Purpose of the Swan

A full season after its destruction, the purpose of the Swan remains mysterious. It's not a Skinner box, but why two people had to enter the numbers is a mystery. What were they preventing? And why did it have to be people? Why not a computer just automatically doing whatever it is that the Swan did?

Here's my theory. We know that after Desmond used the fail safe that contact with the outside world has been cut off. Well my theory is that the Swan was keeping communications with the outside world open. Something about the Island makes it difficult or impossible to leave. Somehow, Dharma figured out a way to open it up. This is what the Swan did. It counteracted the effect which cut off the Island. The reason that the Swan had two people in it rather than just using a computer is because the two people were a failsafe. If something happened, they could refuse to input the numbers and shut down access to the Island. So, for example, if the Hostiles took over, then the Swan would be able to isolate them on the Island. This would explain why the Swan had such a large stockpile of weaponry and food. It was meant to be able to hold off an enemy, possibly for an extended time. I think that Kelvin was the last member of the Dharma Initiative. After the Purge the Dharma Initiative retained control of the Swan and used it as leverage to have some control over the Others.

How old is Karl?

I had a thought tonight. When Alex talks to Karl he says "Your father will kill me." To which she replies "Is he really my father." Now she says it in a manner which suggests that Karl would know. We've assumed that Karl is about Alex's age. 17 or so. But what if he's older? What if, like Richard, he's an unaging Hostile? This would at least partly explain why Ben seems so violently opposed to their romance. If Karl is really quite a bit older than Alex, perhaps older than Ben, then what father wouldn't object. It would also explain why it was Karl who delivered Ben's X-rays to Juliet. Maybe he's just a gofer but if he's older than he looks he could have a significant job.

Wild Theory About the Finale

Okay here's a wild theory about the finale. I've only seem some of the spoiler/foilers but supposedly the finale will contain a flash forward to Jack off of the Island, suicidal and eventually he says to kate "We have to go back to the Island." Well I was thinking about what we see from the promos could Jack be betraying the camp? He and Juliet are leading the group inot the jungle, away from their only guns and their warriors. We see from the promos that they meet up with ben. Well I don't think he's betraying them to Ben. But what if he's betraying them to Juliet? We know that Juliet wanted to kill Ben before. supposedly this was so she could get off of the Island. But what if she just wants to eliminate Ben and take over herself? I had a thought that maybe Juliet is a Dharma plant, sent in to retake the Island. Or maybe she's just ambitious. Keep in mind that all of the Losties actions are based off of Juliets info: the ambush, the looking glass etc. Juliet has set things up. Sayid and co will whittle down the Others best fighters. Meanwhile she'll take out Ben. She'll use the survivors to get in good with the Others. Why would Jack betray them? To get off the Island. Juliet has promised him that she'll let him off the Island. And she does. She lets him, and Kate, leave the Island (maybe the looking glass can reestablish contact. Someone needed to dive down there because the submarine is gone.) Anyway Jack and Kate leave the Island but Jack is torn up with guilt about what he did to the other survivors and decides that they "have to go back to the Island." Time travel hijinks ensue.

Additionally People have been wondering how Penny appears in a Jack flashback. If this is like I said above then Penny might have the means to get Jack and Kate, back to the Island.

New Theory on Jacob

When Ben takes Locke to see Jacob he does seem to have an idea that Locke should be able see Jacob. But he also doesn't seem to react like someone would if Jacob were an ordinary person, or if Ben were crazy and believed that Jacob was real and Locke didn't see him. He asks Locke "You mean you can't see him?" And prompts him by saying "He's sitting right there." To Jacob he says "I told you he wouldn't."

Now, when Ben meets Richard for the first time, Ben tells Richard that he saw his dead Mother. When Richard finds out that Mrs Linus died off of the Island, he becomes very interested. What's the first thing that Richard asks Ben?... "What did she say to you?" Seems rather reminiscent of Ben's final question to Locke. What Ben tells Richard is VERY interesting he says that his mom said "That I couldn't come with her. She said it wasn't time yet." Watch Richard's reaction very carefully. He SMILES. Then what's the next thing that Richard does? When Ben asks to come with him Richard says that Ben needs to think about it an be patient. Essentially that it's "not time yet" for Ben to "come with" him.

I think that Jacob is responsible for most of the manifestations on the Island. He often appears as people's loved ones. He's either the Island itself, or some sort of entity which lives on the Island. The Other's/Hostiles follow/worship him. BUT... most of them cannot see or hear him. The Others/Hostiles know about the "magic" powers of the Island but very few of them have any access to them. Some people. Those who are "special." Have access to that power. One of the elements of this is being able to perceive manifestations. Ben can perceive manifestations. He KNOWS Jacob is real because he can see and hear him. But most people, perhaps no other Others, can perceive him. THAT'S why Ben is the only one who talks to Jacob. That's why he's the leader. He's got a "hotline to god."

When Locke shows up, they all think that he might be special too. The Island speeds up healing (see Mikhail) and even stops or drastically slows down aging in at least some (see Richard), but such a drastic act of healing as Lockes paralysis seems to indicate a major connection with the Island's power. When Locke shows up Ben becomes worried that Locke will upstage him. So he's always trying to undercut Locke. When he takes Locke to meet Jacob he's WORRIED that Locke will see him but he's HOPING that he won't.

The interesting thing is that we've seen a LOT of Losties who have encountered manifestations. Jack saw his father, Ecko saw Yemi etc. But Locke has NOT been one of these people. He's apparently seen the smoke monster but he HASN'T seen any odd appearances, at least not that I can remember. He hasn't even heard the Whispers (which may be a marginal manifestation of Jacob). So when Ben shows Locke Jacob, he doesn't see him. He barely hears him.

What's interesting here is that Jack HAS seen a manifestation. Perhaps he could see Jacob and would be a threat to Ben's leadership