{{short description|Fictional character of the TV series Lost}} {{Infobox character | name = Christian Shephard<!--Page title--> | series = Lost | image = 250px | caption = John Terry as Christian Shephard | alt = A picture of John Terry, a man who is approximately 54 years old, playing Christian Shephard. | first = "Walkabout" | last = "The End" | portrayer = John Terry | full_name = Dr. Christian Shephard | occupation = Chief of surgery | lbl21 = Former<br>residence | data21 = California, United States | spouse = Margo Shephard | relatives = Aaron Littleton (grandson) | children = Jack Shephard<br>Claire Littleton | creator = {{Plainlist| * J. J. Abrams * Damon Lindelof }} | gender = Male | species = Human | nationality = American }} '''Dr. Christian Shephard''' is a fictional character on the ABC television series ''Lost'' played by John Terry. He is the father of lead characters Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox), who becomes the de facto leader of the survivors of Oceanic 815 after it crashes on an island, and Claire Littleton (Emilie de Ravin), another of the survivors on the Island. Christian died of an alcohol-induced heart attack days before the flight, leading to much of his story being told through flashbacks. In the fourth season and fifth season he is again featured on the Island several times, seemingly acting as a messenger for the leader of the Others, Jacob (Mark Pellegrino). In the sixth season, the Man in Black (Titus Welliver/Terry O'Quinn) admitted that he had "impersonated" Christian during the first week after the crash of Flight 815.
Christian is introduced in the fourth episode of the series, and goes on to feature in thirteen more, including a pivotal scene in the series finale, as well as two webisodes. He is an example of two of the main themes in ''Lost'': father issues and character crossovers.
==Character biography== ===Before the crash=== Initially, Christian is the chief of surgery at St. Sebastian Hospital. He is a recovering alcoholic. He marries Margo (Veronica Hamel), and the two have one child together, Jack. When Jack comes home following a bullying incident, Christian discourages Jack from trying to be heroic, saying that he "doesn't have what it takes."<ref name = "White Rabbit">{{cite episode|title=White Rabbit|episode-link=White Rabbit (Lost)|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Kevin Hooks (director); Christian Taylor (writer)|network=ABC|airdate=2004-10-20|season=1|number=5}}</ref> Years later, Christian meets Carole Littleton (Susan Duerden), a woman from Sydney, Australia. The two have a brief relationship before she returned to her home country, and later she gives birth to Christian's daughter, Claire (Emilie de Ravin). Christian would often fly over to visit, supporting the two the best he could. Carole and her sister, Lindsey (Gabrielle Fitzpatrick), do not approve of him juggling time between two families, which leads to Christian being told he is no longer allowed to visit.<ref name = "Par Avion">{{cite episode|title=Par Avion|episode-link=Par Avion (Lost)|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Paul Edwards (director); Christina M. Kim & Jordan Rosenberg (writers)|network=ABC|airdate=2007-03-14|season=3|number=12}}</ref>
Jack grows up to be a doctor, working at the same hospital as Christian. Christian tries to coach Jack on his poor bedside manner, most notably when Sarah (Julie Bowen) is brought in with severe injuries to her spine; he states that "false hope is still hope."<ref name = "Man of Science, Man of Faith">{{cite episode|title=Man of Science, Man of Faith|episode-link=Man of Science, Man of Faith|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Jack Bender (director); Damon Lindelof (writer)|network=ABC|airdate=2005-09-21|season=2|number=1}}</ref> Jack and Sarah grow close and eventually marry.<ref name = "Do No Harm">{{cite episode|title=Do No Harm|episode-link=Do No Harm (Lost)|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Stephen Williams (director); Janet Tamaro (writer)|network=ABC|airdate=2005-04-06|season=1|number=20}}</ref>
When he learns Carole has been in a car accident, Christian travels to Australia and pays for the medical treatment to keep her alive. While at the hospital, he introduces himself to Claire for the first time, much to Lindsay's resentment. Christian takes Claire out for coffee and tells her of his other family. Claire doesn't react well and walks out on him, so he returns to Los Angeles.<ref name="Par Avion"/>
After Jack and Sarah's marriage fails, Jack finds Christian's number on her phone bill, and assumes he is the man Sarah was now seeing, confronting him at an AA meeting. After being assaulted, Christian slips back into alcoholism after being sober for fifty days.<ref name = "A Tale of Two Cities">{{cite episode|title=A Tale of Two Cities|episode-link=A Tale of Two Cities (Lost)|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Jack Bender (director); J. J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof (writers)|network=ABC|airdate=2006-10-04|season=3|number=1}}</ref> Later, Christian operates on a woman while under the influence, and is exposed by Jack, ending his career.<ref name = "All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues">{{cite episode|title=All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues|episode-link=All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Stephen Williams (director); Javier Grillo-Marxuach (writer)|network=ABC|airdate=2004-12-08|season=1|number=11}}</ref> At an airport bar, Christian meets Ana Lucia Cortez (Michelle Rodriguez). The two agree to travel to Australia together under different aliases; Ana Lucia names him "Tom", and Christian calls her "Sarah". Once in Australia, Christian asks Ana Lucia to serve as his bodyguard. The two drive to Lindsey's house, where he angrily demanded to see his daughter. After almost becoming violent, Christian is restrained and driven away.<ref name = "Two for the Road">{{cite episode|title=Two for the Road|episode-link=Two for the Road (Lost)|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Paul Edwards (director); Elizabeth Sarnoff & Christina M. Kim (writers)|network=ABC|airdate=2006-05-03|season=2|number=20}}</ref> He is dropped off outside a bar, where he meets James "Sawyer" Ford (Josh Holloway). The two drink together, when Christian admits his mistakes, and that he isn't able to call his son and apologize.<ref name = "Outlaws">{{cite episode|title=Outlaws|episode-link=Outlaws (Lost)|series=Lost|series-link = Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Jack Bender (director); Drew Goddard (writer)|network=ABC|airdate=2005-02-16|season=1|number=16}}</ref>
Christian later suffers a severe heart attack and dies in an alley. His body is discovered and placed in a morgue, where he is identified by Jack. A funeral service was arranged back in LA, but Jack has trouble clearing Christian's coffin onto the doomed plane.<ref name="White Rabbit"/>
===After the crash=== After the plane crashes, Vincent, the dog that was on the plane, wanders through the jungle. Christian orders Vincent to go wake Jack, since there is work to do.<ref name = "So It Begins">{{cite episode|title=So It Begins|episode-link=Lost: Missing Pieces#Mobisodes|series=Lost: Missing Pieces|series-link = Lost: Missing Pieces|credits=Jack Bender (director); Drew Goddard (writer)|network=ABC|airdate=2008-01-28|number=13}}</ref> The first few days on the island, Jack sees his father on the island and is certain that he's hallucinating from fatigue.<ref name = "Walkabout">{{cite episode|title=Walkabout|episode-link=Walkabout (Lost)|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Jack Bender (director); David Fury (writer)|network=ABC|airdate=2004-10-13|season=1|number=4}}</ref> Locke (Terry O'Quinn), a fellow crash survivor, refers to Jack's hallucinations as the "white rabbit" and convinces him to follow them. Jack does so and subsequently is led to a set of caves where he finds his father's coffin. Christian's body is nowhere to be found.<ref name="White Rabbit"/> Months later, when Hurley (Jorge Garcia) stumbles upon Jacob's cabin in the jungle he looks through the window and observes Christian in a rocking chair. Another person inside the cabin peeps through the window at Hurley, scaring him and causing him to run away.<ref name = "The Beginning of the End">{{cite episode|title=The Beginning of the End|episode-link=The Beginning of the End (Lost)|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Jack Bender (director); Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse (writers)|network=ABC|airdate=2008-01-31|season=4|number=1}}</ref>
When Claire wakes up one night while returning to the beach with Miles Straume (Ken Leung) and Sawyer, she sees Christian rocking his grandson, Aaron. Claire recognizes him as her father, and he then leads her into the jungle. Miles witnesses the encounter while Sawyer sleeps through it. Miles informs Sawyer of the encounter in the morning, and Sawyer finds Aaron lying on a nearby tree stump with Claire and Christian nowhere to be found.<ref name = "Something Nice Back Home">{{cite episode|title=Something Nice Back Home|episode-link=Something Nice Back Home|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Stephen Williams (director); Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz (writers)|network=ABC|airdate=2008-05-01|season=4|number=10}}</ref> Locke encounters Christian acting as an intermediary for the invisible Jacob in his cabin. He tells Locke that the people from the freighter are already on their way back to the island and the only way to keep it safe is to have the island moved. Claire is also present, but Christian tells Locke to keep her whereabouts to himself.<ref name = "Cabin Fever">{{cite episode|title=Cabin Fever|episode-link=Cabin Fever (Lost)|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Paul Edwards (director); Elizabeth Sarnoff & Kyle Pennington (writers)|network=ABC|airdate=2008-05-08|season=4|number=11}}</ref>
On the freighter, now fated to explode thanks to a failsafe bomb Michael Dawson is keeping temporarily frozen, Christian appears to Michael moments before the C-4 explodes. He simply says, "You can go now, Michael." The bomb then explodes and Michael is killed.<ref name = "There's No Place Like Home: Parts 2 and 3">{{cite episode|title=There's No Place Like Home: Parts 2 and 3|episode-link=There's No Place Like Home (Lost)#Part 2|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Jack Bender & Stephen Williams (director); Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse (writers)|network=ABC|airdate=2008-05-29|season=4|number=13 & 14}}</ref>
Some time later, after Jack has escaped from the Island, he sees Christian late one night in the lobby of his hospital. Due to the sudden fright, Jack has a fellow doctor prescribe him medication to deal with the "hallucinations."<ref name="Something Nice Back Home"/> Jack is continually visited by Christian, causing a mental breakdown.
Meanwhile, on the island, Christian once again appears to Locke as he is attempting to reach the wheel that Ben used to move the island. This encounter took place at a time where the ancient well that led to the wheel had not been built yet, and where the giant statue was still standing. Christian criticizes Locke for not moving the island himself, as per Christian's instructions. He also concurs with Richard Alpert's assessment that Locke would "have to die." Christian gives Locke additional instructions on what to do when he moves the wheel, including how to contact Eloise Hawking. Christian tells Locke to "say hello to [his] son" for him; though he doesn't give Locke a name, Locke deduces that Christian was referring to Jack and passes the message on, upsetting Jack.<ref name = "This Place is Death">{{cite episode|title=This Place is Death|episode-link=This Place is Death|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Paul Edwards (director); Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz (writers)|network=ABC|airdate=2009-02-11|season=5|number=5}}</ref>
In "Namaste", Christian appears to Sun and Lapidus after they have crashed on the island circa 2007 in the Barracks. He informs Sun that Jin is on the island, but that Jin is existing in 1977, and they have a long journey ahead of them. During this encounter, Christian's appearance was preceded by both the "Whispers" and by the Smoke Monster. When Sun and Lapidus tell Ben Linus that they were told to wait at the Barracks by Christian, Ben has an alarmed look on his face, but does not elaborate.
In the episode "The Last Recruit," the Man in Black reveals to Jack that he had been impersonating as his father in a similar way to how he now impersonates Locke and how he impersonated Mr. Eko's brother, Yemi, revealing that at least some, if not all of Christian's appearances on the island post-death were the Man in Black.
===Afterlife=== In the series finale, Jack meets Christian again in what is believed to be an alternate timeline in which Oceanic flight 815 never crashed, and in which many characters regain memories of their original island lives. However, in one of the show's final scenes, Jack encounters his father in a church, where he realizes that everyone in the "alternate timeline" is actually dead, in an afterlife constructed by the survivors in an unknown fashion so they could be with the people most important to them before "moving on" together. Jack finally makes amends with his father and, as the various characters seat themselves in the church pews, Christian exits through the front door, filling the room with a bright light.
==Characteristics== Whilst living, Christian is a quick tempered alcoholic. He is hard on his son, but is keen to be a better father to Jack than his father (Ray Shephard) was to him.<ref name="White Rabbit"/> A common theme throughout ''Lost'' is father issues. Jack's difficulties getting on with his father are the first instance of this, with many other characters such as Locke,<ref name = "The Man from Tallahassee">{{cite episode|title=The Man from Tallahassee|episode-link=The Man from Tallahassee|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Jack Bender (director); Drew Goddard & Jeff Pinkner (writers)|network=ABC|airdate=2007-03-21|season=3|number=13}}</ref> Hurley<ref name = "Tricia Tanaka is Dead">{{cite episode|title=Tricia Tanaka is Dead|episode-link=Tricia Tanaka is Dead|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Jack Bender, Eric Laneuville (director); Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz (writers)|network=ABC|airdate=2007-02-28|season=3|number=10}}</ref> and Kate<ref name = "What Kate Did">{{cite episode|title=What Kate Did|episode-link=What Kate Did|series=Lost|series-link=Lost (2004 TV series)|credits=Paul Edwards (director); Steven Maeda & Craig Wright (writers)|network=ABC|airdate=2005-11-30|season=2|number=9}}</ref> also having difficult relationships with their dads. Christian further exemplifies this theme with his poor relationship with his daughter, Claire, where he was barely present in her upbringing.<ref name="Par Avion"/> The connection between characters before the plane crash is another frequently occurring theme. Christian is present in flashbacks of Jack,<ref name="White Rabbit"/> Sawyer,<ref name="Outlaws"/> Ana Lucia<ref name="Two for the Road"/> and Claire.<ref name="Par Avion"/> Ben Rawson-Jones from Digital Spy describes Christian as "flawed character with both wisdom and regret".<ref name="DigitalSpy">Rawson-Jones, Ben, (May 11, 2008) "[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a95678/s04e10-something-nice-back-home.html S04E10: 'Something Nice Back Home']", ''Digital Spy''. Retrieved on September 25, 2008.</ref>
After his death and reappearance on the island, Christian becomes a very mysterious figure, acting as a messenger for the even more mysterious Jacob.<ref name="Cabin Fever"/> Christian is able to appear anywhere, both on and off the island, at will, and intervenes several times to stop Michael's suicide attempts.<ref name="There's No Place Like Home: Parts 2 and 3"/> He was also able to defy time, in appearing to Locke at the bottom of what would someday be the Orchid Station, at a time when even the ancient well had not been built, the Statue was still standing, and before the original Christian had even died. Christian's posthumous appearances have prompted much speculation from critics. One reviewer calls Christian's appearance a vision.<ref name="DigitalSpy"/> Erin Martell of TV Squad pondered that Christian's appearance is "like the Yemi apparition that turned into the Smoke Monster".<ref>Martell, Erin, (May 1, 2008) "[http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/05/02/lost-something-nice-back-home ''Lost'': 'Something Nice Back Home']", TV Squad. Retrieved on September 25, 2008.</ref> Alan Sepinwall notes Christian holds Aaron, thus making him corporeal, but wondered about the significance of Miles seeing him.<ref>Sepinwall, Alan, (May 2, 2008) "[http://blog.nj.com/alltv/2008/05/lost_something_nice_back_home.html Sister, Christian]", ''The Star-Ledger''. Retrieved on September 25, 2008.</ref>
In a review of the season finale he considers Christian "may be the walking dead".<ref>{{cite web|author=Sepinwall, Alan|date=2008-05-29|url=http://blog.nj.com/alltv/2008/05/as_mentioned_this_morning_this.html|title=Dude, Where's My Island?|work=The Star-Ledger|access-date=2008-09-25}}</ref> The first apparition of Christian had him wearing a clean suit, and having very well kept hair, whereas in his most recent apparition, Christian is wearing pants and a tattered looking shirt, as well as having stubble and untidy hair. This could suggest that he is alive in some sense, though it is unclear. Oscar Dahl commented "I still don't think that Jacob is Christian Shepherd{{sic}} or anything like that"<ref>Dahl, Oscar, (February 1, 2008) "[http://www.buddytv.com/articles/lost/lost-the-oceanic-6-16293.aspx ''Lost'': The Oceanic Six] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111093112/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/lost/lost-the-oceanic-6-16293.aspx |date=2012-01-11 }}", ''BuddyTV''. Retrieved on September 25, 2008.</ref> ''Entertainment Weekly'''s Jeff Jensen calls him "Ghost Dad".<ref>Jensen, Jeff, (May 2, 2008) "[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20197443,00.html Unhappy Jack] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505045235/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20197443,00.html |date=2008-05-05 }}", ''Entertainment Weekly''. Retrieved on September 25, 2008.</ref> Chris Carabott "expect[s] th[is] mystery will last until the final season".<ref>Carabott, Chris, (May 9, 2008) "[http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/872/872893p2.html Lost: "Cabin Fever" Review]", IGN. Retrieved on September 26, 2008.</ref> ''Lost'' producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have confirmed Christian is dead,<ref>[http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/podcasts/101323.html Official ''Lost'' Podcast] April 20, 2007.</ref> stating "In terms of actually physically corporally in existence... he's dead".<ref>"Access: Granted". ''Lost: The Complete Third Season – The Unexplored Experience'' (Blu-ray edition), Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Featurette, disc 6. Released on December 11, 2007.</ref> They have also described Christian as one of three characters that are considered "undead", with Mr. Eko's brother Yemi and Kate's horse as the others.<ref name="Podcast">[http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/podcasts/101323.html Official ''Lost'' Podcast] March 21, 2008.</ref> They elaborate that Yemi's post-death appearances are incarnations of the monster.<ref name="Podcast"/>
==Development== American John Terry previously appeared in ''ER'', ''24'' and ''Las Vegas''. His early appearances in ''Lost'' are mostly in flashbacks of various characters. He begins to feature more prominently on the island throughout the fourth season.
==Reception== Chris Carabott of IGN gave his highest rating, 9/10, to the webisode featuring Christian telling Vincent to wake Jack, describing it as "a shocking new look at ... Christian Shephard",<ref>Carabott, Chris, (February 5, 2008) "[http://tv.ign.com/articles/848/848385p1.html In the Final Webisode, Vincent Makes a Surprising New Friend]", IGN. Retrieved on September 25, 2008.</ref> whereas Oscar Dahl from BuddyTV found the presence of a "supposed-to-be-dead Christian" confusing.<ref>Dahl, Oscar, (January 29, 2008) "[http://www.buddytv.com/articles/lost/lost-mobisode-13-so-it-begins-16154.aspx Lost: Mobisode 13, 'So It Begins'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723032710/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/lost/lost-mobisode-13-so-it-begins-16154.aspx |date=2009-07-23 }}", BuddyTV. Retrieved on September 25, 2008.</ref> Christian's first appearance in Jacob's cabin gave Jeff Jensen of ''Entertainment Weekly'' "the chills".<ref>Jensen, Jeff "Doc", (February 1, 2008) "[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20175395,00.html ''Lost'': Back and Forth] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517122802/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20175395%2C00.html |date=2013-05-17 }}", ''Entertainment Weekly''. Retrieved on September 25, 2008.</ref> Digital Spy's Ben Rawson-Jones described it as "a pleasure" when Christian returned in the second half of season 4, adding "John Terry is superb".<ref name="DigitalSpy"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Lost (TV series)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shephard, Christian}} Category:Lost (2004 TV series) characters Category:Fictional alcohol abusers Category:Fictional surgeons Category:Fictional characters from Los Angeles Category:Fictional undead Category:American male characters in television Category:Television characters introduced in 2004