(pause)
Fan reaction to last week’s episode “What Kate Does,” was a mixed bag. Quite a few people used the word ‘filler’. And at first blush, I admit I was with those people: I was disappointed. The episode seemed to unfold so slowly…it seemed predictable…and it didn’t inspire a lot of “a ha!” moments for me until the last three minutes.
But after watching it a couple more times (read: nerd) and re-reading Charlie’s excellent post-episode analysis (click here!), I got off the filler train and came to appreciate last week’s installment more and more. Let’s be honest here. Any episode that followed “LA X” was going to be a let down on some levels. We had spent nine months building up “LA X” and it lived up to every single one of our expectations. We were very naïve to think that episode 2 would inspire the same ohmygoshthatdidnotjusthappen reaction. To borrow a cliché, “it was what it was”…it is time to move on, guys.
Move on, we will. I think we need to be ready for tonight to knock our socks off...and inspire ohmygoshthatdidnotjusthappen all over again.
Bustamove. (Gratuitous Glee reference #1.)
Tonight’s episode: “The Substitute”
Would you walk with me down Memory Lane to season one? We had a 2-hour all-cast-centric premiere (“Pilot”), followed by the Kate-centric “Tabula Rasa.” And then the a-mazing Locke-centric episode “Walkabout.”
Now, compare that trio to season six. We started with a 2-hour all-cast-centric premiere (“LA X”). Then we had the Kate-centric “What Kate Does.” And tonight, we have a Locke-centric episode entitled “The Substitute.”
Oh. Heck. Yes. LOVE the parallels.
Call me crazy, but I’m preparing myself for tonight’s episode to land next to “Walkabout” on Maggie’s Favorite Episodes.
Ohmygoshthatdidnotjusthappen.
Time for some [New] Direction[s]. (Gratuitous Glee reference #2.)
As Charlie and I have brought up on numerous occasions, there is a lot of intrinsic suspense on Lost the season because of all the [season-one-like] unknowns. What is the end-game for the show / island / characters? Is Jacob a good guy? Or is Man In Black a good guy? Are they both good guys? Why are our characters on the island in the first place? What is their role in the final mission? Are the characters going to get off the island or (gasp) stay there forever? And how is this whole thing going to end?
Well, I have a feeling tonight’s episode is going to start us down the path of the overall direction for season 6. In seasons 1 – 4, we knew the ultimate goal / purpose that was motivating the actions / decisions of our characters (see: “we must get off the island”). And even in season 5, though the characters were varied in their goals, we knew what they were and understood why they felt that way.
But right now…uh, what the [bleep] is everyone doing?
Okay, okay. So maybe it isn’t that uncertain. We have some ideas. Kate is trying to find Claire. Jin is trying to find Sun. Sun is trying to find Jin. Blah blah. But everyone else seems clueless (Jack) / unstable (Sawyer) about their purpose right now. In order for suspense and drama to build and move this season, we need a few answers.
And I think it starts tonight.
So many BIG questions.
I’m guessing clues will come fast and furious tonight on the show’s end-game from Fake-Locke (Flocke) / MIB. Other than Jacob, Flocke is arguably the most mysterious and ambiguous character on the show right now. Proof? I’ve compiled a short list of some of the nagging questions about him:
* Why is Man in Black (MIB) appearing as [a substitute] Locke?
* Is MIB posing as Locke so that can do something Locke was supposed to do before Ben killed him? Or is he using Locke as a disguise so he can manipulate the survivors / the Others?
* Is there a reason that MIB is staying as Locke ? Has he been waiting for Locke???
* What is the root of the war between MIB and the Others? Between MIB and Jacob?
* When MIB said he “wants to go home,” what did he mean? Where is it? Is it really a place? Is there a reason he hasn’t been able to go there? Is someone / something stopping him?
* Does MIB / Jacob all come down to a good vs. evil battle? What is the difference between the two? Is the end game the same for both, or complete opposites?
See? A lot of really, really big questions. Truthfully, just a couple answers will really move the storyline forward for all the characters. For example, if our characters are forced pick sides in this battle (as many of you have suggested), we will be anxiously awaiting glimpses into how their choice will impact their life, their relationships…really, their fate. And things could get crazy pretty fast.
But back to tonight…
Title: “The Substitute.” Most people are positing two options for the meaning:
(1) The title is a reference to Flocke as a substitute for original Locke.
(2) The title refers to the 815-alt characters who landed in Los Angeles and are now living an alternate life…they are substitutes of the real characters who are on the island.
Honestly, I could see either scenario being true. And as you’ll see shortly, our guest star list lends itself to both…
But first, I need to give Charlie a moment to nerd out. I want to bring up a theory he brought to my attention over the weekend regarding the episode title. What if tonight’s episode “The Substitute” is paying homage to the past episodes “The Constant” and “The Variable”? After all, substitutions are a part of algebra and abstract math, just likes constants and variables. As you all know, in math, substitutions result in a different meaning of an expression. An alternate meaning, if you will.
Sounds familiar, huh?
(Well played, Professor Stephan.)
Finally! Guest Stars!
L. Scott Caldwell as Rose, Katey Sagal as Helen, Billy Ray Gallion as Randy, Suzanne Krull as Lynn Karnoff, Kenton Duty as teenage boy, Eddie L. Cavett as courier and Joshua Smith as school kid.
Finally! GUEST STARS! I’m relieved. And I’m excited, as some of these names are familiar! Time to dust off the old yearbook (Go Knights) for a refresher on these folks…
Rose:
Yay Rose. Love her. Excellent. Awesome. Great.
Helen:
Most of you probably remember Helen. She was John Locke’s girlfriend and almost his fiancé. She and Locke were in a very serious relationship before Locke’s freaky obsession with his father (see: stalking and lying) got in the way. And you’ll recall that awful scene when Locke proposed to her…and she (gasp) turned him down (see: stalking and lying). We found out later that Helen tragically died of a brain aneurysm (in 2006). So sad.
Randy:
Interestingly enough, lame-o Randy has been in both Locke and Hurley’s flashbacks as a manager of sorts for both characters. In Locke’s history, Randy was his jerk-ofa-boss at the Box Company. Maybe you remember the scene when Randy made fun of Locke in the break room, telling him he would never be able to go on a walkabout. Jerk.
Lynn:
[I’m ashamed to admit that there is a limit to my Lost-knowledge. I didn’t think we knew Lynn from before. But Lostpedia says we do. Shame!] Lynn was a fortune teller the Hurley flashback. She told him that he would die unless she cured him of the Curse of the Numbers. (Yeah, I totally forgot that scene, too.) As you’ll recall, Hurley bribed her to admit that Cheech (Hurley’s Dad) had made her say that…which left her fortune-telling powers, shall we say, "unconfirmed."
The three other guest stars:
Warning! Warning! Warning! No names? Okay, whenever character names are left out, one of two things happen:
(1) the role is so minor that a name is not needed (see: Susan King as Sweet Young Women in “Whatever Happened, Happened”…who ended up being a random lady who found Aaron wandering alone at the grocery store); or
(2) the role is so major that they don’t want the name to give away the secret (see: Titus Welliver as Man #2 in the season 5 finale…who ended up being the freaking MAN IN BLACK).
So, any guesses on where Courier, School Kid, and Teenage Boy will fall?? For one of them in particular, I have a feeling we are going to say ohmygoshthatdidnotjusthappen…but I’m going to keep said postulation to myself for now. (Or put it in the comments section this afternoon!)
TV Guide episode description says…
“Locke goes in search of help to further his cause.”
Cowabunga. (Yep, just typed that. TMNT forever.)
First things first: Locke is dead. And dead is dead. So, I assume that the Locke mentioned in the description is actually Flocke / MIB. As you’ll recall, our last scene with Flocke was when he beat up Richie Alpert and said to the Others “I’m very disappointed in all of you.” He then threw passed-out-Alpert over his shoulder and marched into the jungle. Where is he going? And what is he going to do when he gets there? (Oh, and what did Richard do to deserve that treatment?)
Charlie and I initially discussed that we think Flocke is headed towards the Temple to find Dogen and his other Others.
However, after doing some reading, I’ve found that quite a few people have posited that Flocke is headed to find Sawyer at the old Dharma Barracks. Why? Well, Sawyer is in a pretty dark place right now…perhaps so low and so dark that he can be easily manipulated. If Flocke is looking to form an army, Sawyer just might be his first recruit. And it could actually make sense that Flocke would recruit an army before he heads to the Temple for a showdown, right?
Flocke needs ‘help’? Seriously?
The inclusion of the word ‘help’ in the description is very peculiar. Why? Well, Flocke has shown the ability to take out multiple people with guns without any trouble. He can turn into a Smoke Monster to avoid bullets and kill people. He beat up Richard with some pretty sweet ninja moves. He could probably bust the windows outchur car. (Gratuitous Glee reference #3.)
So honestly, what ‘help’ does Flocke need? (Maggie wonders quietly to herself what help Sawyer could bring to Flocke…perhaps the help of coercion…to assemble said army…hmm??)
What is ‘his cause’?
See: big questions I talked about earlier. What is Flocke’s cause?? Is it going home? Defeating Jacob? Defending the island? Destroying the island? Beating the Norwegians to win the gold medal on the Nordic Combined? (Gratuitous Winter Olympics reference #1.)
It appears like tonight is going to give us a sneak peak at the answer to this big question…which, perhaps, will set us up for the culmination of season 6.
So, any guesses on where Courier, School Kid, and Teenage Boy will fall?? For one of them in particular, I have a feeling we are going to say ohmygoshthatdidnotjusthappen…but I’m going to keep said postulation to myself for now. (Or put it in the comments section this afternoon!)
TV Guide episode description says…
“Locke goes in search of help to further his cause.”
Cowabunga. (Yep, just typed that. TMNT forever.)
First things first: Locke is dead. And dead is dead. So, I assume that the Locke mentioned in the description is actually Flocke / MIB. As you’ll recall, our last scene with Flocke was when he beat up Richie Alpert and said to the Others “I’m very disappointed in all of you.” He then threw passed-out-Alpert over his shoulder and marched into the jungle. Where is he going? And what is he going to do when he gets there? (Oh, and what did Richard do to deserve that treatment?)
Charlie and I initially discussed that we think Flocke is headed towards the Temple to find Dogen and his other Others.
However, after doing some reading, I’ve found that quite a few people have posited that Flocke is headed to find Sawyer at the old Dharma Barracks. Why? Well, Sawyer is in a pretty dark place right now…perhaps so low and so dark that he can be easily manipulated. If Flocke is looking to form an army, Sawyer just might be his first recruit. And it could actually make sense that Flocke would recruit an army before he heads to the Temple for a showdown, right?
Flocke needs ‘help’? Seriously?
The inclusion of the word ‘help’ in the description is very peculiar. Why? Well, Flocke has shown the ability to take out multiple people with guns without any trouble. He can turn into a Smoke Monster to avoid bullets and kill people. He beat up Richard with some pretty sweet ninja moves. He could probably bust the windows outchur car. (Gratuitous Glee reference #3.)
So honestly, what ‘help’ does Flocke need? (Maggie wonders quietly to herself what help Sawyer could bring to Flocke…perhaps the help of coercion…to assemble said army…hmm??)
What is ‘his cause’?
See: big questions I talked about earlier. What is Flocke’s cause?? Is it going home? Defeating Jacob? Defending the island? Destroying the island? Beating the Norwegians to win the gold medal on the Nordic Combined? (Gratuitous Winter Olympics reference #1.)
It appears like tonight is going to give us a sneak peak at the answer to this big question…which, perhaps, will set us up for the culmination of season 6.
Ohmygoshthatdidnotjusthappen…
Let’s do this!
I look forward to your comments and ideas about what is to come tonight! As always, don’t forget to swing by tomorrow morning when the Charlie tackles the episode with exquisite form, speed, grace, and strength (Gratuitous Winter Olympics reference #2.)
Only 15 more episodes. Make it count!
Namaste,
Maggie
1 Snarky Comments:
So Tracie and I finally finished watching the first 5 seasons again ("We had to go BAAAAACK!!!"), and we're now up to speed on season 6. I'm so excited to be reading your posts again, and contributing my own thoughts.
I also noted the mathematical parallels between "The Substitute" and two previous episodes: "The Constant" and "The Variable." In both previous cases, the title referred to some of the principles of time travel in the LOST universe. In this case, though, I think they're referring to the metaphysical principles.
So I lean towards the episode focusing on Flocke: why the MIB needed Locke's body, how he got it, and what he intends do to with it.
Have you ever thought about the process of Locke getting back to the island? Who was involved in helping him on that path? Richard, who had been advised by FLOCKE to tend to his gunshot wound, tell Locke he had to get everyone back, and tell Locke he had to die.
Also Christian, who is probably another manifestation of the MIB. Christian helped broken-legged Locke get to the donkey wheel and gave him a pointer to get Jack on the plane.
Ben had the role of killing Locke and bringing his body. Why? Because Eloise told him to do it. Eloise and Ben both have been rejected as the leader of the Others. I'm going to call them neutral, and guess that they are trying to get back to the island and are thus playing into the MIB's hands. After all, when Ben returns, his dead daughter (MIB?) tells him to do everything Flocke tells him to do.
Then there's Widmore and Abaddon, men who are obviously opposed to Ben and have used vicious means to try to get back to the island. Who knows if Widmore and Co. are for/against Jacob, and what they want with the island?
My point is, I think Flocke has in large part orchestrated the return to the island of our survivors. As the conversation between MIB and Jacob suggested at the end of season 5, the survivors and the Others are likely pawns in what looks like me to be a morality experiment between Good and Evil. And I think Flocke thinks that he's picked the perfect players to turn the tide in favor of his side (Evil). Through flashbacks we've seen the dark side of many of our characters (except maybe Hurley?). Jacob, on the other hand, sees the good in each of them, and has invested time in their lives knowing that the coming battle would ensue.
So that's what I think this final season is about: the battle between Good and Evil, played out by the variables who could choose either way.
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