Beyond that, this episode was pretty sweet. Seeing Locke's interactions with all the people who had left the Island was pretty awesome.
I do not think that this was the last time we'll see Walt. I don't think the LOST co-producers can effectively explain his character's significance without actually bringing him back to the show. And if they do try to explain him without actually having him on the show, unless if they do it in a really cool way, I will be disappointed.
On to the episode synopsis:
- The episode begins with Caesar -- the strange Middle-Eastern man who was on Ajira Airways Flight 316 -- searching what will later be understood to be a Dharma Initiative Hydra station office on the Alcatraz island. He finds a sawed-off shotgun in the office and stuffs it into his bag. Ilana -- the marshal who was escorting Sayid in handcuffs onto said flight -- comes into the room and Caesar lies about what he found, tossing a flashlight to Ilana. Ilana gets to the point and says that they found a man in a suit who no one had seen on the plane. They go outside to the camp that they've set up since their landing/crash and ask the unknown man seated by a fire who he is; he replies that his name is John Locke.
- Presumably the next day, Ilana approaches to Locke and asks him about himself. Locke learns that the pilot of the plane and a woman took one of the boats that were on the beach in the middle of the night, leaving only two. Locke explains that he doesn't remember being on the plane, but that he can guess why he's dressed up so nice. He tells her that he remembers dying.
- Next we see the end of the episode "This Place Is Death," with Locke turning the wheel and Christian telling Locke to say hi to his son (Jack). There's a bright light and we see Locke essentially wake up in the middle of the Tunisian desert, much like Ben did. This time, however, there is a surveillance camera watching the exact spot where Locke appeared at. Locke yells at the camera repeatedly but nothing happens. That night, a pickup truck full of armed men pulls up and they stop and put Locke in the truck and drive away. Locke is taken to a medical tent of sorts where his leg is set. The whole time, Matthew Abaddon can be seen watching from a distance inside the tent. Locke notices him before he passes out.
- Locke wakes up to Charles Widmore, who is seated next to his bed. Widmore tells John that he was 17 when they first met on the Island and that that was over 50 years ago, remarking at how Locke looks no different than he did then. Locke tells Widmore that that happened only 4 days ago, by his account. Locke finds out that the camera in the desert is Widmore's and that Widmore knew to have it looking there because that's "the exit." Widmore tells Locke that he was the Others' leader before being exiled by Ben. Therefore, Locke should trust Widmore because they have common interests. Widmore assumes that Ben exiled Locke as well, but Locke tells him that he chose to leave. Widmore realizes that the reason he left was to bring everyone who had left the Island back. Locke denies it but Widmore continues, informing Locke that the people who left have been back for three years and that they haven't told the truth to anyone about what happened to them. Locke now confirms his mission, to bring them back to the Island. Widmore tells John that he'll help him in doing so. When Locke asks why he would help him, Widmore responds: "Because there's a war coming, John. And if you're not back on the Island when that happens, the wrong side is going to win."
- Widmore appropriates to Locke his new identity: Jeremy Bentham. He gives Locke a folder containing the whereabouts, etc. of all the people who left the Island and says that he's been watching them because he's "deeply invested in the future of the Island." He also tells Locke not to mention his name when trying to convince them to go back with him, because he figures Ben probably told them all sorts of stuff about him and how he's the real enemy. Locke isn't so sure that Widmore isn't the enemy, and backs up his uncertainty by asking about the Kahana and the mercenaries and their violent attack on the Island. Widmore explains that he simply needed Ben removed so that Locke could be in control of the Island, "so it could be [his] time." Widmore tells Locke that the Island needs him and that it has for a long time. He tells Locke that he's special. Locke tells Widmore that Richard Alpert told him that the only way he would bring everyone back to the Island is if he died. Widmore says he doesn't know why Richard would say that but tells Locke that he doesn't intend on letting that happen. Widmore introduces his man, Matthew Abaddon, to Locke -- yes, I was wrong; Matthew Abaddon is working for Widmore, darn it -- and tells him that he'll be taking him wherever he needs to go and protecting him from anyone who tries to harm him.
- Matthew Abaddon takes Locke to the airport and tries to talk on the way. Locke clearly expresses his lack of desire to make small talk, and the two make their first trip, to Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic. Here, Sayid is doing some work building a school for a charity organization. Sayid tells Locke that he spent the happiest 9 months of his life married to the woman he loved Nadia and that after she was killed, Sayid was tricked into "protecting" the rest of the Oceanic 6 by killing people for Ben. Sayid refuses Locke's request to return to the Island and tells Locke that if he ever wants to do some real good, he should come back to the Dominican Republic and help others like he's doing. 0-1
- In New York City, NY, Locke goes to see Walt. While waiting to talk to him once he gets out of school, Locke tells Abaddon to look up Helen Norwood, the woman who Locke loved but was rejected by because of his father-obsession. Walt comes outside, and Abaddon remarks at how big he's gotten. Locke talks to Walt, making small talk. Walt asks about his dad and Locke tells Walt that the last he knew, Michael was on a freighter off the coast of the Island. Finally, Walt asks Locke why he came to see him. Locke can't bring himself to ask Walt to come back with him and the conversation ends. When Locke gets back in the car, Abaddon says how he understands that Locke didn't ask him to come with them, that the "boy's been through enough." 0-2
- In Santa Rosa, CA, at the Santa Rosa Mental Health Institute, Locke goes to visit Hurley. Hurley immediately assumes that Locke's dead and that he's just another dead person from the Island that's come to visit Hurley. Hurley realizes that Locke isn't dead, however, but is turned off towards Locke's request to go back to the Island when he sees Matthew Abaddon, who had spooked Hurley before during a visit in which he had posed as an Oceanic Airlines representative and asked about the rest of the people still on the Island. Abaddon and Locke get back in the car, and Locke tells Abaddon that he remembers where he's seen Abaddon before. He was the hospital orderly who told Locke to go on the walkabout after Locke's accident and subsequent paralysis. Locke asks Abaddon what he really does for Widmore, and Abaddon replies, "I help people get to where they need to get to, John. That's what I do for Mr. Widmore." 0-3
- Locke heads to Los Angeles, CA, next where he goes to see Kate. Kate refuses to go back to the Island, even though everyone on the Island is suffering. Kate tells Locke that she believes he wants to stay on the Island because he has never loved anyone. Locke tells her that's not true, and talks about Helen. Kate asks what happened and Locke tells her that it didn't work out. When Kate asks why not, Locke answers because he was angry and obsessed. Kate's response? "And look how far you've come." Ouch. 0-4
- Abaddon "found" Helen for Locke and he takes her to the cemetery where she's been buried. She died of a brain aneurysm. Locke is destitute. As Locke's waiting in the car for Abaddon, Abaddon is shot several times. Locke jumps in the driver's seat and takes off. Amidst the confusion, Locke gets into an accident.
- Locke wakes up in a hospital bed in a lot of pain. Jack barges into the room and asks Locke what he's doing there. Locke tells Jack that they have to go back and help the people they left on the Island. It's another typical Jack-Locke, Science-Faith conversation and ends with Jack yelling, "Have you ever stopped to think that these delusions that you're special aren't real? That maybe there's nothing important about you at all? Maybe you are just a lonely old man that crashed on an island. That's it. Good-bye, John." Locke, not satisfied with Jack getting the last word tells Jack that his father says hi. Locke tells Jack that this man, Christian, is the one who told him how to get everyone back to the Island. Jack, obviously upset, insists that he put his father's body in a coffin, that he died three years ago in Australia. Locke asks Jack again to help him bring everyone back. Jack tells Locke that it's over and tells him not to bother him or any of the rest of them again. 0-5
- Flash to Locke's hotel room. Locke writes his suicide note, addresses it to Jack, and puts it in his pocket. He ties a noose with some extension cord and is prepared to hang himself when suddenly, there's a knock at the door. Locke has no intention of answering the door but Ben breaks through anyway. Ben manages to convince John to come down and rethink his decision. He tells a very depressed Locke who doesn't feel like he can ever truly be a leader that he's important and special. He admits that he did, in fact, kill Matthew Abaddon because he was dangerous and worked for Widmore and would have killed Locke eventually anyway. Ben tells Locke that Widmore was using Locke to find a way back to the Island, that he was manipulating him. Ben tells Locke that Widmore is the reason he moved the Island: so that Widmore could never find it again and so that Locke could finally lead. Locke tells Ben that he failed at his mission, but Ben tells Locke that he didn't, that Jack booked a ticket from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia. Ben tells Locke that they have to get him back to the Island because he has work to do. He suggests that they start with talking to Sun because Locke hasn't gone to see her yet. Locke explains that Jin made him promise not to. Ben says that "a promise is a promise" and says that once they get everyone together, they'll figure out where to go from there. Locke says that he knows what they would have to do next: go and see a woman in Los Angeles named Eloise Hawking. Ben says that he knows this woman, and attacks Locke, strangling him to death. He then hangs Locke as if he had committed suicide and hung himself, telling Locke before he leaves "I'll miss you, John. I really will."
- Back at the Hydra station, Locke goes and talks to Caesar about himself and how he was on the Island before. Caesar asks Locke about the bright light that flashed while they were all on the plane and how some of the people on the flight disappeared. Locke says he might know how he came to be on the Island but he'd have to talk to his friends who were on the plane. Locke asks if Caesar has a passenger list. Caesar says that the pilot when he took off in the middle of the night took the passenger list with him. Caesar says that everyone seems to be accounted for and takes Locke to see some of the injured. Locke stops at Ben's cot. Caesar asks if he knows the man, and Lockes responds yes, saying, "Yeah. He's the man who killed me."
Story/Narrative - I loved the conversation between Jack and Locke. It's pretty amazing to think that this conversation between the two of them sparked Jack's change. 4
Lost Theory/Mythology - Matthew Abaddon was working for Widmore. Charles Widmore was the leader of the Others and successfully protected the Island for, what was it, over three decades? There's a specific "exit" from turning the wheel and leaving the Island. Also, I'm willing to bet that the runway on the Alcatraz Island was used by Frank Lapidus to bring Ajira Airways Flight 316 into a crash landing. Also, one can only guess that the final season, next season, will be all about this "war" that Widmore talked about; I can't wait. :) 5
BAMF moments - Abaddon was brutalized and that shot of him lying on the pavement, glazed eyes and all, was creepily eery. Also, Ben's murder of Locke was definitely one of the darkest scenes in LOST history -- wow. That was messed up. And Locke's lifeless body hanging by the neck was another amazing shot. Sick. 5
Overall Score - (4 + 5 + 5)/(3) = 4.67
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