Okay, first of all, we don't know how Cooper ended up on the island.
Was he working for DHARMA? Is he connected to Ben and born-on-island people? Was he captured and brought there? Who knows.

The question now is: is really a prisoner? or is he still conning Locke? Is he actually working with Ben or not or he is even working alone?

I think he is there so that Locke can get his revenge....There was a part of me thinking that he escaped to the island once he broke up with the lady...but once I saw him tied up I got the feeling that the others captured him for Lockes revenge

I thought that he was the "man from Tallahassee" that Ben spoke of to Richard. I wonder if the Others have other folks from our Losties past just for this type of occasion?

I had to vote for him being in charge, maybe Jacob. I wanted to make a million options but tried to just keep it simple. I seriously have no clue but my gut feeling is that this is STILL another con.
If he really did skip to Mexico and then immediately disappeared, I bet he basically immediately went to the island. Which makes me think that he is the man in charge.
100%
Yes, he is the man from Tallahassee that Ben spoke of. That doesn't mean that Cooper isn't conning. It was a total cryptic message that Ben gave Alpert.

None of the above.

Cooper came from "the box" aka "the smoke monster".

Shoot, I didn't think of that option!!! Dammit! I wonder if I can change my poll?

Um, is I don't know an ok answer? :rolleyes:

Cooper certainly looked scared, but we know he is a master conman. He and Ben certainly have that in common. I think Ben really wants Locke to stay with the Others, so he can learn about the island's healing properties. (Wait until Ben finds out about Rose! :eek:)

Gosh, I can't wait to see this one play out.

Didn't you guys just love the look in Cooper's eyes? He looked like he was gonna Sh** his pants!!

I don't see a poll. :confused:

I voted I don't know but before this reveal my gut instinct was that Cooper was Jacob and was really the master in charge like some kind of charismatic cult leader. I wasn't expecting to see him tied up like a prisoner. Either I'm being conned or now I'm not so sure.

Answers, and more questions.

I can't decide on this one, it's so hard to say, I definitely thin Ben is manipulating Locke, but I'm not sure if Cooper is involved or not. :confused:

I think they've left this ambiguous, so some of us would wonder if Cooper DID magically turn up in that "box"!!

I don't know, though.

I do think that this question will be answered rather quickly, for LOST. Maybe in the next few eppys. Ben could be testing if Locke's "communion" with the Island would overcome his anger and desire for revenge.

Would like to see Cooper get SOME kind of payback for all he's done, though!

I'm not really committed to one answer, but now that the poll is back, I voted for the con. Locke has always been manipulated by his father. Why have that change now?

I also still think LaShade (Billy Dee Williams' character) is Jacob.

I do think that this question will be answered rather quickly, for LOST. Maybe in the next few eppys. Ben could be testing if Locke's "communion" with the Island would overcome his anger and desire for revenge.

I totally agree.

I voted "I don't know" 'cause well, I don't know :D

It is somewhat interesting that Ben seemed to be a "captive" at first just like Cooper seems to be now, then later Ben turns out to be the leader, what's Cooper gonna turn out to be?

Oh, good, I'm glad the poll is back. I didn't know it went missing. Must have been a server load issue.
I'm gonna PM a mini and see if I can add a poll option about the "box."
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Thanks, Diabolo237, for adding that last poll option!

If he was smoky, then smoky sure looked scared and surprised.

The box, totally. I don't feel like he is conning Locke, I believe he was just taken that night. Hasn't Locke been conned enough by Anthony, I think it would be bad writing on their part if Anthony was in on this. Much better writing if the box brought him there that night against his will and in total shock.

I think Cooper is a prisoner but the conman is Ben, not Cooper, for this scenario.

I think Cooper is a prisoner but the conman is Ben, not Cooper, for this scenario.

I like this option the best if for no other reason than Locke has suffered enough at the hands of his father. But Ben is too twisty for it not to be a con of some sort.

I think the Others captured Cooper as a bargaining chip with Locke. My guess is that the Others are very interested in understanding Locke's symbiotic relationship with the island (why he's healed and "special") and want to keep him in Otherville until they sort it out. Of course, once they figure out why Locke has a special relationship with the island, I'm sure Ben will toss him aside.

They probably knew that Walt was special, too, and hoped he could help them tap into the island's power. Perhaps Walt's power didn't work in the way they thought so they let him go.

The long con is still on.....

'Cooper' is a con man, so if they had him over a barrel, he would know when to hold or when fold. He would not opt for a real beating.
Therefore I would say its all a setup for John

Captive of the Others, but normally roams free. He's just following Ben's orders to con Locke.

I think that after the plane crashed and the "others" had all the information on the survivors, they went and "got" Anthony and brought him to the island in hopes of a scenerio just like this.

First off, that whole "magic box" thing is the most obvious con so far. As in, Sawyer's pacemaker type of con.

Secondly, I bet Ben had him brought to the island for just this kind of purpose. He knows a lot about all the Losties.

Also, remember how Ben said they picked Juliette because she looked like Jack's ex-wife? Ben is not above playing on peoples emotions to get what he wants. Which at this point seems to be the very short-sighted goal of walking again.

There was no option for "He was running free, but is now at the mercy of the Ben and the Others", so I voted 'I don't know'.

Watch, he will wind up being Jacob or something.

"I wonder if the Others have other folks
from our Losties past just for this type of occasion?"

i was wondering the same thing.

it was the way ben said, "bring me the man from..."
as if he was making a distinction between
locke's dad and others who may be held captive.

i am thinking that there may be more who were
brought there.
afterall, ben does know a lot about the losties.

**********************************

"just because you're wearing cowboy boots
doesn't mean you can ride a horse."

from: really inportant stuff my kids have taught me
by cynthia copeland lewis

Right now I'm going with the Smokey guess...though "I have no idea" was a close second :)

If Cooper does turn out to be Jacob and is involved in the con, it will be an interesting parallel to Ben who was also first seen on the island as a prisoner of sorts, just as Cooper appears captured.

Cooper being Jacob would be a big disappointment but i don't think it's going to happen anyway, you can't be part-time leader of an ominous group and do some conning in your free-time ;)

I think he was brought on the island by the others. When Ben was imprisoned in the hatch he said to John that he came to recruit him - so Cooper could be a part of this recruitment process and therefore already been on the island for a while.

Cooper = master manipulator

Ben = master manipulator

No way this is what it appears to be. Locke's being conned big time.

I think there is NO WAY that Cooper is Him/Jacob.

Everyone who refers to Jacob mentions him as a brilliant man. Cooper has probably never worked an honest day in his life and preys on the weakness of others for short term gratification.

I hope Ben brought Cooper to island as a test for Locke, I don't think my brain can assimilate a "long con" or Cooper is in charge, or something else. Isn't there a certain point where maintaining simplicity is the best option. If not, the writers are taking chances, you can't just keep adding new material without closing some of the other questions.

Combo of all of the above :)

Cooper came to the island - fairly recently - courtesy of the "box"/island magic or by "the others" means (sub?). He is a captive of the others to be used to manipulate Locke. BUT I bet Cooper finds some way to join forces or manipulate the situation in his own way.