Exploring The Others in Lost: Backstory and Journey to the Island

The enigmatic group known as the Others in Lost has a rich and intricate history that predates the arrival of Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and the other survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. Following the crash, Jack’s party quickly realized they were not the only inhabitants of the island. The Others, led by the cunning Ben Linus, became a central source of conflict throughout the show’s first three seasons, while their influence continued to shape numerous storylines over the course of the series.

Throughout its six seasons, Lost explored the island’s numerous inhabitants in great detail. This included the Dharma Initiative, which conducted a variety of operations on the island, as well as the Others, often referred to as the Hostiles. Initially viewed as brutal savages, the Others significantly transformed their standing by eliminating the Dharma Initiative and seizing their resources during the 1970s. Season 5’s time travel narrative expanded upon their backstory, indicating their presence on the island as early as the 1950s, a period when influential characters like Charles Widmore and Eloise Hawking were active.

The Others: Jacob’s Followers Preceding DHARMA and the Plane Crash

Most of The Others Were Directed to the Island by Jacob

Mark Pellegrino as Jacob in Lost wearing a white shirt and looking pensive

In the narrative of Lost, the Others serve as agents of Jacob, the appointed Protector of the Island. Jacob, rendered immortal by his mysterious mother and his predecessor, developed unique abilities that assisted him in his role. One of these abilities enabled him to draw individuals to the island, often against their will, such as the ill-fated passengers of Oceanic Flight 815. Notably, Jack’s group was merely among the latest in Jacob’s efforts to amass followers, a pursuit that had spanned centuries prior to the plane crash.

Jacob Induced the Crash of Richard’s Ship and Granted Immortality to Recruit Others

Richard’s Role: Recruiting Allies for Jacob

Jacob’s strategy for accumulating followers can be traced back to 1867, as illustrated in Richard’s origin story revealed in season 6’s episode “Ab Aeterno.”The flashbacks unveil Richard’s arrival on the island following the crash of his ship, the Black Rock. Jacob later confesses that he orchestrated the crash specifically to populate the island. After agreeing to Jacob’s terms of immortality, Richard became the first official member of the Others.

Instead of solely relying on his mystical abilities to attract shipwrecked souls, Jacob entrusted Richard with the responsibility to venture off the island and actively recruit new allies. While the exact timing of Richard’s first excursions off the island remains unclear, it is plausible that he began this recruiting process in the late 19th century, explaining the significant presence of the Others during the 1950s. This indicates that Jacob and Richard were diligently cultivating their community during this time.

Richard’s recruitment efforts led to an influx of new members, such as Mikhail and Juliet, who settled on the island and formed their own families, thus enhancing the Others’ population. The origins of characters like Widmore and Eloise, who also became part of this community, were not explored in depth in the series.

Selection of Leaders Among The Others in Lost

The Complex Process Behind Choosing Their Leaders

Ben Linus looking at someone with a bloody face in Lost.

While obeying Jacob’s overarching vision was essential, he did not directly communicate with the Others nor did they directly respond to him. Instead, they looked to a chosen representative within their ranks. Jacob believed the Others should be capable of making independent decisions and avoided overt interventions in their affairs. Consequently, Richard, despite his long-standing relationship with Jacob, refrained from leading the Others himself, as his direct involvement would undermine Jacob’s hands-off approach.

Richard played a pivotal role in guiding the Others through the selection of their leaders, a process requiring careful consideration that spanned decades. This is exemplified by Richard’s long-term observation of potential leaders like Ben and Locke during their formative years, assessing their worthiness to lead. For instance, Locke ultimately secured his position by orchestrating the death of Anthony Cooper, albeit indirectly.

The Purpose and Goals of The Others on the Island

Jacob’s Mission: To Contain the Smoke Monster

The ultimate ambition of the Others was to fulfill Jacob’s intentions. However, due to Jacob’s enigmatic demeanor, his motives and the rationale behind certain choices often remained ambiguous to the Others, leading to confusion stemming from their lack of direct communication with him. Regardless of their awareness, their collective goal centered around defeating the Man in Black and preserving the island’s sacred energy found within the Heart of the Island.

As brothers, Jacob and the Man in Black held contrasting objectives regarding the island’s fate. The Man in Black had infiltrated the Heart, transforming into the terrifying smoke monster, thus posing a threat to all nearby. Jacob recognized he required assistance to prevent the Man in Black from escaping. This imperative directed the Others to regulate who could access the island and oversee its various activities.

Lingering Questions Surrounding The Others

Unresolved Plot Holes Left by the Original Inhabitants

The Others have captured the plane crash survivors and are holding up guns in Lost

When Lost first premiered in 2004, it garnered widespread acclaim for its intricate storytelling. However, as the series drew to a close, many fans expressed dissatisfaction due to the convoluted narrative and the multitude of unanswered questions. The Others played a significant role in these frustrations, with numerous aspects of their group remaining perplexing by the series finale.

From their initial introduction, there were inconsistencies regarding The Others’ portrayal that later became difficult to reconcile. For example, in the season 3 premiere “A Tale of Two Cities, ”they were depicted in tattered clothing and makeshift shelters, resembling a second group of castaways like the Flight 815 survivors. As the story progressed, their distinct origins came to light, prompting inquiries about their motivations to mimic the living conditions of Jack’s group without any clear advantage.

Moreover, several traditions and rituals associated with The Others, initially emphasized in earlier seasons, were largely abandoned by the end of the series. For instance, Kate was forced to shower and don formal attire for a meal with Ben in “A Tale of Two Cities, ”yet the significance of her immaculate appearance was never clarified. Similarly, Colleen’s funeral in season 3 featured significant focus on elaborate customs reminiscent of Viking rituals, but these cultural aspects were never revisited or explained.

The ambiguous nature of The Others’ culture was further highlighted in the “Stranger in a Strange Land”episode, where Juliet was marked with a distinctive symbol under Ben’s orders. The implications of this marking seemed critical to their identity, yet Lost never provided an explanation for its significance, leaving fans with lingering questions.

Overall, The Others emerged as one of the most captivating facets of Lost when they were first introduced but gradually became overshadowed by the show’s increasingly intricate storyline, resulting in an unfulfilled exploration of their intriguing backstory and motivations.

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