There is no doubt in my mind that Locke and Ecko exchanged a uniquely "knowing" look in the hatch upon meeting. The look implied recognition and unique history and/or bonding that superceded the greeting. They both seem to be innately borne or a part of the island, having either been on the island prior to the alleged plane crash or being human manifestations of the island itself. If the latter is true, it may well be that the bonus prize is a continuation of the black/white theme not only in the outer garb of skin tone but an assumption that one of these men is more essentially good and the other is more essentially evil.

i do see the black/white theme again (backgammon, etc.) but i don't know about the human manifestations of the island itself. thematically, who would be good and who would be bad? it seems a bit contrived that Ecko is black and therefore evil? I think that's kind short-sighted!

Black...white. Hmm. Rose, Michael, and Walt are black. And Walt's been causing some trouble...but really, I don't think it's going to have anything to do with skin colar. It's going to be deep inside.

It got my attention when Eko ran his fingers over the Dharma logo. But I'm guessing that's because it was the same logo on the place/hatch they found.

I am more inclined to think that Locke leans toward the evil and Ecko leans toward the good. Ditto for Rose.

Also regarding the look, the hellos they gave were so primitive. It was like they were little children. They looked at each other as if understanding that each other were kind or something.

You guys are making WAY too big of a deal of this meeting. I think it was more an awkward, who is this person type of thing. Eko is a quiet guy anyway, and Locke must have been shocked to see this very large black man suddenly sitting in his hatch!

It really reminded me of men of different clothes exchanging knowing nods and hellos. Like a buddhist monk and a rabbi recognizing the "divine spark" (for lack of a less polarzing word) in eachother. They saw an understanding and a simple silent wisdom in one another.


just my impressions...

Positive Nitpicking:

Yes, I believe Locke see it as "his hatch"


and Locke must have been shocked to see this very large black man suddenly sitting in his hatch!

I really like both charectors. Eko is an amazing contridiction. You fear him on sight and then when he speaks..he is such a calming influence and you want to trust and follow him.

I hope the two of them continue on their sage ways and lead the two groups to a better understanding of what the situation is...

Dallas, I think you are just reading way too much into an awkward greeting. Havne't you ever met a person, an impressively large muscle bound person, by suprise and found yourself hesitating when you say hello?

It was foreshadowing that the characters will become friends IMHO. I think it was the meeting of two powerful forces for good. I do not think Locke is evil, but I think he's crazy, and he's been seduced by something on the island because they gave him back his legs.

But honestly I think we witnessed an important meeting there, and the friendship of these two men will change what happens on the island a great deal.

I think their meeting was divinely understated. Further interaction between these two will be most rewarding no doubt.

I didn't get that impression. I thought Locke was curious and a bit intimidated;
looking for what the Island's meaning is in all that happened. He is so on
the Island's side, any thing that happens will have some special for the
greater good, to him. And he was all into seeing that Jack knew Ana and
Eko of course saw it, too, and took Jack only to her.

I don't think Eko was that impressed by Locke. Maybe they will become
friends later on.

Also regarding the look, the hellos they gave were so primitive. It was like they were little children. They looked at each other as if understanding that each other were kind or something.

Okay, this is a HUGE stretch - readily admitted - but reading this posting made me think of the posibility that both Locke and Ecko have not only been ON the island before (hence their not being wowwed entirely by the hatches and all that they survey, but that it is possible they were raised as children (like Ethan, I think) to grow up to be a button pusher. Just my opinion. A HUGE stretch, but it's interesting to consider...

The greeting itself didn't seem out of the ordinairy.What stood out was how much screen time the write's gave it. There was plenty else going on to focus on. That a simple hello got dragged out that long would indicate its going to be a significant meeting down the road.

Black...white. Hmm. Rose, Michael, and Walt are black. And Walt's been causing some trouble...but really, I don't think it's going to have anything to do with skin colar. It's going to be deep inside.

It got my attention when Eko ran his fingers over the Dharma logo. But I'm guessing that's because it was the same logo on the place/hatch they found.

I agree that skin color will not be the issue, but rather "soul" or "spirit". Are motives selfish or altruistic? Is someone being guided by true faith or blind faith? Etc.

BTW, the logo that Eko saw in the second bunker was similar to, but not the same as, the one in the first bunker. Remember, the center symbol is arrow in the second and swan in the first...

I actually laughed at the scene when Locke and Eko met. Locke suddenly sees this tall, muscular, unknown black man in the hatch, and in the most deadpan way possible, greets him with simply, "Hello." I don't know why I found it so funny, maybe it was just the tone of Terry's voice at that moment.

To me it just feels like every scene with Locke is a key scene. There seems to be so many strange things surrounding him. He is so "in tune" with everyone's feelings and I can't recall any misreadings he's made.

Okay, this is a HUGE stretch - readily admitted - but reading this posting made me think of the posibility that both Locke and Ecko have not only been ON the island before (hence their not being wowwed entirely by the hatches and all that they survey, but that it is possible they were raised as children (like Ethan, I think) to grow up to be a button pusher. Just my opinion. A HUGE stretch, but it's interesting to consider...
It's beyond a stretch, it's lunatic material. Both Locke and Eko seem very "wowwed" by the hatches. Just look at the face on Locke after they blow it in Exodus and he's looking down with Jack. Likewise, check out Eko as he looks at the Dharma symbols.

As to where you would get the idea that they've been raised as chilrden to be a button pusher, I haven't a clue. Sounds like you're making massive leaps in logic based on basically nothing. Seems to be a trend on these boards.

Also regarding the look, the hellos they gave were so primitive. It was like they were little children. They looked at each other as if understanding that each other were kind or something.

My friend and I thought it sounded like Seinfeld saying, "Hello, NEWMAN." The only thing missing was Eko's name....

Eko doesn't trust Locke (and for the record neither do I). I think that is what the look said.

What was he noticing, the artillery missing, or the fact that they had so much artillery?

I really like both charectors. Eko is an amazing contridiction. You fear him on sight and then when he speaks..he is such a calming influence and you want to trust and follow him.

Hell, I'm not even ON the island, and i'd want to follow Eko around.

I actually laughed at the scene when Locke and Eko met. Locke suddenly sees this tall, muscular, unknown black man in the hatch, and in the most deadpan way possible, greets him with simply, "Hello." I don't know why I found it so funny, maybe it was just the tone of Terry's voice at that moment.

That was hilarious. It was like "I don't have the slightest idea what to say, I've only met a couple of new people in a month and a half. Uhh.. Hello."

I watched it again, and the first encounter with Eko and Locke does have some
under current there.

I think Eko and Sayid would have a lot in common, and Ana as well. I get the
impression that Eko has a violent back story that has brought him into
"the light" just as Sayid does and Ana is now. Sayid is able to read people
so well, and Eko does, too.

This epi moved me to tears more than any other. The scene with Ana and
Sayid was really impressive and the scene with Eko and Locke just looking
at each other for a few moments was as well.

As far as the black and white argument goes in the last two episodes (not sure about Collision) Eko has worn a piece of white cloth on one arm and black cloth on another.(presumably from his jacket and shirt)

I don't think Ecko was as curious about Locke as Locke was with Ecko. I also don't agree with other posters here who imply that Locke was afraid of Ecko. However, I do think there is supposed to be some kind of similarity between the two. I don't think they're supposed to be opposites.

I actually laughed at the scene when Locke and Eko met. Locke suddenly sees this tall, muscular, unknown black man in the hatch, and in the most deadpan way possible, greets him with simply, "Hello." I don't know why I found it so funny, maybe it was just the tone of Terry's voice at that moment. Frankly, I think you've got it. There would have been a million things running through both men's heads at that moment: "Fight? Flight" Danger? Who's this guy?etc. etc. etc. " Both took their time assessing the situation. Couple that with the certainty that LOST viewers were all going, "Uh oh... something's gonna happen! This is gonna be a blow up! Now we're gonna see something!" After letting the moment dangle a bit, Locke's manners kicked in and he did the polite thing and greeted the stranger with, "Hello!" Ecko... a man of manners himself, responded appropriately with a "Hello" of his own. The scene was played casually and as a result, was a moment of sublime understated comedy.

Kudos to the writers who wrote it... and the two actors who played it so well.

To me it just feels like every scene with Locke is a key scene. There seems to be so many strange things surrounding him. He is so "in tune" with everyone's feelings and I can't recall any misreadings he's made.

I agree. Always in the right place, right time, with the right words or story to spur others' growth. If he can be faulted for 'misreading' it wouldn't be for misreading people, but the dream that led to Boone's death. (I know, there's a big argument with this topic, but I believe, like Locke, that everything happened for a reason and fits in with the bigger picture--I just don't think Locke knew that Boone would die. I mean, assuming that that was Locke's first prophetic dream, how many of us could have interpreted a dream like that correctly? The blood could've represented Boone's guilt over Theresa...)

As far as the black and white argument goes in the last two episodes (not sure about Collision) Eko has worn a piece of white cloth on one arm and black cloth on another.(presumably from his jacket and shirt)

Locke has also worn a white wristband in several episodes, I believe on his right arm. I wondered what it was for, but forgot about it 'till you mentioned Eko's armbands.

I agree that skin color will not be the issue, but rather "soul" or "spirit". Are motives selfish or altruistic?

I know it's an old debate, but I personally don't believe in altruism. Even when helping another with no thought of money, trade, favors, thanks, or any other form of recompense, there is always an emotional benefit. Doing for others enables most people to feel better about their selves. Doing the 'right thing' pays off in a sense of being true to one's principles, alleviating or preventing guilt and shame. In that situation there’s a positive result AND the prevention of negative emotional consequences. It is impossible to do something for someone else without getting some benefit from it. There's always a payoff, it's just that some payoffs are more subtle or intangible, or are perceived as more honorable.

Is someone being guided by true faith or blind faith? Etc.

I think that true or blind depends upon which side you are on doesn’t it? The ‘true faith’ of a Buddhist is considered blind or false by Christians. The ‘true faith’ of a Christian is considered to be blind by Muslims. Or do you mean true and blind based on whether there is evidence or not?
For instance, when presented with the hatch, it’s occupant and his story, the film and all the equipment set up for the one job of pushing the button—who rejected the evidence of his senses? Jack did.
Was Locke really acting on faith when he went along with the program? For that matter, was Sayid acting on faith when he fixed the computer without questioning? He said, “All I need to know is that this timer is counting down to something, and that this computer needs to be repaired.”
For some reason, with no evidence whatsoever, Jack assumes that the entire bunker, it's contents, Desmond and his story, etc., are all a setup. I think it takes more faith to believe that a timer counting down has no importance or significance, than it takes to believe that the bunker set-up has a protocol that needs to be followed.