...and they will. Even though Locke is dead, they will all go back and fix whatever Jack screwed up by leaving. Their destiny is intertwined and as long as Locke's body is on the island... Locke is on the island.

Locke's body is in the casket though.

Explain further?

I think Ben, Sayid and Jack are perfectly capable of grave-robbing (figuratively) and kidnapping in order to get all the losties back. My big question is Aaron and what his role is.

Clearly, Jack's presence on the island is important. Why it is important that Jack is on the island or what he is supposed to do, I have no idea. I don't get the sense that Locke is anything more than a prophet\advisor to Jack. Yes, John is inconvenienced by the fact that he is dead, but regarding his life, all bets are off if his body is returned to the island. Whether he comes back to life, or returns as an apparition, does anyone have any doubt that we'll see Locke walk again on the island? "Run the island" is a little vague, but I suppose that's the best way to put it at this point.

But Ben said he can never go back, and I'd say finding out how Locke got off the island and got himself dead is probably season 5 right there.

Whew, hell of a season ender.

Well on the DVD they said Ben and Richard were like co-leaders chosen to balance each other out. Maybe Jack is Richard's replacement.

Noeland,
I think you're right about what Season 5 will entail.

I have been thinking that Keamy came back to life and has set up some sort of dictatorship but what if the sickness came back in spades and has been decimating the Island and that's why Jack needs to go back? But, they all have to go back so that's not the whole story. At least this gives me hope that we are going to see as much on Island stuff as O6 stuff. :whew:! I've been afraid that the LeftBehinds would be an afterthought.

But Ben said he can never go back, and I'd say finding out how Locke got off the island and got himself dead is probably season 5 right there.

Whew, hell of a season ender.

Whoever moves the island can't go back. So I guess Locke left the island without moving it...like Tom did.

...and they will. Even though Locke is dead, they will all go back and fix whatever Jack screwed up by leaving. Their destiny is intertwined and as long as Locke's body is on the island... Locke is on the island.

Locke's body is in the casket though.

Explain further?

It would not be the first time Jack brings a coffin to the island and remember what happened to Christian -- he's the new Jacob. I expect the same will happen to Locke when Jack brings his coffin back.

Clearly, Jack's presence on the island is important. Why it is important that Jack is on the island or what he is supposed to do, I have no idea. I don't get the sense that Locke is anything more than a prophet\advisor to Jack. Yes, John is inconvenienced by the fact that he is dead, but regarding his life, all bets are off if his body is returned to the island. Whether he comes back to life, or returns as an apparition, does anyone have any doubt that we'll see Locke walk again on the island? "Run the island" is a little vague, but I suppose that's the best way to put it at this point.

I totally agree. Jack was always supposed to be the leader -- not Ben or Locke. Locke also wanted to be the hunter but Ben (through Sayid) is now doing that job. Locke was always the one most attuned to the island. He should have been an advisor and Jack should have to seriously consider any advice Locke gives.

Isn't it so tragic, yet so true to life that opposing forces would be so much better if they could put aside their differences and work together? For anyone who's watched the anime Code Geass, the two opposing, Jack-and-Locke type opposites were Lelouch and Suzaku, and in one episode they teamed up and were awe-inspiringly powerful, but then they broke apart again and will probably die meaningless deaths at each other's hands next season.

The same is true of Jack and Locke, I think. If they could learn to work together, they would be a magnificent, unstoppable force, but human nature is just keeping them fighting. I really hope Locke comes back to life on the Island in season five or six, and that Jack and Locke end up working together. It might not make sense in terms of plot, but it'd be so emotionally satisfying to end on a happy note and finally join black and white opposing forces together.

The same is true of Jack and Locke, I think. If they could learn to work together, they would be a magnificent, unstoppable force.

I wholeheartedly agree.

Clearly, Jack's presence on the island is important. Why it is important that Jack is on the island or what he is supposed to do, I have no idea. I don't get the sense that Locke is anything more than a prophet\advisor to Jack. Yes, John is inconvenienced by the fact that he is dead, but regarding his life, all bets are off if his body is returned to the island. Whether he comes back to life, or returns as an apparition, does anyone have any doubt that we'll see Locke walk again on the island? "Run the island" is a little vague, but I suppose that's the best way to put it at this point.

I agree. It goes with the black and white theme that is constantly popping up. Backgammon, the black and white marbles, etc.

...and they will. Even though Locke is dead, they will all go back and fix whatever Jack screwed up by leaving. Their destiny is intertwined and as long as Locke's body is on the island... Locke is on the island.

I completely agree, Jack and Locke need to work together on The Island, they are much better as a pair then they are alone. Look at all the mistakes they have made working alone, leading to the 2 biggest, Jack is a mess off the Island and The Island is a mess without him.

However, one thought I had, was what if Locke was the one who was supposed to "move" the Island? Afterall he was the one who was told the Island had to be moved. Obviously, things are not going well there with Locke on it, so maybe Locke was supposed to move the Island leaving Jack on it. Or maybe Jack was supposed to move the Island leaving Locke on it. That way Jack at least gets to leave the Island, but he's doing something for it. I'm just not sure Ben was the one supposed to move it.

Perhaps the island is experiencing a change in management philosophy and moving from a dictatorship to something more closely resembling a democracy. Locke, Jack and Hugo balancing each other.

This is why we love lost

This episode was brilliant, everyone is fascinated.

Maybe TPTB are hinting that the world cannot live without faith AND science, maybe they are saying that what matters most cosists of people's belief and what the universe demands (science). This equilibrium.

Yeah I really like the idea that Jack and Locke were supposed to run the island together. This pairing being at polar opposite ends in terms of faith and science was set up from the beginning.

Even when TPTB didn't know the complete story (although I'm now fairly certain they knew most of it) they set up Jack and Locke to be one one of the most important relationships on Lost. I'm very inclined to agree that they were supposed to run the island together.

Well on the DVD they said Ben and Richard were like co-leaders chosen to balance each other out. Maybe Jack is Richard's replacement.

Exactly my thoughts, perhaps the bad things were caused by Richard over staying his welcome, perhaps becoming jealous of Locke?

Ooohhh!! That's a good idea. We still don't know a lot about Richard. Having him the one cause some of the bad stuff will utilize his character more and we will get to know more about him hopefully.

Also they could easily use Richard's backstory to fill in some gaping holes they have left us and if we are supposed to learn more about the Dharma Initiative Richard's story could be a good way to do it.

perhaps we would also learn more about Danielle?

If Jack and Locke ran the island together, that would be amazing to see. Watching Matthew Fox and Terry O'Quinn in a scene together is an absolute joy to behold.

The first question I would want answered is how did Locke die?

I agree that Locke and Jack should be working together. They contrast each other in so many ways. In the finale you could see that Locke was so determined to prove that he was right about the island (almost to a fault) while Jack was obsessed only with getting everyone off the island and not seeing the big picture. They need each to balance out their own weaknesses.

You know if Locke would have just told Jack awhile back that he used to be in a wheelchair and the Island healed him, and that Rose was also healed, maybe Jack would have believed him. Maybe, maybe not, but why Locke never told him, I just don't know. It may have been the difference.

Well on the DVD they said Ben and Richard were like co-leaders chosen to balance each other out. Maybe Jack is Richard's replacement.
I think Jack is supposed to be Ben's replacement and John as Richard's replacement. Richard is the man of faith, just like John is. While Jack/Ben have a better understanding of how things/people work.

You know if Locke would have just told Jack awhile back that he used to be in a wheelchair and the Island healed him, and that Rose was also healed, maybe Jack would have believed him. Maybe, maybe not, but why Locke never told him, I just don't know. It may have been the difference.

I agree. I thought he was going to finally tell him when they spoke about miracles. Guess not.

I also get the impression that Lock thinks that he and Jack are meant to work together, as already mentioned, as an intertwining of faith and science. I don’t think he understands why they are supposed to, it just seems to be something he senses. I think it was White Rabbit where Lock finds Jack in the clearing and gives Jack the speech about leadership and how all the survivors are looking to Jack for direction. It was from this point that Jack appeared to accept a leadership role, but felt no connection to the island. The lack of elaboration whenever Lock tells Jack to not make a phone call, or as in this last episode asks Jack to stay, is because it seems Lock thinks Jack is supposed to come to this conclusion on his own.

Considering the exchange between Jack and Lock in the White Rabbit, I don’t think Lock ever really wanted to be a leader, at least in season 1, but was content with being a mentor and an explorer.

You know if Locke would have just told Jack awhile back that he used to be in a wheelchair and the Island healed him, and that Rose was also healed, maybe Jack would have believed him. Maybe, maybe not, but why Locke never told him, I just don't know. It may have been the difference.

I agree. In fact, Locke had the perfect opportunity when Jack told him that he didn't believe in miracles. THAT was the moment to tell Jack, a spinal surgeon, who would understand better than anyone what a miracle his recovery truly is, but Locke said absolutely nothing. He even told Ben that "he tried" to explain to Jack. No he didn't. Ben and Locke have the most information regarding the island, especially Ben. Alot of death and misery could have been prevented, including his daughter's death, if he had just been more open about the island. He ended up getting exiled anyway, so what good was keeping all his secrets?

Dumb.

I agree. In fact, Locke had the perfect opportunity when Jack told him that he didn't believe in miracles. THAT was the moment to tell Jack, a spinal surgeon, who would understand better than anyone what a miracle his recovery truly is, but Locke said absolutely nothing. He even told Ben that "he tried" to explain to Jack. No he didn't. Ben and Locke have the most information regarding the island, especially Ben. Alot of death and misery could have been prevented, including his daughter's death, if he had just been more open about the island. He ended up getting exiled anyway, so what good was keeping all his secrets?

Dumb.

Yeah, I thought Locke was going to tell Jack about his paralysis when he started talking about miracles, but all he said was "It's a place where miracles happen, and if you can't believe that Jack, just wait until you see what I'm gonna do". Why couldn't he tell Jack about the miracles that have already occurred? Is he expecting Jack to believe it on faith alone? Locke didn't accept it on faith alone, even The Man of Faith was given proof of how special the Island is, he was healed. Jack of course needs proof, he's a stubborn, bull headed Man of Science, so he needs evidence. I bet Locke is wishing he told Jack about the miracles now........

toddintexas,

I am so glad you mentioned this. I always wondered why Locke did not try harder to show Jack the miraculous nature of the island. Locke's faith has been reinforced the entire time he has been on the island. He can walk. He can sense when it will rain and when the rain will end. The island speaks to him in dreams. Even his big moment of failing faith with the Swan station helped his faith to grow stronger. I guess he was so busy being in conflict with Jack that they did not realize how important both of them working together would be.

The closest thing Jack has to Locke's ability to communicate with "the island" is his miraculous ability to save people. But even that is not 100 percent of the time, and he would attribute that to his skills and not metaphysical forces. Other than finding water for everyone while chasing his dead father, Jack has no reason to consider "faith" in the metaphysics at all. Locke has far more ability in that area. I wish he had been able to share his understanding with Jack.