Don't tell him that he can't be alive! Or dead! Or anything!
"Don't tell me what I can't do!" John Locke, and Not John Locke
Did someone tell Terry O'Quinn what he couldn't do was act? Because that man brought-ed it last night like he had something to prove. "The Substitute," Lost's fourth hour of eighteen in its final season, was exactly what the series needed after a lackluster start to the final chapter. And all it took was O'Quinn to play three parts.
I'm potentially biased, I must admit, because I frickin' LOVE John Locke, but "The Substitute" is not only the season's best episode so far (by a long shot!), but also only a few things off from being one of the series' best.
There's LOTS (anagram of Lost oh shi) to talk about, so let's get to it. Old Smokey is on a recruiting mission, and his first order of business, after putting Richard Alpert in his place, is to recruit Sawyer for whatever purpose. I had hated Sawyer this season up until now, and finally realize why the writers took Sawyer to a dark place so quickly. He needed to be so far down that he would follow (Un)Locke wherever he asked. I wish they had done it slightly different, but the end justifies the means. And in the end, we have the most compelling character relationship on the show right now: The scenes with Sawyer and Locke were absolutely riveting. We're seeing two actors at the top of their game. Josh Holloway made a case for an Emmy nod last year, and could be in the running again if he keeps this up through the whole season.
Their banter about whiskey, being dead, and answering the most important question in the world ultimately leads to Sawyer being the first to learn exactly why they are all on the island: to succeed Jacob as protector of the island. The scene where Sawyer enters the cave with Jacob's fantasy draft notes may go down in history as the most paused and slow-mo'd scene in the history of television. Seriously, the pause button on my DVR barely even works now. But here's what we know: The numbers, as I quietly theorized with my friends, correspond to the names of the survivors of Oceanic 815. Those not yet crossed out are as follows:
4 - Locke John Locke (just crossed out by Locke/Man in Black)
8 - Reyes Hugo "Hurley" Reyes
15 - Ford James "Sawyer" Ford
16 - Jarrah Sayid Jarrah
23 - Shephard Jack Shephard. Could also be Christian!
42 - Kwon Could be Jin or Sun Kwon
Others I noticed (which were crossed out):
312 - Littleton Could be Claire or Aaron, or even Claire's Mom?
140 - Lewis Charlotte Lewis
90 - Troupe Unknown
222 - O'Toole Unknown
291 - Domingo Unknown
? - Sullivan Unknown
Other fragments of names I picked up: Mattingley? Bargas? Almieda? Kalingeg?
It's unclear what the significance of the particular numbers mean. They're not chronological according to when they were "recruited" by Jacob, as Sawyer was touched by Jacob when he was a young boy (though Jacob could possibly travel through time, rendering "chronological" as we know it redundant). If Kwon refers to Jin, then all the "candidates" are male. The ones not crossed out are also much easier to see, which is either intentional by producers to bring them into focus better or because they were written more recently. The names being potential "candidates" also gives credence to the idea that Sayid was "possessed" by Jacob in some fashion back at the temple.
But how much can we trust this new Locke? It's not too much a stretch to assume that (Un)Locke is deceiving Sawyer as part of his own wretched plan, and that he may want everyone dead, just like Richard said. In fact, I'd bet money on it.
Instead of asking for a name for the new JOHN LOCKE, why don't you ask the one million dollar question, which is: who will be the chosen candidate??!!!!
4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42.
well, I vote for 15 - FORD.
Surely a great episode of LOST, Locke is my favorite character on the show so I really enjoyed it, also- nice article.
Just a thought: what if it's not the island that needs to be protected, but the black smoke monster that needs to be kept on the island?
Paraflash is the best so far IMO.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythology_of_Lost
It was the better of episodes of season 6 so far. Kinda funny how the numbers are the one Locke kept on entering on the computer.
I definitely think that the kid in the jungle was young jacob but i guess its possible to be aaron or the kid from 815. claire still thinks that aaron is on the island... maybe she's seeing the older version of her son running around(kid in jungle). i also dont entirely believe that jacob was good and MIB was evil. you dont have to be evil to want to kill someone for 500 years. I dont think that the MIB was on the Black rock because it was just arriving on the island when the MIB was talking to jacob on the beach. and yeah, who's to say that the list was jacob's or that the island needs protecting? I'm not sure yet whether or not sayid is possessed by jacob but we do know locke is by the smoke monster. I'm curious as to why all of the survivors names are not on the list in the cave, but im starting to think that the cave isnt jacob's at all. I'm looking forward to seeing next weeks episode but im not excited that it's gonna be about jack. He's by far the worst character on the show. i'm starting to believe that jack is the one who brought all these people to the island just because he's a twisted F#^K! I really wish they'd kill him off all ready and not bring him back...ever. I do hope to see a desmond, richard, or ben centered episode soon. It'd be nice to find out why they are where they are in the parallel flashes. it also seems to me that faraday isnt coming back, which in my opinion is a big mistake by the writers, but im sure they'll do something to make it up to us. Maybe they'll kill off jack next week.(we could only hope right?) I guess we'll all have to wait and see how it all plays out.ps. please get rid of jack.moreless
So, who will be the new Jacob? Hurley, Sawyer, Jack, Sun or Jin? I don't think it will be Sayid, because he died at the Temple. It won't be Christian because he's already dead. Locke's name was crossed off. So, I think only the living can "become" the new Jacob.
The cave scene with the names on the wall got me wondering about those names he didn't mention like Kate for example was she left out on purpose?
Great Epsiode. I enjoyed evrey sec of it.
I don't think that the boy was on 815, if he was richard would be able to see him, wouldn't he? I think that the boy might be a second smokey, 'cause if ilana was right that Unlocke is trapped in that body, than he could not have transformed into alex to tell ben to do whatever locke wants him to ( dead is dead) As for the cave, the whole setting seems UnJacob-like I mean neither the statue nor the cabin were hidden. And the ladder is in plain sight. also as pointed out by someone before, it seems easier to reach if you're a smokemonster I know this sounds stupid, but I think all this is an evil plot by UnLockeI liked the reference to the old Light vs. Dark theme ( the two stones one black one white) and am now a little confused about the inside joke, whether it's about jacob, being dead and there now longer is a balance of the force or something totally different.the flashsideway, was in my opinion the best thus far. though you're right to many coincidences. but it was nice to see the "real" locke not being a man of faith, which the 815-locke had become.A name for the unLocke could be locked, because he can't change his presence anymore and is .. well locked in that body ..moreless
@buildam2005
Or Supernatural's Jensen Ackles in "The End".
hw the hell could everyone forget the most important line of the episode?when sawyer says protect the island from what? unlocke says nothing....like WTF??he better be lying
Loved this article and I can't wait for next week! Jack is my favorite character so he has a lot of pressure to have a better episode than this one.
While I agree that O'Quinn was good as two different Locke's (I'm not counting a dead Locke as "acting"--any competent actor can pretend to be dead), if you want to see a really great performance as several similar characters, check out Buffy the Vampire Slayer's "Dopplegangland." Alyson Hannigan plays four different versions of herself, and it's spectacular.
Hugo "Hurley" Reyes
BEFORE THE CRASH:
- Won $156 million lottery with numbers from patient in a mental institution: 4 8 15 16 23 42
- Suffered from bad luck after win: grandfather died, new house burned, mom broke foot
- Bought the box company Locke works for with his winnings
- Traced the numbers to another unlucky man in Australia
Since she was conceived on the island, Kwon could be the Jins daughter and not him or his wife. As for the numbers, i think that UnLock is telling the truth slant. The list may be to get candidates to the island, maybe candidates to protect the island, but why to replace Jacob, and why does it have to be Jacob's list? Why would he trek across the island just to cross out a name when he could have his list right there in the statue? Also the location of the cave makes it far more accessible to a floating smoke monster than Jacob. Jacob has been seen near the statue twice, and said to have stayed in the cabin, that cave seems un-jacob like. If its Jacobs list why did Unlock feel compelled to cross out a name on a list that he doesn't care about? What if the candidates are to replace UnLock himself? As far as protecting the island goes the smoke monster plays a more active role than Jacob has, when Kimi's men were on the island Ben called the smoke monster not Jacob. Maybe he's tired of taking care of the island and wants someone to take his place. I think so many candidates failed in the past that he's using these radical methods to ensure he gets off the island this time.moreless
has anyone considered that the boy was the one from the tail section of the plane that got kidnapped by the others in I believe Season 2? Given the time frame his age would fit and he was dressed as an other.
Why should we believe what Old Smokey says? I admit that although portrayed as the bad-guy it was never clear which side is good, or if there isn't even a good side, but can we not suppose that the cave is not Jacob's but undeadLock?
What about Ilana saying that (Un)Locke can't change anymore, that he's stuck with Lock's body? Why wouldn't he be able to change? I assume that he was the one appearing as Christian or Walt, so he changed many times, and now can't, why is that?
If 23 - Shephard was Christian, wouldn't it be crossed out? And where the hell was Austin?
I think there's a very clear reason why things seem different in the sideways flashes. We are being lead to believe by Smokey that Jacob has been manipulating and steering all the "candidates" towards their destined flight which would eventually lead them to the island. Now if we buy into the fact that Jacob had been manipulating them all their lives, it also stands to reason that he was in a way responsible for some of the major events in their lives, which lead them to the island. Without Jacob's involvement Ben is just a regular european history teacher, Locke was paralyzed in a different manner.. and who knows what else -didn't- happen to everyone else.I think that Jacob not only needed to get them all to the island, but he also needed to test them in a way. Maybe all the events that happened prior to the crash, that were manipulated by Jacob were indeed tests to prove whether they were or weren't suitable candidates.moreless
If anyone takes over for jacob, it'll be hurley as through it all, from seeing dead people to having his family and friends die around him, which combined is not that great, he's held on strong with it not really affecting him.Also, Locke is still in there too remember ('Don't tell me... ") so maybe Locke takes over (Un)locke's body, wouldn't put it past him, wouldn't that have been a good burial service, a DIY job. But would be a twist, although a really bad way to end it though.
I've really been enjoying this season, but I think that's because I wasn't all that impressed with season five. I need my flashes!! I thought this episode was one of the series' best, and if Terry O'Quinn doesn't win an award for this season it will be a damn shame.
Don't really agree about the "lackluster start to the final chapter" bit. I think the flash-sideways is a genius concept for the final season which I felt started off absolutely brilliantly (way better than season 5 for example). But agreed that this was a stand-out. Terry O' Quinn so clearly differentiates between wheelchair Locke, on-island mystical Locke and "Man in Black" Locke it's almost freaky. Emmy in the works, no doubt.
To answer the questions below I am guessing Richard came on the Black Rock as a slave or prisoner, hence the chains MiB was referring to.
i think the smaller number means the closer the person to take the throne. so Locke was no.4, who is/was in no. 1,2,3???any thought??? Linus, widmore, Alpert??? and i wonder do the person had to die to get crossed out?? what if Jacob crossed them because he sees them are not eligible anymore for some reasons, on top of my head, because turning the donkey wheel, left/ abandoned the island
legit
THE SEASON'S BEST! (SO FAR)
i agree with you best episode yet!
it was another great episode & sawyer just keeps getting better & poor locke had a terrible funeral. the flash-sideways are all sorts of weird.
its pretty easy to guess which kwon it is if you consider my theoryif it was another form (younger) jacob and not older aaron whom locke and sawyer sawthe reason richard couldnt see him is bcos he isnt a candidatejust like jin couldnt see jacob in episode 1 or 2 but hurley couldhence sun is the candidatealso why is it only jack or christian... i think its jack but since claire is christians daughter she could be the shephard from the candidacyi think unlocke just trumped locke as the best character on lostthe real question is what was ricardus (richard) doing in chainsalso the lat flashes will definitely be explainedthey are connected as is obvious from juliet's beyond the grave communication to sawyer that it workednext week let jack bring something to the tablemoreless
This was a great episode. I can't wait until next week!
I hated that line in the episode, couldn't have felt more contrived
i know it's a bit of an old thing now with the numbers - but i don't get why it's the special numbers that have been left uncrossed out 4,8,15,16,23,42 and in which how were they assigned! i can't wait for the writers to explain everything but boy have they got a lot to live up to!!! :)
Smokie seems willing to do anything to leave the island. and i think the candidates for jacobs job can also be candidates for smokies job. so MIB wants make sawyer the new smokiel; therfore, allowing him to leave the island.
While I disagree with you about the first 3 episodes, I do think that this one is definitely the best of the season so far. Take my favorite character of the series (Locke), add in his great, mysterious replacement, and one of my favorite characters of the season (Sawyer), and it's no surprise I feel that way. I love the scenes between the smoke monster and Sawyer, which helped to emphasize the strenghts of both characters, bring Sawyer's story in an interesting new direction, and added a few interesting elements into the island mythology, like that kid (I don't really know who it is, could be Aaron, could be Jacob, could be another force on the island - I'm leaning towards the latter, but I wouldn't be surprised by any of these), and the big reveal at the end. I also loved the parallel universe scenes, which did a great job of emphasizing Locke's pathetic nature, and contrasting the other Locke's life to the Locke that we've seen in past seasons. I loved how Locke in the other life was willing to accept his life the way it was, without the anger, and without hollowing a "destiny" that allows him to be used. It was easily the best parallel universe story in the season so far.
Finally, while not the most important part of the episode, I loved all the scenes with Locke's body. I thought that the reveal at the end of season 5 was a great way of emphasizing John Locke's pathetic nature, especially dumping the body on the ground where it was left to rot for a while and only now got a semi-decent burrial. I also loved the speach that Ben gave at the funeral.
Overall, while I do disagree with some of the things you say in this review (specifically about the first 3 episodes of the season, and Sawyer's story before now), I do agree with a lot of what you mentioned in this review.moreless
Troupe's full name was Gary Troupe and was an author on flight 815 who was going to drop off his manuscript in LA....Sawyer found it in the wreckage and was seen reading it on the beach in season 1....in our reality it was released in paperback and named "Bad Twin"
How did alternate Locke end up in a wheelchair? I doubt his father could push him out a window and still get invited to the wedding.
Excellent episode, but I still want ANSWERS!!!!
Yes Tim, I was one of those being fanned by half-naked ladies with palm fronds, drinking wine out of a gem-crusted chalice, and deciding which peasants live and which die while reading your previous lost drivel.This article is much improved and even made me laugh.I'm looking forward to your Smlockey article. Can't wait. Kisses back!!
Faraday was also crossed over. but i cant seem to find Austin crossed or uncrossed
abelav78, you have got a point. I wonder how did the explosion influence the relationship between John and Helen. Also, like shalaulakh said, it`s quite strange that John would be okay if his dad went to his wedding. So, what if he got paralyzed in another way? Weird... I hope the writers know what they are doing...!
a lost episode without Locke or Ben is not a good episode (unless desmond was there). But there is this thing. Helen told him "what do you say we get my parents and YOUR DAD and go to vegas".
He has a good relationship with his dad and he will go to his wedding, then how did he get paralyzed?
jeffersondias I believe u gave yourself an answer. its a parallel universe, the events that lead em to the island didnt exist there, so they have completly different lifes. Like Hugo having luck, Locke goin to get married ,etc so on and on. Its the butterfly effect, the bomb changed everything from that point in history (1977) on in that timeline but the conections are still there, why? well thats the question we all wanna know. And what does it all mean. We are fianlly starting to glimpse a bit of the endgame.
I'm sticking with my "the Numbers are purely accidental, connected to characters by destiny and there is nothing more to them, except their magic or whatever it is" theory.
Funny that no one on here seems to think Tim' s a bad writer anymore now that he's praising an episode. I think some Lost fans need to send their "shallow" and "drivel" comments back at themselves...
how bout Parallel Universe (another name for the Flashes)!
So Tim Surette i ask you: LA X (Parts 1 & 2) was not a good episode? I can get that you not love the Kate episode but the premiere was awesome and added alot more to the series.
If I'm not mistaken, the numbers next to each of their names are Hurley's winning lottery numbers.