A man's life can be defined by his legacy, how he lived, what he leaves behind the moment he dies. And how is he going to be remembered. When I think about John Locke, this phenomenal character created by Lost, I feel sorrow. Pity. A sad existence. Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham shows the most tragic ending possible. The story was great despite the inconsistencies, and the acting, superb, especially from Terry O'Quinn.
The beginning is slow, showing the Man in Black impersonating Locke (though back then it was supposed to deceive), and the moment he sees Ben again. Here should be noticeable the difference between the fake and the real Locke. John had fear, he wasn't so assertive, or confident. The Man in Black is simply fearless, audacious.
The rest of the episode (except the end) shows the last days of life for John. Widmore rescues him from the desert, and provides him with all the necessary equipment to reach the Oceanic Six. According to Widmore (who was already visited by Jacob off screen), there's going to be a war, and the losties have to get back. Abbadon (who suggested Locke to make a walkabout trip in Cabin Fever flashbacks), acts as the driver. First, John visits Sayid at Santo Domingo. It's been almost three years since There's No Place Like Home. Sayid spent nine months with Nadia, two years working for Ben, and the last few months doing charity work. Though John tries to convince him, Sayid refuses, thinking someone is manipulating Locke. It's certain he knows about Widmore, and doesn't trust this. I understand that the conversation was brief, and Sayid didn't ask about the rest of the survivors, but if he guessed that Widmore was behind John's return, then it would make sense. He chooses to stay out. Rejection one.
Next, Locke pays a visit to Walt in New York. This is surely the most beautiful scene of the whole episode. All the memories of season 1, with John acting as a mentor for the younger Walt, in quarrels with Michael. Plus, the score by Giacchino. It's extremely touching. John refuses to tell Walt that Michael died, ignores the strange dreams (late season 3) and lets him be on his new life at school. There's no doubt that of all the people in the world, all the characters, the one who had the most genuine concern for Locke, is Walt. James would come second, though he's in the island.
Then, John goes to Santa Monica psychiatric hospital, and meets Hurley. At first, things go well, and John convinces him he's not dead. Still Hurley thinks that no one would want to return and informs him about Sun, Jack, and Kate. And then, the whole talk goes to waste the moment Hurley spots Abbadon in the car. Considering what happened before, he leaves abruptly, and John is left baffled, aware of Abbadon's interference. Rejection two.
Later, Locke goes to Kate's, who simply refuses to leave. She doesn't explain her reasons, obviously Aaron, and instead counters bringing love subject on the table. Apparently, she doesn't really care about the ones who stayed in the island, not anymore, and wishes to know why John would want to be there so badly. He tells her about Helen. "It just didn't work out..." "I was angry... I was... obsessed..." "And look how far you've come" This shakes John, who leaves the house, distressed. This certainly says how he feels. Alone. Misunderstood. Unhappy. Like his life has been worthless. And it's sad, because no one really wanted to help him. Kate simply minded her own business. Rejection three.
Then, Abbadon finally takes him to visit Helen, who died in 2006 from brain aneurysm. A saddened Locke stares at her grave, wishing he had done things different. She loved him, and they could have been together. Abbadon states that she would have died anyway, but John is hesitant. Asked about Richard's words, John says he doesn't want to die, but if he has no choice... Is it inevitable? Only the writers know the answer. I liked very much this scene. It explains what happened to Helen, who surely learned of John's supposed demise at the accident in 2004. If she was born in 1957, in 2006, she had 49. How likely is a brain aneurysm at that age? John hoped she would be alive if he stayed with her, if he had chosen her instead of his father. These are regrets, the regrets a man has sensing the end of his life. John had been pondering death for a time now, and he can't help but to think about his past.
Sadly, when they are about to leave the cemetery, Abbadon is shot and killed, so John drives the car to get away. He has an accident, and is carried to the hospital, only to wake up in a room, with Jack watching over him. At this point, Jack already has a light beard, and is obviously apart from Kate, surely for a month at least. In another short conversation, Jack refuses to listen, and prefers to stay away. He says John was never special, just a lonely old man who crashed on an island. Jack only doubts when Locke tells him about Christian, but leaves anyway, angry. Rejection four. It was harsh, but necessary. This was the perfect build up for the first flashforward scene of Through the Looking Glass. Jack will regret doing this forever. So much, that he'll want to reunite with Locke, just to tell him he was right. Broken. Alone. Depressed. Jack and John had these things in common, and almost never could understand each other. And both wished to end their lives the same way.
In the end, John feels like a failure, and even tosses away the cellphone to call Widmore. He couldn't do anything to convince the others. There's no one else for him. No family, no friends, no destiny. All he can do, is end his life, hoping it'll work of something. And this is the tragedy. Feeling that you have to die to achieve something. John didn't really want to die. He wanted to be happy with Helen. He wanted a family who loved him. And then, he wanted to be at the island, and fulfill a destiny. Have a purpose. It's tearful.
Ben's intervention served for John to open up, and tell his reasons. A failure. "I am!" He sobs, and reveals how weak he has been. How broken, how useless he feels. And Ben ends up killing him mercilessly after getting Jin's ring and the information of Eloise Hawking. It's cruel. Unfair. Tragic. I hated John in Fire plus Water for instance, but then, overall, he was a great character. He deserved surely a different ending. I guess the lesson is that life is just the way it is. Sometimes people who suffers cannot have a happy ending, not on this life.
I want to make one last comment, about Jack. According to Ben, he bought a plane ticket, surely the day after John was released from the hospital. And he'd keep flying, every day and every night, until his beard grows to the extent of Through the Looking Glass. Until Jeremy Bentham's obituary appears on the newspaper.
3 out of 4 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
