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In its early days, part of what made "Lost" so compelling to watch was the constant struggle for power between Jack (Matthew Fox) and Locke (Terry O'Quinn).

Since then, the show has evolved tremendously, but has always stuck rigidly to this iconic principle between different factions on the island. More recently, that element has come in the form of Richard Alpert (Nestor Carbonell), the leader of The Others.

However, despite his integral role on the series very little is known of the character, specifically how he came to be on the island, why he doesn't age and also what his agenda really is.

Well, that will soon change.

Carbonell has confirmed that fans of the series will finally get answers, and his character will be a very big part of it.

"I knew at some point that they were going to answer some of the bigger questions, I just didn't know when," he said. "We have gotten to that point where there is an episode that deals with the origins of Richard Alpert and the bigger questions about his character, as well as bigger questions about the island and the mythology of it. It's an episode that reveals a lot. After three years playing this character, I was floored when I got the script and I was so excited to actually get to do the episode. They wrote a really tremendous script."

One thing the actor cautions on, however, is that some viewers may not like what they see. Throughout the last five years, fans have come to know these characters in a very personal and unique way thanks to the flashback/flashforward storytelling. But, in the coming weeks, not only will fans be stunned, shocked and dismayed, they also may not like the people their heroes really are.

"There are some amazing twists this season," Carbonell said. "You're going to see elements of characters that I never thought I'd play for my character and I think others didn't expect to play them in their own characters. There are going to be emotional highs and lows for people that you've never seen."

There will be a lot of "movement and fluctuations" in alliances as well as a power struggle.

"Everyone's mettle is tested in this final season," he said. "It's the payoff season where all of those loose ends, or most of them, will be tied. A lot of those big conflicts will be resolved."

The verdict is still out how Ben (Michael Emerson) will be classed when the dust settles; misguided or evil incarnate? Regardless, Carbonell believes that Ben is ultimately the product of Richard's creation.

Ben "is someone that I tapped to be a leader, who was chosen as the Panchen Lama taps the Dalai Lama," Carbonell said. "Alpert is acting as a Panchen Lama to Jacob. He became the powerful one, and Richard took a V.P. role, an advisory role when he's around. It was the same thing with Widmore and Eloise. That's traditionally been my role, but now, obviously, the order is going to be disrupted with what happens to Jacob."

The full interview is available at TVGuide.com by clicking here.

"Lost" airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.