Just Another Crazy Theory

[Fringified]

Hello, everyone!

Well, with Season 6 of LOST approaching at such a quick rate, it's time we start getting hyped. Hopefully, all of the loose ends will tied up, all of our questions answered, all of our hopes fulfilled. I've been rewatching Season 5, and I found some very interesting moments that sparked some theories of mine.

So, apparently from what I've learned off FandomForums, the Man in Black, Jacob's nemesis, is called Esau. Whatever the hell that is supposed to mean, that's his name (but when he takes the form of Locke, he is referred to as Flocke ). It has also been speculated that:

Esau = Smokey

This is a stretch, but with what we've seen in LOST, perhaps it's not. If Esau is actually Smokey, this could actually make some sense. I'm going to reference some early Season 5 episodes in my explanation.

In 5.05 This Place is Death, Jin has washed up on the Island with Danielle Rousseau and her team. They go marching through the jungle to find a radio tower, when all of a sudden, once of their members goes missing. It's obvious to us that Smokey is lurking nearby - and he is. Smokey snatches onto a blonde male in the team, and drags him through the jungle. One of the other team members manages to grap onto his hand and attempt to stop Smokey from dragging Blondie into a hole in the ground. However, Smokey is too strong, and ends up pulling Blondie down, ripping his arm off in the process. Only moments later do we hear Blondie yell for help. He also says that Smokey is gone, and then he's okay. This, I thought was weird. He just got his freakin' arm ripped off. Why is he not screaming in pain?

The Season 5 finale made it apparent to us that Esau had taken the form of John Locke (hence, Flocke), and had killed Jacob (because for some reason Esau can't just go and kill Jacob himself...he needs to find a "loophole"). If Esau could take the form of Locke, couldn't he have also taken the form of Blondie, down in the hole? I suggest that Esau, down in the hole, was enticing the others to go down into the hole, for whatever reason.

Not long after that, Jin experiences a time flash and disappears, into the future. He goes to Rousseau's camp and sees Rousseau and Robert on the brink of shooting each other. Rousseau screams, "That thing changed you!" I am assuming that Rousseau is referring to Smokey. In fact, Robert did go down in the hole to try to save Blondie. I think it is possible that Smokey killed Robert, took his form, and then left to live amongst Danielle. Hence, "that thing changed" him. Danielle does eventually shoot Robert square between the eyes.

Let me pause briefly and remind you all (who needs reminding, though?) that over the course of 5 seasons, there have been multiple instances where dead people have been seen on the Island. I think our biggest example is Christian Shepherd (but we also have seen Boone, Harper, and Walt - who wasn't dead, but it was weird that we kept on seeing him on the Island).

I think it is plausible that Smokey has been taking the form of these dead ones to manipulate others. For example, in 5.05 This Place in Death, Christian Shepherd tells John Locke that he must bring everyone back that left the Island. If this is really Esau in disguise, is Esau manipulating the characters for his own evil purposes? Why does he want everybody on the Island?

Let me know what you all think!

[Omniscient_Jay]

Since converting to Lostism, I have been rummaging around Lost related sites, and the idea that the Man in Black is actually Smokey and has been manipulating events, especially Jacob's downfall, from the beginning is actually one of the most popular theories out there.

Not that your version is entirely unoriginal. (It's still nice, though).

I like the theory, but it raises many important questions, most of which will hopefully be answered by the end of the season.

(It's not like they can hold back from us at this point, right? )

[Montecito]

I believe that there is no Esau. Just Black Smoke.
The guy who talked with Jacob was just a Black Smoke's manifestation.
Just my opinion.

[Fringified]

I believe that there is no Esau. Just Black Smoke.
The guy who talked with Jacob was just a Black Smoke's manifestation.
Just my opinion.

That's pretty interesting! I just can't help but think that "Esau" was important - his appearance, anyhow. His and Jacob's contrasting shirts were extremely interesting ... if my theory is true, Smokey doesn't always have to be wearing black because Christian Shepherd wore gray when he told Locke to bring the others back.

[Montecito]

That's pretty interesting! I just can't help but think that "Esau" was important - his appearance, anyhow. His and Jacob's contrasting shirts were extremely interesting ... if my theory is true, Smokey doesn't always have to be wearing black because Christian Shepherd wore gray when he told Locke to bring the others back.

I don't know about Christian Sepherd. I am way confused about him to understand what he is.

[Fringified]

Here are some more things to add onto my theory, while rewatching 5.12 Dead is Dead.

(1) When we see Locke standing on the beach, he is wearing black pants.

(2) Locke wants to accompany Ben as Ben gets judged by Smokey. Locke says he wants to do this because it's in the best interest of the Island. But could he possibly be doing it because he is Smokey?

(3) Ben tells Locke that Locke has no idea what the Island wants. Locke replies, "Are you sure about that?"

(4) After Ben goes into the tunnel, Locke walks off, saying he has "something to do."

(5) When Ben and Sun hear rustling in the woods, Ben says that what's about to come out of the jungle is something he can't control. But then Locke comes out. Could this be a hint that Locke is Smokey?

(6) Locke begins leading the way to that place where Ben is judged. Ben asks how Locke knows ... Locke says he just does - because perhaps he is Smokey.

(7) After Ben falls into the cave, Locke disappears claiming he'll find something to get Ben out of there.

(8) Of course! Only while Locke is gone can Smokey appear!

(9) Is Smokey can take the form of others, why couldn't he take the form of Alex? Alex tells Ben to never hurt Locke, and to listen to everything Locke says. This just gives Flocke the upper hand!

(10)...And then when Alex disappears, Locke appears.