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"Follow the Leader" is the fifteenth episode of Season 5 of Lost and the 101st produced hour of the series as a whole. After the death of Daniel in 1977, Jack and Kate work with Eloise and Richard to follow through with Daniel's plan to detonate the hydrogen bomb. In present time, Locke finally takes his place as leader of the Others and begins his new mission, with Richard's help. It was originally broadcast on May 6, 2009.

Synopsis

1977

2007

At the Others' camp, Vanessa informs Richard that "he's here". Locke arrives with a boar, followed by Ben and Sun. Locke tells Richard that he has a new purpose, and needs Richard to come with him immediately. After Ben tells her Richard has been around for "a very long time", Sun interrupts Locke and Richard with the 1977 DHARMA Recruits picture, asking Richard if he recognised the people in it. Richard replies that he recognised them, because he "watched them all die".

Later in a private conversation, Locke implies that he thinks they're not dead. Locke, Richard, and Ben then leave with the compass on an unknown mission. They head to the Beechcraft, during the trip Locke tells Richard he must see Jacob after they see where Locke disappeared to after the Island moved in 2004. Locke tells Richard that he must treat a man's wound at the Beechcraft, and then tell him to bring everyone back to the Island, and then that he has to die. Locke then tells Ben that the man is Locke himself. Richard follows the instructions, as seen in "Because You Left". While Richards tends to the time-travelling Locke, the other Locke tells Ben that he knows that Ben has never seen Jacob, which surprises Ben.

The three then return to camp, where Locke makes a speech to all the Others present that he is going to see Jacob, and he would like them all to come with him. The Others are excited by this, with the exception of Richard who admits his worry to Ben.

The next morning, Locke and the Others leave to find Jacob. Ben then tells Locke of Richard's thoughts, and then reaffirms his allegiance to Locke's quest to reunite with his 1977 friends. Locke then reveals, much to Ben's shock, that his true intentions are to kill Jacob.

Trivia

General

Production notes

Desmond does not appear in this episode.
For the second episode in a row, a scene from the season premiere is shown in a different context.

Bloopers and continuity errors

Recurring themes

Animals • Black and white • Character connections • Children • Coincidence • Death • Deceptions and cons • Dreams • Economics • Electromagnetism • Eyes • Fate versus free will • Games • Good and bad people • Imprisonment • Isolation • Leadership • Life and death • Literary works • Mirrors • Missing body parts • Nicknames • The Numbers • Pairings • Parapsychology • Parent issues • Pregnancies • Psychology • Rain • Redemption • Relationships • Religion • Revenge • Salvation • Secrets

Sawyer calls a crewman of the Galaga "Nemo".(Nicknames)
Kate tells Richard that she and Jack are not bad people. (Good and bad)
Sayid kills Erik to keep him from killing Kate. (Life and Death)
Locke states that his reason for wanting to visit Jacob is in order to kill him. (Life and Death)
Jack tells Kate that it is their destiny to prevent the Swan Incident. (Fate versus Free Will)
Richard tells Sun that he remembers seeing Jin, Kate and the others in 1977, because he watched them die. (Life and Death)

There were neither flashbacks nor flashforwards in this episode. (Flashbacks) (Flashforwards)

Storyline analysis

Storyline analysis
A-Missions • Crimes • Economics • Leadership • O-Missions • Relationships • F-Missions • Rivalries • S-Missions

Locke returns to lead the Others. (Leadership)

Cultural references

Cultural references (direct references only)
Art • Automobiles • Games • History • Literary works • Movies and TV • Music • Philosophy • Religion and ideologies • Science

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea: Sawyer calls one of the Galaga crewmen Nemo. Nemo is the Captain of the submarine Nautilus in this book by Jules Verne. (books)

Literary techniques

Literary techniques
Comparative: Irony • Juxtaposition • Foreshadowing Plotting: Cliffhanger • Plot twist Stock characters: Archetype • Redshirt • Unseen character Story: Flashbacks • Flash-forwards • Flash sideways • Framing device • Regularly spoken phrases • Symbolism • Unreliable narrator

Episode references

Pierre asks Hurley the questions Hurley asked Sawyer while trying to deduce what time Hurley was from. ("Namaste")
Kate and Juliet are handcuffed together again. ("Left Behind")
We see the events at the Beechcraft from a different perspective. ("Because You Left")
Jack tells Sayid that Eloise Hawking will help them to find the Island in the future. ("316")
Ben's murder of Locke is spoken of and alluded to in this episode. ("The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham")
Sun shows Richard the photo given to her by Christian Shephard. ("Namaste")
Dr. Chang asks Hurley the name of the president in 1977. ("Namaste")
Sayid believes that he has killed Benjamin Linus. ("He's Our You")
Dr. Chang and Miles acknowledge their relationship as father and son. ("Some Like It Hoth")
The aftermath of Daniel's shooting is shown. ("The Variable")
Pierre Chang asks Miles, Hurley, and Jin whether or not Faraday was right about being from the future. ("The Variable")
Eloise Hawking says, "All right, let's get started" just like she tells Ben, Jack, Sun and Desmond above The Lamp Post. ("This Place Is Death") ("316")

Unanswered questions

Unanswered questions
Do not answer the questions here. Keep the questions open-ended and neutral: do not suggest an answer. More details...

For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: Follow the Leader/Theories

Why does Locke want to kill Jacob?
- How does he intend to do so?
Why is Richard hesitant to bring Locke to Jacob? What does he want to tell him about Jacob?
How did the island tell Locke exactly when to find himself at the Beechcraft?
How did they move the bomb?

External links

Press Release

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 ===2007===
+At [[the Others]]' camp, [[Vanessa]] informs [[Richard]] that "he's here". [[Locke]] arrives with a [[boar]], followed by [[Ben]] and [[Sun]]. Locke tells Richard that he has a new purpose, and needs Richard to come with him immediately. After Ben tells her Richard has been around for "a very long time", Sun interrupts Locke and Richard with the [[1977 DHARMA Recruits picture]], asking Richard if he recognised the people in it. Richard replies that he recognised them, because he "watched them all die".
+Later in a private conversation, Locke implies that he thinks they're not dead. Locke, Richard, and Ben then leave with the [[compass]] on an unknown mission. They head to the [[Beechcraft]], during the trip Locke tells Richard he must see [[Jacob]] after they see where Locke disappeared to after [[the Island]] moved in 2004. Locke tells Richard that he must treat a man's wound at the Beechcraft, and then tell him to bring everyone back to the Island, and then that he has to die. Locke then tells Ben that the man is Locke himself. Richard follows the instructions, as seen in {{ep|5x01}}. While Richards tends to the time-travelling Locke, the other Locke tells Ben that he knows that Ben has never seen Jacob, which surprises Ben.
+The three then return to camp, where Locke makes a speech to all the Others present that he is going to see Jacob, and he would like them all to come with him. The Others are excited by this, with the exception of Richard who admits his worry to Ben.
+The next morning, Locke and the Others leave to find Jacob. Ben then tells Locke of Richard's thoughts, and then reaffirms his allegiance to Locke's quest to reunite with his 1977 friends. Locke then reveals, much to Ben's shock, that his true intentions are to kill Jacob.
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