Kate Houdini is working her way out of the restraints that hold her hands behind her back when "I'm Tom, by the way" brings Jack to see her, warning him with a gesture to remember that they're being observed and listened to.
Jack tries to explain to Kate why he's acting so comfortably with the Others. Turns out that he made a deal and they're going to let him go. They're going to let him go home. He plans to try to bring back help.
She's got the rack, He's got the balls.
Ummm, something about Felt and Stick could complete this bad joke.
When she asks how he can trust these people, he reminds her that she told him to trust them when she asked him to save Sawyer's life. She doesn't know that Jack saw her bear-ing down on Sawyer...
Juliet comes in and forestalls any further uncomfortable conversation between the two. As he leaves, Jack promises that he will come back for her.
In the parking lot of his building, two police detectives confront Locke and ask him about Peter Talbot. He lies that the young man was a solicitor and that he sent him away. Turns out that Talbot's family is worth around 200 Million dollars, that he had Locke's name and address in his pocket and that he's dead.
As Locke watches the compound through the window, Ben tells him how difficult it was being locked in the hatch, seeing John, knowing about his history and his condition and not being able to ask him about it without giving away his own identity. Now that Locke knows who he is, he suggests Ben ask his questions.
Ben seems uncharacteristically eager to follow John's lead and starts in with the questions.
"Was it immediate? It started the moment you got here?"
"Yeah."
"And you were just walking, the feeling returned right after the crash, that day."
"That's what immediate means, Ben." Best line of the episode.
Locke realizes that Ben isn't healing as fast as he'd like. Then he follows the logic path that fans have been wondering about for months. How did Ben get sick in the first place?
When he asks that question, Ben deflects with one of his own. "Are you afraid it'll go away, John? Is that why you want to destroy the submarine? Because you know if you ever leave this island you'll be back in the chair?"
John knows how to play the "deflect-a-question" game too. "You got anything to eat?"
Alex finds Sayid chained to a swing set (implying that there are children somewhere about) and manages to convince the guy guarding him to give her his pack. When Sayid calls her by name, she's naturally curious as to how he knows what her name is. He explains that she looks like her mother.
"My Mother is dead."
"I'm sure that's what they told you."
For his trouble, Sayid takes a gun butt to the gut, but he effectively planted some seeds of doubt and dissent in the young woman, which was likely his main intent.
When Locke asks where they get their electricity, Ben answers, "We have two giant hamsters running in massive wheel at our secret underground lair." Third best line of the episode. When Locke opens the fridge, we see a lot of Dharma brand groceries. Yet another connection between Dharma and the Others, that gives us pause as to the exact relationship between them.
Ben tries to explain that Locke blowing up the submarine will cause problems for him as the leader of his people, since not all of them are "fully committed" to remaining on the island for life. If Locke destroys their one means of returning home, the members of the community who still might want to leave someday will become a problem for Ben. Locke wonders if Ben thinks that's somehow an incentive for him not to blow up the sub.
Because John is already "fully committed" to staying on the island, he doesn't need the "illusion" of the possibility of returning to the outside world. Ben wants to show him things he wants to see very badly.
Remember earlier when I mentioned the shark jumping episode of "Happy Days"? I think I hear an outboard motor...
"Picture a box. You know something about boxes, don't you John? What if I told you that somewhere on this island, there's a very large box. And whatever you imagined, whatever you wanted to be in it, when you opened that box, there it would be. What would say about that, John?"
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Comments (36)
Gimp. Tee hee.
Interesting theories, Greybishop. Never thought of "Lost" that way.
And yeah, that "magic box" thing had better be explained soon (and by soon, I mean November), because magic doesn't exist. Miracles happening due to technological feats/failures/messups/KABOOOOMs I can take, but put Frodo and Gandalf on the show and I'm heading for the hills.
1 of 36 | Posted by JohnEDowney
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Posted on March 22, 2007 3:28 PM
so... there have been several references to time travel, etc, and increasingly recently. Especially within all the Dharma stuff... lots of references to philosophy that is one wikipedia page removed from 'Brief History of Time' and the like... which means that the "box" is likely some donnie Darko-esque portal. Which... I don't know, I feel like space portals could be more science than hobbit (referencing the post 2 above mine), and so that could be a direction that works for the show. And, it could kind of explain the impossibility of getting back to the island, somehow. Does this post even make sense? I wish I could remember more specific examples of the time travel references, help me out here if you can.
I'm really into your "he sunk the submarine" theory.
Also, you made no reference to something that I think is DEFINITELY important. When Jack was playing the piano they showed, briefly, the side of his head and he had these cuts around his ear. Then when he was going in to talk to Kate, Tom (?) said "be careful in here" and sort of pointed to the side of his (own) head... I'm thinking there's definitely something that's been implanted or whatever, so that he can't tell Kate stuff... like it's regulating his actions in some way. That's pretty vague, but I'm almost positive it's right.
2 of 36 | Posted by mallory | Posted on March 22, 2007 3:46 PM
whoa, ok clearly I have nothing to do at work right now, but if you google "Ben Linus" look at the ads that come up... HansoAdoption. So... Dharma IS the others? Isn't that what we all thought originally (like season 1)?
3 of 36 | Posted by mallory | Posted on March 22, 2007 4:11 PM
ok, I found what I was originally looking for...
http://www.lostpedia.com/wiki/Literary_works
so Brief History of Time was actually in THIS episode, in Ben's room. Other time-travel centered books that have been shown/referenced include Hindsight and A Wrinkle in Time. Interestingly enough, these were both shown with Sawyer, which makes it seem like he's pretty important... which we knew, cuz the others wanted him. this show is so weird.
4 of 36 | Posted by mallory | Posted on March 22, 2007 4:19 PM
Gre4at recap.. love your sidenotes!
I thought this episode was amazing.
The Locke/Ben convos were the best.
As for the magic box... I dunno... it's interesting and I can't wait to see what Ben was talking about.
5 of 36 | Posted by Shollia
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Posted on March 22, 2007 4:21 PM
Love the screencaps! Especially the fact that you make no effort to conceal that you downloaded the episode (from not so legal sources) :)
Thx for the fast recap!
6 of 36 | Posted by jairocon
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Posted on March 22, 2007 4:32 PM
Another great recap, Greybishop. And a terrific episode, as well. Lost is back on track for a wonderful season.
I think that the actors who play Locke and Ben deserve an Emmy nomination for this week's performances. They were both great! Wow!
7 of 36 | Posted by Lady-in-Gray
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Posted on March 22, 2007 4:38 PM
I love your sinking the sub, blow up the dock theory.
8 of 36 | Posted by chooch850
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Posted on March 22, 2007 5:21 PM
uh, people, the "magic box" is what Locke's father was in...it was a square room, hence, "box", and it contained someone who Locke was surprised to see, hence, "magic"....at least that's what i gathered
9 of 36 | Posted by motonehi | Posted on March 22, 2007 8:03 PM
I`m sure,Locke`s Dad was not coming from a magic box,because Ben said bring me the man from Tallahasse...that means,Cooper has already been on the island....
btw,"Anthony Cooper,Adam Seward" is an anagram for"Sawyer,the con man,a poor Dad"...
The Scene where Locke told Ben that he was a navy commander was great.Remember the Show "Jag"?In that Show O`Quinn WAS a navy commander^^
10 of 36 | Posted by Henk | Posted on March 22, 2007 10:17 PM
OMG - the anagram is brilliant. I really liked this episode. I was thinking the whole time that Lost is now back on track. I also did not piece together that perhaps Locke did not blow up the Submarine. If he did not, then he has just won back a load of respect from me. If so, then not a surprise, because it looks like he has been on a downward spiral to delusional world this entire season. Basically, he has been acting like a moron - or has he... Great recap, I am looking forward to the next episode based on the scenes. Looks like Sun is going to get a little crazy. I can't wait!
11 of 36 | Posted by goobs | Posted on March 23, 2007 5:23 AM
Anonymous -
For "non-shark jumping" recaps, I refer you to my previous recaps here. This was the first time I applied the phrase in a recap, and let's be honest, a magic box?
If that doesn't worry fans, at least a little...
12 of 36 | Posted by Greybishop
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Posted on March 23, 2007 5:38 AM
Henk-
Nice work on the anagram.
Never occured to me to put the two names together like that!
13 of 36 | Posted by Greybishop
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Posted on March 23, 2007 5:41 AM
GB I love the theory about Locke not blowing up the sub, I too wondered why he was soaked when they got to the dock but it was more of a passing wonder for me. In a way it makes sense from Locke's perspective because he wants to take his turn at manipulating Ben who has done his fair share of manipulating Locke.
As for Locke's, I don't believe his father came from the magic box. The most obvious explanation for his presence is that he was also on the plane, probably in the tail section and was captured/removed before anyone was aware of his presence on the island.
As for the magic box the simplest explanation for this in my eyes is that either the magic box is where the smoke monster lives or perhaps were a portion of the smoke monster that was somehow captured or contained exists, or vice versa where the portion of the smoke monster running about the island escaped from. We've seen it change shapes once into Eko's brother and from the images we saw when the camera passed through it it's obvious it can read minds so it could easily be what is contained in the magic box. In fact if that's the case it goes a long way towards explaining the appearances of Jack's dad, Kate's horse, and maybe even Dave. I'm sure there are more strange sighting that I'm forgetting. Also given what happened to Eko it's likely that if the magic box contains the smoke monster it's fair to say that the magic box is really a trap of sorts, unless of course you take the viewpoint that Eko wanted to die at that time and the smoke was just further granting his wishes.
14 of 36 | Posted by wniffene
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Posted on March 23, 2007 7:10 AM
.... or, how about this, wniffene? It was Smokey's kidnapped (by the Others) child posing as Locke's dad....
15 of 36 | Posted by Lady-in-Gray
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Posted on March 23, 2007 7:32 AM
i don't understand why everyone is talking about the magic box so literally. when i saw the episode i assumed the magic box was the island, and anything you want appears in some way (locke standing, kate's record doesn't matter, charlie is off drugs, michael and walt bonded)...the island obviously exists to help the survivors face things they haven't been able to face or obtain before! COMON PEOPLE!
16 of 36 | Posted by isthisawkward
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Posted on March 23, 2007 8:51 AM
I thought Locke submerged sub and then swam out thru a sealed hatch, leaving the sub intact and ready and explaining why Locke was wet.
17 of 36 | Posted by Tiger | Posted on March 23, 2007 9:03 AM
who knew that the lost forum was comprised of a bunch of submarine experts! i feel my iq rising just from being in your company ;-)
thanks for the recap b/c i totally missed the whole box conversation b/w ben and john when i was watching the episode so at the end i was like, WTF?!?
missed the cuts on jack's ear as well, i'll have to check again.
luv this show!
great recap GB
p.s. are you canadian or british? i always have to catch myself when spelling behaviour/behavior
babeblue
18 of 36 | Posted by babeblue | Posted on March 23, 2007 12:02 PM
I think the box has to do with quantum theory that you referred to in the last recap.
I was just glad that Locke at least asked where the power came from which is a close to an intelligent question that anyone has ever asked on the show.
19 of 36 | Posted by Duggan | Posted on March 23, 2007 1:00 PM
Greybishop,
nice work. my first time reading your recaps, and i love the editorializing you do.
-the government official who is taking away Locke's benefits..... totally realistic! She is EVERY woman i used to work with when i worked at a VA
-did anyone notice Sayid's long manicured fingernails, as he clutched at the childrens' swings he was chained to? didn't know they had time to file and give each other french manicures in the jungle
-when the guard hit sayid in the legs after he told Alex about her mother....
sayid just crumpled to the ground - seems he's come a long way from his days as an iraqi soldier
i'm not ready to call jump the shark yet, but i appreciate your thoughts on the matter. it is eventually pertinent to EVERY show isnt it? but i still like to hang on till the bitter end
20 of 36 | Posted by lovedoctor
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Posted on March 23, 2007 1:20 PM
sooo.... am I the only one who thought that cut on Jack's ear and Tom pointing to his ear and saying "be careful" was pertinent? Maybe I am associating things that don't go together... but I feel like that could be big for Jack.
21 of 36 | Posted by Mallory | Posted on March 23, 2007 3:35 PM
When Locke fell through the window, could he have been the body falling outside when Hurley was having a meeting with his financial advisor in one of the flashbacks? I'm not sure if it fits in with the timeline, but that could be yet another connection between the losties.
22 of 36 | Posted by katybee
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Posted on March 23, 2007 4:25 PM
katybee,
nice connection! creative thinking! i'll be interested to see....
greybishop,
i am totally with you regarding your use of jump the shark. no worries!
i'm still waiting for the creepy reappearance of hurley's girlfriend that psychologist, wonder if she'll show up blair witch style inside the box as well
23 of 36 | Posted by lovedoctor
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Posted on March 23, 2007 5:23 PM
I know that Jack has the tattoo on his left shoulder, but it looked like in this episode he had a new tattoo on the inner left forearm - anyone else see?
Katybee - that was a nice catch - funny if it is true
Lastly, when we saw Locke's father on the Island, my first thought was JUMPED THE SHARK - but we'll see where they are going with this - I think that Locke's dad may be with Ben and the others and they are pretending that his Dad is a prisoner in order to con/control/manipulate Locke.
24 of 36 | Posted by Lestat1966
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Posted on March 23, 2007 10:18 PM
Lestat -
I noticed the tat the first time I watched but forgot to comment on it when doing the 'cap.
It's pretty colourful and fresh looking. Didn't see what it was, but anyone who knows tats will tell you that the underside of your upper arm is one of the MOST painful spots on the human body to get tattooed.
25 of 36 | Posted by Greybishop
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Posted on March 24, 2007 5:45 AM
Nice episode for us former Lost fans to come back into the fold with. Gettin to some serious action here now. I've always admired Terry O'Quinn's characters. He's quite the psycotic actor and fits in real good with our cast here.
26 of 36 | Posted by Fred | Posted on March 24, 2007 7:38 AM
Uh I was thinking that Locke did blow the sub up, but it was serveral feet away from the dock, so he had to swim back to it. Maybe it was just a really long dock, but I thought the explosion was pretty distant.
27 of 36 | Posted by capostat | Posted on March 24, 2007 9:36 AM
Lestat: Unless Ben paid Locke's Dad a lot of money to con Locke, I don't believe that they are working together. Besides, if Ben is "one of the good guys", as he claims, Ben and Locke's Dad could NOT be on the same side....
28 of 36 | Posted by Lady-in-Gray
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Posted on March 24, 2007 10:55 AM
Great recap! I did some Googling about the new brightly colored tattoo & apparently it's always been there. Here's a screencap from the first episode: http://gallery.lost-media.com/albums/ep-caps/season1/1x01-pilot/normal_normal-1x01-209.jpg
Weird.
29 of 36 | Posted by gillian | Posted on March 24, 2007 1:02 PM
fantastic ep, fantastic recap, fantastic new theories to think about. TErry O'Quinn is really one of the best actors on tv. i loved it.
30 of 36 | Posted by Leah3t
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Posted on March 25, 2007 10:28 AM
isthisawkward, thank you! I'm pretty sure Ben was using the "magic box" idea as a METAPHOR. We already kind of knew that very personal things appear to people - it's no big revelation. The producers have already promised that everything on the island can be explained with science or at least pseudo-science. I don't think they pulled Locke's dad/Sawyer OG/Tallahassee Man out of a damn magic wormhole. Now if I'm wrong, and they were lying, and there really is a magical box, the Dharma sharks will be leaping and I will eat my hat.
31 of 36 | Posted by carol | Posted on March 25, 2007 12:06 PM
O'Quinn was an Admiral on JAG, not a commander.
Great recap!
32 of 36 | Posted by Pappy44 | Posted on March 26, 2007 7:39 AM
Where were the cuts on Jack's ear? Is it near his earlobe or the top of his ear? I just rewatched the piano scene a few times & can't see anything & now it's bothering me.
33 of 36 | Posted by gillian
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Posted on March 26, 2007 9:05 PM
It didn't even occur to me to take "magic box" literally. He even introduced it that way, "Imagine you have a magic box..." As a way of trying to describe whatever the island's secret is. I don't think we're getting in to like, Hellraiser territory or anything. It's all good. I like how the stories are coming together lately. And Locke was a lot more Locke-y than he'd been in a long time. I liked it.
Where's my Danielle flashback episode?
34 of 36 | Posted by BucketHead Wendy | Posted on March 27, 2007 9:18 PM
Locke's dad is obviously the original "Sawyer" who was the con man that ruined James Ford's (present day Sawyer) life. Can't wait 'til present day Sawyer sees him. That'll be great!
35 of 36 | Posted by Darth Wader
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Posted on March 29, 2007 7:54 AM
Love this recap and site...just wanted to say, I don't get all the jumped the shark stuff? His dad showing up is no weirder than anything else, no?
36 of 36 | Posted by NiNny | Posted on April 15, 2007 4:28 PM