One of the biggest twists in Lost was when the mysterious Henry Gale turned out to be Ben Linus, leader of the island’s Others. However, perhaps only with the aid of hindsight, the show foreshadowed this big reveal from the moment the character appeared on-screen. What makes this even more impressive is the knowledge that Michael Emerson wasn’t necessarily supposed to be as important a character at first.

While much of Lost was planned since the pilot, the writers were not afraid to change course or wait to define specific mysteries. The importance of “Henry Gale” was one such audible. The producers liked Emerson’s performance so much they decided to keep him in the series. Still, from the moment the character appeared on-screen, there were signs he was much more important to the story than he seemed. Ben Linus was one of Lost‘s most incredible characters, and the seeds for his nefarious journey, complete with redemption, were planted from his earliest scenes in Season 2. It’s a testament to the clever way the series was crafted that Henry Gale’s true identity was teased even before the storytellers were entirely sure of it themselves.

10

Danielle Rousseau Insisted That Henry Gale Was an ‘Other’

Lost Later Revealed Ben Stole Her Child From Her

The longest tenured castaway on the island, Danielle Rousseau, laid traps on the island to capture people wandering in the jungle. When she finds Sayid near the end of Season 2, she tells him that she was able to capture “one of them.” Obviously, as one of the Others, Ben allowed himself to be caught in the trap. Still, he likely didn’t account for Danielle sending a crossbow bolt through his shoulder as he pretended to run away.

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By this point in the series, the audience believed Danielle was truly mentally compromised by her 16 years of isolation on the island. Like Sayid, they took her word with a grain of salt. However, her calm certainty about Henry Gale’s identity as one of the Others was a clue. In the past she’d been somewhat frantic in her statements and questions. That wasn’t the case here. In fact, Season 6 further underscored her certainty because it was Ben who took Alex as a baby from Danielle.

9

Claire’s Memories About Being Kidnapped and Mr. Eko’s Confession

These Events Foreshadowed the Sinister Trickery of the Others, like Henry Gale

The first appearance of the Others in Lost came in Season 1, but it was really just “the Other.” Ethan Rom posed as one of the castaways until he captured Claire Littleton, disappearing with her for days. She eventually returned (freed by Danielle), and this episode revealed what happened during her time away. While Claire tries to find medicine for Aaron, who is sick, she, Rousseau and Kate Austen discover another “hatch.” In it they find a fake beard and tattered costumes, suggesting the Others aren’t as rustic as they’ve appeared thus far.

This revelation implies that the Others often play roles to achieve their aims, just like Ben is doing as Henry Gale. Also in that episode, Mr. Eko confronts Henry Gale to absolve himself of killing two of the Others after the crash. He snips off two strands of his beard representing the people he killed. Given Mr. Eko’s awareness of the larger island powers and mysteries, it seems he knows that Henry Gale is more than just another “Other.” Even if subconsciously, seeking absolution from Ben is a hint to the character’s larger role in the group.

8

The Comfortable Way Henry Gale Manipulated John Locke and Jack Shephard

From Talking About an Ambush to Asking ‘Got Any Milk?’ Ben Linus Was In Control

While the feud between Jack and Locke grew more heated with time, the seeds of it were planted in Season 2 by Henry Gale. As the two castaways worked together in the hatch, pushing the button, they argued about what to do with their prisoner. Jack wanted to keep Henry’s presence quiet, while Locke was leaning towards letting him go. In future episodes, this dynamic continues with Ben asking Locke why he “lets” Jack boss him around, causing Locke to angrily toss him into this cell.

“[The writers were open to evolution] like with Michael Emerson’s character, he was booked for three episodes. And the moment he said, ‘Got any milk?’ Damon and Carlton called me and said, ‘We’ve got to keep him! He’s a genius!” — Jack Bender in the documentary Getting Lost.

It also is retroactively significant about Ben’s role on the island, constantly pitting Locke and Jack against each other. Another telling scene comes at the end of the episode when he “imagines” what he would do if he really was an Other, specifically setting up an ambush for Sayid, Ana Lucia and Charlie who traveled to where Henry Gale’s balloon crashed on the island. Yet, the end of the next episode revealed that Sayid (still certain Ben was lying) dug up the real Henry Gale’s grave.

7

Lost Retroactively Revealed Ben Linus Knew to Push the Button

The Purpose of the Swan Was Privileged Information

Before Sayid, Charlie and Ana Lucia return from their trek, the Swan station goes into lockdown because of a Dharma Initiative food drop flying over the island. While in the hatch, Locke ends up being pinned by the door, injuring his leg. Not only does this play on the theme of Locke’s ability to walk being tied to his “faith” in the island, it gives a subtle sign that Henry Gale is more than the average Other. Rather than escaping or trying to harm Locke, he actually helps him. This is because, as Jack later points out, Ben thought his story would check out.

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When Locke tells Henry how to push the button, the audience is left to wonder whether he really does it or not. In hindsight it’s clear that not only does Ben know what to do, he understands the importance of this station. He also knew that the timer showed hieroglyphics when it ran past the 108 seconds. The Dharma Initiative treated the Swan as privileged information, even setting up a fake station to suggest to others it was a psychological experiment. Given that Ben knows how to enter the numbers and the importance of doing so, this is a retroactive clue that he’s more than meets the eye.

6

Ben Telling Sayid the Man They Think Is the Leader is ‘Nothing’

His Later Praise of the Leader Was Also a Sign of His Identity

While interrogating him, Sayid actually almost kills Ben in anger. Before that, they talk about the man they think is the leader. Up until this point, the castaways only dealt with Tom Friendly, wearing a fake beard. When he mentions him to Ben as the leader, the phony Henry Gale scoffs, saying Tom is “nothing.” After Ana Lucia saves him at the last second, Ben has a curious reaction while alone. He’s relieved to be alive, but he also appears a little satisfied, too. His continued revelations about the leader are further clues to the twist that Ben is actually the man in charge.

“The Man in Charge is a great man, a brilliant man, but he’s not a forgiving man.” — Ben talking about himself to Locke in Lost Season 2, Episode 20, “Two for the Road”

In a brief scene at the start of an episode focused on Rose and Bernard’s backstory, viewers’ understanding of the Others’ hierarchy changes. Jack tells Ben he’s going to the “line [they] aren’t supposed to cross” to arrange a deal with the group. They will trade the kidnapped Walt Lloyd for Henry, which Ben says the group would never allow. He knows this because, as the leader, he’d never allow that of his own accord. Later in the finale, when Michael leaves the island, he expresses disappointment in letting Walt go but they “got more than we bargained for.”

5

Ben Linus Toying With Locke About Pushing the Button in ‘Lockdown’

He Knew Everything About the Swan, and How to Break Locke’s Spirit

In this episode, Ana Lucia keeps a close watch on Ben, but she’s unarmed after giving her gun to Jack. She is reluctant to open the door to the cell. Locke screams at him through the closed door, pounding on it demanding to know if Henry actually pushed the button. The viewers see Ben’s reaction, a sinister smile that shows what a master manipulator he is. If he was just any other

“Other,” he’d likely not be as confident in his ploy to sow discord among the survivors.

This is perhaps the clue to the big twist about Ben Linus’s identity that’s most obvious only retroactively. At this point, the viewers know next to nothing about the Others and their way of life on the island. Still, this scene establishes that Ben is right where he wants to be and has a much larger plan for being captured by the castaways.

4

Ben Telling Locke He Came to the Castaways’ Camp Because He Was ‘Important’

This Is the Kind of Thing Only a Leader Would Know

One thing Ben likely didn’t know was why John Locke was so important. Still, he knew the character had a destiny on the island, and he used this to manipulate John after trying to kill Ana Lucia. He tells Locke that he’s “one of the good” people on the island, and that Ben’s mission was to get John and bring him back to the Others’ camp. This is, of course, a lie, but it plays into Locke’s sense of purpose.

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Despite Locke explaining it in the pilot, both the audience and the characters seem unaware of the larger conflict at play. At this point, Ben is just worried about his grip on power and control of the island. By telling Locke that he is important, Ben made sure his chief rival for leadership would be wholly dependent on him, and it would allow him to eventually kill Locke.

3

Ben Linus Taunted Ana Lucia by Telling Her Goodwin Died Making a Case for Her

He Wouldn’t Know This Unless He Was In a Position of Power

During “The Other 48 Days,” audiences got to know Goodwin, who posed as a castaway for the Tail Section survivors. Ana Lucia’s journey on Lost was one full of self-doubt, and she proved to make a number of wrong choices. She unintentionally killed Shannon, but she purposefully murdered people both on and off the island. Still, Ben’s anger at her for killing his people went beyond just mere fellowship, and it was a clue he felt some kind of responsibility for them.

• The episode’s title was mentioned in a deleted flashback scene where Christian Shephard says having “two for the road” was “good luck.”
• Some believe the title is also a derisive nod to actors Michelle Rodridguez and Cynthia Watros being arrested for drunk driving.

When Michael kills Ana Lucia and Libby, it was one of Lost‘s most shocking deaths. That such an elaborate measure was taken to get Ben is another clue that he is important to the Others. Yet, even though Ana Lucia was perhaps the kindest castaway to him, he still wanted to take revenge on her. Ironically, she overcame her murderous impulses, unable to murder the man she knew as Henry Gale despite his vicious attack.

2

In Michael’s Flashback With the Others, Walt Said They Were ‘Pretending’

This Was a Sign That Nothing About The Group Was Truthful

Despite never really being paid off, it was clear that Walt was special to the Others because of his gifts. While Michael is held captive by the natives, he gets to see his son for three minutes, though the visit is cut short. This is because Walt tells Michael they are “pretending” to be rustic and living hard. This was all a deception to convince Michael they weren’t as powerful as they were.

Despite the way Tom Friendly and Beatrice Klugh treat Michael, it’s clear they aren’t in charge. That no actual leader presents themselves is a subtle indicator their leader is back at the hatch. Everyone in that group is following orders, but no one is actually giving them.

1

Beatrice Klugh Making a Deal With Michael to Rescue Ben from the Hatch

They Weren’t ‘Allowed’ to Rescue Him, Likely on Orders from Ben Himself

The clearest sign that Ben was important to the Others and in a leadership role was when Ms. Klugh asks Michael to rescue him. The viewers already knew from Ben that Walt was too special to give up. When Michael tells them to just rescue Ben themselves, Ms. Klugh says they can’t. This is because they were under orders not to do so.

In the Season 2 finale, Ben is clearly upset with “the arrangement” they made to secure his freedom. Once it is revealed that he’s the leader of this odd group of indigenous island protectors, the clues from the past episodes fall into place. While maybe missed until a viewer’s first rewatch, it’s clear that from the beginning Henry Gale was an incredibly important person to the island.

The Complete Lost is available to own on DVD, Blu-ray, digital and streams on Hulu, Disney+ and Netflix.