Your Voice: The Widmore Connection
Submitted by McKay
The island holds many secrets and has received interest from many groups because of those secrets, most notably the Dharma Initiative. We know that the Dharma Initiative was wiped out by Ben and what is considered to be the original inhabitants of the island, also known as Mittelos (anagram for lost time). What if Ben is the good guy, and actually knows the people/company who are trying to find the island and is truly doing what he is doing for the greater good? And, what if this company can use the island to build unimaginable weapons with the power of the island, or perhaps control humanity?
If this sounds far fetched, look no further than Penny’s dad, aka Charles Widmore. We currently don’t know much about Mr. Widmore expect that he doesn’t care too much for Desmond, he likes good scotch, and his company, Widmore Industries, has a fetish for sponsoring mysterious races around the world, and buying journals from old slave ships. And if you look close, you will notice that they manufacture the pregnancy tests that are used on the island. So what’s the connection?
Well, these main bad guys have been tied to all things related to the island (except Oceanic Air at this point). Widmore Industries have partnered with Paik Industries (Sun’s Father’s Company). Paik Industries built a freighter for the Hanso Foundation. Could this be the same freighter that is currently stationed off the island, and why does the Hanso Foundation need a specially designed boat? The Hanso Foundation helped fund the Dharma Initiative.
Maybe Hanso needed a special boat because they knew where the island was, but have had trouble accessing the island after the purge due to the electromagnetic interference. The Dharma Initiative’s own technology and testing is now being used against them by Ben and Mittelos. As a test to see if the island could be reached, Widmore Industries conveniently sponsored a race that would use low tech equipment, with the hopes of one of these vessels arriving there. We know that Desmond was on a race sponsored by Widmore Industries and ended up on the island, but, let’s not forget about Mr. Henry Gale either, the now dead man from Minnesota in the hot air balloon. As an interesting note, Henry’s balloon was sponsored by… Widmore Industries. Prior to the purge of Dharma, Widmore would have also had access to the island, and could have been using it for defense testing and prototyping (the black smoke). How else would Dharma know how to keep the monster out of the compound?
And how does Penny Widmore know where to look for Desmond? Is it because she knows the approximate location of coordinates where he landed? It would be entirely possible to think that Daddy Widmore told his daughter to move on, because he got rid of ol’ Desmond. Maybe Penny has been snooping around her father’s business and has uncovered something that helped her know where to look for Desmond. She could have been using communications from her father’s business that were attempting to contact the island since the days of Dharma, and it just so happened that when the Looking Glass communication jam ended, Penny was there to say hello to Charlie.
Now, why does this make Widmore Industries the bad guys? We know that through the Lost Experience* that the Valenzetti Equation tells us that our favorite numbers (4,8,15,16,23,42) tell us the exact end date of mankind. The Dharma Initiative’s goal is to use any one of the numbers to change the end date. Well, what if Widmore could take control of this power and hold the world hostage, or use it for their own sinister benefit? In Bad Twin*, we also learn that a corporation by the name of Widmore Industries has been defense contracting and is morally lax in its testing and deployment. Maybe the “monster” was created by Widmore, which explains why Ben doesn’t know what it is. In Find815*, we learn that the Maxwell Group is looking for Black Rock, but instead finds flight 815. And what does Charles Widmore expect to find in the journal from the Black Rock? The Maxwell Group is shown to be division of Widmore Industries. And of course the biggest clue that Charles Widmore is evil… he doesn’t share his scotch.
*The Lost Experience, Find815, and Bad Twin are not considered canon to the show. However, this does not mean that the clues and information presented in their respective mediums are irrelevant.
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"Your Voice" is a new TTS series in which Tail Section fans submit their articles, theories or reviews to be published on The Tail Section for all their fellow fans to read. Have you spent far too much time pondering the origins of the DHARMA Initiative? Have you alienated your co-workers by rambling about Daniel Faraday’s wacky time anomaly experiment? If so, we want to hear from you. Send your own Lost theories, reviews, or general thoughts to Editor(at)TheTailSection.com. Please keep all submissions between 300 and 1,000 words. We will read through all submissions and contact you if we publish your entry. You will also receive byline credit on our site.
I like the point about the Monster being developed by Widmore, thus Ben not knowing what it is. Great post!
Comment by Ben Fraley — March 1, 2008 @ 10:55 am
The only problem with claiming Ben knows nothing about the smoke monster is that Juliet knows all about it via ‘Left Behind’ when she activated the security system to keep it from attacking her and Kate.
Comment by tailhook — March 1, 2008 @ 11:40 am
I think Juliet only knows how to keep it out.
Interesting theory about the Widmore’s. I think Charles Widmore is trying to locate something that was on the black rock. And now Ben has it, which i turn is why the freighter crew are looking for Ben. I also think this explains why Miles wanst 3.2 mil from Ben….. However I dont think its cash he is talking about. Its code for something else - Diamonds, gold, etc. But Miles knows Ben has it and can get to it on the island, which is why he is giving him a week to get it. Honestly, how can a tied up man get access to a that kind of cash….. especially on an island in the middle of nowhere. The look that Miles gave Ben sort of hinted that he needed to code what was being said in front of Kate.
Clearly the freighter is operated by Charles Widmore (also, they have strict instructions to not answer a phone that penny keeps calling…. hmm instructed by Charles Widmore… definitely) I think Charles Widmore is giving his daughter only bits of info - maybe he made a promise to her to send a team/freighter out to find Desmond, but really has other intentions (black rock, Ben).
There must be something worth a lot on the Black Rock, and now Ben has it…..
I hope this makes sense!
I have so many thoughts about lost this season.
Comment by Mary Bianco — March 1, 2008 @ 12:25 pm
I am hoping someone out there can make sense of this website that i found. I was researching what the Kazimir effect. This is in a trailer describing the Orchid Station. Here is the website http://www.biomedtehno.kiev.ua/english/other/akimov_eng.html
The page descibes both gravitational and magnetic energy. The Kazimir effect is talked about 3/4 of the page down. If any one can please read this info and comment please
Comment by g montiel — March 1, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
Alternate Realities!!!
In the trailer that shows the japanese scientist describing the Orchid Station he talks of the Kazimir effect. He is also holding a Rabbit with the number 15. During the presentation another 15 Rabbit appears and he is obviously upset and does not want the two rabbits near each other. He states “when did you set the shift” assistant replies -20. he asks how long she replies 9 mins but we’re still…
Could this be experiments in alternating universes and wormholes. Could this be switching of characters to different realities. This may explain how Jack still talks about his supposed dead father in the jump forward scene in the finale of season 3.
Comment by g montiel — March 1, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
quick question…. Why would Penny’s father give the 1996 Desmond her address if he doesn’t want him near his daughter?
This was, by far, the best episode I have seen. Desmond has become my favorite character.
Comment by Tracie — March 1, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
nice theory, the only thing i disagree with is the smoke thing.. somethings up with it and i dont think the solution is gona simply be a scientific weapon. Its prolly gona answer every question about the islands origins. aalso i think the miles 3.2 is insignificant and miles is just an idiot. haha. normally i would look at it closely but from now on i think the valenzetti numbers are put in everything to mess with us 4 8 15 16 (23) 42
Comment by ledio — March 1, 2008 @ 10:56 pm
This episode gave us a lot of information to digest. Specifically, I think a lot of loose ends now tie together, albeit faintly.
As this article points out, the Widmore business is a bit clearer now. He’s interested in the island. Some have suggested that Widmore is the Economist. Curiously, Penny seems to know about the island and told Desmond she’s been “researching” it. How does she know about it? Is she spying on her father? Or (plot twist alert) is she spying *for* her father? That would change my opinion of her real quick, though it’s possible she doesn’t know his evil plans.
Come to think of it, neither do we.
The time unsticking is also fascinating in terms of the loose ends it *might* tie up for us. Some people have suggested that the “sickness” on the Island is actually just the time anomaly, and that because people who don’t come to or leave the island on the proper heading (305? 325?) can potentially go nuts, this may have happened to characters we’ve been aware of for some time. Rousseau’s crewmates might have suffered from this sixteen years ago, leading her to have to kill them. And perhaps Jacob is unstuck in time in his own way, which is why he needs help.
I’m not convinced Daniel is unstuck. Certainly he made a note to make Desmond his Constant, just in case it happened. And if it hasn’t, I think it probably will. Maybe, just maybe, being unstuck explains why he was crying when we first saw him in Confirmed Dead. Perhaps for a brief moment Future Daniel came back and saw the plane coverage on the news, and recognized something that affected him emotionally. Here’s a thought: if Frank Lapidus becomes unstuck in time, will he be able to pilot the plane in 2004 and crash it in the ocean instead of on the island? Would that act, which would prevent the plane from ever having crashed on the Island in the first place, somehow save the world, at the cost of Frank’s own life? Is that selfless act something Daniel is “remembering” from the future while watching TV?
Aaargh!!!!! Brain … spinning … too … fast. I’m going to get a nosebleed if this keeps up.
One last thing: what’s with the 22nd of the month? The Black Rock set sail on March 22nd, 1845. The plane crashed on September 22nd, 2004. And we learned about all this time business on the freighter, where the calendar says it’s December 22nd, 2004? 22 is not one of the numbers, but it’s clearly one that the writers like.
Comment by Ed Holden — March 2, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
This was a very thoughtful post. Thank you. I think the writers are giving us a very big clue with the ‘constant’ theory. Perhaps all of the figures we’ve see in past episodes, like the priest that was significant in having Desmond and Penny meet one another, etc.
I think we’re dealing with multiple metaphysical things here. One is the ‘consciousness time jump’ — the other has to do with teleportation of somekind. I’m thinking of Locke’s dad and Sawyer and that whole drama. Also … HOW CAN LOCKE FALL OUT AN 8 STORY WINDOW AND LIVE???? SOMETHING HELPED TO BREAK HIS FALL … I THINK A ‘TIME JUMPER’ WAS DEFINITELY INVOLVED.
I think what we’re witnessing is a ‘war’ with operatives, etc. trying to out smart one another.
Black Rock is key. and I agree … Ben has something … that Widmore wants. I think he tricked Desmond and wanted him to find Penny so that they will make contact in 2004. So he and his crew can raid the island. But it’s more than just find the island. He wants Ben.
Also … WHO IS ANNIE?
Great fun this show!
Comment by J Far — March 2, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
Not only is Bad Twin not canon, but in the book, the Widmores are an old-money family from Long Island, New York, USA (think the characters in the Great Gatsby). They have NO connection or relevance to the Widmores featured on the show. Therefore the connections in Bad Twin should not be referenced for any meaning whatsoever.
Comment by ThePieHole — March 2, 2008 @ 4:42 pm
McKay,
Brilliant post. I have been thinking along the same lines for a while now and it seems that last week’s episode has given us some proof. At my site, http://www.therecshow.com I have been posting about Lost and came to many of the same conclusions.
Comment by Chris — March 2, 2008 @ 5:51 pm
Annie could be Ben’s spy on the ship. Maybe he shot her, knowing she was wearing the vest. It would be like him to do that…Who sent her to get the polar bear collar and who would sabotage the ships communication and how does the captain not know about it. The captain would be made aware immediately of someone on board destroying ship communications unless the captain couldn’t be communicated to, maybe off the boat.
Any ideas on who the guy who hired Naomi works for? That would answer alot of questions.
Also the blast door map referenced the Black Rock as the known final resting place of Magnus Hanso. We know Magnus was the Black Rocks’captain but who was the first mate?
Comment by Ash — March 2, 2008 @ 9:36 pm
Also remember Bens’ little girlfriend who gave him the doll for his birthday…
Comment by Ash — March 2, 2008 @ 9:46 pm
I liked this post as well. Charles Widmore is def someone of interest. The bathroom scene where Des was asking Charles for Penny’s address, Charles gave him the address willing. I thought what was strange about it, was that Charles left the water on after washing his hands. I feel he left the water on was because Charles knew what was taking place with Des and his symptoms, even if it was only 1996. As Des starred at the water he flashed back onto the freighter.
Comment by MKG — March 3, 2008 @ 9:46 am
I think it seems pretty obvious that this “metaphorical box” is why ben can have 3.2 mil to give to miles. Which is why Miles said something along the lines of knowning what Ben can do. I beleive Ben has the ability to manipulate reality like a master of space and time. Afterall, only fools are enslaved by time and space. What do you think?
Comment by CheTralfara — March 3, 2008 @ 10:00 am
I think Penny is bad!!!
Comment by Bill — March 3, 2008 @ 10:19 am
Thanks for the kind words about this post everyone. I think there are some great points from all of you here. In regards to ThePieHole’s comment about the Bad Twin not being canon to the show, I agree that there is not a direct relationship to the show, however, these additional sources have been created for dedicated Lost fans who want something extra from the show, or who want to take it 1 step further. These additional sources (find815, the Lost Experience, Bad Twin) *could* absolutely provide additional clues related to the show without being a direct tie-in. For example, the Lost producers provided a list of elements that could be incorporated into the Bad Twin novel, and although the producers were not happy with the end result, this does not mean that certain concepts or elements should automatically be dismissed.
Comment by McKay — March 3, 2008 @ 10:55 am
good post, some interesting points.
a couple of thoughts ive had on some questions that have been asked:
i think the spy on the freighter is going to be Michael. I think Ben let him go with the boat and sent him there to be his spy.
I think that the freighter folk are probably contracted by Darmha. Darmha want Ben Linus for his involvement in the mass murder of all their operatives. They haven’t been able to get back to the island since the incident.
Also this wasn’t mentioned at all, but i think Daniels got his memory problems (hinted at by the card memory game, and him not remembering desmond) from not wearing anything on his head whilst experimenting.
Comment by oafius — March 4, 2008 @ 5:22 am
Okay my freaking biggest question is this —back in season 3—How did Locke’s dad just show up on the island that loop is still unexplained. I’m thinking that will come up why the polar bears are sitting in the desert.
Comment by Orionfire — March 4, 2008 @ 10:06 am
Okay my freaking biggest question is this —back in season 3—How did Locke’s dad just show up on the island that loop is still unexplained. I’m thinking that will come up why the polar bears are sitting in the desert.
Posted By Orionfire
Richard Alpert brought him as Ben says to him ” go get the man from tallahassee” in the episode the man from tallahassee
Comment by Matt — March 4, 2008 @ 3:11 pm
I think time travel and the freighter people and possibly charles widmore trying to get to the island and get Ben ties into the Jacob story. i always asked myself the question why Richard Alpert just started letting Ben call the shots on the island. as we know he has supernatural abilities(he never ages) i think he has some power pertaining to the time travel. I think he knew these people would come(possibly dharma people)and knew they would seek the leader of the hostiles to get what they wanted. I think he created this other character named jacob( really just richard) and Ben seemed to be unique in his ability to communicate with him and grew to be the leader. in this way Richard could safely call the shots from the shadows and appear to be just a background character. if anyone has noticed when Ben changes plans with capturing the pregant women and none of the others protest yet Richard gets flustered, angry even thats plans are changing.
Comment by Matt — March 4, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
Maybe a dumb question but I have not seen it addressed yet: If the Black Rock is shipwrecked on the island, how did the Black Rock journal get off the Black Rock to be auctioned off? Wouldn’t the journal still be on ship? Wouldn’t someone have had to take it off the Black Rock and taken it back to “civilization” in order to be auctioned off? If so, who? Ben? Why? If not Ben who and why?
Comment by Rico — March 4, 2008 @ 11:04 pm
it says in that episode that it was found with a survivor in madagascar i believe.
Comment by chad — March 11, 2008 @ 9:35 am
Some of my theories…
Charles Whidmore was on the Black Rock and is most likely the former 1st mate. Somehow he left the island and Ben took it from him and has hidden the island from him. My theory is the island allows Whitmore to not age or age at a very slow rate. He needs to return to it before he ages too far and dies. Ben is Whidmores constant and Whidmore is Bens constant….that’s why neither can kill the other. This is in the same way that Penelope is Desomnds constant. It’s a proven fact that the “others” and Ben can time travel….both forward and backwards. For some reason there must be a limit on how far they can go in any direction though. The other key characters seems to be Jack and Claire’s dad and Walt. Still have other thoughts but am brain dead right now…
Comment by Greg Wilkinson — May 3, 2008 @ 4:31 pm