Mike & Jan = Dharma Parallel?

[D-Roc]

Upon watching this episode i couldnt help but notice that Mike and Jan (Locke's drug dealer friends) and the little community that they had there seemd to be a parallel with the DeGroots and Dharma. Let me explain..

-Husband and wife (or partner) team, much like the DeGroots

-Jeronimo Jackson reference/link: Eddie was wearing a Jeronimo Jackson t-shirt..now we know that there was a Jeronimo Jackson record in the Dharma Swan hatch..seems like the DeGroots couldve been a fan of the (fake) group.

-The DeGroot's always come across as being somewhat of the 'hippy' way of life..'love not war' and that type of thing..and on the surface Mike and Jan and their community seemed very much like this aswell.

-The 'Eureka' reference: Eddie said he was travelling to "Eureka", now 'Eureka' is also an American TV show..and the basic premise is that there exists a secret town in which the greatest minds live, their aim to serve and protect their countries most valuble resources. Now imo that can kind of be paralled with both Mike and Jan's secret community and the whole Dharma Initiative. Mike and Jan in that their real mode of operation (the drugs) was top secret and the DeGroots/Dharma in that their work on the island is top secret. Furthermore the word 'eureka' also means 'to make a discovery' - and i guess that's what Eddie did in his mission to out them and thats what has also happened on the island with it being found by the likes of Desmond and the losties etc.

There are also other little things that also make me draw a parallel between Dharma (the DeGroots) and Mike and Jan (and Locke)..however one final aspect that got me thinking was when Eddie made reference to the fact that Mike and Jan's community was Locke's "family"..now on the island, Boone told Locke to "bring the family back together again". Now of course it's likey that he meant the losties..however I also feel that this could have deeper meaning in that perhaps..perhaps, Locke also has to bring DHARMA back togther again and help them to rise up against the Others (or something ). I mean, say this Mike/Jan and Dharma parallel is correct..then technically this could mean that Locke has to "fix" things for Dharma, like he said he would do for Mike and Jan (regarding Eddie..)

Also, there's the fact that Mike called Locke "special"..now this also makes me think that perhaps (in light of the Mike/Jan and Dharma Parallel) the suggestion is that Locke's family is Dharma (did they create him? therefore he is special as his mom once told him )..and that he has to 'bring them back together'? The orignal Dharma that is (not Benry's lot)..im talking about Gerald, Karen (De Groot), Wickmund etc... ..afterall, they are the ones who wanted him to push the button - "do not use the computer for anything else" etc..and the island has told Locke that he was indeed supposed to follow that order..all of which tells me that the island and original Dharma are on the same page (as it were) and that Locke is needed to reunit them..possibly to take down the Others?

Ok, i know thats confusing..and feel free to rip it to pieces..but im going with this for now

[Kiowa Warrior]

Very interesting Roco...indeed there are a lot of parallels between Dharma and Locke's commune family.

And it's a good theory to suppose that Locke is being used - manipulated once again - by the Island on behalf of Dharma, so that essentially he is on their side and doing things they ultimately want done. Original Dharma could have even wanted the whole camp of survivors to fight (albeit unknowingly) on their side against Ben's lot, and predicted (or hoped) that eventually Locke (or even someone else) would start the fight back against the Others.

Ben and co. could even have known that Original Dharma would try and communicate with one of the survivors, and predicted that it would be Locke, so that's why in the hatch Ben told Locke that the computer was useless (therefore causing Locke to doubt the significance of the Island and Dharma in general), and telling him that he was special and that the Others needed him. When in fact they don't really want him, but need him on their side so as to prevent him being on their enemies' side.

[D-Roc]

Wow, im just glad you managed to understand that long-winded ramble!

Thanks..and i agree..it could be the very reason why Ben infiltrated the losties and manipulated Locke into not pressing the button and that..

Locke has always been a pawn somewhat..and even though the orignal Dharma may have good intentions towards him (if you believe this theory), it still rather illustrates how easy it is to manipulate him. But at least Locke has refound a sense of purpose now..and he also seems to now have the clarity to make good decisions. For example, i liked how told Charlie not to come with him when he saw Eko's(?) blood on the ground..then he refused to let him come into the cave because he knew that it would be dangerous. It's a good upturn in his character arc, i feel..the fact that he's learning from his past mistakes and that. He obviously didnt want another Boone situation.

[Kiowa Warrior]

Originally Posted by KoR-evo

Wow, im just glad you managed to understand that long-winded ramble! 

I've had lots of practice with your posts Roco Nah seriously it's a good post that just requires a bit of lateral thinking, and it raises some interesting perspectives on things.

Thanks..and i agree..it could be the very reason why Ben infiltrated the losties and manipulated Locke into not pressing the button and that..

Locke has always been a pawn somewhat..and even though the orignal Dharma may have good intentions towards him (if you believe this theory), it still rather illustrates how easy it is to manipulate him. But at least Locke has refound a sense of purpose now..and he also seems to now have the clarity to make good decisions. For example, i liked how told Charlie not to come with him when he saw Eko's(?) blood on the ground..then he refused to let him come into the cave because he knew that it would be dangerous. It's a good upturn in his character arc, i feel..the fact that he's learning from his past mistakes and that. He obviously didnt want another Boone situation.

Yes, I think a (if not the) major aspect of Further Instructions was to show how easily manipulated Locke can be, since he's so desperate to be accepted and to prove himself that he doesn't always see (or choose to see) any sinister motivations behind the situations he finds himself in. It's quite sad in a way because Locke does tend to forgive people too readily at times, and can be too eager to please and overlook faults, which means he's wide open to be taken advantage of. I would consider Locke a law abiding person for instance, but he tunrned a blind eye to the drugs factory at his family commune (or even actively took part in it) because he was so anxious not to upset anyone and be rejected again.

Locke had many good reasons to still dislike Charlie, but he always had his safety at the front of his mind and didn't want to put him in any unnessecary danger. Like you said I think Locke's trying to clear up the mess he made r.e Boone by not having so narrow a perspective on things when he's with people (which, as I'm sure has been mentioned before, is quite ironic given Locke's state of mind is very open), and so was more than ready to forgive Charlie and place his trust in him. I just wonder how Locke would react if he found out what Charlie had done to Sun and then teamed up with Sawyer just to get some petty revenge on him?

I would like for Locke to be genuinely needed by Dharma, the Others, Hanso, the Island for whatever reason, rather than playing up to his desire to be needed just so they can use and manipulate him as an expendable piece in their battles against each other.

[*SP*]

Originally Posted by Kiowa Warrior,November 30, 2006 02:43 pm

I would like for Locke to be genuinely needed by Dharma, the Others, Hanso, the Island for whatever reason, rather than playing up to his desire to be needed just so they can use and manipulate him as an expendable piece in their battles against each other.

This is what concerns me most, Ki. I think the parallels Roco mentions must carry some weight but I still can't work out what I think Locke is wanted for. However like you say, I just hope there is a very genuine reason for Locke being considered 'special' and that special doesn't become an ironic synonym for pliable! We've seen repeatedly how Locke is so genuinely looking to be accepted into a family and how this has clouded his judgement on occasion. While it's admirable to a point to take someone/something at face value it's not wise to place all your eggs in one basket.

However, I think Locke has learned from past incidences....in the first season if he'd had a vision and been given a mission like that he would have been inclined to go rushing in thinking primarily of fulfilling his destiny and with dire consequences for those involved....ie Boone. But he was a lot more cautious this time and seemed much more in control.

Anyway my main point was, I'll be quite distraught if it turns out his main attraction for the others/Island/Dharma/whatever is that he is 'suitable for coercion' (is that how Eddie put it?) I have to believe that Locke is special in his own way and he is being sought for something significant!