I have a theory…
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Nowhere Man
HeisenbergsLastStand — 16 years ago(February 03, 2010 09:06 PM)
Granted, there are many theories on this board, this one is SLIGHTLY different. I've been reading info on this whole "Manchurian Candidate" concept, and I think this is what Thomas Veil was training to be. I know people have said similar things, but anyways
From what I've read/watched, there was a torture/brainwashing trial to see if the person is that sort of material. In this show, they psychologically tortured/brainwashed him. First with the "supposed" life that turns out to be false, and then with the negatives. They wanted to break him to the point of him either sticking to who he really was, or his alter ego, or die (from exhaustion, heart attack, hit put out on him for failing, etc). Maybe he wasn't meant to be the type of agent who kills, but one to create chaos, disarray, and to keep the Organizations operatives at the top of their game. Also, I personally believe that the "glass shattering" that we hear throughout the show was a way to trigger him to complete certain tasks. The whole hypnosis thing in the second to last episode proves that this whole concept was in mind because how the telephone call triggered those people to either kill, or to wound.
Tom as shown in episodes by snooping (taking "photos" in the "jungle", spying on various persons of interest, taking documents, etc) has proven to be more of a spy and intelligence gatherer than an assassin.
"Every time there is a bang, the world's a wanker short." -Billy Connolly -
Burklayton — 16 years ago(March 14, 2010 05:38 AM)
This theory makes perfect sense to me. It even conflicts minimally with the creator's and writers' intention to make the show a philosophical exploration first and an empirical mystery second. Even the seemingly tangential trials such as Emily Noonan seem to be a sign that this training and conditioning was working he was seeking out conflict and upsetting the established order even when unharassed by Them.
Scott Jordan is another good example. Think of that in the terms of trying to condition someone through interpersonal skills alone into your line of thinking. It worked, enough for Jordan to become an asset for exactly as long as he needed him. Then, he ends up incidentally discarding Jordan in a fashion that completely incapacitates everything him from putting what he knows to use in a fashion that won't make any headlines other than the Weekly World News. In the course of investigating Them, he even uproots probably the only man on Capitol Hill that would both believe in this Organization and do anything to stop them, in addition to one of the few lawmen who would fit the same parameters and be able to aid in such efforts!
Hell, New Phoenix? Do I even need to elaborate!? You could make a sound argument that these subversions were his mission all along, but that'd be too much conjecture, while what you've put down is truly worthwhile.
Thanks much! Not only is this a fantastic theory that connects all the dots, it ties together
so
well that it actually transforms the show's final moments from a season one cliffhanging into a proper ending.
Wow, this topic made my day. Time to rewatch! -
Owlwise — 15 years ago(July 22, 2010 12:11 PM)
While that's ultimately not my own take on it, it's still a perfectly plausible, thought-provoking theory. In all honesty, I can't rule it out, either. The beauty of this show, particularly with that final episode, is that it lends itself to quite a few different interpretations; and some of those can easily overlap.