# LOST 8.9 "Ab Aeterno" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 23, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504 "2010-03-23T17:47:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/121 "2010-03-24T17:53:25Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > Hmm. Then how are they counting candidates? The cave list was > > 4 - Locke > 8 - Reyes > 15 - Ford > 16 - Jarrah > 23 - Sheppard > 42 - Kwon > > and they’ve been mentioning 6 candidates. I guess if Locke’s dead then Kate might be the sixth. Going off episode for a moment: I recently rewatched an old episode and was surprised to discover that Jack was sitting in seat 23 - which corresponds to his Jacob number. [According to Lostpedia](http://lost.wikia.com/wiki/Oceanic_Airlines), here are the seat numbers for these six candidates: Match 15C - Ford 16A - Jarrah 23B - Sheppherd Miss 20G + 20H - Reyes 24D - Locke Neither of the Kwons are listed, neither is anyone mentioned in rows 4 or 8. Ana Lucia was in 42F. It would have been so way cool if the numbers had all matched, but alas… ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/122 "2010-03-24T17:56:35Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I don’t know if this has been discussed in previous threads this season, but we’re down to the last six candidates - and based on both the cave walls and the lighthouse, there were quite a number of other candidates who have been eliminated. So my question is, why are there candidates in the first place? did Jacob know that he was going to be killed at some point and that someone else would have to take over? Was he planning ahead, just in case? It would be interesting to know when the list of candidates was first started. And what is/was Jacob’s back-up plan if all 360 candidates fail the “test?” Is he cursed with corking (heh, heh, heh) MiB for eternity, or does he just start over with a new 360? Or does the MiB get to be released if all candidates fail? And what of the magnetic anomaly that brought flight 815 down? Does Jacob “use” the anomaly to bring people to the island, or does he possess some other power to do it? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/123 "2010-03-24T18:00:10Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > And what of the magnetic anomaly that brought flight 815 down? Does Jacob “use” the anomaly to bring people to the island, or does he possess some other power to do it? I think Jacob uses what will work. Back in the day, it was a storm grabbing a ship and tossing it onto the island. With Desmond it was a compass reading that forced him straight in. With 815 it was the magnetic anomaly. Some day soon it’ll probably be a malfunctioning GPS. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/124 "2010-03-24T18:06:59Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > I think Jacob uses what will work. Back in the day, it was a storm grabbing a ship and tossing it onto the island. With Desmond it was a compass reading that forced him straight in. With 815 it was the magnetic anomaly. > > Some day soon it’ll probably be a malfunctioning GPS. > > -Joe Good point. Does anyone have a translation of what Hurley was saying to Isabella’s ghost when Jack walked up? My Spanish is a bit rusty, but I caught a snippet that sounded like, “I don’t know how he contracted” or something like that (yo no se contrado). ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/125 "2010-03-24T18:25:57Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Now, he’s got a body, He doesn’t have a body. He’s taken Locke’s _form_, but Locke’s body is six feet under. He had a form in 1867, too, remember? It was probably also copied from some dead schmo. I think an actual body would be something completely different. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/126 "2010-03-24T18:32:33Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > He doesn’t have a body. He’s taken Locke’s _form_, but Locke’s body is six feet under. He had a form in 1867, too, remember? It was probably also copied from some dead schmo. > > I think an actual body would be something completely different. Hmm. Good point. Locke’s body is one that left the island, died, and came back, and therefore is special, and could be copied? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/127 "2010-03-24T18:35:27Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > And, conveniently, EVERYONE in charge ruled by diving right. Nah – some of them probably dove left. > [@Merijeek](#): > > So, like, a wife upgrade? Did the new one have a better rack? Maybe he got to replace his prior 40-year-old wife with two 20s. 😃 > [@Edward the Head](#): > > even though they said Sun last night, who threw the guy out the window. What makes you think Sun threw him out the window? (I presume you mean baldy that she cheated with). I thought the insinuation there was that it was a suicide, once he’d gotten caught by her daddy and realized the shame he’d brought on his family. ---
**Author:** ![Meltdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/128 "2010-03-24T19:00:16Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > He doesn’t have a body. He’s taken Locke’s _form_, but Locke’s body is six feet under. He had a form in 1867, too, remember? It was probably also copied from some dead schmo. > > I think an actual body would be something completely different. I’m sticking with my theory that MIB’s original, actual body looked a lot like [this](http://dvrlife.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/mark-pellegrino.jpg). Two sides of the same coin. Which has weird (and most likely completely unintentional) parallels to those of us who also watch “Supernatural.” ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/129 "2010-03-24T19:16:48Z")
> [@Meltdown](#): > > I’m sticking with my theory that MIB’s original, actual body looked a lot like [this](http://dvrlife.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/mark-pellegrino.jpg). Two sides of the same coin. Or like God/Satan in “Brimstone”. Maybe he’ll be just like Jacob but black’d up ala Robert Downey Jr in “Tropic Thunder”. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/130 "2010-03-24T19:43:51Z")
> [@Monstre](#): > > What makes you think Sun threw him out the window? (I presume you mean baldy that she cheated with). I thought the insinuation there was that it was a suicide, once he’d gotten caught by her daddy and realized the shame he’d brought on his family. I wrote that post before and after lunch so must have gotten lost in the middle of the post. I can’t remember what I was trying to say about her and Jin. > [@](#): > > I think that’s a distinction without a difference. Richard asked for it, but he didn’t have it until Jacob gave it to him. I meant that Richard did ask for it, but he implied, at least to me, that when Jacob touched someone they were given eternal life. However, Richard asked for it and just because Jacob touched someone doesn’t mean he gave the touchee eternal life. At least that’s what I got out of it, Jacob touches you, eternal life, but that doesn’t seem to be the case now. I have been watching at least somewhat closely to see if Jacob ever touches anyone else and it seems like he doesn’t. I seems to sit close to Esau, but goes out of his way to not touch him. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/131 "2010-03-24T19:50:03Z")
> [@Meltdown](#): > > Which has weird (and most likely completely unintentional) parallels to those of us who also watch “Supernatural.” I know. When Richard said, “Are you the devil?” I wanted Jacob to say, “Well…kind of…on another show.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/132 "2010-03-24T19:52:19Z")
> [@Meltdown](#): > > I’m sticking with my theory that MIB’s original, actual body looked a lot like [this](http://dvrlife.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/mark-pellegrino.jpg). Two sides of the same coin. > > Which has weird (and most likely completely unintentional) parallels to those of us who also watch “Supernatural.” Man, wouldn’t it be awesome if Sam and Dean showed up on the Island? That would truly be the mother of all crossovers. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/133 "2010-03-24T19:59:08Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Mahaloth: > > And in the end, he gave them back, plus. Once Job accepted Elihu’s arguments, and dropped his complaints about G-d’s apparent capriciousness, G-d had declared Job’s righteousness proven and rewarded him above what he had had before. Gee. How nice that that he considers wives and children as fungible goods. Being a female, I’ve always hated that about Job. God and Satan got to have their little game, and as you say, Job at least gets everything back and a bit more. But the wife and original children? Well, I guess _they_ don’t count at all. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/134 "2010-03-24T20:02:24Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I know. > > When Richard said, “Are you the devil?” > > I wanted Jacob to say, “Well…kind of…on another show.” > > 😃 And let’s not forget that the Man In Black played War on Supernatural. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/135 "2010-03-24T20:12:47Z")
Guess I’m in the minority, but I was pretty disappointed. I was hoping for some big revelation(s), but basically the episode just fleshed out things I’d already figured out. And I think they could have done without Richard’s whole backstory - it’s enough for me to know that he came on a slave ship; I don’t need the dying wife/killing the doctor melodrama. That way they could have cut out the whole “Richard’s dilemma” angle (which didn’t really ring true to me anyway) and given us a glimpse at Richard in the ATL. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/136 "2010-03-24T20:31:50Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > That way they could have cut out the whole “Richard’s dilemma” angle (which didn’t really ring true to me anyway) and given us a glimpse at Richard in the ATL. Maybe Richard doesn’t _have_ an ATL. He was on the island in '77, bomb goes off, and he ends up at the bottom of the ocean, working for Jacob with his last dying breath. Maybe? ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/137 "2010-03-24T20:38:18Z")
So, let’s say that the island is the cork that’s keeping all of the bad stuff in as Jacob alleges. Now, we have the ATL where the cork is presumably gone. Does that mean that the ATL is what would happen if the cork had been released? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/138 "2010-03-24T20:40:51Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Being a female, I’ve always hated that about Job. God and Satan got to have their little game, and as you say, Job at least gets everything back and a bit more. But the wife and original children? Well, I guess _they_ don’t count at all. :mad: Well, those of us who don’t think of women and children as property feel the same way as well. If you’d like to show your appreciation, I’ve got some unwashed dishes… -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/139 "2010-03-24T20:45:55Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > I have been watching at least somewhat closely to see if Jacob ever touches anyone else and it seems like he doesn’t. I seems to sit close to Esau, but goes out of his way to not touch him. You mean on the island? Because he touched everybody he visited off-island - IIRC you were meant to think that was the point of his off-island visits. Did anyone else pick up on the fact that Richard lived on Tenerife, the site of the worst plane crash in history? (I only know this because in the last episode of **Breaking Bad** , Walter mentioned it in his assembly speech. That was timely for us **Lost** and **Breaking Bad** fans :)) ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504/140 "2010-03-24T20:51:22Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Guess I’m in the minority, but I was pretty disappointed. I was hoping for some big revelation(s), but basically the episode just fleshed out things I’d already figured out. And I think they could have done without Richard’s whole backstory - it’s enough for me to know that he came on a slave ship; I don’t need the dying wife/killing the doctor melodrama. That way they could have cut out the whole “Richard’s dilemma” angle (which didn’t really ring true to me anyway) and given us a glimpse at Richard in the ATL. I will agree with you. The whole back story dragged on for way too long. Just when it was starting to get interesting, I glanced at the clock and noticed the episode was almost over. ☹ It kind of feels like maybe they don’t have that much more to say and are taking baby steps towards the conclusion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-8-9-ab-aeterno/533504.md?page=8)