Lock in the Box

LOST Heats Up with a New Locke Episode

The Man From Tallahassee is the newest and possibly the greatest Season 3 episode to date of LOST. John Locke is bigger, more dperessed and weird than ever, and blows more things up. The "Lost" show regains its juice for one episode, not seen since Season 2.

Locke's stories all pay off in this episode. His karmic juju with the island, his back story with his parents, his bad luck in real life, all come to the fore. Here's the reduction summary of the latest (and one of the greatest) Season 3 episodes in a while. Here's what we find out:

1. Locke's father threw him out a 8 story window to break his back.

The long-held suspicion by many fans that Locke's dad really screwed him up good is verified. Anthony Cooper tricks Locke into thinking his next mark has been spoiled. Then when Locke tests the lie Dad tackles him and pushes him out a glass window. That's an explosive family dynamic.

2. Locke's father the con man disappeared from view.

Like many people who landed on the island, Locke's father was out of sight for years, even with federal prosecutors trailing him. Locke's fathe could be "Jacob," the mastermind who picked the list. Locke's life is basically about taking punches from his family and getting everything wrong. But on the island, Locke can walk, lead people, and has a weird connection to things. Things that go away, like Walt, the airplane, Boone, that Hatch.

3. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Locke's father may be the real Sawyer. Locke and Sawyer may be brothers. They both have the same general build, jaw line, and eye color. Both are intelligent thinkers with a strong will. The storyline of fathers and sons is referenced in flashback when yet another son seeks out Locke to identify the con man now working his wealthy mother.

Locke may be an artful con man and he's getting smarter. His exchange with Ben shows he is starting to be able to keep up. The family talent may put all three characters against Dr. Jack of the white hat. But since we know that Locke doing anything right means total disaster ahead, lookout for sparks and shrapnel.

4. Locke keeps blowing things up.