Here are some thoughts after watching episodes 4-8: White Rabbit, House of the Rising Sun, The Moth, Confidence Man. Spoiler alert for anyone who hasn’t seen them.

I am still too lazy to look up John Locke the philosopher. But I will say, I’m interested in the scrape that runs vertically over and under Locke’s eye. Makes him look like a half-clown. So, my half-baked observation today is that the show is borrowing from clown tradition for Locke’s character:
The whiteface clown is “an elegant clown… In a setting with other clowns, the straight Whiteface would be in charge. Its performance is highly artistic and skillful, but done with a comedic or dramatic flair. …This clown will remain in charge, setting up the routine…” (also often bald) [from this page]

Makes sense, eh? Locke is definitely a major driver in the action, from the boar hunt to Jack’s confronting his father to Charlie’s detox.

And on a completely different note:

Sawyer is an intriguing character and I think the actor has great range, but his shoulders and chest are really weird looking. I don’t like that sloping shoulders look on men, even though it’s probably indicative of a really toned body.

What else…

I like that they cleared up Jack’s man in the suit hallucination (?) quickly. That was something the X Files did poorly. Yes, you need to sustain your share of red herrings in a show like this, but too many with no payoff and people get irritated.

I also like that these eps weren’t overly suspenseful and scary, more character-driven. That said, I expect Big and Scary to be back with a vengeance in episode 9.

Things they haven’t resolved—a non-exhaustive list:

• What was the significance (if any) of the black and white stones they found on Adam and Eve?
• Where is Jack’s dad’s body?
• What’s up with the dolls?
• Why did the Korean couple have her father’s watch?
• Obvious: What is Big and Scary?

Here are a few comments and predictions:

• Sawyer is going to die a reluctant hero. (R says no because where will the dramatic tension be? I say he’s outta there because I happen to know through osmosis that there are others on the island, and that will provide plenty of tension.)
• Locke was the one who whomped Sayid during the antenna triangulation thing. He is the one who has most reason to stay on the island, having regained use of his legs and living his walkabout dream. He was too quick with an explanation as to why Sawyer was the one to do it. If not Locke, then someone else on the island NOT part of the plane crash.
• Sayid will return from his sojourn around the island, but he’s going to return not right. He’s entirely too sensible and capable now; therefore he’s in for it. Something is going to break him mentally.
• Before the end of season 1 there will be a boat or plane that goes by that misses seeing the signal for some heartbreaking reason, deflating the hopes of the group even further.
• If the baby dies, or the woman dies in childbirth, I’m outta here.
• Speaking of outta here: season three people, do you know what Big and Scary is? I am still enjoying the show but not yet totally hooked. If we still don’t know what B&S is by season 3, I’m not sure I can spare the psychic energy on this show.