It is widely believed that John Locke was the first choice to be the leader and savior of the Island, and that Alpert attempted to verify this during Locke's life. After Locke failed to pass Alpert's test, supposedly Ben was then chosen.
However, I believe Ben was chosen initially. After Ben started to become obsessed with solving the pregnancy problem on the Island, Richard was having second thoughts about their leader. Once he found out that John Locke had regained his ability to walk after crashing on the Island, he decided to investigate. Richard began to secretly travel back in time to see if Locke was actually the chosen leader. It is likely that he used the Orchid before we first see it in the season 4 finale.
This is supported by the things that Richard says to Locke in the 3rd season.
Alpert- "Cause when word got back here that there was a man with a broken spine on the plane who could suddenly walk again, well, people here began to get very excited because that...that could only happen to someone who was extremely special. Ben doesn't want anyone to think you're special, John."
Locke- "Why are you telling me this?"
Alpert- "Ben has been wasting our time with novelties like fertility problems...we're looking for someone to remind us that we're here for more important reasons."
Locke- "What do you want from me?"
Alpert- "I want for you to find your purpose...and to do that...your father has to go, John. And since you're not gonna do it..."
Although his "Dali Lama test" is the first contact that Richard made with Locke in his life, that was actually the last time Richard traveled back in time to test Locke. The first was probably at the hospital when he was born, and the second was when Locke was in high school.
Alpert was testing John because he wanted him to arrive to the Island before Ben became the chosen leader. I believe that when Ben saw Alpert in the Jungle when he was looking for his mother, that was actually Jacob or the smoke monster appearing as Alpert. (Alpert was not yet that old) if Alpert did not actually choose Ben to be their new leader, then this would explain why he and the rest of the Others have not seen or talked to Jacob. They have only been taking orders from Ben, who claims to get his orders from Jacob.
Although it seem like Jacob is also unhappy with Ben's leadership, Richard began to travel back in time to approach Locke independently of Jacob's will. Only time will tell what really happens as a result of the new leadership on the Island, but we do know that Locke will die and some very bad things will happen.
Locke seems to be a secondary choice simply because he is replacing the current leader of the Others (Ben), yet Ben did not seem to replace anyone after the purge. Also, we know that Locke did not pass Alpert's test as a child, but he becomes the leader anyway. This seems like a desperate move on Alpert's part because he has grown tired of Ben's actions. The Island has granted John some special abilities, but it is not clear that he was destined to be the new leader at such a late age in life. It seems like he was a second choice based on the recent events that have happened on the island (Ben moving the Island)
Theory by WNGYPSY
However, I believe Ben was chosen initially. After Ben started to become obsessed with solving the pregnancy problem on the Island, Richard was having second thoughts about their leader. Once he found out that John Locke had regained his ability to walk after crashing on the Island, he decided to investigate. Richard began to secretly travel back in time to see if Locke was actually the chosen leader. It is likely that he used the Orchid before we first see it in the season 4 finale.
This is supported by the things that Richard says to Locke in the 3rd season.
Alpert- "Cause when word got back here that there was a man with a broken spine on the plane who could suddenly walk again, well, people here began to get very excited because that...that could only happen to someone who was extremely special. Ben doesn't want anyone to think you're special, John."
Locke- "Why are you telling me this?"
Alpert- "Ben has been wasting our time with novelties like fertility problems...we're looking for someone to remind us that we're here for more important reasons."
Locke- "What do you want from me?"
Alpert- "I want for you to find your purpose...and to do that...your father has to go, John. And since you're not gonna do it..."
Although his "Dali Lama test" is the first contact that Richard made with Locke in his life, that was actually the last time Richard traveled back in time to test Locke. The first was probably at the hospital when he was born, and the second was when Locke was in high school.
Alpert was testing John because he wanted him to arrive to the Island before Ben became the chosen leader. I believe that when Ben saw Alpert in the Jungle when he was looking for his mother, that was actually Jacob or the smoke monster appearing as Alpert. (Alpert was not yet that old) if Alpert did not actually choose Ben to be their new leader, then this would explain why he and the rest of the Others have not seen or talked to Jacob. They have only been taking orders from Ben, who claims to get his orders from Jacob.
Although it seem like Jacob is also unhappy with Ben's leadership, Richard began to travel back in time to approach Locke independently of Jacob's will. Only time will tell what really happens as a result of the new leadership on the Island, but we do know that Locke will die and some very bad things will happen.
Locke seems to be a secondary choice simply because he is replacing the current leader of the Others (Ben), yet Ben did not seem to replace anyone after the purge. Also, we know that Locke did not pass Alpert's test as a child, but he becomes the leader anyway. This seems like a desperate move on Alpert's part because he has grown tired of Ben's actions. The Island has granted John some special abilities, but it is not clear that he was destined to be the new leader at such a late age in life. It seems like he was a second choice based on the recent events that have happened on the island (Ben moving the Island)
Theory by WNGYPSY
