With the tongue-in-cheek irony of featuring another Locke flashback in an episode entitled "Lockdown" firmly in place, the episode dives right into more of John’s back story. Of primary importance this go round seems to be giving us the details of the soured relationship between John and Helen. We knew things eventually went south for the couple, and that Locke would later resort to calling phone sex workers and asking them to assume the name Helen, but how this all went down remained somewhat elusive. That is, until now.

With Locke ready to pop the question in the past, current events in the hatch can’t help but intersect with viewer interest. Picking up seconds after that fateful line uttered by Henry Gale, Locke and Jack jump into action, demanding that Gale recreate the map he drew for Ana Lucia, a request that ultimately results in Gale being tossed back into holding.

Ana Lucia, Sayid and Charlie do eventually stumble upon a grave, complete with a hot air balloon suspended in trees overhead. Despite this picture perfect confirmation of Gale’s story, who in their right mind would take comfort in anything Gale says?

With all the pawns in place, Jack returns to the beach in search of Ana Lucia only to find Sawyer locked in a game of texas hold ‘em with fellow losties eager to barter fruit and rations for much needed supplies. Feeling the need, yet again, to save everyone on the island, Jack decides to join the game and turns out to be a shark in the water.

Back in the hatch, Locke learns how the blast doors Michael pointed out work when a mysterious countdown sequence is overheard on the loudspeaker system. Luckily, Locke manages to wedge a crowbar under the blast door between the lobby and the computer terminal room. In his attempt to pry open the door, Locke enlists the help of Gale, and manages to get his legs crushed under the weight of the blast door.

Moments like these, as overwrought and creepy as they may be, demand that the tension be ratcheted up several notches, and what better way than to have the 108 minute timer grow closer to zero?

Naturally, Locke enlists the help of Gale, who shimmies his way through the vents in order to enter the mythical numbers as needed. Here lies the burning question, if the vents gave access all along, why did Locke feel the need to pry the blast doors open?

No arguments here though, as what Locke found scrawled on the blast door when the lights went out and the hue of ultraviolet filled the room was enough to send the internet spinning in all directions. A map, it seems, has been drawn by someone (perhaps Desmond?) with notes for all the island stations as well as mysterious question mark in the center.

Perhaps not coincidentally, Jack and Kate stumble upon a recently deployed cache of Dharma branded rations with a beacon and parachute still attached. Are the lockdown and rations drop connected? Perhaps, but what seems more telling is that whatever is going on is still in practice, despite the decrepit state of some of the stations and the overall dated feel of many of the hatch’s contents.

As all expected, Gale is not who he claims to be, and Sayid looks prepped to make him start explaining for real this time. Who was the body buried next to the hot air balloon? Why, a man named Henry Gale, of course! This will no doubt cause a disturbance on the island, as it seems as though the hatch-happenings may be a bit tougher to contain from here on out.

This Wednesday: Another new episode? Yes, the gods have indeed shined upon the Lost viewing audience. This time out it appears that Hurley will take center-stage, and perhaps more about his stint in the mental hospital will be unveiled.

Mario Anima