The only game to ever be played

[StevenKrieg]

Throughout LOST, but most frequently in the last season, there have been hints and comments from characters about a game that is being played. Most will remember the exchange between Ben and Whitmore regarding breaking the rules by killing Alex. Since the idea of a game being played and a battle for power being fought first appeared I have been struggling to determine what the true situation actually is and who is actually involved in this battle. Well I believe his last episode has revealed this game to us.

I know that some ideas have been confirmed as negative or whatnot by the producers and I am not sure if this is one of them, but nobody can deny that there are very strong religious undertones on this show, especially in the Season 5 Finale. There have been many ties to egyptian mythology with the statue, the hieroglyphs and other such things. But I think that the final episode has lots of ties to the ultimate good versus evil battle which for reference sake I have chosen God and Lucifer. I believe that the game being played is the battle for souls. Jacob, who for reference sake could be God or more likely the angel Gabriel or Michael, is fighting the other guy from the beginning of the episode, who doesn't have a name but I see as Lucifer. They are fighting for the souls of people. Everyone they bring to the island, everyone they contact is just another soul they can win over.

I think that Jacob was able to imprison his partner, aka Lucifer, in the cabin which we assumed to be Jacob's cabin. But Ben recently admitted, or lied, about ever seeing Jacob in the cabin. Though things did shake and whatnot leading to the idea that someone was there. That someone was Jacob's partner or "opponent." This is like Michael and his angels casting Satan out of heaven. Some people have suggested that the ash was protecting the cabin and it's contents from the outside. Some suggested that perhaps Jacob was trapped inside. I believe that Jacob trapped his buddy in the cabin and prevented him from escaping with that ash. This gave Jacob more freedom and control over the island and it's inhabitants. That was until the ash line was broken (revealed by Iliana and her team) when the other guy escaped the cabin and took the form of Locke to reach Jacob.

So what rule was broken or how was the game changed that ended up allowing Jacob's buddy to come and kill him. If you remember in the beginning of the episode, the other man mentions wanting to kill Jacob and when the game is changed or different he would. The game was the two men/beings battling for souls using temptation or suggestion. But Jacob trapped the other man, giving him Jacob the unfair advantage, hence changing the game.

Now these references to God and the angels and Lucifer is just a possibility to the religious reference. Where the mythology comes in is how Jacob's buddy continued to play while trapped in the cabin. This is where smokie comes in. Correct me if I am wrong but somewhere in the episodes, and it has been noted online, that smokie is also called Cerberus (If that isn't right somebody mention so we can figure this out). Cerberus is also the name of the guardian hound of the greek underworld. That sounds like a tool the devil might use if he could not personally fight his battles. I believe that, although smokie could be summoned, it is essentially a pet belonging to the evil side. So while Jacob is using his influence to gather souls to his side, trapped buddy is using Cerberus and other means to thwart Jacob's efforts and win the souls to his side.

So what does this tell us about Jacob and his buddy? And why the select few they bring to the island?

I think that it says, even if not literal in every sense, that Jacob and his buddy are an archangel and the devil fighting for the souls of these select few. And one particular line makes me think that they are fighting for specific people. Not just anybody is brought to the island. The island chooses them. So why them? Well Iliana mentions to her team member that Capt. Lapidus might be a candidate. And I thought to myself, "A candidate for what?" Well since I was already on the religious reference path, my conclusion was candidates to become angels. I believe that the producers have stated that the losties are not all dead. So that ruled out them being judged for heaven or hell. But what if they are finding candidates for angels. These possibly final moments in their lives are tests to determine if they are proper candidates for angels of certain duties. Jacob is trying to test them and guide them to the good side, while Satan is trying to lead them very far astray. Just an idea.

Okay this has been a very long topic, but awesome if you made it through my jumbled mess. I apologize for that, but it's late and I'm tired. Give me a break.

But basically I see the bigger picture as this battle for souls. Yes the time travel theory in this show is fun and complicated to grasp, but I don't believe it is the driving story behind the show.

Anyway, if you made it all the way through then comment back. Start a discussion, tell me I'm wrong, add support to my thoughts, or just make comments. I want to hear other people's take on this or any other ideas.

[pinkpedicure9]

I love this theory and I agree with a lot of it particularly concerning the biblical references and the fight between good and evil but I was wondering if there is anyway that Jacob could be the evil one and the other guy be the good one? What do you think???

[sugarnuts]

i like it steve. I've always liked the religous side of the story and i agree that Jacob/Black shirt guy could very well represent god and the devil. As we see, jacob is a big advocater of free will. He believes humans can be good, and peacefully coexist with each other. Black shirt guy believes humans are a nusance, and bring destruction and death everywhere they go.

The game is who's right and who's wrong. Jacob is out to prove humans are inherently good. Black shirt guy is out to prove humans are inherently bad.

Looks like black shirt guy was right. Until season 6 anyway

[pinkpedicure9]

But Sugarnuts, why "the List" if Jacob believes that people are inherently good? He seemed to think that certain Losties were pretty unredeemable in season 2.

[sugarnuts]

We don't exactly know what the list was for, but im sure it wasn't for 'unredeemable' people though. As a matter of fact i seem to remember it being a list of the 'good people'.

[pinkpedicure9]

Right. I meant that those who were not on the list were thought to be unworthy of redemption, not those who were on the list. We don't know what the list was for but it seems like those who were not on the list were considered disposable since they seemed willing to kill anyone not on the list to get to the ones who were on the list. Hence Mr. Echo having to fight for his life that night when the others came to their camp to take some of them, and Sawyer being shot when they took Walt.

[Stevelle]

We don't know everyone on Goodwin's and Eathan's lists from the crash, but we do know some of them by their absence (the kids, that stewardess, etc,.) and the fact they joined the Others , and we know those on Michael's list at the end of season 2. Of those people, I think all of them were visited by Jacob (Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hurley). Stevenkreig's point about Black Shirt being trapped in "Jacob's House" is a good one.

If that hut didn't house Jacob, then where did the lists come from--my recollection is Richard passes them to Ben, but if not, maybe they were not coming from Jacob, but from Black Shirt. If we are now to associate the black snake cloud with black shirt guy, and this is something the Others can summon, maybe Jacob hasn't been advising them.
Maybe Jacob isn't that involved at all with the Others on a day to day, year to year basis, hence his apparant indifference to Ben during the pre-stabbing "why not me" rant. Maybe Richard's job is to just keep an eye on them for Jacob; hence, advisor, not leader. If BS is now inhabiting/controlling the resurected Locke, why does he need Richard to show him where Jacob is? He apears to know exactly where to find Jacob at the begining of the finale. Is this pretending to dupe Richard and not let on that he isn't Locke? Or is it to get Richard to actually let him in the base of the statue, there being some rule or mojo that keeps him form going in uninvited ala vampires?
And while my gut and assumption is that Jacob is the Good Guy, I think pinkpedicure9 is wise to consider that it may be the other way around. The Ajira people with the corpse keep saying they're the good guys, but Frank points out that they really say that a lot; they say a war is coming; they talk of candidates--Frank might be one; Miles isn't ready, etc. It sorta smacks a little bit of a cult-like following, and that rarely ends well. I wouldn't put it past Lost to throw us that curve ball.

[mark84uk]

Originally Posted by StevenKrieg

Throughout LOST, but most frequently in the last season, there have been hints and comments from characters about a game that is being played. Most will remember the exchange between Ben and Whitmore regarding breaking the rules by killing Alex. Since the idea of a game being played and a battle for power being fought first appeared I have been struggling to determine what the true situation actually is and who is actually involved in this battle. Well I believe his last episode has revealed this game to us.

Widmore must be on Smokie/Blackshirt's side. Not only is he in conflict with Ben (who always did things for Jacob) but also helped convince Locke to take a path that led to Jacob's death.

[oldsmokey]

stevekrieg that sounds good and fits in with every thing so far

It's helped me see this all more clearly and pull everthing together

[alvagould]

can't wait the final season. It seems you have a good lead with your theory