I first thought of this some time ago, and reading some of the other threads on this topic has only reinforced my belief.

What do we really know about "Sawyer"-- the one we see every week, who has taken the name of the man responsible for the destruction of his mother and father. Not much. He's on a quest, namely, that of tracking down the con man responsible for his mother's murder and his father's suicide (who I'll refer to as Real Sawyer). He was sidetracked on his quest, that's what "CONFIDENCE MAN" was about, but at the end of the day, the quest for the Real Sawyer was our Sawyer's reason for being.

As posted by an earlier contributer, we DON'T KNOW why Sawyer was in Australia. It could perhaps be inferred that he was on the run from loansharks, but that would not explain why he was returning to the US. He is, so far, the ONLY character that's been featured in an episode (other than Sayid) whose motivations for being in Autralia and returning to the US have gone unexplained.

I think Sawyer went to Australia to find Real Sawyer. I think he found Real Sawyer, and at the end of his journey, was returning with the Real Sawyer back to the US. So who is Real Sawyer, you might ask? Who's the gentleman that our Sawyer has been tracking down, like some 2004 version of Richard Kimble on the hunt for the one-armed bandit? And where was the Real Sawyer?

The Real Sawyer was also on the plane. In a coffin.

That's right, I think Jack's dad is the Real Sawyer. Now before you all think I've gone and lost my marbles, let's look at what makes sense from a narrative prespective. Real Sawyer is our Sawyer's entire reason for being. I think he's a major part of the show, and this plotline will need resolution. Who's the ONLY CHARACTER we've seen so far that is the right age to have been the Real Sawyer? Jack's dad.

"Impossible!" I can already hear some of you saying. Jack's dad is a doctor. We know this from Jack's flashback.

Not quite. What do we really know about Jack's dad? When we first see him counsel his son, he seems like a real SOB, telling Jack that he shouldn't have stuck up for his friend. We see him in his office at home, looking like a doctor, but we never actually see him as a doctor.

Cut forward a few years. Jack's dad is a mess. He has turned into an alcoholic, and has fled to Australia. SOMETHING has happened to create a strain on the man, something that may have affected the relationship between Jack and his father. What could that be? Perhaps Jack found out about his father's true occupation-- con man extraordinaire, the best ever, one who could even maintain the charade that he was a succesful practicing physician TO HIS OWN FAMILY.

Jack flies off to Australia to find his dad. WHAT IF OUR SAWYER DID THE SAME THING? When Jack finally finds his father, his father has died, apparently of alcohol poisoning. What if Sawyer got to him first and actually killed the man by literally making him drink himself to death.

Imagine the last episode of the season. Jack and Sawyer finally find the man they've been looking for all season. Sawyer has Real Sawyer up against a cliff's edge, not realizing that Real Sawyer is now little more than an apparition (and that's another can of worms we won't even open). Then Jack stumbles onto the scene and sees Sawyer threatening someone. Imagine his shock when he realizes that it's his father.

Imagine all the plot threads coming together. The animosity Jack and Sawyer have had all season would now take on a whole new light. Perhaps Sawyer even knows that Jack is the Real Sawyer's dad, which would explain his hatred of Jack.

And what would Jack do, there on the top of the cliff, staring into the face of the man who killed his father, even though his father was responsible for the death of that other man's father?

This is all speculation, of course, but it does make for some interesting possibilities. . .

This is interesting...Jack's father heads off to Australia to get away from things, (or to pull another job? Jack's mother made it seem as if he had gone off alone before...) and then Sawyer learned that he had gone to Australia, so he goes after him. When he realizes the 'real Sawyer' is dead, he gets on a plane and heads back to the States.

There is just one hole - if he had found the real Sawyer, and he [Jack's father/the real Saywer] was dead, wouldn't our Sawyer on the island have closure from the issue? So why would he be reading the letter over again and still looking torn up about it? And why wouldn't he be able to burn it and put the whole thing to rest?

There is just one hole - if he had found the real Sawyer, and he [Jack's father/the real Saywer] was dead, wouldn't our Sawyer on the island have closure from the issue? So why would he be reading the letter over again and still looking torn up about it? And why wouldn't he be able to burn it and put the whole thing to rest?

Excellent point. If Jack's father had been the Real Sawyer, then our Sawyer's quest for revenge would have been fulfilled. Destroying the letter would have been no problem, because his mission would have ended.

He wasn't able to burn it, though, because his issues aren't yet at rest - - either with the Real Sawyer, or within himself, for what he's become.

Lost Boy, good theory. I hadn't considered Jack's dad, but I did wonder how they were going to tie some of these characters together and Sawyer, definately still has skeletons in his closet. I actually considered Locke at first, cause he gave Sayid the knife, but after thinking about what a confidence man was, Locke, doesn't really fit the stereotype. I mean a real confidence man would have to be a swindler, a con, and a great actor. Locke pretty much keeps to himself. I'm still not totally ruling out Locke yet, but Jacks dad, could definately be a possibility as well.

Wow, I really like this theory. The only problem I see is...I really don't think our Sawyer could have made Real Sawyer drink himself to death. Although the mental picture is quite amusing. Maybe the reason our Sawyer still reads the letter and it is still emotional is because it does remain un-resolved. My idea is that after all those years chasing Real Sawyer, our Sawyer caught up with him in Australia at long last, only to discover that he had already died. I think that would lead to some even worse unresolved messes. No answers to questions, not being able to make the man look in his eyes etc.

I think this theory has a lot of potential. Very smart!!!

Perhaps Sawyer continues to read the letter because Jack's father passed away before Sawyer could confront him. It is possible that Sawyer was in Australia looking for Jack's dad ... but hadn't found him in time.

Also, Jack's father could have used his "cons" to buy himself a better life (pay for medical school, etc). It is possible Jack's father had given up his cons once he became a doctor ... but his drinking must have ruined his medical career. This could indeed drive him back to his "old con" habits.

I don't think the alcoholism had anything to do specifically with Sawyer. The drinking may have been a result of his past, but probably was not related to Sawyer. Jack's dad may not have known what happened to Sawyer's parents after he left. Therefore, he would have no idea about Sawyer's situation. I doubt Mr. Sawyer took the time to look up the people he conned ... just to see how they were "holding up". He would have quickly moved on, never looking back.

I definitely feel as though Jack and Sawyer have a connection that neither one has yet discovered. How would Jack feel about Sawyer if he were to discover that the very essence of who Sawyer is was formed by a betrayal from his own father? A father that Jack certainly knows was very flawed, and callous. Would be very believable.

The only thing with more emotional impact would be to discover that Sawyer and Jack are brothers. Who says Jack's father hadn't conned Sawyer's mother more than once? In this case, perhaps the drinking was linked to Sawyer. He may have know about "the kid" but still played his con and left ... never looking back. Imagine if Sawyer had somehow discovered this bit of information when he was older. How much would it effect Sawyer to then learn that Jack's dad was Mr. Sawyer ... and the "damn spinal surgeon" is his brother?

ooooooooooooo! I am LOVING this topic!

Good ideas from ALL!

I think that the possibility that Sawyer and Jack have a past is very likely - would explain the instant animosity that Sawyer has had for Jack.

Also, next week we will find out more about Daddy-dearest and hopefully that will add/detract from this theory!

BRAVO!
kaidy

I think this is a great theory, too!

Maybe he was going to burn the letter, because of "Real Sawyer/Jack's Dad's" death. He didn't burn it because now he has "become" Sawyer. He can't find closure until he becomes a real boy.
If he had closure, he wouldn't be using the name Sawyer.
Closure for him is going to take a lot more than a dead body at this point.

Stephanie

I think this is a great theory, too!

Maybe he was going to burn the letter, because of "Real Sawyer/Jack's Dad's" death. He didn't burn it because now he has "become" Sawyer. He can't find closure until he becomes a real boy.
If he had closure, he wouldn't be using the name Sawyer.
Closure for him is going to take a lot more than a dead body at this point.

Stephanie



And maybe Sawyer never actually found Jack's dad (& doesn't even realize that Jack's dad is Mr. Sawyer) ... but imagine if he were to somehow discover the truth. After all, isn't Kate the only person to know at this point about Jack's dad (and I don't think she realizes that his body was on the plane). Perhaps Sawyer sees a picture of Jack's dad at some point and realizes the connection.

He is, so far, the ONLY character that's been featured in an episode (other than Sayid) whose motivations for being in Autralia and returning to the US have gone unexplained.

Why were Jin and Sun in Australia, bound for the U.S.?* I don't remember their episode explaining it.

Edited to add: I know Sun was going to take advantange of the opportunity to get away from her husband, but why were they going in the first place?

VERY interesting theory!!!

Maybe Saywer was closing in on Jack's dad and heard that "Sawyer" who is now the respectable Dr. Jack Sheppard was on a plane, but didn't realize until afterwards, that it was Jack Sheppard JR. on the plane. :o

Or do we know Jack's dad's name to be something else already? :-\

Jack's dad's name is Christian Shepherd.

Yes...Christian Sheperd...weird isn't it? Do you think that has some kind of significance?

and I think this theory is spot on....because in an aritcle I read about Foxy he said that Sawyer and Jack were going to become practically the same people...like two twins seperated at birth. So...maybe that was a clue....ya think?

;D

Well, judging by the way that Sawyer kept looking at that letter of his, I'd say he hasn't yet managed to kill Real Sawyer.

Silver, I wasn't sure if he wanted to kill him. I think he may have just wanted to give him the letter, so the real Sawyer could swim in guilt. I'm not sure however, about our Sawyer, cause his intentios may have changed. I mean he had originally planned to give the letter to the real Mr.Sawyer, but Sawyer ended up becoming the man he hated, so maybe he decided to keep the letter, cause he is Sawyer now. Just a thought...

wait a minute....

Sawyer was just a little kid right when all this conning went down? What if.....and I can't remember if Sawyers parents died or not, but if Sawyer was told that all the family problems, ie. Mom with another man, father in a rage, some kind of con....was really that The con man was really Sawyers biological father, and that the Sawyers Dad lost it when he found out that his wife had cheated on him back then and made him look like a fool, yada, yada....

So maybe Sawyer took the "con mans" name, because he thinks he's tracking a con man, but what it does for the plot is that it keeps Jack from knowing what Sawyers real name is....his illigitemate brother. And that the guilt Jacks dad feels for ruining these peoples lives back then drove him to a) drink b) push Jack into being the best, becuase he had already "lost" one son.

maybe????


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Hey, Founder, I think what Sawyer's note said was that his father figured out the con, and then he went on to kill Sawyer's mother and then himself. We don't know what really happened, but that's what the note says.

Estranged brothers, huh? You think they look alike? It must be the scruffiness. ;)

Dont know if anyone said this yet but Jacks dad is really a doctor. He was in the OR in Cowboys and I dont think the best con man in the world could con his way into performing a surgery (although his skill might suggest otherwise). Besides, a con man alcoholic just doesnt sit right, wouldnt a con need to be at the top of their game at all times, instead of fall down drunk?

I'm thinking that Jack's dad would've been pretty busy finishing up his residency or something around the time that Sawyer's parents were getting conned, or at least very busy establishing himself since by the time he lost his job he was a highly respected doctor at his hospital.* I think it's an interesting theory though, that his con man ties into someone else on the island's life.* I think that will probably hold true.

I was thinking though that the person might have something to do with Shannon and Boone, since we see Sawyer getting arrested in the background of the police station while it looks like Boone is trying to file a report or get help or something.* Shannon seems like a rich girl that might fall for a con.* The kind Boone would have to go and rescue her from...

also someone asked about why sun and jin were in austrailia.* I know one of the vips mentioned that jin was on his way to america to deliver gifts from his boss to people that worked for him there.* i believe they said they were watches like the one he punched michael for.* maybe there's people that work in austraila too, or maybe it's not uncommon to stop in austrailia when flying from korea to LA?

my bad, i forgot we haven't actually seen the previews yet, i added a spoiler tag, at least i hope i did it right

Umm . . . that1spunkygirl, can you spoiler-font, please??* >:(

Deleted.

I'm thinking that Jack's dad would've been pretty busy finishing up his residency or something around the time that Sawyer's parents were getting conned, or at least very busy establishing himself since by the time he lost his job he was a highly respected doctor at his hospital.* I think it's an interesting theory though, that his con man ties into someone else on the island's life.* I think that will probably hold true.

I am assuming both men are about the same age so unless Jakc's dad was pulling scams while a doctor this theory doesn't fit. Dad gives Jack the "Your not strong enough" speech when Jack is about the same age Sawyer would have been when his parents died. Jack's father would have been an established doctor when the real Sawyer was pulling his cons.

I don't see how that would work, Jack's father was already a surgeon at the time of the con involving Sawyer's parents. If we take the characters as being around the ages of their actors, give or take a few years, Jack's father's drunken speech to him about not helping his friend and the little boy who died on the operating table that he could just put behind him watching Carol Burnett was given right around the same time as that con and the subsequent deaths of Sawyer's parents in the murder/suicide.

I think the connection to Boone and Shannon is more likely - she was getting "conned" being young, naive, and kind of self-destructive. Boone tried to rescue her from the situation. At the same time, Sawyer is tracking down the real Sawyer, and they just happen to be the same person.

yes especially because the guy we see with shannon in the promo pics is an older man. looks like he could be in the right age range for seducing Sawyer's mother twenty some years ago