Jacob’s Touch & Richard’s Sentiments
After a wonderful episode of LOST this evening – who doesn’t love a good episode about Ben Linus – we learned some really great stuff!
Those whom Jacob touches are given a gift. To Richard, this gift is a curse. This gift – whether it is some form of immortal life or not, we aren’t entirely certain – prevents a person who has been touched by Jacob from killing his or herself. This is why Richard could not kill himself. This is why Jack did not die when he lit the dynamite. This is why Locke failed to kill himself after he left the island. This is also why Michael could not kill himself – it means Jacob, at some point, touched him.
Now, I believe that this ‘gift-giving’ has implications for the relationship between Jacob and the MIB. Here are a few things:
– The Smoke Monster’s incarnation of Locke is different because of the fact that he took over the body of someone who was blessed by Jacob. This is why the incarnation is permanent.
– It is also possible that the MIB was ‘blessed’ by Jacob. After all the time the Smoke Monster has spent trying to get off the island, he may have tried to kill himself to end it all. But, perhaps he cannot kill himself because Jacob came to him when he was a man and ‘blessed’ him. His ability to transform into a pillar of Smoke might also be a side effect of this gift. Maybe.
– Another fleeting thought I had explains why Jacob and MIB cannot kill each other. Perhaps Jacob and MIB are brothers or consist of the same entity and are gifted. They cannot kill each other because it would be a form of suicide. This is why the MIB gets Ben to kill Jacob. Not entirely sure though – just throwing it out there.
Thoughts?
Here are some other confirmations we received this week:
– There are six candidates left. These are my guesses: Kwon, Shephard, Reyes, Austen, Sawyer, … and… (Linus, Lapidas, Straume(?)…) Sayid is no longer a candidate because he has been claimed. I’m not sure if Sawyer and Kate have been.
– Richard came to the island on the Black Rock. This means he does not actually come from Ancient Egypt (which was my hope) – at best, he dates from the mid 1800s.
Yes, all of this makes sense but I don’t believe Jacob and MIB are of the same entity. It is interesting to know that MIB is stuck in the form of Locke because he was a candidate. And now Jack is becoming more of a faith based person, which is getting more and more interesting as the story unravels. Also, Widmore is back! Hell yeah!
So now there are two sides…and there had better be an explanation down the road about what the origin of the island is…or I’m going to be pissed!
So gutted that our Egyptian theories on the eyeliner didn’t pan out…
Pretty sure Sayid is the sixth candidate Ilana is speaking of. She doesn’t know that he’s been claimed.
I think Kate is the sixth candidate. Her name was not crossed out on the wheel and although she went with Locke, she doesn’t seemed to be “claimed.” Also, I would think that Ilana knows that Sayid is infected since Ben told her that he killed Dogen. (I am still hoping that the sixth is somehow the real Locke but probably not)
i’d assume that sayid is the sixth candidate as ilana asked where he was.
i was also thinking that everyone who was touched by jacob must have some sort of gift, i originally thought it would be agelessness like richard’s, but then i remembered that sawyer and kate met jacob when they were little.
could hurley’s gift be that he can’t die? he’s been in an awful lot of situations where he’s had lucky escapes!
Would not Richard be considered a candidate? He was touched by Jacob.
i immediately thought of michael during the episode as well. jack is turning into a man of faith…i believe jacob’s little plan is working out nicely.
not only is he becoming a man of faith, but is instilling the same faith in others (like Richard). This is very Locke-like from earlier seasons…and perhaps on the path to be Jacob’s replacement.
Yeah, Jack is becoming a little more likeable… He seems to have turned Richard back towards the light, so to speak, and away from his suicidal thoughts by showing him that even though Jacob is dead his plan is still in motion… Richard’s life hasn’t been for nothing.
I would say that Hurley’s gift is seeing and communicating with the dead. He even told Jacob that he sees it as a curse, just like Richard says he sees his gift as a curse. Jack’s gift seems to be healing. Sayid’s gift is, ummm… heightened agility? Sawyer’s gift maybe has to do with manipulation, kind of like the Jedi mind trick… Kate’s gift is obviously increased promiscuity and superhuman shoulder strength.
There are lots of characters with gifts. Walt obviously had a gift… Miles has a Hurley-like gift, only not quite as cool.
Was anyone else just really happy for Ben last night? I think last night’s episode strengthens the case for the alternate timeline kind of defining the side taken by the characters in the on-island timeline. Dr. Linus decided to do the right thing and on the island he turned away from a chance to go with Locke and become the island’s protector (assuming Locke was being truthful) and firmly installed himself with Team Jacob.
Oh, and I think that Jack being able to bring Richard back to his faith makes a strong case for Jack being the new Jacob. Richard once followed Jacob faithfully, but now maybe he’ll be following Jack in the same way…
Kate’s shoulders are back in the forum! You just reminded me of something else we learned…that Ben DID go to the island with the dharma initiative. So how did they get off in time?
I really like this post, well done!
Maybe the sinking of the island happened gradually, over time…
I get the feeling though that in this timeline Roger Linus isn’t a dick. It sounds like he went to the island with Ben’s best interests in mind and maybe the DI didn’t deliver what they promised so they had a falling out and left.
I’m fairly certain now that Sayid is NOT a candidate – Ilana knows that Sayid murdered Dogen and Lennon. It leaves Reyes, Shephard, Austen, Ford, and Kwon. The mystery then is who the sixth candidate is. I looked at the list of names from the mirror and Linus is crossed out. I’m leaning towards Lapidas. I’m fairly certain it’s why Ilana has been carting him around everywhere and protecting him. It could also be Miles because he has a special gift – Jacob could have touched him. Definitely not Jarrah any more.
Roland – I wondered about that, too. He is the only one who is ‘eternal’.
highbrow, you’re right. Sidewaysville seems to be their true character/choice parallel in ‘DidntWorkVille’
Ilana is unclear as to weather or not Lapidas is a candidate. Maybe she’s counting him, just in case. If she knows anything about his story then she knows that the island wants him there.
Could also be Aaron. Maybe Jacob took the form of some fish and had Jin feed him to Claire and he touched Aaron while he was in there…
lastnights epi gave away quite alot, albeit through passing comments.
I also thought of Micheals inability to kill himself off island, and was also reminded of Jacks suicidal attempt to jump off that bridge that was ‘stopped’.
I’m liking how new things are starting to explain alot of other stuff, but does that mean that Jack and co cannot age aswell??
I definately agree that there is a strong suggestion that Richard came to the island on the Black Rock but keep in mind he never actually said that he did.They seem to like to play the indirects dialog game kinda leaving their options open. would not surprise me either way though. Just learned not to assume anything with this show. Also I’m not sure if I can agree with you about the point of ole’ smokie took over Lockes body. Seems like he is just taking on his appearence as we have seen Lockes body lying on the beach and Ole’ Smokie walked right past him.
@highbrow:
About Roger & Ben going to the island and then returning home… Roger was very sick, just like Miles’ mom after leaving the island. I wonder if there is a connection or if this was just a way for the writers to show us Roger & Ben have a decent off-island relationship.
@foreverpuzzled:
I noticed that when Richard entered the ship, he touched a pair of empty handcuffs almost like he was reminiscing. This to me suggested he did come to the island on the Black Rock, especially when in S5 MIB says to Jacob on the beach “you brought them here” with a ship in the distance that looked like the Black Rock.
I also think MIB chose to use Locke’s appearance because he was easy to persuade and because all the candidates knew him. If he could get in contact with them before they found out the real Locke was dead, he could use that to persuade others as well.
I read that even though it wasnt shown, kates name was in the cave and it was crossed out
Highbrow, I like your fish idea, it would add a nice twist 🙂
As for the Richard/Black Rock theories.. He said he hadnt been back to this ship since it first came (or something along those lines), so what if he saved someone from those chains (someone he loved maybe?) and got punished for it? Because he didn’t actually say he CAME on the ship, only that he’s been there before
Well, Nemesis says to Richard: “Good to see you out of those chains”(And Richard like mentioned – touching the chains as if he’s strolling down memory-lane)so I think we can lay that discussion to rest – He came on the Black Rock.
Moving on, I also thought of Michael not being able to kill himself – and more importantly(something I was never able to let go – nor understand what it meant until recently)Christians appearance to Michael on the Freighter!
As for Christian in general, I still think he exists(Even though some of his appearances may have been Nemesis, I don’t know)
But to Michael he presents himself as Christian and says: “You can go now”
I think he was setting him free.
And this is something I don’t think Nemesis could do, right?
I think the real Christian is bound to the Island mythology(the final Lost Missing Peices – I think is really important, watch if you haven’t)
Katie theories and AngiveL – both of you think that Richard’s touching of the chains in the Black Rock’s hold mean he definitively came form the Black Rock.
It could be that he was remembering MIB referring to his status as being in chains, and touching the chains as a marker for wanting to die- and truly break the chains of Jacob’s gift/curse. Still, I think his coming from the Black Rock is logical, but something else he said doesn’t sit right with that theory.
He said, while sitting inside a 19th century ship that he’s been alive for longer than Jack can imagine- or something like that (sorry I don’t remember the exact words and Lostpedia hasn’t gotten the entire transcript up yet)- I can definitely imagine someone being 180 years old. It’s a long time, but considering what everyone has seen and that everyone knows he’s been around awhile, 180 years and “longer than you can imagine” don’t seem like the same thing.
Maybe I’m just not ready to give up on Nestor Carbonell being a demi-god. 😉
I also thought of Michael right away when Richard said he couldn’t kill himself, I didn’t piece that together w/ Jack & jacob’s touch, and him lighting the dynamite…. It makes perfect sense… AWESOME…
Kate’s name isn’t crossed out she is just not one of the numbers…
This was by far my favorite episode this season. I don’t think it’s going out on much of a limb to say I believe Richard came on the Black Rock after what we saw last night. But that doesn’t mean he hadn’t been on the Island before the ships arrival. He could have been guiding the Black Rock to the Island. Coming to the Island would have been even more difficult in the 1800’s than now, which is hard enough. And for whatever reason Richard was put in chains on the way there.
I think this pretty much confirmed Rich came from the black rock. I had also personally thought he had been on the island MUCH longer…
i think he came on the black rock but that doesnt mean he hasnt been around longer than that. it may have all been part of his committment to Jacob. Maybe he was told he had to be on the ship, or was “pushed” towards it much like the current losties were pushed towards a course of action that got them on 815. Im thinking we will see the black rock sailing with richard “in chains” and then a flash will see them all of a sudden on/in the middle of the island. perhaps even an opening shot of richard laying on the grass and opening his eyes!!
This is a great theory, thanks for posting it. I think Jack is a likely candidate to replace Jacob and the fact that he is now more convinced of the magical powers of the Island is making him a likely candidate.
If I’m not mistaken, Jacob touched all the candidates on the shoulder. Jacob touching Jack was different than the others. The way he touched Jack giving him the candy bar was a lot like the painting of God giving life to Adam in the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo.
@ highbrow – just want to point out one thing though- hurley got his gift before jacob touched him
Yeah, that’s a good point… Maybe… ummm, maybe… I don’t know.
ALSO, IN THE EPISODE “DAVE” DAVE WAS ENCOURAGING HURLEY TO JUMP OFF THE CLIFF, LET’S SAY HURLEY DID JUMP HE WOULD OF BEEN OK AND WOULDN’T HAVE DIED, RIGHT? MY POINT BEING THAT EVEN AT THIS EARLY STAGE MIB WAS TAKING THE FORM OF OTHERS (DAVE IN THIS INSTANCE) AND TESTING THE LOSTIES TO SEE WHO WAS “TOUCHED BY JACOB”. BY DOING THIS WE CAN ALSO TAKE IT THAT MIB DIDN’T CARE WHO DIED OR SURVIVED. FOLKS THE SEEDS HAVE BEEN PLANTED BY THE WRITERS ALL ALONG! 😉
APART FROM THAT IT WAS A GREAT EPISODE, ESPECIALLY WITH KATE NOT BEING IN IT, JUST A PITY THEY TOLD US ALAN DALE WOULD BE IN IT AT THE START, DAMM, WHY DO THEY DO THAT??
Alan Dale was in it… at the end, in the submarine.
I think it’s more likely that Dave is someone dead that Hurley is communicating with than Dave being the smoke monster. Or maybe he’s just imaginary. At any rate it’s never been confirmed that Dave was the smoke monster… and actually, it seems unlikely that Dave is the smoke monster based on the way the writers have spoken about him… they refer to him as Hurley’s imaginary friend.
yea but when we are talking about Hurlys imaginary friends we are actually talking about people who were once living.There are other people that could have said the same thing Richard said about the Black Rock.I can’t remember who was there but I know Hurly was there and he could say that he had’nt been to the Black Rock since he first came to the island too and we know he did’nt come on the Black Rock.I think the writers sometimes try to send us down dead end roads purposefully to keep us guessing.Thats why I suggested that he may not have come to the island on the Black Rock because the conversation was suggestive but not confirming.As for his statement about the chains I still think he was speaking metaphorically.
I’m not so sure about the chains anymore… I had thought that he had meant that Richard was free of Jacob but now I don’t know…
The language Richard used was more suggestive than that… he said “And in all the time I’ve spend on this island, today is the first time I’ve ever come back.”
I think it’s pretty clear that Richard came to the island on the Black Rock. That’s how they give us that piece of information without going all the way into Richard’s origin story. It’s kind of a teaser, as if we weren’t looking forward to it enough already.
I MEANT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TOLD US THAT ALAN DALE WOULD BE IN THE EPISODE WHEN HIS NAME APPEARS AT THE START. THEY SHOULD KEEP IT AS A SUPRISE. PLUS WHERE’S DESMOND BEEN THIS LAST 2 EPISODES? HIS NAME HAS APPEARED AT THE START AND HE’S NOWHERE TO BE SEEN!
@ LEMURIA
I personally believe Dave is Libby’s dead husband…(ghost) I think this is a pretty popular theory..
and Jacob didn’t touch Hurley until after he left the island, so I guess he could have committed suicide…
I have 2 agree Highbrow, I didn’t want to believe Rich was from the black rock, but I think that made it really clear also…