Mr. Eko’s Brutal Death in Lost Was Spoiled by a Single Throwaway Line

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Twenty years ago, the show returned after a six-week break with an episode focusing on Mr. Eko, a compelling character introduced in the second season. Eko, a kind and imposing man from the tail section of the plane, uncovered a surprising link to his past while on the island. A brief comment made during one of Eko’s early flashback scenes became central to his character and hinted at his tragic fate – being killed by the Smoke Monster.

Fans recently marked a milestone anniversary for Lost, but the show’s true 20th anniversary isn’t until 2025. The pilot episode was developed and filmed quickly by creators J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof, and when it became a huge success for ABC, they—along with Carlton Cuse, who later became a co-showrunner—found it challenging to plan the first season finale. It wasn’t until a break before Season 2 that they fully developed the island’s mysteries and the overall story arc. A major addition to that story was introducing new survivors from Oceanic Flight 815. Mr. Eko quickly became a favorite character, and his initial flashback episode established his internal conflict, though looking back, it unfortunately foreshadowed his tragic fate.

Mr. Eko Became the Most Interesting New Tail Section Characters in His Episode

After the tail section of the plane crashed, the survivors pursued Jin, who was in handcuffs and referred to them as “Others.” Mr. Eko was a particularly imposing figure in the early episodes of Season 2, largely because he remained silent. He was punishing himself for having killed two members of the Others, a confession he made to Ben Linus while pretending to be Henry Gale. The tenth episode of Season 2, titled “The 23rd Psalm,” finally revealed his history.

A Nigerian militia group raids a village, seeking valuables and children to force into becoming soldiers. They seize Eko’s younger brother, Yemi, and threaten to kill him unless he executes a man. To save Yemi’s life, Eko, who is also a child, carries out the horrific act. The militia leader, impressed by Eko’s willingness to kill, dubs him a “born killer.” The story then flashes back to show the brothers together later in life. Yemi finds peace as a priest, while Eko tragically fulfills the grim label the leader gave him.

It turns out the man known as the “born killer” had a direct link to the plane’s history. The Beechcraft aircraft, secretly carrying heroin hidden inside Virgin Mary statues and the bodies of deceased priests, was originally owned by Eko. Eko and his associates disguised themselves as priests to bypass travel restrictions, but they ultimately abandoned him. Sadly, Yemi was killed during a confrontation with the Nigerian military, who were trying to stop the drug operation. Following Yemi’s death, Eko impersonated his brother and took his place within the church.

Eko Being a ‘Born Killer’ Is a Distillation of His Character’s Conflict on the Island

Sometimes, simply surviving isn’t enough. Though the characters on the island weren’t dead, they hadn’t found a way to truly improve themselves or overcome their flaws. After Yemi died, Eko attempted to fully commit to becoming a priest, but it became clear he still struggled with violent tendencies, as shown in later episodes.

He unintentionally violated the sanctity of the church when a violent confrontation with criminals occurred within its walls. Though Eko had left behind his life as a ruthless gang leader known for impulsive killings, he continued to face life-or-death struggles both on and off the island.

Eko stood out as a deeply religious man, much like the island’s other spiritual leader, John Locke – except Eko genuinely lived the life Locke only pretended to. Before the island, Locke was an unhappy and unfulfilled man who fantasized about being a skilled hunter with a grand purpose.

Eko, who considered himself a hunter, committed his second murder using a knife – the same type of weapon Locke favored. Discovering his brother had also crashed on the island gave Eko a similar sense of wonder and strengthened his belief in the island’s power, just like Locke.

The show’s themes, inspired by the ideas of John Locke, went beyond the surface-level conflict between good and evil – represented by the characters Jacob and the Smoke Monster. This struggle also happened within each person on the island, and the island itself seemed to offer chances for them to make amends. For example, Eko’s journey in the episode “The 23rd Psalm” renewed his belief that he could be more than just someone who takes lives.

Before His Brutal Death, Mr. Eko Was Meant to Have a Big Role In Future Lost Seasons

Viewers first saw the Smoke Monster in the episode “The 23rd Psalm.” While traveling to Beechcraft, Eko confronted the monster, which seemed to read his memories. This monster could shapeshift into people from the past, and in “The Cost of Living,” it appeared to Eko as Yemi, requesting a confession. Eko refused to express remorse, believing his past actions weren’t sins, but simply what he needed to do to survive as a ruthless killer.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, the actor who played Eko, left ‘Lost’ because he wanted to return to London to be with his family. The show’s producers had originally planned a bigger story arc for his character, envisioning him as a key spiritual figure on the island. However, Lindelof and Cuse, the showrunners, only ever confirmed this potential storyline and later incorporated elements of it into the journeys of other characters, most notably John Locke, Ben Linus, and Desmond Hume. This is the widely accepted explanation among fans.

Instead of Locke, Smoky might have targeted Eko. By pretending to be Yemi, Smoky could have exploited Eko’s religious beliefs and led him down the wrong path. If Locke was always meant to die, Eko could have become the Monster’s follower, believing the island had brought him back to life. Given that Eko was already working through his past and seeking a higher purpose, this former killer, now a priest, might have been a more effective assassin for Jacob than Ben.

Eko’s Unrealized Storyline May Inform Why the Smoke Monster Killed Him

Although anything could happen on the island, the discovery of the hatch and Boone’s death created a turning point. Just as Locke was led astray by his need to feel important and find meaning, Eko had the potential to become a strong, guiding force. Locke’s vulnerabilities made him easily manipulated, while Eko remained confident and trusted his own judgment, even while believing in the island’s power.

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It’s unknown if Eko, similar to Walt or Desmond, had a special destiny. If he did, he would have posed a danger to the Smoke Monster’s scheme to control Locke and kill Jacob. However, Eko’s fearless confrontation with the Smoke Monster in “The 23rd Psalm” could just mean he fulfilled the verse’s famous line about facing death without fear. If that’s the case, the fact that he was destined for something greater might be exactly why the Smoke Monster eliminated him.

Although there were story-based reasons for Eko’s death, it remains disappointing. The character had a lot of promise, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje played him so well that fans really loved him. Despite his troubled past, Eko found a chance at redemption and peace while he was on the island.

The idea of purgatory suggests needing to atone for sins to progress, but Eko’s story revealed the island wasn’t about judgment. Instead, the characters found redemption by striving to become better people and learning to accept their own imperfections.

You can buy all six seasons of Lost on DVD and Blu-ray, or watch it digitally. It’s also currently streaming on Hulu, Disney+, and Netflix, but will only be available on Netflix until the end of 2025.

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2025-12-28 03:10