Lost Top 10 Countdown
By Jeremiah Dollins
Episode 4.11: Cabin Fever
Welcome back to the weekly Lost Top 10. I'm your host, Jeremiah Dollins, here to take you on a stroll through the jungle as we flashback to the greatest hits of last week's episode.
In at number 10...
Ben's admits he wasn't always the leader.
This moment was an important insight, not just into the history of the
Some definite Star Wars stuff here. In Revenge of the Sith, it is not Darth Anakin who called for Order 66--the order to eradicate all Jedi Knights. It was Emperor Palpatine. Anakin was merely a Sith in training, off on his own personal mission to dispatch his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Ben may very well be the Anakin of our story, at least in a limited sense. While the Purge was happening, he was off on his own personal mission to kill his father, quite a flawed mentor.
What we learn here about Ben is that, like Anakin, he is a passionate man. We've seen this before. He firmly declares to Juliet that she is "his." He shoots Locke point-blank at the Dharma mass grave, despite knowing that Locke would survive due to the
Number 9...Number 9...Number 9...
Horace the lumberjack.
Locke encounters Horace Goodspeed in a dream and learns the whereabouts of an important map needed to locate Jacob's elusive cabin. During the dream, Horace is chopping down a tree to use as lumber in the construction of the cabin. Like a skipping record, though, he keeps chopping down the same tree.
For some twisted reason I was reminded of my least favorite Beatles song (if you could even venture to call it a song): "Revolution #9" from The White Album. The song keeps repeating itself over and over, with some extremely crazy wall-of-sound moments. It's an eerie number put together by John Lennon and Yoko Ono as a musical piece of "art" during their wild-and-crazy Two Virgins phase.
Somehow, Locke's dream was very similar. The repetition of the chopping revealed the way in which Locke continues to repeat his mistakes - being conned by others due to his emphasis on intuition and faith. He keeps repeating his mistakes because he is in self-denial - according to his guidance counselor later in the episode, Locke is, ironically, a man of Science. His need for love and acceptance is so strong, though, that he denies his true nature and goes to opposite extreme, with ill effect.
When Horace invites Locke to find his dead body, Locke goes willingly, without question. It's this flaw that I think will hurt him in the long run. I don't think the
Rising to number 8...
Desmond's decision to stay on the freighter.
After the captain of the freighter, rebelling against the dictatorial Keamy, gives Sayid a navigation unit and access to a motorboat, Desmond does the unexpected: he decides to let Sayid go alone. He wants to stay on the ship and wait for Penny to arrive.
I don't think his sole motivation is to wait for Penny. I think it also has something to do with Charlie. Desmond still carries with him the guilt of being unable to save Charlie's life at the end of last season's finale. There's a part of him that does not want to be held responsible for anyone else's death. He knows Keamy and crew are going over to the
A brief sidebar...
Isn't it interesting how season four has shown us the vulnerable sides of a few of our major characters: Jack's steely resolve has been weakened by injury. Hurley returns to insanity. Sawyer becomes touchy-feely. Ben is devastated by the loss of Alex. This is a part of the hero's journey which Merlboro Man has been exploring: self-doubt.
At number 7...
Keamy.
When we first met Keamy back in "The Constant," he seemed menacing, but that was nothing compared to what we've seen since. This guy is a bloodthirsty badass - talk about no conscience!
In this episode he shows his true self. He is totally sold out to Widmore's plan, has knowledge even the Captain doesn't have, and he enjoys beating the crap out of people. When we first see him, he makes a beeline to Michael and nearly pops a cap in his head before the
As easy as he is to hate, it's hard not to like him.
Now, in at number 6...
Hurley and Ben share an Apollo bar.
What a great tension breaker, and a great moment. Ben is now officially "Lost" as Hurley initiates him with an Apollo bar. As the Bible notes with the story of Daniel, partaking of another culture's food is the first step towards assimilation. When Juliet shared the castaway's food, she became one of them; now Ben is doing the same. It makes perfect sense it would be Hurley reaching out to Ben first--he has the most forgiving heart of our group of characters.
Now for our weekly Top 5
At number 5...
Matthew Abbadon, orderly.
Who could have seen this coming? The purpose of this episode was to make it abundantly clear John Locke has been sought after for a very long time. To use Abbadon as one of the people chosen to approach him with his destiny was an interesting stroke.
This scene was very creepy. Lance Reddick has one of those voices, like Ben's, that can send chills. His intent to motivate Locke was apparently lost on the Locke, whose time in the wheelchair had broken his spirit. The mention of a walkabout was met with confusion and disdain, but left us with quite an ominous line. "When you're ready, Mr. Locke, you'll listen to what I'm saying. And then, when you and me run into each other again...you'll owe me one."
Who is Abbadon working for? Since the beginning of the season it seemed he was working for Charles Widmore. Now that idea has been blurred. Unless Richard Alpert is also associated with Widmore (altogether possible), Abbadon seems to be out of alignment with his employer. It could also mean, perhaps that Locke is being sought after by both sides, who will be vying for his allegiance in the seasons to come.
In at number 4, with a bullet...
The ageless one returns.
I hate spoilers. And what I hate more is that I have a hard time avoiding them. They are like a drug, you know, especially for those of us who like to preoccupy our minds with this stuff. So, the return of Richard Alpert was not as powerful as it should have been for me. Instead I watched the episode waiting for him to pop up.
Nonetheless, his return was spectacular. When he looked in on Locke as a newborn, there was a certain eerie vibe he gave off mingled with a true affection. And his appearance at Locke's first foster family's home was so terrific, it earned its own entry on the Top 10 this week.
At number 3
"We've got to move the island."
Holy crap! What a statement. As if Lost couldn't get any weirder...
Recently I got a friend of mine hooked on Lost by letting him borrow the first season. After he devoured it, we watched the first episode of season two together. When he learned that Jack and Desmond had met each other prior to encountering each other in the Swan station, he looked at me and said, "That's weird...it doesn't get any weirder, does it?" I laughed at him and said, "You have no idea." Of course he is the guy that can't pass up on cheesy B-movie Horror flicks like Frogs.
But I digress...can it get any weirder than this? Obviously I don't think Ben and Locke are going to be swimming to the back of the island to push it, so there will be another explanation. No doubt it will have something to do with the famed--although yet unseen--Orchid station. Even Keamy seems to know about this. The secondary directive he whipped out the freighter special filing cabinet gave him knowledge of Ben's whereabouts.
Number 2...
The items.
What do the following items have in common: a baseball mitt, the Book of Laws, a compass, a vial of sand/ash, a copy of Mystery Tales #40, and a hunting knife?
Answer: John Locke's future.
Lots of debate has arisen over the importance of these items as they pertain to the life of John Locke. Why, for example, did Richard become visibly discouraged when Locke grabbed the hunting knife? Was it because Locke chose passion over reason?
Each item has something to do with Locke's future, but what? While each item may have something to do with the plot of the story, each seems to illuminate different elements of Locke's character. For example, objects like the baseball mitt and the knife are objects requiring skill and physicality to use--they are "manly" objects. Locke tries to prove his manliness constantly through his life. The compass reveals his constant need for direction. The vial of sand/ash provides a symbol of hope for him, especially if it is the same material surrounding Jacob's cabin. And the comic book is a symbol of John's destiny to hide the
And, finally, at number 1...
Ghost daddy returns, with daughter!
How creepy was it to see Claire's knowing grin and relaxed disposition? What does she know now that she didn't before? Lots of people believe this is a confirmation of her death, but I agree with the producers of the show that we are barking up the wrong tree by questioning the status of her life. Instead, the focus should be on why she was willing to leave Aaron behind.
My best guess is that Christian was able to convince her that Aaron was part of a grand master plan the Island has. For a mother to make a decision like the one she made, it would take something bigger than herself--and a lot of faith--to help her make it. Perhaps the story of Moses sheds the greatest light on this. When his mother sent him through the reeds to be discovered by the Egyptian royal family, she had a faith in God that he would be provided for and would rise to be someone special. Later Moses freed the people of Israel from captivity. I think Claire has been given similar assurance; maybe not that Aaron will be a savior, but that he will play a vital role in what's to come. Keep in mind that Moses was sent away during a time in which the Pharaoh was slaughtering the first born of each family in order to keep the Israelites under control. First born children are not allowed to be born on the Island--maybe there's a connection here that needs further exploration.
So, there it is--the exceedingly long Top 10 countdown. This week: "There's No Place Like Home" (Part One).
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And this one comes right from my noggin... I just rattled this off to my friend Shane, and felt I should write it down as a form of Chris Rock Insurance (for those in the know... that's read as "in case s**t" )
So, we see that Ben picks the knife at the end, and Alpert gets upset. If we are to assume that this was a "reincarnation" test, and that Locke picked items he knowingly had, and were important to him, then why did he pick the knife over the book?
Let's fast forward to 2010, when the season finale is about the happen. We have followed Locke from the beginning, and are thoroughly convinced he is the savior of the island able to protect it for good. We then see that he does not succeed... the island becomes "captured" again, or in-danger again. He fails just as Ben did. He fails b/c he still believes he is a "hunter". Whatever that may be, he never owns the Book of Laws. He always kept his knife... and it was this that caused him to fail.
This scene may be alluded in last week's episode by him choosing the knife. To Alpert, this makes him believe he is not the one who will protect them, b/c the true protector would have chosen the book.
Back to the finale' timeline, we see Locke fail, and then get the question "If not Locke, then who?"
The camera slowly sweeps to Aaron, now approx 2 or 3 years old... Richard Alpert knocks on the door of his home (or at school) and gives him the same test that Locke was given. This time, Aaron chooses the Book of Laws. The picture goes out... LOST appears on the screen with the "boom" of the closing, and the series is finished.
What do ya think?
So I have rewatched the ep a couple of times and when Horace is buliding the Cabin I noticed something odd. There appears to be a hole in the chound covered with several poles of bamboo...any ideas?
Horace reminds me of:
Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.
...zzzztttt....
Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.
The camera slowly sweeps to Aaron, now approx 2 or 3 years old... Richard Alpert knocks on the door of his home (or at school) and gives him the same test that Locke was given. This time, Aaron chooses the Book of Laws. The picture goes out... LOST appears on the screen with the "boom" of the closing, and the series is finished.
* * * * *
This is an interesting idea, but if it were true, it would have to happen before the series finale. After all, what is the point of having a savior, or "chosen one," if there is nothing to save? Like you, I think Aaron is also "chosen," but why is the question. Why is anyone "chosen?" What are they being chosen for?
The scene with young Locke and the items gave me a completely different impression. It seemed to me that Alpert was looking for a "chosen one" and that some of the items had belonged to the previous chosen one, while others didn't, and that by recognizing which items belonged to the old chosen one, Locke would prove that he is the new one. When Locke picked a wrong item, Alpert thought that Locke wasn't the right person.
Of course, Locke may have lied about the knife solely because he was interested in the knife and wanted it for himself, even though he didn't feel it was his.
Amvibalentman - - I hear you! I mean, in what way is Locke better than Ben? I personally dont see it. In the past, many people has taken advantage of Locke, so is this the kind of leader/messenger the island need? - - - - - - Dont get me wrong, I like the Locke character, but face it, he is nothing compared to I-am-4thousand-steps-ahead-of-everybody-Ben.
I haven't heard anyone mention this, so forgive me if I'm stating the obvious, but maybe they aren't supposed move the island to another PLACE, but to another TIME.
I'm a little confused as to why Richard was a dirty, long haired, scraggily guy that appeared from the jungle when Ben was young in the D.I., and then we see him as a slick, three piece suit wearing doctor/recruiter in Juliet's, and now Locke's flashback. Also, didn't Horace have the same sort of nose bleed as Desmond and Mequaoski (i botched the spelling on his name)? Christian says the baby is exactly where he's supposed to be, but Charlie/crazy Hurley say Jack's not supposed to be raising Aaron (but Kate is???). What about the island being a day ahead of the freighter? What would that mean for the development of babies and children. Maybe that's why Aaron is exactly where he need needs to be, off the island to develop and come back as an older key piece to the final season. Remember when Miss Clue said they got in over their head when they brought on/stole Walt, and they stole the kids first from the tail section. What's the deal with the kids? Do the Others just want to raise them as their own (ie: Ben w/Alex) because babies can't be born there. Oh, and if they have to "move" the island, aren't there two islands???? How do you move two islands, or does Alcatrez stay put?? Obviously I'm LOST. Just wanted to post some of my questions...I'm a long time reader, first time poster.
2many quote "Dont get me wrong, I like the Locke character, but face it, he is nothing compared to I-am-4thousand-steps-ahead-of-everybody-Ben"
You mean the guy that manipulated everyone around him to the point that his daughter was brutally murdered. Widmore was correct and Linus echoed that Ben himself was responsible for her death. It looks like his manipulations may have put the island in greater danger.
ErasedSlate - - Alex's death was the result of Widmore changing the rules like Ben said. One thing is Ben being his enemy another thing is killing somebody in cold blood because that person is related to him..... A leader must make a lot of decisions and if you take a look at Locke's history, he has been played as a fool on more than one occasion.... I dont say I approve of Ben's manipulations and lies but at least he gets results, dont you agree?
crazydiamondhead, i think the reason that no one has mentioned it is because if you moved the island in time be it the past/future/present. Where would the location of the island be? That's right it would be in the same place.
2many,
My response was to point out that he has apparently lost the ability to foresee some events. The Alex event may show the limits on his ability to see. Plus, he acknowledged that he was responsible for her death. I think he was steps ahead up to that point. We will see how har ahead is in this next episode.
There is not only a price for being a leader, there is a price for the way one leads. I personally don't see Locke as being a leader of the Others. He is on his own journey, not to lead but to protect. Locke's is a search for meaning in his existence. He has found that meaning and purpose.
Plus, this island is about becoming more than you were. It is a second chance. Locke has embraced that second chance.
I figured Locke was supposed to choose the sand, not the Book of Laws. Everything else could be acquired at some point in his life, but the island is his birthright.
Gotta avoid those spoilers. I knew Alpert would be back at some point this season, but not specifically in this episode, and certainly not in a flashback. I have to say, it was awesome getting that shock with nothing to spoil it.