Quote:
Originally Posted by TevaZ013
I think in the commentary of this episode the writers said that the situation refects the story of the Dali Lama and the Panchen Lama. The Dali Lama assigns a Panchen to find his reincarnate when he dies. The new Dali then assigns a new Panchen. Now where everyone falls in this equation is beyond me. Jacob= Dali Ben= Panchen? So is Walt= new Dali? Locke the new panchen? And what about Richard?
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Dude...
Lostpedia: In the Season 3 DVD commentary for "The Man from Tallahassee", Richard Alpert is described as someone who is not interested in leading the Others but is very influential in finding and selecting a leader. In the commentary for Man Behind the Curtain, he is described as being similar to a Panchen Lama choosing the next Dalai Lama. He and Ben keep each other in "check" by having the power to pick/veto each other's replacement on the Island. Ben's role would be to pick the next Panchen, should the need arise. This keeps the two in a sort of balanced power relationship. They are allies, yet they have some measure of control over the other should one get out of hand.