Lost: 5 Times We Felt Bad For John Locke (And 5 Times We Hated Him)

John Locke proved to be one of the most complex characters in Lost. He began as a mysterious figure who grew into a leadership position thanks to his resourceful nature. Locke was a man of faith and was driven by strong convictions, yet certain individuals like Ben Linus and Anthony Cooper were able to easily manipulate him.

Locke’s story went down many tragic and unexpected paths. He could elicit sympathy in the moments where he suffered and the trust he placed in others was abused, but at times he could also be hated for making frustrating and foolish decisions.

10 Felt Bad: Conned By His Father

John Locke’s father–who called himself Anthony Cooper–was never part of John’s life growing up. When Locke finally met him, the two seemed to bond and form a meaningful relationship. Eventually, Anthony Cooper revealed that he needed a kidney, and Locke happily volunteered to donate one of his kidneys to his father.

When Locke awoke after surgery, he was alone and learned that he’d been conned. Meeting his father and the relationship they formed had all been a ruse for Locke to donate his kidney. Anthony Cooper didn’t care about his son and used him, leaving Locke more alone and betrayed than ever before.

9 Hated Him: Overstepping His Boundaries With Walt

Walt initially gravitated toward the enigmatic Locke. The problem was that Locke overstepped the boundaries in this relationship. He taught the 10-year-old Walt how to throw knives and they spent a great deal of time together, often without the consent of Walt’s father Michael.

For most of Walt’s life, Michael hadn’t been allowed to see his son. He was already struggling to navigate the challenges of raising a child who didn’t fully respect or trust him yet, which was made even more challenging by Locke’s actions.

8 Felt Bad: Pushed Out Of A Window By His Father

A young man named Peter Talbot reached out to Locke after his mother become engaged to a suspicious figure named Adam Seward. This was another alias for Anthony Cooper and soon after raising these suspicions, Peter turned up dead.

When Locke confronted his father about this, Cooper pushed his son out the window of an eight-story building. Locke was paralyzed from the fall and remained in that condition until Oceanic 815 crashed on the Island.

7 Hated Him: Manipulating Boone

Locke and Boone discovered the hatch door together. Locke insisted that it remain a secret until they learned more, but Boone wanted to tell his stepsister Shannon. Determined that Boone keep the secret, Locke drugged him, which led to a series of horrifying hallucinations, during which he saw a vision of Shannon being brutally murdered. This was all done so Boone wouldn’t spill the secret and so he could give up the attachments that Locke believed were holding him back.

Boone later made the decision to climb into the Beechcraft that fell and ultimately killed him. Locke cannot be blamed for killing Boone, but he did manipulate Boone into becoming an obsessive, secretive person who took a needless risk that ended his life.

6 Felt Bad: The Walkabout

Locke didn’t want his disability to control his life and it became his dream to go on a walkabout tour of Australia. When he got there, though, he was refused entry to the experience and his dream was crushed before his very eyes.

This was devastating in its own right, but it was made even more emotional because it was the first scene where the show revealed that Locke had been paralyzed before Oceanic 815 crashed on the Island. Locke’s heartbreak and desperation in the scene felt palpable. For many fans, this scene in the episode “Walkabout” became one of the show’s defining and most emotional moments.

5 Hated Him: Beating Charlie

In season 2, Charlie had a vision about baby Aaron being in danger. One night, he tried to “baptize” Aaron in the ocean. Claire and the others stopped Charlie from doing this, and the moment after he handed Aaron over, Locke began repeatedly punching and beating up Charlie.

This was completely uncalled for on Locke’s part. He suspected that Charlie was using drugs again–which he wasn’t–but even if he had been using drugs, beating him up in front of everyone wouldn’t solve anything. All it did was humiliate Charlie.

4 Felt Bad: Left For Dead In A Mass Grave

Ben Linus couldn’t stand the idea that the Island had chosen Locke over him. It healed Locke when it gave Ben a cancerous tumor. Locke appeared to hear Jacob when Ben couldn’t.

Ben’s retaliated by shooting Locke and leaving him for dead in a mass grave. He refused to let Locke usurp him and chose to eliminate him instead. It was a miracle that Locke survived this incident at all.

3 Hated Him: Destroying The Computer

Locke had been committed to pushing the button in the Swan Station, but he eventually lost faith and decided to stop pushing it. When Desmond returned, he was initially on Locke’s side in this matter, but Desmond soon realized that the button had to be pushed. The data revealed the truth as the one time Desmond didn’t push the button was the same time that the electromagnetic surge wasn’t contained and as a result, Oceanic 815 crashed on the Island.

Desmond had been pushing the button for years, but instead of trusting him, the data, or the faith he once had, Locke remained stubborn. He foolishly destroyed the computer so the button couldn’t be pushed.

2 Felt Bad: Strangled To Death By Ben

When Locke thought that he’d failed to convince the Oceanic Six to return to the Island, he decided to commit suicide. Ben appeared right before Locke was going to kill himself. He talked Locke out of going through with it and emphasized that Locke was too important to die.

Once Locke revealed the name Ben was looking for, Ben strangled Locke to death and made it look like a suicide. Locke already felt alone and worthless, and it was the ultimate betrayal for Ben to seemingly save him, and then murder him moments later. This was easily one of the most tragic and shocking moments in the entire series.

1 Hated Him: Blowing Up The Submarine

Ben made a deal with Jack and Juliet that would’ve allowed them to leave the island via a submarine. Locke went on to use the C-4 he had and blow up the submarine.

Not only did this destroy Jack and Juliet’s hopes of escaping the Island, but it was also incredibly frustrating to see Locke play so easily into Ben’s hands. Locke did the dirty work and Ben had seemingly honored his deal, but Ben got exactly what he wanted. Jack and Juliet remained on the Island and Locke thought he was doing the Island’s bidding, but he was really just letting himself be controlled by Ben.

About The Author

Matthew Rudoy
(278 Articles Published)

Matthew Rudoy is a freelance writer who loves to write about his favorite movies and TV shows. In addition to Screen Rant, he also currently contributes to Dork Side of the Force. He has previously self-published two fantasy/sci-fi novels titled CORRUPTION and DESTRUCTION. While his favorite movies and TV shows tend to also fall in the fantasy and sci-fi genres, he enjoys and is open to anything that provides an engaging story, strong character development, and in-depth world-building. Matthew is grateful for the opportunity to write for Screen Rant and looks forward to continue contributing to the site.

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