The Tail Section

" LOST" S02E17 Lockedown is, with little doubt, one of the most talked about episodes of "LOST" so far this season. Lockdown displayed that balance that has become the "sweet-spot" for "LOST", excellent pacing, intensity, well drawn and performed emotional turns, a touch of whimsy, and a whole lot of easter-eggs.

It is Locke centric and the theme seems to be betrayal, both of others and the self, and the commodity of trust. As usual, the themes presented in the flashback bleed over into real life as we see how the character in question, Locke, will react under similar circumstances.

We begin in flashback as Locke sereptitiously hides an engagement ring amongst a picnic lunch while Helen reads the obituries. She comes across an entry for Locke’s father and informs him that the funeral is that day.

Back in present "LOST" time, Jack and Locke are as creeped out by Gale’s little "if I were one of them" tirade as I was last week, so Jack orders Locke to put him back in the armory and cuts out. Henry seizes the opportunity to do a little more skull-tuning on Locke asking him "Why do you let him talk to you like that?"

We rejoin Sayid, Ana Lucia, and Charlie as they are on the verge of giving up the hunt for Gale’s balloon. At the last minute, however, they find it and an unmarked grave.

Arriving back at the beach, Jack does his rounds and comes upon Sawyer’s poker parlor. After a brief conversation with Libby about Sawyer’s ridiculous bartering rates, Jack gets a gleam in his eye that certainly spells trouble for the grifter.

In the hatch, Locke is working out to some Jazz when he hears a static infused female voice. He ventures off to investigate. Back in Locke’s flashback, he and Helen arrive as the only guests at Anthony Cooper’s funeral. Lcoke notes a couple of shady looking characters hanging nearby as well as a mysterious car with tinted windows. Locke says he forgives Cooper, and they leave.