Heh heh. So you’re saying that a miracle must stop short of replacing muscle mass?
You understand the concept of miracles, right?
I agree, if we must accept that it’s a miracle then there is no need to consider loss of muscle mass. However, if there is a scientific (or pseudo-scienctific) explanation then we have to wonder about that explanation. He’s been in the wheelchair for 4 years (he says this to the tour guide). Although that is enough time to lose muscle mass, perhaps he has been getting physical therapy all that time. Maybe he wasn’t totally paralyzed but paretic and still had some use of muscles. Maybe it was psychosomatic and he was able to run marathons in his sleep. Maybe he’s just running on adrenalin and any minute now he’s going to collapse like a jellyfish.
I think we’ll just have to wait and see how they explain it.
I can see why some people have trouble accepting that Locke was talking to a phone sex line and apparently delusional about having a relationship with the operator. He was the cool, mysterious character and we find out that he was not only physically flawed (no offense meant) but emotionally flawed as well and very human. I think this just makes him all the more interesting and I feel like we’ve barely scratched the surface of this character.
Next week is Charlie’s back story, can’t wait!
That’s uncalled for don’t you think? I was using the term miraculously in a figurative sense as indicated by the comment. “The impact did something to repair damage he experienced at some earlier time.” Perhaps I was too aloof at making my point clearly. I don’t think there are any miracles at work here. Okay?
I was just speculating on what we might see in future episodes. These ideas that I have presented would give the writers some unique opportunities at some future date provided the series makes it that long.
Trunk I don’t see how it is reading anything more into the situation than if Helen is simply a “call girl”. 
He still appears to be a lonely guy with not much happening. The writers may leave it exactly where it is and never say another word about it. That would probably be better than defining anything needlessly.
In any event we’ll see where it goes. Shit man, I can be wrong.
Who knows…they may be reading this thread trying to figure out where to go next. 
Did you ever try keeping up with Alias? They write that damned show from week to week it seems like sometimes. Is it back/coming back? I don’t have a clue. I haven’t seen it in ages and don’t even know where it’s at? It just got too fucking twisted. I get the feeling this one’s gonna do the same thing. It’s okay for now though.
Actually, next week’s episode is Jack’s back story! Veronica Hamel stars as his mother.
The following week is Jin and Sun’s story.
Then comes Charlie’s story, including Drive Shaft live!
Ahhh. I had such a crush on her when she was on Hill Street Blues. Hard to believe that was over 20 years ago.
Is it? I could have sworn that site you linked to with pictures of the episodes only had them through episode 6 and I was sure 6 was the Korean couple. I remembered seeing pics of Charlie’s backstory in one of them so I figured it must be ep. 5. I do remember seeing some pics of Jack back in civilization that haven’t been shown yet. Are you sure ep. 5 isn’t a mix of both Charlie’s and Jack’s stories?
Positive. Confirmed by multiple sources.
1.5 - White Rabbit (Jack)
1.6 - House of the Rising Sun (Sun & Jin)
1.7 - The Moth (Charlie)
1.8 - Confidence Man (Sawyer)
1.9 - Solitary (Sayid)
1.10 - Raised by Another (Claire)
I find myself wondering how they intend on sustaining this for multiple seasons.
The concept is clearly interpersonal relationships, with the additional delightful concept of providing a backstory reveal for each of the major characters. For now at least, the Monster-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Seen seems to be not much more than a McGuffin.
I’m not saying I’m not enjoying it. The approach is refreshing. Once they do all the backstories though, in what direction can they go? They can’t add a bunch of characters, and the producers have said they’re not trying to do a modern Robinson Crusoe story.
Maybe the McGuffin monster becomes the story’s antagonist. I’m not sure I’m very interested in a Lost World story though.
Regardless, it’ll be interesting to see what unfolds.
Odd that there’s no exposition on Hurley in the next 6 eps.
Was Hurley seen on the plane in any flashback so far?
I wasn’t reading anything into it, just trying to clarify for t-keela. I agree that what Helen is specifically doesn’t really matter, just showing Locke’s previous ‘life.’
I rewatched the first episode yesterday and didn’t see him in any of the flashbacks from Jack’s perspective. In fact the only people I recognized were Rose and Locke, with Charlie dashing by. It may be that they just didn’t have everyone on set at the time they shot it, or that they’re deliberately leaving people out.
This show is shaping up to be a lot of fun, miracles, monsters and pseudoscience aside. Hey, I watched X-files, Millenium, Buffy and Angel, I don’t need stuff to make sense as long as the story’s good enough. 
I haven’t noticed Hurley in a flashback, but I don’t know if I was looking for him.
I have every episode on tape (except for the first 10 minutes of last week’s episode). I’m going to go back and re-watch them all, focusing on the flashback scenes and freeze-framing to see if I can account for all the regulars we’ve met in the airplane scenes. Yes, I’m obsessing.
Speaking of which, in light of this revelation about Locke I’m surprised he was sitting behind Rose, apparently in a regular central seat. Wouldn’t wheelchair-bound passengers be put in that row right behind a bulkhead, so their chairs could be stowed nearby?
Spot on. Some people wanted him to be James Bond, and he turns out to be Adam Sandler in Punch-Drunk Love. With a big-ass knife.
If you find the time, on the first episode, right as the guy gets sucked into the engine, play the tape in slomo/frame by frame if you can. Another site has a clip of the video and played it in slo mo and as the guy gets sucked in, something very fast and very black flies over the wing, rather close to the ground.
It may be a CGI graphical glitch, but it may also be a clue as to what is going on.
How would Locke get a suitcase full of knives through customs? He was asked about this and gave some sort of secret agent-type answer, but we all know he’s not in the CIA or anything. That really made me wonder if this whole island is some fantasy realm. I don’t know why I’m fixating on that more than the fact that Locke could walk again suddenly. Medical “miracles” happen, but getting a toenail clipper onto an airplane would downright require divine intervention these days. It’s this fact that leads me towards believing that the island has some sort of wish fulfillment power. The Locke story was just had too many hard to believe pieces to it for all of it to be explained away by normal, scientific methods.
I also wanted to mention that often the producers, writers, creators, etc. will lie about the show. As a fan of The X-Files and Xena, I have definitely have seen the show’s creator SWEAR certain things wouldn’t happen, but lo and behold, they did. I have no faith in reassurances from those folks. Be prepared for anything to happen, even things that might be too annoying to bear.
Getting a toenail clipper into the passenger compartment would be difficult, but not getting it into CHECKED luggage, which is what Locke said that he did. I don’t know what the laws are about bringing knives into Australia, but I do know there would be no problem checking a locked suitcase with knives in it in the US.
Knives are allowed on airplanes? This sitefor soldiers coming back to the US doesn’t seem to think so. Nor does this onefrom the State Department.
If soldiers have to get rid of knives before packing, then I imagine Locke would too. I believe the way to get such items into the country is to have them shipped separately.
Traveler tips regarding New Security Measures & New FAA Regulations:
No super-secret agent-speak required.
I flew in the states with a rifle in a locked box and a box of shells in my suitcase a few months after 9/11. Rules may differ for international travel, but I think it is likely Locke could have checked them in as luggage.
Random thoughts and responses:
- Locke: As usual, I agree with Wile E. I think Locke is a MORE compelling character with the addition of the PSO. He has every element of tragically pathetic CHUMP! I had a different take on the hourly charge. I thought that “Helen’s” manager told her to force Locke to commit to hour blocks instead of minutes. (I use quotes because though I have never indulged the audio erotica, I have been to enough strip clubs to know that “Bubbles” has a “real” backup name to give customers when they ask for it.) They knew they had him hooked and that he would pay for the full hour instead of offending her. Makes him even more pathetic. As for Evil Dead’s question about why he waited to the end to discuss the trip, I offer the theory that he was nervously trying to build up to it. I used to have a hard time closing the deal with women, and I was no where near as pathetic as Locke. And isn’t Locke’s boss a real dick? Who tortures a parapalegic? Really? Anyone doubt that Locke REALLY told his boss off? I think his speech about not looking on his desk was his BIG TELL OFF. In his mind, I think he built it up to a dramatic moment.
Something else that occured to me was Locke may turn into an adversary in the future if it appears there is a chance of rescue. He may like being LOST.
*Dead Theory- I was so proud I was going to come in with this fresh new theory and about 40 dopers had already batted it around leaving only scraps. Supporting evidence for the (lame) theory: (A) walking again is a cliche of afterlife possibility (it was even mentioned in Forrest Gump (The second use of Gump in this thread for entirely different reasons: though TommyTuTone’s did demote Lt. Dan to a Sgt. in his post!) (B) Rose’s theory on them thinking the same thing. © Perhaps the post crash dead are accepting death and walking into the light. Cheesy and I hope it isn’t the case, but there is the supporting evidence.
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The Monster- I really like Evil Dead’s treeline theory. I think he is on to something there. But there is much love for Algeron’s invisible goonie theory. Perhaps both. Maybe there is a bigger monster that has told the goonie kid to not go onto the beach. An interesting parallel to the father who told his son not to go into the woods.
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Anyone else sensing an X-Men-esque Cyclops (Jack)/Jean(Kate)/Logan(Sawyer) triangle forming?
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In this thread, I finally decoded Dope speak translation for WAG! :smack:
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I am interested to find out the actress playing the Aussie character (had the accent from day one) is really australian. I noticed her from the beginning with the accent and thought it was terribly fake. I am a wally.
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Finally, anyone keeping an eye on the extras in the background scenes? I wonder will they consistently use the same ones? TV Guide says there are 14 regular cast members. By my count:
1 Jack
2 Kate
3 Sawyer
4 Locke
5 Hurley
6 Sayed
7 Father
8 Son
9 Asian Male
10 Asian Female
11 Bratty hot chick
12 Her brother
13 Aussie
14 and Charlie.
EW uses the same list, but leaves out the black kid as a “person to know” (though they mention him in the listing of the dad. No clue there, I think).
Does that mean Rose is a guest star? Anyone else I am missing?
So, of the 48 survivors, 15 spots are filled. Are we now to 47 due to the death of the Marshall? We need to keep track of this!
To confirm Darwin’s Finch’s post with a personal anecdote, I can tell you that my scruffy 21 year old son brought back a full sized machete into the US from his study abroad in Belize.
He claims that a classmate of his brought one back in his carry-on luggage. I find that hard to believe, but the Belize security might not be all that thorough.