LOST may be known as a show about tropical polar bears, killer smoke, and mysterious islands with super healing powers, but above all it is a story about people - people motivated by love, hate, revenge, and factors that we would probably never think of.
To get you familiar with LOST's ensemble of characters, we've selected the eleven key players and groups and given you the need-to-know on all of them.
Ben Linus (Played by Michael Emerson) is one of LOST's most ambiguous characters. A known mass murderer - he killed the entire Dharma initiative with poisonous gas - Ben's real purpose on the island is an unknown. Brought to the island by his father who was a janitor for the Dharma Initiative, Ben grew to become leader of The Others. Claiming to be in contact with Jacob, a deity like figure to the others, Ben has behaved both as sworn protector of the island, and a guy in it for himself.
Seemingly, Ben may have redeemed himself in the fourth season by protecting the island. Off the island, though, he is still up to his old tricks after co-opting Sayid as his personal hit man. Ben approaches Jack in his time of need, claiming Jack needs to return to the island to set things straight - but is Ben just using the Oceanic 6 to get what he wants?
