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    LOST: Cabin Fever
    Thursday, 08 May 2008
    Lost s4e11 ReviewLOST
    Cabin Fever
    aka: "John Locke: This is your life"
    by Peter Sorensen

    In the eleventh episode of Season Four, Locke takes Hurley and Ben on a quick pit stop (literally) before finding Jacob's cabin. Keamy returns to the boat, sunny disposition intact, life aboard the freighter becomes increasingly perilous, and no one tells Locke what he can't... well, you know the rest.

    Recovering from the emo-liciously bad episode last week took some doing, but man am I glad we had this episode to follow it up. It's an unwritten rule that any Hurley or Locke-centric episode is going to kick some cinematic ass, and this week did not disappoint.

    Chock full of self-referential scenes and sneaky easter eggs-a-plenty, this week's episode also returned to the classic "flashback" formula, showing us the life and times of John B. Locke (the "B" stands for Buttercup).

    Right now, there are two things about Lost that really, really, really have my brain spinning  - the smoke monster (what else is new?) and Locke's destiny on the island - and tonight one of those came closer to being answered. The episode opens in the 50's with a young girl named Emily dancing to "Everyday" by Buddy Holly (who died in a... plane crash, anyone?) and preparing for a date with a much older man. When her mother disapproves, Emily runs out of the house and is hit by a passing car (wow - Lost has the worst drivers in the world). She's taken to the hospital where she reveals that she's six months pregnant. The doctors save the mother and the premature baby - who Emily names John (as in John Locke... duh). He is given up for adoption, but not before receiving a rather strange visitor - the ever youthful Richard Alpert!
    Locke, Hurley, and Ben
    'Oh, great. You killed the invisible swordsman!'

    On the island, Ben, Hurley and Locke play hide-n-go-seek with Jacob's shack while the helicopter returns to the freighter. Still out of sync with island time (or is it the other way around?) Keamy and the rest of his team arrive to find the doctor still very much alive. Surprisingly, the smoke monster must have really disliked one guy in particular because the rest of Keamy's crew are remarkably unharmed while MonsterBait McMercenary has been savagely ripped to shreds. "What did this to him?" the doctor asks as they wheel him past.

    Keamy accuses the Captain of selling him out (because Ben knew Keamy's name) and Capt. Gault in turn reveals that Michael was Ben's spy. Keamy storms into the cell where Michael is being held and attacks him. He draws his gun and points it at Michaels head. At this point in the show, I began excitedly laughing because like most fans, I knew what was coming. *click* goes the gun. Hahaha! Keamy even tries again and double checks to make sure that the gun is loaded. Apparently, the island isn't done with Michael just yet.

    Back in the jungle, Locke wakes up and hears the sound of someone chopping wood. He follows the noise and meets Horace Goodspeed (aka "the guy that welcomed Ben and his father to the island") who is chopping down a tree... over and over again. Like a ghostly version of Sisyphus, Horace seems to be doing the same thing over and over and over. Locke wakes up from the dream and knows where they have to go. Ben, sitting nearby and watching tells Locke "I used to have dreams, too".

    He takes Hurley and Ben back to the pit where the skeletons of the killed Dharma Initiative are kept, which must have been awfully uncomfortable for everyone involved. On one hand, Hurley finds out just what happened to them all, while Locke get to revisit the exact place that Ben shot him and left him for dead. Fun stuff.

    Flashback to John Locke as a young boy. Richard Alpert comes to visit John, saying that he runs a school for children that are "special". Xavier... I mean Richard, lays out a series of items on a table - a baseball mitt, a Book of Laws, a vial of sandy granules, a compass, a comic book, and a knife -  and asks John to pick which things belong to him. At first Locke doesn't understand, but Richard clarifies: "which of these things... belong to you already?" (more on this in the spoiler section) John looks over the items, and picks out a vial of sand (much like the island sand, or the stuff that was surrounding Jacob's cabin), a compass (which looks very similar to the compass he later gives to Sayid on the island), and finally... a knife (much like the one Ben gives him on the island). Alpert looks disappointed, almost like he had wanted Locke to choose the Book of Laws. He hurriedly packs up his belongings, tells Locke that he was wrong, and leaves.

    Horace's map
    'See, the cabin is NORTH of the teleporter, EAST of the mini mall!'
    Back at the mass Dharma grave, Locke rummages through the bodies until he finds Horace's corpse. He checks the front pocket and sure enough - there is a map right to Jacob's cabin. "He was building it..." Locke exclaims, understanding the wood-chopping part of his dream.

    On the freighter, Keamy takes Capt. Gault's key and unlocks a special protocol - the location of where Ben is headed. Apparently, Widmore not only knows what's going to happen next, but where and how. He takes the protocol and tells the Captain to fix his gun (the one that couldn't kill Michael). Outside, the Capt takes Sayid and Desmond aside and lets them know what's happening, and then agrees to give Sayid a boat to ferry the Losties to the boat.

    Having the location to the cabin, Locke offers Hurley the chance to leave, which Hurley immediately turns down. "He actually thinks staying was his idea... not bad John, not bad at all" Ben tells Locke once Hurley's out of hearing range, implying that like Ben, Locke is playing mindgames. Locke tells Ben that they're not alike, something that Ben has to agree with (keep this in mind for later).

    Flashback to John Locke in high school. After being shoved in a locker, he's taken aside by a teacher and told that a company out of Portland by the name of Mittelos Bioscience (Alpert again) has been trying to recruit Locke for a summer program. John turns down the offer, saying that he's not interesting in science camp. The teacher tries to talk him into it, saying that Locke can't be the quarterback, he can't be homecoming king... and again I start in with the excited laughing. Yeah, sure - it's a total fanboy setup and we all know what's coming, but how can you not just geek right-the-hell-out when young Locke edges closer to the screen and nearly hisses "Don't... tell me... what I can't do."

    Back at the freighter, Frank releases Michael while Keamy gets outfitted with... something. Something probably very, very bad for anyone in his way. Capt. Gault gives the boat to Desmond and Sayid and tells them to leave, but Desmond won't leave. After spending this much time on the island, he won't set foot on it again... not when he knows Penny is looking for him. Sayid reluctantly accepts this and heads off on his own in a small boat... one that could probably only fit maybe 6 people? Hmmmm.

    You'll understand soon enough that there are consequences to being chosen, because "destiny" John... is a fickle bitch. -Ben

    In the jungle, Ben questions whether Locke can trust the map, and Locke assures him that the cabin will be there because that's where he was told it would be. Ben tells him that he was told things too - that he was "chosen" and "special" and he ended up with a tumor on his spine and his daughter's blood on his hands. Locke apologizes and tries to empathize with him, but Ben chalks it up to destiny and tells Locke "You'll understand soon enough that there are consequences to being chosen, because "destiny" John... is a fickle bitch."

    Flashback to Locke in physical therapy after breaking his spine. After the session, he climbs into his wheelchair and an orderly takes him to the elevator. The orderly tries to cheer Locke up and tells him not to give up. The camera pans up and the orderly is actually Abaddon. Abaddon asks Locke if he believes in miracles, and when Locke says no, tells him that some people would consider falling that many stories and surviving to be a miracle. Then, the unbelievable happens. Abaddon suggests that Locke might want to take a walkabout - that it would help him understand who he is.

    Ok, so not only has Richard Alpert played a significant role in Locke's life, but Abaddon was the person who convinced him to go on his ill-fated walkabout? This show makes my head hurt sometimes. In a good way, of course, but still... lots of head-hurting.

    Abaddon tells Locke that when he's ready, "you'll listen to what I'm saying, and then - when you and me run into each other again... you'll owe me one." I haven't decided whether Abaddon is the good guy or the bad guy yet, but either way... that cannot be good.
    Keamy's device
    It's nice to see the Zune finally find it's target audience.

    All hell breaks loose on the freighter. Keamy and his team load the helicopter with some serious firepower - rocket launchers, assault rifles, explosives - and one of the team mentions to the doctor that he received a message saying he was found dead on the beach, his throat slashed. Frank takes a stand and refuses to fly Keamy back to the island. Keamy threatens him, but Frank counters with the fact that he's the only pilot, so killing him means the helicopter stays where it is. Keamy, always the rational and well-versed debater, slashes the doctor's throat and unceremoniously tosses him overboard to be found by the Losties... three days ago? Man, that's confusing. Regardless, Frank changes his mind.

    Touché, Monsieur Keamy. Touché.

    Not to be outdone, Captain Gault draws down on Keamy, who simply shows the device fastened to his arm and says "I don't think you want to do that, Captain". While Gault (along with the rest of us) tries to figure out what the hell that thing on his arm is, Keamy shoots and kills him. Frank starts up the helicopter, turns on one of the sat phones, and hides it in a backpack. Later, as he flies low over the island, Frank covertly tosses it out of the cockpit and it lands at the Losties camp below. "I think they want us to follow them", Jack says.

    In the jungle, Ben, Locke and Hurley have found the cabin, but only Locke is willing to go in. Ben won't go in because the island wanted him to get sick and wanted Locke to get well... something that Ben sees as a sign that it's Locke's time now. And Hurley? Well, Hurley is just Hurley.
    Hurley and Ben
    Worst. Buddy Movie. Ever.

    Inside the cabin, Locke meets a familiar face: Christian Shephard. Locke asks him if he's Jacob, and Christian says no, but that he speaks on Jacob's behalf. Locke also finds Claire with Christian, grinning like an idiot. When Locke asks her where Aaron is, Christian says "the baby's where he's supposed to be" and apparently Claire has no problem with that. Whaaa? That confirms it: she's got to be dead or something. Maybe she's been a ghost since the RPG blew up her house. Locke begins to ask questions, but Christian cuts him short and tells him to ask the one question that matters. "How do I save the island?" Locke asks.

    Outside, there's a funny moment between Hurley and Ben when Hurley begins to eat an Apollo bar, then splits it and shares it with Ben. It's such an odd moment that can only happen with Hurley around. Then, Locke exits the cabin and Ben asks what they're supposed to do.

    John replies: "He wants us to move the island".

    Now for the fun part:

    Sorry, this part is for members only and may contain spoilers. If you'd like to read it, please LOG IN or REGISTER.

    Registration is free, takes only a moment, and allows you to access member only content like this.


    Next week, the end begins. In part 1 of the 3-part season finale, entitled "There's No Place Like Home", the face-off between the Losties and the mercenaries from the freighter ignites. In addition to the next 3 episodes, it's also being reported by several sources that showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have added a second hour to the final episode, essentially making this season 15 episodes in length. So we'll have an hour long episode 12, an hour long episode 13, and a whopping 2-hour long episode 14.

    In addition to the added hour, it's also being reported that instead of the two remaining seasons being 16 episodes each, they will be increased to 17 episodes each.

    According to Lindelof, via HollywoodReporter.com:

    "We were supposed to do 16-16-16... But we ended up doing 14 this season, so we owe two."


    Leave it to Darlton Lindelcuse to know how to make the fanboys happy. See you next week!







    Is Locke the chosen one? Is Richard Alpert really just a Vampire? Post a comment below and let us know!
    Comments (6)
    Dube wrote...
    Oh, that would be GREAT if they added an extra hour to the finale!

    Really great post. LOVED the "Zune finally finds its target audience." Awesome.

    I thought Ben was supposed to pick the comic instead of the knife (isn't that the same comic that Walt had?)
    Peter wrote...
    Actually, Walt's comic book was "Green Lantern/Flash: Faster Friends #1" but they are similar in that they both have Lost-ish themes.

    But that does bring up a good point - all of the items that Richard Alpert laid out could be tied to important characters on the island - especially the ones that have seen the apparitions there. For instance, the baseball glove could be Jack (because of his father and the Red Sox), the comic could be Hurley and/or Walt, the knife is Ben, The Book of Laws could be Kate, etc...

    I think Locke recognized the book, but intentionally chose the wrong item because as a child, he'd much rather have the knife. But more importantly, even though Alpert knew Locke was either wrong (or lying), he must have still kept an eye on him because Mittelos Bioscience tried again to recruit him later on.

    My question is: Would they have tried to recruit him anyway, or did young Locke's science fair project really catch their eye? If so, what was it?
    http://www.bleepinggeek.com || May 10, 2008
    manzy704 wrote...
    Peter, as I heard Ben describe destiny as a fickle bitch, I thought to myself, that will be BleepingGeek's quote of the night. Simpatico mi amigo. Moving on to the episode...

    You are the first reviewer (out of the several episode reviews I've read) that gave any attention to Mr. Keamy's device. I figured it was some sort of bomb based on the way he threatened Cpt. Gault but it being tied his vitals is a nice postulate that I didn't reach. I really want Keamy to die but at the same time I don't, he is a terrifying antagonist, in a good way.

    As for Locke's test, I think Alpert was frustrated because he knows Locke is someone special but he can't take Locke until Locke is ready. Young Locke twice decided against what Alpert would have wanted. I think he chose the knife for the same reason he chose not to go to Mittelos as a teenager, he wants to be the rough and tough boy. Not the bookworm. Remember he has Dad issues (who doesn't on this show) and as a young boy might have thought Dads want rough and tough boys who go hunting with knives and compasses, not bookworms who read a Book of Laws. Locke went against his inner self by taking the knife and went against himself by choosing not to go to Portland.

    I don't think Claire is dead but is quite "out of it". For whatever reason, the island wants her and Aaron separated for what is to come. We know the island didn't want the 6 to leave (at least that is the impression I've gotten from the ghosts) and that Aaron isn't supposed to be raised by anyone but Claire. Who knows though?

    What the hell does it mean to move the island and are we talking about moving it through space or time?

    So at last we are coming to this standoff between the mercenaries and the survivors. I don't know how things are going to go down, but I'm fairly confident that we will see The Orchid and in a rush to escape with his life, an injured Ben will step into a device that places him in 2005 Tunisia. So the only two things I'm confident in theorizing about this finale is that Ben will escape transport to Tunisia as seen a few episodes ago and that Penelope Widmore (or at least the vessel she arrives in) will be the thing that gets the 6 off the island. I do think that Jin will die but I'm really hoping I'm wrong.

    The breakdown of the final three hours of this season go like this:

    Hour 1 of No Place Like Home airs this coming Thursday.
    The next week has no episode.
    Hours 2 and 3 of No Place Like Home air 5/22/08. That means that this season will have had 14 hours, not 15.
    || May 10, 2008
    mr.tuttlessister wrote...
    I don't know if anyone saw this, but Keamy's "protocol" (in the red envelope) had the Dharma octagonal thingy-madoodle-whap. smilies/grin.gif
    || May 11, 2008
    Peter wrote...
    @manzy704 - Shhh, I'm trying to pretend that Grey's Anatomy doesn't exist. Also, with all the recent changes I'm not sure if the "extra hour" the showrunners were referring to is part 3, or if they're considering making part 3 two hours long. That show has had such weird scheduling and planning ever since the strike.

    Speaking of which, recent reports are saying that the SAG negotiations aren't going so hot right now and they've had to extend them... which could mean bad things for the future of TV. I doubt we'll see another strike like the WGA had, but it will definitely get pretty dicey soon.

    @ mr.tuttlessister - As a matter of fact I did - and not only is it a Dharma logo, it's the exact same logo that Ben had on his parka when he showed up in the Tunisian desert, which leads me to believe that the hatch in question is where the time traveling happens, as both the parka and the protocol (with knowledge of where Ben will be) could have ties to time travel.
    http://www.bleepinggeek.com || May 11, 2008
    manzy704 wrote...
    I've been following the SAG negotiations as well and I highly doubt another strike is in the air but damnit if these rich bastards aren't getting on my nerves. The writer's strike did make things weird this year for both of my favorite shows (Lost and Heroes) so I really hope they work out a way to avoid a repeat.

    Though I think Heroes had something to gain from ending when they did as season 2 was garbage.
    || May 11, 2008

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