Is it just me, or does Cooper's voice sounds different? Sounds like he was talking with an accent we havent heard before. Sounds more Southern.

Is it just me, or does Cooper's voice sounds different? Sounds like he was talking with an accent we havent heard before. Sounds more Southern.

I absolutely agree. He never had a southern accent in earlier episodes. And it was noticable tonight.

Yeah, it was southern. I didn't like it. It seemed way too forced, like the actor couldn't really do the accent, but for that scene he needed to...

I noticed that as well. I wondered why, considering he's never had a southern twang to his voice before.

me too, mabye that was his real voice and it was breaking out more due to how he was trying to play the character. does anyone know where Kevin Teigh is from?

I noticed it too. Maybe he used that accent as part of his con of Sawyer's mom who lived in Alabama, and it unconciously came out as he was reminded of that time.

I definitely noticed it. It was very obvious in this episode, more so than the rest.

It was way more Southern sounding than usual. It was so strange, actually, that it occurred to me that it might not really be Cooper. In fact, I'm still not sure that it's Cooper. Isn't it possible that it could have been impersonator? A big con. The costumes again?
Maybe just wishful thinking on my part. I think this whole plot was a little too contrived and too easy to figure out.

Since many people other than me noticed that his voice sounded weird, much more Southern sounding than normal, I'm going out on a limb and asking if anyone else thinks that might have been someone pretending to be Cooper. It occurred to me that maybe it was someone in theatrical makeup.

I mean, I know, that's kind of crazy. And if that was revealed next week, a lot of people would be really mad and feel mislead. But for me, it just seemed way too obvious that Sawyer was going to kill Cooper, that Locke and Sawyer would learn the connection, and that when Locke said he kidnapped Ben that it was really that he kidnapped Cooper.

So, I thought that maybe the Others needed someone else killed, or it was a test for *that* person to see if that person would willing die for the greater good or something.

I know it's really far-fetched, but maybe you can see some good ideas within my theory? :rolleyes:

could be laura, allot of people thought he might be smokie, but i think after sawyers beg moment, allot of people will feel betrayed (is that the right word to use???) by that, i know damon and carlton wouldnt want to take such a huge moment away from the viewers.

When he was "taken" he was in Florida. The accent may have been part of his con he was playing at the time he was whisked away to the island. Now why it would stick, I don't know....but still...could be where it came from.

Was it Smokey being Cooper to test Saywer?

Smokey. Hadn't even thought of that! Now, I feel dumb. durr.....

But yes, I agree it would take so much away from Sawyer's moment, so I doubt they'll go in that direction.....
head scratcher for me.

Yes. If it is not the real Cooper, that would be awful. Just some random person killed by Sawyer? No thanks.

The same thing crossed my mind, LostLaura.. That this might be a test, and that Cooper was possibly an apparition conjured up by the island... I mean, the guy's an idiot - but his baiting seemed a bit taunting..

I think it was the real Cooper. There's been way too much build up of that storyline for this episode not to be the payoff.

Like any other part of a good con, I'm sure he's able to alter his accent when he wants. It might be his real accent, or it might be that he tried to mimic Sawyer's southern drawl to create empathy.

I really hope it was the real Cooper. I never thought of that, though! It would really be sad if it wasn't. So...I think it was.

I thougth maybe the real Sawyer was comming out since he thought he was dead, he was just being himself, whoever that is?

Yeah, so here's the thing. I agree that there was tons of build up and that it would be a letdown for so many people.

But why was Cooper freakining BAITING them??? Did he really, truly believe that he was already in hell, so it wouldn't matter, because he was already dead? It was so weird!

I too thought there was something odd about Cooper. I told my wife that I didn't think that it was really him.
100%
Yeah, so here's the thing. I agree that there was tons of build up and that it would be a letdown for so many people.

But why was Cooper freakining BAITING them??? Did he really, truly believe that he was already in hell, so it wouldn't matter, because he was already dead? It was so weird!

It was very Dark Tower. In one of the books, we learn that one of the characters ends up in the world they're in after suffering a fatal accident. One minute, he was in his everyday life, then the accident happened and he wakes up in the world that has passed on that the main character exists in and where the story takes place.

Was it Smokey being Cooper to test Saywer?

I have to admit this crossed my mind as well.

And that Smokey would not know what his voice sounded like.

Yes. The accent was definitely more southern. I watched the scene and got the impression Locke's dad was trying to humiliate Sawyer and incite anger
(kinda like what Darth Vader did to Luke Skywalker...provoking a fight).

I thought it was weird how Cooper bit him, after Ben warned Locke away from him. Cooper just seemed off tonight.

Yes, the biting! I forgot about that lostgurl. Very weird. Very weird.

I agree. Con Cooper gave it up much too easily. His voice was off, he was taunting both Locke and James. Something was just too weird about that episode.

I noticed it too. Maybe he used that accent as part of his con of Sawyer's mom who lived in Alabama, and it unconciously came out as he was reminded of that time.

I believe that is correct, he tried out a southern accent to try to con Sawyer.

Don

OMG come on people. You know as I was driving home after the episode I knew, I just knew that someone was going to say that maybe that wasn't the real Cooper. Anyone who is saying that, that's not the real Cooper is just trying to look for something that is not there. I mean saying that we could also say that Ben's not really Ben because he can walk not. That Locke isn't Locke because the real one is kinapped by Ben and co.

I mean come on people, let's stop coming up with the craziest idea's just to come up with them. For it to not be the real Cooper would be the worst idea ever on TV. What would the point be of it not being the real Copper? None I tell you.

It was the real Cooper end of story.

I think the whole southern accent Cooper was using was really to mock Sawyer while he read the letter. I think Cooper is just a major jack-A who will taunt everyone and anyone, no matter whatever "dire straights" situation he is in.

Or, if it really was Smokey (ala Yemi) in Cooper form. That would explain the southern accent when talking to Sawyer. Sawyer didn't know how Coopers voice sounded, so he conjured it up, through Smokey, as southern like his own. So that MIGHT not have been Cooper after all. Or not. Because of the whole Talahassee story.

It's interesting that no one is questioning the story Cooper told about how he got on the island to begin with. He said he died, which lines up with Naomi telling the beach folks that they died. So that means no one is dead, except Cooper, but he's dead because Sawyer killed him, but Sawyer is supposed to be dead. They used submarines with little cameras on them for crying out loud!!

It makes perfect sense.

Come on.

:dizzy:

I don't know whether having more than one person arrive at the same conclusion from totally different directions provides more substantiation to the theory, but I myself was involved in another thread discussing why Locke had to kill Cooper, when it suddenly occurred to me that a lot of things would make sense if that was not really Cooper to begin with... So, put me down as supporting this theory for now at least until we get more evidence or new thinking on the matter. I agree with the biting thing, too - to me Cooper was acting almost as if he was a computer program designed to respond to others by reacting against them in as vicious a manner as possible. This would not be the wisest course of action for a true Con Man, who would try to sidle up to his captors in the hopes of conning them into letting him go, instead of deliberately provoking them to the point of making one of them angry enough to kill him.

OMG come on people. You know as I was driving home after the episode I knew, I just knew that someone was going to say that maybe that wasn't the real Cooper. Anyone who is saying that, that's not the real Cooper is just trying to look for something that is not there. I mean saying that we could also say that Ben's not really Ben because he can walk not. That Locke isn't Locke because the real one is kinapped by Ben and co.

I mean come on people, let's stop coming up with the craziest idea's just to come up with them. For it to not be the real Cooper would be the worst idea ever on TV. What would the point be of it not being the real Copper? None I tell you.

It was the real Cooper end of story.

So, do you think Yemi was really Yemi also. They showed in that episode Smokey(or the Island) can do alot of things we dont know abaout.

I don't think it was unconcious. I see it as he believed he was those different people and each had their own personalities and with that had accents. It seemed to be stronger once he realized that he remembered Jasper, AL and Sawyer's mother.

Yeah I just got the feeling he started talking like that after Sawyer asked him if he had ever been to Alabama...I don't know if he was making fun or unconciously doing it, but I noticed it too.

OMG come on people. You know as I was driving home after the episode I knew, I just knew that someone was going to say that maybe that wasn't the real Cooper. Anyone who is saying that, that's not the real Cooper is just trying to look for something that is not there. I mean saying that we could also say that Ben's not really Ben because he can walk not. That Locke isn't Locke because the real one is kinapped by Ben and co.

I mean come on people, let's stop coming up with the craziest idea's just to come up with them. For it to not be the real Cooper would be the worst idea ever on TV. What would the point be of it not being the real Copper? None I tell you.

It was the real Cooper end of story.

Normally I would agree, but why would Ben warn Locke to stand back when the guy is tied up to a chair, with a gag in his mouth? It's not like Cooper is a young, fit badass to be scared of, even if he wasn't tied to a chair. What would there be to be fearful of? And as soon as the gag is out, he bites at Locke like some wild dog? It was just weird.

I don't know whether having more than one person arrive at the same conclusion from totally different directions provides more substantiation to the theory, but I myself was involved in another thread discussing why Locke had to kill Cooper, when it suddenly occurred to me that a lot of things would make sense if that was not really Cooper to begin with... So, put me down as supporting this theory for now at least until we get more evidence or new thinking on the matter. I agree with the biting thing, too - to me Cooper was acting almost as if he was a computer program designed to respond to others by reacting against them in as vicious a manner as possible. This would not be the wisest course of action for a true Con Man, who would try to sidle up to his captors in the hopes of conning them into letting him go, instead of deliberately provoking them to the point of making one of them angry enough to kill him.

Except he wasn't trying to con anyone. He believed he was 100% dead. The 1st person he saw after he blacked out was Locke who was reported dead. He belived he was in hell with Locke and that he was dead. Why would he con in hell, it makes no sense. It was the real Cooper.

How many times does Sawyer have to kill someone he thinks is the real Sawyer?

I think he was just putting on the accent to torment and mock Sawyer more - stick the knife in deeper and deeper. Cooper is quite the slime-bucket!

There is a very real chance Cooper had to die so Ben could bring him back to life before John's eyes. Very real chance of that happening!!

I thought he was putting it on strongly since he could tell "our Sawyer" was Southern. I believe that some cons will immediately mimic the accent of someone they're talking to, to get that person to sympathise with, and ultimately be easier to con.

I was thinking back to other eps that Kevin was in, and I'm pretty sure he didn't have a Southern accent in the other ones. It was easily noticeable in this one, though, since so many picked up on it.

My take is that he was being "sarcastic" towards Sawyer by assuming the accent. Like he was "adapting" his demeanor to Sawyer's.

The thing that bothered me was that he acted almost "wild" - of course I might be a little onthe wild side too if I was abducted on I-10 and woke up on the Island with my dead son looking me in the face.

But I thought - when he bit Locke's hand - "he's gone MAD! MAD I TELL YOU!!!" :biggrin:

I dont know... but he was being extremely sarcastic for being in the situation he was...

How many times does Sawyer have to kill someone he thinks is the real Sawyer?

Until he realizes he doesn't have to seek revenge?

Since many people other than me noticed that his voice sounded weird, much more Southern sounding than normal, I'm going out on a limb and asking if anyone else thinks that might have been someone pretending to be Cooper. It occurred to me that maybe it was someone in theatrical makeup.

I mean, I know, that's kind of crazy. And if that was revealed next week, a lot of people would be really mad and feel mislead. But for me, it just seemed way too obvious that Sawyer was going to kill Cooper, that Locke and Sawyer would learn the connection, and that when Locke said he kidnapped Ben that it was really that he kidnapped Cooper.

So, I thought that maybe the Others needed someone else killed, or it was a test for *that* person to see if that person would willing die for the greater good or something.

I know it's really far-fetched, but maybe you can see some good ideas within my theory? :rolleyes:

LostLaura, I have my doubts that it's really Cooper. If the "Box" is metaphorical, I question if what it conjures up is more than a likeness.

I don't think in Eko's death scene that Yemi was the real Yemi, and I have doubts that Cooper is the real thing too. Not sure, but I have serious doubts.

So, do you think Yemi was really Yemi also. They showed in that episode Smokey(or the Island) can do alot of things we dont know abaout.


No Yemi was the smoke monster because

1. we saw Yemi die
2. we saw his dead bobdy
3. we saw Eko burn his body


So no way that could have been Yemmi.



But to saw Cooper was the smoke monster is like saying Jack is the smoke monster because he is acting off. Cooper acted just normal for a guy who believed, honestly believed he was in hell. Why on earth we he not bite LOcke who was in hell with him. Why would he not goad Locke and Sawyer when he already believed he was dead like he stated to Sawyer. Cooper has been an *** from day one, so why do people think that just because he was an *** now is any different. Really, there is nothing on the show to even hint at Cooper not being the real Cooper.

Finally the Other's are scared of the smoke monster as Juliet showed in LB. They use the fence to keep it away. So why suddenly now is the monster working for not only the Other's but also Ben. It makes absolutly no sense why the smkoe monster days ago was trying to kill the Other's but is suddenly now taking orders from Ben to pretend he is Cooper and get Locke to kill him, no wait, for Sawyer to kill him.

People are just making up ideas now. There is not 1 shred of evidence to indicate that Cooper was anyone but the real Cooper.

why would the apparition retain form AFTER he was killed??? smokey left after becoming "yemi" then killing Ecko... that doesn't make sense

That was cooper there, and he really did die. His voice probably sounded off because oh, I don't know, he was run off the road, hit a guardrail, and was kidnapped and tied up and put in a room where he just kept yelling into the gag in his mouth. That strain would affect anyone's voice.

He talked cocky too because, well, he thought he was already dead, he thought he was in Hell. Cooper felt he had nothing left to lose being a jerk to Sawyer...

he was wrong however.

Normally I would agree, but why would Ben warn Locke to stand back when the guy is tied up to a chair, with a gag in his mouth? It's not like Cooper is a young, fit badass to be scared of, even if he wasn't tied to a chair. What would there be to be fearful of? And as soon as the gag is out, he bites at Locke like some wild dog? It was just weird.


So let me get this straight. You get in an accident, and before everything goes black the paramedics give you a smile. You then wake up in a dark room bound and gagged and the first perosn you see is your dead son who you threw from an 8 story window. Now please tell me what was an approriote response? The guy thought he was in hell and being held prisoner by his dead son who was going to seek revenge on him. HIs actions make perfect sense.

I kept waiting for him to turn into the Smoke monster. Having lived in various parts of the South all my life, nothing annoys me more than a fake southern accent. I never noticed it in any of his previous episodes.

Yes, that was strange and quite obvious since so many people noticed it. It must have been on purpose that he suddenly got a strong southern accent. I am curious to hear what TPTB would have to say about this and what, exactly, it meant or represented.

I'm glad it wasnt just me that noticed that.

I dont think its really an indication that hes not really Cooper. It would kill such a great moment if it wasnt Cooper, and id be a little pissed. But I like the idea that he's mimicing Sawyer, it seems like something a con man would naturally do.

I agree. Con Cooper gave it up much too easily. His voice was off, he was taunting both Locke and James. Something was just too weird about that episode.

Or it could have just been because Cooper was losing his mind because he believed he was truly in hell. He's in Hell, how could it get any worse?

I thought the same thing...he seemed really animated...spoke with an accent...of course..he is who he wants people to think he is at that moment..he is a con.

His facial expressions reminded me of Jack Nicholson as the Joker..that crazed look and goofy grin were really creepy.

That was Cooper. The southern accent was his being just evil and taunting. When you see other tv or movies and the character is wanting to push your buttons the actor will use some inflection in his voice. Cooper had no roots he was a total con always moving and always conning. He was trying to con Sawyer (James Ford) even after he knew who James Ford was he pushed him with that nasty type southern slang talk (sluring we call it in Kentucky).

OP

omg. c'mon!!!! digging holes where is not meant to be dug. what purpose would it serve if it wasnt the original cooper. absolutely nothing.

I like running away with these theories as much as anyone, but Occam's Razor is in play here for sure.

Either:

1. He was trying to build empathy with Sawyer (can we start calling him James now?)

2. He was in the South. The only time we have seen him previously was in flashbacks, possibly BEFORE he had an accent.

3. Or he's the Sawyer from an ALTERNATE TIMELINE ooouoououuhuhohuuo (insert ghost scary noises here). :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

I think its 2.

cooper definitely started using the accent ONLY when he talked to sawyer. i just quickly sped through the episode and he definitely did not have an accent when he talked to locke in two prior scenes.
i'm with the theory that he put on the accent to taunt sawyer. the other possibility, however, is that he put on the accent to help sawyer make the connection about who is really is.
i found something definitely odd about his behavior and his story. if he thinks he's in hell, who was he yelling for to help him when he had the gag in? why did he start to smile when sawyer was figuring out who he was? why was he practically begging locke to kill him (because even in hell i think being stabbed would hurt)?
i agree he may not really be cooper. anything is possible. and it could serve a point for the others, since they appear to be trying to manipulate the losties into doing things that are out of character for them. just don't ask me why.

It wasn’t Cooper’s VOICE that was off, it was his speech. He never had an accent of any kind before but tonight, he was speaking half Kate Hepburn half Forrest Gump. He dropped an R off the end of a couple of words during the scene where he was tied to a pole. Later, during Sawyer’s interrogation, he dropped a few R’s before going into a more complete accent that I can’t identify.

I don’t think the accent was for Sawyer’s benefit because I saw no indication that Sawyer noticed it.

A few other points. Cooper may have believed he was dead, but he was clearly still able to feel pain. Why would he taunt the very peeps that had the power to hurt him? That is the LAST thing a con man would do. A con man, is always looking for a way to make the most of his situation, usually by manipulating everyone else.

When did the Others become the kind of peeps that would set up a public slaying? Why would they want to watch someone STAB someone that was tied to a pole? Even the children were watching. What was THAT about?

Why was John required to carry Cooper’s body across the island?

Why would John put Cooper in the ship where the dynamite is? Surely there are plenty of other places to have left Cooper while Locke went to get Sawyer.

Either these writer’s are geniuses that will have a brilliant explanation for everything or they are in the midst of pulling off one of the greatest scams in TV history. I fear it is the latter.

I think he was just putting on the accent to torment and mock Sawyer more - stick the knife in deeper and deeper. Cooper is quite the slime-bucket!

I agree...he was mocking James with his fake Southern drawl. That fake accent was a prop from Tom Sawyer's past and probably one he used to con James' mom with. I think if I were in James position, that would infuriate me too.

I think Tom Sawyer explaining how the last thing he remembered was a paramedic smiling over him was an attempt to confirm that the Others brought him to the island. I picture in my head Richard dressed as a paramedic and inserting the knock out serum into his arm......very easy to imagine that.

That dialogue was so Stephen-King-ish, wasn't it? Pure evil, dripping out of his lips..

He reminded me of Deniro in Cape Fear.... "Come out, come out wherever your arrrrrre"

Did anyone else flinch for a second when he said "I didn't raise no dummies"? (Plural).. I literally gasped, and was waiting for a waiting for him to say he was both Locke and Sawyer's father...

Like any other part of a good con, I'm sure he's able to alter his accent when he wants. It might be his real accent, or it might be that he tried to mimic Sawyer's southern drawl to create empathy.

That is exactly what I thought when watching last night. In general, I think people feel more comfortable around you the more similar to them you appear. That would be what a con man would want - for his "marks" to feel the comfort of familiarity.

I think it was the real Cooper and I hope he is dead. He's a creep.

Like any other part of a good con, I'm sure he's able to alter his accent when he wants. It might be his real accent, or it might be that he tried to mimic Sawyer's southern drawl to create empathy.



BINGO.....We have a winner!

Did anyone else flinch for a second when he said "I didn't raise no dummies"? (Plural).. I literally gasped, and was waiting for a waiting for him to say he was both Locke and Sawyer's father...
Thanks for reminding me. I noticed that at the time but forgot about it. I doubt they would make Locke related to James so soon after making Jack be related to Claire. That's way too "Days of Our Lives." Relationships not withstanding, Cooper didn't raise either one of them. But...

I have often thought that the Losties have been Dharma subjects all their lives, possibly genetically engineered then tracked throughout their lives and thrown curveballs, like being conned by men like Cooper, to see how they'd react. When this particular group did not act as expected, they were brought to the island to find out why. If so, it's possible this is what Cooper was talking about. Locke and James were the two people Cooper influenced, in effect "raised," as part of a Dharma experiment. Maybe it's not so much that he was not the real Cooper but that he was the real Cooper and the Cooper we knew through flashbacks was putting on an act.

Too many pages to read while on break. Just want to put in my two cents on this --

I think Cooper was a manifestation of smokey and have said as much since his appearance on the island. In fact I believe the real Cooper may have died on that Tallahasee freeway.

I also believe that smokey manifested as Yemi before so there may be some connection to manifestation and death of that being.

Too many pages to read while on break. Just want to put in my two cents on this --

I think Cooper was a manifestation of smokey and have said as much since his appearance on the island. In fact I believe the real Cooper may have died on that Tallahasee freeway.

I also believe that smokey manifested as Yemi before so there may be some connection to manifestation and death of that being.

I'm beginning to come around to that idea. :)

Too many pages to read while on break. Just want to put in my two cents on this --

I think Cooper was a manifestation of smokey and have said as much since his appearance on the island. In fact I believe the real Cooper may have died on that Tallahasee freeway.

I also believe that smokey manifested as Yemi before so there may be some connection to manifestation and death of that being.


So how is it with in a 5 day period the Other's went from fearing the smoke monster to controlling it? In LB Juliet was being chased by the smoke monster, she was so scared of it and said the Other's use the forcefield to keep it away, but they have no idea what it is.

Now suddenly 5 days later Ben and the Other's control the smoke monster and it works for them?:rolleyes: This is stretching it a little far.

So how is it with in a 5 day period the Other's went from fearing the smoke monster to controlling it? In LB Juliet was being chased by the smoke monster, she was so scared of it and said the Other's use the forcefield to keep it away, but they have no idea what it is.

Now suddenly 5 days later Ben and the Other's control the smoke monster and it works for them?:rolleyes: This is stretching it a little far.

I guess I'm really out there since I believe the Others ARE the smoke monster.

I think people feel more comfortable around you the more similar to them you appear. You're right, it's called "mirroring", and can be an effective tool in business...
When this particular group did not act as expected, they were brought to the island to find out why. If so, it's possible this is what Cooper was talking about. Locke and James were the two people Cooper influenced, in effect "raised," as part of a Dharma experiment. Maybe it's not so much that he was not the real Cooper but that he was the real Cooper and the Cooper we knew through flashbacks was putting on an act.That's really creative, how you tied that together... I agree that we will see that parts of this have been orchestrated.

So how is it with in a 5 day period the Other's went from fearing the smoke monster to controlling it? There could be two entirely different entities at play. The smoke monster, and then another entity which is causing visions of Yemi and possibly Cooper.... Maybe it's the island itself - or collective consciousness of its inhabitants.....

How many times does Sawyer have to kill someone he thinks is the real Sawyer?

Twice?
100%
So how is it with in a 5 day period the Other's went from fearing the smoke monster to controlling it? In LB Juliet was being chased by the smoke monster, she was so scared of it and said the Other's use the forcefield to keep it away, but they have no idea what it is.

Now suddenly 5 days later Ben and the Other's control the smoke monster and it works for them?:rolleyes: This is stretching it a little far.

I'm with you on this one, Havok.

So how is it with in a 5 day period the Other's went from fearing the smoke monster to controlling it? In LB Juliet was being chased by the smoke monster, she was so scared of it and said the Other's use the forcefield to keep it away, but they have no idea what it is.

Now suddenly 5 days later Ben and the Other's control the smoke monster and it works for them?:rolleyes: This is stretching it a little far.

We don't know that the Others fear Smokey. All we know is that Juliet (who is definitely NOT a typical Other) gave the appearance of fearing Smokey for Kate's benefit. This was shortly after saying "What the hell was that?" at Smokey's sound, as if she knew nothing about it.

I wondered if he was like a Clone, so even if Locke killed him and past the test, he didnt really kill his dad. I think thats a bit far fetched but ya never know.

No its not him, this came to me in a dream.

Jack saw his father.
Kate saw the horse.

TPTB have said Jacks dad is really dead and the others said the island brings you what you want most.

Jack wanted his father back, Kate wanted her horse.

The island produced Lockes dad as thats what Saywer and also Locke wanted. Theres no reason to believe that was the real Cooper as TPTB have already said Jacks dad wasnt real.

Cooper is still out there in the real world.

I just had a weird thought... what if they conduct some sort of autopsy and find that "Cooper" has two functional kidneys? Doews this prove he isn't REALLY Cooper? Or does it mean he never stole Locke's kidney at all... that it was part of some Dharma/Widmore/Hanso thing to put Locke in a particualr frame of mind concerning Cooper. All they REALLY needed to do was TELL Locke he was a blood match for Cooper, make an incision in his back, and sew him back up...

These folks are messing with people from a "medical" perspective. I also do not believe Ben was EVER crippled, or that Locke's presence "cured him". I think he PLAYED at being crippled SO he could give Locke the credit for helping him... Locke sure does like to be appreciated...

I had a thought last night, what if, after Locke returns Cooper's body to Ben, he reveals to him that he was actually not the 'real' cooper. That he didn't really kill a person. That that was the 'initiation' test and that Locke has just passed. Then Ben would proceed with the whole magic box explanation...
In the preview it seems that Ben is gonna open this 'magic box' door to show Locke what's inside.

If there is something remotely similar to a physical magic box, I bet it is another Dharma Station, probably the last one to be discovered. And I have a feeling that it may be the Parapsycological one'. What if its name is....










PANDORA?

Jack wanted his father back, Kate wanted her horse.


Why would Kate want the horse? It played a role in her escape, but I dont think it was necessarily that special to here to the point that it appeared on the island.

What I don't get is why does everyone assume cooper was Locke's real father. Getting the kidney was just another con

The voice definitely sounded different: but let's keep this in mind: He's a con man. This means he's constantly in character. We don't even know what his actual voice sounds like, but judging by the character, it doesn't matter.