So Ben let himself get caught?

[neese25]

So, if Ben planned to use Michael, to get Jack Kate and Sawyer, then Ben let himself be caught by Danielle? (or was working with her, but that has yet to be revealed)

[losty mclosterson]

It would appear that way.....of course, he also made it sound like (last week) that he may have been caught in order to observe Locke and his new found walking abilities. But...Ben let us know that he has ways of keying on people's weaknesses and exploiting them. So, maybe he just wants Locke to think that.

[Sawyer's Love]

It appears that way!

I think one of his exploitations of weeknesses was him pitting Locke against Jack since he knew Locke didn't like Jack being in charge.

[billehmeg]

Something just seems a bit too over-complicated in his plan though if he did plan to be caught. The Others took Walt which in turn made Michael seek them out to get his son back. Instead of them just getting Michael to lead Jack et al to them on a hunt for Walt, promising him his son back if he delivered, they have one of their (supposedly) important people get captured (not to mention beaten and almost killed) on purpose. And to get Ben out, they manipulate Michael into freeing him while also framing him for the murder of two (one on purpose i suppose...) castaways.

Now I suppose I do see the purpose in giving the Losties a reason other than Walt's kidnapping to go after the others after that whole Bonfire Incident but it all just seems a little too needlessly complicated. I think if Ben did get caught in the trap on purpose he must have had another reason to be there (scoping out Locke or just the Losties in general?) or he just plain wasn't watching where he was going which doesn't seem the case either.

[Lostender]

What getting beat up to Ben? He has a tumor, I would be more worried about that then getting locked up for a few days.

[billehmeg]

Its not set that he had cancer, he had a tumor on his spine that was possibly cancerous. Either way that in itself is another reason not to send him to be in captivity.

[caldric]

Ben can adapt to changing situations like no one's business. It's entirely possible he set out to infiltrate the Losties' camp, was unexpectedly caught by Rousseau, and managed to manipulate her into giving him to the Losties.

[Subject # 4815162342]

I think the theory could hold up.....but,DAMN!....an arrow to the torso?....no,wait:THROUGH the torso?.........yeesh!


That's a lot of trouble to go through to "exploit Jack's emotions"

[billehmeg]

It's entirely possible he set out to infiltrate the Losties' camp, was unexpectedly caught by Rousseau, and managed to manipulate her into giving him to the Losties.

That is entirely possible but why would the Others want to infiltrate their camp in the first place? and why would Ben be the one going?

That's a lot of trouble to go through to "exploit Jack's emotions"

exactly my point. why such a complicated plan when it didn't have to be?

[juanbong]

Moving to Ben's Character forum.

Thanks.

[Hodgepodge]

Something just seems a bit too over-complicated in his plan though if he did plan to be caught. The Others took Walt which in turn made Michael seek them out to get his son back. Instead of them just getting Michael to lead Jack et al to them on a hunt for Walt, promising him his son back if he delivered, they have one of their (supposedly) important people get captured (not to mention beaten and almost killed) on purpose. And to get Ben out, they manipulate Michael into freeing him while also framing him for the murder of two (one on purpose i suppose...) castaways...Billehmeg, I don't think the two incidents are mutually exclusive.

I think the "Others" took Walt because they have some morbid curiosty with children. I've always suspected whatever they did to release "Smokey", they felt a child could undo. Don't ask me how? Or why? It could be as simple as the size of their hands. Or, as complicated as Walt being able to marterialize in more than one location at a time.

IMO, from their surveillance point in the Pearl, Ben found out Jack was a spinal surgeon. He figured he could parlay the kidnapping of Walt into another plan. Getting Jack out into the open. Now we know how the message was sent to only Michael through the Swan's computer. They were watching when he set down at the keyboard?