There are going to be episodes like White Rabbit that are totally riddled with in your face clues. And then there are episodes like The Moth where you have to dig ("Why is nobody digging?- Kate. haha!) just a little deeper to see the themes. This is the episode where they introduce two big themes: choices and redemption.
I feel like I need to preface this episode with my (unpopular) thoughts on Locke. I know this was a Charlie-centric episode but Locke's role in the episode was very prominent. After watching this episode, I am truly convinced that Locke has always been manipulated by MIB. We will never know what happened during their first boar hunting encounter but I really feel that it starts the manipulation and that it has been going on since before Locke was born. Richard was unknowingly involved in MIB’s plans. Never leaving Locke a choice to not be the loophole. Before the re-watch, I was really excited to see the Island Loving Locke return. But he was never there. The more I watch, the more I see that Locke was always being manipulated. I think that later on, we will probably see real John Locke struggle with MIB and the manipulation. Leading to the Hatch, and then it being blown up, etc. He has just always been too knowing. And to me, I feel like it is because of this.
I missed Charlie so much! It was good to see him this episode. He struggles with drug problems with the help of Locke. Locke is really adamant about Charlie not having his drugs. Now, this may sound weird but what if being on drugs is "against the rules" on the island? It caught my attention when Charlie told Jack he was having hallucinations that we were clearly seeing as a flashback. I had an idea a while back that they were all constantly flashing but were unaware of it. The only one who was aware was Desmond, making him "special." Desmond was the key to stopping MIB. So, if you are on the island taking drugs, you become aware of your flashes and maybe this does something to you that MIB doesn't want. Locke needs to make sure Charlie doesn't have the drugs anymore.
Choices have always been a big part of Lost. It is a very central theme. We see it starting in White Rabbit when Jack's father tells him "don't decide" and we also see Jacob telling people they "always have a choice." But, they really drive it home in this episode using Charlie. We see him choose a lot here. To leave the band, to take the drugs to cope with the band, all the way to choosing to throw the drugs in the fire. We see everyone make choices all throughout the show. It starts here with Charlie choosing to end his drug habit. It ends with Jack choosing to protect the island. To me, everyone had a choice. Some choices led to redemption and other choices led to being stuck on the island like Michael. The only one I feel that never got a choice was Locke. He was used by MIB since before he was born.
Lost is totally a love story, but it is also very much a story about being flawed and overcoming that flaw. To me, The Moth means this: you are a caterpillar when you come to the island. The island is your cocoon. You choose. You strengthen through your flaws, emerging as a moth. Also, Locke's speech about the moth totally made me think of the flash sideways. They couldn't be told what was going on. They just had to experience it and then they were strong enough to let go. Real beautiful writing there on so many levels of the show.
We all know that Locke is the one who knocks Sayid out just as he is going to try to triangulate the signal. I always thought Locke was a creep for not wanting them to get off the island but I think I know why now. As I have said earlier, to me he has always been manipulated by MIB. And this is just one more manipulation. MIB did not want the candidates off the island because he wants to finish the game that he and Jacob are playing. If they leave, he will never have a chance to get off of the island. He needs it to end. After I figured this out for myself, I feel like I am really starting to understand Lost. Wow, that's weird!
This was definitely one of the key episodes to Lost.
