Some people on these forums have trouble believing MIB's confession that he was posing as Christian because Christian appeared on the freighter and in the hospital in Los Angeles, and he can't leave the Island, so what gives?

I'd like to remind these people that Christian also appeared at least several hundred years in the past to Locke at the Frozen Donkey Wheel way before the real Christian Shephard was born. Locke asks him if he can help him get to the wheel, to which MIB replies: "I'm sorry. I can't."

The reason is because Christian is not really there, like in the freighter. He can't manipulate people beyond talking to them. Additional theory to back this up: I'm thinking the young boy that appears to MIB is a young Jacob projecting forward into the future, and he suffers from the same limitations. They can observe and communicate but not actually do anything. If he wants to make a difference, he has to physically leave.

If he wasn't really there, why was he able to have a physical interaction with objects and people at times?

- Mobisode So it Begins he is holding Vincent by his collar.
- Something Nice Back Home he is holding Aaron when he appears to Claire.
- Cabin Fever he rocks back in the chair he is sitting in, making a physical object move.
- This Place is Death he is holding up a lantern (http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/File:5x05_AScoldingShephard.jpg) while talking to Locke about fixing the FDW. I don't believe his, "I'm sorry. I can't [help you]" was about his being physically there or not.
- Namaste he takes a picture off the wall (http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/File:Welcomephoto.jpg) in the Orientation building and hands it to Sun.

These physical interactions make it hard to go with the theory that he isn't really there. At least on island, anyway. When he appeared to Jack at the clinic he could have been a projection. He was just sitting on a couch and it was difficult to see whether he had a physical effect on his environment. When he appeared on the freighter he didn't seem to handle anything or necessarily have a solid physical presence.


All that to say, yes and no. Christian may have been a projection for a few of his post-death appearances. There's no way he was for all of them.

I'd like to remind these people that Christian also appeared at least several hundred years in the past to Locke at the Frozen Donkey Wheel way before the real Christian Shephard was born. Locke asks him if he can help him get to the wheel, to which MIB replies: "I'm sorry. I can't."
As Roy said Christian was holding a lantern when he spoke with Locke in the FDW Chamber and I don't think Christian was saying that he couldn't help Locke because he was unable to touch him. I believe he said I can't because of the rules, he is not allowed to help him.


The reason is because Christian is not really there, like in the freighter. He can't manipulate people beyond talking to them. Additional theory to back this up: I'm thinking the young boy that appears to MIB is a young Jacob projecting forward into the future, and he suffers from the same limitations. They can observe and communicate but not actually do anything. If he wants to make a difference, he has to physically leave.
Are you forgetting that Smokey can't go over water?

This has been discussed in many threads.... Why was it Christian who appeared to Michael on the Kahana in the first place? Michael had never met Christian before and had no idea who he was. Why wasn't it Libby, Ana, even Walt who appeared to Michael, Michael seeing one of them would have understood more if one of them spoke to him.

If he wasn't really there, why was he able to have a physical interaction with objects and people at times?

- Mobisode So it Begins he is holding Vincent by his collar.
- Something Nice Back Home he is holding Aaron when he appears to Claire.
- Cabin Fever he rocks back in the chair he is sitting in, making a physical object move.
- This Place is Death he is holding up a lantern (http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/File:5x05_AScoldingShephard.jpg) while talking to Locke about fixing the FDW. I don't believe his, "I'm sorry. I can't [help you]" was about his being physically there or not.
- Namaste he takes a picture off the wall (http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/File:Welcomephoto.jpg) in the Orientation building and hands it to Sun.

These physical interactions make it hard to go with the theory that he isn't really there. At least on island, anyway. When he appeared to Jack at the clinic he could have been a projection. He was just sitting on a couch and it was difficult to see whether he had a physical effect on his environment. When he appeared on the freighter he didn't seem to handle anything or necessarily have a solid physical presence.


All that to say, yes and no. Christian may have been a projection for a few of his post-death appearances. There's no way he was for all of them.

Does it seem like maybe he (they?) has to get warmed up? The first couple times we saw Christian he never even spoke and barely seemed real. Walt was all funky a couple times with the being wet and talking backwards. The kid was still the first time we saw him, not unlike the first time we saw Christian. Maybe there's something to be learned from that. Of course, not all appearances have occurred that way, but maybe there's a pattern.

Not to mention the dream versions of Ana, Boone and Yemi. Remember how Locke was in Eko in that dream? How much weirder is that now that Smoke is walking around in a Locke disguise?

Does it seem like maybe he (they?) has to get warmed up? The first couple times we saw Christian he never even spoke and barely seemed real. Walt was all funky a couple times with the being wet and talking backwards. The kid was still the first time we saw him, not unlike the first time we saw Christian. Maybe there's something to be learned from that. Of course, not all appearances have occurred that way, but maybe there's a pattern.

Not to mention the dream versions of Ana, Boone and Yemi. Remember how Locke was in Eko in that dream? How much weirder is that now that Smoke is walking around in a Locke disguise?
If it wasn't for that mobisode, I'd say Christian was exactly like that. But So it Begins totally bones up the timeline of it. Unless there's TT involved somehow. :undecide: