Anonymity Rules

[D-Roc]

Despite theories that have pointed to Locke, Ben or even Hurley being inside the coffin, it seems near certain that the most predictable option will become the correct outcome.

Michael.

I say this simply because of a little thing called anonymity.

We all know who the Oceanic 6 are - Jack, Kate, Hurley, Sun, Aaron and Sayid. However the show has also revealed that 2 other 'Losties' beat them to it - Michael and Walt both returned home in less celebrated fashion. Infact they Michael was able to go home and return to the island with only his mom and Walt knowing he even came home to begin with!

This is what I call anonymity.

I think this is quite an important aspect of recent events which hasn't been focused on that much - The Oceanic 6 are lauded, yet Michael and Walt were able to keep a low profile, even though Mike returned to the same city where he lived before the island. Walt previously lived in Oz (and stays in his bedroom), so it's more understandable that he can go unnoticed, but for Mike to return to NYC and practically have no-one recognise him, points out the stark difference in the nature surrounding our island refugees.

That said, it should be near impossible for one of the Oceanic 6 to die and not have their death reported/mourned/debated. Therefore logic suggests that the person inside the coffin simply cannot be one of the returning "Six" (though of course the likes of Locke and Ben are still in play under this premise).

It has been speculated before that Michael is the man inside the coffin, but now with the nature of his and Walt's unreported return 'home', could this be the final nail in confirming such a theory? Had Walt and Mike's return been as 'celebrated' as their fellows in the 'Six', then it would be unlikely that either of them should die and have such a meagre turn out for their funeral. This therefore suggests that for once in this show logic rules and the man who is "survived by one teenaged son" is the man who was able to return to the island and complete his "work" and thus remove the deathproof that the island had over him.

We also have the fact that Michael has previously operated under an alias - the man in the coffin is not reported as being 'Michael Dawson', but it could be another one of his assumed identities - perhaps given to him by Ben.

If Michael is the man in the coffin, did Walt attend his funeral? We know the man is reported as having a teenaged son, so this could well be Walt, and going by past feelings, perhaps he didn't even attend his own fathers funeral.

Jack's tearful response? Well, perhaps Michael was one of the people who he and the rest of the six leave behind in 2005? Perhaps news of Michael's death informed Jack that Michael had only just returned home from the island, and subsequently informed Jack that if Mike was still alive, then the rest of his island fellows could also still alive...and so it goes, the need to return to the island is heightened since his desire is met with the very tangible hope that others are still on the island..waiting..waiting for rescue?

"They need you" - (The late Charlie Pace, S4E01)

Ironically, perhaps Jack and the Oceanic Six will be the ones to provide the best hope of rescue. Or perhaps they are the ones who need rescuing?

Whatever happens, be it the predictable outcome of Michael being inside the coffin, or something unforseen, it's sure to be an interesting and complicated end-game.