Lost/Season Three Mysteries

Mysteries Introduced in Season Three

Further Instructions

• How and why did the person from the Pearl station end up in the polar bear cave?

The Cost of Living

• Why did the smoke monster kill Eko?
• Why do some of the Others want Ben dead?

Enter 77

• Why did the DHARMA Initiative start a war against the Others?
• Did entering 77 into the computer have any other effect in addition to the destruction of the Flame station?
• Why would the DHARMA Initiative want the Flame destroyed in the event of an incursion by the Others?

The Man from Tallahassee

• What is the metaphorical box Ben spoke of?
• Why is Ben not healing faster?

One of Us

• Why do the bodies of the pregnant women on the island suddenly reject the pregnancy?
• How did Rousseau and her child, Alexandra, survive the pregnancy while on the island?
• How was Rachel's cancer cured?
• What did Sayid do in Basra?

D.O.C.

• Is Sun going to survive?

The Man Behind the Curtain

• Who are the hostiles? How did they get there before DHARMA?
• Why has Richard apparently not aged since he first met Ben?
• Who or what is Jacob?
• Why does Jacob want Locke to help him? To what end?
• What happened to Annie?
• Why couldn't the hostiles and DHARMA co-exist?
• How did Ben come to be the "leader" of the others

Through the Looking Glass

• Whose funeral did Jack go to?
• Who was Naomi working for?
• Who are the bad guys assaulting the island?
• Who is the "he" Kate is talking about?
• Why does Jack want to go back to the island?

Mysteries Answered in Season Three

• Why is there a polar bear on the island? (Question: 1x02 - Pilot, Part Two
• Why is there a second polar bear on the island? (Question: 1x14 - Special)
  • There are polar bears on the island because of the DHARMA Initiative. DHARMA kept them at the Hydra. (Answer: 3x01 - A Tale of Two Cities)
• Who is the man Mr. Friendly refers to when talking with Ethan? (Q: 2x15 - Maternity Leave)
  • Ben ("Henry Gale") is the man Mr. Friendly was referring to when talking with Ethan inside the Staff. (A: 3x01 - A Tale of Two Cities)
• Who is the man claiming to be Henry Gale? (Q: 2x17 - Lockdown)
  • The man claiming to be Henry Gale is an Other named Ben. (A: 3x01 - A Tale of Two Cities)
• Dr. Wickmund mentions a barracks to which the staff of the Pearl are supposed to return to after their 8-hour shifts. Where is that barracks, and where/what is the "ferry" that is supposed to take them there? (Q: 2x21 - ?)
  • The barracks are occupied by the Others and are in the interior of the island, about an hour's run from the crash site of the tail section. (A: 3x01 - A Tale of Two Cities)
• What do the Others want with Jack, Kate and Sawyer? Where are they taking them? (Q: 2x23 - Live Together, Die Alone)
  • Jack, Kate, and Sawyer were taken to the Hydra station. (A: 3x01 - A Tale of Two Cities)

• Why are the next two weeks going to be "very unpleasant?" (Q: 3x01 - A Tale of Two Cities)
  • The next two weeks are going to be "very unpleasant" because Kate and Sawyer are tasked with hard, manual labor. (A: 3x02 - The Glass Ballerina)

• What happened to Desmond, Locke, and Eko when the fail-safe device was used? (Q: 2x23 - Live Together, Die Alone)
  • Locke, Desmond and Eko survived the use of the fail-safe device. (A: 3x03 - Further Instructions)

• What do the Others want with Jack, Kate and Sawyer? Where are they taking them? (Q: 2x23 - Live Together, Die Alone)
  • The Others may want Jack so he could remove a tumor located on a spine. (A: 3x04 - Every Man for Himself)
• Where is the Hydra? (Q: 3x01 - A Tale of Two Cities)
  • The Hydra is located on a small island adjacent to the island where the Oceanic survivors crashed. (A: 3x04 - Every Man for Himself)

• How did Locke get away from the monster? What was the monster? (Q: 1x04 - Walkabout)
  • The monster never attacked Locke. The monster looked to be made of smoke. (A: 3x05 - The Cost of Living)
• Who is Jack there to save? (Q: 3x04 - Every Man for Himself)
  • Jack is there to save Ben's life. (A: 3x05 - The Cost of Living)

• Who is Karl? (Q: 3x01 - A Tale of Two Cities)
• What is Alex's relationship with Karl? (Q: 3x02 - The Glass Ballerina
  • Karl is Alex's boyfriend. (A: 3x06 - I Do)

• What kind of conflict is there between Ben and Juliet? (Q: 3x01 - A Tale of Two Cities)
  • Ben has kept Juliet on the island against her will. (A: 3x07 - Not in Portland)
• What is Ben's relationship with Alex? (Q: 3x06 - I Do)
  • Ben is Alex's "father." (A: 3x07 - Not in Portland)

• What happened to Desmond, Locke, and Eko when the fail-safe device was used? (Q: 2x23 - Live Together, Die Alone)
  • Desmond's life flashed before his eyes when the fail-safe device was used. He ended up reliving a portion of his life and has been experiencing flashes of the future since then. (A: 3x08 - Flashes Before Your Eyes)
• How did Desmond know what was in Locke's speech before Locke said it? (Q: 3x03 - Further Instructions)
  • Desmond knew about Locke's speech because of his flashes. (A: 3x08 - Flashes Before Your Eyes)
• What was the purpose of Desmond's "experiment"? (Q: 3x04 - Every Man for Himself)
  • Desmond's "experiment" was to prevent lightning from hitting Claire's shelter and killing Charlie. (A: 3x08 - Flashes Before Your Eyes)

• What happened to Cindy? (Q: 2x06 - Abandoned)
  • Cindy was taken by the Others. (A: 3x09 - Stranger in a Strange Land)
• Why are the Others kidnapping people? (Q: 2x07 - The Other 48 Days)
  • The Others kidnapped the tail section survivors to give them a better life than the mid-section survivors. (A: 3x09 - Stranger in a Strange Land)
• Where are the Others taking the people they kidnap? (Q: 2x07 - The Other 48 Days)
  • The Others took the kidnapped people to live with them in their community. (A: 3x09 - Stranger in a Strange Land)
• How do the Others get from their island to the main island? Do they have a submarine? (Q: 3x04 - Every Man for Himself)
  • The Others possess another large boat to get from Hydra island to the main island. (A: 3x09 - Stranger in a Strange Land)

• What is the cable and where does it lead to? (Q: 1x09 - Solitary)
  • The cable is the connection between The Flame and an underwater sonar beacon that was used to guide submarines to the island. (A: 3x11 - Enter 77)
• Why were rations dropped onto the island? (Q: 2x17 - Lockdown)
  • The protocol to drop rations onto the island can be initiated from The Flame. (A: 3x11 - Enter 77)
• Are the Others members of the DHARMA Initiative? (Q: 3x01 - A Tale of Two Cities)
  • The Others are not members of the DHARMA Initiative; according to Mikhail they were already on the island long before DHARMA arrived. (A: 3x11 - Enter 77)
• How do the Others contact the outside world for information? (Q: 3x02 - The Glass Ballerina)
  • Before the sky turned purple, the Others contacted the outside world through The Flame. (A: 3x11 - Enter 77)
• Who is the man with the eye patch? What station is the man with the eye patch in? (Q: 3x05 - The Cost of Living)
  • The man with the eye patch identified himself as Mikhail Bakunin, and he lived in The Flame station. (A: 3x11 - Enter 77)

• Who is the woman that Christian visits? (Q: 2x20 - Two for the Road)
  • The woman that Christian visited was Lindsey, Claire's aunt. (A: 3x12 - Par Avion)
• Who is Jack's half-sister? (Q: 2x20 - Two for the Road)
  • Jack's half-sister is Claire. (A: 3x12 - Par Avion)
• Have Eko and Locke really found the question mark that Yemi told Eko to find, or have they found something else? (Q: 2x21 - ?)
  • Eko and Locke did not find the question mark. The question mark is the barracks. (A: 3x12 - Par Avion)

• Why was Locke in a wheelchair? (Q: 1x04 - Walkabout)
  • Locke was in a wheelchair because his father threw him out of an eighth floor window. (A: 3x13 - The Man from Tallahassee)
• Who is the real "bad" Other: Ben or Juliet? (Q: 3x05 - The Cost of Living)
  • Ben is the real "bad" Other. (A: 3x13 - The Man from Tallahassee)
• Why did Locke take the C-4? (Q: 3x12 - Par Avion)
  • Locke took the C-4 because he thought it might be useful against the Others. (A: 3x13 - The Man from Tallahassee)

• What did Ethan want with only Claire? (Q: 1x11 - All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues)
  • Ethan "wanted" Claire because his identity was revealed, but Claire still needed the treatment he was administering to her in secret. He improvised and was forced to kidnap her. (A: 3x16 - One of Us)
• Why was Ethan administering a vaccination for Claire's unborn baby? (Q: 2x15 - Maternity Leave)
  • Ethan was administering a serum developed by Juliet to prevent Claire's body from rejecting the pregnancy, killing both her and her unborn baby. (A: 3x16 - One of Us)
• Why is Juliet so tense at the beginning of the episode? (Q: A Tale of Two Cities)
  • Juliet was tense at the beginning of "A Tale of Two Cities" because she believed Ben lied to her about curing Rachel of her cancer. This was also part of the conflict between the two. (A: 3x16 - One of Us)
• Why would the Others need to have a fertility doctor on the island? Is this in any way connected to what happened to Claire in "Maternity Leave"? (Q: 3x04 - Every Man for Himself)
  • The Others needed a fertility doctor because their pregnant women were all dying. (A: 3x16 - One of Us)
• Why did Ben keep Juliet on the island for longer than she signed on for? What is the "history" she and Ben have? (Q: 3x07 - Not in Portland)
  • Ben kept Juliet on the island for longer than she signed on for because he cured Rachel's cancer. The "history" they have is over Juliet wanting to leave the island. (A: 3x16 - One of Us)
• Who was the patient Juliet was recruited for? (Q: 3x07 - Not in Portland)
  • The patient Juliet was recruited for were pregnant women whose bodies turned on their pregnancies, destroying their womb and killing them. (A: 3x16 - One of Us)

• If Jin was infertile, then how is Sun pregnant? (Q: 2x16 - The Whole Truth)
  • Jin was infertile off the island, but somehow the island made him fertile. (A: 3x18 - D.O.C.)
• What is Juliet at the camp to do? (Q: 3x16 - One of Us)
  • Juliet is at the camp to obtain samples of the women there. (A: 3x18 - D.O.C.)

• Who is the real Sawyer? (Q: 1x08 - Confidence Man)
  • Anthony Cooper, Locke's father, is the real Sawyer. (A: 3x19 - The Brig)
• Did Penelope find the island? (Q: 2x23 - Live Together, Die Alone)
  • Penelope found the general location of the island. (A: 3x19 - The Brig)
• Is Anthony Cooper really on the island? (Q: 3x13 - The Man from Tallahassee)
  • Anthony Cooper is really on the island. (A: 3x19 - The Brig)
• Why did Locke have a bandaged hand and black eye? (Q: 3x15 - Left Behind)
  • Locke's hand was bandaged because Cooper had bitten him. (A: 3x19 - The Brig)
• Where have the Others gone to? (Q: 3x15 - Left Behind)
  • The Others went to a clearing with an ancient column. (A: 3x19 - The Brig)
• Who is the helicopter pilot? (Q: 3x17 - Catch-22)
  • The helicopter pilot's name is Naomi Dorrit, and she claims she was sent by Penelope Widmore to look for Desmond. (A: 3x19 - The Brig)
• How was the plane found? How are there no survivors? (Q: 3x18 - D.O.C.)
  • The Oceanic plane crashed into the sea near Bali and is lying in an ocean trench about 4 miles deep. This, and the fact that all passengers are still on board, is based on video footage from underwater robots. (A: 3x19 - The Brig)

• Who is Jacob? What is his list? (Q: 3x06 - I Do)
  • Jacob is a mysterious man or thing that Ben supposedly answers to. (A: 3x20 - The Man Behind the Curtain)
• What happened to Roger? (Q: 3x10 - Tricia Tanaka Is Dead)
  • Roger was killed by his son, Ben. (A: 3x20 - The Man Behind the Curtain)
• Who is the "magnificent man" Mikhail spoke of? (Q: 3x12 - Par Avion)
  • The "magnificent" man Mikhail spoke of is Jacob. (A: 3x20 - The Man Behind the Curtain)
• How did Mikhail survive the sonic fence? (Q: 3x18 - D.O.C.)
  • Mikhail survived the sonar fence because it wasn't set to a lethal level. (A: 3x20 - The Man Behind the Curtain)

• What is the cable and where does it lead to? (Q: 1x09 - Solitary)
  • The cable leads to an underwater sonar beacon that is part of The Looking Glass. (A: 3x21 - Greatest Hits)
• What is Rousseau planning to do with the dynamite? (Q: 3x19 - The Brig)
  • Rousseau was collecting the dynamite for Jack. (A: 3x21 - Greatest Hits)
• What is it that Juliet wants Jack to tell Kate? (Q: 3x19 - The Brig)
  • Juliet wanted to tell Kate about Jack's plan to blow up the Others. (A: 3x21 - Greatest Hits)
• Where did Jack and Juliet go to after finding out about Naomi? (Q: 3x20 - The Man Behind the Curtain)
  • Jack and Juliet went to find Danielle Rousseau. (A: 3x21 - Greatest Hits)
• What has Jack decided to do? (Q: 3x20 - The Man Behind the Curtain)
  • Jack has decided to use the dynamite from the Black Rock to set up a trap for the Others. (A: 3x21 - Greatest Hits)

• What are the Others building? (Q: 3x02 - The Glass Ballerina)
  • The Others were (possibly) building a runway. (A: 3x22 - Through the Looking Glass)
• What is Room 23 for exactly? (Q: 3x07 - Not in Portland)
  • Room 23 is used for brainwashing. (A: 3x22 - Through the Looking Glass)
• Why was Karl being (apparently) brainwashed? (Q: 3x07 - Not in Portland)
  • Ben was trying to brainwash Karl so that he cannot get Alex pregnant. (A: 3x22 - Through the Looking Glass)
• Is Charlie going to die? (Q: 3x08 - Flashes Before Your Eyes)
  • Charlie dies. (A: 3x22 - Through the Looking Glass)
• Where and what is the "old place" Ben is leading the Others to? (Q: 3x19 - The Brig)
  • The "old place" is a temple. (A: 3x22 - Through the Looking Glass)
• What is the function of The Looking Glass, and why did Ben lie about its status? (Q: 3x21 - Greatest Hits)
  • Ben lied about The Looking Glass' status as he was trying to protect the island. (A: 3x22 - Through the Looking Glass)

Unanswered Mysteries

Season One

• What is the thing making strange noises and toppling trees in the jungle?
• What caused the radio malfunction?
• Why did the plane get lost on its way to Los Angeles?

• How did Jack find the caves? Was it luck or, as Locke suggested, did the island lead him there?
• If we assume the coffin Jack found was his father's, where was the body?

• Who are the two corpses in the caves?
• What is the significance of the black and white stones found on one of them?

• What exactly happened to Rousseau's science team?
• Who are the Others?
• Who or what is the whispering?

• Why did Rousseau write song lyrics on her notes?

• What's at the location on Rousseau's maps?

• What are the numbers - 4 8 15 16 23 42? Are they really cursed?
• Where is Danielle Rousseau's new shelter?

• Why does the column of black smoke appear when the others are coming?
• How did the Black Rock get so far inland?

Season Two

• If the hatch was, indeed, designed as part of a quarantine, why would the word "Quarantine" be written only on the inside of the hatch?
• What exactly is the effect of the medication Desmond is injecting himself with? Is it connected with the "sickness" that Rousseau mentioned?
• Why does the shark have a similar logo on its tail as the one present within the hatch bunker?

• What is the DHARMA Initiative?

• Who is the American woman Jae Lee is in love with?

• What exactly are the criteria the Others are using to choose the individuals they kidnap?
• What was the purpose of The Arrow?

• How would contact with the outside world compromise the integrity of the project and/or lead to another incident?
• Why were some of the missing frames for the Swan's orientation film hidden inside the Arrow on the other side of the island?
• How is Walt communicating with the computer in The Swan? Is it really Walt?
• Why is there a horse on the island? How did it get there?

• Why do images appear within the monster?
• Why did the monster not attack Eko?

• What is the significance of the hieroglyphic symbols when the timer reaches zero?

• What is the purpose of The Staff?
• Why do the Others apparently have costumes and make-up on when they are out in the jungle?

• Who dropped the rations onto the island?

• Why was Libby at the Santa Rosa hospital?

• Is Rose really healed?

• Henry says Goodwin thought Ana-Lucia was "worthy" and "could be changed". Worthy of what? Changed in what way?

• What exactly was Eko going to Los Angeles for?
• Is Malkin a fraud? Or was he lying to Eko?
• Why does Dr. Candle call himself Dr. Wickmund in the new orientation video?

• What tests are the Others making Walt do?
• What is "the room" that Miss Klugh threatens to put Walt back into?

• Why was Desmond sent to a military prison?
• Why is there a giant foot from a statue on the island? Why does it have only four toes?
• Will Michael and Walt be able to escape from the island and succeed where Desmond failed?
• How is the island apparently hidden?

---

Previous Season | Season Three Mysteries | Next Season