Finally, we’re back with the core Losties. Don’t get me wrong, I like the story with the Others, but it’s nice to see the familiar characters return. Terry O’Quinn was formidable this week as he tried to rescue Eko and realize what exactly was going on on the island. Some of the characters had some great moments this week. Charlie had the heart to forgive Locke. Terry O’Quinn was excellent once again. Desmond also survived. Something is up with him.

          The dream sequence in the airport was beautiful. It was great to see Boone again. Why did his hair grow? I know, I’m picky. It was fitting for Ian Somerhalder to return. Locke used the same drug he gave Boone on himself. That’s some pretty powerful stuff. He saw a lot of things: Claire, Charlie and Aaron are safe, Sayid, Sun, and Jin are safe, Hurley is punching the infamous numbers in a computer, Sawyer and Kate look like a couple, Jack is in the same line being investigated by psycho-Ben, Desmond is talking with three flight attendants, and Locke is trying to get up an escalator to save Eko (or what might be Eko). You got that? These were some of my favourite scenes in the whole series.

          In retrospect, the dream sequence had a lot to do about family. After watching the flashbacks, we saw Locke attempt to have a new family in the drug-growing community. I was kind of shocked that Locke would be part of such a thing. I then realized that he had just been terribly hurt by his father. He was vulnerable. The Losties have become his real family. I felt uneasy throughout the whole episode, though. I had a feeling that Locke was acting very un-Locke during the flashbacks. He was growing pot! What happened to the honourable Locke? I’m glad he didn’t kill Eddie. I had a feeling he was going to pull the trigger, but luckily he didn’t. Eddie was right: Locke is not a killer. He never will be.

          Locke was the heart and soul of the episode. His speech about saving “their friends” was powerful. Locke, last season, wasn’t the Locke we all learned to like from the first season. It seemed as if he didn’t care about the other survivors. Now, he takes charge again. He wants to save his friends. For all of season two, he was a stubborn old man who thought the hatch was his destiny. Now, he has a different purpose: save his friends. It feels like Locke is ready to wage war on the Others. I’m all for that.

          Charlie had an interesting story this week. He was given the opportunity to forgive Locke. Charlie accepted his apology. I don’t know what it is about Charlie, but I have never liked him. He started out with the heroine, then stopped the heroine, then kidnapped Charlie, then came out of the hatch different. Talk about character development. If Charlie wants to redeem himself, I’m all for it.

          I have a theory about Desmond. I don’t think he exists. I think he is all in Hurley’s mind. Hurley was the first one to see him. Hurley was the one who gave him his shirt. Hurley was the only one who seemed to have any interaction with Desmond. Why wouldn’t Desmond change when he got back to the campsite? Also, if Desmond really is real, how did he predict Locke’s inspirational speech? What did the hatch do to him? All these questions have me going crazy.

Spotlight on…Locke

-          Locke picks up someone on the side of the highway. He says he wants to go to Eureka. His name is Eddie. He wants to run away from his family. Along the way, a cop stops them. The boy lies and says Locke is his uncle.

-          Locke takes Eddie to live with his “family.” These people live in tents and eat together. Eddie thanks Locke.

-          Eddie and Locke are walking in the woods picking up peaches. Eddie picks off a greenhouse. A few men are unloading fertilizer in. He wants to know what’s inside.

-          Michael and Jan are rushing to get everything packed. They learn that Eddie is a cop who is gathering evidence against them. They have been growing “weed” in their greenhouse. Locke wants to protect them. He wants to wait and speak to Eddie.

-          Locke and Eddie are out hunting. Locke holds Eddie at gunpoint. He was chosen by Eddie’s superiors. Eddie tells him that he’s a good man. He thinks Locke is a farmer, not a hunter. Eddie slowly walks away and Locke isn’t able to shoot.

Tales from the Island

Locke: I made it back. I survived the explosion (or should I say implosion). I don’t think I remember what happened. After I woke up, I was mute. I couldn’t talk. I used the same drug I gave Boone. I saw him. I saw Boone. He took me to the airport. I was in a wheelchair. I saw all of my friends. They were all doing fine. Then I saw Eko. I had to save him. His trail led me to a cave. Inside, were polar bears. They had tried ripping eko apart, but I fought them off. Charlie helped me. We got Eko back. Now, I know I have to save the others. Jack, Kate, and Sawyer are gone. No one knows where Jin, Sun, and Sayid are. It’s up to me to find them. I have to find them. I need to rally some troops. I need some dedicated people on this. I want the best.

Quotable Quotes

-          John: “I'm gonna find our friends. I don't know how yet but I will. We're gonna find them, all of them. And then we're gonna bring them home.” Good.

-          John: “I'm sorry. Sorry I ever doubted you. Sorry I gave up on my faith in the island. I messed up. And now our people are captured. If I had just listened to you, if I had just let you keep pushing the button. I could have gone with 'em, protected 'em. I coulda saved 'em.”
Eko: “You can still protect them, you can still save them.”
John: “I don't even know where they are.”
Eko: “You will find them. After all, you are a hunter John.”

-          John: “Stop. Stop!”
Eddie: “I'm sorry John but you're not gonna shoot me. You're not a murderer. You're a good man. You're a farmer.”
John: “Nope, not a farmer. I was a hunter. I'm a hunter.”

-          Charlie: “Hairspray? I hate to be the one to point this out to you but...”
Locke: “It’s not for me.”

-          Locke: “I’m gonna go on alone, Charlie. You go back to Claire.”
Charlie: “Nah, I’ll take my chances.”
Locke: “You don’t wanna go with me, Charlie. Bad things happen to people who hang around with me.”

-          Charlie (to Locke): “You're not taking drugs are you? I only ask because there is a zero tolerance policy on the island and I wouldn't want you to have to punch yourself in the face.”

-          Charlie: “I know, I get it, you're going to go into your little magic hut, and I'm going to stand guard and make sure you don't devolve into a monkey.”

Some Final Notes

-          Eko survived only to be taken away by the polar bears.

-          Is it just me or was the reappearance of the polar bears underwhelming. I think it’s time the writers rap that storyline up.

-          The new castmembers Kiele Sanchez and Rodrigo Santoro made their first appearance. I hope they have interesting storylines.

-          Claire is acting very bossy lately. I felt like slapping her. On a side note, how is she looking so beautiful?

-          I wonder if Charlie is ever going to finish the church.

-          There was a toy dumptruck in the bear cave. That probably belongs to one of the kids from the Tailies. What are they up to now?

-          Eko’s stick is quite beautiful. That’s something nice to take home after the series wraps up.

-          What happened to Vincent?

-          How many guns did Locke have in his truck?

-          Hurley made it back safe and sound. It’s good to have you back buddy. We all missed ya.

Excellent. 5 stars

-          Next episode

-          Lost season 3

-          Lost main