The Reason Why Kate Doesn't Want to go Back?

[D-Roc]

I've been thinking about possible reasons why Kate doesn't share Jack's desire to go back to the island. Aside from the more outlandish ideas on why she is so against the idea of returning, I believe that her reason could be summed up in a line which was delivered to Kate by Danielle, in the episode entitled Par Avion (which ironically means air mail..or by air).

Kate asks Danielle why she hasn't asked any questions about Alex. Danielle responds:

"Your friend...Jack. You care about him? Imagine 16 years from now...you're told he was still alive...but in your heart you know that he wouldn't remember you...he wouldn't know you. He wouldn't even know that you ever cared about him. I haven't asked you questions about my daughter...because I do not want to know the answers."


Could it be that Kate is simply afraid of knowing the answers..of finding out what has become of her friends (if any are still on the island)..the same friends who she seemingly left behind? Or perhaps she's afraid of finding out what has happened to the island and the price of their 'rescue'? Without knowing the terms of their apparent deal ("secret") it's difficult to ascertain why Jack and Kate have such disperate motivations in regards to the island. However, with the knowledge that Kate is afterall "Born to run", it seems plausible to me that her reason for not wanting to go back, is something to do with not wanting to accept the truth..not wanting to find out the ultimate price of her 'rescue'.

Can't bear to know what happened?


Guilt?


I believe that this would make for a delicious foreshadowing and parallels between her current situation (3.23 FF) and Rousseau's reasons for not wanting to 'go back' for Alex..

[PaulineMRoss]

Originally Posted by D-Roc

I've been thinking about possible reasons why Kate doesn't share Jack's desire to go back to the island. [...] Could it be that Kate is simply afraid of knowing the answers..of finding out what has become of her friends (if any are still on the island)..the same friends who she seemingly left behind?

Interesting thinking, and a nice corollary of the obvious question: why does Jack *want* to go back.

I've never wondered why Kate doesn't want to go back, because the answer seems clear - in the flash-forward she seems to be safe, free, well-off, and generally having a nice time, so why would she even think about going back to 'craphole island'? You know, the place where you have to find all your own food, with no running water, strange beasts in the jungle, no contact with the outside world, the occasional purple sky, and some very strange people running around (some of them fellow-survivors).

I suppose we won't be able to understand Kate's motivation (or lack of it) until we know just why Jack does want to go back.

[-x-madegurl-x-]

I like that idea and it does sound like it could be true, but what i don't understand is that with kate going home - she's pretty much guaranteed to get caught. maybe when she said "he'll be wondering where i am" she'd be referring to another Marshall, and she disagrees with Jack because she doesn't want to run away anymore, she doesn't want to put herself in an even worse position, perhaps Jack was putting up the idea that she run away from it all.

[The_abbott]

She don't want to go back because shes selfish and only looks after herself. Wanna make a guess to what name shes using now? Joanne maybe? Monica again? Annie? Joan, Mary, Lucy, Louise, Steve....

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted by PaulineMRoss

Interesting thinking, and a nice corollary of the obvious question: why does Jack *want* to go back.

I've never wondered why Kate doesn't want to go back, because the answer seems clear - in the flash-forward she seems to be safe, free, well-off, and generally having a nice time, so why would she even think about going back to 'craphole island'? You know, the place where you have to find all your own food, with no running water, strange beasts in the jungle, no contact with the outside world, the occasional purple sky, and some very strange people running around (some of them fellow-survivors).

It's odd isn't it. Good point regarding Kate seemingly being well-off - the car would suggest that she is now living comfortably. Perhaps she (and Jack) also got paid off..paid to keep quiet?

Although she blew up Wayne (apparently) so that her mom could get the insurance money, money has never really been a motivator for Kate. Which makes it seem odd that she would keep quiet because she is now well off. Perhaps it is because she is safe now, as you suggested? Perhaps safety and Taco nights are now what drives her choices?

What is also interesting is that like Jack, Kate was very much a "live together, die alone" kinda girl. She would always be up for helping people - so far as being prepared to go back for Jack 'alone' if needs be (3.11). Just what could've changed her weird sense of jumbled compassion (i.e. blow up man, yet care for man) to become so singular?

I do think that she is frightened to discover the cost of her and Jack's decision

I suppose we won't be able to understand Kate's motivation (or lack of it) until we know just why Jack does want to go back.

Yes, very true. Funny thing is, if it was the other way around - if Jack didn't want to know yet Kate wanted to go back, I think I could actually make more sense of that, based on what we know of the characters. Not saying Jack's selfish, it's just that he was more set than anyone to get off that rock.

Originally Posted by madegurl

I like that idea and it does sound like it could be true, but what i don't understand is that with kate going home - she's pretty much guaranteed to get caught. maybe when she said "he'll be wondering where i am" she'd be referring to another Marshall, and she disagrees with Jack because she doesn't want to run away anymore, she doesn't want to put herself in an even worse position, perhaps Jack was putting up the idea that she run away from it all.

Could indeed be another Marshall, although I sense that it's something deeper than that? Would they introduce another random Marshall at this stage - not sure. BUt good thinking nonetheless - I mean, you would think that she would either be in jail or on the run..she must've made a deal..a pact. If only we knew the terms and conditions of this deal (if it exists, of course).

Originally Posted by The_abbott

She don't want to go back because shes selfish and only looks after herself. Wanna make a guess to what name shes using now? Joanne maybe? Monica again? Annie? Joan, Mary, Lucy, Louise, Steve....

She's a weird one, Kate. She is selfish but at the same time she can be very compassionate. Perhaps it's more a 'need' to help, to do something, rather than genuine compassion, but she's a hard one to figure. Especially now with her anti-going back stance