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For a while I have been interested in the fact that the producers describe Richard Alpert as being similar to a Panchen Lama choosing the next Dalai Lama. He and Ben keep each other in “check” by having the power to pick/veto each other’s replacement on the Island. Richard it seems has no interest in being leader.

Firstly let us compare how Richard has been involved with Locke and Ben. ‘Cabin Fever’ indicated that Richard was grooming Locke to be the leader of the ‘Others’ for a very long time - from birth in fact. Richard’s grooming of Ben also started from an early age i.e. as a young child (‘Man Behind The Curtain’). In both cases it appears that at the right moment, Richard steers Locke/Ben towards the leadership. In the case of Locke, Richard questions Ben’s leadership and helps Locke in the power struggle with Ben (i.e. suggests how Locke could kill his father - ‘The Brig’). In the case of Ben, they are both clearly involved in ‘The Purge’ (‘Man Behind the Curtain’).

Therefore it appears that at the right moment, Richard delivers a new leader to take over from the old leader. If you consider current events - Ben’s cancer; his need to ‘trap’ Jacob using the ash, Jacob’s plea to Locke i.e. ‘Help Me’ all suggest that Ben has lost his right to be leader. However, I do not think that Jacob/Richard can simply remove Ben, he has to be usurped by another - which is where Locke comes in. And it seems clear that Ben is aware of this too!! He is trying to utilise his power of veto. He constantly questions Locke’s leadership (even as Henry Gale), he attempts to embarass him in front of the ‘Others’ (‘The Brig’) who believe he is special, he even tries to kill him (although he may have been testing whether the Island would let Locke die!). In ‘Cabin Fever’ it does seem that Locke may have finally taken on the role of leader!

An interesting question is who was leader before Ben? Perhaps a more interesting question is were they responsible for inviting the Dharma Initiative onto the Island? A leader who hoped to use the Island’s magical properties for the betterment of mankind?? I’ve never fully understood how the DI found the Island - unless the leader of the ‘Others’ invited them in the first place!! At some point, Richard decided that the DI was a negative influence on the Island, and using Ben’s help instigated the ‘Purge’ at which point Ben took on the mantle of leader.

It seems there are two possibilities for the previous leader.

1. Horace Goodspeed Was present at Ben’s birth (seems a bit of a coincidence). He actively ensured Ben got to the Island. He was involved with the DI. He appears in Locke’s dream to point Locke in the right direction.

2. Charles Widmore Surely the more likely candidate!! He refers to the Island as ‘his’, and there is a direct connection between Widmore and the DI (pregnancy tests). He wants the Island back (i.e. wants to lead again). He is having ‘nightmares’ (are these Island visions like Locke’s?). And perhaps most damning of all is this quote - widmore: i know who you are, boy. What you are. I know that everything you have you took from me. (‘Shape of Things to Come’).

Surely the more likely candidate!! He refers to the Island as ‘his’, and there is a direct connection between Widmore and the DI (pregnancy tests). He wants the Island back (i.e. wants to lead again). He is having ‘nightmares’ (are these Island visions like Locke’s?). And perhaps most damning of all is this quote - widmore: i know who you are, boy. What you are. I know that everything you have you took from me. (‘Shape of Things to Come’).

My theory would be that Widmore was leader and involved the DI, but the DI’s abuse of the Island forced Richard to initiate the ‘Purge’. However, perhaps an island ‘leader’ cannot be killed in that way - even if he is being usurped. Maybe he is just expelled from the Island instead. Hence why Ben states he can’t kill Widmore!

Key characters

Short Name	Full Name	Episodes	Theories
Ben	Benjamin Linus	3.20, 4.9, & 3” href=”/episodes/theres-no-place-home-parts-2-3/”>4.13	1716
Charles	Charles Widmore		406
John	John Locke	3.3, 2.17, 1.4, 1.19, 3.13, 3.19, 4.11, & 3” href=”/episodes/theres-no-place-home-parts-2-3/”>4.13	1231
Richard	Richard Alpert		310

Key episodes

#	Title	Aired	Central character	Theories
3.22	Through The Looking Glass	5-23-2007	Jack	1251
3.20	The Man Behind The Curtain	5-9-2007	Ben	412
3.19	The Brig	5-2-2007	John	134
3.13	The Man from Tallahassee	3-21-2007	John	154
2.17	Lockdown	3-29-2006	John	148

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