Sayid and loyalty

[Audio Pineapple]

For the majority of two seasons, Sayid has taken the role of ‘right hand man’ to Jack, and now he appears to be doing so to Locke by going on his mission and looking down on Desmond with partial disdain on the fact that he was coming as well.

But I watched One of Them the other night and I’d forgotten the following quote (said after Sayid is forced to watch a tape of his relatives being murdered by sarin gas) –

Kelvin: Loyalty is a virtue. But unquestioning loyalty -- I don't think that's you.

And it got me thinking – Sayid usually seems happy to take the secondary position and to obey whatever orders are given to him but there have been times that he has pushed through the line to take a leadership position. The first time was undoubtedly in Confidence Man when he convinced Jack to help him torture Sawyer. It happened when he convinced Locke to help him torture Ben. It happened when he tried to shoot Ben. It happened when he convinced Jack to go along with his plan to remove Michael as a threat. It happened most recently when he convinced Sun to help him capture, kill and torture Others.

Not focusing entirely on the fact that the times he does push through the leadership line tend to lead to torture – it has been happening more frequently. Locke seems to be doing a good job of leader right now, and Sayid seems happy enough to follow his command but how long before that loyalty to Locke (as his new superior officer) wears thin and he takes decisions into his hands again?

Will he make a break for the leadership position? Will he fall into line entirely? Or will he continue to break through every so often and undermine whatever structure is put into place?

[The_other_other]

the phrase not unquestionable loyalty means that sayid is loyal untill he thinks that an order is wrong. Therefore he is likely to obey Locke, but if he strongly disagrees with a decision he will probably disobey.

[Murgatroyd]

I'm not sure it's going to be a question of out-and-out leadership and following commands under Locke. He doesn't exactly seem to have taken on the role of leader as such - he's more an organiser at the head of a newly democratic society. I quite like it. I hope it works. 'Course Sayid could decide the society needs a firmer type of leader than that, but I hope they all give this mutual agreement stuff a shot.

[Him]

I don't foresee Sayid making any grand swipe at the leadership post, especially as Locke's new and fairer reign has just got underway, but I do think there's a possibility Sayid will attempt to initiate an attack on the Others with or without Locke's approvial.

[D-Roc]

I must say this 'all inclusive Locke' takes some getting used to. I was always under the impression that Locke was more secretive like Jack. But then i suppose Locke did have times when he would say "who are we to tell anyone what they can and cant do?" - I guess it depends on the situation at hand

As for Sayid, he would make a terrible leader..and i also think he is a loose cannon whon could very well end up going it alone or taking one or two saps with him. One things for sure, whatever training that man has it must have been developed at Zippy's circus and not the Republican Guard or whatever - i still cant believe he almost got Sun killed (not because the Others wanted to kill her but because it was just a dangerous situaiton with her waving that gun around!)

[Audio Pineapple]

Originally Posted by Him,December 14, 2006 04:33 pm

I don't foresee Sayid making any grand swipe at the leadership post, especially as Locke's new and fairer reign has just got underway, but I do think there's a possibility Sayid will attempt to initiate an attack on the Others with or without Locke's approvial.

It wouldn't surprise me if he did try to but I think that he's happier now that he has someone to obey. He seems to be on the road to recovering his sanity again and to give into Evil Sayid by attacking the Others could make him lose all the progress.

If Kate does get back and Locke refuses to go after them then I think there's a very high chance that Sayid will take matters into his own hands.

[The_other_other]

sayid obviously thinks very highly of himself as a leader, he has the skills and has been in a war situation, which is why he feels he has a licence to go his own way-hes a proffesional. I dont think he wants to be a figure head leader type, hed rather stay in his role as right hand man/advisor to whoevor takes charge, in the knowledge that he can take things into his own hands if the need arises

[Easily confused]

I think Sayid is more of a team work sort of person and would prefer to nominate the best person for the job that needs doing rather than having just one leader. If he is the best man for the job he will put himself forward if he thinks others have better understanding of what they need to do and its something he wants done too he will give them his support. If its something he doesn’t feel is necessary he will stay out of it.

[The_abbott]

Originally Posted by Easily confused,January 19, 2007 12:37 pm

and would prefer to nominate the best person for the job that needs doing

and when it came to getting some action he chose himself to get with Shannon LOL!

[D-Roc]

As for loyalty, Sayid isnt very loyal in love considering he got with Shannon, knowing that Nadia is still alive

[Audio Pineapple]

Originally Posted by KoR-evo,January 19, 2007 05:53 pm

As for loyalty, Sayid isnt very loyal in love considering he got with Shannon, knowing that Nadia is still alive

But he had been looking for seven (I think) years and he knew that he wouldn't get off the island - we saw him give up hope all the way back in Solitary when he told Danielle that she was dead.

That's how I saw it anyway.

[E Pluribus Unum]

Originally Posted by KoR-evo,January 19, 2007 05:53 pm

As for loyalty, Sayid isnt very loyal in love considering he got with Shannon, knowing that Nadia is still alive

This whole thing still confuses me

We're led to believe that his reason for being on the plane was to go meet Nadia; yet he's said she's dead..

Actually, did he just say that she had died to Dani? I'm sure he told someone else?

[E Pluribus Unum]

Originally Posted by Audio Pineapple,January 19, 2007 07:54 pm

But he had been looking for seven (I think) years and he knew that he wouldn't get off the island - we saw him give up hope all the way back in Solitary when he told Danielle that she was dead.

That's how I saw it anyway.

Yeah but he got on the plane to go see her after doing his 'deed' for the feds...

Or have I got my timelines crossed?

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted by Audio Pineapple,January 19, 2007 07:54 pm

But he had been looking for seven (I think) years and he knew that he wouldn't get off the island - we saw him give up hope all the way back in Solitary when he told Danielle that she was dead.

That's how I saw it anyway.

But at that time the raft had just set sail and there was still a chance (from their POV) that the voyagers would find rescue. You're right - he did give up hope...to an extent..but not fully because otherwise why would he help build the raft and make such a fuss about finding the transmission signal (bravo Locke btw).

I just dont think Sayid is lthat oyal in Love..poor Nadia..and poor Shannon, it was his lack of faith in her that she ran off to find the dissapearing Walt and thus got shot by a stra bullet.

Though i grant you, there is another side of the coin in this story (in that Sayid and Shan did care deeply for each other and did temporarily save one another etc)..but i find it hard to maintain my sympathy for
Sayid post 'Ben clobbering'

[Audio Pineapple]

The raft just set sail?

You can't say poor Nadia though because, if it wasn't for Sayid she would have been executed - and I'm willing to bet that she would have been brutally tortured rather than having food snuck to her.

One day Sayid will prove you wrong - I'm hoping he'll save one of the Others somehow (hopefully not Juliet lol.)