Sayid- Takes orders in the military before, takes orders from a yet unnamed person

Jack- in emotional turmoil from the divorce and his father, in emotional turmoil from leaving people behind I think)

Kate-a prisoner to running away, a prisoner to "him"

Hurley-in a mental hospital, in a mental hospital

nice observations.....so possibly we can say that the oceanic 6 didnt go back to a good life...perhaps the ones left on the island are living the utopian lifestyle that dharma wanted???

nice observations.....so possibly we can say that the oceanic 6 didnt go back to a good life...perhaps the ones left on the island are living the utopian lifestyle that dharma wanted???

It would be so ironic if the Losties wind up becoming the new DI.

At least the Losties that did not just return to their miserable existance.

They are certainly trapped in their own private hells, which reminds me of this point made in Jeff Jensen's column today at EW.com:

voiced by leading Lost blogger Doc Arzt (http://docarzt.com/), is that Lost was pointing toward The Great Divorce, Lewis' allegory about the spiritual life, expressed via a fantastical depiction of Heaven and Hell. One point Lewis makes in that book is that for the redeemed, the experience of Heaven has begun here on Earth. I particularly like the metaphorical idea that the deeper you journey into Heaven (i.e., your own spiritual development), the more ''real'' you become, passing from spectral to solid form. Conversely, for the unredeemed, bogged down by earthly baggage they refuse to surrender, the experience of Hell has already started. ''Get busy living, or get busy frying,'' to paraphrase The Shawshank Redemption.

Here's the link: www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20177995,00.html (http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20177995,00.html)

I am surprised this thread isnt getting its due...I think this is an awesome thought process and we need to talk about this more.....

Those back on the island are living their Utopia???

It would seem that they do get to live their utopia. Claire gets to raise her baby the way she was told to. Locke can walk and is a man with purpose. Sawyer gets to prove to himself that he is more than just a conman, Rose gets to live, Bernard is happy just to be with her.

I really think that this view into the future shows the viewers that, while ben may be a liar, he has not lied about everything. It is almost like Ben knew that horrible lives would await the Losties if they were rescued when he asked Jack why Jack wanted to leave so bad.

I agree...I always had an thought that Ben worked for what he beleived to be the greater good.

I do however wonder if Claire will get to raise her child in Utopia, as there is the whole pregnant women die on the island thing...Rose and Ben have not actually gone with Jack yet either...will be interesting to find out who is the Other (pun intended) 2 od the Oceanic 6...I dont think Ben is one of them as he wasnt on the plane...

I can't imagine a place where you are unable to reproduce, you are isolated, and are basically kept prisoner by the very layout of the island a "utopia" of any sort. It certainly isn't the place where I would want to raise a child. Of course, that is just my opinion

I can see your point...lol

The Utopia has to deal with the islands powers ...perhaps the time continumium also...and well if everyone was happy and living within their purpose...in peace and harmony...isnt that Utopia?

I can see your point...lol

The Utopia has to deal with the islands powers ...perhaps the time continumium also...and well if everyone was happy and living within their purpose...in peace and harmony...isnt that Utopia?

The problem with Utopias is that you'll always need to have "Roger Workmans" to clean up the garbage. As we saw, Ben's dad was ticked off when he realized he was brought to the paradise island and told his purpose was to be a janitor.

As the cliche goes, some would rather rule in hell than serve in heaven.

but it is all about perspective...if roger workman wanted to clean up after people and that would be his utopia than it isnt a disappointment...if roger was told about the greater good and believed in it....perhaps there is a way that the rogers of the world would feel like thy are doing their part....

But what about those who have died on the island?

Shannon, Boone, Charlie, Eko, Ana Lucia, Libby, Arzt, Scott (or was it Steve?), the pilot, and the other people who died in the crash or afterwards, not to mention the many Others/Dharma employees, etc.

It is almost like Ben knew that horrible lives would await the Losties if they were rescued when he asked Jack why Jack wanted to leave so bad.

I think he did. How? I don't know. Could it have something to do with the latest reveal of his secret room?

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Wow, this post was helpful. Ha!

but it is all about perspective...if roger workman wanted to clean up after people and that would be his utopia than it isnt a disappointment...if roger was told about the greater good and believed in it....perhaps there is a way that the rogers of the world would feel like thy are doing their part....

That's why utopias are impossible: The rogers of the world might believe in the cause but since they take orders from someone else, they will always be second class citizens. That's why the fantasy-land drivel of Atlas Shrugged is really a laugh: all these so-called industrialist geniuses have time to invent, grow crops, clean up, and maintain their society without the second tier citizens.

Pretty good observations there. Perhaps this was the reason they were all meant to come to the island -- it was their only salvation.

Purgatory....i know TPTB have refuted this theory more than once but this thread almost seems to be tip-toeing around this again.
I often think of this idea especially now we see how crappy life is for the Oceanic 4 (so far 4 !). Gary Troup being the anagram for Purgatory always bugs me even after years!!
I would so stay on the Island....wouldn't you????

Yes I would stay on the island....as long as my daughter was with me....I think it is a very personal decision...and not for nothing whose to say my daughter would want to be there? Whose to say that life on the islaand would be perfect? Define utopia in a personal manor...My definition would be different than yours...perhaps my utopia would be cleaning up after others....(it isnt...I do that everyday now...I am a mom...lol)

Hmmm...To me it's no surprise that their off island lives are similar to their previous off island lives. But, it's not like the island was ever a true utopia. They were constantly at war while on the island.

If they could live on the island and create their own lives for themselves without the threat of being kidnapped or gassed or enslaved then I would see why they would want to stay there. But I think Jack wants to go back to finish other business. I don't think he wants to live there. I think he wants to serve some justice Jack Shephard style.

that is a very interesting thought....

I think it will be very kewl to finally find out why the "island is calling them"