Classic Moment: 'Lost's Coffin Revelation

Relive the recent stunning revelation during the last scene of Lost's fourth season finale, set in a funeral parlour and solving one of the show's greatest mysteries.

The Context

So who was in the coffin that Jack visited during a flashforward in the third season finale of Lost? The big cheeses that run the show waited an entire year before allowing us a glimpse inside, even filming alternate endings with the bodies of Desmond and Sawyer in a bid to throw us off the scent.

The Moment

A bearded, downtrodden Jack breaks into a funeral parlour under the shadow of darkness. He staggers around and picks up a body release form for a person called Jeremy Bentham - the same figure that has been approaching members of the Oceanic Six since their return from the island.

Jack opens the coffin and gazes at the unseen occupant, only for Ben Linus to appear behind him. Jack says that Bentham visited him a month ago and claimed that "very bad things" have happened on the island since he left and that it was his fault and he must come back. Linus says that everyone who left the island must go back.

Linus then tells Jack that the corpse must return too, prompting Jack to cast a mournful look at the coffin. The camera then slowly reveals the true identity of the suited occupant of the coffin - John Locke.

The Aftermath

Only time will tell. Just how did Locke come to masquerade under the guise of Jeremy Bentham? Did he lose his ability to walk once he left the island, and how has he died? We all know that death doesn't necessarily spell the end for an island incumbent though - just witness the mysterious resurrection of Christian Shephard. We do know this though - Jack must somehow get Locke's body and the entire Oceanic Six back on the island, should he follow the gospel of Benjamin Linus.