Follow the Who?

    The most recent episode of LOST, "Follow the Leader," has us all wondering who holds this title.  Though thirty years apart, we again see the split leadership of Jack and John, who have a semi-reversal of roles with Jack talking about crazy illogical things like fate and destiny.  In case you didn't get that, Kate tried to clarify it with the brilliantly written line, "You know who you're beginning to sound like?"  Thanks for clearing that up, Kate!  Of course, we also have the god-like leadership of Jacob, who once again becomes the Holy Grail for John Locke.  Could it be that we are finally going to learn who Jacob really is?

    There is always the chance that Jacob is a new character.  He may be someone we've never seen before who has been looming in the shadows waiting to make his grand appearance, like the Wizard hiding from behind the curtain.  Don't forget the allusion to The Wizard of Oz earlier in the series - Ben first introduced himself as Henry Gale (Dorothy's Uncle Henry).  We all trust LOST to keep us interested and riveted, but we'd all be slightly disappointed if the revelation of Jacob was not someone we are familiar with.  Let's go through some options as to who Jacob could really be.

 

Jack Shephard

    Our fearless leader has once again proven that you just can't mess with him.  Though Kate has decided to give up on him and head back over to her back-up guy, Sawyer, Jack has convinced Sayid that perhaps he still has a few tricks up his heart-wearing sleeve.  Due to the time-travel element introduced this season, there are opportunities for everyone to actually be Jacob.  While it seems logical that Jack could become Jacob in 2007 after living from 1977 to the present, our audiences seem to forget that Jacob was in existence in 1977 already for what seems like a long time.  Richard Alpert, our timeless right-hand man has reference Jacob numerous times to the horse-riding Charles Widmore, bringing about a sense of respect not seen with anyone else.  Still, I can't help but think back to the odd visit between Jack and his granddad, who gave Jack his father's shoes that were eventually worn by the deceased John Locke.  Theories jumped around that Granddad was actually Jack.  If so, was he also Jacob, there is make sure that young Jack went back to the island?  Not so impossible, thanks to the record-skipping wheel opening the time-travelling door. 

 

Jack's Granddad

 

    Okay, stick with me for a minute.  He shows up to give Jack his father's shoes.  He doesn't discuss the island, but talks about destiny.  Soon after their meeting, Jack decides to head back.  What a coincedence that we meet Jack's grandfather at this important point in Jack's destiny.  Furthermore, if the grandfather is Jacob (God), his son is Christian Shephard (Christ / Shepherd), making Jack the son of Christ.  Though the Bible never addresses the grandson of God, LOST might just be taking the next step.      

 

John Locke

    How does John Locke just "know" things now?  Is it because he is in fact, Jacob.  Or is it that Jacob is taking the form of dead people by either entering their bodies or forming into their shape (ala Smokey)?  Either way, John Locke seems a little too confident.  Ben seems to think so, too.  Though it's doubtful that is really "following John," as he says, Ben does seem interested in nothing but where John Locke plans on taking his people.  But if John is Jacob, why does he want to "kill Jacob"?  Does he mean kill the idea of Jacob by showing everyone his true identity, like if Clark Kent showed Metropolis the Fortress of Solitude?  Ben and Richard seem very interested in John Locke right now, though they are not too happy about his blunt "I-don't-give-a-crap-what-you-think" style of leadership.  I personally loved the exchange:

Richard: I'm starting to think John Locke is going to be trouble.

Ben: Why do you think I tried to kill him?

This exchange seemed to show a true alliance between Ben and Richard and one that does not seem to include the new leader, John Locke. 

 

 

Richard Alpert

    Our ageless friend is too mysterious, don't you think?  It's about time we learn why he never ages (and what brand of eyeliner he purchases).  Since he is the only person who claims to have spoken to Jacob, it is reasonable to suspect that he is actually Jacob and his fears of John Locke lie in the fact that John Locke does not trust Jacob and is starting to create a rebellion against him.  If Richard does fall victim to the mutinous islanders, how does that affect the Richard of 1977?  Well, if Richard is in fact not ageless and just a time-travelling junkie, it might affect him colossally.  

 

Sawyer

    I never would have thought about Sawyer being Jacob until I watched the submarine containing him, Juliet, and Kate leave the island.  Side note: why did LOST all of a sudden become a cartoon when they showed the sub floating away?  Has the economy gotten so bad that ABC can't afford good computer graphics?  The guy in charge should be fired!  Anyway, if Sawyer leaves in 1977 and continues in the 70s and 80s, his story could continue with him going back to the island, travelling back further into the past and becoming the social-phobic leader, Jacob.  Furthermore, the same could be said for his two love interests.  Second Side note: Elizabeth Mitchell deserves an Emmy simply for the moment when Kate enters that sub.  Brilliant!

 

    The sad thing is that even though the water coolers are crowded with theories of who Jacob actually is, we might not find out in season five.  While I suspect the revelation of Jacob will be the "bomp" of the season, the producers might keep us dangling until the concluding season.  Either way, don't miss the Season Finale of LOST next Wednesday, and don't forget, it starts at 8:00!  Maybe we'll finally learn that Locke and Ben are brothers ...