the substitute
Ok, now I feel like the season has really started. The Substitute hit us square in the face with a great flash-sideways and an awesome download of on-island (possibly fake) mythology. Last week was a speedbump episode, and now it feels like we are heading full-on down this final road home. Since I’m so late with this post I’m going to share just a couple quick thoughts. I’ve got a theory post I’m working on that should be up later tonight.
- The smoke monster pov shot was one of my favorite things we’ve seen in six seasons of the show. Total geek out moment.
- I love the new John Locke. Both of them. I find these Lockes to be very interesting characters.
- I think Fake Locke is lying. The way he was planting seeds of doubt in Sawyer regarding Jacob remind me very much of Ben way back when he was locked in the Swan’s armory. I’m one of those that believe the man in black is the bad guy in all of this, and that Jacob is the good guy (though those are both highly subjective terms). I think he is definitely lying about the island not needing protection. My guess is he’s using Sawyer the same way he used Ben to kill Jacob.
- Alt Locke’s story was filled with really cool moments, and some of the best had very little to do with him. Having Hurley’s psychic make another appearance was a nice reminder that a lot is different this time around.
- In the new timeline both John and Hugo appear to be better people than they were when they crashed on the island. In our original timeline, both men seemed to blame circumstance instead of taking control of the situations around them. This time around that doesn’t appear to be the case. John listened to Rose (and reason) and ended up a teacher instead of a construction foreman. I think there’s a ton of symbolism in those two job options. The Locke we all know spent his time on the island convinced the big man in charge; he wanted to be the one. And where did that get him? Rotting on a beach with crabs hanging out on his head. Alt Locke finally accepted his situation and was actually happy. Likewise, Hurley seemed happy and confident when he met John in the parking lot. Hugo Reyes, in the main timeline, was a man who grew to hate his financial status. He associated it with a curse and seemed to not care where it was being invested (the accountant had to inform him that he owned the box company). It really seemed to me like this version of Hurley was actively involved in the running of his various companies. According to LA X, he filmed an Austrailian commercial for Mr. Cluck’s. He crosses paths with John while paying a visit to the box company. Later on, Rose speaks of him as if she knows him and not like he’s an absent CEO. Even his appearance (nice suit, pulled-back hair) hinted at the difference in his personality.
- I’m guessing (along with almost everyone else) that the creepy jungle kid was a young Jacob. Not an actual young Jacob, but an image carrying some sort of warning from the island itself that the man in black is seriously flirting with being on the wrong side of the rules. I could be totally wrong though. I really have no clue who the kid is supposed to be.
- Ben’s appearance wasn’t that surprising. It does seem to hint strongly that Jughead’s detonation didn’t sink the island. If the explosion was what did it, wouldn’t young Ben more than likely have been killed? I think we’re seeing small indications that the changes go back before 1977.
- Frank Lapidus is freaking awesome. Line of the night: “Weirdest damn funeral I’ve ever been to…”
