+ It's still Locke when it's all said and done.

[soup]

Walt burns the raft and what does Locke do?
1) throws a diversion at everyone about how they KNOW they're not alone on the island. He knew Walt did it, and chose not to hold him accountable(it also served his own dark purpose of remaining on the island). Walt didn't just take a piece of candy, he BURNED the boat down. That's a pretty violent act, like knife throwing.

2) tells Walt he knew he burned the boat, but don't worry, he won't tell anybody. My ASS! He's going to hold that over Walt's head later on to get him to do something nasty. He'll probably cozy up to Claire because of her baby, too.

Locke told Walt that his own dad "wasn't cool." Locke appears cool by keeping Walt's secret, but I believe he is trying to be Walt's guide to the Dark Side and Michael had a good instinct to be concerned.

[G-Man]

i like what you said in #2 about locke using that knowledge to blackmail walt at some point down the road.

[east928]

Well, what I still don't get, is why Locke was able to "look into the eye of the island, and it was beautiful", but yet he doesn't share any of that knowledge with anyone except Walt. (that happened in a previous episode when the two were playing backgammon). This 'understanding' is going to develop between the two of them to be sure. Locke can understand WHY he wants to be on the island...Walt may still be too young, but his 'powers' may lead him to do things like burn down the boat....... man, this show is so addictive!

[athywithak]

Locke..."throws a diversion at everyone about how they KNOW they're not alone on the island"

Actually I see this as opportunistic - not to divert attention from Walt but a great moment to bring this point home to all the castaways

IF, like me, you think Locke is good, then this was to prepare them for what is to come and/or get them to face things as they are - because he believes this to be true, there are Others.

If you think Locke is evil, or self-serving at the least, then you'll have to guess as to why

-but I don't think it had too much to do with deflecting attention from Walt.

GOOD POINT about using the info later, though. That I agree is possible, likely even.

-Kw/K

[FaithInLocke]

I can't bring myself to believe that Locke would blackmail anyone. In my opinion, Locke isn't vicious or evil. Since the crash, he has only done good. Granted, he is odd and his methods (e.g., Boone) are sometimes difficult to stomach. But we've never seen him harm anyone (I'm not counting boar and rats - incidentally, I agree with Shannon on that one - ewww), unlike most of the other characters who seem to have accepted that the survivors "are in the wild." Jack, Michael, Sayid, Charlie, and Sawyer have all beat the tar out of fellow survivors and no one is claiming that they're evil. Heck, Charlie's killed a guy. However, the worst I've heard is that Sawyer is a huge jerk. Why do people seem to think that Locke is evil or bad or vindictive? My theory is that we condone or accept everyone else's violent tendencies because we can identify with them. We understand why they have become violent and we think that maybe we would do the same if we found ourselves in their shoes. Locke, on the other hand, is an enigma. He is mysterious. We haven't any idea what he saw or what his motives for helping people are. But just because we don't understand why Locke does what he does, doesn't mean what he's doing is evil. We should not fear the unknown or judge what we don't fully comprehend to be evil simply because it is foreign to us. I think Locke's telling Walt the truth. Locke won't tell anyone and he won't lord it over Walt's head later.

Also, I think Locke gave us a clue about his past. He told Walt that his father wasn't "cool." In Outlaws, he told that story about his foster mother. What if Locke's father was more than just not "cool." What if he was the reason Locke and his sister were in foster care?

[drabauer]

I agree with you Faith. And the writers know full well that we will be suspicious of anyone who keeps to himself like Locke. The only thing he ever did that really upset me was casting suspicion on Sawyer and then handing Sayid the knife. But in the end he allows everyone they're choice, they're free will. He lays out the consequences for them, but he doesn't bully them into submission (unless you count Boone, and he seemed to ask for it).

[soup]

My basic premise for the "Locke is up to no good" theory is this: he HASN'T done anything blatantly evil. He often shows up to offer a helping hand, a sage word of advice, the proverbial "apple" from the garden of eden.

I guess I should modify my statements in that I don't necessarily think Locke is "evil." It is possible that he will believe his actions to be righteous and just. Locke has, however, shown he is easily deluded into believing things are that which they are not: a phone sex operator :evil as his girlfriend, his ability to go on walkabout in a wheelchair.:rolleyes I wouldn't be surprised if his father crippled him and convinced him it was for his own good. Perhaps Locke is convinced that whatever he saw is responsible for his recovery and is willing to do it's bidding. He owes it a debt of gratitude, even servitude.

I think it's obvious he has a better idea of what's going on on the island as opposed to the others, and he's using his knowledge to shape everyone up, to get them ready for whatever is coming down.

Is he evil? Maybe not, just a little misguided.

[G-Man]

i am all over the board when it comes to locke....can't quite pinpoint why I sometimes feel he is *good* yet other times I find my mind exploring why he could have alterior motives and be *bad*. then i realized the underlying evil paradigm....locke, at least from what we the viewers have seen, has not openly shared his knowledge and experiences with the other castaways. This in turn creates suspicion, which in turn casts the evil vibe. his actions taken to help people, while sometimes extreme, seem genuine; his unwillingness or hesitancy to share his knowledge however is undeniable.

[thoughtform]

I compare Locke to someone who is playing a game of chess. So far it seems he is all about strategy. He is not filling anyone in on it, he is moving the pieces. I dont know what his motives are and I guess we are not supposed to know at this point. He has seemed to help some but what are his motives? We will just have to wait and see.

[moongirl0719]

I think that what it comes down to is that Locke and Walt are kindred spirits. We've seen evidence to this. What it all means I don't know, but I believe there is something to this theory.

[drabauer]

The GZA has put a finger on the problem: as Sawyer hoards objects, Locke hoards information, and that seems to make him a mercenary, someone who is holding back to possibly gain power over others. Now, is that power for the good of all, or for the good of Locke?

Only time will tell.

[trinabobina]

this might be more appropo on the locke board, but oh well

has not openly shared his knowledge and experiences with the other castaways

We need to remember his background, and understand why he doesn't just toss information around. At his job, Locke's supervisor used the information he knew of Locke to ridicule him. He developed the delusionment of trust with Helen; their relationship was not what he thought it was. His relationship/trust with his father wasn't "cool," and so on. It's hard to trust others when trust has been broken so often. And, he knows his fellow lostaways are all liars (to some degree) and unpredictable in their actions. People have to earn Locke's trust before he's willing to share anything. Of course, he hands out pearls of wisdom like there's no tomorrow, but that is serving dual purposes. It's helping the others learn about themselves, and it's allowing Locke to create his own persone. He's creating in himself what he wants everyone else to see. He's starting from scratch.

[spooky]

quote]Locke told Walt that his own dad "wasn't cool." Locke appears cool by keeping Walt's secret, but I believe he is trying to be Walt's guide to the Dark Side and Michael had a good instinct to be concerned. [/quote]

I agree that Locke is rather mercenary sometimes, and who really knows what his motives are, but I've never thought of Locke as master of the Dark Side. After watching Outlaws, though, it struck me that at least one of the reasons Locke takes such an interest in Walt is because he can relate to being a child alone with a new parent.

I'm not sure what to make of Locke promise not to tell. It's definitely suspect. But maybe he just wants Walt to work it out on his own with Michael. Typical Locke style.

[clean90]

jeffsoup, you said: "Michael had a good instinct to be concerned." (About Lockes influence on Walt)

I think that Michael has proven on more than one occasion that his own instincts, as well as judgement, are seriously suspect. To put it bluntly they suck. He should accept all the help he can get in raising Walt because he clearly doesn't seem to have any idea how to relate to children. I think that Walt could use a grandfather type figure in his life.

[drypelia]

I always find the discussions about Locke fascinating. He's such an enigmatic character, and terrifically acted by Terry O'Quinn. But I'm always puzzled when people have a really strong negative reaction to him, since I don't share that reaction. The best I've been able to come up with is that people are afraid of his "knowingness."

Has anybody ever seen "The Devil's Advocate?" Al Pacino plays the Devil. In the beginning of the movie (although the audience knows that he's the Devil), there's really nothing overtly evil about him. In fact, he's always telling Keanu Reeves' character that he should do the right thing. Which, of course, Reeves' character (Lomax) never does. What's so frightening is that the Devil knows exactly what Lomax most wants - where he's most vulnerable. The Devil offers him that, and then tells him, "but you shouldn't do it if it hurts your wife (or damages whatever)." The Devil can seduce Lomax to do evil, while appearing to be a good guy. So the Devil knows exactly what we're thinking, exactly what's most important to us, and very subtly invites us to do whatever is necessary to get it. So subtly that it looks on the surface to be altruistic and kind. Scary stuff - you can slip into evil without ever seeing it coming. I'm guessing that it's that kind of perspective on evil that makes people so uncomfortable with Locke.

I don't happen to share that perspective. I think that Locke is an extremely observant person who is willing to let his subconscious mind process information. That's how human beings are able to "know" what seems to be "unknowable." Because he's a human being (and not the Devil), he sometimes doesn't do exactly the best thing with what he knows. I'll be interested to see how this comes out in the end - whether Locke turns out to be evil, or just human. I think he'll turn out to be a wise human who makes a couple of mistakes.

dry

[Constantine]

I'm not exactly in the "Locke is evil camp", but whenever he mentions the "beauty" of the island, or gives advice to one of his fellow castaways that is supposed to be in their best interest, I always think of the quote "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". I think he believes he is doing the right thing but will be swayed somewhere down the line.
Also, the way he convinced Sayid that Sawyer had knocked him out, and then a couple of episodes later tells Boone to play nice because they may need Sayid on their "side". I think at some point there may be a showdown between Locke and Sawyer. Locke is the master strategist whereas Sawyer barely even thinks before he speaks. Anybody else think this is a possability?

[drabauer]

I think at some point there may be a showdown between Locke and Sawyer. Locke is the master strategist whereas Sawyer barely even thinks before he speaks. Anybody else think this is a possability?

That's a good point: these two are in some ways polar opposites, even though they both give lip service to the idea that they are now living naturally rather than in civilization. But Locke realizes they are forming a new society, while Sawyer is still scratching at the dirt, marking his territory.

[spooky]

Constantine says:
I think at some point there may be a showdown between Locke and Sawyer. Locke is the master strategist whereas Sawyer barely even thinks before he speaks. Anybody else think this is a possability?

Definitely! I’m reminded of Locke throwing a knife next to Sawyer’s head in Walkabout, and of Locke suggesting to Sayid that Sawyer was the one that hit him right before giving him the knife. It could be that Locke ends up helping Sawyer in the end, but I get the feeling that Locke thinks Sawyer is more useless than all the redshirts put together. They’re pretty conspicuously absent in each other’s scenes, too.

drabauer says:
But Locke realizes they are forming a new society, while Sawyer is still scratching at the dirt, marking his territory.

That’s really the crux of it. Locke has let go of the past and is concentrating on the now/future; while Sawyer can’t/won’t escape the past, still holding his 20 year old letter in his pocket. I think there’s some play with the idea of Locke’s sense of Destiny – where fate deals the cards, but you get to play them; and Sawyer’s sense of Fatalism – where fate deals the cards, but it’s all fated anyway, so who cares, and morality be damned.

drypelia says:
I think that Locke is an extremely observant person who is willing to let his subconscious mind process information.

You’ve made an interesting distinction between a connection with ‘evil’ and a connection with the ‘irrational.’ Both can be scary, but both aren’t necessarily malicious.

[TheHammerOfGod]

Sawyer and Locke are my two favorite characters. I agree they are almost never in scenes together, but Locke did help Sawyer, he helped Shannon too, even though he doesn't like her.

[spooky]

Sorry, Hammer, I forget, what did Locke help Sawyer?

[joepa15425]

Since the crash, he has only done good. Granted, he is odd and his methods (e.g., Boone) are sometimes difficult to stomach.

HUH? I could "help" people quit smoking if I bashed them in the head with a baseball bat everytime they tried to lite up. According your beliefs about the goodness Locke did for Boone, that would be acceptable. Seemed to me, Boone was in terrible pain after Locke bashed him in the back of the head (which can and often lead to death) then hog tied him to the ground, not to mention the terrible experience Boone suffered afterwards.

Naw, I'm of the belief that Locke cares about Locke and Locke only. Everything he's done he has done to serve some greater need he has. Yeah, he hunted boar, but then he realized there wasn't enough to go around so he quit and now he eats rats in the jungle alone. I would agree with the author of this post that Locke is the one to watch.

[THE MONSTER IS THE DOG]

Locke gave this huge speech on the "OTHERS."

Is Locke calling Walt a "OTHER"?

And Locke said, "common sense we all want to get off this island."


Walt doesn't.......

Just a thought.......

[ClaireAndCharlie]

I think Locke's speech was more of a cover up for Walt. No one would've suspected him, or believed his reasons were um...good, I guess. So no, I dont think Locke is calling Walt an Other. Walt has his reasons for not wanting to leave. It's kind of like a vacation for him :P

[Hodgepodge]

jeffsoup says:
It's still Locke when it's all said and done. I agree with the title of this thread. I've said since the Walkabout episode, that the Locke that crashed on the island, is not the Locke we currently see. I don't think the things we've seen throughout this first season can be contributed to intuition. The entity/force that is occupying Locke's body sees into the hearts and minds of the other survivors. No pun intended!

When he saves Jack's life in White Rabbit, from falling off the cliff. Jack says, "I'll help you search for the boar." Locke says, no, you need to continue looking for that hallucination/father." Jack doesn't find his father, but does find water, the survivors desperately need.

In Hearts and Minds, Boone wants to tell Shannon about the hatch he and Locke found. Locke asks, "do you really want to do that?" He places Boone in a situation that brings Boone a needed respite from his obsession with Shannon.

Do you all think he had nothing to do with Sawyer's journey of redemption in Outlaws? I take it you all believe he was, "just in the neighborhood," when he crashes Kate and Sawyer's camp that morning?

I'm of the believe, that his exclamation that their are "Others" on the island, was both to disconnect the maddening crowd witnessing Jin's beating. But, to also prepare the survivors for the battle I expect they're going to have with the "Others". And along this same line. Did Locke see Walt start the fire that eventually burned the raft? I don't think so. Locke just knows. Also, he's aware of Walt's gift/power and has already started cultivating it as we've seen in Special. Locke knows he's going to need Walt on his side when this battle ensues. His methods maybe unorthodox, but you can't deny the results.

Definitely, I believe in the title of this thread. It's still Locke when it's all said and done.

[soup]

Having watched the repeat of "all the Best Cowboys..", I am even MORE convinced that Locke is up to no good.:evil
First, he seems to be discouraging a search, only choosing a direction when Jack presses him.
Secondly, he seems like he's stalling in the pursuit of Ethan. He takes a break, much to Jack's chagrin. Additionally, he keeps insisting that Jack go back to camp, which we know Jack would not do.
Thirdly, Locke says of Ethan: "I've hunted with him. I've tracked with him. Whatever he knows, he knows more than I do."

Locke did spend a lot of time with Ethan prior to the abduction. I am not convinced Ethan was on the plane, even though he wasn't on the manifest,as I have stated before. I think Locke did with Ethan something similiar to wha he did with Boone. He introduced Ethan to whatever Entity he saw in the forest and has neglected to report to the others. Then the entity gave Ethan similiar abilities to Locke: strength, stealth, ability to use the sling that knocked out Jin, etc. Ethan was the first person Locke "introduced" to the entity. After Boone's experience, Locke was amazed at HIS experience: "Is THAT what it showed you?"
(I previously stated that Ethan may have been a stowaway, or Sawyer points out that he may have used an alias.)

My theory is that Locke was trying to get Claire away from the group, but was using Ethan to do his dirty work. I know, I know, they were alone when he made her the crib for the baby, but he needs to maintain his status within the group.

Lastly, many people have wondered how Ethan could handle Charlie AND Claire at the same time. (Although I think my mother could handle Charlie). It may be that this Entity provided Ethan assistance in abducting them. Claire wasn't the only one who had amnesia, Charlie remembered NOTHING of the abduction. Doesn't anyone else find that to be weird? How could he not remeber a struggle, Claire's cries, whatever transpired. Unless, Charlie has also fallen under Locke's/the Entity's spell, and he helped Ethan. Maybe he was willing to sacrafice himself to ensure the safety of this baby seems to be so special.....

Sorry for the ramblings. I didn't think I'd watch the repeats, but I'm fascinated at the character's actions in retrospect.

Soup!

[soup]

OK, I'll soften my stance on Locke here. The flashbacks show him to be a trusting soul, and his dream event with Boone shows that he has much faith in the ISLAND. Where I think he's going to get burned is the direction the island is sending him in, or his interpretation of where the island is leading him.

It appears the island tried to warn him about Boone, but he is too focused on finding something to pay attention to apparent warnings. If Locke realized that harm was going to befall Boone, he could have warned him and kept him from going in the plane. It turns out that all they got was some Virgin Mary statues and some baggies of heroin. Oh yeah, and a vague conversation with someone who knows about flight 815 from first mention, and doesn't think there are any survivors.

Soup!

[Metauniverse]

With this episode its obvious that Locke is being guided and his symbol is the dark side. He will pay any price for his legs.

I know this will upset the fans that believe the character is the next coming, but you cannot ignore facts. Locke was given information that he kept from the others and used to his own advantage. We see more and more evidence of this with each passing episode.

Ask yourself why he is so interested in the hatch.
Who cares....why care so much...when your stranded..he aint telling all he was shown/given. What does a metal hatch have to do with a organic island?. Is the hatch the island?

His legs are his weakness and they were used to remove a potential player(boone) from the playing board so to speak.

It would seem that the others enjoy games as much as the producers. Backgammon with real life people...how interesting.

Whatever is in the container has the capacity to mentaly communicate with other life forms. I believe there is more than one...the others?

Hmm...genetic experiments are looking pretty good right now,so is the picture in the comic book, you just have to subtract the alien and replace him with a super race reject.

Must get lonely locked in that tin can with only your mind and possibly other rejects for company. All that power and no where to go.....


-Metauniverse

[LoStMyMiNd]

Yes and it also seems to me that Boone was sacrificed by Locke. Locke knew perfectly well that Boone was going to get hurt, as he had a vision that he would.

Doesn't anyone find it strange that Locke had these visions and they came true? What does that make Locke? More food for thought for the Matrix threory?

[thoughtform]

I was trying to figure out what could send visions through dreams as I feel that is how Locke is able to know things. Whatever is in that hatch has the ability to read minds or "akashic records", and also to implant them into someone elses mind. What can do that? Aliens, demons, angels, nanotechnology, psyonic machines, God, genetically manipulated superhumans, what?!!!!!

[A1sauce]

This last episode pretty much solidified the fact that Locke isn't such a 'good guy' after all.
He makes cribs, dishes out wonderful advice, saves Walt, etc, but in the end, I think the island is using him. He wants to be the island shaman. He goes to crazy lengths to get what he wants, and pretends he doesn't know what he's doing. Was there really no other way for Boone to get over Shannon than to get bashed on the head? Sure, he got lucky with that little stunt, but it didn't go so well the next time, did it?
Why is Locke's judgment so spectacular that he's the only one who can know about the hatch, and the monster, and plane, and so forth? He withholds information from the others not 'for their own good', but to give himself power. He conveniently forgets to mention to Boone that in his little vision, he's covered with blood. He had to have known he was taking a risk sending Boone into the plane and he did it anyway. Now with the probable demise of Boone, no one will know Locke's secrets. The plane's radio probably still works- Locke doesn't want the others knowing that. Hell, I bet he was the one who hit Sayid over the head.

[soup]

Locke may not know that Boone made contact with anyone via the radio. He was a considerable distance away.

Soup!

[A1sauce]

Locke may not know that Boone made contact with anyone via the radio. He was a considerable distance away.
But he still hasn't told anyone about its existence.

[skyeman1]

Soup your off track, Lockes dad is running the show. Locke is CIA and daddy's testing him and using the others in his own game of mousetrap, don't read to much into everything else.

[netto8]

A-1, don't you think when Locke saw in his vision that Boone was all bloody that he knew something would happen to Boone? He let him go, so that he could keep his legginess. That is why at the end he is cursing the island and saying "I did everything that you asked of me"

[A1sauce]

Yeah, that's my point. He knew Boone was going to get hurt and he did it anyway. I think it was a little subconscious though, because he did yell to Boone to leave the plane when it was already too late. It seemed like he was lying to himself about what he was doing to Boone. Otherwise, why did he bother bringing him to Jack?

[netto8]

Well, I think that he started to feel guilty about letting Boone go up there knowing that he would be hurt. That's why he brought him to Jack, but then he lied about the plane because he doesn't want the others to know about the hatch.

[soup]

Skyeman, I'm more on track than that schlocky poop.:rollin

Soup!

[skyeman1]

Try this on, they lead you to believe everything that happened to Locke in the past was in the 60's or 70's. If that was the case Locke would be in his mid to late 60's on the island present time. If you looked at the other cars in the parking lot they were modern day cars. Locke was at a mall, there were very few malls in the 60's and 70's. Dads dialisis machine was not that of 60's or 70's technology. All misleading clues. And who lets a man out of the hospital a couple of hours after donating a kidney, come on!!!!!!!!!!!!

[skyeman1]

Locke was molested by his father when he was young, thats what sent his mother cukoo for cocoa puffs. Locke will molest Walt in future episodes if he can walk.:hat

[skyeman1]

Soupy - This is all a dream of Lockes. Walt represents Locke from the past. If Lockes dreams were from the 60's or 70's that would make him a very old man on present day island. Please don't speculate or read to much into this. Locke was molested as a child by daddy and that drove mommy into the loony bin. He will molest Walt.

[soup]

Bumping, because I like what a lot of people said about Locke here and I see some repeating by newer folks.
Oh yeah, last known appearances by skyeman, too. Where are you, buddy?:lol

[boonian androphile]

Maybe Mr. Skyeman has joined Locke's dad?

As for Locke: Boone trusted Locke, Locke trusted the island, and those who trust get screwed. Boone may be dead but Locke will be the one to suffer, after a little island-possession I Know The Way megalomanical theater. He will end up in a self-imposed exile opposite Rousseau, on the other side of the island. Or Shannon will have Sayid bump him off, which would be an improbable and unsatisfactory outcome as Locke is vital to the story.

[soup]

The simple fact that they show Locke get shot in the previews leads me to believe that it is NOT Locke who dies. they would never be that obvious.0]

[LockeMustLive]

I don't buy into the Locke being a bad guy (or too bad anyway). He was yelling at Boone to get out of the plane before it crashed out of the tree but Boone either didn't hear him or felt the radio was too important.

I do however feel that Locke is purposely turning people against Sawyer so that he may more easily bring him to his side. Though we have been shown nothing in any episode to lead this way, Locke sees something in Sawyer that he either admires or feels he can use.

I think the ultimate baddies on the island will prove to be Jack and Shannon. Jack feels it is almost his divine right to be in total control and, yeah, Locke helped push him into that way of thinking. He is gonna go "nuts" for this power and join the dark side.

Shannon will stop at nothing to get what she wants and is very good at manipulation. She manipulated Boone into giving her and what ever loser boyfriend she was with at the time a ton of money. Even the sex scene in their back story, she obviously was not into what she was doing and had no feelings for Boone, but she did it to continue to have control over him and the current situation, she manipulated Charlie into getting her a fish, and when he brought it to her she held it up to Boone and taunted him as though She had actually caught it, and not giving any thought at all to the way she just made Charlie feel (obviously humiliated). Now in the upcomming episode, she says to Sayid about Locke,"He killed my brother, what are you going to do about that". Implying that it is Sayids duty to dispense some retribution, not on Boone's behalf, but hers.

And ya know, even if it turns out that Locke is the bad guy, I'm still gonna root for him, Just like I did for Darth Vader. I was absolutely wrecked when he turned good.

Just my abstract way of thinking I guess, but it just seems that the hard evidence that has been given in almost every episode so far has been misleading to what is actually been the case. And I welcome any CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. I'm set in my way of thinking but I can be swayed by reason.

[soup]

Bumping this blast from you-know-when.

Locke holds the key.....

[soup]

Hate to say I told you so.

*Cough* * Cough* Man!, it's dusty in here. OLDIE but GOODIE, IMHO.

(What's this about a "skyeman?")

Locke is SO up to no good.

[soup]

:bump:

If I only knew then....(don't blame me, it was the FDW)

[sgtdraino]

:bump:

If I only knew then....(don't blame me, it was the FDW)

Wait, so you STILL think that Locke is there to lead people to the "dark side?"

I think you can edit the title of this thread to "CONFIRMED WRONG!" :D

[jane_eire]

Wait, so you STILL think that Locke is there to lead people to the "dark side?"

Well, the way he's wearing that dark cape in LADOJB sure makes him look like Emperor Palpatine...

[Gman77]

Locke is not evil, he is the Key to saving the island...and the rest of US.

To open this Locke we need to follow "Further Instructions." Remember the John Locke dream sequence at the Sydney airport:


BOONE: [pointing off camera] John, you're going to need that.
[We see a wheelchair lying on its side with the wheel spinning. We see flashes of superimposed images of Locke's face. We see the wheel chair rolling along with Locke at the Sydney airport, Boone pushing him. Ben is a security guard scanning passengers, Jack's removing his watch and Sun and Jin are waiting in line with Sayid.

BOONE: John, someone in this airport is in serious danger. You are the only one who can save them.
[We see Charlie and Claire cooing over Aaron and Locke points at them.]
BOONE: Not them, they'll be fine -- for a while.

[Locke sees Sayid, Sun and Jin. Jin is holding a bag. He points as Jin and Sun argue. Sayid pats Jin's back.]

BOONE: I think Sayid's got it.

What is it that Sayid has got? It could simply mean Sayid has Jin's back. After all, he has been the good soldier on the island.

But watch closely. Sayid pats Jin's back with his left arm, the one with his watch, while Jin is holding the bag. So what's in that bag, Jin? Something that Ben missed on the scan perhaps? Well, we know that Jin was instructed by the dangerous Mr. Paik to deliver two Gold Rolex watches to unidentified business partners in Sydney and Los Angeles. We must assume that Jin has already delivered the first watch in Sydney and is now following "further instructions" to deliver the Other Rolex to someone in LA. And we know Sayid is leaving Sydney on a ticket provided by the CIA after cooperating with the Australians in an anti-terrorist operation.

And Sayid pats Jin on the back and Jin is left holding the bag.
So the dream sequence could be interpreted as a warning to us all: John must save "them" - perhaps meaning the world from a terrorist attack.

Perhaps "John Locke-in-a-wheelchair" means a "Clean Slate Roller Coaster" (a suitcase nuclear bomb) is the future if John doesn't save Mr. Eko from the polar bear. John does save Mr. Eko but then the Smoke kills Mr. Eko. When John buries Mr. Eko, he sees the message on Mr. Eko's prayer stick: "Look North John 3-5." Look for what, John?

Perhaps Jin is the Patsy for Mr. Paik and is left holding the bag. Besides the Rolex watches are timers for two small suitcase nukes. That would mean one of the nukes is on the island.

If the anagram for "Benjamin Linus" is "I Blame Sun N Jin", what is so terrible that a terrible person like Ben could find blame in the actions of Others?

Oh, Eye see.

[jane_eire]

Fusion nukes, not fission nukes. Just... clarifying.

[sgtdraino]

Well, the way he's wearing that dark cape in LADOJB sure makes him look like Emperor Palpatine...

Wasn't that just an Ajira blanket from the plane?

[jane_eire]

Wasn't that just an Ajira blanket from the plane?

Probably. Still looked like the Emperor, though.

[LPU]

Kind of reminded me of Obi Wan from A New Hope, actually.