LOST Episode 4: Walkabout

So far, each of the first three episodes has given us an initiation to the plot and of course character development. This episode doesn’t stray far from these devices, but this time we get a much closer look at John Locke.

We've gotten very little about him thus far, yet he has still been one of the most intriguing main characters. This episode begins with John’s eye opening right after the crash. We've seen a version of this awakening before when we saw everyone reacting to the crash in the pilot episode, but by the time this episode is over, we will find (and see) that the opening scene of this episode is far more powerful than we could have thought when first viewing it. I am of course referencing the fact that in the beginning of this episode, the audience does not know that Locke was paralyzed from the waist down before getting on that flight. Knowing what we do now, it is quite an emotional scene. Just imagine the wave of emotions that would come over someone after (a) getting into and surviving a plane crash, but (b) waking up with a newfound appreciation for life now that his paralysis seems to have been undone! This was the afore-mentioned 'miracle' that Locke told Walt about in a prior episode. I'd say that qualifies as a miracle. Maybe that’s why Locke has that quiet confidence or calmness about him while everyone else seems frantic and confused. It becomes evident that Locke may not want to leave the island because of this development, but in typical Lost fashion, we won't know what is motivating Locke until the end of the episode.

However, after season five we know now that Locke decided to book the Walkabout tour because Matthew Abaddon convinced him that it was his destiny during his time in the hospital when Abaddon was acting as his orderly, though under the employment of Charles Widmore. This is definitely a key to understanding that a majority of the people on that flight were strategically placed there or convinced to be there by someone or something that was acting on behalf of the island. In some cases, the word 'destiny' is appropriate, while in other cases it seems like more of a chess game, using people as the pieces.

But on the other side of that coin, he is offering his services to help the camp hunt for food. He also shows a knowledge of boar behavior that nobody else seemed to know. If not for John Locke, the camp that was already beginning to unravel would have been in more trouble because of the lack of food or ability to hunt it.

Interesting fun fact(s): When Locke, Kate and Michael go on their expedition to hunt boar, Kate takes the opportunity to climb a tree so that she can set up a device for Sayid that may help them triangulate the location of the French woman's signal. Kate is known by many amongst the cast as 'monkey'. There's a cute little nickname that perhaps Josh Holloway thought of since Sawyer is the king of nicknames in the show, but no matter who came up with it, Evangeline Lilly earned this nickname because she loves to climb trees and anytime you see Kate climbing a tree there is no stunt work involved. It’s really her climbing the tree.

Locke's jerk boss is the same jerk boss that Hurley has to put up with at Mr. Cluck's before he wins the lottery.

At the end of Locke's first flashback, we hear the signature sounds of 'the monster'. Though to the unknowing viewer, it was mistaken for the sound of his calculator tape. Which brings me to another interesting question/theory which I wouldn’t have been able to come up with until I saw the season 5 finale. Of course this is still what some may call a stretch, but knowing Lost and knowing what we know now, I guess anything is possible.

Theory: So when Kate and Michael think that Locke is dead because they saw trees being knocked down and the sound of 'the monster' headed right for Locke, we as the audience are lead to believe (through camera angles) that Locke not only encountered 'the monster', but certainly got a clear look at it. Though, when Michael later asks Locke if he saw it, Locke suspiciously says no. Could it be possible that the mysterious 'man in black' from the season 5 finale IS in fact ‘the monster’ and has already begun his takeover of Locke's likeness? I mean, it’s a complicated theory and there may be many reasons to dispel it, but I am not necessarily suggesting that Locke was not Locke this early in the series, just that his encounter with 'the monster' (who may or may not be the 'man in black') has already begun guiding or even dictating Locke's actions in some form and must wait until Locke passes away before he can fully takeover his form. Not to skip to the next episode prematurely, but in the next episode Locke seems to have an understanding or bond with the island that he didn’t quite have before. I go into greater detail on this theory at the Simply TV Blog where for the first time I have added to the already mind-bending ‘Lost Theory/Theories of the Day’. Tell me what you think...

I've been so wrapped up in Locke that I nearly missed the only appearance of a promotional product in this episode, but they can't slip one by me! Rose was given an Oceanic custom printed blanket by Jack right before he noticed his father dressed in a suit, standing in the distance.

I have to be honest about this one [Christian Shephard], when I first saw it I had no clue what was going on and I still kinda don't. Sure, some more light has been shed on this subject, especially in the next episode. But despite anything we know about the appearance(s) of Jack's father, I am hoping that season 6 gives us a more detailed explanation of the appearances of people that shouldn’t be there or are supposedly dead. I have my suspicions but I'll include that theory in another blog.