Question Mark Solves My Problem
In an earlier post I said that dream sequences are a writer’s crutch. They can mean everything and nothing all at once. Weird for its own sake is the realm of the art school film. Thankfully, the dream sequences in ? were very effective.
For one thing, they were literal. No BS symbolism or esoteric nonsense. Eko’s dead brother delivers a clear message each time he appears. In the first dream he even tells Eko what tools he’ll need on his adventure.
The writers make use of Locke’s cryptic dream as a test of his faith in the island. Twice he’s withheld information about his dreams. The first time ended tragically, though Locke believes that Boone’s life was a necessary sacrifice. Knowing what occurred the last time brings more tension to Eko’s insistence he scale the cliff. A very effective use of what otherwise could be called a cheap fake death dream.
With ? we’ve come full circle on most of the island locations we’re familiar with, and Libby’s death is the saddest of all the deaths on Craphole Island. Hurt Hurley and you hurt the viewer. There were two other moments that were extremely important and tie in with one of the major themes in Lost. I’ll hit those in my next post.
