Lost - Season 6: Episode 4 [The Substitute]

So, episode 4 of Season 6. “The Substitute”, featuring Locke.

Let me start off (as I did last time) by talking about events in the alternative world.

The Locke of this world seems a lot happier than the guy we knew. Of course his main change is the fact he’s still with Helen (who you may remember was the woman he loved but who left him because of his obsession about his father, who stole his kidney (I write this and it sounds so far fetched… But it’s all true!)). There was also mention of inviting Locke’s father to the wedding, so we can assume they are still buddies and possibly no kidney stealing took place.

He still works in the box factory (or did as the episode started). It was also owned by Hurley in the original universe as well – Hurley’s financial advisor made a comment about him buying stocks in a box factory in Tallahassee. Randy (Locke’s boss in both universes) was also Hurley’s workmate in the chicken ranch, hence why Hurley knows him.)

Artistically, the scene where Locke falls over and gets sprayed by the sprinklers is reminiscent of the scene in the first Locke episode (Walkabout) where the island first rains on him.

Away from the alternative universe now, and back with our usual bunch of fun-loving guys…

The first thing to discuss is the main talking point of the episode – the writing on the wall. And the ceiling.

Let us start with the cave. FLocke says the cave is Jacob’s home. I tend to think he’s lying. After all we know Jacob lived in the statue, and also had a holiday home in the cabin (Ilyana went to the cabin before the statue – and she seems to know a lot about Jacob). So why does Jacob need 3 homes? Is he an MP??

I tend to think it’s FLocke/Smokie’s home, and maybe the names are all the people he must eliminate to be allowed to leave?

There are a few names we know already that have been crossed out.

195 – Pace: (Charlie)

313 – Littleton : (Claire).

90 – Troup: (Gary Troup is the guy who was sucked into the engine block in the first ever episode. In Lost Folklore it was said he was an author. His novel was released posthumously, and entitled “Bad Twin” (This is a real novel that you can buy!))

233 – Jones: (Jones was the name on the uniform that young Jim Robinson was wearing when the time travelling gang met him)

And a few names that we didn’t see the numbers of.

Goodspeed : (Horace from Dharma, or possibly his son, Ethan)

Lewis: (Charlotte, who died last season)

Pickett: (Pickett was one of the nasty Others who was killed by Juliette.)

Faraday: (Daniel of course, everyone’s favourite time-travel-explaining geek)

Of course the ones we’re most concerned with are:

4 – Locke

8 – Hurley

15 – Ford

16 – Sayid

23 – Jack

42 – Sun or Jin

Recognise the number pattern? Yep, I bet you forget all about them! It’s Hurley’s lottery numbers rearing their head yet again.

What is strange is that Kate’s name is among the list anywhere…

The young boy is interesting. “You know the rules, you can’t kill him” Is the “Him” meaning Jacob and implying something bad will happen now FLocke has broken the rules, or is “Him” Sawyer as one of the candidates? Also, what are the rules? They’ve been mentioned before, when Ben went to visit Jim Robinson. Jim said “Are you here to kill me?” Ben replied “We both know I can’t do that.”

Smokie (I’m guessing) wasn’t able to kill Jacob directly, so why are Ben and Jim Robinson also included in this?

Add in the fact that Sawyer could see him (to FLocke’s amazement) and Richar couldn’t….

So with all that done and dusted, we bid farewell to episode 4….

4 down, 14 to go…