The man in the coffin is Michael.
+7 15 Votes
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By BlackRockBabe
- The man in the coffin is Michael.
- Created: May 22, 2008
- Last updated: Aug 14, 2008
- After episode: 4.12: There’s No Place Like Home, Part 1
- Status: Current
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After leaving the island with Walt, Michael attempted suicide numerous times, but was unable to succeed because the island didn’t want him to die yet -it still had a purpose for him.
— BlackRockBabe
I don’t know if anyone’s come up with this idea yet, but I believe the man in the coffin during the season 3 finale was Michael, aka Kevin Johnson.
Like many people, I at first thought the man in the coffin was Sawyer, for the following reasons: a) Jack thought Kate would be at the funeral, b) No one showed up at the funeral because either they didn’t like Sawyer, or they didn’t know his true name, James Ford, and c) Sawyer doesn’t have a future off the island, as was previously mentioned by either Ben or Locke when they said that Sawyer was a hero and a good person on the island, but a nobody and a con-man in the real world.
However, we now know that Sawyer is alive while Kate and Jack are off the island. And besides, when have the writers ever done what we’ve expected them to do?
michael is the man in the coffin and this is why: It has been speculated that the obituary was about a man who committed suicide. After leaving the island with Walt, Michael attempted suicide numerous times, but was unable to succeed because the island didn’t want him to die yet -it still had a purpose for him. However, I assume that once the island / the Others are done using Michael, he will be free to die, whether or not it is by taking his own life. Since Michael has a huge amount of guilt (killing Ana Lucia and Libby, and handing Kate, Jack, Sawyer, and Hurley over to the Others), and feels separated from the son he loved so much and tried so hard to keep, he has a lot of reason to kill himself, as morbid as that sounds.
Also, once Michael leaves the island he has no explanation for how he survived a plane crash, and presumably has to take up a new identity (before becoming Kevin Johnson). People who knew Michael Dawson might not know that he is now Kevin Johnson, or another alias, and might therefore not know to show up at his funeral. Because Walt and Michael’s mother are angry with Michael, they might have chosen not to show up at the funeral. Either that, or they couldn’t make the trip from NY to LA, or didn’t know that Michael was dead.
The writers of “Lost” probably wanted the dead man to be someone the fans wouldn’t expect. Since Harold Perrineau had already left the show and showed no signs of coming back, he is a logical choice to pull a fast one on the audience. This makes more sense considering the tricky writers, rather than the actual plot, but I think it’s a valid idea.
Jack says that the dead man is neither friend nor family. While Jack and Michael might have been friends in the first season, by the end of season 2 they are certainly NOT friends, and Jack probably hasn’t forgiven Michael for his sins on the island.
That’s all I got. It’s my first theory for this website. Discuss! I’d love to know what everyone thinks.
Key characters
| Short Name | Full Name | Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack | Jack Shephard | 1.1, 1.5, 2.11, 1.11, 1.16, 1.20, 3.9, 3.22, 3.1, 4.10, 4.12, & 3” href=”/episodes/theres-no-place-home-parts-2-3/”>4.13 | 1451 |
| Kate | Katherine “Kate” Austen | 3.6, 1.2, 1.3, 2.9, 1.12, 1.16, 1.22, 3.15, 4.4, 4.12 | 711 |
| Michael | Michael Dawson | 2.22, 1.14, 4.8 | 301 |
| Sawyer | James “Sawyer” Ford | 3.4, 2.3, 2.6, 2.13, 1.16, 3.10 | 451 |
| Walt | Walter “Walt” Lloyd | 2.2, 1.14 | 345 |
Key episodes
| # | Title | Aired | Central character | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.10 | Something Nice Back Home | 5-1-2008 | Jack | 140 |
| 4.8 | Meet Kevin Johnson | 3-20-2008 | Michael | 85 |
| 3.22 | Through The Looking Glass | 5-23-2007 | Jack | 1251 |
| 2.23 | Live Together, Die Alone | 5-24-2006 | Desmond | 321 |
| 1.24 | Exodus: Part 2 | 5-25-2005 | Charlie | 130 |
Key events
| Theme | Relevant Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|
| Jack, Kate, and Sawyer captured | 2.23, 3.1 | 204 |
| Michael and Walt released | 2.23 | 287 |
| Michael captured | 2.22 | 114 |
| Michael returns | 2.19 | 160 |
| Michael shoots Ana-Lucia and Libby | 2.20 | 121 |
Key locations
| Theme | Relevant Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|
| Flash-Forward: Off-Island | 4.9, & 3” href=”/episodes/theres-no-place-home-parts-2-3/”>4.13 | 201 |
| Pala Ferry Pier | 2.21, 2.23, 3.2 | 157 |
As it is your first theory, I applaud you, it makes sense. But unfortunately it has been debated and discussed for a very long time on this site. There are many who believe the same and gave the same explanations you just did as well as the fact he was from New York. So the writers wouldn’t think they are pulling a fast one on the fans if it was Michael in the coffin because too many already believe it’s Michael. That’s why I pick Ben for reasons I won’t go into. Some may splatter you with negative comments because you brought this up, but your theory is plausible. Because it’s old, no +1. Sorry.
I find it hard to believe Mike makes it off a freighter that stands at about a 99% chance of blowing up…. He’ll die, but prolly by the bomb.
There making the man in the coffin out to be very important….. Michaele dosen’t fit that role. He’s already serving his last purpose..
I agree that its most likely not Michael because he was actually the obvious choice and stated here many times ( I for one voted for that theory) It would make sense and might be true (we all were trying to theorize that Michael WAS NOT THE MAN ON THE freighter bacause it was to obvious, but he was, so who knows…) but I think it wll unfortunately be Locke (boohoo) :(
I agree that might be Michael in the end. Ben can’t die yet, nor Lock, they both are crucial parts for the main plot.
Besides Ben uses so many identies when off the island that Jack probably wouldn’t recognize his name on the journal. Lock probably wouldn’t leave the island, he would rather die in there then be a criple on the “real world”. If it was Sawyer Kate would have gone to see him, and she would do the same for most of the other charecters in the series.
Anyway I don’t think this will be address this season since that scene is a really distant flash-forward from what’s going on right now.
Wrong…its Locke……duhhhhhhhhhh
Well, if it were Micheal the whole thing would serve no purpose. If they were going to mke it Micheal because the actor left the show then they’d want to make it obvious to the viewer. Therefore they would have made it an open casket or at least have put the funeral in NY… There is nothing linking the funeral to Micheal.
I’m giving you +1 for a good theory and for explaining your idea well… however, 9 out of 10 dentists disagree with you…
I thought it could be Daniel farraday or Lapidus. Both of them were perceived as bad people to the lsoties, but i think towards the end of this season they have started to help the losties.
I think most of the 6 would probably not be bothered about going to the funeral but Jack who has been closer to the 2 of them than the rest may feel obliged to go - Kate saying “why would I” is beause they are not really friends, and for a long time were perceived as enemies, just a thought, but i think i would be bummed out if it were Michael, its too easy!!
you’re right, this theory has been done before, by me, but i’m not one of those people who cares if theories are repeated, so well done and obv. +1 because i think the same thing :)
Miles Miles Miles Miles Miles Miles Miles Miles Miles Miles Miles Miles
You know what’s interesting though… Jack reacts to the article about the dead guy very emotionally… But when he calls Kate she says “Why would I go?” as if to imply “why would you go?”… It reminds me of daniel’s reaction when he saw the news about the crash…
Actually Michael is the most expected one and possibility of Sawyer did not even make any sense at all. Anyway, I dont think it is Michael although I can not throw this possibility away. But I dont think Michael would have made such an emotional impact on Jack. I expect this person to be Ben. We know he has made it out of the island and he might commit suicide if he fails in his mission to save the island. Also Kate would never go to his suicide and also Ben’s dead would affect Jack so much because he would understand once again that he had made a mistake by calling the boat and than by leaving the island.
sweet christ you suck
some_guy… seriously? Got too much time on your hands?
I don’t think Jack knows why he is so upset by the death. It’s the same as it was with Daniel.
BlackRock, I have been quite reluctant to subscribe to anyone being in the coffin until recently.
I think it is possible it could turn out to be Michael. I have recently heard that the time differential between “the island” and the “real world” is coming closer together. In view of that, Michael seems to be the most likely candidate.
That debate will be put to rest in another week though.
Nicely written and presented! +1
For all those saying it’s Locke cause of spoilers well fine, but remember they filmed 4 alternate endings. And Des was seen in a siut and tie with hair pulled back. Looks like he was also shot in the coffin…