Lost: Jack & Locke’s Most Confrontational Moments, Ranked

Content Warning: This article contains discussions/references to murder and violence.

Lost was a fascinating show. Not only for the myriad mysteries that had the internet buzzing week to week, but for the wonderful character dynamics. Lost was one of the first true ensembles of modern television, and its characters amazed audiences with their complexity, rich characterizations, and philosophical musings.

At the heart of the story is Jack and Locke, and they represent the show’s key theme between science and faith. Jack is The Man of Science, the doctor who believes in tangibility. And then there’s Locke, The Man of Faith who believes in mythical higher callings. With the two believing in separate ideologies, this often resulted in some spectacular confrontations.

10 Jack Helps Locke

One of the most fascinating things about the show’s divisive final season are the different character interactions that the writers and actors were allowed to play with. One of the greatest of them all is the relationship between Jack and Locke. On the island, the two men were constantly at each other’s throats.

But in the side timeline, Jack and Locke strike up a friendship at LAX and Jack proceeds to help Locke with his paralysis. It greatly subverted the relationship they shared in life, and it allowed Jack to thank Locke for his help in death.

9 Jack Comes To Locke For Help

Season one’s “White Rabbit” is a great episode in the story of Locke and Jack, as it depicts the rare moment in which they actually get along. Jack is feeling helpless and a little worried after seeing his presumed-dead father on the island and goes to Locke for help.

What follows is a great interaction, as Locke gives Jack the courage he needs to both believe in what he is seeing and to become a good leader for the scared castaways. It’s nice seeing the men being friendly with each other for once.

8 The Confrontation After Locke Kills Naomi

By the end of the third season, Jack and Locke’s tentative relationship had completely disintegrated. Most of it stemmed from their contrasting goals – Jack wanted desperately to get himself and the castaways off the island, whereas Locke wanted to keep it hidden from the world.

To this end, Locke kills Naomi as she radios her boat, which obviously makes Jack irate. Before Jack can do anything about it, he receives a radio message and Locke walks away in disappointment. However, Jack was quick to get his revenge.

7 Opening The Hatch

The hatch is the thing that started everything. Before the hatch, Locke and Jack were actually quite friendly with each other. But following its unearthing, everything fell apart. The ‘Man Of Science, Man Of Faith’ theme was pushed from season one, and the hatch came to represent it.

Locke wanted inside the hatch because he thought it necessary; because the island “told him” to do it. Meanwhile, Jack wanted inside for more practical reasons – to protect the castaways. In fact, it was Locke’s concealing of the hatch that began Jack’s intense distrust of the man.

6 Pushing The Hatch Button

The button was the primary mystery of season two, and it provided the series with some of its best cliffhangers. The second season begins immediately where the first left off – with Locke and Jack warring about the hatch. Once the castaways learn about the importance of the button, Jack and Locke argue about its function.

Jack, the Man of Science, believes it’s all nonsense. Locke, the Man of Faith, believes that they were placed on the island to push the button and keep the world safe. The result is one of the show’s greatest arguments: “Why do you find it so hard to believe?” “Why do you find it so easy?” “It’s never been easy!”

5 Locke Offers Himself To The Smoke Monster

While the Smoke Monster led to some unanswered questions, it provided the show with five great seasons of mystery, intrigue, and violence. It also further drove a wedge between Locke and Jack – likely an intentional result of The Man in Black. Locke is grabbed and taken by The Smoke Monster, but because he’s so adamant in his role on the island, he allows himself to be taken.

Jack obviously tries rescuing him, resulting in quite an intense argument in which Jack asks Locke, “What the hell was that all about?” It’s certainly a fair question to ask, considering Locke’s bizarre behavior.

4 “What Am I SUPPOSED To Do!?”

Jack and Locke’s confrontational relationship comes to a head in the fourth season finale. It serves somewhat as an extension of their third season finale confrontation, as it also concerns the publicity of the island. Jack is getting off, and Locke is remaining.

Locke tells Jack that he’s not supposed to leave before conceding and asking him nicely to keep the island’s location a secret. It also serves as a turning point in Jack’s character development, as he actually listens to Locke and tells the rest of the Oceanic Six to lie about the island.

3 Locke Tries Recruiting Jack

“The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham” is one of the show’s most iconic episodes – a reputation that mostly stems from the death of John Locke at the hands of the conniving Ben. That same episode contains one of the greatest Locke/Jack confrontations, as an injured Locke tries recruiting Jack to return to the island.

Locke fails, but not before planting the seed inside Jack’s head thanks to a timely mention of Jack’s father, Christian. It would prove their final living interaction, as Locke was soon killed by Ben.

2 “I Wish You Had Believed Me.”

While not a personal confrontation, Locke’s note to Jack proves one of the show’s most devastating sequences, and it plays a major role in Jack’s character development. Following the news that Locke was dead, Jack began to transform from a ‘Man of Science’ to a ‘Man of Faith.’

He started to embrace Locke’s belief system and decides he must return to the island, finally believing that it’s what he is “supposed” to do. While onboard the plane, flying towards the island, Jack reads the tragic note that Locke had left for him. It’s clear that Jack does believe him, only it’s too late to tell him so.

1 Jack Tries Killing Locke

The most confrontational moment between Locke and Jack comes in the fourth season premiere. Immediately after Locke kills Naomi, Jack successfully makes contact with the boat and begins making his way back to camp. Along the way, he meets Locke in a clearing and tackles him to the ground.

He then grabs Locke’s gun, looks him in the eyes, and pulls the trigger. Fortunately for Locke, the gun was empty. This is the nadir of their relationship, and some viewers (and Locke) were shocked to learn that Jack was capable of committing such a blatant crime.

About The Author

Nathan Sharp
(852 Articles Published)

Nathan Sharp is a writer from outside Toronto, Ontario. He has a love of movies and television, having enjoyed them for more than twenty years. His preferences include drama, action, and horror, with the former being a particular point of interest and fascination.

He also has a love of video games, particularly those of Rockstar.

Whether it be about film, television, or video games, Nathan loves a good discussion and has written hundreds of articles for Screen Rant.

More From Nathan Sharp