locke with gun

[immuneman]

locke hesitated before taking the gun from jack...
he didnt know how to use it and willed himself to learn through his minds eye in the moments he hesitated. then he took the gun and handled it like a pro.
anyone else think the same thing?

more evidence of the power of the minds eye. locke and walt have it... i think ethan has it too along with the others... the sickness that rousseau believes the island holds...

[Mr Block of Cheese]

hahaha
he didnt know how to use it and willed himself to learn through his minds eye in the moments he hesitated.
hmmmmm, seems like something out of the Matrix. Now all Locke needs to do is radio back to the ship and Tank will upload the necessary knowledge into his brain eh?

Nah, but all joking aside, i think you may have something there. we'll see.

[east928]

I'm not buying into this just yet...maybe Locke already knew how to use a gun because he was in the military...maybe he was having some sort of 'issue' with using the gun, and we'll see why in some later flashback...hmmmmm

[digi2k5]

sorry guys but im sure everything thats happened so far can b explained..... why does there have to be some crazy theory for everything that happens????
"Minds eye"....hahahahahahaha

[immuneman]

there.... must.....be ...... anotherrr.......ccrazy......theorryy

[TheHammerOfGod]

I took it as quite the opposite. His eyes sort of lit up and he smiled when Jack got the guns out. I think Locke has used a gun in his past and is happy to have one again, I thought it lended to the idea he use to be military, or if you want to get darker and go for shock value, mabye even a crime boss or somesuch.

[Rooster]

Locke knows guns very well,and how to use them.Did you notice he put his gun away and had his knife ready after Jack beat Ethan down.He handled his weapon like a pro gun and knife.

[Kimber and Bunny]

I took it as quite the opposite. His eyes sort of lit up and he smiled when Jack got the guns out. I think Locke has used a gun in his past and is happy to have one again

I second that...my husband and I both noticed and commented...well, acually we kind of laughed and my husband said, "Locke is LOVIN' this!"

[jprez98]

Locke's good with knives, good with guns. That I can see learning in a wheelchair. But while he was playing with the spear, he was almost using it like a staff. How do you learn a staff in a wheelchair? I don't think Locke has been in that wheelchair all his life. I wonder what happened, how he got disabled.

-Jen

[RunLoganRun]

Yes, I agree about the smile. Locke seemed to be thinking "I'm back in the saddle again" when he was handed the gun. It was almost a creepy type of smile - like he is a serial killer. I wouldn't be suprised if we see a flashback where Locke kills his jerk of a boss, right before he goes on his vacation.

[magicpiane]

Well remember, Locke told the man at the travel center (for lack of a better term) that he'd dealt with being in a wheelchair for four years. Obviously he wasn't in one before that. It'll be interesting to hear more of this story.

Charlie

[blueshadow]

I believe that "Immuneman" is on the right track!
Locke's "minds-eye" power is increasing with it's use. As his confidence grows, so does the power. Let's just hope that he can maintain control over it...unlike Ethan, who it appears may have become intoxicated by it! The sly smile may simply be in Locke's "knowing" it's, and in turn his own, potential.

[TheHammerOfGod]

"Yes, I agree about the smile. Locke seemed to be thinking "I'm back in the saddle again" when he was handed the gun. It was almost a creepy type of smile - like he is a serial killer. I wouldn't be suprised if we see a flashback where Locke kills his jerk of a boss, right before he goes on his vacation. "

I like that man. That's the type of unexpected thing I could see, he doesn't seem like a killer, but its possible. I definately think he was military, mafia, ect. something like that.

[Kwijt]

Was Locke really in the military? or is that just a suggestion and a dreamed up past?

[TheHammerOfGod]

Just a idea. All we know for sure is he was paralyzed 4 years ago and worked at a Box company.

[immuneman]

we also know that he is known as colonel locke...
now to whom he is know as colonel is not known...
some military section or just role playing with his dungeon and dragons buddies,
your guess is as good as mine

[tekprodfx16]

Your right. When Jack first opens up the case, the camera shifts to Locke's hesitant face. He looks scared/unsure and theres a lot of tension in his body language.He also has the spear in his hand.

The camera then shifts around to behind jack almost in a circular motion, shifting from the right, to behind jack, and then to the left.

When the camera emerges from Jack's left side, Locke's spear is gone and no where to be found. The camera shift is too fast for him to just lay the spear down somewhere and he definitely didn't drop it either because we didn't hear it drop. What happened was in the span of the couple of seconds it took the camera to shift from Jack's right side, to behind him, and then to his left side, Locke somehow became a weapon's expert. His body language with the gun became a lot more natural and fluid like he had been handling guns for years and of course when he took the gun from Jack, we definitely got that impression.

In that second, he willed the power that he discovered on the island to make him a weapon's expert, and it did so...

Check your Tivo or the movie file on your computer yourself to see...

The smile from him was also just his satisfaction with the fact that his wish had been granted by the island...

[Lost at sea]

I think Locke was just making sure no one was around cause if you notice Jack does this too.

[Doletrain]

we also know that he is known as colonel locke...now to whom he is know as colonel is not known...some military section or just role playing with his dungeon and dragons buddies, your guess is as good as mine

I thought in an earlier episode that it was revealed that Locke was NOT in the military according to his young boss after he looked through his background. Maybe he was in a secret branch of the military?????, but it made it seem like he wasn't though.

[spooky]

To me, Locke's reaction seemed less about the gun and more about the idea that now they were playing offense instead of defense. Their stronger strategic position made him happy, not the gun itself. Locke was thinking: Four guns, holy crap, that's awesome, now we can kick some ass! Except Locke, being Locke, just says: Why doctor, you've been holding out on us.

The missing spear just looks like an editing mistake to me. Probably unavoidable given whatever footage they had.

[shieldmaiden]

I laughed when I saw Jack's reaction to Locke's handling of the gun. I got the impression he (Jack) was thinking, "Hmm...maybe that wasn't such a good idea..." :lol

[matrixvirri]

does anyone think that might be the first time Locke's ever handled a real gun?He's probably read a lot about them,and knew how to operate one,but everything in his episode suggests he was nothing but an "armchair commando" in real life.

[jcrew1179]

Yeah I agree. I think the produces wanted to make the audience think that Locke was nervous about "Guns" being entered into the Island Survival, but it really did seem like Locke was not entirely sure if he could handle a gun. I thought Locke really wasn't in the military but just played the "War game" during lunch.

I think he didn't have much experience with guns, but did "will" himself to be an expert. I wonder why Jack assumed Locke knew how to handle a gun - perhaps because of the Knives.

[faketree]

This is my first time posting here but I saw what a couple people have mentioned here and I just wanted to strengthen the argument.

It definitely seemed to me that when Jack was handing the gun to Locke, that Locke didn't immediately know what to do with it and was maybe even a little scared of it.

I think this all goes along with the premise that he is uniquely in tune with something on the island that is giving him whatever he wants: ability to walk, be a bushman/survivalist, a hunter/gatherer, maintain a military type role, etc.

It isn't the most attractive answer but it almost seems it is something Matrix like as when Neo is able to learn jujitsu in a few seconds. Don't know. Hard to speculate on that stuff. All I know is, I got the distinct feeling that Locke didn't immediately know what to do with the gun.

[Maybishudbahippy]

I think Locke was just a little taken aback--whoa, we've had guns all along? why didn't you tell me? that woulda made my life a helluva lot easier, etc--Locke is perfectly capable of using a gun, he was just a little surprised they were there.

[Caladan]

To me, Locke's reaction seemed less about the gun and more about the idea that now they were playing offense instead of defense. Their stronger strategic position made him happy, not the gun itself. Locke was thinking: Four guns, holy crap, that's awesome, now we can kick some ass! Except Locke, being Locke, just says: Why doctor, you've been holding out on us.

I agree, I think that's the correct reason. Even if he hasn't handle a real gun before, I believe he's at least been interested in them in some capacity, and would have an idea how to handle them. Come on, most of us have seen them used a lot in movies and tv. It doesn't take much to know how to cock a gun, release the mag, etc.

HOWEVER, while I have long been of the thought that Locke is good, if a little strange and rough around the edges, here's a crazy bit of speculation. What if he was really in cahoots with Ethan in some way. Perhaps he had Ethan kidnap Claire then release her and threaten to kill, in order to cause the situation that happened. Perhaps he knew about the guns somehow, but didn't know where they were or want to ASK for them, but manipulated everyone's fear to have Jack GIVE him a gun. Maybe that's what the strange smile was about. Locke could have been the one to have killed Scott and even know about some 'mind paste' stuff to make Claire have amnesia. That sounds stupid, but to me not much more ridiculous than the possiblity he used something simliar on Boone in that earlier episode.

[faketree]

I disagree. It always seemed to me, especially in the early part of this episode, that Locke was perfectly happy playing defense and didn't want to go on the offense. He even suggested that they sit back and play defense because they do not know what they are up against. He wanted pure defense, setting up lookouts and/or signal traps. He seemed highly reluctant to go after Ethan and actually stood back when Jack jumped on him and started to kick his butt.

Yes, we've all seen guns used over and over and over again on TV and in the movies but nothing compares to when you actually get one in your hand. You don't just cock it and know whats what immediately even if you seen it done many times before. I'm still with the idea that he didn't know how to use it until he actually touched it.

[kimjoy85]

Its not that much of a stretch. I noticed his hesitation too.

[Caladan]

As I said, it's a little bit of crazy speculation, just like throwing ideas out there. ;)

Most people don't, but I suspect it's something "the colonel" would have more than a passing interest in gun. Judging by his assumed background (wanting to go on the Walkabout, etc.) I'd assume that if he's never used a gun before, he's wanted to. The first time I handled a pistol was similar to what he did (my friend actually said something like, "You're sure you've never fired one before?"), but I know that the average person wouldn't handle it that way.

[soup]

If Locke was in league with Ethan, he would have brought Claire back to him, not to the caves.

Locke's involvement in his "fantasy" world before coming here, such as his RPG, his belief a phone sex operator really liked him, his attempt to walkabout, must be the key to his sucess on this island. He is easier to accept the surreality that is the island, so he can tap into SOMETHING, Mind's Eye, whatever, that allows him to adapt. His walking was the first indication that he could operate outside the known reality, now he can do pretty much whatever he wants.

Do you think he really had all those knives with him on the plane, or did he get them some other way?

[Caladan]

If Locke was in league with Ethan, he would have brought Claire back to him, not to the caves.

As I said, it was an unlikely bit of speculation. Also, the plan of the speculation that he wanted Claire to be released (it seems too easy for a 9-month pregnant lady to escape, although not impossible) and Ethan to make his threat, to possibly gain access to the guns. AGAIN, I was just throwing out ideas as most people tend to on this board, not necessarily what I believe to be true. Isn't that what a lot of the fun of this board is? :D

[jcrew1179]

Does anyone think that Locke was in a Car Crash - similar to Michaels. Only that instead of just breaking his legs, they were cut off and Locke has metal rods in his legs?

That is why he can now walk, the metal rods are reacting to the magnetism of the island. Actually, if it relates to the title of teh episode, then Locke could be part machine/part cyborg - the terminator.

What if Locke was driving the car that hit Michael, that would be cool.

[LoStMyMiNd]

I did not get the impression that Loche was scared of the gun. The impression I got was that he is quite experienced with guns and that the hesitation was due to the fact that he was thinking that maybe they wouldn't need to go to that extreme or that the guns could possibly get into the wrong hands.

[JacksGirlfriend]

I think what it all boils down to is this:

Locke with a gun in his hand is an awesome sight.

[Caladan]

Locke with a gun in his hand is an awesome sight.

Agreed!

[Bungarian]

I think he hesitated because of something in his past. He was military and killed a bunch of people with guns or perhaps was a killer. Either way he gave up guns and told himself he would never touch one again. When Jack wanted him to take one he hesitated then decided he had to do it.

I think Locke killed people with guns and feels guilty about it.

[kuduk]

When I saw that look, I said to my husband "are we sure Locke's a good guy?" then I remembered his background story.

But for a second, he sure looked ambiguous.

[drabauer]

I think Bungarian's onto something: that Locke may have been involved in a tragedy that included guns. If only that the writers seem to take every possibly opportunity to add extra layers to the characters. Another thought was Locke's simple surprise at Jack's assumption that he knew how to use a gun, that Jack assumed that he was ex-military or law enforcement. Jack did not simply assume Locke was a hunter and had rifle knowledge, etc. I would guess that he had book knowledge of how to use a gun, and once again that knowledge turned rapidly into skill.

[MonsterEatsPilot]

Sorry. Just watched the episode a day late. I have been avoiding the board...

Regarding Locke and the gun...

I saw hesitation in his eyes.

I have been holding to the belief that Locke is remaining NEUTRAL and is doing his best to keep peace between two sides: the survivor and "the island"/"the others"/ the black against white, etc...

And by using a gun, they are making a gesture that could be seen as a pre-emptive strike that might possible escalate this conflict. Which they are not prepared to fight... Yet.

Locke seems to know more than he lets on -- he feeds only enough information to dispel suspicion and yet he seems to honestly care about the well being of the survivors.

The information he withholds keeps a tenuous balance of peace -- ie: the hatch in the forest, what he "saw" in the woods by himself, what he is doing with Boone, etc...

It seems to me Locke is preparing each survivor one by one (Charlie, Boone, Walt ... eventually Sayid) for a coming conflict, empowering them.

I saw the scene with the gun as Locke accepting the ramifications of this act, that this conflict will now escalate and although they might save Claire this is just the beginning of increased conflict where others will die.

Good episode by the way.

But they could've had Ethan reveal a tiny bit of info (however cryptic or vague it might be) before being shot to death.

Cheers!

-P

[spooky]

The camera then shifts around to behind jack almost in a circular motion, shifting from the right, to behind jack, and then to the left. When the camera emerges from Jack's left side, Locke's spear is gone and no where to be found.

Well, after reading everyone's thoughts and re-watching the episode I have to say that everything I said before was wrong. But, Bungarian’s idea that Locke’s hesitation had something to do with an experience with a gun made me think. And so did tekprodfx16's analysis of the camera movement quoted above.

So, putting these two things together, I think that Locke’s hesitation was because he didn’t want to let go of the spear in favor of the gun. Locke’s idea of his destiny/identity is linked to the idea of the walkabout, of being part of nature and surviving in the wilderness. The spear (nature), symbolizes his connection to the island and his new found confidence and strength. The gun (technology), symbolizes the outside world where he was confined and weak. Locke hesitatingly chose the gun to gain the advantage over Ethan for the good of the group. Maybe. :D

[Kerryth]

spooky, I really like your analysis. Very nuanced. It gives a "logical" psychological explanation for Locke's reaction without ruling out anything. I also agree with those who are saying there is something in Locke's past at work here. Maybe it's something as simple as having frequented a firing range in his wheelchair.

I still see Locke as a sort of would-be Zen Jedi Master Heinlein hero who mostly lived in his fantasies back in his old life. He trained himself, read everything he could get his hands on (like people who join the Society for Creative Anachronism and become expert swordsmiths, etc.), and now life has handed him the perfect playground. Plus the miracle of mobility (and muscle tone? You don't get that back all of a sudden!). Maybe he knows what the island is about. Maybe he doesn't know much more than any of the other castaways but just accepts the island's gifts and lessons with joy and enthusiasm.

[Wynter Zera]

Let me put it this way, if the military nut didn't know how to use a gun, I would be shocked.

[Black Dahlia]

I laughed when I saw Jack's reaction to Locke's handling of the gun. I got the impression he (Jack) was thinking, "Hmm...maybe that wasn't such a good idea..."

I read somewhere very recently that Jack will come to regret giving Locke the gun. With so few episodes left, and since the ones for which preview pics are up show no apparent gunplay, perhaps this means that Jack's regret is his last thought before succumbing to a bullet would.

[drabauer]

I want to stop and applaud three great posts in a row (p 2 in you are new to this thread).

purrkins wrote


Regarding Locke and the gun... I saw hesitation in his eyes.

I have been holding to the belief that Locke is remaining NEUTRAL and is doing his best to keep peace between two sides: the survivor and "the island"/"the others"/ the black against white, etc...
...
I saw the scene with the gun as Locke accepting the ramifications of this act, that this conflict will now escalate and although they might save Claire this is just the beginning of increased conflict where others will die.

This is important: Locke is the one who looks ahead, who actually thinks through the ramifications of his actions. Even Jack, a trained doctor, seems to act mainly on instinct (with the exception of keeping secrets).

Who knows how many others there are, and whether knowledge of what they did will bring retribution?

spooky wrote

Locke’s idea of his destiny/identity is linked to the idea of the walkabout, of being part of nature and surviving in the wilderness. The spear (nature), symbolizes his connection to the island and his new found confidence and strength. The gun (technology), symbolizes the outside world where he was confined and weak. Locke hesitatingly chose the gun to gain the advantage over Ethan for the good of the group. Maybe.

I have nothing to add, but that if we are looking for semiotic oppositions, nature/technology is a lot more compelling than good/bad, etc. I think spooky is right on.

and finally Kerryth wrote

I still see Locke as a sort of would-be Zen Jedi Master Heinlein hero who mostly lived in his fantasies back in his old life. He trained himself, read everything he could get his hands on (like people who join the Society for Creative Anachronism and become expert swordsmiths, etc.), and now life has handed him the perfect playground.

I worked at a living museum where I met many such people (revolutionary enactors, but with the same enthusiasm and pride in being able to do everything as it was. And those Civil War re-enactors will live on hardtack for days!)

So I am totally with you on this one. As per the above, guns, pre-emptive strikes, and ignoring the instinct he so finely honed would be anathema to Locke, and represent for his character a capitulation to the group.

drabauer, ever the academic (sigh)

[tsquare88]

Here's a weird idea...and knowing my luck it probably already has been brought up...but in regards to Locke and what may have been his role in life prior to taking up residence in the wheelchair; has anyone given thought to the idea that maybe he never was paralized? If Locke was a major player with the military or some other government office, maybe he was placed within that company as a plant for whatever reason and the wheelchair was just for show? I dunno, just somethin to think about in the wee hours of the morning