LOST: Cabin Fever
Well, I finally managed to get my TV hooked up to an HD DVR (thank you, Verizon), so expect the quality of my posts to increase proportionally. In all seriousness, it’s easier to catch the small details this way.
This episode had everything the last one lacked. And, you know, I didn’t miss Jack and Kate much at all.
Spoilers about tonight’s episode below the fold.
Links and miscellanea
- There was no Cuse/Lindelof podcast this week, only a short video podcast on the shooting of the Ben Linus/Charles Widmore faceoff in London.
- Former lost writer Javier Grillo-Marxuach will have a new show on ABC Family in June called “The Middleman,” based on his graphic novels. Here’s the press release. Sounds fun—sort of a mix between “The X-Files” and Men In Black. Here are some pictures.
- Two popular theories are floating around since last week’s episode:
1. Claire’s dead. She died in the explosion and has been dead ever since, finally being summoned to the land of the dead by Christian. This is an odd theory. On the one hand, it did seem weird that she survived the blast. And she mentioned that she has been “seeing things” since then. But it just seems like a lot to swallow—that Claire can be dead but the other Locke campers still seem to think she’s a live person. Tonight’s episode seems to strengthen this theory a bit. But at some point, I’m going to require an explanation of all these walking, talking, Charlie-slapping, Aaron-holding visions of dead people.
2. Jack didn’t really have appendicitis. Juliet poisoned Jack and used it as a ruse to insert something inside of him. I like this one even less. But at least the whole surgery on Jack thing would have a purpose (as a setup for something else), rather than being a suspenseful moment that wasn’t very suspenseful, since everyone knew he’d survive.
- ABC.com has this somewhat questionable Mother’s Day card available on their website:
Claire and Aaron was only one of the possibilities here. I think something like this would have been nice:
Or maybe this:
What do you think, too dark? I can’t wait until Father’s Day.
Observations and speculations
- The record that Locke’s mother, Emily, plays at the beginning of the episode is Buddy Holly’s “Everyday.” It’s a great song, of course, but it’s also a song by someone who died in a plane crash. The show has frequently use songs by Patsy Cline, who died the same way.
- Both Locke and Ben were born prematurely. If you remember, Ben was born in the woods when his mother went into early labor while his parents were hiking in Oregon. And both Locke and Ben were “chosen” ones. This does not seem like a coincidence to me, although I can’t see what difference it would make.
- Do we know for sure that (The Real) Sawyer was Locke’s dad? Presumably he was and that was his reason for conning Locke out of his kidney. I found it interesting, however, that we didn’t ever see Locke’s dad in this episode.
- I kinda figured Keamy’s gun wouldn’t fire when he had it pointed at Michael’s head, but it was a pretty cool moment anyway.
- This is at least the third time that Locke has had revelation come to him in a dream. The first involved a bloody Boone telling him to go find the plane during season 1. The second was the vision in the sweat lodge, again with Boone, at the first of season 3.
- You might remember Horace Goodspeed as the DHARMA Initiative mathematician who welcomed Ben and his father to the island in last year’s episode, “The Man Behind the Curtain.” He was also the one who came upon Ben’s father carrying his mother right after she gave birth to him in the woods outside of Portland, Oregon.
- Horace’s bloody nose that comes and goes was awfully creepy. I wonder if it’s supposed to be connected to the bloody noses suffered by Desmond, Minkowski and Faraday’s lab rat. In other words, did Horace somehow get unstuck in time?
- The vision of Horace tells Locke that Jacob has been waiting for Locke “a real long time.” The flashbacks seem to establish that. They also seem to establish that Richard Alpert and Matthew Abbadon are agents of Jacob, and that they are immortal, or outside of time, or just really young-looking for their ages. [EDIT: As Dan points out in the comments, a better argument can be made that Abbadon works for Widmore. It seems that Abbadon and Alpert are counterparts, agents for their factions, which I guess would be Widmore/DHARMA/Hanso and Jacob/Ben/The Others, respectively.]
- Second best line from Ben in tonight’s episode: “I used to have dreams.” It says so much in so few words.
- How did Richard Alpert know to come for Locke? We now know that Alpert made at least three pre-island contacts with Locke: in the hospital after he was born, to his house in a Dr.-Charles-Xavier-esque visit, and through Locke’s high school guidance counselor.
- When Alpert goes to see young Locke at his home, using the pretext that he runs as special school, Locke is playing backgammon. This is the same game Locke played with Walt on the beach during season 1.
- Young Locke’s picture suggests that he had some sort of early precognitive experience with the island’s Smoke Monster. Interesting.
- The objects that Alpert placed in front of young Locke were: a baseball mitt, a book titled the “Book of Laws”, a bottle of sand (from the island?), a compass, a comic book called “Mystery Tales” (featuring a story with the caption “What was the secret of the mysterious “hidden land!’”), and a old knife. Locke selects the bottle of sand, the compass and the knife. Alpert seems particularly disturbed that Locke selected the knife.
- Ben tells Hurley that it wasn’t his decision to wipe out the DHARMA Initiative and that he was not always the leader of the Others.
- When Keamy opens the safe and retrieves the “secondary protocol,” he looks at a binder that has a DHARMA Initiative logo on its title page. In fact, it’s the same DHARMA Initiative logo that we saw a couple of weeks ago (with some kind of swirling image in the middle) when Ben landed in the Sahara. The most logical implication, then, is that Keamy now believes that Ben is heading to the island’s escape hatch teleportation portal. Makes sense. Are we to assume that Widmore’s forces are/were aligned with the DHARMA Initiative?
- Omar gets the Morse code message on the deck of the boat after the chopper has returned.
- Ben and Locke’s exchange after Locke told Hurley he could go to the beach featured had some brilliant acting.
- Teen Locke had a Geronimo Jackson poster in his locker.
- Frank Lapidus doesn’t believe that Charles Widmore is responsible for the fake Oceanic 815 wreck. I don’t think so either.
- So what was the device that Keamy strapped to his bicep, anyway. It didn’t look like a bomb. More like some sort of handheld communications device. The captain didn’t know what it was.
- Best Ben line of tonight’s episode: “Destiny, John, is a fickle bitch.”
- Abbadon says that Locke should believe in miracles because he “had one happen to me.” Can Richard Alpert (and now Christian Shepard and Claire) say the same?
- So Abbadon was the one who put the idea in Locke’s head to go on a walkabout. In return, Abbadon tells Locke that the next time he sees Locke (which I’m guessing will happen in a near episode), he’ll owe him one.
- When Lapidus kicked the bag with the satelite phone out of the chopper, I don’t think the message was supposed to be “follow us.” I think he was trying to warn the survivors about Keamy’s position.
- How exacty did Christian Shepard (and now Claire) come to be connected with jacob? That’s what I’d like to know.
- Hurley and Ben make a surprisingly great comic duo.
- And finally, just how does one go about moving a mysterious island?
This was a great episode. It fully made up for last week’s underwhelming installment.
It was, in a sense, this season’s penultimate episode. Next week is the first hour of the three-hour season finale. Then, after an off week, the season should conclude with a the final two hours of the finale on May 29.
Best scene of the ep: Ben & Hurley sharing a candy bar (Dharma-bar?) outside the cabin.
Comment by Darin H — May 9, 2008 @ 12:24 am
Greg,
So, wait a second, Matthew Abandon works for Jacob (and thusly Ben)? Isn’t it Abandon that sends Naomi and the militant group to seek the island? Or does he send just the scientists and Whitmore sends the militants? If so, why would Locke need to throw a knife into Naomi’s back?
I thought that was another nice nod to the viewers of the show that answers for the black smoke were coming.
I’m tellin’ ya, it is Ben. He’s the ultimate bad boy here.
I loved the episode. This is what made Lost so brilliant. But I was rather disappointed that Jacob didn’t make an appearance. I tire of that wait.
Comment by Dan — May 9, 2008 @ 3:57 am
“Best scene of the ep: Ben & Hurley sharing a candy bar (Dharma-bar?) outside the cabin.”
Probably an Apollo Bar.
“So, wait a second, Matthew Abandon works for Jacob (and thusly Ben)? Isn’t it Abandon that sends Naomi and the militant group to seek the island? Or does he send just the scientists and Whitmore sends the militants? If so, why would Locke need to throw a knife into Naomi’s back?”
Ah, good point. So does Abbadon work for Widmore/DHARMA, and Alpert work for the Jacob/Ben/Others faction?
Comment by BTD Greg — May 9, 2008 @ 7:33 am
Agreed on the candy bar scene. Spoke volumes to me.
I actually see Ben as a Gollum now - pathetic and miserable, but you can’t kill him because you feel sorry for him.
Is the finale really May 30? That’s a Friday.
Comment by David J — May 9, 2008 @ 7:35 am
Oops. May 29, I think.
Comment by BTD Greg — May 9, 2008 @ 7:41 am
And both Locke and Ben’s mothers were named Emily. I was wondering what to make of that too. Perhaps, just another way to show their similarities?
Comment by Michelle — May 9, 2008 @ 8:25 am
Claire is dead. That’s why Miles was freaking out around her when they were walking back to the beach.
Comment by Hayes — May 9, 2008 @ 9:06 am
I think we’ve been heading for a long time towards a reveal that Ben and Locke are both candidates to fulfill the same prophesy: born early, and then left by mothers named Emily would be a good place to start.
Comment by IC12Rod — May 9, 2008 @ 9:48 am
An outstanding episode.
The device on Keamy’s arm will prove to be significant. Too much screen time devoted to it. Some sort of tracker in case they move the island?
Comment by Supergenius — May 9, 2008 @ 9:48 am
I thought of Ben as Gollum in the beginning of the season when they were dragging him around on a rope in the jungle but we saw him get out of that pretty fast. As we see in the flashforwards he’ll get out of the dumps and back on whatever plan he has pretty soon.
Claire sure seems to be dead and at peace with whatever has happened based on her creepy smile in the cabin. That combined w/ Miles’ strange fascination with her.
Comment by David H. Sundwall — May 9, 2008 @ 10:07 am
Depends on your definition of ‘move’. The island seems to be displaced in time. Maybe Locke has to move the island forward or back in time.
Comment by Michael — May 9, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
Agreed with almost everything you said except:
His mother wasn’t married and was very young. And it was the 50’s? For sure his father wasn’t around. I don’t think it really signified anything other than the fact that his dad was a deadbeat like we always knew…
Michael-
I love the idea that the island could be moved in time…
Comment by cheryl — May 9, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
OK when the locke-as-child looks at the items on the table, why does he pick up the knife, and that so disappoints Eyeliner?
I think that Locke, and Ben before him, were dalai-lama-ish incarnations of that earlier captain of the Black Rock, that “found the island”- see Widmore’s auction for that book. So if the dalai-lama-kid picks up the objects that he “owned before” - the personal effects of the black rock pirate, he’s the descendant. Jacob is the ghost of that pirate, like a soul that has lost its body.
I like Hurley’s line: “Guys, cabin.” It’s like, when the plot is rolling along, you don’t need find words and clever wordsmithing.
Comment by banane — May 9, 2008 @ 4:51 pm
I’m jealous. All my local channels are HD except for the ABC affiliate. Ugh.
No way Claire is dead. I know lots are saying it but I don’t buy it. I think she was told her baby would get off the island if she left him for Sawyer.
I’m glad Batmanuel and the Haitian are back. This was one of my favorite episodes this season. Desmond’s episode is still my favorite but I really dug this one.
Regarding Locke’s dad I’m thinking the con artist wasn’t really the dad as well.
Comment by Clark — May 9, 2008 @ 4:56 pm
BTW - what do you want to bet that there are two sides on the island itself which are playing a game between Ben and Widmore. The non-mute Haitian is Widmore’s man and Batmanuel is one of the surviving pirates who is on Ben’s side. (I’m guessing the non-mute Haitian is a pirate too)
Regarding that weird test on Locke as a kid. What do you want to be that both Locke and Walt are psychic in a way akin to what Miles can do. Something like the Breakers in those Stephen King stories.
Comment by Clark — May 9, 2008 @ 5:05 pm
I love that it’s Batmanuel.
Comment by Supergenius — May 9, 2008 @ 5:07 pm
Locke was also led in a dream to find the “question mark” with Eko.
Also, Horrace died with a bloody nose. That’s why he kept getting it at the mention of his being dead for 12 years.
Comment by Jeff G — May 9, 2008 @ 10:09 pm
How many times has a character on Lost said …”and why would I do that?”… like Sayed once again said to Keamy.
Is Abbadon a growed up Walt?
Comment by Berken — May 9, 2008 @ 10:22 pm
I think that banane is on to something. They’re looking for a reincarnation of the Jacob spirit who was a pirate. Doesn’t Richard Alpert look piratesque?
Comment by meems — May 10, 2008 @ 7:49 am
Richard Alpert (aka Batmanuel for those not up on the Tick joke) is either playing an immortal pirate or an immortal Richard Greko circa 1989. If he is playing an undead Dennis Booker it might be much more interesting than if he’s a pirate.
Comment by Clark — May 10, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
One minor glitch: the Buddy Holly song that Locke’s mom plays as she prepares to go out was released in 1957, after Locke was born (May 30, 1956).
Unless this is also a clue that Locke was able to do crazy time travelling/unstuck in time stuff even when he was in utero.
Top episode, though. Best of the season, I think. THIS is the kind of stuff that drew me into this show in the first place.
Comment by Brian V — May 10, 2008 @ 7:48 pm
I like banane’s theory, and tying it all to the Black Rock makes sense. I just hope they bring back Artz!
Comment by Supergenius — May 10, 2008 @ 9:43 pm
BTW - there was a podcast this week. A special mother’s day one that I only started listening to but got busy and didn’t get too far.
Comment by Clark — May 10, 2008 @ 10:40 pm
The Black Rock wasn’t a pirate ship. It was either a British trading vessel, en route to Siam when it disappeared, or a slave ship. It may have been both. But there’s no indication that it was ever a pirate ship.
Aaaaar.
Comment by BTD Greg — May 12, 2008 @ 8:10 am
Apologies. Slave ship.
Comment by Supergenius — May 12, 2008 @ 10:46 am
So I guess this means it is Greko day for Batmanuel.
Comment by Clark — May 12, 2008 @ 11:02 am
In the podcast there was mention of something being Dalai Lama-ish in this episode. So I can go with Locke being some kind of reincarnation.
I don’t think Lost has been great this season. I’m starting to get fed up of more and more mysteries being thrown at us with hardly any of the 1000s of already unanswered questions being ignored.
I did enjoy however, after catching up on The Wire, realising that that is where I’d seen Abaddon before!
Comment by Rebecca — May 12, 2008 @ 11:20 am
Really? I think every season has gotten better. I think they’ve answered tons of the mysteries. It’s just that new ones get introduced. There are still a few from the first season. (i.e. what’s the smoke monster) There are a few that are hinted at (i.e. the voices in the jungle being tied to the transporter device the Others have) But most have been answered I think.
Comment by Clark — May 12, 2008 @ 2:48 pm
BTW - some might like this post from Fermilab on whether there is a hadron collider like device on the island. Also whether the Dharma symbol is based upon nuclear colliders.
There are similarities although the Dharma symbol clearly has the I-Ching characters on it.
Comment by Clark — May 12, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
the knife was sitting on TOP of the comic about a ‘mysterious lost land’, so maybe is was innate in locke to want to protect the island, perhaps including all of the items into one situation (as started by him choosing the compass ’cause they’ll be lost, and the island where they’ll be), then seeing the knife as representative of protection of the ‘mysterious land’ since he did place it on top of the comic book. and also, on a limb here, maybe he’s supposed to take richard’s place, but richard doesn’t want him to - when has richard ever really pointed him in the right direction in present island time? and remember how ben said he doesn’t always lead?
and i can’t remember who, but was it maybe jack who missed his dad’s lacking presence in his life and they played baseball finally in one past episode?
that would be an interesting reference to him being in jacob’s cabin and often being seen on the island.
Comment by lsmythphoto — May 12, 2008 @ 5:53 pm
What was up with the tree that Horace cut down but then it reappeared? And why did he say, “Hello there!” twice exactly the same way each time? Maybe it was just a tip-off for us that Locke was dreaming?
Also, when Lapidius is taking off in the helicopter the camera focused on the window but his feet for a second. Was that anything significant or was it just the bag with the phone?
Comment by Lesley — May 14, 2008 @ 7:00 am
I think the focus on the bag was to let viewers know that it was Frank who kicked the bag out the copter’s cockpit.
As for Horace and the tree, I think that was to clue us in that he was a vision in a dream, not an actual person or ghost.
Comment by BTD Greg — May 14, 2008 @ 8:26 am
I have to believe that the device strapped to Keamy is a heart rate monitor (see the straps across his chest while putting it on the boat)
him saying ‘i don’t think you want to do that’ hints to something very bad happening if Keamy dies (HRM linked to a bomb?)
Seems like a this a attempt to control fate/destiny. Especially if Keamy does die and he can still hurt other people before a fate balancing black monster pans things out.
anyway, i haven’t seen “There’s No Place Like Home: Part 1″ yet and hope this isn’t covered by that. I guess I’ll see later tonight when i get to download it.
My second thought is with all this time travel.
Seems like people have traveled into the past quite a lot, BUT NOT REALLY INTO THE FUTURE (can’t see what their fates will be) Somehow except for locke (and maybe ben) who are ’special and chosen.’ Locke has some connection to the future or can see it? So as a child he knows what items were his, and Richard Alpert is trying to pry Locke for a glimpse into the future, that Locke’s future involves a knife (a weapon, a killing device… a negative object?) and not a morally outstanding ‘Book of Laws’
So maybe Richard Alpert is trying to foresee a decision that Locke will make in the future.
Comment by RyGuyWy — May 20, 2008 @ 10:26 am