My guess is Sawyer.

Richard is my guess. Apparently he has been there from the beginning, so why would it stop now?

Richard is my guess, too. I think, in some way, he has been the head honcho all along.

But I'm starting to get the impression that Richard needs a leader, that he can't just rule by himself. Maybe he's incapable of speaking to Jacob himself.

Another guess is Juliet. Ben seemed to think that she was important.

Jacob, via his avatar Christian Shepherd, and I'm starting to think that isn't a good thing. Let's connect the dots:

* Jacob who is imprisoned in his cabin-tells Locke to "help him"

* Ben is clearly on the outs with Jacob, and understands that the only way to protect the Island is for himself to get the boot.

* Aaron, who can't be rasied by another, is seperated from his mother-Claire, and is taken to the outside world far away from the Island.

* Claire, in a "dream" tells Kate that Aaron must never return to the Island, which is precisely what Ben says they need to do.

* Locke returns to the outside world to tell the O6 they have to retutn because of the bad stuff that happened after they left. Locke ends up dead.

It appears Jacob has gotten his way: He has a new lackey to lead his people (Locke) and has given the boot his main rivals (Jack, Aaron, and Ben).

But I'm starting to get the impression that Richard needs a leader, that he can't just rule by himself. Maybe he's incapable of speaking to Jacob himself.

Another guess is Juliet. Ben seemed to think that she was important.

Possibly. But I don't think there's anyone else there at the moment and I think he'll have been forced into it by necessity. Seriously, who else? If leading those people is based on being able to communicate with Jacob. Let's face it, Sawyer will never be the one for that. xD

That's very interesting, rabidranger. I never thought of Jacob as being the bad guy, but it could very well be. The whole thing with Claire telling Kate NOT to return Aaron to the island is very confusing.

Another guess is that Widmore has control of the island - maybe that's the "bad thing" that is being alluded to.

I like this thread. Lots to think about.

Sawyer has made the most change of all of the Losties (IMO) becoming less self serving and more protective...could he make the next jump to King of New Otherton????

I don't know but it does seem like he is transforming fast.

That's very interesting, rabidranger. I never thought of Jacob as being the bad guy, but it could very well be. The whole thing with Claire telling Kate NOT to return Aaron to the island is very confusing.

Another guess is that Widmore has control of the island - maybe that's the "bad thing" that is being alluded to.

Aaron's a key, maybe the key. He's supposed to be on the Island for some reason, and whoever is masquerading as CS (Jacob I guess) doesn't want him there. To me, that puts Jacob in the "bad guy" bin.

I think Locke will "run the island". Perhaps come the end of S5 Locke's time is up, and it will be his time to 'turn the wheel', for whatever reason...and pops out in the outside world - for good.

Didn't Jack or Kate or someone date those flashforwards for us as 3 years from their time of rescue?

Wow, what a great question, eyris. Of all the things to consider from this finale, I never thought about the Island having no leader without Locke.

Now, I really can't wait until January! How do I find a wormhole to get to 2009 quicker??

Didn't Jack or Kate or someone date those flashforwards for us as 3 years from their time of rescue?

Yep, Kate tells Jack that she has been trying to forget what happened on the island for three years.

Aaron's a key, maybe the key. He's supposed to be on the Island for some reason, and whoever is masquerading as CS (Jacob I guess) doesn't want him there. To me, that puts Jacob in the "bad guy" bin.


That could be, but I'm starting to think that the reason Claire doesn't want Aaron back on the island is because Widmore is there and Aaron needs to be protected from Widmore. Maybe it's more like Aaron shouldn't be brought back, yet. (Not until Widmore can be eliminated.)

But back to my original guess regarding Sawyer, and his "sacrificial" jump from the helicopter... I think it's significant that at this point he feels like he belongs there. He just can't bring himself to leave.

I think that anarchy reigned supreme not long after the O6 left. Locke is a nice guy, but he's not a leader. Let's review who's left on the island besides Locke (from the main cast);

Juliet, Sawyer, Rose, Bernard, Richard, Miles, Charlotte, maybe Daniel, maybe Jin.

None of them, with the possible exception of Rose, strikes me as a leader. They can work great together, though.

One interesting thing, remember to the RBA episode where we've got, there is no happy life for this child without Claire's goodness. Well, guess what, she's not there now. Seems a lot of good people are now off the island...

Nikki

Richard Alpert-----check him on wiki "servant of god" Richard is never leader but infact the main advisor.

I think Jacob was 'killed' by Christian

I hope Rose is leading the island

Locke is the new leader now that Ben has left however after Locke dies it could be anyone. Maybe Ben wants to go back with the O6 to lead his people again.

Vincent is ruling the island now.
Everyone shall bring him fresh boar meat, and give him tummy-rubs on demand.
It's Lord of the Fleas time!