The seemingly ageless Richard Alpert has been slowly increasing his presence throughout the show's run.  Although, he didn't really show up until the middle of season three (Ben sends him off-island to get Locke's dad)

So what is up with Richard?  He was around in the 1950's and 60's.  He visited John Locke right after he was born and again when he was 5.  He was around in the 1970's.  He was one of the leaders of a group opposed to the Dharma Initiative.  He took a young injured Ben to be healed in the Temple.  He recruited Juliette in 2001.  And of course, he's in 2008, leading Locke to a fateful meeting with Jacob.  Yet, he looks exactly the same throughout this 60 year span.

When asked by Locke why he never ages, Richard replied he was like that because of Jacob.  As Jacob and the Man in Black sat on a beach, probably in the late 1800's, a ship (The Black Rock?) is seen heading towards the island.  Was Richard on that ship?  Earlier in season five, Richard is seen working on a "ship in a bottle" model that looked at like the Black Rock.  Is Richard homesick?  Did Jacob make him ageless to act as an information conduit?  Ben never talked to Jacob directly  (until the end); he received all of Jacob's instructions through Richard.

What's Your Theory?

Leave your thoughts below.