May 28 2007
- Jack’s name. Jack could be short for Jacob, of course. Have we ever heard Jack’s full name? Could it be Jacob Aaron Shepherd?
- Jack is the son of Christian. Son of Christ? A possible hint that Jack is either messianic or the messiah (there’s a premise for a one hour drama: The Messiah has arrived, but is imprisoned in the Pacific by the Devil (Ben) himself). And how about his mom, Margo? It’s not a derivative of Mary (think “Virgin”), but it certainly sounds close. Margo means “pearl,” though. And we know we have a Pearl Station on island.
- Speaking of stations, Jack works at St. Sebastian Hospital. St. Sebastian was martyred, executed by bow and arrow. Arrow Station anyone?
- In the second season, after performing a miracle on Sarah, his first wife (hmmm, a messianic character performing miracles – interesting), Jack is approached by a man named Angelo to perform another miracle. His daughter, Gabriela, begs him to at least try. More miracles, sure, but look at those names! Angelo? Gabriela? Angel Gabriel? Gabriel is one of God’s messengers. So what did Angelo and Gabriela impart on Jack? To try to make miracles happen? Will Gabriela reappear?
- Women on the island die while pregnant, unexpectedly, strangely, in or near the second trimester. Early in season one, we learn that Jack couldn't save a women who bled to death because of a mistake made by his father. That woman turned out to be pregnant. Most likely in or near her second trimester. Does Jack/Jacob still ruminate over the pregnant woman he couldn't save? And is that imprinted on the island?
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Then there’s the little things:
- We learn that Jack once took pilot lessons, but he hated the experience. Everyone who flies near the island seems to encounter piloting troubles. Imprint?
- His tattoo, in Lost mythology, translates to “He walks among us, but is not one of us.” And the one who gives him the tattoo tells him that she can “see” his true character – a leader, who is lonely and angry. So what about Jacob? His secluded cabin and the actions taking place inside don’t suggest that Jacob is the lonely and angry leader of the Others, though he really isn't “the leader” of the Others.
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Finally, some real Easter Egg hunting. Jack’s bookshelf from “A Tale of Two Cities”. Some interesting titles:
- Fire in the Mind: Faith and the Search for Order
- Pale Horse Coming
- Redemption
- Valhalla Rising (in which Dirk Pitt discovers he has twin 23-year-old children raised by another – a love who he assumed was dead – if those aren't Lost themes, what are?)
- Hearts in Atlantis (a Stephen King nod to a book with a character integral to The Dark Tower series)
- No Place Like Home (a Mary Higgins Clark title that plays off “The Wizard of Oz”)
- Prisoner of Azkaban (in which the vile and terrifying Sirius Black turns out to be the heroic godparent of Harry Potter, imprisoned by the forces of evil, freed to help battle the forces of evil)
