WRITERS: Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse DIRECTOR: Eric Laneuville
CAST: Terry O'Quinn (Locke), Josh Holloway (Sawyer), Michael Emerson (Ben), Elizabeth Mitchell (Juliet), Evangeline Lilly (Kate), Henry Ian Cusick (Desmond), Jorge Garcia (Hurley), Matthew Fox (Jack), Naveen Andrews (Sayid), Mira Furlan (Rousseau), M.C Gainey (Tom), Kevin Tigh (Anthony Cooper), Nestor Carbonell (Richard Alpert), Marsha Thomason (Naomi) & Kimberly Joseph (Cindy)
After abandoning the Others, Locke leads Sawyer through the jungle to help him eliminate a common enemy. At the beach, Naomi has critical information about Flight 815...One of my favourite ongoing plotlines on Lost is Locke's relationship with his conniving father Anthony Cooper, the sinister creep who stole his kidney and threw him out of an eight-storey window. It was Locke's flashbacks in season 1, beginning with Walkabout, that really cemented Lost as television worth caring about in my mind. Ever since, John Locke (the phenomenal Terry O'Quinn) has been my favourite character...
The Brig is an enticing prospect for all Locke fans, as it essentially ends the Locke/Anthony subplot that has been building since season 1. Yes, you hear me, a major plotline on Lost actually reaches a crescendo and a big question is answered. Season 3 is really beginning to build a name for itself with the sheer number of answers and developments now.
We also catch-up with the Others, who left their Barracks a number of episodes ago with Locke in tow. The Brig is structured as a sequence of on-island flashbacks that show us what's been happening to Locke since he discovers his father's on the island, captured by the Others in The Man From Tallahassee. Essentially, the Others are on an expedition somewhere, but leader Ben won't allow Locke to continue with them unless he makes a break from his shackled past... by killing his father.
A minor subplot with Naomi continues, the recently discovered parachutists with a connection to Desmond, as Sayid is briefed of the situation. Note that supposed "leader" Jack is being sidelined thanks to his involvement with duplicitous Juliet. Naomi's appearance is another important and exciting aspect to the series, particularly with Naomi's utterance last week that she's "not alone" (yep, I checked the 'net for a translation) and her bewildering news regarding Flight 815 itself. The plot really is thickening...
Sawyer (Josh Holloway) had a big role to play in The Brig, as he's led by Locke through the jungle to the Black Rock (the ship last seen in the season 1 finale). It's a plot that finally ties together Locke's father with Sawyer's family tragedy. Like I said, a big question is answered, although admittedly it was one fans had guessed a long time ago!
Terry O'Quinn gives another great performance as Locke, still the most complex and entertaining character and back on fine form after a faltering start. Josh Holloway is similarly impressive as Sawyer, given a tense and emotional standoff with deplorable Anthony Cooper (Kevin Tigh, in another enjoyable performance).
In summation, The Brig is a major piece of the Lost puzzle firmly slotted into place, although I hope Locke and Sawyer don't suffer as characters now a big chunk of their histories have been put to rest. Fans will get a real kick out of The Brig, as it rarely puts a foot wrong, both answering questions and posing new ones back on the beach with Naomi. Great stuff.
Season 3 is rocketing towards its finale and it's just fantastic to see the series back to full strength. I pity the poor saps who bailed from the series after the disappointing start.
