The case for Jack

[infrared41]

I have been re-watching season one and in doing so I am becoming more and more convinced that Jack has been the island's "chosen one" since he opened his eye in the first scene of the show. I was asked by staggerlee to create a "I can read/my first book" version of my theory and it produced the post I am moving here to create a new thread. If no one minds, I'd like to add "chapters" to my theory as I continue my trek through season one. Anyway, if this is the wrong place to post this I apologize in advance. I'm new here and not very familiar with the rules. So here goes...

Chapter one... Signs that Jack is actually the "chosen one."

Watch "White Rabbit" from season one. There is a scene where Locke is essentially telling Jack he needs to get onboard with the island so he can lead the people. Locke explains how he "looked into the eye of the island" and that "we all know this place is special." It is also Locke's first reference to "destiny." He asks Jack the question we'll end up hearing a lot more of "what if everything is happening for a reason?" 5 episodes in and we're already seeing Locke pushing Jack to have a little faith in the island.

White Rabbit is also the episode where Jack chases Christian all over the island. In doing so Jack falls ass backwards into finding a supply of fresh water right at the time the 815ers need it most. Another key scene is when Jack explains to Locke that he is seeing something that is impossible. Locke asks Jack what he would think if someone had told Jack the same story. Jack says he'd write it off to sleep deprivation, stress, and dehydration. Yet there is he out in the jungle chasing something he knows is "impossible" and by doing so the island leads Jack straight to a water source and "perfect shelter." This is also where Jack discovers "Adam and Eve." Until I watched this episode again last night, I had forgotten that it was Locke and not Jack who called the skeletons Adam and Eve. The point of Adam and Eve was to show that the caves were indeed perfect shelter. Think of Adam and Eve and the black and white stones found with them as one of those bonus things you get in a video game. Consider them Easter Eggs.

And let's not forget the fact that throughout the episode Jack is being pushed into a leadership role that he is very reluctant to accept. White Rabbit showed us exactly what Jack is capable of if he gets out of his own way and shows a little trust in the island. At the end of the episode Jack makes his "live together, die alone" speech and leads a group off to the caves. At no time do we see (or hear) any evidence of smokey or potential danger while Jack and crew are traveling to and from the caves. Why? Well to borrow a phrase, in White Rabbit Jack "has chosen wisely." From what I can recall, this is the one and only time that Jack simply follows what's in front of him and as a result he performed perfectly. If memory serves, it would be the last time we'd see Jack do that for a good long while.

I think that episode laid the groundwork for what we were about to experience for the next 5 seasons. In short, the island had put it's players in position. White Rabbit illustrated how these players would perform as long as they played their positions. The trouble starts when Jack won't believe what's right in front of him and Locke begins to think that it's he and not Jack who the island has chosen. Watch the first 5 episodes of the show again. After knowing what we know now, I think it's laid out right in front of us. Jack is who the island wants to lead it's people. Locke is destined to be Jack's right hand man. Watch the Pilot again. Who is the first person Jack "orders" to help him? It's Locke. And from there it's on. The struggle begins when Locke starts believing things he shouldn't and Jack stops believing things he should.

So we can go that route and get into great detail or we could simply look at the incredibly obvious...why would the show begin with a shot of Jack's eye and then dedicate the first 15 minutes of the series to him being immediately thrust into a leadership role if he wasn't the guy who will be the hero in the end? 

That's what I think anyway..

[mushermellon]

I'm liking this.  (Although I'm till routing for Hurley)

[grizn0]

I'm totally with you on this one infared. I've been saying Jack is the man for a long time. I even thought Jack may have been Jacob (until the finale of course).

[SawyerLove]

I totally agree. I think Jack is the chosen one, but I don't think he was initially ready. Well, obviously he wasn't because he didn't listen to reason EVER. I am liking Jack more now that they're back at the island. He seems to have let a few things go. He seems happier and more trusting of odd ideas. How could he not? He's on a freaking magical island!!

[Des]

Very well articulated, infrared41. I like this theory a lot and hope we see it play out further next season.

[Jungle Otter]

I like this. Now here is the question - Locke was "chosen" by the island - but what if he were only the guide and not the great poobah like Ben thought he was? The high mucky-muck is Jack as mentioned above. Jack was the one who chose be the one to drop the bomb into the Swan site. Jack saved Ben's life and perhaps will do so again after anti-Locke killed Jacob....Jack becomes the new Jacob in order for the other survivors to leave.....

Good idea infrared! 

[Jugdish]

The fact that Jack's dad is one of the "guides" on the island shows that he is special.

I never thought of it in the way you put it. Locke starts to think he is special when he is suppose to be just a helper to Jack.

I like this theory a lot.

Since it is a theory on the overall show, I am moving this to theories and speculation thread. Keep updating it. I like where this is going.

[grizn0]

Also, Jack's dad and Claire were the only ones hangin in the cabin. Both blood relatives to Jack...

[infrared41]

I like this. Now here is the question - Locke was "chosen" by the island - but what if he were only the guide and not the great poobah like Ben thought he was? The high mucky-muck is Jack as mentioned above. Jack was the one who chose be the one to drop the bomb into the Swan site. Jack saved Ben's life and perhaps will do so again after anti-Locke killed Jacob....Jack becomes the new Jacob in order for the other survivors to leave.....

Good idea infrared! 

I am beginning to wonder if Locke was meant to be essentially the Richard Alpert to Jack's Ben. In other words, my initial instinct is that Island leadership is a binary system or something. There has to be two people. What we've seen so far sure seems to indicate that it's a two person role. Richard and Eloise. Richard and Ben. Perhaps Richard and Widmore at one time. (It sure seemed like Widmore was in charge at some point.)

[razzle-dazzle]

I just commented on your post with part of this theory.
I agree infrared. Jack is special. Locke was lead to believe he was. Part of that was Locke himself, part of it was Anti_jacob.
Faraday came to see Jack. He didn't come to see Hurley or Kate. He wasn't worried about where Locke went.
The Oceanic 6 didn't come back until Jack was convinced to come back.
While Sayid had a horrible time off the island, and Hurley's wasn't great, Jack had the worst of it. He became the worse than his father and grew that horrible beard.

Keep updating your case for Jack, please!

[infrared41]

Keep updating your case for Jack, please!

First, I am thrilled with the response this is getting. Thanks to everyone. I'm off to Charlotte for a NASCAR race this weekend but I plan on resuming my re-watch of season one on Monday night when I get home. I highly recommend re-watching the series from the beginning if you can. I cannot believe how a show I have basically watched twice before this is actually better the third time around.

I'll add a new "chapter" Monday night. Have a great weekend folks!

[Novashannon]

O agree!  I have been saying all along that Jack and his family have a special connection to the island.  So does Hurley.  I think Jack is the leader foretold.

[lostlady]

This seems like a good theory and makes a lot of sense. The only hitch I see is that the writers have always said that Jack was supposed to be a character that died in the first episode. Perhaps the theory could still work if they originally had another character in mind and then switched over to Jack being the one.

[grizn0]

This seems like a good theory and makes a lot of sense. The only hitch I see is that the writers have always said that Jack was supposed to be a character that died in the first episode. Perhaps the theory could still work if they originally had another character in mind and then switched over to Jack being the one.

Are you sure they said that? I thought they always said Jack was definitely going to make it to the end.

[lostlady]

I don't know what their plans are for him now. however, when they were first casting the show they had planned on Jack only for one episode. I saw it on an interview on the Season One disc set.