Lost Episode 3 Recap and Review

Lost Episode 3 Recap and Review
Disclaimer: Spoilers galore!

The Substitute (a Locke-Centric episode)

I’ll begin by saying that this episode was BOSS. Finally I feel like we’re getting back to what fans have loved most about Lost. Also, we are finally getting some god damn answers! The following is my episode recap, which is rather long...but there's a lot to cover!

Flashsideways Timeline

The episode opens in the Flashsideways storyline of Locke. We see Locke in his wheelchair, maneuvering the lift out of his sweet handicapable whip. The lift, of course, malfunctions midway down. Locke decides it’s a good idea to try to pop a wheelie off the lift. He fails miserably. We are then brought into his house, which he shares with his fiancé. Welcome back, Helen. Helen finds Jack’s business card in the pocket of Locke’s pants, and thinks Locke should give him a call (“What are the odds of you running into a spinal surgeon? Maybe it’s destiny.”).

Locke wheels into his workplace and up to his desk. We see the return of his douche bag boss, Randy. Randy points out that Locke never went to the work conference that he was meant to have gone on while in Australia. Randy the douche proceeds to fire Locke. Shucks, bad luck.

Locke and his box of desk things leave his old job, only to find no way to get into his handicapable car, as it is being blocked by an obnoxious car. Out of frustration he starts banging on said car. Who should appear as the owner of the car, but Hurley! He apologies to Locke, also revealing he is the owner of the whole flipping company. I might also point out he goes by “Hugo” and looks awfully dapper in a sharp suit. Upon learning that Locke was just fired from his company, he gives him a number to a temp agency he also owns. He says to tell them that Hugo says to hook him up with a new job (“Chin up, things are gonna work out.”)

At the temp agency, Locke interviews for a job, and demands to speak to the supervisor as he is unhappy with the interview process. Who should appear as the supervisor, but Rose! They get down to brass tacks. Locke wants a construction site supervising job. Rose agrees to let him have it, but says that it won’t work out, and they must be realistic (obviously referring to Locke being handicapped). When Locke gets angry, Rose tells him about her terminal cancer, and how she understands realistic expectations.

Locke wakes up to his alarm clock and does his morning routine. He pulls out Jack’s card, and dials the number, but cannot bring himself to make an appointment. He tells Helen that he got fired. The doorbell then rings, and Locke’s lost luggage from the flight is delivered. Helen asks how he got fired, and John explains that he did not go to the conference in Sydney, urging her to open the luggage. She does so, seeing Locke’s arsenal of knives. Lock explains his hopes of going on the walkabout, which he was refused participation. Locke delivers a very high-emotion monologue about being in the chair, and the things he cannot do, such as walk with her down the aisle. He then says there are no such things as miracles, which is why he will not call Jack. It’s very odd to see this side of Locke, whom we have all grown to know as a man of faith. Helen says that miracles do exist, and the only thing she was ever waiting for, was him. She tears up the business card and they kiss. How romantic.

The Beach Crew

Ben walks back into the temple to find Ilana crying over her dead comrades, and begs Ben to tell her what happened. Ben explains bluntly that Locke turned into a pillar of black smoke and killed them all. (He’s the picture of sensitivity, eh?). He also says Locke killed Jacob, and then kicked his body into the fire. Ilana proceeds to grab the ash from the fire and put it in a bag. Ilana tells Ben that he took Richard, because he is recruiting.

Ilana, Ben, Sun, and Frank decide to head out for the temple together, where the rest of the Others have gone. Sun goes in hope that Jin is there, which Ilana says if he is alive, he will be. Sun demands they bury dead body of Locke before they go.

The Beach crew carries Locke’s body. Ben questions Ilana about what the hell is happening, as he obviously is confused. Ilana tells him that Smokey is stuck as the Locke look-alike for now. They make their way to the burial ground of flight 815. It’s an emotional moment to see all the graves of past characters (RIP Boone). They bury Locke (with Ben showing off some muscles in a thin white undershirt). Ilana asks if anyone should say some words. Ben does, in an emotional eulogy, saying, “John Locke was a…a believer. He was a man of faith. He was a much better man that I will ever be. And I’m very sorry I murdered him.” It was very heartfelt, and a very different colour of Ben Linus.

Flocke Recruiting

Back on the island, we get a great cinematic camera sweep of Smokey’s POV traveling all over the island, through the jungle, pit stop at Other Town (we hear bottles smashing and heavy metal music blasting), and back into the jungle. Stopping, Smokey transforms back into fake Locke, or as he has been deemed by fans, “Flocke”. Flocke picks up a machete, and cuts lose a trap in which he has Richard ensnared, saying “Alright Richard, time to talk”.

Flocke becomes somewhat sympathetic with Richard, saying “Richard I’m sorry I hit you in the throat and dragged you off the beach but I had to do something”. Giving him water, he explains to Richard that he had to do what he did to get access to Jacob. He says he looks like Locke because “Locke was a candidate” (more on what it means to be a candidate a little later). Flocke wants Richard to come join him, stating how Jacob disrespected Richard by keeping him in the dark all this time. Richard absolutely refuses to go anywhere with Flocke, clearly showing where his allegiance lies. Suddenly Flocke sees what appears to be a vision of a blonde boy. He quickly departs from Richard.

Back in Other Town, Locke enters the house that is blasting music. He comes upon a drunken Sawyer, mourning Juliet in his own way. Sawyer looks at him without a hint of surprise, saying “I thought you were dead”. Flocke says, “I am”. Sawyer plays host and gives Locke a drink. He wears soiled clothes (the the most attractive look for him I might add). He seems not to give a damn whether Locke is “dead, time traveling, or the Ghost of Christmas Past. Bottoms up and get the hell out of my house!” Sawyer wonders who the heck this is, because this is not Locke. Locke was scared, but this man is not. Flocke says he can give Sawyer the answer to the most important question in the world. “Why are you on this island?” He says if Sawyer comes with him, he can show him. Sawyer decides to go with him.

Flocke and Sawyer walk through the jungle, and Flocke questions him about why he was in the house, and where everyone else is. Flocke sees the little blonde kid again, whom Sawyer also sees. Upon hearing that Sawyer also sees him, Flocke and Sawyer give chase to the boy. Flocke trips and the kid says “You know the rules, you can’t kill him” Flocke then speaks the famous Locke line of “Don’t tell me what I can’t do!” The kid walks away. Sawyer looks for Flocke, whom apparently got away from him. Richard comes out towards Sawyer, frightened and telling Sawyer he must go to the temple and that Flocke will kill him. He says Flocke wants everyone dead and not to trust him! He runs off when he realizes Flocke is coming back. Flocke and Sawyer proceed. Sawyer and Flocke walk, and Sawyer tells him about his favourite book, Of Mice and Men. Sawyer pulls out a gun and wonders what would happen if he put a bullet in Flocke’s head. Flocke tempts him to. Sawyer wonders, “What are you?” Locke responds, “What I am is trapped. I’ve been trapped for so long that I don’t remember what it’s like to be free. But before I was trapped, I was a man, just like you.” Flocke urges them to continue, which they do.

Sawyer and Flocke come to the ocean line, on the rocks, and proceed down the rocks. There is apparently come sort of cave/alcove in the cliff face. There is a very sketchy ladder going straight down the cliff face. They both proceed to go down it. There are 2 ladders, which you must swing over to the other after going down the first. Of course the ladder breaks and Sawyer holds onto the swinging ladder for dear life, getting tossed around like a pinball. Flocke saves him. They get their footing and proceed into the cave. The cave features a scale, in which the infamous black and white rocks sit on each side. Flocke picks up the white rock and chucks it. Sawyer asks, “What was that about?” Flocke states, “It’s an inside joke.” Oh the humor and symbolism! They proceed deeper into the cave, into a second chamber. Flocke indicates upwards, and says “That is why you are here.” There is writing carved all over the cave ceiling, which clearly show names of those on Flight 815, some of which are assigned a number. Yes folks, the infamous numbers are about to be (somewhat) explained!

Sawyer asks who carved everything. Flocke tells him it was Jacob. Practically all of the names are crossed out, with 6 exceptions. We see:

Locke – 4
Reyes – 8
Ford – 15
Jarrah – 16
Shephard – 23
Kwon - 42
(Got shivers yet?)

We see a montage of Jacob’s past meetings with the 815 crew that we were shown in the Season 5 Finale. Flocke explains that Sawyer met Jacob at some point in his life when he was naive and Jacob did something to push him towards the island. Flocke explains that the ones written are candidates for taking over the island. He has 3 choices: 1) Do nothing and see how it all get’s played out, and his name may get crossed out (he then crosses out Locke’s name) 2) you can become the new Jacob and protect the island. But you’d be protecting it from nothing at all because it’s pointless and a waste. Or 3) they just go. They just get the hell off this island and never look back. Flocke asks, “What do you say James, are you ready to go home? Sawyer dramatically answers, “Hell yes.” Fin.

My Thoughts

Wow. We get some answers, and we spark some new questions.

Who is this blonde boy? I’ve been reading a lot of fan speculation that revolves around 3 possibilities. Could this be a Future Aaron? Could this be a Young Jacob? Or could this be a completely new character? And why couldn’t Richard see the boy, yet Sawyer could?

Now onto the numbers. This is obviously a HUGE revelation for Losties. We are finally getting answers to the numbers that have haunted us since season 1. We obviously do have questions still.

Where is Kate Austin among these names? We are obviously under the assumption that her name is crossed out.

If someone’s name is crossed out, does that mean they are dead? We obviously get that feeling when Flocke crosses out Locke’s name.

Which Kwon is the writing meant to have implied? My guess is that it is Sun. She is one of the Oceanic 6, the show favors her over Jin, and she is a fan favourite.

Also, what does it mean to be a Candidate?

Lastly, why exactly does Flocke want to get off the island and with Sawyer for that matter. If he wanted to leave, wouldn’t he just leave? Something is tying him to the island, and for some reason he needs assistance from Sawyer. Very curious.

All in all, this episode blew my mind, and I practically cannot wait for next Tuesday. I’m reeling with questions and possibilities that could happen!

Next Week: Tuesday 9pm/8c
Episode Title: Lighthouse [A Jack-centric episode]
Summary: Hurley must convince Jack to accompany him on a mission, and Kin comes across an old acquaintance.

This acquaintance is most obviously going to be Claire, so we can look forward to getting some Claire-related answers. I’m also interested in seeing scenes between Claire and Jin. Remember, Jin was there for the birth of Claire’s baby, so I’m intrigued to see how the onscreen chemistry between them plays off, if she even recognizes him at all!