Don't tell me what Lost can't do. This episode, part of the sixth and final season, is driven by the fundamental question as to why the plane crash survivors were brought to the island in the first place. The explanation given by the monster is equal parts revealing (if the monster is telling the truth) and mysterious (some things are still vague). The concept of the "candidate" is finally explained, or so it seems (I have a feeling the monster was telling the truth, at least in part). A candidate is someone who may take over the island from Jacob. It would be this new person's responsibility to protect the island- though the monster claims there's really nothing to protect it from. If that's true, it would make all of the struggles and deaths look tragically needless and absurd. It looks like Sawyer, who was always ambiguous as to whether he's a hero or villain, is about to form an alliance with the monster. I have a feeling Sawyer's role as an antagonist in the endgame will be epic.
Other highlights of the episode include a mysterious, eerie child who reminds the monster of the "rules"- allowing the fake Locke to yell out the real Locke's classic line. Part of Locke may live on, it seems. Seeing things from the monster's point of view allows for some interesting cinematography.
But this is also Locke's episode- the real Locke's episode- as we see him finally laid to rest in a funeral scene. Ben gives a favourable eulogy, fitting since he was sort of a friend but ironic as he was also Locke's killer, which he surprisingly openly admits. Meanwhile, Locke is still alive in the parallel universe, back from his failed walkabout, only to be fired by Randy. It's tragic, but one can see why he was fired. And we get some good drama as he and and Helen, who are still together in this universe, debate whether Locke can be healed. My only question is why Hurley was so quick to help out Locke after he had been fired. He might feel bad about the parking job or it may be just because he doesn't like Randy, but he doesn't even ask why Locke was fired. Oh well- these parallel scenes still make one of the more interesting off-island stories and this whole episode is one of the best of the series. A+
Other highlights of the episode include a mysterious, eerie child who reminds the monster of the "rules"- allowing the fake Locke to yell out the real Locke's classic line. Part of Locke may live on, it seems. Seeing things from the monster's point of view allows for some interesting cinematography.
But this is also Locke's episode- the real Locke's episode- as we see him finally laid to rest in a funeral scene. Ben gives a favourable eulogy, fitting since he was sort of a friend but ironic as he was also Locke's killer, which he surprisingly openly admits. Meanwhile, Locke is still alive in the parallel universe, back from his failed walkabout, only to be fired by Randy. It's tragic, but one can see why he was fired. And we get some good drama as he and and Helen, who are still together in this universe, debate whether Locke can be healed. My only question is why Hurley was so quick to help out Locke after he had been fired. He might feel bad about the parking job or it may be just because he doesn't like Randy, but he doesn't even ask why Locke was fired. Oh well- these parallel scenes still make one of the more interesting off-island stories and this whole episode is one of the best of the series. A+