
Review:
See, this is why we should always trust the writers. Can you imagine the headache we would have had if this episode was episode 303. Without a Kate episode to bring things back down to Earth the show would have accelerated needlessly fast. We need this alternating pace so our heads don’t explode.
But enough about last week, let’s get on with this review.
Off the Island Locke’s life begins to self-destruct. But this time he’s not alone. Helen, Hurley and Rose are there to catch him and set him back on his feet (not literally). Locke postpones his fated meeting with Jack, but we all know it’s coming, “it’s destiny”. And right at the end we get a fun little reunion with surprising connotations: Ben is off the Island, and more importantly he’s a history teacher DUN DUN DUUUUN!!
Things aren’t as rosy on the Island. It turns out “Locke” didn’t really need Richard, he just wanted to punch him and then try to convince him that he’s really a nice guy. It didn’t work.
So “Locke” moves on to Sawyer, and has more success with him. Or does he? I’m convinced that our favorite con-man isn’t stupid enough to be conned by “Locke” and that he’s wise to his manipulations.
“Locke” does us a favor and tells us, in his very biased way, about Jacob’s scholarship program called Name on the Wall. It turns out Jacob was looking for Candidates, and we have his Master List to prove it. “Locke” thinks it was more of a hit-list and that these people were possible replacements for Jacob. I’m not buying it. I’m sure Jacob was watching these people closely, but I don’t think he was killing them, and I doubt he was hoping to die and get replaced soon.
I see this episode as a journey of discovery. Sure it sounds ridiculous, but that really does sum it up. It wasn’t a big flashy action episode, well besides that stressful ladder scene, it wasn’t an insane finale or a turning point. But we learned a lot and many lines were drawn in the sand. It’s one of those episodes like The Man Behind the Curtain and The Shape of Things to Come that is just a dream come true for theorists and mythologically obsessed fans. 8.5/10.0.
On a side note, I’ve noticed a pattern in the episodes so far. First we get a two part episode about all of our characters with most people getting flashbacks, then we get a Kate episode, then a Locke episode. Sound familiar? It harkens back to Season 1. We’ll see if I’m right next week, according to the pattern it should be a Jack episode next. (Don’t correct me if I’m wrong.)
Continue reading ‘604 – The Substitute’