Eko was meant to have the flashes!

[D-Roc]

The other day I was thinking about Eko and how his story arc got unorganically curtailed due to the actor wanting to leave the show. In my mind, Mr. Eko was a big character in Lost and would have gone on to become even more of an integral character - I'm sure that TPTB had massive plotlines in mind for him before they agreed to part ways.

Which begs the question - surely another Lost character must have been promoted into Mr. Eko's storylines in order to develop the overall story arc in-line with their original plans? I'm not saying that another character stepped into his shoes as such, but that some of the plot angles and developments which were originally planned for Eko, were instead given to another character..

I've been trying to think which character Eko's unfinished arc was given to, and I can only assume that it is Desmond.

Desmond was never a certainty as a permanent character - they brought him back in the S2 finale, after they must have known that Adewale (Mr. Eko) was going to leave - which begs the question, did they only bring him back to fill Eko's long-term boots? Did they expand Desmonds story to incorporate elements which were initially planned for Eko and weave them into a newly formed Desmond arc?

If so, we could logically assume that had Adewale not left LOST, his character would have been the one who had the 'flashes' storyline. This seems even more likely when we consider the "Brother Campbell" plot device in Desmonds story - Eko was a priest..and we never did find out about his trip to England..this 'Brother Campbell' storyline would have easily fit into Eko's arc, had he not been killed off. But that's not all, perhaps the biggest proof that the creators gave Desmond Eko's arc, is the fact that Eko was closest to Charlie - the very man who Desmond's path suddenly became consumed by. They not only built the church together, but they experienced alot together, including the encounter with Smokey - who, incidently, likes to 'flash' people. In my opinion it would have alot more sense for Eko to be the one having the flashes and saving his friend Charlie, than Desmond.

Not a critism, as Desmond's done a fine job, and I could be mistaken..but just thought i'd mention it anyway.

[D-Roc]

Also forgot to mention - Eko was also caught in the hatch implosion, so it could just have easily have been him the island gave the 'flashes' to. Although I would assume that with knowledge of Adewale's departure, they designed the whole failsafe key thing into Desmond's story to make his flashes story believable.

[Easily confused]

Now that is an idea that I like imo Eko would have been much better suited to the flashes than Desmond

[The Wizard]

Ooh that does sound very plausible, and is probably correct. Why did Adewale leave the show again?

[TheDharmaShark]

Originally Posted by Easily confused

Now that is an idea that I like imo Eko would have been much better suited to the flashes than Desmond

I kinda disagree, it really added another dimension to Desmonds character and as he was pretty new to the show, it was needed. Eko was already more established if that makes sense

[Kiowa Warrior]

Yeah that is a nice idea that Eko would have the flashes about Charlie! If he did the same as Desmond and travelled back in time he could have ended up...well...somewhere I guess; I'm sure they would have thought of something if that did happen to him. Or maybe he would just have on-island flashes of Charlie dying.

If Desmond was still around he could still have had a storyline with Penny and seeing her on the com station.

[Easily confused]

Originally Posted by TheDharmaShark

I kinda disagree, it really added another dimension to Desmonds character and as he was pretty new to the show, it was needed. Eko was already more established if that makes sense

Well I don't like Desmond I don't think he has any dimensions and i don't think he really connects with the island like Eko did therefore I do think Eko would have been a better man for the job

Originally Posted by Wiz

Why did Adewale leave the show again?

his parents died in real life and he didn't want to carry on

[The Wizard]

Originally Posted by Kiowa Warrior

If he did the same as Desmond and travelled back in time he could have ended up...well...somewhere I guess

Back with his brother?

Originally Posted by Easily confused

his parents died in real life and he didn't want to carry on

Ooh, fair enough

[TheDharmaShark]

Originally Posted by Easily confused

Well I don't like Desmond I don't think he has any dimensions

Well surely the flashes have added a dimension to his character? I agree that Eko would have been suited to the flashes but he didn't need the storyline as he was already an established character

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted by Easily confused

Now that is an idea that I like imo Eko would have been much better suited to the flashes than Desmond

Thanks,
I hear you although personally I do think that the flashes storyline has suited Desmond, I just think that it was originally supposed to be part of Eko's arc.

Every aspect of Desmond's flashes could easily have been done by Eko - Just replace Penny with Yemi.

We could even look at Desmond's test of silence with the monks..Eko had 40 days of silence on the island..they could have related this an Eko flashback with Brother Campbell

[The_other_other]

Yeah both characters struck me as kinda similar.. i think the reason i like desmond is that he reminds me of eko.. and considering i originally heard eko was going to be a big part of s3 this would definitely make sense.

Whatever was meant to happen though, i think desmond has done a great job.

[IM-LOST-WITH-LOST]

Yeah thats interesting! I think it makes a lot more sense If Eko were to have the flashes, the only thing is, i'm pretty sure about 1/2 way through season 2 i heard Desmond would have a regular casting in season 3. I remember, because i hated the idea, at the time i didnt like desmond that much So i doubt that Mr eko would have said that he was going to quit so early on in the season, because i believe that the writers wouldnt have let him make it to/ get past the finale. Call it a hunch, but i dont see the point in bringing him back for a few episodes in S3, if he said he was going to leave so early on in Season 2. So it makes more sense that Mr Eko was intended to have the visions, but quit after the finale.... which makes you wonder what Desmonds role would have been

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted by The_other_other

Yeah both characters struck me as kinda similar.. i think the reason i like desmond is that he reminds me of eko.. and considering i originally heard eko was going to be a big part of s3 this would definitely make sense.

Yes, they are very similar. Shame they never got to properly meet.

Originally Posted by IM-LOST-WITH-LOST

Yeah thats interesting! I think it makes a lot more sense If Eko were to have the flashes, the only thing is, i'm pretty sure about 1/2 way through season 2 i heard Desmond would have a regular casting in season 3. I remember, because i hated the idea, at the time i didnt like desmond that much So i doubt that Mr eko would have said that he was going to quit so early on in the season, because i believe that the writers wouldnt have let him make it to/ get past the finale. Call it a hunch, but i dont see the point in bringing him back for a few episodes in S3, if he said he was going to leave so early on in Season 2. So it makes more sense that Mr Eko was intended to have the visions, but quit after the finale.... which makes you wonder what Desmonds role would have been

That is interesting. Although Desmond's arc could have been entirely different had Adewale not made noises about leaving. I believe those noises came before the close of S2 - from what I've since read, TPTB knew that he wanted to leave..they gave him the hiatus to think it over and he came back (post hiatus) even more certain, thus their hand was forced..although prepared in the shape of Desmond. They brought him back so immediatly into an Eko-Locke arc..would they have done this had Adewale not made noises about wanting out? Not sure. Although as mentioned above both characters are incredibly similar so it worked out well eitherway (in terms of the 'flashes' story-arc).