Ab Aeterno: The List

KEY MOMENTS

• Jacob visits Ilana and tells her that she has to protect the remaining six? candidates.
  
• Richard ends up on the Black Rock after he’s been “bought” by Magnus Hanso who finds him in prison for accidentally killing a doctor.
• The Black Rock crashes on the Island (thanks to Jacob) and there are no survivors, save for Richard (thanks to the MIB).
• Richard has to choose a side; he picks Jacob who then makes him his “advisor” and ageless.
• Isabella communicates to Richard through Hurley and says that he must stop the MIB or they’ll “all go to hell.”  

WTF

• Jacob physically attacking Richard on the beach.
• Richard is ageless because he asked Jacob to make him so.
• The speech and dagger that the MIB gives Richard to kill Jacob?  Same speech & dagger Dogen gave Sayid to kill the MIB.

MEMORABLE QUOTES
Man in Black: It’s good to see you out of those chains

Jacob: I want them to help themselves, to know the difference between right and wrong without me having to tell them. It’s all meaningless if I have to force them to do anything. Why should I have to step in?

Jacob: The cork is this island. And it’s the only thing keeping the darkness where it belongs.”

Richard: Does the offer still stand?
Hurley: What offer, Dude?

Hurley: She says your English is awesome.

ANSWERED QUESTIONS (See original list)
1.  Who and/or what are the man in black and Jacob?  And what is the nature of their relationship?
According to MIB: Jacob stole his body and his humanity.  MIB has been trying to kill Jacob for at least 150 years, in order to leave the island.

According to Jacob: He says that the island acts as a prison for the MIB because if set free, his “evil” will spread.  The MIB believes that everyone is inherently evil and corrupt but Jacob believes otherwise so he brings people to the Island to prove him wrong.  He wants people to know right from wrong on their own.  

9.  What is the deal with Richard Alpert?
He was brought to the Island by Jacob (via the Black Rock) and becomes his representative.  He never ages because that is what he asked of Jacob in return for accepting “the job”. (So that he will never go to Hell, since Jacob could not keep him from going to Hell when he dies)  He feels/felt responsible to his wife’s death because he was unable to bring her life-saving medicine in time.

13.  What brought the Others/Hostiles to the island?
I think it’s safe to say that Jacob brought them to the island.

20.  Why was Rousseau and her crew brought to the island? (Note: Assuming all people are “brought” to the island)
See above.

21.  Why was anyone brought to the island? 
To (unknowingly) participate in Jacob and the MIB’s game/war.