Friday, June 20, 2008

You Know He Has Four Toes!



Ok, well maybe we don’t know how many toes he has, but it would be a great reveal if he does. I also don’t know if a man has ever looked better while wearing eyeliner. If you really think about it, Richard Alpert might be one of the only people currently on the island who can reveal the island’s secrets. Richard looks like the one character that has seen it all, even more than Ben, and this could be because he doesn’t age normally.

When we first were introduced to Richard in The Man Behind the Curtain, he seemed disheveled, dirty, and for lack of a better term, very old-school looking. He even had long shaggy hair that looked like it hadn’t been washed in awhile. He certainly seemed like someone who has been living on the island for a very long time or a clever disguise. Although recently in Cabin Fever we are lucky enough to see Richard in a flashback again. This one predates the Man Behind the Curtain flashback because it took place when Locke was born in 1956. In that flashback he didn’t look anything like he did when Ben first met him. Richard was clean cut, wearing a suit, and definitely not on the island.

What does this all mean? Now that’s the million dollar question. I can come up with two options, both of which could be completely wrong. Richard is either not aging properly or he is time traveling. If I were a betting lady I would put my money on he doesn’t age like the rest of us. The reason for this stems from Ben’s infamous comment to Richard, "It's a birthday present. You do remember birthdays don't you?" The writers have said they meant for this comment to be vague and they certainly got their wish. Assuming this is not a giant red herring, is this a subtle hint of Richard not aging properly?

The reason I suggest the time traveling is because I keep wondering how Alpert could possibly get from the island to the hospital where Locke is using 1950’s technology. How would he know that Locke’s mother went into labor early (Unless he hit her with a car?), as well. This means Richard and the rest of his group are either highly advanced, which is totally likely, or he has the ability to go back in time.

I don’t think I even scratched the surface of the enigma we call Richard Alpert but at the very least it’s a start. Don’t be afraid to chime in with any ideas you might have come up with!

4 comments:

Capcom said...

That's an awesome thought. You know that the moment Richard goes for his laces we are all gonna gasp! :-D

I'm inclined to go with the eternal youth aspect, since one of the DHARMA projects was longevity, and the Joop thing, etc. The DI could have found all these natives who claimed to be really old when they got to the island, and then started a reverse-engineering process on what their fountain of youth might have been concerning the island's properties. I'd also guess that the natives know what keeps them young, but they wouldn't tell the DI. That could also be the core of what Ben told John about why Wid wants to reveal the island properties to the world...the man who holds the key to youth would hold the world in his hands.

For sure, Ben's snide comment was another ball thrown into the court of the aging game. I also agree that Richard must be the key to the island knowledge. There might be others there near as old as he is, but he's been The Man as far as the manipulation of events, and seemingly one of Jacob's right hand men. Looking forward to his stories!

Ezra James Sharkington said...

Capcom, I have to agree with you about Widmore wanting to share the island with the world because of its eternal youth. I wonder what has to happen for that to happen to you? Ben seems to age like everyone else. What makes Richard special? Are those who are born on the island given the ability not to age once they hit a certain age?

I keep thinking in season 5 there will be a scene with Richard and Locke and lock will ask to be filled in about everything on the island and there will be a cool flashback with some major answers... Oh a girl can dream :)

Capcom said...

Yeah, a flashback with some "friggin answers!", as Hurley would say. :o)

Unknown said...

I the toes take care, so i usually like to be aware about the take care of the toes and i like to read about it. I´m sure the toes is the sexiest part of our body. I usually like to touch the toes of my body, it say the massage can exited the man. but now he to buy viagra and his mood has been an amazing change.