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magic box

An analysis of Ben’s “magic box” – or is it Locke’s?

by Christina Gleason on March 22, 2007

In last night’s episode of LOST, “The Man From Tallahassee,” Ben asked John Locke to picture a magic box.  Inside of it is anything you wish.  What’s the deal with the magic box?  I’d like to examine the possbilities.

A Literal Magic Box

It’s unlikely, but there could literally be some sort of large box from which needful things appear.  Like a genie in a lamp, whatever you wish for comes out of the box.  I think most LOST fans would be a bit disappointed if this was the case.

A Metaphorical Magic Box

A more likely possibility is that Ben was using a box as a metaphor.  He had already mentioned Locke’s wasted years with Hurley’s box company, so he was having a go at him by using a box to explain whatever wish-granting power or entity exists there on the island. 

Some fans would still be unhappy if this were the case, but I don’t think it’s too far off base. Many of us had readily accepted the idea that Walt could make things happen just for wanting them.  What if it was the island’s “magic box” that made things happen for him?  And Locke can tap into that power as well. The two of them got along rather well before Walt left on the raft, only to be kidnapped by Others and then transported off the island.  Maybe they shared a special gift – being in tune with whatever entity is responsible for the magic box phenomenon.

There ain’t no steenkeen’ magic box, even a metaphorical one

Or maybe Ben was just manipulating Locke yet again.  Knowing Locke’s history, he knew very well that “the man from Tallahassee” was his father.  He admitted that he doesn’t want anyone to leave the island.  Whether Anthony Cooper was recruited by Mittelos like Juliet was, or if he ended up on the island some other way – that’s for another theory entry – Ben knew that Locke would love to be able to confront him.  And if he could plant the thought in his head – what would he want to find on the island more than anything else in the world? – his father would make the top of a very short list, even though Locke blew up the submarine so that his father could never hurt him again.  Ben is able to see what people really want – deep down, so deep they don’t even realize it.  So he led Locke to believe that the island can give him anything he wants.

*cue Darth Vader breathing here*

Giving Locke his father – who may have already been on the island for months or years – was a powerful tool.  Locke is a far better recruit than Jack – for turning to the Other side.  Although I’d have to wonder whether or not it would be in Ben’s best interest to get Locke on his side.  Locke seems positioned to take over.  I don’t think the not-so-subtle point of Ben being in the one in the wheelchair was beaten over our heads for nothing.

Wrapping up the magic box

So what do you think?  Is the a magic box, real or metaphorical?  Or was it just another mind game Ben used to manipulate Locke?

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Blogging while watching LOST: The Man From Tallahassee

by Christina Gleason on March 21, 2007

I haven’t been surprised by anything we’ve seen before or after the first commercial break.  We’re on the second commercial break now, and I haven’t seen anything important that wasn’t on the episode promos except for Kate and Sayid getting caught in their little raid on Otherville.  Sure, there was the little tease with John Locke in the disability office – for depression, with full use of his legs.

Ooh, timeline! Locke was in a wheelchair for four years before the plane crash.  Thanks for that, Ben.

Okay, there was a slow start, but I couldn’t tear my attention away to type for a number of scenes now. Definitely getting better!

I don’t understand why Locke didn’t just tell Peter Talbot about his father, the man formerly known as Anthony Cooper.  (Was that even his real name?  Did he ever go by the name of Sawyer?)  I’m chomping at the bit to see if the man from Tallahassee that Ben wants to see is Anthony.  Maybe going by the name of Jacob now?  That would be an interesting twist.  Not that I really expect it to happen, but that would be very cool.

Jack and Juliet are going home.  Tomorrow.  I have to wonder if they’re really going to let them leave.  Not for plot reasons.  As far as plot goes, the writers can do whatever they please.  But I can’t see the producers saying goodbye to Matthew Fox’s star power so… finally.  Will Locke blow up the submarine with his backpack of C4 and make it impossible for them to leave?

Peter Talbot is dead after Locke threatened to tell his mother the truth about Anthony.  Coincidence?  I doubt it.  Anthony Cooper is not a good man.  We have 15 minutes left to find out exactly how Locke broke his back… I’d bet good money that Anthony had something to do with it.  He already stole his son’s kidney; taking away his ability to walk isn’t that far of a stretch.

SAYID TOLD ALEX HER MOTHER IS ALIVE!  Even if nothing else happened in this episode, that made it all worthwhile.

HE PUSHED HIM! I thought that Anthony might have paid someone to hit Locke with a car or something… I wouldn’t have expected him to push his own son through a plate glass window eight stories up.  He is definitely more than a simple con man.  That is just evil.

And Locke blowing up the submarine?  How selfish can the man be?  Forget Jack and Juliet for a minute, who had both been promised the ability to go home… in less than an hour.  When the submarine blows up.  There are forty people back on that beach who still need to be rescued.  No one would force him to leave if rescue came. Ben played him like a fiddle. Alex was right.  He is quite the master manipulator.

I WAS RIGHT AGAIN! Anthony Cooper is the man from Tallahassee!  He’s on the island!  I can’t wait to hear why he’s there.  Was he recruited by Mittelos?  Living as one of the Others in Otherville (not to be confused with the Whos from Whoville) until Ben had him tied up for Locke to see?

Magic box.  It sounds corny, but I wonder if this is going to be just a metaphor that Ben used for how things keep coming up Locke’s way or if there really is some sort of wish-giving power or entity on the island.  Walt had already seemed to tap into it, but he’s gone.  Locke seems to be tapped in now.  As it was pointed out a number of times – Ben’s in the wheelchair now and he is not.

This was one of the most satisfying episodes so far this season.

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