The Substitute

After last week's episode I was worried. Very worried that Season six was going to turn into my least favourite of them all. What Kate Does tried very hard to sour my taste for all things LOST. But, I have invested enough time to know that team Darlton would not disappoint us.

I think we will begin to see things starting to come together now. We now know, for example, that John Locke of the Side Time is not so different from his "Original Time" version. While things are different in many ways, some things remain the same.

SIDEWAYS

Locke lives with Helen in a nice house and they are planning to be married. Since this is 2004 it was gratifying and heart warming to think that they would have at least two years together before the brain aneurysm kills Helen. Some things just aren't going to change in either of the times and I believe this is one of them. Helen is tired of making wedding arrangements and suggests they run away to Vegas. Call her parents and his dad and just go.

John still works for the box company and had been sent to Sydney to attend a conference. But John had lied to both Helen and his boss and attempted to go on a Walkabout, only to be told he cannot. He is fired by Randy Nations (did he seem a little too happy to fire him?) and has to go home and explain to his soon to be wife that he is out of a job.

But John can't even leave his former place of work. He refused to park in the handicap parking and a large yellow Hummer was parked right next to his van, making it impossible for his chair lift to operate. It turns out the Hummer belongs to Hugo, who apologizes for parking so close. They introduce themselves and John explains that Randy just fired him. Hugo (notice he does not use his nickname) agrees that Randy isn't a very nice person and, feeling bad, gives John the phone number to the temp agency he owns.

At the temp agency, John is insisting on being placed in a construction job and when the girl refuses demands to talk to the manager. Now, I don't know about you but I was somewhat surprised to see Rose Nadler step in. She explains that there are just some things that certain people can't do and once they accept that limitation, life is so much better to live. We learn that she is dying from terminal cancer and there is nothing she can do about it.

John tries to phone Jack and chickens out. Fear has been a constant companion of John's in the Original time, and it would appear that it is with him in Sideways 2004 as well.

Perhaps John accepted his limitations, for we next see that he is a substitute PE/ Health Studies teacher at a Jr, High School. When he visits the teacher's lounge he meets Benjamin Linus (I was not expecting that) who introduces himself as the European History teacher. I can't wait for the writers' explanation on that one!

2007

Ben tells a weeping Ilana that Flocke killed her team then implies (that habitual liar) that it was also Flocke who killed Jacob and kicked him into the fire. Upon hearing that Jacob's body was burned, Ilana collects ashes from the pit. When Ben asks why Flocke took Richard into the jungle she vaguely tells him that he is "recruiting."

Outside the foot, the rest of the Others have left Sun and Frank behind with John's body and gone to the temple for safety. Ilana suggest they go there as well, explaining to Sun that, if Jin is alive, he would be there. Sun says they need to bury John first. Ben, Sun, Frank and Ilana take his body to the survivor's camp, dig a grave and, Ben says a few words, admitting to murdering John and voicing his extreme regret. Well, no kidding, Ben. If you knew then what you know now...... But I digress. Ben's confession surprised both Sun and Ilana. Interesting that nothing seems to phase Frank, who grumbles: "Weirdest funeral I've ever been to."

Frank gets some great one liners.

From the vantage point of Smokey, we travel through the jungle and into The Barracks, where Smokey pauses at a window (did you see his reflection too?) from which music is playing. It then moves through and stops over a machete. Smokey transforms into Locke, picks up the machete and walks farther into the jungle, stopping at a large tree with what looks to be a bag hanging from it. He cuts the vine and Richard Alpert tumbles out. Poor Richard doesn't look that great (although his eyes are still wonderfully accentuated) and he doesn't appear to have the answers anymore. If he ever did.

Flocke tells Richard that he wants him to go with him, but Richard refuses, despite being mocked by Flocke that he has followed someone without knowing why or what the outcome would be. Flocke becomes distracted when he sees a young boy standing in a clearing with bloody outstretched arms. Richard and Flocke part ways, and Flocke heads back to the Barracks, stopping to visit with a now very drunk, and nearly naked, Sawyer.

Okay, am I the only one who was a bit surprised that there was still electricity flowing to the Barracks after three years of no one taking care of things? I'm sure that an overload would have occurred pretty early in the abandonment. But, there was electricity and Sawyer had found himself a bottle of whiskey and was rocking out to the Stooges playing "Search and Destroy." Just a quick tidbit, a line in the song goes "Somebody better save my soul."

Sawyer knows it isn't Locke he is seeing or talking to and tells him to get out. But Flocke tells him that, if he goes with him, he will tell him the answer to the biggest question....why Sawyer is on the island. It would seem that Sawyer is deeply disillusioned and needs some answers, because he gets dressed and follows Flocke into the jungle. They both see the boy, and Flocke chases after him, tripping. The boy faces him and reminds him of the rules. You can't kill him, he says.

While Flocke is chasing the mystery boy, Richard emerges from the jungle and tries to convince Sawyer to go to the temple with him. Sawyer doesn't want to. Richard tells him that Flocke has lied to him and that all he wants is for everyone to die. Sawyer doesn't seem to care. Terrified, Richard runs when he hears Flocke coming. They question each other and agree that neither saw who or what they saw. Sawyer pulls a gun and asks what Flocke is, who responds that he is trapped, but he used to be a man.

At a cliff they climb down some pretty rickety ladders (and unlike my friends who immediately thought of Jacob's Ladder, I totally missed that). I would NEVER have attempted to climb down those ladders myself (petrified of heights), I was feeling a bit of vertigo just watching as Sawyer descended, then nearly had heart failure when the ladder broke. But, I think Flocke needs someone to physically take him off the island, and he saved Sawyer.

They reached a cave. Sitting in the mouth of the cave was a balanced scale. A black rock balancing against a white rock. Flocke takes the white rock and tosses it into the pounding surf below. So, now we know for certain who represented white and who represented black. I thought of the two small pebbles that Jack found with Adam and Eve in the first season.

Deeper into the cave, Flocke tells Sawyer that he was brought to the island by Jacob, even though Sawyer doesn't think he ever met him. He shows him the ceiling and walls of the cave, covered with names and numbers, most crossed out. Only six names remain that have not been crossed out.

4-Locke

8- Reyes

15- Ford

16- Jarrah

23- Shephard

42- Kwon

Each of the names represents someone who could be a candidate (where have we heard that word before?) and MIB shows Sawyer his name. James Ford is a candidate to take over the job of protecting the island, even though the island doesn't need protecting. It is just an island. there are three options for a candidate.

1 -Do nothing, see what happens. Hopefully not required to step up.

2 - Do Jacob's job and protect the island.

3 - Leave. Just leave, never look back. Flocke and Sawyer can to that together.

Sawyer doesn't really want that job. He's done with the island life.

DID YOU NOTICE?

When the smoke monster pauses at the barracks window, you can see the reflection of "Smokey"

When John's ramp breaks down it makes a clicking sound, just like the sound Smokey makes.

The colour swatches that Kate shows John are the same colour scheme that ABC uses in it's advertising for LOST.

Richard lied to Juliet to recruit her to the Others and claims that Flocke is lying to Sawyer to recruit him.

This is the first time we ever see Richard afraid.

John Locke was confined to a wheelchair whilst Flocke is confined to an island.

Hurley owns the same yellow hummer in both times.

Flocke tells Sawyer that the island doesn't need to be protected, which parallels Jack telling Locke the same thing in "There's No Place Like Home."

QUESTIONS

Why did Ilana gather Jacob's ashes? What significance do they have and could they help protect her? Them?

Why is Smokey stuck with John's form now? Why can't he just change into another person?

Even though she was touched, why isn't Kate's name on the wall?

In the Sideways time, Helen mentioned John's father. We can assume that they have a good relationship. If so, how did John become paralyzed?

How did Ben get off the island and become a European History teacher?

QUOTES:

I only have one that's notable.

Frank: Weirdest damn funeral I've ever been to.

"Nuff said.

I think the MIB, although in a human form, needs someone alive to WILLINGLY remove him from the island. He can't just up and leave the way Jacob was able to, which leaves me to wonder what it was about him that made the Powers That Be confine him there in the first place.

I am worried for James. It's the last season and not one of our favourite LOSTIES is guaranteed to make it to the end of the season. I hate the thought that James would be gullible enough to fall for MIB's manipulations. Notice that MIB only goes after those who's psyches are beaten and fragile. John Locke was desperate to be anything than what he was. James is desperate to remove himself from the source of heartache and a deep excruciating pain.

What did you think? What did I miss?

Next week, it's the Lighthouse. If I am correct, Season Six is following the pattern of Season One and it should be a Jack centric episode.

WHAT KATE DOES

What Kate Does ranks pretty low on my list of all time favourite episodes, but it did provide us with a few insights, which we'll get to a bit later.

SIDEWAYS

Kate carjacks a taxi. I found it almost comical as the driver tries to drive and keep from filling his pants at the same time, and wanted to see him trip when total cowardice overtook him. Talk about a real man who leaves a poor pregnant girl at the mercy of this crazed gun toting woman. Then, dumping a very pregnant Claire on the side of the street and paying the mechanic $200 to punch open the handcuffs.

We saw a glimpse of the real Kate when she realized exactly what she had done and went back to that bus stop bench for Claire, then helped to find her destination. The indignation on Claire's behalf when the woman said that she didn't want to adopt the baby anymore and she couldn't even be bothered to CALL? As an aside, did anyone else wonder if, in this side time, Claire had visited Richard Malkin and he had told her that the baby should not be raised by another? Did you question if the Fates were making sure that Claire kept her baby?

Poor Claire starts going into labour and Kate rushes her to the hospital, then grabs the first doctor (that was a bit of a shock) she could find, who calms Claire and takes an ultrasound.

I snickered at Dr. Goodspeed's line "I just don't want to stick you with needles if I don't have to."

Oh, the irony of that statement.

The police come and Claire lies, then gives Kate her credit card as a show of gratitude.

2007

Dogen and Lennon and the rest of the Other Others were shocked to find that Sayid in fact survived. I'm still amazed that his shirt was miraculously healed as well. Just think, the Others must have clothes from decades ago that's in pristine condition! Am I the only one who thought it odd that Jack said to get Sayid water? Really, Sayid must have swallowed at least two litres of the beer coloured swill in the spring!

Sawyer and Miles arrive, not of their own accord, and Sawyer's resentment that some people get to live while others die filled the already oppressive room. We are seeing the return of Season One Saywer. The one cares for no one but himself and who will challenge anyone and everyone. Right now he has no reason to stay and most certainly no reason to help Jack, Hurley, Jin, Sayid, Kate or even Miles. And on that note, he makes a break for it and, of course tells them NOT to follow him. Kate, of course, takes that as an invitation.

Aldo. Wow, what can be said about Aldo that hasn't already been said before. The boy has a chip on his shoulder and I really don't think he's "Other" material. He's bent on revenge for being rifle butted by sweet Kate. Poor dude just can't win and his aggression gets him in the end. Well, that and Claire, but I'll get to that in a bit, I promise.

So, while Kate and Aldo and Jason, plus Jin head out to track Sawyer, Dogen and Lennon take Sayid for "questioning". A few electric shocks and a red hot poker later they return him to Jack's custody. Just what Sayid failed, I'm not sure, but how the heck does one pass the electric shock and red hot poker test anyway? Jack, of course is not impressed and takes a walk.

Dogen explains that Sayid is "infected", which to a doctor means high fever, delirium. You know, the normal kind of symptoms for infection. So, Dogen offers a "pill" but refuses to tell Jack what is contains and what it will do to Sayid. He tells Jack: "You'll just have to trust me". Ha ha, Jack's display of trust is to swallow the little green happy pill himself, which elicits such a rapid response that I'll bet his chest completely regrets it. This is when we learn that the pill contained poison and that Sayid was "claimed".

According to Dogen, "there is a darkness growing in him and when it reaches his heart, everything Sayid once was will be gone". I can only guess that the Black Smoke Monster or MIB has something to do with this. This is also when we learn that Claire is still alive....sort of.....maybe....well, her body anyway? Is this why Ben is the way he is?

Just an observation here. In 1977, after Sayid shot young Ben and Richard took him to the temple, they brought him back to the camp to heal. HIS wound was in approximately the same place as Sayid's, but I did notice how it didn't heal as well as Sayid's did. Just an observation and a little something for you to chew on.

I used to care about Kate and what happened to her until last season, then I found myself growing more and more annoyed by her than anything else. Her constant wavering between Jack and Sawyer, even after leaving the island and they didn't really know if the others were alive or dead (really, the island DISAPPEARED PEOPLE!!) Kate was still unable (or unwilling) to love the one she was with. She has an innate ability to listen and then go and do the complete opposite.

Really, what did she hope to gain by chasing after Sawyer? The man is consumed by grief, guilt and anger and Kate only represents all that he has lost since the return of the Oceanic four (not counting Sun because she accompanied Locke's cadaver to 2007). I was glad to see Sawyer grieve for Juliet and angered by Kate crashing his little pity party. But this was a scene that HAD to happen for several reasons.

First, we needed to see Sawyer grieve for Juliet. His relationship with her allowed him to grow past the stunted resentful little orphan boy into a man able to give himself over heart and soul. Kate would never have been able to do that. Another reason this scene had to happen is because Kate needed to be shown and told that Sawyer was unavailable to her. His is a ship that sailed when he jumped from the helicopter. He had moved on while Kate was still wavering between two men. Finally, she needed to see that he did not need her, nor did he want her, to help in his grieving process.

A thought about Dr. Ethan Goodspeed and the Sideways Timeline.

Since Horace and Pierre evacuated the island, and we saw that the island is underwater, I am assuming that a return to the island was impossible. Dharma would have been forced to abandon their "foray" to the island and the people who were evacuated would have had to find their own way in the world. Ethan would have grown up without the influences of Ben, the Others and the conflict between the Others and Dharma. But it still saw the irony of his "sticking with needles" quip.

Also, since the Others did not evacuate the island, and young Ben was still in their care, I am assuming he died with them as the island descended into the great blue yonder.

Which brings me to Eloise Hawking. In 1977 she was pregnant with Daniel and if she went down with the island, we will find that his existence had been wiped out. I am thinking that it is possible that Penny still exists since she was born off island and had never been there. Things would be different for her, though, since she would not be exposed to her father's amassed wealth and it is possible that she and Desmond never meet.

DID YOU NOTICE?

Am I the only one who thought that "Claimed" Claire looked an awful lot like 1954's version of Eloise Hawking? I don't know, but those blond curls, that knowing but not sure expression...... Maybe it was just me.

The guy that played the taxi driver runs like a girl. Just sayin'

Jason really wanted share with Kate and Jin and called them "THEM", so now we have three groups. The Others, the Other Others, and Them? Elitist jerks.

Ethan still became a doctor and still has that goofy grin.

The nurse that takes Claire into the hospital is the same woman who played Aaron's Nanny in Eggtown.

QUESTIONS

How long is years? Jason said that the Rousseau woman has been dead for years.

How was Dogen brought to the island and when? Is he like Richard? Ageless?

Was the poison meant to completely kill Sayid or just what "claimed" him?

Where has Claire been since wandering off into the Jungle of Mystery with her dead but not dead father? Did he facilitate the "claiming" of her? Speaking of the walking dead, where's Christian? Did he abandon Claire once she was claimed, or did the "whatever" is is that does the claiming move from Christian to Claire?

Why do the Others call the survivors of the crash "Them"?

Now that Kate is alone, will she go back to the Temple or will she do what she promised to do and seek out Claire?

When will Miles speak up and tell Jack about the things that he is sensing? We all know that he sensed something was not quite right with Claire and again with Sayid.

When Kate was on the dock crying, was she crying for Sawyer's loss or the fact that he's rejected her?

After so long on the island, and sharing a bed with Juliet, what has she told Sawyer about the Others? I mean, I'm sure they had some pretty interesting pillow talk sessions in the quiet of the night.

QUOTES

Dogen: Please, you have to stay.

Sawyer: No, I don't.

Mechanic: I've got a steady hand, but I kind of feel like we off on the wrong foot.

Hurley: We'll be in the food court if you need us.

Kate: I'm sorry, I never should have followed you.

Sawyer: Which time?

Jack: Did I say something funny?

Lennon: I kind of doubt it. He doesn't usually have a sense of humour.

Sayid: I remember being shot.

Hurley: You're not a zombie, right?

I already know that this was a low episode in the list of favourites, but what are YOUR questions? Did you want that hour back? I know I didn't.

Next we see The Substitute. Does this tell us what Frank could be a candidate for? Does Flocke find a way to get off the island? Will Kate ever redeem herself or will we be glad if she's the next to die?

Let me know.

About The Loophole

This entire loophole mystery has begun to consume me. I have tried to figure out exactly what the loophole was and why it would enable Anti-Jacob to kill what is obviously the yin to his yang. I really don't think Jacob is gone as in Dead is Dead. He isn't human and neither is his nemesis.

There is a great deal of speculation on various blogs, web sites and message boards about the loophole. Mostly they state that the loophole was Anti-Jacob finding a human body in which to kill Jacob. I admit that I was leaning the same way as that thought. But then, as I was crawling around on my hands and knees cleaning the floor of my pool (and we won't go into the pool saga right now) my mind, as it is want to do, wandered to Lost and its many twists and turns and finally the inevitable loophole.

The general consensus is that Anti-Jacob needed a human body that had recently died in order to take corporeal form. Only the corporeal form could kill Jacob. I can only imagine that it would be the same if Jacob wanted to kill his nemesis as well. I was thinking that the body needed to be recently dead because the "essence of the soul" may not have yet departed it's earthly host, thus Anti-Jacob would be able to take on the characteristic traits and memories of that person.

But as I patched the holes in the bottom of the pool I replayed the scenes featuring Fake Locke and Ben from the Incident in my mind. One thing that has been niggling at my brain is how Locke repeatedly stated events that occurred in the past. It was as if he were trying to convince Ben and Sun, the two people there who truly knew a great deal about the real John Locke, of whom he was. He also claimed that the island was telling him things, yet he had to have Richard show him where Jacob lived. Not to mention the fact that, throughout the episode, he was slowly bringing Ben's resentment toward Jacob to the point of eruption. To be honest, I was disappointed that Ben didn't explode like Krakatoa. But that's not important right now.

What is important is that, while I was inhaling fumes from the vinyl bond, I had an epiphany of sorts. Anti-Jacob didn't really need a human form in order to kill Jacob. He needed the leader of the Others to kill Jacob as only the true leader could. Now, before you order the psychiatric assessment for me, hear me out.

We now know that John Locke has been used and manipulated almost from the point of his birth. I suspect that even his premature birth was an event initiated by the forces at play. Someone has spent a great deal of time handing John one proverbial beat down after another, and yet his spirit has prevailed. A severely battered and beaten spirit, but there was just enough to keep him from hanging himself in a hotel in Sydney before the flight home.

And then, in the blink of an eye, it all changed. Oceanic 815 broke apart in mid air and crashed onto an island that should never have been there. When John regained consciousness, he realized his legs worked for the first time in years. I can't even imagine what went through his mind other than "Holy cow! I can walk! It's a miracle" The island had given him a gift almost as valuable as life itself and John Locke was willing to return the favour any way he could, even kill for it.

It must have been like giving candy to a young child, for Anti-Jacob as he played upon John's desire to be a leader and created the entire mythology of his fate. Every season we have watched John espouse his faith in the island as we watched the story of Lost unfold. He believed he was destined to be a great man and a great leader, and the island appeared to reinforce that belief.

Okay, if you've hung in there, I'm going to give you the icing on the cake I just baked. John was never destined to lead the Others. Yes, that's the icing. The prophecy of his leadership was created by Anti-Jacob during the time flashes, specifically the one when Richard was sent to remove the bullet from John's leg, to start the road to ruin for both John and Jacob.

Would you like the pretty gum paste flowers and fondant frills that decorate the cake now?

Sure you would, since you're probably thinking that I've gone and inhaled way too much of the vinyl bond glue stuff. Don't worry, I haven't. I hardly slept a wink last night thinking this through.

Flowers. Yes. I think that Jacob could only be killed by one of his own people, namely the leader. It's one of the rules that are totally unknown to us. Speculation on my part, but it makes sense to me. Since John Locke wasn't the true leader of the Others his corporeal being could not effectively kill Jacob. This is where the fondant fills come in, folks.

I realize that when I stated that Ben should never have been the leader of the Others, I was wrong. Yes, W R-O-N-G! I allowed my belief that Ben was evil to cloud my judgement. Ben really was supposed to be the leader of the Others until the new leader arrived. And I'm sure the new leader did arrive on Oceanic 815, but I'll talk about who I think the real new leader may be another time because I think this is important.

When Sayid shot young Ben and Kate took him to the Hostiles to be miraculously healed, he was reborn. The same skinny kid who suffered the resentment and misdirected anger of his abusive father. The same kid who wanted nothing more than to be loved and appreciated. But different. I think that from the moment he was healed he was subconsciously given his purpose on the island. As he grew and lived his double life until finally becoming entirely a Hostile, he worked toward one goal. He literally woke up and knew what he had to do. Jacob's been spinning his threads for a very long time and the tapestry he has been weaving tells the tale.

Anti-Jacob took over John's body as he had planned for many years to do. He took pains to ensure the one person who seemed to know him better than anyone else, did not suspect. He made sure to evoke memories of past conversations and events. He made sure to point out all of Ben's shortcomings and his tragic losses. He made sure to plant the seed of doubt in Ben's mind and watered it regularly to ensure that the anger grew. And when it was harvest time, Anti-Jacob gave it one last shot of fertilizer that resulted in a furious explosion as Ben thrust the knife into Jacob.

The loophole Anti-Jacob searched eons for was Ben. He just used John's deep seated need to be more important than he truly was as a vehicle of destruction. He drove Ben to the point of no return and presented him with the weapon with which to eliminate his counterpart.

So there you have it. Cut the cake, take it apart and enjoy nibbling. Let me know what you're thinking. I'm working on a few thoughts and ideas, but have had to take time to deal with other things. Like the previously mentioned pool.

It's been a battle this year to get it ready for summer and now I'm in need of a new liner, so I'm still in the middle of costing out that lovely unexpected bite in the financial bottom.

My Enemy's Enemy Is My Friend?

It's an ancient proverb which means that because two parties have a common enemy, they are friends. Often described as an Arabic proverb, there is also an identical Chinese proverb which may be an extension of another Chinese proverb that says, "It is good to strike the serpent's head with your enemy's hand." A historical example of this policy occurred when the Greeks were attacked by the Persians at Thermopylae; the Greek city-states put aside their differences and fought the common enemy.

Could this be the case for Ben? Will he choose to align himself with Fake John because he now views Jacob and his own people as his enemies.

It is conceivable. We saw John remind Ben of practically every failure he suffered as a leader of the Others. He reminded him of all that he apparently was forced to sacrifice in his service to Jacob. And for what? Absolutely nothing. Not even a "good luck in your future endeavours" when John arrived to take over as leader. No gold watch. No shares in the company's stock. No "happy retirement" party.

But serving Jacob is not like working for the company for 35 years, putting in your time and looking forward to drawing from your retirement fund. But, like the faithful who go to church every week and drop all they can into the collection box, all they can hope for at the end is forgiveness for their sins and entry to the place they call heaven.

But did Jacob ever promise Ben a reward? Sure, he made Richard ageless, but we have yet to learn the circumstances of that event. I hope we get to see this next season. If there are any other Others with special qualities, please let me know. And I don't mean Ethan and his super strength.

I was wondering if it really was Jacob who saved young Ben's life back in 1977. I've decided that he did, but only because he knew Ben's fate was not to die then and there, Ben wasn't finished just yet.

Was Ben ever destined to become leader of the Others? I don't think so. I think Ben, like his father, believed he was more than what others assessed him to be. Remember when we saw the flashback of Ben and his father arriving on the island? Remember how angry Roger Linus was to find that he'd been assigned janitorial duties according to his aptitude tests? And we see a grown up Ben also working as a workman, which I'm sure it more than what he aspired to be.

I have a little theory on how Ben became leader of the Others. I could be no where near the ball park on this one, but it's all I can come up with right now.

Other than the promise of a great relief from the restrictive society that Ben finds himself living in, the Hostiles promise an escape from the apparent anger and hatred of his father. Life with Roger Linus had been illustrated as dark, depressing and a serious blow to the kid's self esteem. I don't blame young Ben for wanting to escape such a miserable existence and the promise that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence is too tempting for young Ben to resist. Above all else, Ben believed, like his father, that he was greater than the sum of his parts.

But here's the kicker. Ben was only ever considered to be a member of the flock. Nothing more. Nothing less. He was expected to do what he was asked and not to take the initiative. His reward was acceptance within a society that accepted him for whatever he was. The realization that his position within the Hostiles was equal to his position with Dharma must have been one hell of a shock. So, he manipulated and contrived and insinuated himself into a higher position, eventually taking control in a bloodless coup. He exiled the island's true leader and took what he thought was his rightful place at the top of the pyramid.

Then along came cancer. Whether Jacob could have allowed it to occur, I really can't say either way at this point. Then came Oceanic 815 and a whole host of problems. Remember that Richard and the Hostiles were told in 1954 that a man named John Locke was going to arrive via a plane crash and he would be their leader.

It would have been a long awaited and anticipated arrival of the messiah. Talked about often and how a great leader would come. The current, or interim leader, Ben, must have felt inferior and not very appreciated. He had never seen nor spoken to Jacob, didn't have a communion with the island and really, his instructions arrived by messenger Richard.

Ben did all that he could to sabotage John Locke and maintain his tenuous leadership position. He lied to him and lead him into situations of great danger. On several occasions he tried to kill him or have him killed and ultimately managed to strangle him to death. He manipulated the Oceanic 6, the survivors of the crash who were rescued, into returning to the island, insisting they take the body of John Locke with them.

I believe Ben was taking the body of John Locke back to the island as proof that the Others were without a leader and attempt to reclaim the job. There didn't seem to be any other candidates in the wings. Ben's shock and utter frustration must have been disheartening, to say the least. Only this time, Ben doesn't have a back up plan. He never counted on John Locke's resurrection.

He was used as he had used John. He was manipulated as he had done to John. All, it would appear, by John Locke himself. And yet, despite his loathing of John Locke and all that he seemed to be taking away from him, Ben made a choice. Only time will tell if it was the right one for him to make.

Using a common enemy as the basis for an allegiance is dubious, likely because there are probably very few other areas for mutual agreement. Remove the common enemy and the friends are apt turn on each other.