From Ben's comment that I feel there are a few theories about Richard that can be true:



Richard is not human
Richard is human but is given eternal life as long as he is on the island
Richard is smokey
Richard controls smokey
Richard is the island embodied

Richard is Tom Hagen

Richard is totally hot.

*ahem*

I go for the second option. I believe he's human but for some reason the Island has given him indefinite life.

And pretty long black eyelashes...

From Ben's comment that I feel there are a few theories about Richard that can be true:



Richard is not human
Richard is human but is given eternal life as long as he is on the island
Richard is smokey
Richard controls smokey
Richard is the island embodied


Great thread!

I have to say that I don't think Richard is being/controlling Smokey... only because Smokey "judged" Ben and Richard asked "what is he doing here" to Locke regarding Ben.

Richard is totally hot.

*ahem*

I go for the second option. I believe he's human but for some reason the Island has given him indefinite life.

And pretty long black eyelashes...

I agree with all of your statements. :biggrin:

Richard is totally hot

Yes, I totally agree, he is!! :biggrin:

I also think the island has given him eternal life, or extended life, something like that. Not sure about eternal. Or, that the island appointed him his position and he lives as long as he has that job?

Richard is amazing and beautiful. that being said, maybe him not aging is a curse or punishment? eternal life with the same job ..

What if Richard is the advisor to both Jacob and Esau. We assumed that it meant advisor to the Others but it could be Richard (the keeper of the book of laws) who advises Jacob and Esau as to what they may do.

It seems to be everyone thinks Richard came from the Black Rock but what if Richard has been here just as long as the two beach guys.

Say Jacob wants to save mankind .............Richard tells him no that would not be free wiill so you can't. They must save themselves.

So Esau says well how about I just show my powers and tell Ben to kill Jacob.........no you can't do that either. It must be done by free will. Thus Esau looks for the loop hole because he's sure mankind isn't worth saving.

Perhaps they to are working on Valenzetti Equation?

Tom Hagen was hot too. But his eyelashes obviously had nothing on Alpert's! :biggrin:

I'm really hoping for an Alpert flashback episode next season. They will have to give us one, won't they?

Also, something with Alpert speaking more Latin would be fantastic: Nestor C really knows how to make it sound good. That whole scene with Ilana by the statue was wonderful, as was his little shortie scene with Sun when he wished he had some booze available! I'd have brought him a drink myself had it been possible!

Lord Xwee, I just noticed that we've chosen almost identical pics of Alpert for our avatars! Great minds think alike. Hee!

In my opinion we give too much importance to what Ben said... when we just found out that Ben knows nothing really. He did what they told him, and Richard was the link to Jacob... that's all Ben really knew.

Richard said he was that way because of Jacob. I know that now that the H-bomb went off we don't know anything anymore, but in case Jacob is really dead, does that mean that Richard is dead too? Or is he going to age now?

Advisor is a good name though for what we saw him do. He is there as an independent, neutral overviewer of the Others, he makes their connection with Jacob, he usually stands aside leaving them the decisions but he intervenes when he thinks it necessary. Advisor pretty much sums that up.

In my opinion we give too much importance to what Ben said... when we just found out that Ben knows nothing really. He did what they told him, and Richard was the link to Jacob... that's all Ben really knew.



I agree - I'm not sure at this point if Ben really thought Jacob was living in the cabin when he took Locke there. He admited that he was pretending and talking to an empty chair.
If so, that means Richard has never totally trusted Ben as far as revealing that Jacob really lives in the foot of the statue.
(On the other hand - the "Shadow of the statue people" were expecting to find him in the cabin but found the piece of tapestry that led them to the foot of the statue.) Who were they looking for - Jacob or Richard?
At this point, I believe that Richard was a crew member on the Black Rock, and has found enough favor with Jacob to be appointed "Priest" or advisor.
My biggest question right now is - does Richard know about "Esau" or is that something Jacob keeps to himself?

I sorta thought the reason Ben never got to talk with Jacob was his childhood visit to the temple and loss of innocence that somehow negated his free will category in Jacob's eyes.

My biggest question right now is - does Richard know about "Esau" or is that something Jacob keeps to himself?
Huge question for me too. I keep thinking about that scene when Richard took young Ben into the temple. The way he turned his back to the entrance and the look on his face as he entered gave me shivers. We saw before how Danielle's crew members became very violent towards her after they got pulled into that hole in the wall... Richard looked like he entered the lair of Smokey there. What is the link between healing and entering Smokey's lair (if that's what happened)? We know Richard didn't bring young Ben to the statue or the cabin! Yet who else could have healed Ben than Jacob?

From Ben's comment that I feel there are a few theories about Richard that can be true:

*Richard is not human
I believe Richard is human. The only non-human trait we have seen in him is his apparent endless youth. Also, it has been hinted that Richard is able to die. During the purge, Richard takes off his gas mask slowly, taking long deep breaths before removing it totally. This suggest that Richard would die from the gas just as the rest of them would.

*Richard is human but is given eternal life as long as he is on the island
Eternal means no beginning and no end. I don't think Richard has been around forever, so eternal may not be the right word. Everlasting seems more appropriate. I think that this everlasting life of his was a gift/curse from Jacob.

My biggest question right now is - does Richard know about "Esau" or is that something Jacob keeps to himself?

Very good question. I somehow tie Richard with the Black Rock, not sure why. And if the ship we've seen coming in the finale was the Black Rock, then Richard might know about Esau's existence. But he sure didn't recognize him in Locke, he didn't understand what was going on, which might only mean that Esau didn't do that before, stealing identities.

As I was thinking through his loophole, my hair stood on end, because I realised that he killed Locke, he implanted the idea in his head that he must die... with Richard's help. Locke would have never been suicidal otherwise and Ben would have never had the perfect opportunity to finish him off.

Very good question. I somehow tie Richard with the Black Rock, not sure why. And if the ship we've seen coming in the finale was the Black Rock, then Richard might know about Esau's existence. But he sure didn't recognize him in Locke, he didn't understand what was going on, which might only mean that Esau didn't do that before, stealing identities.

As I was thinking through his loophole, my hair stood on end, because I realised that he killed Locke, he implanted the idea in his head that he must die... with Richard's help. Locke would have never been suicidal otherwise and Ben would have never had the perfect opportunity to finish him off.

If Richard doesn't know of Esau he's sure in for a hell of a surprise! Also, the Locke thing is very chilling.

Richard is totally hot.

*ahem*

I go for the second option. I believe he's human but for some reason the Island has given him indefinite life.

And pretty long black eyelashes...

I concur...:biggrin:

Richard Alpert was Ram Das' name before he became Ram Das'. No doubt he is on a higher level of consciousness than the others and the spiritual leader of the community.

I like Richard Alpert because of his mystery. We don't know his back story at all. I think there is more to Richard, for example, I see "Esau" and Jacob as these god-like creatures who are in human form for whatever reason. I see Richard like that too. I also have always thought about how there are Egyptian themes and Richard's eyes look like the old drawings of Egyptians with the emphasis on the eyes. So I've always envisioned Richard like that, however, not as god-like as Jacob and "Esau". Richard reminds me of like an ancient temple priest who can commune with the "gods".

I was thinking about Richard's advisory status. He was the only link the Others had got to Jacob, and still, they listened to his every word. But I don't think he was really an advisor.

I see Richard more like an emissary. His eternal youth was the means to assure his credibility - no one would question his connection to something divine, a higher power as long as he didn't age. Jacob was safe in his hiding place from any human nagging as long as Richard was his eyes, ears and mouthpiece.

Great thread!

I have to say that I don't think Richard is being/controlling Smokey... only because Smokey "judged" Ben and Richard asked "what is he doing here" to Locke regarding Ben.


Good point.

I think Richard is likely human...but given immortality. Probably nothing more than that.

Hopefully in season 6 they'll have a "Richard" flashback episode..and we'll see his story and how he got to the island etc....IMO I think he arrived on the Black Rock pirate/slave ship..:yes:

Richard is amazing and beautiful. that being said, maybe him not aging is a curse or punishment? eternal life with the same job ..

Hope he likes his job

I sorta thought the reason Ben never got to talk with Jacob was his childhood visit to the temple and loss of innocence that somehow negated his free will category in Jacob's eyes.

Why would he be chosen then?

Hopefully in season 6 they'll have a "Richard" flashback episode..and we'll see his story and how he got to the island etc....IMO I think he arrived on the Black Rock pirate/slave ship..:yes:

He has been there a loooong time, the question would be, define loooong.
I've gone back & forth with this and I'm still not convinced either way.
Black Rock or loooonger?
Guess we'll have to wait till January, Febuary, March :ohwell:

Of interest is that at no time did he become "leader" of the Others. That was always up to someone else. He just "advised" and assisted the leader.

Richard "allowed" the Others to lead themselves with who ever the selected as their leader.

i have to address the "eyeliner" issue. picked this thread to do it.

seeing that he says he has thick eyelashes and has always been teased that he wears eyeliners, i was just watching a movie with Ray Liotta, and he too has always looked like he has eyeliner. so nestor is not the only one.

i got your back, nestor!

He laughed with us about the eyeliner at Comic Con!

Whether or not its true, the guy is a hottie. Most guys couldnt pull off eyeliner ( nor should they even attempt it!), but he sure can:rolleyes:

Nestor is a darling, he’s so gorgeous, ya can’t help but want to see more of him:biggrin:

As for what’s up with Richard, the one thing I love about him is that he is so mysterious, it makes him so much more different from other characters, I think it would make it much more fun if we never really do find out all about him, makes him much more interesting then so many others. I would love to believe that he is really Jacob’s right hand man, we have pretty much gathered that Richard seems to be the only person on the island, until the season 5 final, that has ever seen Jacob, he keeps everything in cheek with what’s happening with the inhabitants of the island and passes on all messages to and from Jacob. Also with him not ageing I think maybe it could be like he is a backup for Jacob, i.e. in the event of Jacob’s death Richard would take over from him, that could explain why he was never “interested” in been the leader of the others, none of them have a clue of the power he holds on the island.

Nestor is a darling, he’s so gorgeous, ya can’t help but want to see more of him:biggrin:

As for what’s up with Richard, the one thing I love about him is that he is so mysterious, it makes him so much more different from other characters, I think it would make it much more fun if we never really do find out all about him, makes him much more interesting then so many others. I would love to believe that he is really Jacob’s right hand man, we have pretty much gathered that Richard seems to be the only person on the island, until the season 5 final, that has ever seen Jacob, he keeps everything in cheek with what’s happening with the inhabitants of the island and passes on all messages to and from Jacob. Also with him not ageing I think maybe it could be like he is a backup for Jacob, i.e. in the event of Jacob’s death Richard would take over from him, that could explain why he was never “interested” in been the leader of the others, none of them have a clue of the power he holds on the island.

Interesting post, what makes you believe that he would take over? Take over what? Do you really think he has that power?

What I find fascinating is how he is so wise and knowledgeable but he takes so much for granted. He never questions Jacob and his decisions, but not just him. While he surely has his own opinion on things, he always accepts the leaders' decisions and goes along with them... rarely ever questions anything. He may raise his eyebrows every once in a while when he doesn't agree, and once he hit Ellie in the head for her own good, but in most cases he looks like a well-trained lackey: knowing everything that his master does, possibly more and indulging nonetheless because that's his job...

He may raise his eyebrows every once in a while when he doesn't agree,


like when locke wanted all the answers in season 3 from ben and ben promised to take him to jacob. the look on richard's face was pure disbelief, yet he didn't try to physically stop ben. it was as if he thought, so be it. then when locke was off sitting by himself when he couldn't kill his father, richard brought him sawyer's file. giving him the information he needed to get his father killed so that he could move forward in ben's eyes. i always found that interesting because he was going "over ben's head".

i don't think he will take over if jacob is gone, but i do think he is very important. i mean, richard admitted that jacob made him the way that he is. so, richard must have done something pretty special in jacob's eyes.

btw, rewatched Follow the Leader, and he is a babe!;)

i don't think he will take over if jacob is gone, but i do think he is very important. i mean, richard admitted that jacob made him the way that he is. so, richard must have done something pretty special in jacob's eyes.

I think it's exactly that blind commitment to him. What I wouldn't give for a real Richard episode where we can learn how exactly he ended up what he is... what made him believe in Jacob so absolutely. Oh, and it would be nice to know how much contact he had with Jacob over the centuries.

well, when we were waiting for Follow the Leader, i had high hopes it was going to be about richard. i mean, he did have quite a bit of action in the last couple of episodes, and i'm thankful for that, but i felt really cheated that we didn't learn any more about him. just bits and pieces.

i think these bits and pieces are crumbs thrown to peak our interests, and we will get a nice richard centric episode next season.

seriously, how could they end the show without answering one of the greatest mysteries of the show? i have to say one of my most favorite scenes was when he showed up to little ben outside of the security fence. i think i screamed! and then to find out that he was dressing up much like tom and the hostiles, which means, he was the one who originated that idea.

such a great character!

I think when we get our Richard episode/reveal, its going to be WORTH IT! I think they are waiting to show more about him until they are ready to reveal the core of the mysteries of the island.

I remember before FTL there were reports that it was Richard centric, and I got my hopes up a bit. I think next year they wont disappoint & they will finally spill the beans

they have to. i mean he lists right up there with smokey in mysteries of lost!

they have to. i mean he lists right up there with smokey in mysteries of lost!

Totally agree. But didn't I hear that Richard


is going to be a series regular next year? That means he HAS to get a centric episode! :biggrin: That is... if there will be centric episodes at all.

i did hear that!:biggrin:

that other show he was in last year, Cane, i watched, but the whole time i kept thinking, "what're you doing here? you need to get back to the island!" needless to say, i was pleased when it was cancelled.

I'm eschewing the Black Rock in favour of his having arrived aboard a conquistador vessel searching for the Fountain of Youth.

looks like it had two legs when he found it - that's a pair more than "It's Richard, actually" renders this a likely inspiration for the 'keeper of the Book of Laws': http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13032a.htm

But I could so see 'Black Rock' adopted as a mascara colour.

But I could so see 'Black Rock' adopted as a mascara colour.


hmmmm, i could use some of that!

But I could so see 'Black Rock' adopted as a mascara colour.
:biggrin: I'm buying it!

Interesting post, what makes you believe that he would take over? Take over what? Do you really think he has that power?

My thought was that maybe he was Jacob’s back up in case anything ever happened to him, they could be Richard appears to be ageless, so if Jacob was to die then Richard would take over ruling the island and whatever else Jacob did. He did say he was that way because of Jacob but I’m sure Jacob would not just make anyone like that for any old reason, there must be something big behind it. I really think Richard does have a lot of power on the island, a lot more than most know but chooses not to let on about it, maybe Jacob has asked him to keep low about everything until a right time comes.

Lol could be fully wrong on all this but hey it’s all for a bit of fun.

My thought was that maybe he was Jacob’s back up in case anything ever happened to him, they could be Richard appears to be ageless, so if Jacob was to die then Richard would take over ruling the island and whatever else Jacob did. He did say he was that way because of Jacob but I’m sure Jacob would not just make anyone like that for any old reason, there must be something big behind it. I really think Richard does have a lot of power on the island, a lot more than most know but chooses not to let on about it, maybe Jacob has asked him to keep low about everything until a right time comes.

Lol could be fully wrong on all this but hey it’s all for a bit of fun.

Yes but can anything happen to Jacob? If he is powerful enough to make Richard live forever and rule the island for centuries and who knows what else, can one knife do him off?

I was thinking that Richard never openly defies the actual leader... like he doesn't want to undermine their authority, but having an opinion of his own he might do his own thing secretly. For one thing, do you think that Widmore / Ellie or whoever was in charge when Locke was born knew about his little trip to Tustin? Or later when he went back to test him? He does have an odd place on the island. What I really wish to know is, is he the low key "advisor" by choice or this is just the role he got from Jacob?

Yes but can anything happen to Jacob? If he is powerful enough to make Richard live forever and rule the island for centuries and who knows what else, can one knife do him off?

I personally hope not, I would very much love to see more of Jacob, it would be interesting to see how him and Richard interact with each other.

could you even imagine anyone wanting to kill him? he is so good. you never see him get angry. now, of course, i could see ben try to kill him out of jealousy, and i hope that never happens.

i'm thinking he can't die. you don't live that long and bop from island to off island for years like that let alone survive all the strange people inhabitanting the island without coming into some kind of danger.

that would be such a waste!;)

could you even imagine anyone wanting to kill him? he is so good. you never see him get angry. now, of course, i could see ben try to kill him out of jealousy, and i hope that never happens.

i'm thinking he can't die. you don't live that long and bop from island to off island for years like that let alone survive all the strange people inhabitanting the island without coming into some kind of danger.

that would be such a waste!;)

You're talking of Richard and not Jacob, right? Although I think it applies to both of them. I surely don't want either of them dead. Richard is such an important part of the island's mythology, he holds such knowledge and history! And Jacob, we just met him and he is so much better than anything I ever imagined for the ancient all-mighty being that ruled things on the island... I want more of both, and indeed it would be so fascinating to see them interact.:rolleyes:

yes, richard. i don't think he has an enemy. i mean in jughead he had people from the future coming to him about the bomb, and he believes them. he isn't a maniac, shooting first like so many others on the show. and in lafleur when everyone at the DI is afraid to approach him, yet sawyer, with a little explanations, barters for their safety.

i was always interested in the 4th finale when richard used kate to get ben away from keamey. ben goes up to richard and says thank you, but richard doesn't look happy to me, IMO. he looks like he's "had" it with ben. and then when ben asks richard what he promised kate, ben didn't look happy with richard. i think there's a big jealously issue with ben toward richard. of course, ben would do away with anyone in his way!

i just don't think he can....and i think he knows it. and of course, i don't think jacob is destructible either.

I keep thinking that Richard is a "referee" between the forces on the island. IDK why but that is how he comes across to me. He seems like he just there to make sure the "rules" are followed but doesn't care who's ahead.

right, like someone to smooth things over when it gets too heated!

I think Richard needs to be some kind of good guy at this point. We have Ben and had Locke, but no one we've seen has really been on the island a long time and had a past with it. If Richard is manipulating people as well, or perhaps collaborating with Man #2, he's made some pretty interesting decisions that we've seen.

If not a good guy, I agree with wanders01. A referee seems about right. That would probably put him with Jacob though, in the free-will camp.

if there's anyone who has communed with the island, loves the island and is there for it with his whole being, it's richard. he knows the right thing to do, at any time.

when ben wanted locke to kill his father and he couldn't, here comes richard with sawyer's file. why? because he thinks that he's special because john told him so years before, or because he can't stand ben and anyone would be a better "leader". the look on richard's face when locke told them all that ben was taking him to meet jacob was priceless. almost like a parent to a child unbelieving of his choices.

i love richard. and they better not let us down! i sure hope he's one of the many left standing at the end.

yes, richard. i don't think he has an enemy.

That's a very interesting thing to say. I think he makes it his business to be impartial. The wisdom comes with the age thing :biggrin: What I mean is, his loyalty is toward the island and the island alone. So he must rise above petty things and see the big picture so that things would go the right way.

This is why he never dismissed Locke, this is why he put up with Ben for so long even if he didn't quite like his reign... and perhaps because he might have thought that he single-handedly made him what he was by bringing him to the temple when he was shot.

Whatever we call him, advisor, refree, lackey... he is unique, that's for sure.

That's a very interesting thing to say. I think he makes it his business to be impartial. The wisdom comes with the age thing :biggrin: What I mean is, his loyalty is toward the island and the island alone. So he must rise above petty things and see the big picture so that things would go the right way.
...
Whatever we call him, advisor, refree, lackey... he is unique, that's for sure.

I can definitely see that he has wisdom since he has been on the island for at least 200ish years. His loyalty does seem to be to the island, always protecting his leaders.

I just have a hard time seeing him as the Island's neutral adviser. First off, we don't know what the island is truly about or who is closely related to the island. With the finale of Season 5, we saw two people -Jacob and his friend- both whom are closer to the island's history than anyone else seen to this point. Jacob was shown as a good guy, and his friend as an antagonist. However, Richard has stated to Locke that he is the way he is, seemingly ageless, because of Jacob.

Because of that reason alone, Jacob has to be as close to a person that communes with the island as possible. Either that, or Jacob too is planting people on the island for his own gain.

lea_lost: What I mean is, his loyalty is toward the island and the island alone


absolutely! that is richard. whatever he has to do, sugar coat, listen to reason or act on impulse, he is doing it for the good of the island. unfortunately, ben thinks this is what he is doing. he's not. he's hurting people. i don't think we've seen richard hurt anyone, except eloise, and that was to protect her, as their leader.

I can definitely see that he has wisdom since he has been on the island for at least 200ish years. His loyalty does seem to be to the island, always protecting his leaders.

I just have a hard time seeing him as the Island's neutral adviser. First off, we don't know what the island is truly about or who is closely related to the island. With the finale of Season 5, we saw two people -Jacob and his friend- both whom are closer to the island's history than anyone else seen to this point. Jacob was shown as a good guy, and his friend as an antagonist. However, Richard has stated to Locke that he is the way he is, seemingly ageless, because of Jacob.

Because of that reason alone, Jacob has to be as close to a person that communes with the island as possible. Either that, or Jacob too is planting people on the island for his own gain.

So, basically you are saying that in fact Richard is loyal to Jacob, not the island, because Jacob is only one of the two forces that rule the island...
It is odd how the Others never even mentioned the other side, the dark side. I wonder if it's because they don't know about his existence or they fear him or consider him the bad side...
However, there seems to be a tight connection between Richard and Jacob, it only confuses his role further.

absolutely! that is richard. whatever he has to do, sugar coat, listen to reason or act on impulse, he is doing it for the good of the island. unfortunately, ben thinks this is what he is doing. he's not. he's hurting people. i don't think we've seen richard hurt anyone, except eloise, and that was to protect her, as their leader.

True. But not just that. We found out that leadership of the Others can be a tricky business and you can be out before you know it. So even when leaders come and go, Richard is always there making sure that there IS a new leader who is worthy of that position. I have a slight suspicion for instance that he acted on his own accord when he went to Tustin to assist at Locke's birth and later test him for an actual leadership, not once but several times over. I somehow doubt that he did that with Widmore's knowledge. :rolleyes:

I have a slight suspicion for instance that he acted on his own accord when he went to Tustin to assist at Locke's birth and later test him for an actual leadership, not once but several times over. I somehow doubt that he did that with Widmore's knowledge. :rolleyes:

i agree!

Richard: a kind of...

Constant?

Richard: a kind of...

Constant?


never thought of that! you're probably right.

Richard: a kind of...

Constant?

A Constant must be something that you are really attached to. So... he must be a popular guy :biggrin:

Richard: a kind of...

Constant?
That is a really great idea! If the donkey wheel has been turned before, and I bet it has, it would make sense for the island to have a constant.

I think that Richard's role is sort of an information holder. He aquires and keeps information about the island and then passes it down to the next leader/generation of others.

A kind of .... bad person?

What was he doing in chains?

(i'd love to see him tied up....oh yes I would! teeheee :yes:).

OK But anyway...what was he doing in chains, and how did he get out of them? Was he a bad person before, and then came to see the light when he worked for Jacob? Richard wasn't too happy to see Smokie and exlaims, "You!" before he's knocked out by him. So I am wondering if somehow Smokie put him in those chains for being bad.

A kind of .... bad person?
What was he doing in chains? (i'd love to see him tied up....oh yes I would! teeheee :yes:).

OK But anyway...what was he doing in chains, and how did he get out of them? Was he a bad person before, and then came to see the light when he worked for Jacob? Richard wasn't too happy to see Smokie and exlaims, "You!" before he's knocked out by him. So I am wondering if somehow Smokie put him in those chains for being bad.

I don't think that Smokie put him in the chains. His wording with 'its good to see you out of those chains' doesn't seem ironic to me. I feel like it wasn't Smokie who did it - I'm sure it wasn't Jacob either but who knows. At least we know that we'll be getting answers to this question this season! Hopefully its not during the finale though - I don't know if I can make it that long.