Epic LOST Theory
Category: Media
Published: 05/14/2009 05:51 p.m.
WARNING: If you haven't seen all of LOST through the Season 5 finale, stop reading and go rent some DVD's.
So, here is the overarching theory to end all theories.
At the beginning of the Season 5 finale, we see Jacob talking with a man in a black shirt who says he wants to kill Jacob. I will refer to this man simply as Black. Black represents the evil spirit of the island, while Jacob is the good spirit.
Black is really the smoke monster! But, he has a trick. He is able to inhabit and become a "re-born" version of the people who arrive to the island dead. So far, we know of Christian Shepherd, Mr. Eko's brother, and John Locke. All three of those men have been seen walking around the island. Christian Shepherd has interacted with people. And so has John Locke (the new Locke, not the old timid one).
Ben owes his life to the Black for healing him in the 1970's, which turns Ben evil for life. And, because of some rule that prevents Black from killing Jacob, Ben is tasked with this duty.
Jacob represents the giant statue that we have seen. There was a painting on the inner wall that we saw with the statue figure fighting the smoke monster. For a long time, the two forces have been able to co-exist. But for some reason, Black finally wins out and kills Jacob. Or does he win?
In the finale we see Jacob going out to all of the Oceanic 6 (plus Sawyer) before their final arrival to the island. And we also see these six detonate a nuclear bomb in 1977 at the Swan site. These two actions are not coincidental. Jacob foresaw his death at the hands of Black/Ben, and therefore found the 7 to save him. They will make a difference, and while I doubt it will reset things in terms of everything, it will bring Jacob back.
The last portion of the theory deals with Richard Alpert. I believe part of the deal with the time travel is that you do not age during the time travel. So, it is entirely possible that Richard is from the far future, and has come back hundreds of years. In this regard, he appears to have always been on the island and to never age. But in reality, he is not very old, he is just been sent back in time a great distance.
The irony in this theory is that all of the Ben and Widemore stuff is nothing in comparison to the battle that Jacob and Black have been in for centuries. What role will Black play as new Locke and possibly others? I have no idea, but I know it will be over in 16 episodes.