Charles "Jacob" Widmore

This theory is still in its infancy, and any number of things could happen in the coming weeks to shoot holes in it. But I think it's interesting, and even if it's not 100% true, I will cling to the belief that something is up with Penny's dad, Charles Widmore. Without further adieu...

Theory
I believe that the “Jacob” whom Ben so greatly fears/respects is none other than Penny’s father, and here’s why.

The Biz
Widmore is the great entrepreneur and purveyor of a convenient array of LOST-related goods and services. Witness his commercial contributions to the show (taken from Lostpedia, I believe):

• Sponsored or manufactured the balloon of the real Henry Gale.
• Was the maker of the pregnancy test used by Rachel ("Not in Portland"), Kate ("I Do"), and Sun ("The Whole Truth").
• Widmore Industries is seen on the London building where Charles Widmore has an office. ("Flashes Before Your Eyes").
• The Photo Stand where Desmond and Penny had their photo taken had a sign above it with a very similar shape to the Widmore logo.

So obviously his presence is evident in many different episodes, appearing in the flashbacks of a variety of characters. And it seems that the puppet-master of the island would certainly be privileged to have assets and holdings in different markets, industries and locations, so as to keep a watchful eye on his future island test-subjects. Hey, I think I know a guy who fits that description, yep, “Charles”.

The Race
Don’t you find it odd that Desmond could get so far off course in a sailing race that he would be marooned on a desert island? I mean, if it’s a race, there would be other people around him, right? And if they saw him going astray, surely they or “race officials” would save him (or “course-correct” him, if you will), right? Well they didn’t. Somehow, in the middle of a sailing race, Desmond veered far enough off course to lose his way, and nobody came to his rescue. Something’s off there.

The Baa Baa Black Sheep
We know Charles didn’t approve of the Desmond/Penny (or Desny, if I were writing for a trashy supermarket tabloid) relationship. What better way to preemptively rid your family of a black sheep than deserting him on a remote, untraceable island?

The Penny Factor
I think Penny is partially aware of her father’s goings-on. I doubt she knows everything, but who does? She knows enough to know that there is a distant island on which her father conducts some sort of possibly sinister operation. She even knows or suspects that Desmond is there. So she contracted the Arctic cartographers to try to detect the electromagnetic anomaly and then triangulate the island’s location in hopes of finding Desmond (by the way, reread that last sentence. It’s amazing what kinds of things this show leads you to say – and somehow it makes sense). But all of these efforts must be done under the radar, away from the watchful eye of her father. Because of that — and probably because the arctic poles would provide some sort of ultra-clear detection of an electromagnetic anomaly — she has outsourced the search mission to these two Portuguese guys.

The “Brutha”
Brother Campbell’s picture with Ms. Hawking, combined with his longstanding relationship with winery patron Charles Widmore, would suggest (as you noted this morning) that the monk is somehow a pawn, or a signpost if you will, in the master plan for Desmond’s life. It begs the question, what other characters in Desmond’s life did Widmore have a connection to? My guess: Libby. Perhaps she was planted into Desmond’s life after being cured of her mental illness by an island concoction. Believe it.

The Flashes
I believe these were somehow imprinted in Desmond (via the hatch implosion) to ensure that he’d follow the path, and that he was incentified to do so by the hope of reuniting with Penny. Perhaps this is an invention of one of the Widmore companies or a product of island research.



These are my thoughts, I’d love to know what you think.

See ya in another life brutha,
Charlie.

Raise Your Hand if You Saw This...

My keen and perceptive eye beheld a hidden little trinket in last night's episode. As Desmond goes to turn in his robe to his "brutha" (so that's why Desmond says "brutha"!) there is a picture on his "brutha's" desk. The picture is the man and a woman who looks pretty familiar.

That's right, it's Ms. Hawking, from Desmond's "Flashes Before Your Eyes" episode.


Another interesting moment from our Brutha:
When he has Desmond help Penny with the wine (awww, there's your Grey's Anatomy moment, ladies), he tells Desmond "She's an old family friend" or something of that sort. If my conjecture that the Widmore name is important, that would mean that maybe, just maybe, Desmond's "Brutha" received orders to redirect Desmond away from monastery.


In short, was "Brutha" in cahoots with Ms. Hawking and/or The Widmores? What purpose did he serve in charting the course of Desmond's life?


Noodle that one.

Charlie.

Summary of what is to come.

This will blow your mind. If you want a good summary of what is coming up (with quite a bit of information), take a read.

3.17 - Catch 22 (Desmond Centered)
Desmond gets a flash of the future and enlists Hurley, Charlie, and Jin to join him on a mysterious hike. Hurley becomes suspicious that Desmond may be acting without everybody's best interests in mind. Desmond's vision reference the cable that Sayid, and later Hurley, found in season one. If you'll recall, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse told BuddyTV that a major reveal was coming up concerning that cable later on. This episode will close with Desmond and the gang finding a mysterious parachutist named Naomi who may have compelling information concerning one of the current island occupants.

3.18 - D.O.C (Sun/Jin Centered)
Juliet finds out that Sun is pregnant and tells her that women who conceive on the island could die if they carry to term. Sun responds by telling her that the baby may not have been conceived on the island, in fact it may not even be Jin's child. So the two set off for the medical hatch to try to determine when the baby was conceived. Meanwhile, Desmond and his crew scramble to save the life of the mysterious Naomi and are assisted by an old enemy, seems eye patch guy survived the fence after all.

3.19 - The Brig (Locke Centered)
Locke slips away from the others and lures Sawyer away from the beach. Flashbacks will reveal what Locke has been up to with the others since they abandoned their 'village'. In a secluded Dharma holding cell, Locke will bring Sawyer together with Anthony Cooper for a fate full encounter that will resolve a long-standing season one mystery. Meanwhile, Naomi will return to the beach with some alarming information concerning flight 815, but can she be trusted?

3.20 - The Man Behind the Curtain (Ben Centered)
The past of the island is explored including how Dharma came to be there, why, and what the fateful 'purge' was really all about. Flashbacks will show Ben through various ages up until adulthood. The mysterious 'Jacob' will finally be revealed, and the question of whether any Dharma members still live will be revealed.

3.21 - The Truth About Lying / The Greatest Hits (Charlie Centric)
Rescue is finally at hand for the survivors of Oceanic 815, but first someone must reconnect an underwater sonar beacon. Despite his foretold death, Charlie volunteers. Copious rumors suggest that Charlie dies in this episode, but some new rumors I've been hearing suggest that this is a huge misdirection and there will be another highly unexpected major character death instead.

3.22/3.23 - Through the Looking Glass (Jack Centric)
This episode promises a Jack revelation of legendary proportions! Also, there will finally be an en masse collision between the beach folk and the Other's. On the speculation end of things, folks are saying that the island folk will split into two factions themselves, one led by Jack, and one by Sawyer, but the division will be at the will of another, and for purposes no one will expect.

An essay about the Widmores

Okay, so most of this is from lostpedia. But it is still fun.

The Widmore Corporation is a conglomerate of companies which have been featured on Lost and in the Lost Experience. It is owned by the Widmore family.

Widmore Construction has been in a "Fire + Water" flashback, where Driveshaft is filming their videoclip near Battersea Power Station, which has a Widmore Construction banner hanging from one of the building's walls. Widmore Construction is also mentioned on Thomas Werner Mittelwerk's answer phone on the Hanso phone line (part of the Lost Experience) alongside Paik Heavy Industries.

Widmore Labs
- Sponsored or manufactured the balloon of the real Henry Gale. (see photo to side; obtained on set)
- Was the maker of the pregnancy test used by Rachel ("Not in Portland"), Kate ("I Do"), and Sun ("The Whole Truth").
- Widmore Industries is seen on the London building where Charles Widmore has an office. ("Flashes Before Your Eyes").
- The Photo Stand where Desmond and Penny had their photo taken had a sign above it with a very similar shape to the Widmore logo.


Charles Widmore is a wealthy member of the Widmore family, father of Penelope (“Penny”). Charles offers Desmond a job, which Desmond declines saying all he wants is his daughter's hand in marriage. Charles does not give him permission saying Desmond "will never be a great man." ("Flashes Before Your Eyes")

He disapproved of her relationship with Desmond, and while he was serving his time, Charles intercepted letters that Desmond wrote to Penelope. ("Live Together, Die Alone")

He attempted to bribe Desmond to cease the relationship and never see Penelope again. He sponsors the sailing race around the world that Desmond, in an attempt to regain his honor, was participating in when he crashed into the Island.("Live Together, Die Alone")

Penelope Widmore dated Desmond for two years prior to him meeting her father in 1996. Eventually, Penelope moved into Desmond's flat (he was apparently too proud to move into her larger one). After Desmond failed to get a job at the Widmore Corporation (or permission to marry Penny) she was rather pleased because she disliked the company of her father, and they decided to celebrate. Later, they met in London and had a photograph taken. Desmond has still been planning to marry Penny, but suddenly changed his mind just as he was about to purchase the ring. At the split up, Penelope told him he did that because he was a coward. ("Flashes Before Your Eyes")

Desmond joined the army but Penelope never forgot him. She placed a love letter in Desmond's copy of Our Mutual Friend before he was sent to military prison. However, he wouldn't find it until much later, after the death of Kelvin, roughly three years after he shipwrecked on the island.

Penelope's letter to Desmond: While Desmond was in prison, he wrote many letters to Penelope. Her father intercepted all of these letters so that Penelope would not be aware of them. ("Live Together, Die Alone")

After Desmond's release from prison, Penny tracked him down in the U.S. She asked him why he never wrote to her, and whether he ever had a chance to read Our Mutual Friend. When Desmond asked how she found him, she replied that with enough money and effort, you can track anyone. She then learned that Desmond had been told by her father that she had given up hope and had become engaged to another man. She neither confirmed nor denied this, only stating that they hadn't set a wedding date yet. ("Live Together, Die Alone")

More than three years later, after the discharge and the detection of an electromagnetic anomaly by the two Portuguese-speaking men at the listening station, Penny is notified by telephone at 3:05, her local time, that they 'found it.' She is referred to by the callers as "Miss Widmore" which would seem to indicate that she was not married at the time. On her nightstand is a copy of a similar photograph of her and Desmond as the one that Desmond carries. ("Live Together, Die Alone")

Good Things to Come

So this year I've heard some mixed reviews for LOST on the whole. Now I am not a blind subscriber to all things LOST. They've made frustrating missteps and avoided certain storylines that I would've liked to see covered. But I still hold to the belief that this show is the best on television. And I think I'm about to be proved right in the next month or so.

In the coming weeks, we will be treated to flashbacks for Juliet, Desmond, Jin/Sun and Charlie -- these are for sure. And word on the street is, we're going to get the back story on these two:

The DeGroots (sp?). If you don't remember who they are, consult the Orientation Film that the Survivors found in the first hatch. And I quote: "Gerald and Karen DeGroot. Two doctoral candidates from the University of Michigan... (who) imagined a large-scale communal research compound." That's right, it's time to learn about Mama and Papa Dharma (and maybe their son, Ben? No no, what would be too good. But what if...)


My point is this: disappointed with the show or more hooked than ever (like me) I think the pieces are in place to make this an exceptional last 1/3 of the season. We'll examine mysteries such as the Jin/Sun paternity issue (hopefully more interesting than the Anna Nicole Smith story [cue vomit]), John's father and Charlie's fate.

A lot of seeds have been planted in the last year, and I think we're about to see just what they grow into.

This is not the official preview for 4.11, just an overall summary/teaser for the stretch run of Season 3. It's gonna be a good one.

Charlie.

season tres (from James)

Though the beginning of the season started with the fascinating pan-out to reveal The Other's modern community, I've felt a little dissapointed with the direction of season 3, at least for the first half of episodes. I was starting to lose interest, the excitment was fading, and while I'm finishing the show even if there is a giant magic box on the island that's holding Jack's Dad and Kate's stallion, and Lock's wheelchair...I was kinda' bored. BUT...these last few episodes have restored my faith in the show, and have me anticipating each episode almost as I did during season 1. They brought back the characters I know and love, returned some of the island's mystical capabilities, and the castaways are exploring again. The show is back on the island. Though i can't say i was really into desmond's recent episode(let's hope he's not a christ figure or something equally overdone). In a recent podcast, the creators said if you don't think the others are that bad, just wait. While I liked the others better when they were still mysterious and i thought they lived in huts, I'm excited to see how bad they'll become(ethan is a badass). I also haven't given up the theory that there's another group on the island. Other than that I still hate Alex and her dumpy boyfriend (he should soon be killed). Good preview, Charlie.