Lost: Season 3, Episode 3: Further Instructions Review

Further Instructions
Original Airdate: October 18, 2006
Writers: Carlton Cuse and Elizabeth Sarnoff
Director: Stephen Williams

Of the trilogy of introductory episodes, this episode is the simplest in terms of its story: Locke’s back and he’s on a mission to save Eko, correcting the mistake of rebelling against what he perceives is the island’s destiny for him. However, Locke has been one of, if not the most, developed characters in the series, and this episode delves into his doubtful side, in addition to having the return of the hunter, who was a fan favorite in season one. Such an episode is always welcome.

Some complained about the direction Locke’s character went last season, but it was a logical next step. Throughout season two, Locke’s resentment that destiny lead him on a mission to sit at a desk pushing buttons (similar to his box company desk job) with no known benefit was far more compelling than if Locke’s faith was steadfast. Of course, the disaster in “Live Together, Die Alone” showed him just how important The Swan’s mission was, albeit a little too late. This could’ve been the end of his arc, but Locke is far too central a character to kill him off this early. Having gotten a second chance, Locke is aware of some higher purpose, and “talks to the island” to get further instructions.

The hallucination could’ve easily deserved a full analysis, but I’ll try to get the highlights. It’s important for Locke’s character to have Boone appear in this vision. His problems with his destiny were compounded by the fact that Boone died so he could get there, because he was a “sacrifice that the island demanded”. Forgiving himself for what happened to Boone is instrumental for him to move forward, both figuratively and literally. Although Boone in this hallucination heads too close to mocking him, but perhaps that is a tough love approach.

Boone guides him through the airport, watching our fellow castaways and island mates paired up the same way they were at the end of the season. Had they been allowed to come back, I would’ve liked to see where the deceased castaways would be in the giant metaphor.

Charlie, Claire and Aaron, looking like a normal family, are “safe…for now”. Considering the island’s nature and the supposed danger surrounding Aaron (which may be just a con), it’s not hard to believe that there will be trouble along the way, especially since they had reconciled at the end of last season.

Hurley as the ticket agent, as well as Desmond as a pilot, could foreshadow some power that they’ll obtain later. Perhaps Hurley will have exclusive access to something people on the island would need or want. As for Desmond, he has already has some precognitive abilities (more on that later), which would be useful in determining the destination of the castaways like a pilot would on a flight.

Jin and Sun arguing, with Sayid directing Jin somewhere, alludes to their predicament on the boat, something of which Locke was likely unaware. This could’ve been hinting at “The Glass Ballerina”, but because this episode swapped places with that one, it is more an update on them because they are absent in this episode.

The most intriguing grouping would be Kate & Sawyer in line to be wanded, with Ben checking Jack. There is a lot that can be read into this. This could be considered a sign that Ben wants to indoctrinate them to The Others’ way of life, with Jack being the priority. Kate and Sawyer certainly are getting close, with hints of Sawyer’s plan to turn the tables on The Others.

It ultimately leads him to realize Eko needs the help. This could’ve been seen earlier as Eko’s stick nearly knocks Locke out in the beginning of this episode or the fact that we hadn’t gotten any update on him before then. Boone, bloody in a way similar to his look in “Deus Ex Machina”, warns that “they” got him. Considering the first two episodes, it could be determined that The Others have him, especially since they failed to take him in “The Other 48 Days”.

Instead, when Locke emerges from his sweat lodge it’s revealed that a polar bear has Eko. Considering they (there were at least two) hadn’t been seen since “Special”, it was nice to see them back in the story, even if they are just plot devices. The bear who took Eko could’ve easily been the one Michael fought back in season one.

Regardless, it lives in a surprisingly large cave, adorned with human skeletons, the go to harbinger of doom for a large creature. There are odd pieces in there, like a toy fire truck and some of the bodies had on Dharma (Pearl to be precise) jumpsuits. Considering the bears were likely the captive bears Tom referred to in “A Tale of Two Cities”, it’s not hard to believe they wanted some payback.

The biggest problem facing Locke is the constant doubt lingering in his mind. He constantly searched for purposed in his life only to be burned by people ready to take advantage of him. The only person who didn’t con him was Helen, and he blew that because he wanted Cooper, a scumbag, to be the dad he wanted. This episode shows at least one more, Eddie, who Locke befriended only to learn his true motives later. This likely occurred shortly after Helen dumped him in “Lockdown” and Locke was desperate for acceptance and friendship. The commune could’ve tricked Locke as well; not revealing their entrepreneurial activities until later.

Locke’s story in this episode is all about “cleaning up his mess”. The Swan’s implosion was his fault and because of it Eko is primed to be polar bear chow. Also, he feels that his actions are partially to blame for Jack, Kate and Sawyer’s abduction. While he accomplishes his first goal, it is rescuing the trio that will prove more difficult. In the flashback, he tries to clean up bringing in Eddie by killing him. Fortunately, he doesn’t go through with it for the same reason he succeeds in saving Eko: he’s a good person.

Considering Eko’s faith provided endless frustration for Locke last season, the scene where Eko (possibly in a vision by Locke) tells him that he can still save the trio The Others captured marks as a nice resolution to their head butting last year and the pivotal piece to bring back the hunter side of Locke.

The Swan implosion brings up many questions. If it imploded, how did Locke, Desmond and Eko not become a smashed mass of flesh and blood? Also, where is the wreckage? Shouldn’t there be a metallic ball in that massive hole? Did the pieces disappear?

Locke’s reawakening in the prologue is reminiscent of Jack’s in the pilot episode, even using several similar shots. Is this meant to show that Locke’s will be assuming a leadership role that Jack’s inhabited? Some jokingly referred to Desmond as “the new Vincent” if Locke is supposed to be the new Jack.

If the implosion reawakened the man of faith/hunter side of Locke, it brought something out of Desmond. Naked in the jungle, the discharge has given him a degree of precognition. The nudity recalled “Terminator” in many, which showed that characters traveling in time couldn’t bring their clothes. How would a discharge create a situation where he could time travel? What exactly did he see after he turned that key?

It was good to see those at the beach again. It seemed odd not to include anything from them in the first two episodes. In this “mini-season”, one of the many complaints was that there was hardly any time spent on the beach in significant plot lines.

Hurley’s return was also welcome, including the first “dude” of the season. I was hoping to see a storyline with him wandering the jungle alone, encountering weird things that would further detail the island’s mysteries, but nothing had to be told, at least for now.

This episode suffered from being cut to fit airtime. Locke’s flashback stops more than ends. Production photos show that there is an epilogue after Locke confronts Eddie in the forest. The flashbacks lacked a coda to make it complete. Also, Locke’s big speech is so terse that it makes anyone complementing it look a little foolish. He didn’t do more than sum up what happened and his game plan.

Then there is also the introduction of Paolo and Nikki, two characters who have become infamous for some fans. Some complained that their introduction in this episode was painfully forced. I’d disagree with that. While it must be difficult to introduce new characters in this setting, they only had a line or two each in this episode. There have been far more awkward introductions of characters on other series.

Nonetheless, this episode was a welcome return of a beloved character at his best, a side we haven’t seen since the first season. Although the flashbacks lacked a proper conclusion, it did offer a different side to Locke’s life while further developing his character as a man of faith haunted by betrayal.

Overall Score: 8/10