"Don't tell me what I can't blog!"

John Locke’s first flashback episode, “Walkabout,” sets up many of the motifs which are associated with this character throughout the series. Here are my thoughts, organized thematically this time:

DUALITY

In its sixth season, LOST mostly came down to the struggle between Jacob and his black-clad nemesis. John Locke is a character used by both sides in this battle: the smoke monster takes Locke’s form and initiates the killing of Jacob, while Jacob uses John’s relentless faith as a tool to push Jack into his role as island protector. Because he has close ties to both sides of the battle, Locke is the perfect character to represent this duality so early in the show.

While none of the other main characters have lasting visible injuries from the crash, Locke has one very noticeable scar. A cut across his right eye is not only present in this episode, but remains on John’s face for the duration of the series. This cut draws attention to John’s two eyes, both windows into different sides of his character. At the time of the crash, John is arguably the most emotionally scarred of the main characters. He’s had his kidney stolen and been pushed out of a window by his father, he’s been left by Helen, and he’s been turned down from his Walkabout adventure in Sydney. Even though the island heals John and allows him a new, happier life, John’s scar is a visible reminder that he still carries the weight from past events. Even thought John’s the original man of faith on the island, he can’t help but be a little scared of what the island has in store for him, and the scar is a manifestation of this emotional burden.

When Locke first pulls out his knives, Jack comments that he either has “very good aim or very bad aim.” This is another sign that Locke is destined to become part of the larger struggle between “good” and “bad” on the island, personified later through white and black. Locke is probably the biggest supporter of Jacob’s side among the 815 survivors, commenting that everyone was brought to the island for a reason, pretty much the slogan of Team Jacob. But at the same time, he’s intrigued by the smoke monster.

This is the first episode in which a survivor has a close-up encounter with the monster. John Locke stares it down in the jungle, later describing what he saw as a very beautiful bright light. The light to which he is referring was probably the flashing of the smoke monster, as it scanned Locke to read his past. The monster approaches Locke the first of all the survivors, formulating the plan which will go into effect much later, with Locke's manipulation and death.

The roles Jack and Locke play in this episode offer foreshadowing of the roles they will ultimately play as successors to Jacob and the smoke monster, respectively. In this episode, Jack is asked by Claire to read a memorial service for those who have died on the plane, but he instead focuses on the characters still alive on the island. He advocates the burning of bodies in the fuselage, a practice the Others have also adopted (presumably) to prevent the smoke monster from taking their form. He is a calm and removed leader in this episode; rather than leading the memorial service himself or forcing Rose to eat or drink food, Jack takes a more hands-off approach as leader. This kind of leadership has Jacob written all over it.

On the other hand, Locke really shows his smoke monster-ish tendencies, going on his own walkabout through the jungle to hunt boar. More than anything, the smoke monster wishes to be free of the expectations of his mother, hoping to physically leave the island. Locke desires a similar freedom from the restrictions of his physical condition, saying again and again “Don’t tell me what I can’t do.” Just like smokie, John just wants to be free.

GAMES

John Locke is a big fan of playing games. He plays some kind of geeky board game with his coworker in the box company and insists on being called Colonel during their phone conversations during flashbacks. Games are Locke’s way of removing himself from the pain and misfortune of the real world; by escaping into a game, Locke can have his own simulated world with low stakes, rather than run the risk of being hurt.

To Jacob and his nemesis, the island is one big game, where both players can bring pieces to the island to be manipulated. Even though John Locke actually ends up on the losing side, he’s enjoyed just being a part of the game by the end of the series. In the final church scene, John forgives Ben for his murder and sits alone, contented with the wins and losses he endured throughout his life.

SUBSTITUTES

It’s not until the sixth season that we see the Man in Black enter John’s body as a substitute and observe John as a substitute teacher in the afterlife, but substitution is a theme which has always been associated with Locke’s character in a number of ways. In this episode, John talks on the phone to “Helen,” who seems to be just a replacement for his former love. He calls and pays to speak to this “Helen,” hoping to build a real relationship with her and persuade her to come to Australia with him. In his mind, John builds up the illusion that “Helen” can serve as a substitute of his real love. The island itself is also a substitute for Locke, serving as the next-best-thing to his authentic Australian walkabout.

BURIAL

Locke's body is eventually brought back to the island buried, an action which presumably allows the smoke monster to manifest itself in Locke's form. The survivors' decision to burn the bodies in the fuselage, rather than bury them, is a coincidental act which may prevent the smoke monster from using these bodies as a weapon. Jack comments that any bodies they bury will not stay buried for long, a comment which takes on additional meaning when we see the smoke monster take Christian's form later in the episode.

Aside from the action going on with John Locke hunting boar, there are some touching moments among the other survivors, most notably Charlie and Hurley. Shannon uses Charlie to try and catch fish for her, distracting him from attempts to use drugs in the jungle. Again, it's evident that the only thing Charlie needs to stay clean from drugs is meaningful human contact. His adorable friendship with Hurley has its start in this episode, as the two attempt to fish together. In contrast to John, who seems to be at his happiest on his own, Charlie thrives in his relationships with others. Besides, even if she's kind of rude to him, Shannon's pretty hot.

I’d also like to begin a new segment in these posts, quite simply titled “Kate Screws Up.” I’ll be keeping track of everything Kate messes up throughout the series, beginning with dropping Sayid’s transceiver in this episode. Sayid is pretty angry when she returns the broken equipment to him, and rightly so. He spent days perfecting the wiring in what might be the survivors’ only hope of rescue. Kate dropped it out of a tree.