Richard is the new Jacob?

[eochs]

My theory...

Mom as the island protector makes a rule that the brothers cannot hurt each other. Mother passes the torch to Jacob by giving him the wine to drink. Jacob makes a rule that MiB cannot kill the candidates.

Fast forward a few thousand years. MIB is still pissed that he can't leave the island. He needs to find a loophole to kill Jacob and the possible candidates to protect the island. Jacob anticipates this. In the 1800's he gives Richard the ability to avoid going to hell by not dying, but when Richard drinks the wine he is actually becoming the new island protector. That is why Jacob is killed so easily by Ben with the knife.

Richard is the new Jacob, and he doesn't know it. That is why he is supposed to know what to do next. That is also why MIB smashed the bottle when Jacob gave it to him.

[spinaltumor]

I like it.

It's tricksy.

[markedman]

Exalt for that theory. I like it.

[eochs]

Thanks... It basically just hit me, Richard doesn't age, and the only other person to not age is Jacob, so maybe Richard is now exactly like Jacob, but doesn't know it

[LockeRulez]

yup.. i think this is a distinct possibility (as I posted early in the 6x15 thread), especially since the bottle is now destroyed.

Seems a long time ago to not know he has all Jacob's powers though. But Jacob did tell Richard he had a plan for him and he'd find out later. So he's been training him up (for a long long time!). But totally different than Jacob's Mother trained him, because Richard's training has been all about Jacob/MIB's "Game" about people choosing good over evil. And of course Jacob/MIB's "Game" has nothing to do (so far) with the Protector role. Unless we find out more, its just a way to pass the time. Unless people choosing good vs. evil has something to do with "everyone having a bit of (evil?) light in them" or "wanting/taking more of the light".

and of course, i posted also that there was no way Jacob would let himself get killed unless his successor was ALREADY in place, given how important we've been told the Protector job is.

I definitely think there will be a good twist at the end that none of our Losties will be The Final Candidate becoming The Protector.