OK, lots of speculation about why the medical hatch was abandonded. Several on other threads suggested it was a result of the timer countdown to zero in a previous episode. I don't think that's it.
I think that Zeke and the others were seriously freaked out about Claire escaping, and what no one has seemed to mention, the Losties doing Ethan in shortly thereafter when he comes back looking for Claire.
Ethan seems to be a main man, medically, when it comes to knowledge of the infection. It was also mentioned that they were concerned about the levels of the medicine stockpile. Based on that, here's my general theory:
When Ethan gets killed, the seabillies/medical hatch guys realize they've just lost a very important member of the team, and the security of the hatch has been comprimised. The hatch team know all about the losties, but didn't realize they were armed and considerably more dangerous than they thought. And they do not >appear< to be innoculated and the hatch team is worried about them spreading the sickness.
Because of the imminent threat from physical and viral assult, combined with the loss of Ethan, the seabillies/med team hightail it to the north side of the island and make their declaration to the losties of "don't cross this line". Basically they were saying between the lines "we still need to use you in some way, but don't get too close or we will be forced to kill you".
I think the big reveal that many suspect is that most all of the Losties have already been innoculated against the sickness and prepared in many ways to square off against the others prior to them getting to the island.
I believe that the med team/others anticipated the arrival of the losties, but did not expect the strength/skills/means the losties would have, since they seem to be springing surprises like finding the hatches, getting radios to work, having access to a case full of guns in which they kill one of the other's main characters, Ethan, etc.
The sea-billies are worried.
Editied: to clean up some typos....
I am further leaning toward there being two groups of others, and that the Med Team an Ethan might not be Dharma, but actually US Army.
I think that the man that Zeke was referring too, ordered the hatch evacuated after Ethan was killed. If they didnt know that Ethan was killed, then they could have evacuated in fear that Ethan would lead the Losties back to the hatch.
You better listen my my sister's and brothers,
'cause if you do you can hear, There are voices still callin' from across the years. And they're cryin' across the ocean, And they're cryin' across the land, And they will until we all come to understand
That none of us are free, None of us are free
None of us are free, if one of us is chained, None of us are free
I think that the man that Zeke was referring too, ordered the hatch evacuated after Ethan was killed. If they didnt know that Ethan was killed, then they could have evacuated in fear that Ethan would lead the Losties back to the hatch.
I could see that and I also agree with MadMatt when he said that Zeke may have abandoned it when Claire escaped.
It doesn't seem like they abandoned the hatch in too big a hurry because they managed to clear out the nursery. But, they definately didn't want it found, since they covered it with plastic and vines.
Remember
-Zeke quoted Hanso
-The costumes were in the Medical Facility and they just used them maybe a week ago or however long it was when Micheal ran away.
I think they left when Henry was captured. The timeline works better since the obviously used the costumes a few days before that when they met Jack in the jungle. They probably figured Henry would break under the interogation.
But how is Henry going to react when he founds out every one else has abandoned him????
I don't think they completely abandoned the medical hatch. The lockers with the clothes and costumes suggest that to me. As the previous poster said, they ran into Zeke no more than a week ago and now his fake beard is in the medical hatch. They must be using it to store some of their things.
I am further leaning toward there being two groups of others, and that the Med Team an Ethan might not be Dharma, but actually US Army.
Mad.Matt
They're most likely one fraction of the same thing- Dharma being a part of a military branch. It would explain the medical expertiese and the seemingly chain of command (Higher up followed by Zeke followed by Ethan).
Covert military members are known to go undercover- something it seems to others do.
I wouldn't say the US Government but perhaps Dharma has abroad / foreign funding and recruited ex-US military / covert ops. It fits what we know of them.
Thoughts?
Here's a good question-
How long does it take to get 20 or so people decked out in full costume attire?
And then how long does it take them to get from where they got dressed to where they met Jack and crew?
Point being- they don't walk around all the time in theatrical gear. It takes them time to get ready. And to get ready they have to know someone's around.
So- how are they constantly in the loop with who's where and when they need to be stopped? I'd lean towards cameras because that would just make sense, but most of the gear is from the 70's. And 70's cameras weren't the easiest things in the world to hide. But, then again, it comes back to the whole "new washer / dryer" conversation. Why some new stuff and not others?
Last edited by epicac; 03-02-2006 at 08:57 AM.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
perhaps those in the medical hatch realized that Walt had compromised them when he was caught communicating with Michael. My immediate thought was thatt the communication between the hatches led to them abandoning it but I also like the countdown theory. I was really blown away to see Zeke clean shaven. That changes a lot! Very clever sub-plotting there by the writers!
I kinda mentioned this in another thread, but the fact that the Others use these costumes has to be important. I don't think we can call them "seabillies" or anything like that anymore, because what we saw from Claire's flashbacks is these folks are not living down and dirty, and don't wear tattered clothes and skip showers. So, I think the writers are trying to tell us that something about the Others is not what it appeared to be to us a while back, and will probably have a lot to do with the Losties' interrogation with Henry.
As to why the hatch was abandoned, maybe Walt tipped them off that Claire will start to remember what happened, and seeing that she will probably find the hatch, it was best to skip town for the time being. But does anyone else find it odd that in their efforts to clear out of there, they left a few random things behind? I mean, how hard would it have been to pick up the theatrical glue, beard and clothes before they left? Why would they let the Losties find out about these items?
and
and 