Who Picked The Oceanic Six?

[D-Roc]

So, we all know who the Oceanic Six are:

Jack, Kate, Hurley, Sayid, Aaron and Sun.

We also know that some of them (if not all of them) at somepoint desperately want to go back. But let us go back a moment and ask: Who Picked the Oceanic Six?


I think that this is a question which hasn't really been focused on since the season began, and no wonder, because as it stands it doesn't really make much sense. After all, we have Hurley and Aaron from Camp Locke, Jack, Kate and Sun from Team Jack, and of course Sayid who is currently in neither camp, as he is on-board the freighter.

The logistics of the (presumably) immenent departure from the island is an odd one. Just how will these various people from various parts of the island and surrounding areas come to be on that one 'lucky' group that ends up off the island?

Can we consider that the Island itself selects who stays and who goes? After all, it's been revealed that the island can have a hold over those who it brings to the island, and those who leave it's sandy shores. So perhaps the island 'allows' these people to leave - perhaps via the 'magic box' that Ben spoke of? This would perhaps mean that Ben is the one who makes this happen, since the island often needs 'human players' to do it's will. Or perhaps the decision to let six..those six leave the island is the decision of Benjamin "I always have a plan" Linus, himself? Is this his way of fulfilling his promise to Jack? ..of reminding Kate about the lesson he taught her during breakfast on the hydra island? ..of protecting an unborn child as he would want others to protect his child?

Compassion, or all part of the plan? Who knows when it comes to Ben, but I would have to think it would be a bit of both. He is a man with deep humanity and compassion - although he is not the easiest man to read - at the same time there is a clear war going on, and Ben would do anything to protect the island.

Perhaps another alternative is Jacob - maybe Jacob is repaying Hurley for seemingly setting him 'free' in The Beginning of the End? But that wouldn't explain why Jack, Kate, Sayid, Aaron and Sun have been let free..not many of them have ever been on any of his lists before.

A couple of weeks ago, during Ji Yeon, I presumed that the Freighties would be the ones to select who goes home and who remains on the island - Frank and Keamy were about to head back to the island for another 'assignment' - which, as it turns out seems to have had nothing to do with selecting six 815'ers to go home, but everything to do with capturing Ben and killing everyone else (ethics the Widmore way). This hasn't been proven yet, but seriously, Keamy and friends are surely the shooters.

So that leaves me with a final logical possibility for who chose the Oceanic Six - that is, the Oceanic Six themselves! Or at least one of them. Perhaps Hurley had made the decision as to who gets to 'go home'? Why not, he's feeling much more optimistic these days, he could handle the responsibility one would think. Furthermore we know that he ends up back in Santa Rosa, which suggests that he is feeling the guilt and negative effects of leaving the island more than most - certainly he's not far behind bearded Jack in that respect.

Now if it is Hurley (or whoever) who gets to choose, it's interesting to consider their thinking behind not only electing to 'save themselves', but in selecting those other five members. Sun and Aaron are self explanatory - but ommitting Claire is a baffling decision if ever their as one. Which alludes to the idea that Claire either dies at some point soon, she is made to stay on the island and asks Kate to give her son a 'normal' upbringing, or Hurley is really starting to resent Claire for not mourning Charlie's death properly. The choice (if it is a choice) to send Jack, Kate and Sayid home is also an intriguing one - why not Bernard and Rose, for example?

This is partly why i'm beginning to think that the choice was made by Kate - she wants off the island as much as anyone but is worried about the prospect of going to jail - does she therefore elect NOT to pick Claire, so that she can use Aaron as a sympathetic tool in front of the courts of America? It would make sense for her to choose Jack and NOT choosing Sawyer, since the wind is currently blowing in Jack's direction from Kate's perspective right now, especially after her and Sawyer's failed attempt at doing Taco Night. Would Kate choose Sayid? Why not, those two are often on the same page and she knows that he wants to get off the island. Kate would also choose Hugo, as those two have some sort of understanding. She would also defeintely choose Sun as they have developed a bond over the last few seasons, as well as sharing more than a few things in common. Obviously this would require Jin to die before Kate makes such a decision as I just can't see her seperating them like that.

So i'll go for Kate being the one to make the decision of who to take home, but it could be anyone and the method of selection is probably something totally unforseen.

Oh yeah, and then there's the WHY..why are only six 815'ers allowed home and WHY send anyone home in the first place. This once again would bring me back round to Ben being involved in the decision process..that beautiful man always has a plan.