Michael and Walt have been on the Freighter since the end of season two
+6 20 Votes
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By Veefre
- Michael and Walt have been on the Freighter since the end of season two
- Created: Mar 20, 2008
- Last updated: Aug 14, 2008
- After episode: 2.23: Live Together, Die Alone
- Status: Current
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But the bottom line is that Ben didn’t really want to let Walt go, and having Walt 80 miles offshore on a freighter was the next best thing to having him in custody on the Island.
— Veefre
When Ben tells Michael what course to take off the island in the little boat, he says something in addition to “compass bearing 325”.
Ben also says that if Michael sticks to that heading, “you will find rescue”.
So, the theory is that the freighter was already waiting off the Island, Ben knew exactly where it was, and he knew that Michael and Walt would find it as a form of “rescue”. So they’ve been waiting there for weeks, since the end of season two. When they reached the freighter, Michael assumed the name Kevin Johnson, taking the lowest crew position, and Walt is either stowed away below decks or Michael brought him aboard openly as his son.
Meanwhile Walt’s powers are playing havoc with the freighter, sabotaging the engines, communications, and even the kitchen refrigeration.
Remember that the little boat that Ben gave Michael was only good for a hundred miles or so. Enough to get to the freighter and that’s about it. Had Ben really wanted to let Michael (and Walt) go he would have summoned the sub which could have taken them to the USA in safety. But the bottom line is that Ben didn’t really want to let Walt go, and having Walt 80 miles offshore on a freighter was the next best thing to having him in custody on the Island.
Key characters
| Short Name | Full Name | Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael | Michael Dawson | 2.22, 1.14, 4.8 | 301 |
| Walt | Walter “Walt” Lloyd | 2.2, 1.14 | 350 |
Key episodes
| # | Title | Aired | Central character | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.23 | Live Together, Die Alone | 5-24-2006 | Desmond | 323 |
Key events
| Theme | Relevant Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|
| Jack, Kate, and Sawyer captured | 2.23, 3.1 | 204 |
| Michael and Walt released | 2.23 | 290 |
| Michael captured | 2.22 | 115 |
| Michael returns | 2.19 | 161 |
| Michael shoots Ana-Lucia and Libby | 2.20 | 121 |
Key locations
| Theme | Relevant Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|
| Pala Ferry Pier | 2.21, 2.23, 3.2 | 160 |
Ive read some far more interesting and out there theories to explain micheal and walt. But i like this one its simple to the point and still would allow their stories to go somewhere.
Good work. +1
Yes. You are so right. I myself have proposed this oftentimes before. I love the addition of Walt’s powers being responsbile for the sabotage of the equipment!
+1
I absolutely agree that Michael and Walt were led directly to the freighter which I also stated in my theory “the freighter,is it Bens?” But Walt being on the boat with his “abilities” messng things up in an excellent theory. Still gong on the assumption that Ben may be in cahoots with the captain,maybe Walt doesn’t want to be part of his plan and thats why he’s locked away down below to keep control over him.+1 :)
I don’t believe that Walt is on the boat. He is either back on the island or somewhere else — maybe in the spaceship hovering over the island…
So do you think that they sunk the boat that Michael and Walt were on or do you think the captain has it hidden in plain sight?
+1. I like this theory. My only question is why would Michaels feel compelled to lie about his name? Also I think the people on the freighter would know that the little boat that “Kevin” was on was not an open water vessel, so it makes me wonder what kind of cover stroy he would give that they would believe? (unless it is Ben’s boat) You are right, if Ben really wanted to let them go he would have used the Sub.
My apology to anyone who has already proposed that Michael and Walt made a beeline for the freighter. Sometimes there are just too many theories to read to catch all the ideas that have gone before.
In any case, I don’t think that Ben necessarily has to be in control of the freighter for any of this to work. For Ben, knowledge is power. For Ben to know that the freighter is there, and that he has a “man” on board, may be more than enough.
I keep going back to Ben’s words (or words to the effect) to Michael as they got on the little boat: “I’m not real happy about the bargain we made, but a deal’s a deal, and you upheld your end. On the other hand, we got more than we bargained for with Walt so maybe this is all for the best. Stay on course bearing 325 and you will find rescue.”
What is important is what Ben didn’t say: “I know there is a freighter lying just offshore within reach of this crappy little cabin cruiser. Having you and Walt on board that freighter serves multiple purposes for me: it fulfills my end of the bargain, it gets Walt and his disruptive and scary powers off the Island for a while, but it keeps him close by so we don’t lose him entirely, and it puts someone on the freighter in a position to disrupt whatever it is they are trying to do against me or my interests.”
I think Michael takes an assumed name because of his shame over what he did to Libby and Ana Lucia. He’s trying to deny he ever was on the island - if he uses his real name, then all the Captain has to do is consult the flight 815 manifest to know exactly who he is, and sooner or later Michael’s murders will come to light. They may come to light anyway, but this is an attempt to avoid that.
“My only question is why would Michaels feel compelled to lie about his name”
To answear ur question Sandam, he may have changed his name, because they were questioning him about the Island, and in order to protect his son and himself changed his name as well as changing Walts name for him. Or……..he always wanted to be a Kevin Johnson..who knows = )
+1 Veefre
Veefre: I believe Michael is physically dismantling the equipment on “the freighter”, not Walt. Wouldn’t someone have noticed a child on the boat, if he were there? I would think so, unless Walt has become invisible.
Also, Michael opened the door for Sayid and Des., and slipped the note under the door for them, telling them not to trust the Captain.
IMO, no proof has been shown or given, Walt is on “the freighter” and not on “the island”, and/or somewhere else, perhaps dead even.
Sorry, I can’t get on board with this one. As always it is well written.
This is broadly in line with my own theory that Walt is on board the freighter and is responsible for the cabin fever.
http://lost-theories.com/theories/2008/mar/19/walt-responsible-so-called-cab/
“On the other hand, we got more than we bargained for with Walt so maybe this is all for the best.”
Thanks for digging this quote out. Looks like the Captain got WAY more than he bargained for!
+1 from me too.
+1 for an interesting different theory about Walt’s powers disrupting the ship. Nice! I think your theory is definitely believable. However, I read a theory the other day about Walt that knocked my socks off. Sorry to post another post in your post…haha. But this is worth a read (IMO) for those who havent seen it:
http://lost-theories.com/theories/2008/mar/19/bens-hold-michael/
It is truly an interesting theory. But I like your idea of Walt being on the boat and causing the malfunctions. I originally thought Walt was a stowaway on the boat and it was he who was tapping on the pipes and possibly who wrote the note. Now I am not so sure, haha!
I think Michael would have a difficult job explaining what he was doing out in the middle of the ocean to The Freighties.
“Did you come from an Island?” Captain Gault would ask.
Michael - with a full beard and mad hair and ragged clothing, remarks: “Nope!”
“Where did you come from then?” comes the next question, to which Michael would struggle to answer.
And when we see him on The Freighter he’s all clean-shaven and with a fresh haircut. I’d say he’s been somewhere else before he got onboard.
“I think Michael would have a difficult job explaining what he was doing out in the middle of the ocean to The Freighties.”
I’m sure Ben could’ve provided him with a plausible cover story?
To me it’s the most likely explanation for him being on the freighter. He stumbles across the freighter in the small boat and claims to have lost his bearings / run low on fuel / got caught up in a storm whilst out on a fishing trip with his son.
The plausibility of this story hinges on how remote the island location is from the mainland or other islands I guess.
A boat of that size could have a pretty decent range assuming a couple of drums of extra fuel where carried on board.
Not sure that it matters if the Captain suspects, or knows, that Michael and Walt are from the Island. Like it was said, he could claim he was shipwrecked, or he could state most of the truth and say he and Walt narrowly escaped from the Others and needed to be rescued. Perhaps he gained the Captain’s trust, somehow. Or just maybe the Captain is in cahoots with Ben anyway, and the Captain’s word is law on the ship.
I agree, Veefre - Capt is in cahoots with ben.
I agree with your point about Walt damaging the equipment; you also may be right about the Captain being in cahoots with Ben, though I’m not so sure about that one.
Guess not. ;-)