Lost 4.11 Cabin Fever

[selenak]

In which at last we get a Locke episode again, while things at the freighter get even crazier.



It's been a long while; up to now, Locke was presented from an outside pov this season (actually, come to think of it, the last Locke pov scene was probably his time in the mass grave in last season's finale and the Walt vision; his appearance later, killing Naomi (well, almost, but that's beside the point) started the outside pov, and it's been kept until now.

I figured Peggy Sue Emily was Locke's mother Emily, and btw, the fact Ben's mother and Locke's mother have the same first name didn't escape my attention last season, either. In a show that is so playful and intentional with names, that has to be deliberate, though I don't know whether it points to anything other than the appalled fascination the two have for each other, and the way the island plays favorites. Resident island immortal Richard Halpert showing up to visit child!Locke fits that pattern (I'm torn whether not Locke should have remembered him when meeting him again on the island, but then again, it was decades, and he has never seen him since, plus the whole thing with his father was majorly distracting at the time. Speaking of parents, despite her file (which might or might not have been faked) adult Locke sees years later, here Emily isn't crazy. Just a teenager who can't cope. In the parallels and contrasts matter between Ben and Locke, here the mother survives, unlike Ben's Emily, but absents herself anyway, and the son actually isn't looking for her. Locke wants a family, but doesn't go for mothers as much as for fathers, and Richard establishing himself as the first father figure who first promises and then dupes and rejects, even before Anthony Cooper, fits the pattern. The three items: sand, a compass and the knife. Knives have been associated with Locke from the second episode of the series onwards, and a knife was what he used when he made the irrevocable step of killing Naomi; it's the item that gets him rejected by Richard at this point, but it's actually the last item he chooses. A compass is a symbol for looking (and finding) one's way, for travel and adventure; sand - well. Far less easy. Sand could mean the island, of course, but also time (sand running through an old hour glass), or earth as in belonging. It's the first and least likely item young John Locke picks. Hmmmm.

Locke's survivalist fascination developing from being the geeky, beat-up kid at school and not wanting to be that child isn't a surprise, and again a parallel/contrast to Ben, who also was that child but still cultivates the appearance of weakness as one part of his formidable arsenal, one of the ways to surpise and defeat enemies. What as a surprise was the Haitian Matthew Abaddon showing up during his post-crippling recovery period. As Abaddon seems to be connected with Widmore, recruited the freighter people (at least the scientists among them) and is still looking for the island in the flashforwards, this does not bode well. Again, hmmm.

You have to love Hurley's matter of fact way of stating they're the craziest (and hence the visionaries) and sharing chocolate with Ben, taking all the revelations about past mass murders and more recent shootings in stride. Re: did Locke mean it when he told Hurley to leave them and be safe, actually I think I did. Not that Locke can't be manipulative himself (not on a Ben scale, but he knows his essentials, ask Boone in season one), but aside from genuinenly liking Hurley, I think he was somewhat ashamed of having brought him into this situation to begin with. Hurley not taking that opportunity but choosing to remain with the Odd Couple is interesting: curiosity about the cabin? Some kind of kinship, plus the relief of, since as he says they're all three crazy, not having to pretend anymore he doesn't have those episodes?

Claire showing up in the cabin: I called it. Did not expect her to be completely on board ship island mysticism, though, which makes me wonder whether she's still alive or one of the walking dead like Christian Shephard. Whom for some strange reason I find infinitely more watchable than his son. Keep on being the speaker for Jacob, Christian, you can stay.

Move the island, huh? I've read The Mists of Avalon, too, scriptwriters. At a guess: the island is currently already out of sync with the rest of the world, time-wise (see: the unfortunate freighter doctor and his demise), and what it wants Locke & Co. to do now is to make that gulf even larger, which they will eventually succeed in, hence Ben being convinced in the future that Charles Widmore will never be able to find it. Just how they're to accomplish that feat I have no idea, though. Dharma tech alone can't be enough. Let's hope Daniel Faraday will come in useful.

Meanwhile, we're finally clear on the who knows what on the freighter: the mercenaries know Widmore wants everyone dead (which Ben didn't lie about), the captain just thought they were going to extract Ben, then leave, the scientists seem to have assumed the same thing. Frank the pilot is making a stand and promptly gets blackmailed more successfully than Ben did but apparantly has cooked up a sneaky plan to warn/help the Castaways. Which is more than Desmond does, who so far this season has been entirely useless, sorry to say. Not that I don’t empathize with his desire to go home and reunite with Penny, but you know, given the way Charlie died, one would think he would feel obliged to take the trouble of ensuring Claire and Aaron would get off the island first. (Now Sayid, otoh, is being both competent and responsible, going back for the others, but then, he’s Sayid.)

Lastly: Horace building the cabin for himself “and the missus” was one of those touches of black humour Lost does very well indeed. And I think I’m fighting a losing battle against shipping Ben/Locke.

Comments

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

I'm especially fascinated to read your takes on Lost, since our concentration points on the show are really fairly different from each other, not to mention our conclusions (which is good, since it doesn't make my own reviews completely obsolete.;)) . Case in point:

Which is more than Desmond does, who so far this season has been entirely useless, sorry to say.

Aside from having to point out that being useless goes for basically everyone this season except for the 06, Ben and probably Frank, Bernard and Faraday, I do think Desmond will be useful, since he's the only non-hostile person still living who knows that something Awfully Bad will happen if Keamy gets killed. And I'm guessing that was the major plot reason he stayed on the freighter, aside from him basically being the only character who can interact with Michael on a halfway neutral basis,

(And seriously, much as I love him, I like that they make Desmond less than heroic here; most of this season, he has been this poor adorable fluffball who can't get to his sweetie and whose brain might explode, it's nice that they remembered he has less stellar aspects.)

(I just did one of these embarrassing comments to defend a favourite character, didn't I? Shame, shame. I'll save my reputation by saying that I did love the whole Locke storyline, but am now wondering if he involuntarily plays for Team Slightly More Evil and A Lot More Creepy, given his interaction with a Dharma and a Widmore representative.)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

since he's the only non-hostile person still living who knows that something Awfully Bad will happen if Keamy gets killed. And I'm guessing that was the major plot reason he stayed on the freighter, aside from him basically being the only character who can interact with Michael on a halfway neutral basis,

Both good points, plus yes, if Desmond had left as well our viewpoint character on the freighter would have to be Michael who's still locked up and therefore can't see a lot of what is going on, and methinks they overdosed on cell scenes in the first half of s3...

I did love the whole Locke storyline, but am now wondering if he involuntarily plays for Team Slightly More Evil and A Lot More Creepy, given his interaction with a Dharma and a Widmore representative.

They obviously both wanted something from him, and in the second case Abaddon obviously wanted him to get to the island. However - Richard isn't a Dharma representative and wasn't one in the 50s/60s (whenever that flashback was); back then, he's busy being a hostile, remember, as this is before the purge. Ben later recruits Juliet via Richard (and his company, Mittelos, which as has been pointed out to me is an anagram for "lost time"), but that's after Ben has taken over.

At a guess, team Widmore wanted Locke on the island as someone who might be competition or at the very least trouble for Ben and thus make it easier for them to take over. As with Desmond and the boat competition probably being about the need for someone to find the island, not about Desmond. However, of Locke's actions on the island so far the only one that was actually favourable to team Widmore I can think of is his crisis of faith in season 2 and the refusal to push the button anymore, since that event allowed Penny's (and probably also her father's, though we did not see them at the time) teams to get a first fix of the island, no matter how briefly.

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

Both good points, plus yes, if Desmond had left as well our viewpoint character on the freighter would have to be Michael who's still locked up and therefore can't see a lot of what is going on, and methinks they overdosed on cell scenes in the first half of s3...

There was a small scene in the end where Frank let Michael out, telling Keamy he'd take him to fix the engine, but yeah, same difference. Engine room - not the place where you see what's going on.

However - Richard isn't a Dharma representative

He's not, I meant Horace Goodspeed. Blame it on my sleep addled brain, because I couldn't put back together why Jacob should use Horace to contact Locke, but of course it was so Locke could go back to the grave and discover the map. So, forget the idea, Locke has been contacted by both "official" representatives of the island and the other side, who have employees named after demons(?). That looks better for him, but Abaddon's insistence that he owes him a favour made me quite nervous - given the situation now, this could easily be something like a "rule" that John will be unable to break.

At a guess, team Widmore wanted Locke on the island as someone who might be competition or at the very least trouble for Ben and thus make it easier for them to take over.

I think it's both that and his crisis of faith which eventually leads to the implosion, like you describe. It really depends how much "they" (whoever that is, but I'd vaguely say Dharma/Widmore's people) know has to happen on the island for it to become visible, but since someone knew Desmond had to get to the island to push the button and turn the key, I'm guessing it's a lot. Of course, if the idea of the universe eventually leading everyone down their path is true, I don't see why they even need to try and influence either Desmond (that was in Flashes Before Your Eyes, when Cranky Middle-Aged Lady told him he couldn't marry Penny) or Locke to do much of anything. I mean, they would do it, anyway, right?

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Favours are indeed ominous. *thinks of Lucas Buck from American Gothic*

(Which leads me to wonder who'd win in a Lucas/Ben showdown, given they're both masters of manipulation, ruthless and smart...)

I'm curious how they'll play out the fate versus choice scenario, too. I mean, Charlie's whole storyline seems to indicate that he was doomed whatever else anyone did or tried, but he chose his fate in the end. Otoh, Michael currently seems to be severely choice-limited, what with guns not working when aimed at him in lethal intention, his own or others, yet Michael got where he's now entirely because of the choices he made...

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

I'm curious how they'll play out the fate versus choice scenario, too. I mean, Charlie's whole storyline seems to indicate that he was doomed whatever else anyone did or tried, but he chose his fate in the end.

My take on the Charlie situation is basically that Desmond's "visions" weren't entirely random - Desmond did get the flashes explicitly to save Charlie, up to a certain point, because without Charlie, they couldn't have turned off the blocking signal (unless Bernard is not only a morse code fiend, but also knows his musical cues). In other words, fate or the island are rather manipulative, because both Desmond saving Charlie rather than letting him die and Charlie working up the courage to sacrifice himself are very predictable outcomes of their situations. The good thing for Charlie here is that he was able to make peace with his death and come out as a hero.

That said, I don't much like this interpretation, which is why I initially had hope due to Young Locke's refusal to be pigeonholed as a scientist. Of course he still can't escape his destiny but at least he can choose his outlook. I do wonder if Locke not giving in to the island this early caused Ben to be chosen as an "interim" leader, though, and whether that had unforeseen consequences.

Lucas/Ben showdown: I knew there was something I still wanted to watch...*goes searching for AG*

P.S.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

So, what's your take on Claire? Dead since the explosion and only Miles noticed, which was why he kept looking at her last episode?

Re: P.S.

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

It seems the most likely interpretation to me. Of course that means that Charlie's finale message ultimately got Claire killed, which is kind of depressing.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

I really liked this episode. It was as full of WTF? as anything we've had so far, but it was constructive, story-advancing WTF?, if you know what I mean. Plus, it's made me remember why I liked Locke so much in the first place. (And, heh. *points at icon* Looks like he's won the "Who's specialer?" contest, for sure.)

I'm torn whether not Locke should have remembered him when meeting him again on the island

I certainly wouldn't have remembered some guy I met for ten minutes when I was five. Even if he did have a memorable face like Richard's.

The three items: sand, a compass and the knife.

The sand and the compass are both very Island-y things, if that makes sense. And the "Book of Laws," whatever that is, somehow seems like an Other-ish sort of thing. (And that's clearly what Richard wanted him to pick. Horses are capable of reading cues that obvious and figuring out what they're supposed to do. :)) What's really interesting about this scene, of course, is that, IIRC, it's pretty much exactly the type of test that's used to find the kid who is supposed to be the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. Which begs the questions: who is Locke supposed to be the reincarnation of? My feeling, after watching this episode, is that he was probably giving them a false negative on the test. That early-manifesting knife fetish must have thrown it off, or something. :)

You have to love Hurley's matter of fact way of stating they're the craziest

Best Hurley line ever. Not least because I suspect he's not wrong. :) I figured, by the way, that the reason he stuck with Locke and Ben really was mostly because he didn't want to go walking through the jungle full of smoke monsters and mercenaries at night by himself. With the emphasis on "by himself." Never mind the fact that he's safer with survivors like Locke and Ben, he's just not somebody who wants to be alone. And I agree that Locke wasn't being deliberately manipulative there, although subconsciously might be something else. Locke has more of his father in him than he might be aware of or like to admit, perhaps.

Did not expect her to be completely on board ship island mysticism, though, which makes me wonder whether she's still alive or one of the walking dead like Christian Shephard.

Her whole demeanor seemed really strange, not least because as I recall, she wasn't exactly on good terms with her father the last time she saw him. The idea that she, too, might be dead didn't really cross my mind, but it does seem dreadfully plausible, all things considered.

And speaking of names... Man, "Christian Shepard" is so unsubtle it's almost painful, but I've been going crazy for ages wondering how the heck it's supposed to apply. Maybe we're finally about to find out. :)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Plus, it's made me remember why I liked Locke so much in the first place.

Yes. All season, we just got glimpses, und ones where he was usually in an antagonist position at that, so it was a relief we finally got something that showed his sympathetic traits as well as the others.

And, heh. *points at icon* Looks like he's won the "Who's specialer?" contest, for sure.

Aw, but look what happens to other special people. Hurley ends up in a mental institution (unless Bearded!Jack breaks him out of there in the future), and Ben, as he points out, got a tumor and a dead daughter out of it. If I were Locke, I'd be worried.

Btw, I think he meant the "I'm sorry these things happened to you" to Ben. Am currently pondering whether or not Locke is a vengeful person. I mean, obviously he tried again and again getting affection from his father even after the kidney thing which would have put others off for life, but that was his father, which means it doesn't necessarily apply to other people. Still, he seems remarkably grudge-free about the whole getting shot in the gut and left in a mass grave thing towards Ben, not just here but throughout the season so far. Some instinctive understanding?

Which begs the questions: who is Locke supposed to be the reincarnation of?

You are awesome. I wouldn't have thought of the Dalai Lama parallel, but yes, that's really the same kind of test. Hmmm. Someone from that boat that crashed on the island a few centuries ago?

My feeling, after watching this episode, is that he was probably giving them a false negative on the test. That early-manifesting knife fetish must have thrown it off, or something. :)

Or something. I also was reminded of that flashback ep in s3 when the undercover cop told him he was a gardener, not a hunter. Knife = manifestation of the part in Locke that resists his destiny, whatever that is? Otoh, it has come in really useful on the island since season 1.

Best Hurley line ever. Not least because I suspect he's not wrong. :)

He. We all suspected that was the reason, didn't we? Also, note that neither Locke nor Ben disagree with his assessment.

The idea that she, too, might be dead didn't really cross my mind, but it does seem dreadfully plausible, all things considered.

The more I think about it, the more Dead Claire Walking makes sense. Because she really was right in the center of that explosion, and not a scratch on her? Also, it really would explain why Miles kept looking at her. (Miles doesn't strike me as a guy who'd automatically leer at any pretty young woman if he's in a life-threatening situation.) And yes, she wasn't on good terms with Christian Shephard when last they met, though she changed her mind about him later.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

If I were Locke, I'd be worried.

I wouldn't be Locke for anything. :)

Am currently pondering whether or not Locke is a vengeful person.

I think he tries hard not to be, and succeeds better, perhaps, than most of us would. I think that at the very least, he wanted to mean what he said to Ben, and probably actually did. Still, you can't tell me that bringing Daddy Dearest to Sawyer wasn't an act of vengeance, whatever else it also was.

I wouldn't have thought of the Dalai Lama parallel,

It was instantly obvious to me. I started laughing almost immediately when he started laying out the objects. :)

Knife = manifestation of the part in Locke that resists his destiny, whatever that is?

It occurred to me to wonder, actually, if it wasn't the exact opposite, if the knife, in a sense, already belongs to Locke because it is his destiny, and Richard didn't understand that. But you may be right. There is probably some strong symbolic significance to the idea of Locke choosing the knife over the Book of Law.