All,
First, I do not claim to know more than the other theorists on this fantastic website. Before some were disproved, some people’s theories were smarter and more entertaining than the course of the show. Congrats and thanks to DarkUfo for the time invested in helping us all enjoy this show all the more. I’ll present my theory in the form of a timeline because a sense of time is crucial to understanding the premise. Where I have bridged large gaps, I will attempt to justify my reasoning. Not intrigued? Drop a comment and I’ll work on what I can give. Now on to the theory:
(Executive Summary: Charles Widmore, Richard Alpert, Christian Shepherd, and Jacob were all sailors on the Black Rock. They are locked in a struggle to correct what should have happened before they crashed on the Island. Everyone else is a pawn of their Fate.)
I. The Sailing of the Black Rock
- Until I saw a fossilized polar bear in Tunisia, I doubted this point. But, Jacob, Charles Widmore, Richard Alpert, and Christian Shepherd first arrived on the Black Rock. Jacob was the captain. Shepherd was the ship’s doctor. Alpert, he was the first mate. And, Widmore was the mutineer. To make things simple, I’ll call these men the Black Rock Four. It is likely that I will have to call this group the Black Rock Five when we all discover that Alvar Hanso was also aboard the Black Rock. He was likely also a mutineer. Don't stop reading yet; but, this point is fundamental.
II. Escape From the Island
- They were all aboard the ship. For a period of time, they coexisted on the Island. Perhaps they joined a tribe of persons, such as the Lost Tribe of Atlantis, who were also lost to Time. (Four-toed statue, Temple, etc.) After a period of time all four learned how to escape the Island. Somehow three have discovered ways of getting back to the island. Charles Widmore has not. But, he will: he has invested money and effort, exploited the love of his daughter, and perhaps funded the efforts of the Hanso Foundation.
- At some point, all four learn that they can’t die. (This is the same force that keeps Michael alive, despite his better efforts!) This drives Widmore to capitalistic gain. It drives Shepherd to further his medical understanding (Given enough time he becomes a successful surgeon.). Alpert, ever the loyalist, stays truthful to Jacob. Jacob goes mad because he simply can’t complete the tasks of his fate. Speaking of tasks:
III. Task Definition
- It could very simply be that Jacob, Richard and Christian are tasked by fate (or the Ether, or the Island, or whatever name you have ascribed to the controlling force) with preventing Widmore from destroying the Island. Or, all four need to confront each other in some manner so all four may die. Personally, I believe that the mutiny aboard the Black Rock requires shipboard justice and that until Widmore (and Hanso?) pay for their crime, the Island won’t release them to death. By the way, all four are alive: Christian’s coffin was empty and the last we saw of him he was seated in Jacob’s cabin. So far, death appears to be smoke and mirrors for Fate.
IV. Widmore Discovers the Fountain of Youth
- At some point Widmore learns that he will not be able to kill the other members of the Black Rock Four. So, he sets out to destroy the Island. If the Island no longer existed, Widmore would be able to live forever. Widmore has a view to the future. He knows what will happen. He makes money on this ability to see the future and his mission is to prevent the future from taking place.
V. Dharma Initiative
- Jacob didn’t really care that Dharma was on the Island until he learned that Alvar Hanso (who may have been on the Black Rock) had bad plans for the Island. Dharma had to go. Though, a few more hands might be nice; so, Jacob recruited a few Dharma nutcases to go along with his vision. Ben is among them. Worst: He is actually one of the good guys in this theory. Sorry.
VI. Crash of Oceanic Air 815
- The Island has its own business. Whenever the march of Time is interrupted it dispatches Fate to finish what should have happened. Fate kills off those whose destiny simply required they come to terms with their own evils (Mr. Echo, Ana Lucia, Charlie, etc.) before they could die. Locke understands that the Island is all about course correction when time has shifted. Other members of the group are coming to this understanding. Jack doesn’t get it…yet. Locke has been recruited by Jacob to continue the mission of preserving the Island and preventing Widmore from gaining access to the Island.
- A view into the writers’ brains is given here: Babies can’t be born on the Island because they have no Fate to be resolved. However, sterility could have been the solution to the problem. The writers opted to make a person’s Time begin at birth rather than at conception. Sun is a fun exception to the rule because she was always intended to survive the crash. Both she and her child have a Fate. Just a potentially interesting detail from the writers’ room.
VII. The Clash of the Black Rock Four
- Just how long this struggle has gone on is unclear. A late 70’s polar bear was transported back in time at least thousands of years. It is possible that when they left the Island, the Black Rock Four were transported to the 20th Century. Or, this struggle has been going on since the crash of the Black Rock. No matter what, whether it is the original Four or their children, Fate will draw out equilibrium from this chaos. Living 815 survivors, Others, and some off the Island will be pawns in seasons 5 and 6.
Here's to a great end to Season 4!
Steve
Theory by Steve S
First, I do not claim to know more than the other theorists on this fantastic website. Before some were disproved, some people’s theories were smarter and more entertaining than the course of the show. Congrats and thanks to DarkUfo for the time invested in helping us all enjoy this show all the more. I’ll present my theory in the form of a timeline because a sense of time is crucial to understanding the premise. Where I have bridged large gaps, I will attempt to justify my reasoning. Not intrigued? Drop a comment and I’ll work on what I can give. Now on to the theory:
(Executive Summary: Charles Widmore, Richard Alpert, Christian Shepherd, and Jacob were all sailors on the Black Rock. They are locked in a struggle to correct what should have happened before they crashed on the Island. Everyone else is a pawn of their Fate.)
I. The Sailing of the Black Rock
- Until I saw a fossilized polar bear in Tunisia, I doubted this point. But, Jacob, Charles Widmore, Richard Alpert, and Christian Shepherd first arrived on the Black Rock. Jacob was the captain. Shepherd was the ship’s doctor. Alpert, he was the first mate. And, Widmore was the mutineer. To make things simple, I’ll call these men the Black Rock Four. It is likely that I will have to call this group the Black Rock Five when we all discover that Alvar Hanso was also aboard the Black Rock. He was likely also a mutineer. Don't stop reading yet; but, this point is fundamental.
II. Escape From the Island
- They were all aboard the ship. For a period of time, they coexisted on the Island. Perhaps they joined a tribe of persons, such as the Lost Tribe of Atlantis, who were also lost to Time. (Four-toed statue, Temple, etc.) After a period of time all four learned how to escape the Island. Somehow three have discovered ways of getting back to the island. Charles Widmore has not. But, he will: he has invested money and effort, exploited the love of his daughter, and perhaps funded the efforts of the Hanso Foundation.
- At some point, all four learn that they can’t die. (This is the same force that keeps Michael alive, despite his better efforts!) This drives Widmore to capitalistic gain. It drives Shepherd to further his medical understanding (Given enough time he becomes a successful surgeon.). Alpert, ever the loyalist, stays truthful to Jacob. Jacob goes mad because he simply can’t complete the tasks of his fate. Speaking of tasks:
III. Task Definition
- It could very simply be that Jacob, Richard and Christian are tasked by fate (or the Ether, or the Island, or whatever name you have ascribed to the controlling force) with preventing Widmore from destroying the Island. Or, all four need to confront each other in some manner so all four may die. Personally, I believe that the mutiny aboard the Black Rock requires shipboard justice and that until Widmore (and Hanso?) pay for their crime, the Island won’t release them to death. By the way, all four are alive: Christian’s coffin was empty and the last we saw of him he was seated in Jacob’s cabin. So far, death appears to be smoke and mirrors for Fate.
IV. Widmore Discovers the Fountain of Youth
- At some point Widmore learns that he will not be able to kill the other members of the Black Rock Four. So, he sets out to destroy the Island. If the Island no longer existed, Widmore would be able to live forever. Widmore has a view to the future. He knows what will happen. He makes money on this ability to see the future and his mission is to prevent the future from taking place.
V. Dharma Initiative
- Jacob didn’t really care that Dharma was on the Island until he learned that Alvar Hanso (who may have been on the Black Rock) had bad plans for the Island. Dharma had to go. Though, a few more hands might be nice; so, Jacob recruited a few Dharma nutcases to go along with his vision. Ben is among them. Worst: He is actually one of the good guys in this theory. Sorry.
VI. Crash of Oceanic Air 815
- The Island has its own business. Whenever the march of Time is interrupted it dispatches Fate to finish what should have happened. Fate kills off those whose destiny simply required they come to terms with their own evils (Mr. Echo, Ana Lucia, Charlie, etc.) before they could die. Locke understands that the Island is all about course correction when time has shifted. Other members of the group are coming to this understanding. Jack doesn’t get it…yet. Locke has been recruited by Jacob to continue the mission of preserving the Island and preventing Widmore from gaining access to the Island.
- A view into the writers’ brains is given here: Babies can’t be born on the Island because they have no Fate to be resolved. However, sterility could have been the solution to the problem. The writers opted to make a person’s Time begin at birth rather than at conception. Sun is a fun exception to the rule because she was always intended to survive the crash. Both she and her child have a Fate. Just a potentially interesting detail from the writers’ room.
VII. The Clash of the Black Rock Four
- Just how long this struggle has gone on is unclear. A late 70’s polar bear was transported back in time at least thousands of years. It is possible that when they left the Island, the Black Rock Four were transported to the 20th Century. Or, this struggle has been going on since the crash of the Black Rock. No matter what, whether it is the original Four or their children, Fate will draw out equilibrium from this chaos. Living 815 survivors, Others, and some off the Island will be pawns in seasons 5 and 6.
Here's to a great end to Season 4!
Steve
Theory by Steve S
