From what we know only Jacob is mortal. MiB on the other hand has never been killed or close to die (Sayid stabbing Flocke certainly didn't work). And if MiB was mortal, shouldn't Jacob/someone try to kill him to end this already? I think MiB is immortal, but must be trapped forever by a guardian(cork). Another thing that just popped to mind is the importance of not letting either Jacob/MiB talk to you. Both Sayid and Richard were told not to let either one open the mouth and stab them. The obvious reason is that if you let them talk to you they will manipulate you, but I think there is a deeper idea behind this..
In regards to the "don't let him speak" - I think we have another important piece of the puzzle to consider. Ben and Jacob had a solid chit chat before Ben stabbed him up - that alone should blow any theories of speaking rendering them invulnerable. I DO, however, think that what may be at play is that the knife-wielder has to WILL the death of Jacob/Smokey to pull it off. If they dull your desire to kill them, it won't work. Jacob can't kill Smokey and v.v. because it's the rules of the game. Or something. And I do very much expect that Smokey gets killed (Benry in a Vader redemption move) before all is said and done. Thanks! Read it, and agree. That Timeline X is the "happy ending" that the characters may not actually get to enjoy in Timeline A has been one of the two possibilities I've liked from the S6 premiere. Either they timelines reconverge (Jacob reading all that rises must converge, Jack finding his Timeline A wounds bleeding over, the deja vu the characters seem to experience, etc), or it's the happy ending. I've definitely noticed that there seems to be differences between Camp Smokey and Camp Jacob in Timeline X: Camp Smokey folks seem to be tortured still, at least to degrees (and not without hope of salvation) Camp Jacob folks seem to be finding peace Sawyer has a foot in both (in each sense) MIB has explicitly stated that he was once a normal mortal man, and I believe Jacob was as well (similar to how Richard has been shown to be a mortal man that was then given immortality). What I'm getting at is I don't believe either originated/are mystical gods. They're demigods. From the Wiki: And as far as why Jacob didn't just have him killed - Smokey fills a role. He's dangerous, has to be contained, but he's needed. Ying needs Yang and all that. Jacob is maintaining the balance. If Smokey were to be killed, Jacob would be compelled to replace him stat. Whereas Smokey is trying hard to destroy the entire arrangement to get out, consequences be damned.
So if Jacob seems content in being the lock that keeps evil on the island and he knows the only way for Smokey to escape is to be killed by him, why does he bring people to the island? Unless he's tired of doing it, and that's why he's looking for a candidate... Maybe Smokey has the power to bring people to the island as well?
MIB also said something about Jacob killing or taking his body. Of course this is to convince Richard, so maybe nothing out of MIB can be trusted. I know this was supposed to be Richard-centric, so why re-show the hospital scene? Is there some society or cult of Jacobites? I understand how it's some sort of experiment, but why would Jacob provoke Ben into stabbing him? What's with the eyeliner Richard used to wear earlier in the series??
It seems to be a wager/contest between them - that Jacob wants to prove Smokey wrong in his assessment that all of mankind is inherently self-serving and evil. Jacob's looking for a pure soul that would sacrifice everything for the good of all. (*cough*Hurley*cough*) The Richard attempt seemed to genuinely startle Jacob and show him that the game was changing. He accepts Richard's advice and assigns him to be a liaison, but I think this is the point in which he realizes eventually Smokey will succeed and he needs to put a counter plan in place. When Benry shows up with NotLocke, Jacob is resigned to his death and accepts it. He's already set the contingency plan in motion. I *believe* he just sifts through the people brought - judging/killing some (Hanso crew), infecting others (French crew), and attempting to corrupt others. Agreed. One possibility is that MIB is not the first to fill the role of Smokey. Perhaps Jacob facilitated MIB going from mortal man to Smokey demigod to replace a predecessor and fill that role. Really good question there. He never wore guyliner.
One thing I'm impressed by, and I don't think I've seen this mentioned yet--- The whole idea of "Do something wrong as a sacrifice for the one you love" thing goes way, way, waaay back, and is a theme they've developed masterfully. Most recently of course is Sayid and Richard, but this goes all the way back to the whole Michael/Walt stuff, from Season 2. Even if Michael/Walt are no longer explicitly relevant to the story, those patterns are consistent with the overall show. Loved it.
It's solely conjecture, but I was thinking that maybe Hurley becomes the next Richard, assuming everything ends positively and all 3 immortals (except MIB) pass on their roles. Hurley's mainly played a messenger role this whole time, and him being aware of Jacob kind of creates an observer effect. As awesome as Hurley's is, lately he's sort of a blank slate as far as character development.
I think Hurley will be the new Jacob and there will not be a new Richard. Richard's role will not need to be filled, because I believe he will still be alive. Richard will play the same role, but only helping Hurley.
I think MIB is Aaron. He said Jacob stole his body. Jacob as we know him now is blonde like Aaron. MIB said he had a crazy mother like Claire, he was actually talking about Claire. Aaron is special because he was born on the island.
Here's what someone posted on the lostpedia forums. I don't agree with it completely but the general gist of it seems to make a whole lot of sense.
great point. I think of Locke and Eko when you bring this up. Locke gave his kidney to Anthony Cooper and Eko as a young boy sacrificed himself so that his brother wouldn't enter the life of a druglord... both looked directly into the eye of the monster and were spared their lives... (it wasn't until Eko refused to repent when the Yemi Monster destroyed him) he spares the inherently good their lives. but believes they are inherently evil...
it makes a lot of sense but at the same time how does it fit when aaron was born in 2004 and MIB/Jacob have been at odds for hundreds of years? the whole time traveling concept on this hurts the mind thinking and the logic behind it. I can see MIB wanting aaron to maybe possess his body to become mortal again and somehow making Aaron the new MIB but i have a hard time trying to believe that aaron is MIB in some sort of cyclical time way
This doesn't make any sense to me at all. I guess I'm finding it hard to explain how a baby who was born on the island in 2004 (or whenever) and taken off the island in Timeline A, is the black smoke who has been on the island for at least over a century?
Seems like a weird theory to me as well BUT weren't both Jacob and MIB wearing khaki's and button down shirts? I could be wrong, but I swore they were. I mean, it was the 1800's in that flashback when Ricardo first met them. Their clothes were either another hint at time travel or a big goof by the producers.
They were wearing the same shirts they were wearing in the Season 5 finale. http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/File:6X09_Jacob_bottle.jpg
1860's wise, I'd say that their clothing matches the textile style and ability of the time. ...it would be damn sweet if they were dressed all Crocket and Tubbs style. I would be behind that.
