LOST-Theories.com

“Further reinforced by Charlie’s remark to Locke that he may devolve into a monkey by going into the sweat lodge.”

I agree with that, but Charlie (and the writers) may also have been paying hommage to the movie “Altered States”. At least that was my impression when I heard his comment to Locke.

William Hurt (after regressing to a primitive state) runs around town nekked. Sound familiar? :)

I haven’t read the whole post. I may comment more later M’ Lady. Good stuff!

Nice Observations! I like hear no evil, see no evil part…….

I also noticed the left/right eye flashback opener. Good breakdown here-

http://www.lostpedia.com/wiki/Eyes I am thinking more and more that the opener of flashbacks dictate it’s meaning i.e self chosen memory or actual events or vague memory. Left brain cortex representing creative memories or whichever way round it is. +1

Great work!

I overlooked the fact that Locke couldn’t speak, Charlie couldn’t hear,etc.

Do you think it’s possible the Island was punishing them?

Locke more than anything revels in being taken seriously and looked to for advice. Charlie loves music. What better way to punish these two than to render Locke speechless and Charlie deaf? And how would you punish Desmond if you really wanted to? What’s the worst thing you could do to him? How about give him another chance with Penny and have him be a coward all over again. This could also tie into Eko’s demise, as he was forced to face his demons and pay for his sins and feel like Yemi abandoned/betrayed him. I’m still pretty convinced that the Island wanted the hatch to keep working and Ben wanted it destroyed, and this would fit in with that line of thinking. Thanks for triggering the thought.

About the bears/tonka situation. Clearly the tonka truck was meant to imply something, but I just can’t figure that one out. Your observations about the dream with Ben running security are spot on and great finds, and maybe you’re right about Smokie being under Ben’s control. Only thing I don’t get is why did Smokie(Ben) kill eko? Maybe because he killed two Others and confessed it to Ben? I dunno.

Desmond being reborn + ‘see you in another life brutha’ = perhaps Desmond has some sort of Mikhail like abilities? How does someone actually survive an implosion anyways?

Locke saying “I can fix this” and Jack saying “don’t tell me what I can’t do” seem to imply a deeper connection between Locke & Jack, and personally, I can’t think of a reveal that would be more exciting than them being connected.

When John was explaining backgammon to Walt, he held “light” up to one eye and “dark” up to another eye. Significant? Hmm…

I’ve always held that Eko was killed because he no longer served any purpose to his killer, and beyond that perhaps he had even become a threat. In particular, Eko’s defiance indicated that he would no longer be open to suggestion and manipulation. And one can easily imagine how a free-thinking Eko would constitute a force to be reckoned with.

Perhaps when Eko said, “You’re next” to John he did mean John specifically, since surely if John ever moves beyond manipulation he, too, will no longer be useful to the forces that wish to control him and may even become a threat to them. Perhaps this has already happened by the end of season three.

Jazzie Another superb post! And, outstanding comments! I learned a lot from this one.

I also liked “See, hear, and speak no evil”, and I never picked up on that aspect, either. I like the analogy given on the polar bears rescuing Eko, as opposed to killing him. Also, the tie-in about Ben playing security at the Airport was a good observation. I had wondered about that!

“The Hanged Man”, is suspended from the Tree of Cosmic Life, meaning self-surrender is the key to transformation, a complete reversal of ones way of life leading to spiritual enlightenment of the soul.

Proffie’s explanation of why Eko was killed is in line with my thoughts. I like the idea about Eko turning over the reign of power to John. It seems to fit. I think when Eko tells Locke, “you’re next”, perhaps he was referring to Locke being the one to take his place. Just a thought.

Rise makes an excellent point about Desmond’s reluctance to marry Penny. I recall Desmond’s former fiancee telling him that the next time, he felt like running away, to simply tell the girl he didn’t have the courage to marry her. So, I think that fits nicely. Along with Desmond’s statements about “see you in another life brutha” seem to fit his rebirth.

As always, Kat leaves me breathless with her analysis!

Great stuff +1

Good answers to some of the mysteries! You covered so many points with this one.

I’m not sure I agree with one of your premises: I don’t think that Desmond’s ability to see flashes of the future qualifies as an “injury.” In your analysis, I think we may have to dig down a layer. What I mean is this: Charlie’s injury is physical and easily explained; his ears were too close to a loud explosion. Locke’s and Desmond’s conditions, by contrast, cannot be attributed to the mere physical fact of being in an explosion. I think there are really only two conditions (not injuries) that need be analyzed. Why these two particular results in these two particular individuals? I have no idea.

“Devolved into a monkey.” Agree with Shamballa. First time I heard it I assumed that everybody would get the reference. Maybe I’m showing my age. Or my love of offbeat movies.

I’m seeing this theme more and more: the idea that Ben is, basically, some kind of god. He sees the future and is able to include coincidences and happenstances into his Machiavellian schemes, he is all knowing and all powerful. Now you suggest that he even controls people’s visions. I’m sorry, but I just can’t get on board with this. I think Ben is more interesting as a man, with needs, desires, ambitions and limitations.

Locke and the hanged man tarot card: tip of the hat to Katrinicity.

Hurley’s luck: I believe you will find that Hurley’s luck has always been just fine. It is the people around him who suffer. Example: Hurley’s Canadian factory burns down. Many people out of work, but the factory was over insured, so Hurley comes out ahead. Hurley - who should have had his first heart attack by now - is perfectly healthy, but his Grandfather drops dead. He is accused of being drug dealer, the result of which is a large cash settlement from the city. Hurley’s luck is just fine.

Fivestades: Interesting! I would love to see that idea developed more.

I give it a plus one just for sparking some great thoughts. Thank.

Thanks for the great discussion—actually inspired me to pull out a couple of ideas for further discussion. Prof & kat—thanks especially for the Locke comments—you’ll see that inspired a further post.

rise—the idea that Desmond once again is a coward (in the flashback)—I wonder about that, just given the fact that his courage and Penny’s love seem to go together in his act of turning the key.

sham & Q—yeah I picked up the Altered States ref—but not the running naked through the city connection. Wonder what that says about Desmond?

Q—You make a good distinction between what happens to the three men. Charlie’s hearing loss is only partial and heals itself. Locke has to perform a ritual in order to regain his speech. Desmond’s vision seems permanently affected. I don’t know what those differences mean, I’m just noticing them. I didn’t actually mean to imply that Desmond’s vision was injured—just that hearing, speech & vision are drawn attention to.

Also I didn’t think Ben caused Locke’s vision. I thought the island did, but I was thinking Locke might have misinterpreted who he was supposed to save Eko from.

Hurley—good point. Catching Locke’s knife on the canteen did seem phenomenal though given how in tune with the island Locke’s throwing skills are. hmmmm does Hurley’s good luck depend on others around him suffering?

I too initially liked the three monkeys analogy - but then how did Eko fit into this? Charlie was practically out of the Swan Station when Eko, Locke and Desmond were inside. If three are to be wise monkeys, it should be those three. Quarantine’s comment rationalises Charlie’s ‘injury’ and in keeping with that idea, Eko does kind of present some form of oddity - he speaks to Locke whilst he’s unconscious. He refers to Locke as a hunter.

Now, I generally regarded this moment as a Locke hallucination, but maybe it wasn’t. Maybe Eko had become more of a conduit for the Island - but once he became fully conscious then he regained his will to be unyielding, to never confess, and thus as conduits go he’s pretty bad. Therefore, useless. Therefore, get rid of him.

I don’t really agree with a ‘friendly bears’ idea either, and The Others using animals to do their bidding. That seems a bit… Disney!

If anything your post simply highlights how messy this episode is in lieu of events that would occur in the future. The episode appears to lay groundwork and foundations, foretelling of what’s to come, and turns out to be false. Dare I say it? Whisper it even? Bad writing?

Let’s hope not. Let’s hope this all gets made right.

Good theory, good comments. I did notice the see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil connection, but had not considered Desmond . I thought Eko was the “see no evil” one, due to his encounter with Smokey and his failure to see his past evil. He was also the first killed, and Charlie second, which would put Locke third, thus in proper sequence?

I’m partial to the polar bear idea, collecting Eko for other purpose than just to eat him. A bear would not have taken chances hauling still living prey ,especially of that size, back to it’s cave.