Lost - The 23rd Psalm

***/****

When the Nigerian plane was found, with the Virgin Mary statuettes containing heroin, and drug dealer corpse dressed as a priest, certainly that perplexity seemed warranted. What is going on, right? Then in the middle of the second season, this episode gives definition to that perplexing introduction. The tail section of the Oceanic dropped a few survivors who haven’t been yet been “taken” by the island or the others. One of them is Mr. Eko, and in The 23^rd Psalm his back story is tied to the plane. His ties to that plane are definitely significant. Just a boy playing soccer with his friends in Nigeria, Eko took the gun forced in the hands of his kid brother and shot an old man by order of some evil, cruel drug dealers passing by seemingly just for the entertainment of it. Eko was willing to just shoot to salvage his brother’s soul and keep him clean. That decision, though, carries him off into the fold of the cartel life where he becomes a major warlord. He returns to his brother during adulthood looking to airlift heroin out of the country for distribution elsewhere. Eko’s brother, Yemi (Adetokumboh M'Cormack), defiantly denies him access to a plane used for Catholic purposes. Eko, along with cartel associates, demands the plan and 300 of the statuettes being sold for vaccines needed for their people. Eko has drug money that will benefit Yemi and the Church, but his brother cares more about his soul and welfare than what his crimes can provide. Eko tells Yemi that if he doesn’t comply he’ll lose the church when the cartel scumbags burn it to the ground. Yemi can’t just let the plane and statuettes be used for the purposes Eko and his associates intend, telling the military. Gunfight ensues, Yemi is hit along with one of the cartel criminals. Eko is left behind while Yemi’s dying body is carried off in the plane by the remaining associate who turned on him out of greed. When it comes to the cash, there’s no loyalty among the cartel. Forward to the island where Claire mentions the Virgin Mary statuette in Charlie’s possession, Eko breaking it to reveal a baggie much to her disapproval. Because Charlie brought this near to them, and lied about why he had it, Claire dismisses him from her company. Ouch. Charlie is “encouraged” (Eko can be mighty convincing with that menacing stare) to take Eko to the plane, so the episode features their trip to it while back story is provided back in Nigeria. Eko’s salvation comes in the form of the island where he landed, locating the body of his brother, realizing the error of his ways. Cutting bible-related words and such to a post he carries as a defense weapon and tool, Eko claims to be a priest after Charlie continues to ask him throughout the episode. Both recite the 23^rd Psalm as the plane burns (Eko lights some fuel inside it), purifying the island of wreckage that had cargo (besides the body of Yemi) no good to anyone and took the life of Boone.

I love Mr. Eko. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje has this presence on screen that I think is incredible. Charismatic, with this captivating face, Akinnuoye-Agbaje is such a compelling actor who can just be silent, not saying much of anything, and remain interesting to watch. I have certainly enjoyed his time shared with Locke, but that doesn’t appear to be a norm the show will continue, much to my personal disappointment.

I admitted to my friend at work that during the holidays my family was in the middle of a movie/television trivia game which spoke of Mr. Eko’s fate, regarding how a “smoke monster” would be involved. It was kind of a bummer…a spoiler that left my heart broken. In this episode, that smoke monster emerges out of the jungle as Charlie looks on from a thick branch of a tree as Eko stands his ground without moving. The black cloud of smoke  moves like a lifeform, even growling, clearly corporeal. Eko doesn’t flinch or show fear and the smoke leaves him unharmed. Charlie is dumbstruck as I can only imagine many viewers were during the episode’s first run and to subsequent newcomers (like me) as well.