ethan the surgeon

[on the island]

In 3x01 he was working on something under the house when the plane crashed (plumbing?).  He was a true Renaissance Man.   

[Schmoe]

Does anyone think the writers planned on Ethan being a doctor in the first season when they sent him out to spy and get Claire?  Did the writers plan on Ben being the leader when they strung him up in the trap? (I had heard they originally planned on having this actor for only a few episodes, but made him a regular when they saw how good he was at playing against the losties).

More and more, I am unsure they had overall plan with many details, and wondering if they are just making it up as they go and trying to fit things in that were already shown.

[Optimus J]

I suppose that they planned to make a Ethan a medic. Now why they are futher exploring him at this point, I don't know.

[jugdish]

Does anyone think the writers planned on Ethan being a doctor in the first season when they sent him out to spy and get Claire?  Did the writers plan on Ben being the leader when they strung him up in the trap? (I had heard they originally planned on having this actor for only a few episodes, but made him a regular when they saw how good he was at playing against the losties).

More and more, I am unsure they had overall plan with many details, and wondering if they are just making it up as they go and trying to fit things in that were already shown.

They have the big picture but can switch some people around based on popularity. Not a big deal if Ben was not going to be the boss to make him the boss. Does not change the overall outlook of the show

[Ladybug]

...and it's always a great idea to send your only good surgeon away to spy/kidnap/kill instead one of the many goons that seem to be everywhere!

I laughed out and only rocket scientist! Darn!

No, he was their only dentist

cheers
*Des8

great, so now they are going to kidnap bernard!

i was determined he was an ob/gyn. 

(great to see you des8)

[Ladybug]

...and it's always a great idea to send your only good surgeon away to spy/kidnap/kill instead one of the many goons that seem to be everywhere!

I laughed out and only rocket scientist! Darn!

No, he was their only dentist

cheers
*Des8

great, so now they are going to kidnap bernard!

i was determined he was an ob/gyn.  (i mean ethan)

(great to see you des8)

[idjpg85]

...and it's always a great idea to send your only good surgeon away to spy/kidnap/kill instead one of the many goons that seem to be everywhere!

I laughed out and only rocket scientist! Darn!

No, he was their only dentist

cheers
*Des8

great, so now they are going to kidnap bernard!

i was determined he was an ob/gyn. 

(great to see you des8)

Hahahahaha, that was my first through to that comment also lol.

[Jordanoth]

maybe recruitment is taken very seriously on and off the island.. ethan was involved with juliette's recruitment and he was the initial pick for scouting for potential survivors (along with goodwin).. perhaps due to his high involvement with the others' projects, his judgement is trusted by the high-ups.

the same reasoning goes with ben's recon (or recon gone wrong) of the losties territory.. ethan turned up dead and someone had to investigate.. I think from what tom and colleen's warnings tell us that the others consider ethan's death to be the result of an unfortunate "misunderstanding". i also think that there are alot of different levels of involvement amongst the others..

level 1 - Ignorant Happy Citizens: cindy, kids
level 2 - Goon Squad: Big Gay Tom, Danny Pickett, aldo, ivan, brian
level 3 - Others with Tertiary Education: Bea Klugh, Juliette Burke, Ethan Rom, Goodwin?
level 4 - Shot-Callers: Jacob, Ben, Isabel

just a thought

[Ladybug]

level 1 - Ignorant Happy Citizens: cindy, kids
level 2 - Goon Squad: Big Gay Tom, Danny Pickett, aldo, ivan, brian
level 3 - Others with Tertiary Education: Bea Klugh, Juliette Burke, Ethan Rom, Goodwin?
level 4 - Shot-Callers: Jacob, Ben, Isabel

i think there is more to these levels.

1:  Ignorant Happy Citizens: cindy, kids
2:  Rebelious Teens:  karl, alex  (they know what is going on, they are not ignorant, yet they have no power)
3:  Goon Squad:  Big Gay Tom, Pickett, and those other goons
4:  Eductated Goons:  Bea, Goodwin, Ethan (or he may be in the next level)
5:  VIPs:  Bea, Ethan, Isabel
6:  Kahoona wannabe:  Juliet
7.  The little kahoona:  Ben
8:  The big kahoona:  Jacob

I don't think anyone is equal to Jacob, nor is anyone equal to ben or juliet, but i think there is an order there.  isabel was able to bring "justice" to juliet's crimes, BUT she still had to do what ben told her to do, therefore he is higher up than her.  juliet was able to convince ben to pardon her ( to an extent) which tells me she has more pull with ben than isabel does.  everyone keeps referring to jacob as a highly exaulted person (a demi-god).  ben is not referred to in that way.  it wasn't "ben's list" and ben's name was never mentioned in the brainwashing film.  that's why i think jacob is higher up than ben.

I actually think there may even be other "levels" because where to the hatchies (kelvin, patchie )fit in?

[jugdish]

I like your breakdown ladybug. that works for me.

[Ladybug]

I like your breakdown ladybug. that works for me.

HE LIKES IT!  HE LIKES IT!  MY LIFE CAN GO ON, I HAVE JUGDISH'S APPROVAL!

[PrincessLeia]

I like your breakdown ladybug. that works for me.

HE LIKES IT!  HE LIKES IT!  MY LIFE CAN GO ON, I HAVE JUGDISH'S APPROVAL!

This was funny.  I've had that feeling. 

I like LB's breakdown as well.  To send Ethan out doesn't seem too outlandish to me considering the fact that Ben, himself, went out also.  There's just not a huge resource pool.

[WhatThe]

...and it's always a great idea to send your only good surgeon away to spy/kidnap/kill instead one of the many goons that seem to be everywhere!

To be logical, though, they didn't send Ethan out to kidnap Claire or kill anyone, just to merge in with the survivors and gather info. You really wouldn't send a goon off to do that, you'd send someone with deceptive abilities and some intelligence. Plus, seems all of the Others are goons lol...I haven't seen any of them NOT be violent when called upon.

[Wishbone]

I did wonder why Ben said the day after he found out he had a tumour a spinal surgeon fell out of the sky (or something like that) - obviously Ethan specialised in other areas. Not surprised he was a doctor - he helped recruit Juliette and treated Claire.

[jugdish]

I like your breakdown ladybug. that works for me.

HE LIKES IT!  HE LIKES IT!  MY LIFE CAN GO ON, I HAVE JUGDISH'S APPROVAL!

Glad I could make your day!