25 March 2007 - Sky One, 10.00 pm
WRITERS: Drew Goddard & Jeff Pinkner DIRECTOR: Jack Bender
CAST: Terry O'Quinn (Locke), Matthew Fox (Jack), Evangeline Lilly (Kate), Michael Emerson (Ben), Elizabeth Mitchell (Juliet), Naveen Andrews (Sayid), Mira Furlan (Rousseau), M.C Gainey (Tom), Tania Raymonde (Alex), Brian Goodman (Ryan Pryce), Cleo King (Government Worker), Stephen Bishop (William Kincaid), Marlene Forte (Detective Mason), Don Nahaku (Detective Reed), Barbara Beecheer (Mrs Talbot), Patrick J. Adams (Peter Talbot), Kevin Tighe (Anthony Cooper) & Nestor Campbell (Richard Alpert)
Kate and Sayid are captured whilst trying to contact Jack. Meanwhile, Locke holds Ben at gunpoint, prompting memories of how he broke his back four years ago...Season 3 seems to be facing the challenge many shows face in their third year. When it debuted in 2004 Lost was exciting, revelatory and unique. Season 2 introduced new elements and deepened the mythology to keep viewer interest. But season 3 has a far more difficult challenge: surprising audiences who are now savvy with the show's style.
The Man From Tallahassee is one of the best episodes of the year, primarily because all of its sub-plots are interesting and its flashbacks focus on John Locke. Terry O'Quinn's character is sometimes mistreated by the writers; he lost his courageous veneer to press a button for most of season 2 and has made silly decisions this season (faith in Eko's "Jesus Stick", blowing up the Flame, etc).
However, while Locke's on-island character is inconsistent, O'Quinn is a magnetic presence regardless and Locke's flashbacks are usually seasonal highlights. This episode certain proves this, as we finally learn how Locke ended up in a wheelchair. Needless to say it has something to do with his con man father Anthony Cooper, one of the most deliciously evil men on television, perfectly underplayed by Kevin Tighe.
The island action is just as revelatory. Kate is stunned to discover Jack's deal with the Others to leave the island board their outbound submarine, while Locke takes Ben hostage with a plot to destroy the sub -- but for what purpose?
Michael Emerson is back on fine form as Ben, now stuck in a wheelchair and perplexed as to why the island healed Locke's disability within seconds, but has refused to do the same for him. The episode is packed with hints towards the island's mystical properties and Ben's conversations with Locke (while shrouded in vagueness) are more straight-talking than usual.
As is often the case with Lost's most memorable episodes, the real talking points are huge spoilers. But, suffice to say that Locke's crippling accident is shocking and violent. The final scene is also one of Lost's most dazzling in ages; totally bizarre, unpredictable and spawns a hundred new questions in your mind. Superb.
Overall, The Man From Tallahassee is the kind of episode fans are hungry for after three years. A long-standing question is answered, character dynamics are primed to shift (Jack/Kate, Ben/Locke, Alex/Ben), vital information is offered regarding the island and the final moment will send your mind spinning.
A fantastic episode that puts the season's shaky first quarter firmly in the past. If the rest of season 3 can continue in this vein, we're in for a treat and Lost could break the curse of third years...
