The Tail Section

Jeff Jensen at EW.com recently posted his analysis of the Lost finale.  Along with some general theorizing, Jensen brought up the four burning questions that remain from "There’s No Place Like Home."  Check out the questions below, or read the entire article here.

1)  Where is the Island?

Ben descended into an icy cave underneath a Dharma Initiative time-travel lab and pushed on an ancient wheel.  The Island then vanished in a blaze of light and sound, much like an American Idol contestant, taking Locke, Juliet, and Shirtless Sawyer with it.

THEORY:  The Island is located in another dimension, embedded in the space-time fabric of reality.  Turning the wheel closed the portal to that realm; turning it again would open it back up.  Which is all to say, I don’t think the Island technically went anywhere; it is where it’s always been.  Another possibility that works similar turf: We know from ”The Shape of Things to Come” that after pushing the wheel, Ben landed in Tunisia about 10 months in the future.  Similarly, the Island skipped ahead in time — but unlike Ben, didn’t change location.  In other words, in terms of geographical coordinates, the Island is exactly where it’s always been…wherever the heck that is.  Another way to think about it: Like Lost itself, the Island has merely gone offline.  When the Island comes back online, it’ll be like no time has passed at all — at least, for the people on it.

2)  How did Locke get in the coffin?

Last seen on the Island, the boar-hunting baldie had become the jungle king of the Others.  But, three years later, Locke was apparently living off-Island as ”Jeremy Bentham” (another Lost philosopher reference), begging the Oceanic 6 to go back with him.  He then allegedly committed suicide.

THEORY:  Locke’s death is a trick — part of the Island’s plan to manipulate the Oceanic 6 into returning. When they bring Locke’s body back, he’ll be magically revived.  About Locke’s chosen fake name, ”Jeremy Bentham”: I strongly suggest you read about the real-life Bentham on Wikipedia.  But also check out the Jeremy Bentham entry at LostPedia.  The fans over there have made some provocative connections to another Lost philosopher, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and another loaded Lost name, Jacob.  Check it out: It’s revolutionary — and terrifying — stuff.

3)  What did Sawyer whisper to Kate?

With Lapidus’ helicopter leaking fuel, Sawyer heroically chose to lighten the load by jumping ship — but before he did, he whispered a final request into Kate’s ear, then smooched her.

THEORY:  The con man asked his crush to check up on Clementine, the daughter he fathered with con gal (and Kate acquaintance) Cassidy.  Or maybe he said: ”When you come back, can you bring me a shirt?”

4)  Were the polar bears being trained to push on the frozen donkey wheel?

We know that the cave where the Frozen Donkey Wheel is located is all icy and stuff.  And we know that a polar bear was found in Tunisia, which is where Ben materialized after pushing on said Frozen Donkey Wheel.  Putting two and two together, many fans have been asking: Was Dharma training its polar bears to operate the subterranean turnstile of destiny?

DOC JENSEN SAYS:  Maybe.  But you saw how tight and narrow that passageway was.  And then there was that little ice-capped well leading to the ladder…how the heck would the polar bears get down there?  Still: intriguing idea.

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