Jack Will Be the Hero - But NOT Jacob by LostInHouse

I am reposting my theory about Jack fulfilling his Destiny because it is not translating the way I wanted it to.

Let me start off by stating that for sure, Jack is the hero. His journey from being a man of science to becoming a man of faith has been one of the most important and fulfilling character arcs on the show, and it still has a very important role to play. Jack still has to keep the faith for what is coming.

Whether or not Jack is following logic or faith he is a natural leader, and as long as he is confident, those who believe in him will follow.

Many of you have said that there is nothing redeemable or heroic about dropping a nuke. But what if dropping that nuke enabled the beginning of the end of the MIB's destructive path?

Think about how seemingly impossible it was for Season 1-4 Jack Shephard to get to a place in his head where he would say to Kate just before dropping the nuke:

"If you wanna save Claire, this is the only way to do it. Nothing.... nothing in my life has ever felt so right. And... [sighs] I just need you to believe that."

Jack seems confused with his faith at the moment because he can not see the consequences of his actions. Sawyer and Miles are the only ones who got the clue from Juliet..."It worked".

This is why dropping the nuke DOES bring Jack to hero status:

It starts with Faraday and his Journal.

Daniel Faraday is the quantum physics mastermind behind everything. But, he never lived long enough to see some of his biggest theories tested.

Lets go to the Variable in Season 5:

FARADAY: Who told you to get on a plane?
JACK: As a matter of fact, Dan, it was your mother.
FARADAY: [Sighs] And how did she convince you, Jack? Did she tell you it was your destiny?
JACK: Yeah. That's exactly what she said.
FARADAY: Well, I got some bad news for you, Jack. You don't belong here at all. She was wrong.

At this time, I had believed all things Faraday. I had started to doubt Jack. I was thinking that if Locke had been wrong about being "special" then it was possible that Jack was wrong about what his destiny was. When Jack dropped the Nuke and nothing happened, I thought oh, great, Faraday was right.

But Eloise Hawking was right. It WAS Jack’s destiny. She knew, what Daniel didn’t, that she would shoot and kill her son, and that their new man of faith would have to take over what Daniel came to the island to do.

Why was Daniel trying to detonate a hydrogen bomb? He said that he was going to destroy the Swan station, prevent the plane crash etc... But I think that Daniel was after a different result.

Back to the Season 5 The Variable:

ELOISE: Your gift, Daniel, is your mind--a mind that is meant for science, mathematics. And it's my... job to keep you on your path. So... unfortunately, there's no more time...
ELOISE: ...for distractions.
DANIEL: But I want to keep playing the piano. I can do both. I can make time.
ELOISE: If only you could.

By now, we all know that the 1977 bomb somehow created and alternate reality. What we don’t know, is which reality is the alternate?

My idea is that it created this island time. This opportunity to correct something that went horribly wrong. It only ends once. Anything up until then is progress. MIB already left the island once. When he does, everything starts all over again. MIB is tired. It always ends the same.

Faraday / Jacob figured out a way to create a loophole of their own. Everything that our Losties have known, and how they have been treated in their life in this timeline has led them to the island to do the very things that they have done. Is this the life they were supposed to live? NO. But they will never see the life they were supposed to live if MIB leaves the island. Desmond will help them see the lives that they are supposed to be living and why they are there, and what they need to do.

I honestly don't believe that Jack will be the new Jacob. My guess is that he is going to play a key role in protecting the actual candidate.

I Know, BELIEVE Me, I Know. But, Hear me out. The only way MIB can leave the island is if Jacob, and all of his possible replacements are dead. It seems that the rules are that MIB can not kill the candidates himself. This leaves the very real possiblility that they will have to kill each other. Why would they do that? With Desmond's help, some of them will see that they have a better world to move on to than others. Which world will cease to exist if MIB leaves the island? Which one will each choose?

Who will be Jacob? My guess is that the rules state that the last one standing, the last surviving candidate becomes "Jacob" and prevents MIB from leaving the island, and preserves the alternate reality. The last one to sacrifice themselves doesn't become Jacob, but actually becomes the real hero. I think that the last two people standing will have to be Jack and Kate. They will protect each other with their lives. But who will sacrifice? That person will be Jack. He has a son, and a good life to look forward to. So far, Kate has nothing.

"Dammit Kate, RUN!!!" = "Dammit Kate, Shoot". Jack would never kill Kate.

Besides, who said being Jacob was a good thing? Jack deserves Better.

Of course, If Desmond somehow wipes out MIB Is there a need for a new Jacob?