Island. Which makes me wonder, did Christian instruct Locke to keep Jack on the Island or is Locke freelancing? I still can't decide if Christian wants Jack and Aaron on or off the Island.

Is John Locke As Naive As John Locke?




















In reading Madeline L'engle's An Acceptable Tiime I came across this description of philosopher John Locke and his view of Native Americans.

"Locke's impressions [were] idyllic and . . . a little naive. . . . The [natives] seemed to Locke to live a life as innocent as Adam and Eve in the Garden. They lived without external laws, did not buy or sell or pile up wealth. They were, Locke implied, without shame, not burdened by the guilts of the past." p. 76

This view seems to me to mirror our John Locke's view of the Island and Alpert's crew of true believers. Of course, we've seen more of the Others than Locke has, so I wonder if part of the "bad things" will merely be Locke's eyes opening to the reality of human nature and its depravity even on the Island. Maybe the real reason Locke leaves the Island is that his idyllic picture of the Island is shattered by reality. How Jack returning could help that I could not say, but Locke often looks for the easy, buck-passing solution (Sawyer and the real Sawyer), so perhaps Locke's plan to return the O6 is more mere naivete on Locke's part.

And while we're on Locke, I can't remember asking this before -- do you think off Island Bentham/Locke can walk or does he have to return to a wheelchair?

Why Doesn't Locke Just Tell Jack About The Wheelchair?



So I'm sloooowwwwwllly winding my way through Doc Jensen's finale recap, and here's the question I have after the how many is it now Man of Science/Man of Faith leadership stuff showdowns.  When Jack says to Locke "There's no such thing as miracles," why doesn't Locke tell him about his squiggly, squiggly legs which didn't work for 4 years and now work?

Bentham's Mission



Time for back to basics.  I'm looking at some S4 finale things and notice that apparently Locke's mission when he came back to "our world" was to convince Jack and Kate if not the rest of the O6 to come back to the Island.  So here's some questions:





I guess this means that I think Locke did NOT turn the donkey wheel. I'd guess in his attempts to get Jack, Kate and Aaron to return to the Island Locke thought he himself could return to the Island.

I also wonder why someone would kill Locke, but not Jack, Kate and Aaron which doesn't seem like it would be that difficult. Jack tells Kate he wants to go back to keep Aaron and Kate safe. Safe from whom? Safe from the people who just killed Locke? Who killed Nadia? More Kate on the run. Gee. Can't wait for that. (Read with great sarcasm.)

Basic Question -- Who Killed Locke?



Earlier I asked if Locke died. As with all LOST characters, even the infamous Nikki and Paolo there are those out there who believe Locke is not dead. But I think he is as did the majority of people who voted in my previous poll. So for arguments sake let's say Occam's razor applies and Locke is dead -- who killed him?

Locke, Leader or Ultimate Scapegoat?



Jeremy Bentham shows up in the real world and tells Jack that "after I left the island, some very bad things happened. And he told me that it was my [Jack's] fault for leaving. And he said that I had to come back. But I'm thinking the bad things may come from Locke's presence more than Jack's absence or possibly even from Ben's absence. After all who did Christian Shephard and Claire tell to move the Island -- Locke. But Locke didn't move the Island, Ben did.

It reminds me of how Locke was supposed to take care of Sheriff's Deputy Eddie, but didn't. How little Locke was supposed to pick the things that belonged to him, but didn't. How he was supposed to kill his dad, but didn't. How Locke was supposed to push the button, but didn't. Once again, Locke is given a task, and he can't even find the flowers.

Now arguably, Locke didn't have the know how had he gotten into the Orchid to move the Island, but maybe the Island would have given him further instructions. But if Locke had been able to get into the Orchid in a timely manner and moved the Island (never to return) he would have trapped Jack on it. So whose fault is it John?

Locke Is In The Coffin, But . . .



Frankly, I never considered that Locke had not in fact died in Los Angeles, but listening to Jay & Jack I heard both Jay and Jack agree that they think Locke is faking his death. Handsome Jack even added that he used Doc Arzt's spider venom to perpetrate the con. So what do you think?

Monday Morning Rewatch --
Confirmed Dead













More question and notes from episode 4.2, Confirmed Dead.

1. Where do you think Dan's egg-cooking lady friend thinks he is now? He seems to be the only one of the Freighter Four (FF) with a close, personal friend. Will any of them missed if they don't return?

2. Why don't all the FF think they need to have kevlar vests on? If I was heading to the island after Naomi's signal, I would have had my vest on and my gas mask handy. And do you think Dan really knows how to use that gun?

3. Sawyer's finally learned some tracking skills. He realizes Locke is heading in the wrong direction.

4. Did Ben shoot Locke in the missing kidney to test Locke and the Island or is he just getting sloppy? And why is Ben trying to talk Sawyer into staying on the Island? Will anyone do in this pinch?

5. What do you think Mrs. Gardner had been hearing or seeing in her Inglewood home to make her call Miles in the first place?

6. What does Charlotte know about The Dharma Initiative and how does she know it? I want to think she's a DI offspring, but Ben's details of her life, mom and dad, birthplace, etc. make me much less confident in that hope. BTW, her dad's name is David Lewis. The name David has been used repeatedly on the show.

7. Why didn't Charlotte try to sell the "we're here for Desmond" story to Locke's group?

8. One of my favorite scenes in the episode is when Jack, Kate, Sayid and Juliet first see the helicopter. The hope on their faces is both heart-warming and heart-breaking given our Flash Forward info.

9. So if Ben is the FF's objective why send anyone other than Naomi? How many other objectives do they have? And why does Abaddon trust the FF to be able to leave the Island after each has fulfilled their specific purpose? Won't they talk? Especially about the existence of 815 survivors? Frank at least seems to think his only purpose on the Island is to run a ferry service from it to the freighter.

10. Can Smokey/Jacob/the Island make Christian Shephard and Yemi appear because they're "just meat?" If so, they better get Naomi off the Island quickly before her body disappears and shows up in Jacob's cabin.

11. Does Ben know what the monster is, but he's still unwilling to tell Locke? To tell Charlotte?

Did Locke Make a Case for Jack? For Sayid?













I don't want to go home, Kate. I want you to know I made a strong case for you. I told them you are a good person. Reliable. Smart. Honest. And then they told me who you were and what you had done. Let's just say forgiveness isn't one of their strong suits. -- John Locke, Episode 3.15, Left Behind

So Locke thought Kate had communion with the Island? Or did he just have needs as Sawyer once suggested? But the real thing I want to know is what they told him about Jack. How is Jack not a good person? I still haven't seen anything other than poor judgment in his pre-Island flashbacks; no murder of fathers for example. And what about Sayid? Well hopefully we'll find out soon about Basra and know along with Juliet the full scope of Sayid's unforgivable crimes.

Why Is Locke Wet?













This has fueled endless speculation on the Interwebs. Why is John Locke who went inside the submarine with his backpack of C4 now wet? Where did he plant those charges? Did he press the "Submerge" button as Ben suggested before setting the charges? And where is the backpack? The axe? The mini-Jesus stick? And is it really the case that the submarine can no longer be used to leave the Island?

Frustration Point













This is one of the things that really bugged me about Season 3 and especially the first half of Season 3 -- why after Locke's big speech about finding our friends did he not go look for Jack, Kate and Sawyer? Later he says he wasn't motivated, but damn John, what changed? Episodes 3-5 you were motivated, but a night on the beach listening to Charlie and Desmond sing soccer songs kills it?

Was it the case that Locke was waiting for backup to follow his message from the Island? Like he waited for Kate to enter the Hatch, was he waiting for her to go traipsing towards 305? Locke clearly isn't looking for Jack. In retrospect I'm amazed he didn't wait until Jack was on the sub to blow it up. Instead Locke was on his prevent anyone from leaving the Island tour, but why wait to embark upon it in the first place?

Who's Coercing You Now John?













In one of my least favorite LOST episodes ever, young cop Eddie tells Locke that he was targeted to take down the pot farm because Locke would be "amenable for coercion." I'm still wondering if this is why the Island/Jacob has chosen Locke as well. Is Locke going to turn out to be the mere puppet as he feared in "?" or will he ever be the master of his fate, the captain of his soul?

Similarly, is this why Jacob/Ben should not have chosen Walt? Mobisode 6 shows Walt isn't very amenable at least to the Others' methods.

Finally, would a guy who lived on a pot farm be on your "good" list if you were Jacob? I guess the answer is yes if good means amenable for coercion. Was young Ben similarly amenable? How about Rose who was also healed?

Coincidence or Fate?













Locke's going on about the odds two plane crash survivors
would find two parts of a film that had been seperated
and would bring them back together. And Mr. Eko replies:

Don't mistake coincidence for fate.

So Eko thinks this is fate, right? Not mere
coincidence. Strange for the man of fate, John Locke, to
be the mere man of coincidence in this instance. Eko is
so friggin' enigmatic I have a hard time understanding him.

And here's another question about this new piece of film.
In the excised portion of film our man who's both a doctor
and plays one on film, if not TV, says:

The isolation that attends the duties associated with
Station 3 may tempt you to try and utilize the computer
for communication with the outside world. This is strictly
forbidden. Attempting to use the computer in this manner
will compromise the integrity of the project and worse,
could lead to another incident.

So did contacting the outside world lead to the first incident?
Is Jack's contact with the outside world going to lead to
a new incident? Or like the quarantine warning is this just
Dharma smoke?

One final question for you IT types. Would it really be
possible for the Others in one of the other stations to
unlock the Swan computer's keyboard allowing Michael to
have his little chat?

. . . And Themes














. . . And Found, Episode 2.5 is loaded with many a LOST theme.
Here's just a few.

The flashback opens with Sun's mom despairing that her
daughter will ever find a husband. Sun tells her mom:

I'll find a husband when the time is right.

Mrs. Paik replies:

Your father says the time is now.

There has been speculation that Mr. Paik may be a Mrs. Hawking
type time guardian. I wonder if this was driving Mr. Paik's desire
for Sun to marry. And if so, did the universe course correct on
him and bring Jin to Sun? Or was that just the Destiny book that Jin's
friend used that said this was Jin's year to find love?

And speaking of that possible course correction, it was necessitated
by another LOST theme. Jae and his courting of Sun was an attempt
by Jae to pull a con on his parents and Sun's. Is there anyone on
this show that isn't a con artist of some degree?

There's a big thematic discussion that occurs between Sun
and Locke. Now that's an odd couple if ever there was one. Sun is
looking for her lost ring and pulls up her garden in frustration. Locke
witnesses this and the following discussion takes place:

Locke: Oh, I used to get angry all the time. Frustrated too.
Sun: You are not frustrated anymore?
Locke: I'm not lost anymore.
Sun: How did you do that?
Locke: Same way anything lost gets found. I stopped looking.

Huh? What about all that trying to get into the Swan? What about
sacrificing Boone and pounding on the Hatch? What about lighting
dynamite while Hurley ran at you and yelled at you to stop? What
about the fact that it took Sayid to fix the computer? What about
the fact Jack doesn't want to push the button?

This goes back to my recent post about the Swan's effect on Locke.
Outside the Swan, Locke sees clearly what he's gained, how far
he's come, but inside the Swan, that frustration and fear and anger
returns over and over. So again I ask was the Swan Locke's destiny
or a diversion?

Finally, Jin is told in his flashback by the Destiny book that love
will be orange. Ironically, while there is a lot of orange in
the episode, Sun isn't the one wearing it. Granted Jin ogling a
woman in orange leads him to bump into and meet Sun, but
the most interesting use of orange to me is Michael's shirt.

Here we have the theme of sacrificing ourselves and our goals
and desires for the sake of others out of a brotherly love.
Jin actually does this in his flashback as well when he permits
the scruffy Koreans to use the fancy shmancy toilet at the hotel.
But it plays out most clearly in Jin's determination to find
Michael and help Michael find Walt even at the expense of
delaying his return to Sun. In this case orange equalled Jin's
love for Michael bringing their story that started out with
bitterness and even hatred half circle to a place of friendship
that will sacrifice for the other.

Did Locke Really Try To Track
Desmond?















Desmond flees the Swan thinking the world is about
to end. Jack, not the world's best tracker, manages
to catch up with him. Then in the next episode Locke
says he tried to track Desmond, but that he didn't
leave much of a trail.

I'm suspicious that Locke didn't really try to track
Desmond because if Jack could find him, why couldn't
Locke? Desmond wasn't concerned with NOT leaving a
trail. He had 40 minutes to get the heck out of
Dodge. I wonder why Jack didn't have Kate try to
track him as well. If only they had, maybe I'd
have gotten my answer to this question.

I'm heading out of town this afternoon, but I'm going
to try to make new posts via my new iPhone Thursday
and Friday. If they look goofy or don't work forgive
me. Normalcy will return on Monday.

Does The Swan Prevent Locke's
Ability To Commune With
the Island?















Season 2 Locke was no one's, not even Terry O'Quinn's,
favorite. Over and over people asked what happened to
the guy that was going to save them all? He's sitting
underground pushing buttons?

In fact, there were several times in the Swan like the one
in the picture above and in this one















where Locke was the pathetic loser we saw in his flashbacks
and not Crocodile Locke.

Is there something about the properties of the Swan that
prevented the Island from communing with Locke and vice
versa? Was Ben telling the truth that he was coming for
Locke because the Island itself (or Jacob) couldn't call
him since Locke never left the Hatch? Was Eko's dream and
his search for the "?" an effort by the Island to reconnect
with Locke?

Why Couldn't Locke Have Waited
Three Hours?














Jack gives his stirring stump speech. The sun comes up in
3 hours and we're all going to be here to see that happen.
I promise. It was what they all needed to hear; it was what
we'd just learned from the flashback that Jack had learned
they needed to hear. And then Locke can't wait three more
hours to explore the Hatch? Is it any wonder Jack doesn't
trust anything Locke says or does anymore? Locke can be
more Every Man for Himself than even Sawyer.

In any event I guess it works for Emmy voters.
Congratulations Terry O'Quinn on your win last night!

What Vibe Was Locke Channeling To
Walt?















In Born to Run Walt seeks out Locke to tell him he
did not poison Michael to prevent them from leaving on the
raft. The conversation is straight forward and normal until
Locke reaches out and grasps Walt's arms in a gesture designed
to demonstrate their friendship and trust.

But that's not how Walt reacts to it. He pulls away and starts
jabbering:

Walt: Don't open it.
Locke: What'd you say?
Walt: Don't open it, Mr. Locke. Don't open that thing.
Locke: What? What thing? What are you...
Walt: Just don't open it.

On whose behalf is Walt delivering this message and
what was it about Locke's touching Walt that triggered
its delivery?

Justice or The Greater Good?














Episode 1.21, The Greater Good, is full of ethical
dilemmas.

First, we learn Boone wanted Jack to stop trying to save
him in part so that he, Boone, wouldn't use up the group's
antibiotics. Boone refused Jack's efforts for the greater
good of the group.

Jack in contrast is a man out for individual justice.
Locke lied to Jack, and in Jack's mind Locke must pay for
that. Jack's beatdown of Locke at the funeral and his
failure to offer medical care when Locke is shot reflects
his sense of justice and sets the tone for Jack and Locke's
interactions in Season 2.

In the flashback Assam, Sayid's friend, questions whether
the greater good of his cause and his desire for revenge for
his wife outweighs the innocent lives that will be lost in the
pursuit of those ends. Sayid in contrast has determined that
his chance to find Nadia outweighs the greater good of both
Assam's cause and Assam himself.

Locke tells Sayid that it was for the group's greater
good that Locke destroyed the transceiver and implies
that likewise putting hope in the raft is not in the
group's best interest.

Shannon like Jack is only concerned with revenge
against Locke in the form of eye for an eye justice.
(Maybe the Others should have taken her. :D)

And in the end, Sayid disagrees judging that Locke
and his skills are necessary for the greater good of the
group despite the possible injustice of Locke escaping the
consequences of Boone's death and even at the personal
cost to Sayid of Shannon's trust.

I kept expecting this notion of the greater good to
come up with respect to the Others in Season 3. But
we still haven't learned what possible greater good
Ben's Others represent in light of the actions they've
taken with respect to the survivors of Flight 815.

Their own system that we glimpsed with Juliet's trial
seemed to place higher value on justice than their own
greater good given that Juliet seems to be their last
doctor.

I know, I know, it's complicated. Still, will the Others
or the Island represent a greater good than living in
the real world? I can't wait to see.