[D-Roc]

Originally Posted by monster-eats-pilot

Ah Roco you and your Ben/Locke loving.

Someone's got to

Originally Posted by Miss Austen

It sort of implies that the 'chosen one' goes through an apprenticeship/test/initiation of sorts doesn't it?

Indeed, Locke for instance has had to go through all kinds of tests throught his life..it kinda makes you wonder how many of his tribulation were all part of the "design"..

Jack like Ben never wanted to press the button but Locke did want to press the button. Desmond had pressed the button but wanted to get out of the responsibility!

To this day i'm still amazed that John ever managed to convince Jack to press the button, but I guess this is partly what Locke means when he tells Jack "deep down you know you're here for a reason" (or words to that effect), cos deep down Jack has perhaps always known..it's just that committing to that notion scares him..how can he place his faith in 'buttons' and islands, when the last time he had faith in something, it hurt him deeply - Sarah. I guess that's kinda where Jack's hang-ups with faith come from..that and his father and all that entails.

Ben sorta looks down on John Locke and doesn't feel he's worthy enough to replace him!

Interesting. I can kinda see that..certainly Ben condecends John from time to time, and you're right, Ben perhaps doubts that John is able/ready to replace him - "I was unable to seperate emotions with command decisions..but i'm sure you'll be able to do better, John" (words to that effect) - a self-depreciating but also patronising comment.

Although I do detect that Ben respects..and even 'likes', John. The pair share many common traits and seem so at ease with one another..compared to the often tense relationship that they both share with Jack.

Originally Posted by Miss Austen

Something else has just occurred to me. If John Locke is now the leader of the Others, will he (like Ben before him) have the power to control the black smoke?

Originally Posted by monster-eats-pilot

Now that is a good point. I don't think so though because Ben hasnt told him how to control Smokey baby.

I'm not sure Ben could ever 'control' smokey, as such. I think that he had limited use of Smokey..perhaps able to release him. Ben still seems to retain some fear of Smokey, and I think there's much he doesn't know of the island guardian, as alluded to in Cabin Fever when he told Locke that Jacob is the best go2guy for all things 'Smoke' related.

That said, I think that Alpert and the Others (or rather "Natives" now that most of Ben's recruited neo-Natives have been killed) are key in teaching and training the 'chosen one':

Ben: "They're always willing and able, to share all they know.." (words to that effect in reference to Alpert and the Natives - 4.13)