6.04 Lighthouse

Summary and Spoilers

Jack and the leader of the Others have a brief but sincere chat. The leader is glad that Jack has not left. Jack lets the leader know that Kate, Jin, and Sawyer are probably not coming back.

Hugo runs into Jacob in the pool room. Jacob says ‘someone’ is coming to the island, and he wants Hugo to help this ‘someone’ find the island. A bit later, Hugo is dutifully following instructions, traveling through a mysterious hall of the temple with indecipherable symbols. The leader tells him to leave, but Jacob feed Hugo lines – telling him to say that he is a candidate. It works, and the leader leaves. Jacob explains again that Hugo must bring Jack with him into the secret entrance, and gives some tips on how to get Jack to follow him. It works (specifically, the phrase "You’ve got what it takes" works) and Jack agrees to accompany Hugo.

Hugo and Jack escape into the jungle. They meet Kate. Kate is going to look for Claire, but Jack tells her that, according to the Others, something happened to Claire. Kate is not deterred and heads off anyway. Jack and Hugo end up at the old caves where the tribe once lived. Jack explains how he found the caves by following the ghost of his father.

Jack and Hurley continue through the jungle, trading stories about why they came back to the island. Hugo returned because Jacob told him to. Jack returned because he believed he could be emotionally healed there – and so far, he has been disappointed. They reach their destination – a lighthouse. Hugo has his orders – to turn the lighthouse on first. They climb to the top; a series of pulleys are used to adjust mirrors to the optimum angle. Jack discovers the name of the Oceanic survivors written on the surface of the table in the center of the room. He turns the mirrors to face his name and in the mirror, he can see the house where he grew up in. Jack wants to know why Jacob is watching him, and when answers are not forthcoming, he smashes the mirrors.

Jacob finally shows up for Hugo and explains that Jack is here to do something important, but that he must find out what it is for himself. Jacob also says that someone bad is coming to the temple, but that the people there cannot be warned – it is too late.

Sayid wants to know why everyone is staring at him. It may be because the Others believe that he is infected. Jack tells Sayid about the poison pill and why it was given – and that there is someone else with the same infection.

In the jungle, Claire approaches Jin, whose bloody foot is in an animal trap. Claire frees him, but Jin collapses when he tries to walk. When Jin’s eyes open again, he is in Claire’s makeshift shelter. He pokes around and finds a child’s cradle. Inside is a kind of jigsaw representation of a child, made from bones and buttons. Soon, Jin is joined by Claire and her newest prisoner - one of the Others who was guarding Jin. This guy says he knows of her, and that they must escape or she will kill them.

It’s unclear exactly how stable Claire is or isn’t. She believes the Others have Aaron because she says her father told her so. She claims that she doesn’t live on her own because she has a mysterious un-named friend. She fixes Jin’s leg, and then wields an axe at the tied-up Other, demanding to know where Aaron is. When Claire is about to swing, Jin tells her that Kate took Aaron off the island. Claire is devastated, and she responds to the Other’s request to be untied by killing him with an axe to the chest. So…she’s fairly crazy.

Jin now tells Claire that he lied about Kate taking Aaron off the island. He says the truth is that he has seen Aaron at the temple, a prisoner of the Others – and that he can get Claire in there. Claire says if Kate had been raising Aaron, she would kill her. Claire’s friend shows up – it’s un-Locke!

Jack’s flashback:

At home, Jack is still waiting to find out where his father’s body is. It’s in lost luggage somewhere, perhaps in Berlin. His mother is also wondering – she calls in a panic. Jack is only partially aware of his own life – he has an appendectomy scar but doesn’t remember having an appendectomy. He also has a teenage son named David.

David does his best to ignore his dad. It seems that (workaholic) Jack is not around much, and David has gotten used to that.

Jack helps his mom to search for his dad’s missing will. They discuss how upset David was at the funeral – a fact that David had not bothered to tell his dad. When the will is found, Jack’s mom wants to know about the person named ‘Claire Littleton’.

Back at home, Jack finds that David has gone out. Jack tries David’s mother house – he knows she is not home. He enters using a key hidden out front under a statue. David isn’t there, but his whereabouts are tracked to an audition at a music conservatory – an audition that he didn’t even bother to tell his dad about. Jack rushes to the conservatory in time to hear the last part of David’s stunning performance. Strangely, one of the other dads is the Other’s leader.

Jack catches up with David outside the conservatory. David says he didn’t tell Jack because he didn’t want his dad to see him fail. Jack tries to make David feel more secure about the love and respect they feel for each other.

Comments

If you were wondering how un-Locke was going to get into the temple, now you know – Jin will be forced to lead him in.

Think for a moment about what might happen should Kate find Claire right about now. Jin better think up a few more good lies to diffuse that scenario.

When the leader of the Others shows up as a dad at the conservatory rehearsal, it felt a little David Lynchian – and not necessarily in a good way.

Lost Quotes

Jack: Where is he?
Hugo: What?
Jack: Jacob. Where is he?
Hugo: He’s kind of dead. Turns up whenever he wants, like Obi Wan Kenobi.

"I came back here because I was broken…and I was stupid enough to think this place could fix me."
- Jack

6.03 The Substitute

Summary and Spoilers

In the present, un-Locke machetes Richard down from a hanging bag and tells him it is time to talk, then quickly changes and invites – closer to demands – that Richard come with him, follow him instead of following the deceased Jacob. Richard refuses, and we think that he is about to face the wrath of this god, but un-Locke leaves suddenly when he is unnerved by the image of a young boy with bleeding arms. This meeting is noteworthy because it is the first time I have ever seen Richard looking scared – and he looks terrified.

Ben tells partial truths to the sobbing Ilana. He says that Locke killed her men by turning into a Smoke Monster. He also says that Locke killed Jacob. Ilana scoops up Jacob’s ashes and bags them.

Un-Locke visits Sawyer’s bachelor pad, where loud music plays on a retro turntable and Sawyer glugs whiskey. Sawyer realizes quickly that this thing may look like Locke but it is not him. Un-Locke is there to recruit – we know that now – and he offers to explain why Sawyer is on the island. Even a drunk, depressed Sawyer is intrigued by this, and he agrees to follow.

The real, dead Locke is still lying on the beach, his body beginning to decompose. Ilana is heading for the temple with Jacob’s ashes. She convinces Sun to follow her, because she says that Jin will be there, too. Frank also follows. But first, Sun says they must bury Locke. I’m thinking, no, don’t bury him – bring him to the temple, and dip him in the water. Can’t hurt. But no, they bury him, and Ben says some words over his grave, including how he is very sorry he murdered him.

Un-Locke and Sawyer begin their journey. Un-Locke sees the boy mirage again, but this time his arms are not bleeding. Sawyer can see him too. The boy runs and Un-Locke pursues, then falls. The boy and Un-Locke exchange a typical cryptic Lost dialogue exchange. Un-Locke’s response is a typical Locke line, and makes me wonder who or what this being is.

Richard pops out of the woods just long enough to tell Sawyer that Un-Locke is going to kill Sawyer and everyone else. A bit later, Sawyer draws his gun, ready to kill Un-Locke, but a passionate, fearless speech by Un-Locke makes Sawyer lower his gun and continue to follow. After a hair-raising brush with death on a series of bamboo and rope ladders leading down a steep ocean cliff, Un-Locke leads Sawyer deep into a cavern where the names of people who have ended up on the island are scrawled on the cave ceiling. Un-Locke says the names were written by Jacob. Most of the names are crossed out, but not Shephard or Reyes or Jarrah or Kwon. And, of course, Ford. And Locke. Where’s Kate? All the names are there because they have been nominated to protect the island. Un-Locke says there are three choices: ignore, protect, or just leave – together. Sawyer favors the leave together choice – and, suspiciously, that’s the choice also favored by Un-Locke (who perhaps wants the island for himself?).

Locke’s Flashback:

In flashback, Locke takes time out from choosing fabric colors for wedding chair backs to consider taking Jack Shephard up on his offer for a free consultation. Back at work in this alternate universe, Locke is fired when his boss finds out that he did not attend any convention events in Australia.

In the parking lot, Locke meets Hurley. Hugo is a different man – self-assured and confident, he owns the company that Locke has been fired from. Hurley also owns a temp agency, and tells Locke to go there and mention his name – and they will get him a job pronto.

Locke isn’t happy with the fuzzy wuzzy questions he is asked at the temp agency. He asks to speak to the interviewer’s supervisor, and comes face to face with Rose, the office manager.

The next morning, Locke calls Dr. Shephard’s office, but hangs up rather than speaking. He then tells Helen that he was fired for not going to the conference in Sydney – two things she did not know yet. At that moment, he also has his lost luggage delivered. Inside are the knives that he planned to use on his walkabout – the one he was not allowed to go on. So, three things that Helen didn’t know. Locke is feeling down about being trapped in his chair, forever, and tries to break up with Helen, but she loves him just as he is.

Locke is now coaching and teaching at what appears to be a high school. He looks rejuvenated and happy to be working, but that was before he meets Ben Linus, European History teacher, in the teacher’s lounge. Locke is a substitute teacher.

Lost Quotes

"Alright, Richard. Time to talk."
- Un-Locke

Ben: Locke – do you know why he carried Richard out into the jungle?
Ilana: He’s recruiting.

Sawyer: Thought you were dead.
Un-Locke: I am.

Ben: John Locke was a – a believer – he was a man of faith, he was - a much better man than I will ever be…and I’m very sorry I murdered him.
Frank: This is the weirdest damn funeral I’ve ever been to.

Sawyer: Who are you? You sure as hell ain’t John Locke.
Un-Locke: What makes you say that?
Sawyer: ‘Cause Locke was scared. Even when he was pretending he wasn’t. But you – you ain’t scared.

Boy: You can’t kill him. You know the rules.
Un-Locke: Don’t tell me what I can’t do.

6.02 What Kate Does

Summary and Spoilers

The death of Juliet has once again morphed Sawyer’s ever changing personality. Now, he is a bitter, twisted man again, out only for himself. He gains no solace from Sayid’s resurrection, and instead steals a gun and leaves the compound, warning everyone not to follow him.

The Others really feel it is important that Sawyer returns. Kate volunteers to track him and bring him back. Jin also says he will go. Two of the Others will accompany them. Meanwhile, Sayid is tortured briefly, then told he was just tested and passed. But when he leaves the room the two Others who are in command say that they lied to him. Kate has other plans, and quickly disables both Others and takes their guns.

Jack is given a pill by the Others, and a choice: give it to Sayid to stop some mystery infection that they say he has (although he has no symptoms), or don’t give it to him, and watch the mystery infection spread. They won’t tell him what the infection is, or what’s in the pill. Good luck with that one, Jack.

Kate finds Sawyer still grieving for Juliet. Sawyer now says it is his fault that she died, because he convinced her to stay on the island. Sawyer says he is meant to be alone, and suggests Kate head back to the temple.

Jack confronts the leader of the Others and finally gets him to admit that the pill (which Jack did not give to Sayid) contains poison. They say that there is a darkness growing inside Sayid that will claim his heart. They say they know this because it happened to Jack’s sister. Jack’s sister? Oh yeah…that is Claire. Sure enough, when Jin is ambushed by the two Others, who arrives just in time to shoot them and save him? Claire, wearing a flannel shirt and crazy hair, and looking like she just stepped out of the Beverly Hillbillies.

Comments

As I mentioned in my summary, Sawyer’s personality has been most manipulated to suit the plot (and to provide dramatic intense moments for the popular actor). They always feel a bit contrived, but they sit okay later on, when we recall that Sawyer’s backstory establishes him as a man torn between the sweet innocence of a boy and the fiery revenge of a man who blames another for the death of his parents. And Sawyer has not achieved any sense of peace from his revenge quest.

Lost Quotes

"And as you can see, Hugo here has assumed the leadership position, so that's... pretty great."
- Miles

6.01 LA X (part 2)

Summary and Spoilers

With Hurley bringing Sayid to the temple for salvation, it seems logical to also bring Juliet there, rather than just burying her. But no one thinks of that.

There are others at the temple, led by a Japanese man. One of the members of this tribe is the stewardess. The Japanese man gives the order to shoot Hurley and his friends, but Hurley saves the day by name-dropping ‘Jacob’. The guitar case contains a wooden icon. The Japanese man breaks it to reveal a letter from Jacob, telling them that if Sayid dies, they are all in a lot of trouble. This motivates the man to immerse Sayid’s unconscious body in a healing spring. This doesn’t work, and Sayid dies. A little later, Hurley nonchalantly mentions that Jacob is dead. This sends the others into a rushed panic to defend the temple against someone who is coming to attack it.

Sawyer and Miles bury Juliet. Afterward, Sawyer forces Miles to communicate with her, to ask her what she wanted to tell him at her moment of death. Miles says she wanted to say, "It worked." Sawyer has no idea what she meant by that.

More time passes, during which we see un-Locke emerge from the foot, knock Richard out, throw Richard’s limp body over his shoulder, and begin trudging off (I assume his destination is the temple). Back at the temple, Sayid suddenly comes back to life.

Lost Quotes

Ben: You’re the monster.
un-Locke: Let’s not resort to name calling.

6.01 LA X (part 1)

Summary and Spoilers

So what happens after Juliet explodes the bomb? Well, it’s Lost, so it’s weird. Jack is back on flight 815 with the other survivors. The turbulence occurs, but it also ends without resulting in a crash. Jack seems to be the only one that is vaguely aware of the alternate reality. Other people (Rose, Bernard, Desmond, and the stewardess, played by Australian Kimberley Joseph) are all treating Jack and each other like they just met. Through a quick flight down beneath the ocean, we see that the island is now buried in deep water. Jack seems normal, except for one little thing: a strange red mark on his neck.

But of course, it’s never that simple. Because back on the island, Kate finds herself high in a tree, her ears ringing. She, along with Miles and a bloody pair of Jack and Sawyer, have been transported in time to just after Desmond exploded the hatch. Despite all of Jack’s efforts, the hatch has still been blown up. For his trouble, Jack gets a beating from Sawyer, who blames Jack for Juliet’s death. But a faint voice from below the wreckage could be Juliet. Meanwhile, Hurley waits nearby with Sayid. Sayid is near death, spitting up blood. Jacob, freshly dead and visible only to I-Can-See-Dead-People Hurley, tells Hurley he can save Sayid by bringing him to the temple.

Juliet is rescued only long enough to die in Sawyer’s arms. Will Sawyer now be a man of his word and kill Jack? He said so much to Kate.

Back on the plane, Jack saves Charlie from choking on a bag of drugs he was attempting to swallow. Charlie is not grateful, especially when he is arrested upon arrival in LA.

Jacob’s rival, currently inhabiting a copy of Locke’s body, not only can repel bullets, but when he’s angry he morphs (off-camera) into The Smoke Monster. Or, if he just wants to be in a more diluted form, yet still cause damage, he becomes The Secondhand Smoke Monster.