It’s becoming more clear that John Locke has one of the more troubled backgrounds of our favorite group of castaways.

From the "better late than never" department, this week’s belated Lost blog focuses on Locke, who we learned in last Wednesday’s episode hat got himself all involved in some kind of pot-funded commune. Unfortuntaley, Locke’s good nature got him into trouble, as the hitchhiker he picked up turned out be an undercover cop. In one of the more intense scenes so far this season, John confronts the officer out in the woods, threatening to kill him. But ultimately, he couldn’t pull the trigger.

The officer reminded Locke that he "is a good man," and couldn’t do the deed, and he was right. We knew that Locke had his share of bad fortune, but this episode revealed that there is still much more to learn about him, including how he ended up losing the use of his legs.

The episode focused solely on the fate of Locke, Desmond and Mr. Eko, who were in The Hatch when it imploded. As I thought it would, it opened on Locke’s pupil. He had lost the ability to speak, and looking for some answers, he soon conjured up the spirit of Boone. That led to a trippy walk through the airport, where Desmond was the pilot and Ben (Henry Gale) was a security guard. Boone hinted that at some point, Locke was going to have to rescue his captured friends, but now wasn’t the time.

Desmond showed up, alive and well, but was in his birthday suit and, as we learned toward the end of the episode, has picked up some sort of sixth-sense, an ability to predict the future. Or is it that Locke, Desmond and Mr. Eko are now linked somehow mentally?

Eko nearly became polar bear lunch, but Locke resuced him from the depths the bear’s cave. Here’s hoping that Eko survives from his wounds, despite the absence of Dr. Jack. He’s too interesting a character to let him die off. And it’s also good to know Hurley made it back safe and sound to the other side of the island.

Though it didn’t make much progress as far as the plotlines, the episode was the best yet of the season, simply from the presense of Locke, who continues to be my favorite character. I’m looking forward to whatever kind of rescue attempt they plan.