Post #119 LOST Revelation Thursday

Episode title: Follow the Leader
Primary Focus Character: John Locke

The title of the episode has two implications: Locke is the new leader of the Others and Ben has pledged to Alex (as the smoke monster) that he will follow Locke. The other implication of the title is Daniel started on a path to change the future and now Jack is following his lead.

It does not sit well with me that in the previous episode, Eloise Hawking appears convinced that destiny will fulfill itself and that the future is predetermined. However, in this episode, her younger self appears eager to try to change the future. This presents a character conflict and will hopefully be resolved. I predict that the bomb will not be able to be detonated. This causes destiny to course correct and thus fulfill itself.

The big reveal of the episode is Locke’s plan. Locke has an obvious issue with the way that Jacob has been used as a way to manipulate the Others. He decides to take the whole group of Others to “see” Jacob. Then he reveals to Ben that he plans to kill Jacob. My thought is that he plans to reveal that Jacob is a myth and has been a tool for manipulation of the group. He plans to “kill” Jacob by revealing that he does not exist.

The other striking character issue I am concerned about is Kate. Seemingly out of nowhere, Kate becomes concerned about moral issues of right and wrong? I don’t think so. Kate is not concerned about morality so much as she is concerned about her survival. Here’s her concern: if they detonate the bomb and eliminate the electromagnetic force on the island, Oceanic 815 will not crash on the island, but instead will land safely in Los Angeles, where she will be taken into custody for the murder of her father and for her fleeing the country. She is only really concerned about the possibility that she will go to prison.

Questions from the episode:
- Why does Locke really want to kill Jacob?
- Why is Richard hesitant to bring Locke to Jacob? What does he want to tell him about Jacob?
- How did the island tell Locke exactly when to find himself at the Beechcraft?
- How did the Others move the bomb from the field in 1954 to the tunnels in 1977? They certainly didn’t swim it under the river. There must be another entrance.