Episode 4: Walkabout

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1. ABC Episode Guide

   We are in Locke's dream as the show opens and it's moments after the crash. As his eye opens, we see the experience from his perspective. Chaos rages around him as he very cautiously looks down to his feet. We see him wiggle his big toe — Good, everything works.
   
   Back in real time, Locke's dream is interrupted by Vincent barking. In fact, he's waking up the entire camp. He won't stop barking at the fuselage and when Jack and the others listen closely they can hear something rummaging around in there. But that can't be, everything in there is…dead. Sawyer? Nope, he's right behind Jack. When they shine a flashlight inside, two glowing eyes shine right back at them. Uh oh…
   
   Three squealing beasts charge out of the wreckage and tear through the camp. As they disappear back into the jungle, Locke is able to determine what they are —Wild Boars. They've been attracted by the bodies that have been baking in the fuselage for the last 4 days. Something has to be done. Bury them? They wouldn't stay buried, not for long anyway. Jack makes the only call he can — The bodies have to be burned.
   
   But, as usual, just as one problem is solved, another rears its ugly head. They're out of food. It's all gone. And just as panic begins to set in, Locke steps forward with his own brand of problem solving. They can hunt the boars. What are they supposed to hunt with? The case of knives Locke checked into the luggage compartment. "Who is this guy?"
   
   In FLASHBACK Locke gets a cryptic phone call from someone who calls him "Colonel." Of course, he's in the military! But we soon discover that isn't true at all — Locke is just another cubicle jockey with an active imagination.
   
   Back on the island, Michael is getting ready to go with Locke. Walt wants to come, but Michael manages to communicate with Sun well enough to convince her to watch his son until the hunting party returns. Meanwhile, Sayid has a plan to try and locate the source of the French Transmission using homemade antennas to triangulate the signal. Kate agrees to help him and tells Jack of her plan before setting off with Locke and Michael to hunt for boar. Back at the fuselage, Claire is beginning to collect the personal effects of the dead for use in a eulogy during the cremation. She asks Jack to be the one to give it, but he doesn't want the job. Claire decides to do it herself.
   
   Boone remarks to Shannon that one of the survivors, Rose, has been sitting by herself way down the beach. He's pretty sure she hasn't eaten since the crash. When Shannon tells him to butt out, Boone reminds Shannon that she would starve without his help. She vows to show him she can take care of herself.
   
   Deep in the jungle, Locke has found the boar trail. They're close. He sends Michael and Kate out to surround the beast, but it turns on them and charges. Michael is gored in the leg and as Kate helps him up she calls to Locke to see if he is okay. "I'm fine, Helen, I just got the wind knocked out of me." Who is Helen?
   
   In FLASHBACK, we see Locke enjoying an intimate conversation with "Helen" over the phone. He has a surprise for her — he finally saved up the money to go to Australia and take that authentic aboriginal walkabout. And guess what? He bought two tickets. Sadly, we learn that Helen doesn't share the same feelings for Locke as he does for her.
   
   Back on the island, Kate agrees to help Michael limp back to the beach, but Locke is determined to bring down that boar. Kate tells him he can't go out there by alone. Locke disagrees. "Don't tell me what I can't do."
   
   Back on the beach, a hunter of another sort has found her quarry. Shannon flirts with Charlie and mentions how much she would like a fish. Charlie is only too happy to catch her one…as soon as he can learn how to from Hurley.
   
   Jack has made his way over to Rose and tries to get her to open up to him. After some time, she does and tells him that, even though he has not been found, she believes her husband, Bernard is still alive. She agrees to rejoin the others. Meanwhile, back at the fuselage, Claire has found an envelope with Sayid's name on it. He opens it and we find a woman's picture inside. Sayid can't seem to take his eyes off her.
   
   On the way back to the beach, Kate stops to climb a tree and attach the antenna. But when she is up there, she sees the monster knocking down trees in the distance and drops the antenna, breaking it. And the monster…is heading straight for Locke.
   
   On the beach, Sun is teaching Walt about natural substitutes for toothpaste when Michael and Kate return. The others learn that the hunt was unsuccessful and worse still, that Locke is probably dead.
   
   When Jack is making the final preparations to the fuselage, he sees something — wait -someone, off in the forest. When he chases after him, he runs smack into Locke, who has somehow managed to survive his run in with the monster. And that's not all — he brought back a boar with him.
   
   As night falls, the fuselage is ignited and the names of the dead are read in memorial to them. Michael congratulates Locke on the hunt and asks him if he got a look at the monster. Locke tells him he didn't see anything.
   
   But as we get one more glimpse into his past, we learn that Locke is keeping a secret — one that must be seen to be believed.

2. Live Notes

   • Opening shot of Locke's eye
     
   • Of course Jack would assume its Sawyer in the fuselage. . .Sawyers the bad guy and Jack is the hero :/
   • Locke's happy, he can finally do what he came to Australia for
   • Whats so wrong with cremating people in these circumstances?
   • Sayid the electronics expert is at it again
   • Way to treat the kid, Michael. Infer to him that no one else wants anything to do with a kid. . .
   • 4 days and the foods already gone (is this a Lost number reference?)
   • Locke sure is talking like an expert. . .he sure did his homework
   • Why is there always some annoying office manager looking for TPS reports?
   • Jack hits the nail right on the head regarding Kate (I'd say you have a problem staying in any one place for too long)
   • Why does Michael ask Sun to look after Walt? There are other people staying on the beach
   • How come everytime someone wants something done they go to Jack first? Memorial service at the fuselage, checking on Rose, etc. . .No wonder he starts to lose it, can't expect one person to do everything
   • And we see Shannon's main character flaw. . .using other people
   • Walkabout: "is a journey of spiritual renewal where one derives strength from the earth and becomes inseperable from it"
   • "Don't tell me what I can't do!" really is true based on Lockes past vs his present situation
   • First glimpse into Sayid's past
   • ". . .tell Randy off" I wouldn't really consider that confrontation a real win for Locke
   • Face to face with the "monster" and Locke doesn't seem all that afraid
     
   • I think Charlie is hurt that Shannon didn't really like him and only used him so she could try to prove something to Boone (Charlie does have a past of using people too so he's been on both sides)
   • Who is that guy?
     
   • Spoiler (highlight to see) its Jack's father. . .funny how the Island uses him/his image to help Jack (leads him to Locke in this episode and to the caves in a later episode)
   • Did the monster give the boar to Locke or did he actually catch it?
   • Locke seemed caught off guard when Michael congratulated him about killing the boar
   • There's Locke's secret. . .but how does something like that get fixed by a plane crash? The whole mystery of Locke really begins now
     

As we saw in the first episode, this episode's opening shot is of an eye. Locke's eye to be specific. In the telling of Locke's story, we see the first real big mystery of the show (if you don't count how they survived the crash, what's knocking down trees/making noise in the jungle, or how no one has managed to try to kill Sawyer yet). Locke had been confined to a wheelchair for 4 years before the crash. We don't know yet how or why, but I believe that some answers may come in Season 2. So, this helps to explain a bit about why Locke is so accepting of what is going on. He believes that the Island has given him back his ability to use his legs and, I believe, he is willing to do anything the Island wants him to do. Now, whether what he does later in this season is really what the Island wants is a big question. Maybe he's misinterpreting the signs the Island is giving him. Who knows. All I know is that the shows creators have stated he's not a bad guy.

Since the episode is about Locke, I'll explore some things I noticed about him. On the Island, he really seems the "logical" choice to lead the survivors. Not only is he very smart but he also knows how to survive and help others do the same. At least, this is how he is made to look at this point. My personal opinion of him will change later in the season. He also has great faith (probably because of his recent miracle). Locke also is brave. Everyone so far has run from the "monster" but, when Locke was trying to catch the boar, he stood face to face with whatever lurks in the jungle. I really wonder what he sees in this episode (he doesn't look very afraid) compared to what he sees in the season finale (where he definately looks afraid).

Locke's backstory in this episode is also interesting. So he works a typical desk job (even being told to get those TPS reports finished up) but also has an active imagination (the whole colonel reference and playing the board game during his lunch hour). He almost acts younger than he actually is. Anyway, the most fascinating thing I picked up from the office part of his backstory is when he explains what a walkabout really is. Its more than just going out in the wild and trying to survive. . .its about connecting with the Earth (see the Live Notes for the direct quote). Funny that he was denied a "real" walkabout with the company in Australia and now, look where he is. Stranded on an Island, a miracle that no one can really explain has happened to him. . .sounds like he's about as connected to the Earth as could be.

Episode 4 also starts to show a little different side of Jack. For the first time, he's not willing to help (with the memorial service). Also, it became clear to me when watching this, everyone seems to always turn to Jack for just about everything. He doesn't really see himself as a hero (probably because of his father. . .we'll see this in the next Jack-centered episode when he gets beat up as a kid and talks with his dad). All of this extra pressure of trying to be someone that he doesn't believe he is is about to find a way to vent. And that comes in the form of the illusions he sees of his father. They start in this episode and they lead him to Locke (returning with the boar after his encounter with the "monster"). The next episode, this illusion leads Jack to something far greater.

Not very much else goes on in this episode that has a greater connection in the rest of the season. I mean, we do see Shannon take advantage of Charlie, which seems to hurt him (I say in the Live Notes that maybe Charlie sees what its like to be used, since he has used others in his own past). Also, more of a connection between Michael and Sun occurs here when he asks if she could watch Walt (does he, for some reason, see her as a mother figure?).

That's it for the first DVD. Only 5 more to go. . .