Forgive me a moment, but I’m going to resurrect the rotting carcass of the ‘clue in the Pilot’ myth that persists amongst certain Lost-theorists in light of some ‘logical’ conclusions that can be reached to provide support for this notion as a result of the Season 5 finale. The thinking goes like this:
The scene in Pilot – Part 2, where Locke is talking with Walt about backgammon. He talks about how the game is over 5,000 years old and then, memorably, holds up two pieces and declares: “Two players. Two sides. One is black. One is white.”
The scene in Pilot – Part 2, where Locke is talking with Walt about backgammon. He talks about how the game is over 5,000 years old and then, memorably, holds up two pieces and declares: “Two players. Two sides. One is black. One is white.”
Thematically this works great, but you can take it more literally because immediately after Locke says this he leans forwards and ominously asks Walt, “Do you want to know a secret?”
The scene finishes there and we never learn precisely what Locke said to Walt. With such grey area comes scope for supposition. Talk of a game that is thousands of years old, and black and white opposing sides, you can’t help but think of these two:
And Locke intimating that he has a secret to tell could lead some minds into wondering whether Locke knew more about this age-old game between Jacob and Nameless right back at the start. That the ‘clue in the Pilot’ myth revolves around this very unanswered question.
But hold up. Whoa there. A little thought, of even trying to consider that Locke was aware of this deeper level at work on the Island, doesn’t make much sense when you consider his actions and frustrations and lack of understanding about Jacob. Besides, I believe we did receive as close to an answer as we are ever likely to get in the Tabula Rasa episode, during this exchange between Michael and Walt when Michael is suspicious of Locke spending time with his kid and is fishing for information.
Michael: “Yeah, what did he say?”
Walt: “I don’t know.”
Michael: “What do you mean you don’t know? What did he say?”
Walt: “Some of it’s secret.”
Michael: “Did he tell you not to tell me?”
Walt: “No.”
Michael: “Then what’s the secret.”
Walt: “Mr. Locke said a miracle happened to him.”
Michael: “Yeah, well, a miracle happened to all of us, Walt. We survived a plane crash. Look, I don’t want you hanging around with him anymore.”
I think it’s reasonable to assume we know the secret Locke shared with Walt; when he boarded Oceanic 815 he was paralysed and confined to a wheelchair and it was since crashing on the Island that he was able to walk again. If Michael hadn’t dismissed his interrogation and assumed he understood the nature of the miracle Locke had spoken to Walt about then he too may have learned of this secret – but he didn’t!
So, once again, the ‘clue in the Pilot’ idea gets shot down. I do believe the closest thing to the ‘clue’ is in considering Locke’s speech about the very old game of backgammon being played by a white and black opposing side to be foreshadowing of Jacob and Nameless but, I suppose, the question is: Did the writer’s intend that? The eternal cynic in me says: Probably not. But, again, it’s really just another unanswered question. . .
