Theory of the Day: Musings on the Escape

The arc of Lost has grown relatively clear. Season 4 will most likely end with the Oceanic 6 (plus Ben, plus anyone else, conceivably) getting off the island. Season 6 will be about the Oceanic 6 going back. Thus, it seems that Season 5 will tell us the full story of what happens while they're off.

Since the full range of what that entails is a bit too big in scope for one post, this theory of the day will focus on the beginning of that period: the escape from the island.

We know that the story of how the Six survived the plane crash is complete and utter B.S., thanks to Jack's testimony at Kate's trial. We don't know anything, though, about how they get off. With the helicopter a bit small and perpetually lacking fuel, I imagine they'd have to take the freighter - which would provide plenty of crevices for Ben to stow away on. So does the freighter team just leave with them?

Scenario #1: Yes - moral is low, everyone is killing themselves, and they can't get to the island anyway, so the captain eventually calls it quits and turns around. That doesn't mean that everyone from the freighter goes along - Michael probably stays on the island, as do most or all of the four chief Freighter Folk. Upon return, the freighter people claim they were on some harmless fishing trip or something.

Scenario #2: No - the freighter finally makes it to the island (how else are all those people going to get on it, lots of helicopter rides?) and then is promptly stolen by the escapees. They leave to go back home, leaving behind plenty of new on-island drama as all of a sudden, all the freighter folk are stranded on an island they hate and fear.

I like the second scenario because it involves more drama: Michael ultimately fails at keeping the freighter from reaching the island, the freighter folk suddenly becoming stranded is rich with irony, and it provides a great new dynamic for the on-island Season 5 plots.

Wildcard #1: Desmond. Does he stow away on the freighter? My heart says yes - the only way he wouldn't is if he couldn't.

Wildcard #2: Claire. Desmond's premonition is still in play: at some point, she and Aaron have to get on a helicopter. Since Aaron ends up safely (heh, "safely") in the hands of Kate, does that mean Claire gets on the freighter but then decides to go back to the island? Or could she die mid-route?

TAGS: Ben, Claire, Desmond, Freighter, Oceanic Six
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