I am obsessed with Richard Alpert. (Ok, I didn’t really need to put it out there but all I’m saying is that if I’m going to watch reruns, you know I’m watching the shows with Richard in them.) So...ahem…anyway…
In watching clips and reruns, I find that I am perplexed by Richard’s relationship to Ben and how this relationship has played out in the grand scheme of Jacob and MIB.
First, ponder this…
Is Richard aware that Ben---as admitted to Sun in Season 5---has never actually seen or spoken with Jacob?
My answer (to my own question, I know):
Absolutely.
But, if this is true, then why, in Season 3, does Richard play along with the idea that Ben is going to introduce Locke to Jacob after Locke comes into camp with his dead dad slung over his shoulder? Why doesn’t Richard pull Ben aside before Locke and Ben go trekking in the woods and say, “Hey, Ben, we both know that you have never been before Jacob so let’s stop pretending…Oh! And, by the way, the REAL place to find Jacob is at the foot of the statue, not the cabin! HAHA!”
Remember, in season 5, it was Richard, not Ben, that lead Flocke and co. to the statue. Ben had no idea that Jacob was even there. (Wasn’t that a kick in the pants for Ben?!)
So, here’s my theory:
We all know that Richard follows Ben’s orders. But, Richard is certainly a disgruntled employee (and that’s putting it mildly). Richard helps Locke take Ben to task. Richard makes quips about how Ben’s obsession with the whole no-island-pregnancy issue is getting all of them away from the true mission. And Richard obviously was holding his tongue when he saved Ben’s life by shooting Keamy---“My pleasure.” Yeah…not so much.
To some extent, Jacob knew that Ben would be an agent for MIB. Jacob assigned Richard to follow Ben’s order with any leader of The Others. Richard has obliged, but wasn’t happy following orders from the man who would eventually become MIB’s pawn. As we know, Jacob never summoned Ben. Instead, Richard ferried notes and conversations between the two. That kept Jacob safe until it was time for Jacob to pull his “Obi-Wan-strike-me-down-and-I’ll-be-more-powerful-than you-could-ever-imagine” trick. So, I venture to say that Ben is MIB’s right hand man (unknowingly, of course) as Richard is Jacob’s.
For further proof...remember Widmore saying, "I know what you are, boy!" (or something to that effect). Well, what if Widmore knows that Ben is MIB's pawn too?
The question then is: How much of what is going to play out with this “war” does Richard already know? Does Richard know that Jacob “touched” certain Losties?
Sometimes I think Richard knows so much…and then it seems like he is just as shocked about things as our Losties.
P.S. to Lost Dbutz, the kids and I are doing just fine; thanks for asking! ;)
In watching clips and reruns, I find that I am perplexed by Richard’s relationship to Ben and how this relationship has played out in the grand scheme of Jacob and MIB.
First, ponder this…
Is Richard aware that Ben---as admitted to Sun in Season 5---has never actually seen or spoken with Jacob?
My answer (to my own question, I know):
Absolutely.
But, if this is true, then why, in Season 3, does Richard play along with the idea that Ben is going to introduce Locke to Jacob after Locke comes into camp with his dead dad slung over his shoulder? Why doesn’t Richard pull Ben aside before Locke and Ben go trekking in the woods and say, “Hey, Ben, we both know that you have never been before Jacob so let’s stop pretending…Oh! And, by the way, the REAL place to find Jacob is at the foot of the statue, not the cabin! HAHA!”
Remember, in season 5, it was Richard, not Ben, that lead Flocke and co. to the statue. Ben had no idea that Jacob was even there. (Wasn’t that a kick in the pants for Ben?!)
So, here’s my theory:
We all know that Richard follows Ben’s orders. But, Richard is certainly a disgruntled employee (and that’s putting it mildly). Richard helps Locke take Ben to task. Richard makes quips about how Ben’s obsession with the whole no-island-pregnancy issue is getting all of them away from the true mission. And Richard obviously was holding his tongue when he saved Ben’s life by shooting Keamy---“My pleasure.” Yeah…not so much.
To some extent, Jacob knew that Ben would be an agent for MIB. Jacob assigned Richard to follow Ben’s order with any leader of The Others. Richard has obliged, but wasn’t happy following orders from the man who would eventually become MIB’s pawn. As we know, Jacob never summoned Ben. Instead, Richard ferried notes and conversations between the two. That kept Jacob safe until it was time for Jacob to pull his “Obi-Wan-strike-me-down-and-I’ll-be-more-powerful-than you-could-ever-imagine” trick. So, I venture to say that Ben is MIB’s right hand man (unknowingly, of course) as Richard is Jacob’s.
For further proof...remember Widmore saying, "I know what you are, boy!" (or something to that effect). Well, what if Widmore knows that Ben is MIB's pawn too?
The question then is: How much of what is going to play out with this “war” does Richard already know? Does Richard know that Jacob “touched” certain Losties?
Sometimes I think Richard knows so much…and then it seems like he is just as shocked about things as our Losties.
P.S. to Lost Dbutz, the kids and I are doing just fine; thanks for asking! ;)
