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Watching this episode made me think about the connection now drawn between Ben and Locke as "anointed" leaders of the Others.
1. Daddy Issues. They both (like many others on the show) had/have "daddy issues," but John and Ben, specifically, both struggled with rejection from their fathers. They were never able to please their respective fathers no matter what - Ben because his mother died during childbirth and John constantly trying to make his absentee father see him as more than an organ donor. Ironically, when it came time for both of them to officially join the Others, they, seemingly, had to kill their fathers in order for the Others to accept them. Perhaps that's a rite of passage for the Others' chosen leader.
Ben killed his dad, Roger, who was already on the island as part of the Dharma Initiative during "The Purge" followed by the Others convening in the Barracks right afterward. And Locke's father, Anthony Cooper, "conveniently" appeared on the island and was even more "conveniently" killed by Locke (via Sawyer by way of Richard Alpert's intel). Both events seemed to be initiated by Alpert and the Others.
2. Deaths. As of the reveal in this last ep, it appears both Locke and Ben have apparently at one point "died" to be saved and/or resurrected. Perhaps that's another rite of passage for the Others' chosen leader.
We haven't seen what the extent of Ben's 1977 gunshot wound is, but it appeared to be through his chest cavity and enough to make him drop immediately. Whether the island's properties, the Others, or the Dharma medical staff (Jack, Juliet, the other doctor) save him, we already know he lives. Methinks, it will be some combination of the three with the island's properties being the last hurrah adding to the Others' lore - their leader must die and resurrect. Richard did tell young Ben to "be patient" when they first met in the jungle. Perhaps this was preparation for all the rites he'd have to endure.
With Locke, we know that he actually died by strangulation at the hands of Ben and was resurrected once back on the island. Now Richard told Locke he had to die when Locke asked how to bring the Oceanic 6 back. But what if that dialogue was purposely unconnected to throw viewers off? Richard never told Locke about the frozen wheel, Locke figures that's his way off the island on his own. Also, Jack was the only one eventually convinced by Locke('s death) to come back - all the others had other reasons. Perhaps Richard meant, "(At some point) You have to die, John (to become our leader...and if you want to get the Oceanic 6 back, that's up to you)."
3. Charles Widmore. I wonder if we'll find out about Widmore's ascension to leadership in the ranks of the Others. And if what he told Locke is true, that means he's the current leader during the 1977 Dharma period we're seeing now. Did he have "daddy" issues? Did he have to kill his father? Did he have to die and resurrect?
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