This is really more of a question than a theory, but as usual in such cases it's a question which could lead into a theory. The theory might have something to do with who has had different or previous (on-island) experiences.

So, during the first 4 Seasons, who among the 815 Losties would you say appeared to show the greater need to get off the Islands, and conversely who showed the least need or desire to leave?

I'll start by grouping them as to how I remember things, and anyone who wishes to add more reason or to contradict the grouping, by all means go ahead. I'd like to see if there just might be some rhyme or reason to this, which as I said above might tie into what previous or total Island experience each character has had.

Okay, those who had shown minimal or no desire to leave:
1. John (obvious)
2. Boone (he seemed to have found purpose on the island)
3. Walt (he directly tried to stop the raft from being built)
4. Sun (she started her garden as if she was settling in)
5. Mr Eko (he started building a church, wasn't it)
6. Bernard (happy that Rose was apparently cured by the Island)
7. Sawyer (he tried to convince Kate to stay at the Others' camp,... "what's there to go back to?" I know he was on the raft, but that was early on and I believe he was there solely out of instinct at that point)

Okay, now the following characters I really don't know how they felt or they seemed almost indifferent about getting off the Islands. But even seeming indifferent would be strange, don't you think?:
Seeming indifferent: Hurley, Rose, Libby, Claire, and Charlie (only spoke strongly about getting Claire and Aaron rescued). Ana Lucia, I really don't remember if she expressed anything one way or another.

Now, as to those who seemed most desperate to leave:
1. Jack (the opposite of John, full of desperation to leave)
2. Michael (desperate to get Walt off the Islands, and he did)
3. Sayid (never stopped trying to find a way to make contact with the outside world)
4. Kate (even with her fugitive status, she continually confirmed, even if subtly, that she wanted to leave.
5. Shannon (a constant struggle for her to be able to live with the island,... ultimately joining with Sayid, someone strong and who wanted to leave)
6. Jin (his primary objective for leaving seemed to be in getting Sun off the Island, which he acheived)

So now, who left:
- Michael succeeded in getting Walt off, even though it wasn't Walt's first choice, but then Michael ends up coming back.
- Jack
- Sayid
- Kate
- Jin succeed in getting Sun off, though he himself did not.
- Charlie at least succeeded in getting Aaron off.
- And Hurley, one of the seemingly indifferent.
* - Shannon died before she had chance.

Is there anything in any of this? Or am I just putting a faulty spin on most of the character's desires to leave or not?

Hey ya'll, looka here...Pelican's making a list :biggrin:

We like lists. Lists are good. But truthfully, I don't know what to make of this list.

I have lists. I'm generally too busy or lazy to type them out. I try to list out reasons for stuff and see if anything shows up. Usually not.

Juliet, to me is one of the strongest characters who deperately wants to leave the Island.

But talking only about the 815 losties:
Claire, wants to leave the Island although her feeling is not quite palpable. (Remember catching the bird and setting it up with a message?)
Charlie wants Claire and Aaron to leave the Island. As a result, I think he did want to leave too, and start a new life along with them...

And I believe, Sun wanted to leave the Island as well, her garden doesn't mean she wanted to stay, it was just a sign of how helpful she is.

Hey ya'll, looka here...Pelican's making a list :biggrin:

We like lists. Lists are good. But truthfully, I don't know what to make of this list.

I have lists. I'm generally too busy or lazy to type them out. I try to list out reasons for stuff and see if anything shows up. Usually not.

You remind me of someone I used to ocassionally encounter on another forum. I hadn't noticed earlier that this forum had that type of members. I guess they pop up everywhere.
100%
Juliet, to me is one of the strongest characters who deperately wants to leave the Island.

But talking only about the 815 losties:
Claire, wants to leave the Island although her feeling is not quite palpable. (Remember catching the bird and setting it up with a message?)
Charlie wants Claire and Aaron to leave the Island. As a result, I think he did want to leave too, and start a new life along with them...

And I believe, Sun wanted to leave the Island as well, her garden doesn't mean she wanted to stay, it was just a sign of how helpful she is.

It could be that Claire wanted Aaron off the Island, similar to how Michael wanted Walt off. And as for Sun, I think her desire to leave increased once she got pregnant, thus again to leave for the life of her unborn baby.

You remind me of someone I used to ocassionally encounter on another forum. I hadn't noticed earlier that this forum had that type of members. I guess they pop up everywhere.
.

I was just playin around with ya.

Lists are good. I think I said that.

Most wanting to stay is obviously Locke. Most wanting to go, seems like Jack.

So the top guy on each side has his wish.

Sun wants off cause of baby issues. Rose wants to stay cause of cancer issues. Bernard wants to be where Rose is. So he wanted off, but has changed his mind since she pointed out that the cancer has gone.

Is there anything in this, you ask? Don't know. But examining relationships always seems to have a purpose on this show.

Sorry if I ticked you off earlier.

i say first it was michael because he didn't want his son to be stuck on the island.

then i'd have to say jack. i think it's always been to help get the losties off the island, but near the end, his desperation was exhausting to him and everyone around him. i think he was just sick of all the crap going on around them and keeping them there. locke killing naomi and telling him not to call the frieghter was blowing jack's mind. and then locke's crazy speech in the 4th finale omitting that they were going to move the island was the finale straw.

i don't know why kate wanted to leave the island so badly in season one. all she would be is on the run all over again.

shannon wanted off the island pretty badly, but her whining made me not care.