In the Season 2 finale, we see Desmond's first centric-episode, and a series of flashbacks that reference and/or show the Charles Dickens book "Our Mutual Friend." In Season 5, we see Ben at the marina intent on killing Penny while on her and Desmond's boat, also called "Our Mutual Friend." I believe there is more significance in that simple phrase than there is coincidence in its many appearances throughout the show. There is one single character, above all the rest, who has some form of allegiance or connection to everyone else: that man is Richard Alpert.
Lost has always been influenced by the popular theory "six degrees of separation." This theory simply states that if one person is a single step away from each person they knew, and two steps away from each person known by one of the people they know, then everyone is at most six steps away from any other person on Earth. While not literally interpreted, this theory basically means that everyone on this planet is connected to everyone else through, at most, five other people (six would include themselves). We see this start to take shape early in Season 1 when characters begin popping in and out of others' flashbacks, and it's not until later in Season 2 and so forth where those appearances start to become significant.
In keeping with this theory, Richard Alpert is perhaps the only character in the show to have any form of direct communication with every single "faction" present: He is the appointed second-in-command of the Others; he served as an enforcer-type when Dharma was still active (as we saw in when he personally came to the Barracks to speak to Horace in Season 5); he has had direct contact with Jacob, and has even said that his agelessness is because of Jacob; he was familiar with the "New Others" (for lack of a better term) led by Illana and Bram; and, he also had prior knowledge of and contact with John Locke - a survivor of Oceanic 815 - before he even came to the island. If anyone in the show could fit the bill of a literal "mutual friend," it would be Richard. And that is why I believe that he will be one of, if not THE most important figure in and throughout season 6.
What his importance will ultimately come down to is just as much speculation as this entire theory, but his role up to this point has been extremely submissive and reserved. Such a pivotal and frequent character cannot remain in the shadows (of the statue) for long. All things island-related must pass through him first; whether it is an order from Jacob, a task from Ben, or a message from Locke: Richard Alpert is the key.
Lost has always been influenced by the popular theory "six degrees of separation." This theory simply states that if one person is a single step away from each person they knew, and two steps away from each person known by one of the people they know, then everyone is at most six steps away from any other person on Earth. While not literally interpreted, this theory basically means that everyone on this planet is connected to everyone else through, at most, five other people (six would include themselves). We see this start to take shape early in Season 1 when characters begin popping in and out of others' flashbacks, and it's not until later in Season 2 and so forth where those appearances start to become significant.
In keeping with this theory, Richard Alpert is perhaps the only character in the show to have any form of direct communication with every single "faction" present: He is the appointed second-in-command of the Others; he served as an enforcer-type when Dharma was still active (as we saw in when he personally came to the Barracks to speak to Horace in Season 5); he has had direct contact with Jacob, and has even said that his agelessness is because of Jacob; he was familiar with the "New Others" (for lack of a better term) led by Illana and Bram; and, he also had prior knowledge of and contact with John Locke - a survivor of Oceanic 815 - before he even came to the island. If anyone in the show could fit the bill of a literal "mutual friend," it would be Richard. And that is why I believe that he will be one of, if not THE most important figure in and throughout season 6.
What his importance will ultimately come down to is just as much speculation as this entire theory, but his role up to this point has been extremely submissive and reserved. Such a pivotal and frequent character cannot remain in the shadows (of the statue) for long. All things island-related must pass through him first; whether it is an order from Jacob, a task from Ben, or a message from Locke: Richard Alpert is the key.
