Top Ten Greatest Episodes Countdown - #3 “Deus Ex Machina”
After a brief holiday respite we’re ready to crack the top three on the countdown. Heading back to season one, “Deus Ex Machina”, the second Locke-centric episode, is up this week. The flashback scenes in the episode introduce us to Anthony Cooper, Locke’s father. We see his heartless conning of his son, and the beginning of Locke’s downward spiral to crippling depression. On the island, he and Boone continue their attempts to gain entry to the hatch. A vision that comes to Locke in a dream leads them deeper into the jungle to find Yemi’s plane and the heroine-filled Virgin Mary statues. Boone’s eventual death is caused in this episode by his falling with the plane from the jungle canopy. Also, among the survivors there are some great scenes with Jack diagnosing Sawyer with hyperopia, or, farsightedness.
“Deus Ex Machina” serves as the first episode to effectively introduce the viewer to the hell that was Locke’s life prior to the plane crash. “Walkabout” portrayed him as handicapped and devoid of any respect from any of his peers, but “Deus Ex Machina” takes it a step further. In the opening scenes of the episode we see a middle-aged John Locke happily working at a department store as a clerk. It may not be an exceedingly prosperous living, but he at least appears happy. Enter Emily Locke and Anthony Cooper. In the span of a single episode, his entire life is turned upside down. He is not only emotionally ravaged by the con job put on by his father, but it extends into physical suffering as well, with the stealing of his kidney.
At this point in the series, it’s important to note that this likely has all been orchestrated by Ben. The apology he gives to Locke in the season four finale, coupled with the seemingly incalculable influence Ben and his people have on the events in the “real world”, makes it entirely possible that all this was a ploy by Ben to break Locke before he could get to the island and assume control. We know from the episode “Cabin Fever” and the scene with Richard Alpert visiting him that since his childhood, Locke had been monitored. I’m assuming that we’ll see more of Ben’s plan to horde the island for himself, and how he had the power to carry it out, come to light over the next two seasons.
“Deus Ex Machina” is full of great scenes on the island and off, and the last few moments bring flashback and on-island events together brilliantly. As Locke is driving away from Cooper’s estate after attempting to confront him for what he has done, he stops the car and begins to weep. The music that has been building for a couple minutes continues and we cut to Locke slumped on the hatch with Boone’s blood covering his shirt. Obviously devastated over Boone’s accident and the apparent needlessness of it, he is pounding the hatch and crying, as he was in his car. Suddenly one of Lost’s magical moments transpires and as the music stops, a beam of light emanates from the window of the hatch. Faith restored.
This episode is deserving of a spot in the top three due to it’s incredible rewatchability as a single episode, as well as just how many important events take place. We see the introduction of Locke’s father, the accident that causes Boone’s death, Locke’s first vision on the island, the introduction of Yemi’s drug plane, and even the first piece of hard evidence of the tail section survivors (For those who don’t remember, Boone hears them on the other end of the radio while in the plane). It is an immensely important episode in the development of Locke’s character as well as the weaving of the overall plot of the show.
How do you feel about “Deus Ex Machina”?
Ooo this WAS a good one! This is one of the Lost moments where i almost cried! xD John Locke pounding on the door, finally in grievance for everything that’s happened was hearbreaking to watch. Michael Giacchino’s music made it all the more emotional. Great episode! Glad to see it in the top 3!
Comment by JohnnxQUACK — December 29, 2008 @ 11:42 pm
Yes, this episode rocks!! Locke is the best and is going to be the big hero at the end of the day. I respect this call because its not a big finale or premiere and was able to capture my emotions so well.
Comment by David Dildandola — December 30, 2008 @ 5:26 am
Yeah, the ending is one of my favorites in Lost-dom, and the accompanying music (called “Locke’d Out Again” is nearly the only listenable track on the soundtrack.
Comment by Josh Forman — December 30, 2008 @ 6:05 am
Only two more spots left to choose from these you have thus noticeably ommitted:
The Constant
Through the Looking Glass
Pilot
The Man Behind the Curtain
The Brig
The Man from Tallahassee
Special
A Tale of Two Cities
Numbers
Man of Science, Man of Faith
Flashes Before Your Eyes
Enter 77
Tricia Tanaka is Dead
Expose
Orientation
The Other 48 Days
The 23rd Psalm
Maternity Leave
Lockedown
Pretty much every episode from Season 4
Perhaps a Top Twenty List was in order?
Comment by HoboCode — December 30, 2008 @ 6:25 am
Are you serious with that “noticably ommitted” list? Expose?????? Are you actually serious you think that was a good episode. Please explain how Expose is in the top list and not the worst episode ever. I think this list is pretty legit i cant see where you coming up with a bunch of those episodes but expose sticks out like a crusty herp sore.
Comment by Ryan — December 31, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
i would say the top 4 on that list are contenders for the top 2 spots
but
i think the constant will get first prize
Comment by zach — January 1, 2009 @ 7:53 pm
Who is just absolutely sick and tired of all these Nikki and Paulo haters? Raise your hand. It’s like there’s this secret society of Lost fans who scan the internet looking for Lost-related sites where they can abuse people who didn’t hate them as much as they did.
Ryan, you are a fool, `Expose was an awesome episode. I loved seeing all the little insights into island happenings during the season one and two periods that you obviously didn’t get to see before. For example: the scene when Ben and Juliet come to spy on Jack in the hatch at the Pearl station and Paulo is hiding in the bathroom is absolutely mind-blowing. Seeing what was was going on immediately after the crash with the other survivors was again very interesting. You just didn’t like the episode because it was centric to your two most hated characters, Nikki and Paulo. Anyway, they got killed off at the end like everyone wanted, so what are you complaining about?
And that’s another question. Why must this show continue to remove all the hot babes? Maggie Grace, Kiele Sanchez, Emelie de Ravin… even Rebecca Mader has been demoted to recurring.
Comment by JD — January 2, 2009 @ 4:26 am
JD: I don’t hate nikki and paulo, its kind of tough hating nikki esp. I just dont think the episode was worth crap. They were nothing to the show and I think the episode was a waste of time to focus an episode on. Im not complaining, im just stating a fact that it was a complete waste and it was pathatic how the writers pandered to the question “what do all the other losties do on the island besides the main characters”. They are not main characters and that is why we don’t need a gosh darn episode on them.
Comment by Ryan — January 2, 2009 @ 2:57 pm
I think what helps make the ending of Deus Ex Machina more significant is that Desmond is in the hatch angry, ready to give up, until he hears Locke, which makes him turn on the light. It’s the light that helps Locke feel like he doesn’t want to give up… or at the very least keeps him from pounding and yelling.
Comment by Eric S. — January 14, 2009 @ 4:27 am