Henry Gale Was Sent to Find the Island
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By karmavore
- Henry Gale Was Sent to Find the Island
- Created: Aug 16, 2007
- Last updated: Aug 19, 2008
- After episode: 3.22: Through The Looking Glass
- Status: Current
- Flag this theory:
…race around the world…
— karmavore
In “Lockdown”, we see that one of the labels on Henry Gale’s balloon is “Widmore Labs”. Thus far, this has been explained as simple synchronicity, but I believe this is an important clue.
Charles Widmore and his company are looking for the Island. One means by which they attempt this is by sponsoring “races around the world” which take them on a path near the “entrance(s)” (however you wish to interpret that) to the Island world. Widmore can track competitors with GPS and the like, and when they blip out of existence, their last known coordinates can provide a vital clue. Of course, this is also how Desmond arrived.
Once these clues were uncovered, a freighter could wait offshore, and send helicopter sorties to scour the area. The Widmore Corporation has been getting closer and closer to finding the Island, and the Losties finally helped them succeed.
Unlike Desmond, Henry crashed where the Others found him. Like the pilot, Henry tried to radio for help, but found the signal blocked. Henry died in a fight when Ben or his proxy refused to assist his departure.
Some possible permutations of this theory:
-> Henry knew exactly what he was doing, and the note to Jenny included a coded message for Widmore. (“I owe you a beer,” perhaps?)
-> Henry assimiliated into the others, died in their care, and was buried out by his balloon. (No seaside funeral for him.)
-> Henry never saw anybody, as he was quickly killed by Smokie, and buried by a sympathetic Other.
-> Henry is the reason the Others know how dangerous Naomi is.
Some questions I can’t explain: If no one knows where the Island is, how are they getting food and appliance drops? Did the 815 pilot also act as an agent of Widmore?
Key characters
| Short Name | Full Name | Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles | Charles Widmore | 361 | |
| Naomi | Naomi Dorrit | 171 |
Key episodes
| # | Title | Aired | Central character | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.22 | Through The Looking Glass | 5-23-2007 | Jack | 1241 |
| 2.18 | Dave | 4-5-2006 | Hurley | 124 |
| 2.17 | Lockdown | 3-29-2006 | John | 129 |
Key events
| Theme | Relevant Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|
| Ana-Lucia, Sayid, and Charlie search for Henry Gale’s balloon | 2.16 | 74 |
| Libby Gives Desmond A Boat | 127 | |
| Oceanic Flight 815 pilot is killed | 1.1 | 97 |
Key locations
| Theme | Relevant Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|
| Heny Gale’s Balloon | 2.17, 2.16, 2.14 | 125 |
Karmavore…Great theory.
I hadnt thought through the idea of Henry being with Widmore.
I would say the Others killed him as a threat. Good question about the food drops etc. But theres likely more than two factions. It just means Widmore cant find the island.
Interesting idea. Hmm…
that’s a cool connection—I’m especially liking options 1 & 4 above. Think I might go check out the note contents.
+1 What an interesting first theory!! And welcome aboard.
I have to say that a lot of the time when I read a theory, I think to myself “Yeah, I wondered about that too”. But I can honestly say I never gave a second thought to Henry Gale and he may be an important clue!!!
Congratulations!!
“I owe you a beer” = Iowa be our eye!!!!!!
Kate=Iowa?
very very interesting! +1 for you!
I don’t know how I feel about Ben With Widmore but I think Henry could have been wrapped up with Widmore. The logo shows that Widmore was involved one way or another. Whether the were directly looking or indirectly, they seem to have fallen upon the Islands location through both Henry as well as Desmond.
Wow! Like these ideas very much. I too will have to back and take another look at his note. I agree; Widmore sent him, and Ben probably found and killed him.
Excellent post. +1
great theory, great comments, I like the ideat that Widmor is looking, but DI already knows. Perhaps we are seeing the set up for the final battle. But if Widmor is anti dharma and Ben is anti Dharma, why wouldn’t they get along? Yo u know that whole the enemy of my enemy is my friend idea.
It seems the authors said that Henry Gale & Ben had “words”. So that means that Henry Gale DID encounter the Others. Probably killed by Ben.
This is an awesome theory. Very well done my friend.
I agree, with all of the comments here. This is a brilliant theory! Great job! As, per the writers Podcast from Comic Con, we find out that Ben and Henry Gale, did meet. I am wondering if it was Ben who killed him! Another piece of the puzzle solved! +1
Great post and awesome thoughts!!! I love it!! +1
Your theory helped spawn one of my own… http://lost-theories.com/theories/2007/aug/17/ben-dharma-widmore-oh-my/
I think this makes a lot of sense. Of all the logos the writer’s could have chosen to put on the balloon, Widmore is not one of the ones I would have expected. After all, they are not a balloon company. Therefor, its use is significant. In fact, to me, extremely conspicuous.
Great catch! +1. Not a bad score for a 1st theory!
@Dab: Ben killing Henry is perfectly logical - assuming Henry had no way to send out a distress signal. But how would Ben be able to prevent a GPS transponder? Unless the island’s jamming capabilities block GPS as well…
Stip,
GPS uses radio signals from satellites so if the radio jammer jams the frequency that the satellites transmit on then GPS wouldn’t work around the island. Given that it seems that no radios have worked up to Charlie turning off the jammer, I would suppose that the jammer was pretty broadband and jammed everything.
+1 I really like it! But it also raises questions on Pen. Is she working for her Dad (set up Des so he would go on the race) or against her Dad (using his money and resources to find Des against his wishes)?
KB:
As Penny is my favorite non-bald character in the show, I hope to precious that she’s working against her dad. If I had to proffer a guess, I would say that she doesn’t realize that her father is trying to find the island, in the same way she doesn’t seem to realize that her father was hiding all of Des’ letters.
Really intersting… i would love it if you kept going!
Love it! #4 seems like a great explanation to me. I’d wondered if Henry Gale might have held more significance than just serving as Ben’s cover.
WOW. that is such a great theory. I never thought of that but now you bring it up it really makes ALOT of sense. KEEP GOING! :]
I think this theory is great, it makes perfect sense. Charles Widmore and Ben must have some connection or reason why there are people after him.
I didn’t think this was even a theory! lol it seems quite probable that Henry and Desmond were both sent (in)directly by Widmore to try to find the island.
Why would Henry warn the others about Naomi, if he did indeed know about her? If they knew each other, they would have been on the same side, probably, so unless Ben tortured Henry, he shouldn’t have wanted to reveal that information. Then again of course Ben is a master manipulator and if anyone could get that info, it’s him.
Great idea. +1
yes the pilot is Widmore’s! he gets kill right away when he is discovered by Jack and Kate in the pilot episode… he’s a threat! the island knows! it should have been the other pilot who is (Lapidus) really important in the show…
new to Lost and the site… be easy on me! Just wanted to mention that when I heard Henry Gale’s name, I immediately thought of the Wizard of Oz. Dorothy Gale was living with her Aunty Em and Uncle Henry….. (thus Henry Gale)… other than the fact that Dorothy herself ended up in a strange new land (not quite like home) but the Wizard had ended up in Oz via hot air balloon and thought he could get Dorothy back the same way. Interesting!! (Don’t know what it means, but I thought it was a neat litte parellel there.)