Review: 'Lost' - Cabin Fever

Another flashback episode. Come on, haven't we seen enough of these the first three seasons? Seriously, I don't care that John Locke's mother was unwed and got hit by a car in the rain while pregnant with him. I don't particularly care that Locke was stuffed into lockers in high school. I'm more concerned with the here and the now, island time that is.

The problem with this episode was that Locke is much more effective as an enigma. Knowing he was crippled was essential. I could sense importance in the backstory with his father.

But really, this episode was a case of too much information. Yes, he had a bad family life. We already knew that. We've always known John had a connection to the island-this episode simply showed how far back that connection reached.

What we didn't know was how much he was manipulated, and knowing this actually diminishes his character. Does it matter that Richard Alpert, who apparently doesn't age, was tracking him since childhood? Do we feel differently about John knowing that the orderly, whose name is apparently Matthew Abbaddon, is the one who convinced John to go on the walkabout? For me, John moved from being an interesting character to a pawn in just one episode.

Granted, it wasn't all bad. The episode had its moments. John's childhood drawing of the smoke monster was intriguing. I am glad the timeshifting is back. Showing the doctor alive after he washed up on the shore of the island, then seeing how he died was quite unsettling. Action seems to be on the way with the chopper full of explosives headed to the island. The situation with Christian and Claire holed up in the cabin was a bit surprising, but without knowing their purpose, it becomes yet another question that needs to be answered.

While I wouldn't call the episode a disaster, it certainly will not be remembered as a high point of Season 4. The conclusion to which Locke finally arrived: "We've got to move the island" did not require all the backstory we endured.

What Worked

The Buddy Holly song "Everyday" playing at the beginning of the episode. Not only is it a great song, but remember, Buddy Holly died in an airplane crash. And the line" things are moving faster" could refer to the island itself.

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