One Snowman to Another: Character Cup Finals

Throughout the Character Cup, DarkUFO readers have shared a remarkable variety of reasons to vote for or against different characters. For the Character Cup Finals, I have decided to examine the top four characters according to many of these criteria that people mentioned. Ultimately, no one person can decide the best criteria for evaluating a character. You might decide that this list of categories is not valid, you might decide to weigh certain categories more heavily than others, and you might disagree with my evaluation in each category. Regardless, at least try to have some fun. Understand that this peice represents one man's opinion, and every opinion has a reason behind it.

The Final Round: Desmond vs. Locke

Attractiveness - Physical

Personally, I think that I bear a strong resemblance to Terry O’Quinn. On a related note, I also think that O’Quinn does not deserve enough credit for his good looks. I sincerely hope that I look as good as he does by the time I reach the age of 55. Even though I am strongly biased towards Locke’s favor in this category, I still cannot even consider selecting him over the Scotsman here.

EDGE: Desmond


Attractiveness – Personality

This category is much more difficult to judge, particularly for a male. I think the only objective way to assess it is to ask yourself: which guy would you prefer to have dating your daughter? Both men ran away from the women they loved in order to prove themselves to domineering paternal figures (Cooper and Widmore). Although Desmond has dedicated himself to getting back to his Penelope, Locke has ceased caring for his old flame Helen and has fallen in love with an island instead. (On a personal note, I think that the episode The Brig could form the beginnings of a Locke-Cindy romance in the seasons to come. If so, then count me as the captain of the Lindy ship.)

EDGE: Desmond


Admirability

This category requires another highly personal, highly subjective judgment. I think one way to objectively address it is to ask yourself: which man would you prefer as a role model for your child? The answer must be Desmond. Both men are selfish in their own ways, but Desmond seems more genuinely concerned with acting for the good of mankind rather than fulfilling his own personal destiny. Now, I still might be tempted to try to raise my son to become the next John Locke, but, as the Scots would say, that would be bloody insane.

EDGE: Desmond


Humor

Both of these characters embrace serious dramatic roles without much pause for comic relief. Neither Desmond nor Locke depends upon jokes for their appeal in the way that Charlie, Hurley, or Sawyer does. Most of Desmond’s funniest scenes involve drunken antics, while most of Locke’s humor derives from his crazy-calm demeanor that adds levity to serious situations. Both characters are capable of delivering laughs when the story demands it, but their plots rarely depend upon it. Neither one has done much to distinguish himself in this category.

EDGE: Even


Mystery

Flashes Before Your Eyes was supposed to be the episode that answered the question: what happened to Desmond after he turned the failsafe key? In actuality, it did not reveal any satisfying answer for how Desmond survived the implosion. Not even Desmond himself can answer that question, but he could only describe what he witnessed. As always on Lost, the episode offered more questions than answers. No one can be certain at this point what role his precognitive abilities will play in the overall story. Is Desmond receiving visions so that he has the power to change future, or are those visions merely geared to manipulate him into causing the desired outcome?

As intriguing as Desmond's powers are, John Locke has possessed a special connection to all of the island’s powers since Season One. Desmond has been mainly a passive observer, while Locke has taken an active role in trying to unlock the secrets of the island. Name pretty much any island mystery, and Locke has wrapped himself up in it somehow. The plane crash revealed the first instance of the healing properties, he encountered the Smoke Monster twice and live to tell about it, he received visions and clues that guided him to three separate Dharma stations, he apparently brought Cooper to the island (according to Ben), he heard Jacob’s plea for help, and witnessed Walt lift him up from near-death to ‘do more work’. Even by the end of the series, we still might never be sure whether the island represents a benevolent force or whether the island is manipulating him for other reasons because he is especially susceptible to coercion. Either way, we will enjoy the ride.

EDGE: Locke


Episodes – Lead

Desmond Hume boasts two of the most unique flashback episodes in the entire series, the first two-part flashback in Live Together Die Alone, and the longest continuous flashback in Flashes Before Your Eyes. His third episode, Catch-22, was much more conventional, but still regarded as an above average effort. Locke benefits from a larger catalog of starring turns in Walkabout, Deus Ex Machina, Orientation, Lockdown, Further Instructions, The Man From Tallahassee, and The Brig. Season One’s Walkabout and Season Three’s The Man From Tallahassee include most of his strongest moments, but each of his other episodes have their own merits as well. On the whole, the two characters have demonstrated an equal ability to lead an episode, both in flashbacks and on the island. There are no good and bad episodes on this list, but only Great ones and Not-Quite-As-Great Ones.

EDGE: Even


Episodes – Support

While Desmond’s main plotline is fairly strong, he has not contributed much to other character’s stories outside of his own plot. In Season Two, Desmond’s actions were only concerned with the button, and in Season Three, Desmond was constantly preoccupied with his future flashes. He made some only a few small contributions to Expose and by interacting with Sawyer in Left Behind. Locke, on the other hand, has consistently offered a unique perspective on the struggles of nearly every other character on the show. Throughout the course of three seasons, Locke has had meaningful island interactions with Jack, Charlie, Boone, Sawyer, Walt, Michael, Shannon, Sayid, Hurley, Rousseau, the Smoke Monster, Kate, Desmond, Sun, Eko, Ana, Rose, Paulo, Mikhail, Alpert, Cooper, Jacob, and of course Ben. Not even the loveable Hugo can boast such an impressive list of defined interpersonal relationships. One of the most acclaimed episodes, The Man Behind the Curtain, includes perhaps his most impressive supporting turn, and Locke nearly steals the show from Ben. (The Man Behind The Curtain easily could have been used to support O’Quinn’s case for the Emmy award just as much as Emerson.) Even if you were to disregard Locke’s back-story completely, his contributions to other episodes would be enough evidence for him to earn consideration as the top character.

EDGE: Locke


Acting

Actors Henry Ian Cusick and Terry O’Quinn have made their characters stand out above the rest. Cusick earned an Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Guest Actor category for Season Two, while O’Quinn earned two nominations in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category for the first and third seasons. As we all know, O’Quinn actually won his award, even over stiff competition from colleague Michael Emerson. Although the Emmy Awards are by no means an objective measure of acting quality, most people would agree that O’Quinn has accomplished much more in his 58 episodes than Cusick has in his 20 appearances. O’Quinn has transformed a supporting character into a living TV legend. Maybe, down the road, Cusick can do the same with his character, but he still has a long way to go.

EDGE: Locke


Identifiability

Locke’s central conflict is one of identity. Even though he is one of the oldest characters on the show, Locke still remains on a quest for self-discovery. Locke believes that he is supposed to achieve some great deed in his life. Although he has found the perfect place for himself to achieve that destiny, he still has yet to find the right path for himself. Nearly everyone ponders these questions of purpose, but love remains perhaps the most universal of all human emotions. Desmond’s love story is a simple one, perhaps best summed up by Penny’s quote: “All we really need to survive is one person who truly loves us. And you have her. I will wait for you. Always. I love you.” What human being has not felt such emotions towards at least one other person during their lifetime? The universality of its message makes it very easy to identify with Desmond, no matter where you are in life.

EDGE: Desmond


Complexity

Desmond’s story derives much of its power from its simplicity. Ultimately, Desmond holds only one motivation for his actions: he desires to return home to his beloved Penelope. Although he struggles with cowardice and has shown a darker streak at times, his motivations remain essentially pure. It is no coincidence that Desmond draws parallels to the epic hero Odysseus. Heroes in the epic genre face different challenges that expose their same basic characteristics again and again. Locke follows the mold of protagonist from a Greek tragedy much more closely. The motivations behind a tragic hero are always more complex and less predictable. As I wrote before in the Supporting Actor Showdown, “John Locke continues to defy any traditional categorization. Locke is a walking mass of contradictions: a paraplegic who became an imposing hunter, a zealot who remains a frequent skeptic, a man of great potential with a track record of failure, and a strong-willed individualist who desperately seeks acceptance.”

As much as any other character on Lost, Desmond fits the description of a fundamentally good person. Locke’s actions, however, refuse to adhere to any traditional standards of good and evil. When the series is complete, we may see Locke as a hero, or as a villain, or we still might have no idea where he fits.

EDGE: Locke


Conflict – Internal

The internal conflicts experienced by Desmond and Locke offer some interesting parallels. In different ways, Locke and Desmond both sought out great challenges to prove their self-worth. Both men struggled with issues of faith and an uncertainty about their purpose in life. Desmond’s struggle with cowardice closely matches Locke’s desire to prove himself as a hunter rather than a farmer. Both continue to doubt their special gifts and their own capacity to achieve greatness. Ultimately, these conflicts are so similar that this category is too close to call.

EDGE: Even


Conflict – External

Desmond has not embraced the 815 camp fully yet. Even though he battled against his Cyclops foe at the end of Season Three, he seemed more motivated by a desire to save Charlie than by a struggle against the Others. Currently, his only central interpersonal conflicts involve the Widmores. G-Man noted that Sawyer and Desmond have rarely crossed paths, but Desmond also rarely clashed with the large majority of the main characters. He might take a more active role next season against Minkowski’s crew, but Desmond remains primarily a loner. Locke’s story, on the other hand, puts him constantly at odds with virtually every other character on the island. Jack, Ben, and Cooper have been his most notable nemeses, but he has also quarreled with Michael, Sayid, Charlie, Eko, Cooper, and Sawyer to varying degrees in the past. Locke’s battles of wills against Jack and Ben (and perhaps Jacob) will remain a drawing point to the series for the foreseeable future.

EDGE: Locke


Suffering

I will let both Desmond and Locke speak for themselves in this category. According to Desmond, Charles Widmore “tried to buy me off. And when I didn't take his money, he took away the only thing in the world that I ever truly cared about. [..] His daughter. I was unsuitable on several levels.” Aside from his humiliation at the hands of Charles Widmore, Desmond received a dishonorable discharge after spending a number of years imprisoned for cowardice. Soon after his release, Desmond ended up in another prison of sorts, trapped inside the Swan hatch. After turning the failsafe key, the island forced Desmond to relive the experience of losing Penny. Desmond was also forced to watch Charlie die again and again, until his fate came to fruition.

According to Locke: “I never even knew who my parents were. A couple of years ago my birth mother found me, and uh, she told me I was special. And through her I met my real father. Great news, right? Well, he pretended to love me just long enough to steal my kidney because he had to have a transplant. And then he dropped me back in the world like a piece of trash -- just like he did on the day that I was born.” Cooper not only abandoned him at birth and stole his kidney, but Locke’s weakness for his father caused him to lose Helen in the midst of a marriage proposal. When Locke finally stood up to Cooper, his father pushed him out an eight-story window, causing him to suffer through four years of paralysis. The island initially led to a joyous rebirth, but it took away his ability to walk just long enough to cause the death of Boone, his surrogate son.

To me, it ultimately comes down to this question: would you rather spend a few years in prison and three years in the isolation of the hatch, or four years in the confines of a wheelchair? Both men were pushed to the brink of suicide under that type of despair. I would choose the hatch over the wheelchair. Think back to Locke’s flashback during Exodus, in which something as simple as boarding a plane and picking up a magazine off the ground became an insurmountable task for him alone. No scene in Lost has ever pushed me to the brink of tears, but I came the closest when Locke awoke unable to move his legs during Through the Looking Glass.

EDGE: Locke


Expected Future Contributions

Neither Desmond’s journey nor Locke’s journey is close to completion at this point. The finale of Season Three offered two excellent cliffhangers for both characters. After his confrontation, Locke walked off alone, either to search the island on his own, or to usurp Ben’s position as the leader of the Others. Desmond’s story left off with the Scotsman inside the Looking Glass station. Desmond came within seconds of speaking with Penny, but ultimately learned nothing more than Charlie’s ‘Not Penny’s Boat’ message, which should become important in the early stages of Season Four. Even though Charlie has died, I doubt that Desmond’s flashes storyline is complete. Both Locke and Desmond offer exciting prospects for the upcoming season, and their best moments may be yet to come.

EDGE: Even


Prediction: Locke
Preference: Locke

John Locke has always been the show’s most irreplaceable character. Matthew Fox earned his categorization as the show’s lead actor, but Terry O’Quinn has become the true face of Lost. Locke has developed a special connection with nearly every character on the island, as well as every one of the island’s mysteries. There is not much that can be said about Locke that has not been written already. When Ben shot Locke at the end of The Man Behind the Curtain, many of us pondered what the show would possibly be like without John Locke’s presence. Thankfully, Walt arrived in time to remind him that John still has a lot of work left to do.