The Lost Diary

Didn't really feel this episode.

Actually I haven't really 'felt' this season.

So. Very. Slow.

Where are all of my promised answers?

second

I haven't felt this season, either. My immediate reaction after watching every episode except the season premiere is disappointment. By morning, I'm liking them better, but I want to feel that been-hit-in-my-gut feeling right then and there.

To those who saw my post on Sundown, forgive me for reposting this.

Last night was an incredible episode. The acting continues to be what drives a great deal of this show. I only have one fault with it which I will explain later.

What I have been thinking of are the Sun and Jin. Kwon

Ilana did not know which one to protect. In one timeline Jin is captured and now at the mercy of a remorseful, but still a killing machine, Sayid. In another he seems to be on his own but may end up being part of team MIB, by default perhaps.

I remember that when Jacob went to see them he touched them both and told them how important their love is, not them but their love.

I am also thinking about what Jacob said to MIB – that it only has to end once. I don’t believe he is talking about MIB leaving the island however. But, if new candidates replace the old Jacob and MIB how will it end?

It’s a stretch, but maybe the only way it will end is by Sun taking over for Jacob and for Jin taking over for MIB but that somehow they unite the good and the bad like Yin and Yang and that is how it can finally end. Kwon was the last number – 42. They are the skeletons….

The one fault – Richard didn’t seem shocked to see Jack and Hurley considering he said he saw them DIE in that timeline supposedly.

Is it just me or does Ben run like a combination of a 2 year old child and Steven Segal?

first

Funny, on another blog only a few people out of hundreds did not think this was a good episode while on this blog it is a different story. Too easy for one person to post multiple times methinks.

A+ not B+?

BAH back to Dark UFO?

I knew the person coming to the Island was Widmore!!!! I am doing my happy dance because I made a correct prediciton! Yeah for me!!!

Still think this episode deserves at least an A.

Just sayin.

Matt - don't know WHAT you are talking about. If you didnt 'feel' this episode on any level, you may as well just give up and stop watching.

Dang! I wasn't quick enough.

Last night's episode showed Ben getting a chance to right his wrongs in the sideways flashes. He got to save Alex and his dad instead of causing his death. I think I like evil Ben better.

Favorite part: Ben saying the beach is where "they" (the losties) lived. I always referred to the "they" as the others. Kind of funny.

I always enjoy your witty reviews and your honesty about them! I thought Linus's "flash sideways" was a chance at redemption for letting Alex be killed on the island. A second chance, of sorts.

I thought a few of the parallels were a bit TOO obvious, though - we didn't have to work that hard. Examples: "You're a killer," the whole Linus-has-Alex's-fate-in-his-hands scenario, even the whole Linus-wants-power-in-school-and-on-the island thing, with a little Napoleon history thrown in. *shrugs*

Overall, a good episode. Like you, I think any episode with Ben in it has the potential to be amazing, even if the plotline isn't.

I meant their deaths. I need a nap.

@Glee the 1st... I'm on your bandwagon.

Personally, last night's episode might be a top 5 all time for me.

Again we have an alt plot that's way too obvious in relating to the island storyline, and without context isn't interesting enough in its won right. I hope this is rectified soon.

I thought this episode was good. Really wished Ben killed Ilana. She annoys me. Very interesting that Ben has been to the island in the flash sideways. I hope we find out why they left

In rewatching Lighthouse, I came across Dogen telling Sayid that MIB will come to him as someone he knows who has died. For me, this confirmed that he also came to Jack as Christian, Ecko as his brother, Kate as the horse? But, Christian also came to Jack off the island after he was dead. So, was he at one point able to leave and now he is not?

Michael Emerson for an Emmy hands down. He snatched it away from Terry O Quinn last night. Only he could make the complex character of Ben so believable and likable despite his past deeds.

has not been feeling like lost, something just isn't working for me.

at least the sub looked a little better.

and did anybody else get a moment where they thought Ben and Alex were going to get it on?
or was that just me? lol

What are the chances we will get to see Rousseau (the original) on flash sideways. It would be nice for the actress who played her to get a chance to clean up, wear make up and look pretty. I posted on the Sundown write up that Vincent the Wonder Dog should show up barking on the beach warning them of the sub! I really need to to see Vincent at least one more time (and Bernard in in a flash sideways).

Glee TF - I like your thoughts about Jin and Sun

@ Daniel

I believe Richard said it was the first time he'd been back to the Black Rock not the first time he'd been there.

Nope, still don't care about the flash sideways world. I try, but I can't.

To all the naysayers: Think of this season as a jigsaw puzzle. We're just about finished connecting all the straight edges and are preparing to fill in the middle. Of course there's relating to the Island storyline. How could there not be?

Honestly, I believe you can post whatever you want but frankly am tired of the malcontents. I'm waiting for a particular poster who seems so unhappy with his life he appears to be hell bent on trying to make other people miserable.

What about when Richard makes the comment about being back on the Black Pearl for the first time after all these years?? Could it be that thats how he got there in the first place? Was he a slave or a slave trader? He took a good long look at the shackles when first cam aboard...

Alright so the "sideways" world shows what would have happened if the Oceanic flight did not crash (at least that's what the recap episode says). Why then do people that weren't even on the flight show up in that world. Like Rosseau? The plane crashed 16 years after she landed on the island. So she was rescued at some point & moved to America to raise her daughter? Are the writers trying to show that one event - plane crash- has such far reaching consequences, even to past events? should I not even try to think about it?

I like Lost, but I've never seen another set of fans so venemous of anyone who criticisizes 'their' show. It's ok on here, but downright scary on other boards. It's also pathetic.

@ Yoga why do you need to see vincent?

Theory:

Ben and Widmore become the new Jacob and MIB ...

Jacob touched Ben right before he died and Ben is choosing Team Ilana. Perhaps Widmore is on his way to the Hydra station.

I'm just wondering ...I've been reading The Lost Diary since the beginning and it never fails.....a bunch of people are upset because they're not getting the answers that they want. I'm not being critical, I'd just like to understand which qestions you'd like answered. I feel like the writers have been doing a pretty good job this season trickling out info. to some burning questions. So....which questions do you feel need answering before the series wraps?

What about Michael? Christian came to Michael at the end and if he was really MIB and Michael's purpose was to stall the bomb until the candidates could get off the boat - mainly Jin - this supports possibly Jin being on Team MIB by default.

Maybe by ending it MIB can finally go home?

First time poster, long time reader... This has been bugging me all night and i havent been able to see if i was hallucinating or if i heard correctly... When Richard was talking to Jack and Hurley about killing himself, somewhere along the way he mentioned the fact that jacob touched him and if jacob touchs you, you cant die. Did i hear that right? So does this mean that EVERYONE Jacob touched cant die now???

@ Daniel:

"9:40 -- "If you change you're mind, I'll be like a mile away." -- Jack"

It was Hurley who said that.

This episode was GREAT. If you have been a fan of Lost from the beginning, you understand that any episode that shows the complexities of Ben makes an amazing show.
One he is a GREAT actor and two, his connection to the Island is a theme explored since we met him and essential to understanding the island and its powers.

This season hasn't been what I expected but besides getting "answers," this show is about the characters and their struggles and how they react, resolve, and fight with them.

GRADE: A!!

When Jacob told Jin and Sun how important their love is, maybe he was anticipating the birth of their daughter who ultimately would rule the island.Just a thought.

I'm disliking the constant division between the Losties, it's getting old. I can't remember when we last saw them altogether. And I miss it.

Jason - why would you spend so much time going to multiple boards and talking about a show that you think is just OK? That's pathetic.

Maybe going home for MIB means dying. Like Richard he needs someone else to do it, but he needs to take care of some things first?

@Joey -- I was thinking the same thing:)

@ Dem
I think that the flash-sideways are more of showing us what would have happened to everyone if Jacob hadn't influenced the candidates, not so much just b/c flight 815 didn't crash. The plane didn't crash b/c Jacob didn't need/want/make it crash. It also shows that fate will bring most these characters together anyway, island or no island.

I agree with you Suze. Last night we found out, or confirmed, that Richard was a slave on the Black Rock. We also found out that if Jacob touches you, you can't kill yourself, ala Michael.

One of the best things about this show since the beginning has been the mystery and that is still what I enjoy about it. That being said, we all have a right to our own opinion and if you don't like something about the show, its okay with me. :-)

I loved this episode.

We found out anybody who Jacob touches cannot kill themself because its considered a "gift" to be touched.

Jack finally embraced his purpose and became a man-of-faith.

Widmore on a sub.

AWESOME

Glee - can't you read? I like Lost. I enjoy following it on the web. Do you deny the vitriol from certain fans on various boards(that does exist) is unbecoming?

I would give this episode a C. It was immensely disappointing and out of character for Ben to go running through the forest in abject fear. Where is the Ben of old? After everyone learns he is a murderer, why would he (or anyone else) ever continue to follow those who knew the truth? Completely unlikely. The old Ben would have struck out on his own (since he knows the island backwards and forwards). Did not need to be with people likely to attack him. Otherwise, the rest of the show was interesting. Ben was just too passive to accept.

Here's my question...

Is this Widmore on the sub coming as a sideways Widmore or flashback Widmore?

If so, does he still hold a vendetta on Ben? Does he even know who Ben is? Technically, Ben was on the island in both scenerios so he could have met Widmore, but he wouldn't have challenged his power since they obviously didn't get to the point where Ben took Alex for his own.

So, is Widmore Ben's constant on a whole new level?

Man, that's a mind f#ck.

Yes, Michelle... it is. Great question.

I like the "those who are touched can't die" bit, but how does that work re: Sayid? According to Miles, he *did* die -- at least for a bit, and he was touched by Jacob. Also, remember that Michael kept trying to kill himself but couldn't until the island let him, but he wasn't touched.

On that note, whoever said that the spectre of Christian was MIB, I don't think it wouldv'e been MIB guiding Michael in the freighter as he did (though it makes sense for him to have guided Locke at the donkey wheel).

Thoughts?

I agree this season has been kind of uneven in keeping us tuned in. This episode however took the show back up, way up. Loved the scene with Richard watching the fuse. Great shot. Love Lost.

Jason yes I can read but when your first post on the subject is about that and you call people pathetic that is hardly a great introduction and start to a conversation. Sorry if I came off snarky.

I would like to see if you have anything to add about the show or if you just want to talk about the fans.

Daniel. .. I waited all morning for you post. I felt for sure you'd give this episode an A+. Finally an episode that is season 1 & 2 worthy. A throw back to why we fell in love with this series in the first place. And finally an episode where Jack doesn't ignore someone when they don't give him an answer to a question he asks. This episode was giving us something rather than stringing us along. BTW are all of us who have followed "The Lost Diary" together all these years going to organize some kind of finally party? Perhaps a live posting by you as we're watching it?

when the split in time happened it show the effects of what would have happened if the plane didn't crash, this would include the effects that the time travelers would have made in the past also.

also
Richard said that Jacob gave the "gift to every one that he touches, does this mean that all of the candidates are now like Richard?

I thought that it was a good episode. It was a turning point for a lot of characters. Ben was able to do the right thing, and be truthful. Jack was able to admit that he was sent to the island for a purpose. Richard was swayed to re-affirm his belief that Jacob did have a "big picture" plan, and decided that it was worth living to see what happens. This episode was a very pivotal point for a lot of main characters that should pave the way for future developments.

Stop fighting! Good lord, it's a tv show. Have fun with it.

From People.com

Lost
Lost: Michael Emerson Breaks Down ‘Dr. Linus’
March 10, 2010

Lost’s latest episode was full of developments designed to keep viewers buzzing and scratching their heads. Charles Widmore finally found a way back to the island — on a sub! Nikki and Paulo got a shout-out! Richard Alpert doesn’t age — not because, as Hurley suggested, he’s a time traveler or a Terminator cyborg — but because Jacob gave him “a gift.” Presumably the same gift that prevents him from taking his own life, which is why Lost’s disillusioned Dorian Gray asked Jack to do the deed for him with a little Black-Rock dynamite. Too bad Jack’s also a Jacob-touch recipient, and therefore, equally worthless with a lit fuse.

Fans will have to wait until later this month for a clearer picture of the mysterious Alpert. Last night’s installment, “Dr. Linus,” was a portrait of another Other, Ben Linus, played by Emmy-winner Michael Emerson. Outed as Jacob’s killer by Miles, the once-powerful islander was reduced to digging his own grave by “bodyguard” Ilana. (Though the brutal beatdown PEOPLE saw her give Ben during a set visit was noticeably M.I.A. from the episode. Hmm.) In the Sideways, a power-hungry Ben attempted to blackmail the school principal into giving up his job, though ultimately, he opted instead to give Alex — the on-island daughter whose life he’d sacrificed — a shot at a bright Yale future.

PEOPLE checked in with Emerson for his take on the episode, as well as clues to what’s still in store before the series ends (a Ben death?!). CAUTION: spoilers ahead! –Shawna Malcom

So there are limits to what Ben will do to get what he wants, at least in the Sideways?
Yes, Ben was presented with a parallel choice — a smaller one, but an echo of a bad choice he made in the island world — and he made a different call, a softer call that we’re happy about.

Was it nice to play Ben’s softer side?
I’ll tell you what was fun: When Ben tries to play his card with the principal but he hasn’t the confidence that his alter ego has. He trembles a little when he makes his big play because he knows he’s out of his depth. It was fun to find that shakiness because that’s a color they’ve never asked of me on the show before. It’s almost like I’m playing a different character this season.

Now that Widmore’s back, will Ben’s battle with him resume?
You’d think. [The producers] went to such pains to establish it. But there are three episodes still to film and that’s something that hasn’t been shot yet. I suppose it’s possible that the characters’ [conflict] can be resolved without facing off against one another, maybe through the agency of some third party.

Would that be disappointing?
I’m just a passenger on this ride. But I am anxious for answers that don’t seem to be coming in a rush. I think it’s partly my own personal misunderstanding of the narrative of the show and an over-expectation of climactic answering.

Some fans feel a similar frustration.
I think the answering is coming in a subtler way than many of us expected. But the writers’ agenda may not yet be clear to us.

When will you get the finale script?
Two days before we shoot it. If I get a complete one. You know with the finale of all finales, there are gonna be blank scenes in it that only the actors involved are privy to. I hope I’m on the show long enough that I’m in one of those secret scenes.

Wait — could Ben really not make it to the end?
There have been some casualties. Pretty soon, there’s only gonna be a few standing.

Has it begun to sink in yet that Lost is really, truly nearly over?
No, probably because I just don’t absorb these things the way other people do. I always have delayed reactions. In June or July, you’ll probably find me weeping somewhere.

You have homes in New York and L.A. Do you have a house in Hawaii you’ll have to sell?
No, I’m such a gypsy actor, that to settle in, make myself permanent, would’ve felt like bad luck to me. Every season I just rented or sublet a condominium. I have a few sticks of furniture that I’ve accumulated over the years, but basically I’ll just pack a few boxes and re-consolidate. It’ll be nice to have all my shoes in the same place again.

Tell us: What did you think of last night’s episode? Were you surprised Ben opted to follow Ilana, rather than Locke Monster? Should Ben and Widmore get their face-off?

B for me. Two problems I had:

1. I don't care at all about the group of characters this ep focused on (aside from Ben). My feelings on Ilana have also downgraded from indifferent to annoyed.

2. I didn't buy Ben's redemption. If we're meant to root for him all of a sudden count me out. He was a great character precisely because he was a vicious sociopath.

@dem- I think you are missing the mark just a little. The Sideways world is a world untouched (literally and figuratively) by Jacob, not a world without the crash of 815. I agree with Mr F that the change was circa 1977. Watch for everything to dovetail from the island reality to the sideways reality in the final episode. I expect this will happen as a result of some kind of selfless, redemptive action by the Losties to save the island (key word here is selfless as up to this point they are really average, self absorbed people). And, of course the candidate (whoever that is, my personal fav is Hurley) with replace Jacob and balance will be restored.

i don't think richard meant anyone touched by jacob couldn't die, just couldn't kill themselves. if hurley had lit the fuse and run away, jack and richard would have died. since jack lit it, it would have been suicide for him.

lol i hate it when i write something, then when i refresh to read i realize that what i said was contained in the 10 post above mine.

and as for answers

I still want the back story on what happened to Annie, and the "because you look like her" Story!!

@ KateIsGreat - We don't yet know MIB's full plan yet and why he needs so many followers. He may have needed to keep Jin alive for some reason (to lead Claire to the Temple?) He may have needed Sawyer's hopes to crumble in seeing the freighter blow up, thus leading him to Juliet and then crushing him in her death insuring he is on his side. Or, I may be wrong altogether. It's been known to happen.

@cammies: interesting. So with that, Richard could have died at any point, just at someone else's hand?

@jaytch- couldn't agree more with you. I think the season has been very entertaining. They have loose ends to tie up, so for everyone to have the expectation that the dramatic tension of the first few seasons be extended is unrealistic. Its the final act of the play and unfortunately, things are drawing to a conclusion. I intend to just sit back, enjoy the ride and let it happen. I trust that the writers, producers, actors and staff treasure their creation as much as we do, and will not let us down.

Okay people, for the last time, the flash sideways are what happened when the Losties set off the bomb in 1976...or whenever. The flash sideways are not "what would have happened if the plane didn't crash." That's how we have Desmond on the plane, but not Shannon. How Jack has a kid, John's father is still apart of his life...ect, ect.

@Flashest

I don't think the change was circa 1977 but 1974 when the losties came back. I think the defining moment is when the O6 left the island. Locke told Jack he wasn't supposed to leave. But Jack's free will by leaving (or by bringing the freighter folk to the island) that is what caused the island to need to move, which led to its skipping and landing Sawyer in others in the 70's. It is also by the 06 leaving that brings them back in the 70s too which is when the diversion really happens.

@KateisGreat

hmm i don't know, but it kind of goes along with what happened to locke...he tried to kill himself but it didn't happen, but ben turned around and killed him no problem. and i wonder if all the losties touched by jacob will never age? or is that specific to richard for some reason?

For those hating on Sideways Ben, I think it's great that the writers are showing just how circumstances can affect our lives. It's a prounounced "Nature vs. Nurture" argument, played out in real time, and especially relevant in light of how important a role parents/fathers have been in the series.

and Jack wanted to commit suicide by jumping off the bridge but the car crash prevented that

Quick question. If someone was forcing you to dig your own grave, would you? I don't think I would. I think I would say "You dig my BLANKing grave...what are you going to do, kill me twice?"

Just a picky question - why is a PhD (Ben) teaching at a jr. high? (or is it high school?). More likely that he'd be at a college instead? Like I said, picky...

sideways ben is opposite from island ben in that in the school he is OVER-qualified for his position, while on the island as the leader of the others he was somewhat UNDER-qualified.

Traci - maybe because of his dad, his history club (and Alex) or because he is not ambitious, he just cares about the school like he cared about the island.

@jim

i agree with you, except digging your own grave would buy you time for a super-natural entity to appear from the jungle and magically release the chains from your legs.

Excellent entry! As for the posters wondering when they are going to get their answers...Life is full of questions, when we die we will still not have all the answers. Let go a bit and enjoy the ride.

@Glee TF, I think I agree, that might have been the defining moment that changed so much.

I liked this episode a lot. And always seem to root for Ben no matter what his character is like, he's so twisted and evil he wins my rooting... except when he's killing Keamy, of course.

Season has been fine for me, any LOST is good LOST and all that stuff... But this episode was a great one. Had me worried a few times, and gave a few answers! :)

so my fave lines were:
"cheese curds"-- Hurley

"..so did Dr. Artz and I was wiping him out of my shirt 2 days later"-- Hurley referring to dynamite

"totally"--- Ben's convo with Alex about Princial having affair in nurse office
I loved everything about this epi. Esp. Jack and Ben transformation. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT

@Gregg - re why I want to see Vincent. In the first season, Vincent was interesting to me because he survived a plane crash while in the hold. Vincent seemed quite "at Home" on the island from the beginning.I liked the relationship between Walt and his dog. Vincent was some what of a back ground character running around like when Jack was following his dad on the island. Walt gave Vincent to Shannon when he was going to leave on the makeshift raft and Shannon seemed to bond with Vincent. Then Vincent kind of disappears a couple of seasons only to show up last season living happily on the island with "retired" Bernard and Rose! Then of course there is the dog face statue on the island and the fact that dog spelled backwards is god:)

I guess that's why Ben is Ben and I'm no Ben. I would have been shot forthwith saying "you dig the hole with the bamboo shovel."

the whole principal blackmailing ben doesn't really work. ben still had the upper hand and could've make the principal write a good recommendation for alex AND resign. even now, he could still force him to resign-the principal has nothing to hold over him.
btw, where's desmond!!!???

@yoga

i think a while ago the producers said vincent would for sure survive to the end, so i'm guessing we'll see him again instead of just assuming he's out there somewhere. (although i wonder if he time-traveled with everyone else on the island?)

I totally thought

YEAH, now THAT is how you do LOST!

Awesome. Terrific episode.

I totally thought

YEAH, now THAT is how you do LOST!

Awesome. Terrific episode.

The comment Ben's father made about their Dharma experience seems to reveal that it made them closer, not break their relationship. Then that Dharmaville could have been a great utopian experience without MIB or Jacobian influences or polar bear experiments

I thought that Richard was so interesting -- everything about him, except his desire to die, reminded me of Ben.

He was forsaken by Jacob, his life was a lie, etc. Just like Ben. Redemption? Salvation? came in the form of someone else's faith.

I thought the prinicpal's "I won't write a good recommondation" retort was SO flimsy! Now that the recommondation is written, what's to keep Ben from blackmailing him? The principal has nothing left! It was such an empty counterargument.

Though I felt really terribly for Ben when he offered to write Alex's recommendation and she was (sweetly) like, "Thanks, but no thanks." Ouch!

Widmore & the sub is what made the entire episode worth watching.

@ Suze
You asked what questions we'd like answered, her's a few:
-In season 4, after Alex's death and Ben's departure from the island, Ben says to Widmore that he can't kill him. Why?
-Walt has been special since season 1, why?
-Who are the Adam and Eve skeltons in the cave?
-How did the black rock end up in the middle of the island?
-What is MIB's real name?
-In the season 5 premiere is that what MIB originally looked like and he's since changed form to find his loophole?
-Why did Claire leave Aaron? And just how was she "claimed"?
-Was it really Claire that told Kate not to bring Aaron back?
-Why do pregnant women die giving birth?
-Why was Hurley told that Jack couldn't raise Aaron?
-What's the origin of these numbers?
-Just what is it that makes this island so special?
That's not all of them but just a few off the top of my head.

@kate is great
I dunno if the principal gets blackmailed after all and has nothing to lose he could contact Yale and inform him that he was blackmailed to write that letter which would make it look like Alex was in on it.

Welcome back Flashest :)

Nice to see Ben and his dad confirm they had been to the island, helps support my theory that the time split happened sometime around 1977.

And to be clear on Richard's comment about death. Due to being touched by Jacob he could not kill himself nor could MiB/Smokie kill him. Richard can still die, he just needs someone else to do it. I am quite certain had Jack lit the dynamite and left, Richard would have died in the explosion. But Jack was also touched, so when he stayed that changed those plans.

See some nice comments above about Jack not being able to kill himself, Locke not being able to kill himself, and even Michael not being able to do it. Good eyes and memory people.

It was a nice episode, but dont think it was worthy of an A myself, I actually agree with Dan on this one, B+ sounds fair. Hopefully it can still get into Yale with a B+. :)

Still fuzzy on what's going on with Sayid. Miles says he was dead, for sure. But now he's back. He was, in deed, touched by Jacob. I think we agree that though you can't commit suicide if you're touched, you can die. But coming back from the dead???
What's that all about?

not that it's the same thing, but locke came back from the dead after his dad pushed him out the window and jacob touched him. it wasn't confirmed that he was dead but sort of implied.

Jack, Man of Science, becomes Jack, Man of Faith.

Ben rejects Not-Locke and goes with Ilana.

Interesting changes in these characters.

Mr. F:

I was also glad to see the confirmation of the island by Ben and Roger. I wonder how and why they left the Dharma people. So in this other timeline, the purge never happened, but I wonder if little Ben was still shot by Sayid in the 70's.

what causes an island to sink...and the houses still be somewhat intact?

How did Miles know about the diamonds. He never met nicki and paulo. Thought that was odd.

@yoga - I really hope that vincent doesnt play a role in this. Just seems silly to have a dog be that much of a factor with this show. once the writers decided to end the show, the made a decision that some of the early season mysteries wont be answered.

@ Cammie

Maybe there was an earthquake in Chile which caused a Tsunami in the Pacific Ocean which sank the island...Could happen!

Gregg - I wondered about how Miles knew about the diamonds - considering no one seems to talk to each other about past events. I assume Miles "spoke" to dead Nikki and Paulo.

BUT if a tsunami came that was sooo powerful that it sank the island, wouldn't it obliterate all the houses?

i wonder if all the people on the island died when it sank or if they knew it was coming and left before it happened (ben)

A+ for me
Cried like a baby when Illana said "I'll have you". AMAZING acting by both. This scene made such an impact on me. Forgiveness is not easy but we see how much it can change the person that is forgiven. My daughter is 6 and I will be watching Lost with her when she is old enough to understand because there are SO many life lessons to be learned. I'm thinking “LOST 101” classes need to be added to the Sociology department at the U of A.

@ Gregg:

Miles can communicate with the dead, he can hear they're last thoughts, etc. I bet that Nikki or Paulo was thinking of the diamonds before they died, letting Miles hear that thought...

now we know why hurley hasn't dropped a pound since landing on the island... he has richard alpert disease!

general questions...
1. where is jin now, i forget

2. now that we know richard is somehow connected to the black rock (someone called it the black pearl earlier, isn't that pirates of the caribbean? haha)...

do you think flocke's comment to alpert has a double meaning? nice seeing you without those chains? mmmmmaybe?

A tsunami could have put black rock in the middle of the island...

@ Twistie

If I watch Lost with my 7 year old, I'm afraid I might end up being found as Roger Workman some day.

@ Cynthia
I thought the enhanced episodes clearly stated that the flash sideways scenes represent what would have happened had the plane not crashed ... or am I reading something wrong?

@donthatekate: I'm with you!

@ Kruxoli I know what miles can do. But in every scene that he communicates, he's down on the ground and getting all emotional with the grave etc. Now he just comes up and says he knows where 9 mil worth of diamonds are. thats soft writing. Are we to assume that Miles knows everything about every dead person on the island.

didn't miles know about rousseau just by walking over her body?

I wonder if Widmore is bringing along anyone else on the sub?

When we start to ask baseline questions like how Miles knows about the diamonds or how the island got to the bottom of the sea with the houses still intact, I think we're missing the big picture. I think it's important to keep in mind that it is a tv show in the end, and there will be some liberties taken.

In a Feb. issue of Entertainment Weekly, Doc Jensen interviewed Cuse & Lindeloff about the coming season and they admitted that they wouldn't answer every question out there, because that would sort of defy the point.

I really don't mean to be a downer, but I don't think it's too productive to get so reductive in our questions.

@ Gregg:

No, I am under the impression that when Miles realized there was a cemetery, he stopped by the graves to "see" what happened...Nikki/Paulo must have been thinking about the diamonds when they passed.

I don't understand the people complaining about having "no answers" - are you watching another show?!?

We've gotten tons of answers this season. We now know what the numbers are (coordinates); we now know what the smoke monster is (man in black); we now know why Richard doesn't age (Jacob gave him the gift of not aging); we now know why they were all brought to the island (they're candidates for Jacob's replacement); we now know tht it's been the man in black who has been taking form of all the mysterious "dead people" that have been seen (Dogen told Sayid that he "would come to you as someone you know who has died"); I could go on and on!

I have to say this season has been everything I hoped it would be and then some.

Another question I have, there aren't transcripts up yet, so I can't confirm what was said......but something like Richard doesn't age because of his gift from Jacob, which we later find out the "gift" is his touch, and all the candidates were touched by Jacob, does that mean that Hurley, Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Kwons, Sayid, won't age either if they dont' die by someone else's hand? Just wondering.

i think they almost have to answer the question of why the island is sunken, otherwise why would they show it that way? there has to be something that happened in the alternate timeline that caused it to happen. so then i'm thinking...bomb? natural disaster? but wouldn't something so major that would bring a whole island underwater also destroy some tiny wood houses? it's just more curiosity than anything.

i agree all the questions won't be answered and i don't even care if any of them are answered really, i'll take what they give me.

@jaytch -
thanks for the post from people.com.

i noticed they made an error—jack was NOT a recipient of a touch from jacob. jacob handed jack an apollo bar in the hospital from the vending machine, but did not make physical contact. i remember the same thing happened when jacob handed sawyer the pen to write his letter.

i remember thinking it was ominous that the camera zoomed in on these 'non-touches.'

whereas jacob clearly touched locke when he was pushed out of the window by his father. someone on this thread mention that he physically touched both jin and sun at their wedding.

we need a complete list of those he did and did not touch. i'm pretty sure he didn't touch kate. but did he touch hurley in the cab? hmm...

@izzy
Jacob touched Kate on the nose

sorry that anon was me

the island is underwater because of climate change, duh. water levels rose slowly enough to keep houses intact.

yeah? i thought it sounded good...

@izzy - in one of those "enhanced" episodes (with the explanations typed a the bottom of the screen), I believe that when Jacob handed him the candy bar, their fingers grazed, just barely (I remember that the screen said - Jacob touched Jack's hand). I could be wrong, but that's what I remember...

@izzy -- I thought Jacob made contact with Jack and Sawyer by touching fingers when handing over the candy bar (Jack) and the pen (Sawyer)? If he didn't touch them, you bring up and interesting question.

People used to post theories and ideas on here. Now I see mostly hater comments about the show. Im just going to read the EW's review. It has 5 pages of ideas and possible outcomes that are actually interesting to read.

Just read the recaps of "The Incident" and am now leaning towards Juliet being Jack's ex and David's mom. Forgot that in this ep in a flashback Juliet is told her parents are getting a divorce and she is furious and runs off, she doesn't understand how two people can love each other but not stay together. Her mother tells her she will understand when she is older, but Juliet shouts that she does not want to understand. This was foreshadowing Juliet being divorced as an adult...I think :)

Wait, quick question... might just be me going through my bad week and not remembering this, but when did we find out that the numbers were coordinates? I know we saw them next to names, if that's what is being talked about...

@lovesteamykeamy

the numbers were the coordinates of the mirrors in the lighthouse weren't they?

guys, when we get all the answers, the show is finished. OVER!
They have to save answers to stretch out over the remaining episodes.
If they gave us all the answers tomorrow, would we be happy? Would we need to watch anymore?

Is it me or does it seem that Locke (or could it be FLocke?) is "visiting" our "Losties" in flashsideways, much like Jacob did in flashforwards.... So far, he's interacted one-on-one with Jack, Hurley, Ben. Does this mean something?

This episode was slow,but very good. Icing on the cake? Widmore! Next Tuesday should be explosive!

@SeniorTech

Here's another question:
How was Ben changed after Richard took him to the temple and saved him after Sayid shot him? Richard told Kate he would never be the same if he saved him...so, how was he changed? I was thinking, the two "teams" are lopsided in the respect that the MIB team has all of the "altered" people-Locke, Claire, Sayid, so the Jacob team seems to only have one-Ben. Since he was saved at the temple as a child there has to be something altered...we just don't know yet.
And a new question has arisen from last night's episode. Richard said that if Jacob touched you that you have been given a gift, so what are the gifts that the O6 received, and how will they be used?
Also, I think Sun is the Kwon candidate.

Wow. A lot going on here...

I'm not agreeing that being touched by Jacob means the same for every person - so just cuz Richard lives until someone else kills him - doesn't mean the same for everyone.

And why is it that Jacob dies and now Richard wants to very badly?

Is it possible Richard had MIB in chains on the Black Rock? Maybe, just maybe?

And as I've been saying with the other timeline - what happens there, HAPPENS ON ISLAND. Ben (go Ben!) redeems himself and then on-island Ben seems to also.

This is the dovetailing of the 'two' times that I see.

And I'm more convinced that there is not one true black/white, good/bad. Jacob is not that great a soul - so I'm back again to not caring about sides.

Widmore. Did he kill Eloise for the coordinates? It's a small sub - where's the freighter with the boatload of mercenaries. He must have mercenaries...

And my reaction to the periscope was 'gee this looks like a Gilligan's island episode...' Plus re-seeing last week's episode I noticed quite the dollar store arrangement of FAKE plants surrounding Sayid as Smokie landed. Bad, bad set planning ...

@ Cynthia,
"Okay people, for the last time, the flash sideways are what happened when the Losties set off the bomb in 1976...or whenever. The flash sideways are not "what would have happened if the plane didn't crash." That's how we have Desmond on the plane, but not Shannon. How Jack has a kid, John's father is still apart of his life...ect, ect."

Posted by: Cynthia | March 10, 2010 09:50 AM

**with all due respect, I believe the flash sideways shows what would/did happen if Jacob never interferred in the Losties lives. The plane not crashing is just one of the things that changed.
Jacob started touching these people when some of them were children. So events changed way back then.

@Flashest, while you are here... Can you talk to Mr Future for me and let me know who wins March Madness. I really want some braggin' rights at work this year. :)

@LSK, I dont believe the numbers were ever mentioned as coordinates. Candidates yes, coordinates no.

@Gregg, either Miles did his little undead show off screen or maybe sometimes his little show is just for show. As Cammies pointed out, he knew Rousseau and Karl were buried after walking over there graves. Maybe he had to try harder with Jacob, since he was only a partial body. My guess is off-screen, just like him digging up the diamonds happened off screen.

hey... how did nikki & paulo die?

I really liked this episode.

I liked the sentimentality of it and how we got to see major changes in four of the main characters (Jack, Richard, Ben and Ilana).

A couple of things i find interesting are:

1. Alex's dad is not around in the sideways timeline - we can assume this as she told ben that her mom has to work two jobs just to pay the rent. But it was Rousseau that killed him in the other timeline so...what the heck happened?

2. I believe that Widmore is the person that Hurley was meant to turn the Lighthouse on for...after Jack smashed the mirrors Jacob told Hurley that 'he' meaning the person they were turning the lighthouse on for - 'would find another way' to get to the island. I think that Widmore will now get the opportunity to redeem himself to us as a good character.

I am a little disappointed in the sideways flashes because it is as though we are in season 1 all over again and each week we learn something new about our characters - i don't think we have time for this and i don't think we will get all of our answers.

There are so many questions i would like answers to but don't think we will get - like for example i thought FOR SURE the nurse would turn out to be Annie. I am getting ticked off that each week we seem to get some answers along with some more questions. I just don't get how they are going to wrap this up and satiate all of our questions??

@ fanolost

Didn't MIB watch the Black Rock approaching the island with Jacob ? (do you think that Richard had him captive at another time?)

I agree, Miles did some "dead talking" off screen. They set it up by having Miles explain to Ilana how his powers worked. He said something like, "I can only hear what they were thinking right before they die and how they die." When she wants him to read Jacob's ashes.
Then, like one scene later, he tells Ben about Nikki and Paulo dying with a hand full of diamonds.
If I had his power, I would visit marked graves just to try to figure out what is going on and who is killing everybody. News about diamonds would just be a little bonus!

Great idea for a Lost spinoff......Ben and Locke's teaching adventures in their alternate life!!

@fanolost - I didn't even think of Richard putting someone else in chains. Nice touch.

@Gina - they were buried alive, each had been bitten by a spider (one or arzt's, actually) that temporarily paralyzed them. survivors thought they were dead so they buried them.

@fanolost, walt!!!! yes, that was (supposedly) the black rock

@ Gina:

Nikki and Paulo were bitten by sipders that put them in a coma and made them look as if they had died. They were subsequently buried (alive) and died then.

I believe that Richard arrieved on the island on the Black Rock as a slave. That's why FLocke said "Nice to see out of those chains." It's also probably why he spent a minute looking at the chains in this ep...he was remembering how it was when he arrived on the island.

@ Angel2480 - I thought Ben looked like Pee Wee Herman when he ran. All that was missing was Pee Wee's "HeHe" laugh!
@ dem - my read is that If Flight 815 didn't crash they wouldn't be able to go back to 1977 to cause the time split.
@ twistie, I cried too!
I've got one foot on the Ben Wagon, my only hesitation is that I think Des is a good guy and he may side with Widmore, in that case, I don't know what to think!
Where's Sawyer - 3 shows, no sign of him.

Jack is NOT a man of faith or science...He IS the chosen one...We will soon learn that Jack's father is indeed Jacob and Jacob's father will indeed be Christian...Mark it down and remember this post people...Jack can't seem to die, whether it's trying to jump, his appendix bursting and on and on...This show is ALL about Jack and the rest are there for the ride...=)

@I_Heart_Sayid
Good catch about Locke visiting each one in the flash sideways! I hadn't thought of that!

@The Lost Man ---- I like that!

@ The Lost Man:

I agree, I think Jack is of the utmost importance...as far as Jack being of Jacob's lineage...that's yet to be proven. Nice theory tho.

did Locke encounter Kate in the flash sideways?

Jack finds faith. Ben finds redemtion. Widmore finds the island. Now if we could just find Desmond! A++++ episode. I see how things are wrapping up and I'm getting sad for the end.

I wonder if Jacob will turn out to be the "bad one" and MIB the "good one" with some kind of twist in the end like The Sixth Sense where everything you thought was upside down.

@Mr. F, thanks, thought so, just had to ask after someone said we had discovered that... Glad to know I'm still getting some things right...

I don't think Locke encountered Kate, but she is not one of the candidates either.

@lizzy, I am going to respectfully disagree with point #2. I dont think Widmore was the person Jacob had in mind when he spoke with Hurley. And for the record, Jacob never said "Him" or "He", he referred to whomever is coming as them or they.

It is my opinion that Widmore is on MiB's side, based mostly off his comment to Locke off the island. If Locke wasnt on the island then the wrong side would win. I would take a wild guess and wonder if MiB made a similar wish/promise to Widmore about returning to the island to rule it again someday.

I still firmly believe that the person coming to the island is none other than Desmond brotha. Just saving the world... :)

ohhh.... now I remember. Thanks! I always thought something more would come out of their story.

@the lost man - what about christian in the cabin? he was the one to say the losties should move the island, but isn't it creepy as hell that he could get claire to just hang out with him san-aaron?

@kruxoli
you're in my head... see last three posts. lol

@donthatekate and kruxoli

Yeah, my bad on MIB/Richard. But why is Richard so durn afeared that he now wants to die? He wasn't this way in the 50s, 60s, 70s - what gives? Is it just MIB being free? Has it always been this way? Nah, I don't buy that - cuz then it's not been a 'game' or whatever. Which goes back to cycling and millenia... pppffffttt

I'm not convinced being touched makes everyone quasi-immortal - gift can be unique to each individual. We don't know yet. Otherwise, we're looking at an island with maybe SEVEN immortals.

I believe there should be only one (and since mccloud and Ramirez aren't around...) so it's a stretch for me to think they're all immune - except for being killt by another.

Oh wait. Did Richard say THEY (Hugo/Jack) could kill him? Maybe only a candidate can kill the immortals - that IS the loophole? So they can kill Richard, that's why MIB cannot kill Jacob - but BEN CAN/did - does that make him a candidate and THAT'S WHY ILANA DOESN'T KILL HIM?

last anon was me

@the lost man - what about christian in the cabin? he was the one to say the losties should move the island, but isn't it creepy as hell that he could get claire to just hang out with him san-aaron?

@kruxoli
you're in my head... see last three posts. lol

Is anyone else becoming increasingly distressed about the people we are NOT seeing in the flash sideways? ie. Sawyer.

@ Don'THateKate:

Haha...I'm still not sure about Christian...THAT'S a subject we CERTAINLY need some answers on...

@ Mel:

We have seen Sawyer in the FlashSideways...he was on the Oceanic flight talking to Hurley...

Remember when the smoke monster visited Ben in the form of Alex and told Ben that he had to follow Locke and do what he said? Remember how surprised Locke was when Ben told him that happened and then Locke said that was good because then he wasn't going to have to convince him to kill Jacob. Is is possible that both Jacob and MIB can appear as the smoke monster or do you think Locke was just pretending that he didn't know what happened to Ben when he was visited by the smoke monster?

@ Aimers:

Not sure, but at that point, EVERYONE thought Locke was Locke, not FLocke. So, I think FLocke was trying to "keep up appearances" so to speak. The enhanced episode last night CONFIRMED that MIB and SMOKIE are one and the same...

RE: Richard. Perhaps he was once a convict in shackles on the Black Rock. Maybe getting shipped to the old Australian Prison Colony. NonLocke commented to Richard something like "good to see you out of the chains" in a previous ep.

What is it about Nestor C. the actor who portrays him? Richard is one of the most compelling characters and his story I want to know more about

Evil manipulative in charge Ben -- come back!

@mel, we saw sawyer helping kate in the first flash sideways.

here's another question, how come flocke is in a completely separate body but for christian/claire/sayid MIB mysteriousness seems to have taken over the original, uh, pod?

@fanolost, I agree with you about Jacob's touch being somewhat different to each person.

I think, in general, those who were touched by Jacob become part of the rules. They cant kill themselves and MiB/Smokie cant kill them either. That goes for everyone touched.

I think the gift Richard received was unique to Richard alone. He was set-up as the advisor to the island and to Jacob. For whatever reason Richard was not a candidate, simply an advisor.

I dont believe Jack, Hurley, etc.. are all forever young like Ricardus. But I do wonder if Hurley's gift to see dead people was possibly from Jacob. Maybe Jacob knew all along he was going to die, Miles hinted at this about Ben killing him, so he needed someone to communicate with. Just a guess..

First of all, I have loved Ben's character. He's has been such the perfect, evil, cold, calculating character. Just an absolute great character. You love to hate him. But for the first time EVER, I actually cried. I felt sympathy for him...even though he is a killer. Even though he's been horrible. The one person he loved the most, his daughter, he let die to protect the island. I dunno...I buy his remorse as real. He went from this powerful person on the island, to the dog licking at the heels of everyone else. He has no one now that his daughter is gone, his power stripped, Jacob dead. Anywho, I've enjoyed the complexity of his character.

hey tennesswalker, I like the idea of the "slaves" on the ship being criminals going to the Austrailian Prison Colony!
Hadn't thought of that!
I had forgotten there was such a place in Austrailia back then.
That changes things a little, if they were criminals and not poor pitiful innocent slaves.

@Mr. F. i stand corrected, i now believe 'they' are widmore and eloise. I used to think that he was on 'the bad side' for lots of reasons, and that the 'loophole' is two leaders being on the island at the same time, (Ben and Locke) which is why i thought widmore was trying so desperately to get to the island...But this season is playing out so differently, after Ben stayed with Ilana, i just think Widmore is not bad/MIB's side.

I don't get how Desmond would play a major role with Jacob at all.

I need to watch an old Desmond episode i think...

@Kruxoli: I think you're right that "Locke" was just keeping up appearances w/ Ben re: Smoke Monster telling him to do what he says.

This whole controversy overy Miles knowing about the diamonds is silly. He ws in Dharmaville for three years, and worked with Sawyer. It's not far-fetched to think it might've come up.

I think an important question to ponder is:

If Jacob gave Richard the gift of eternal life (without aging), what gifts did he give to the other losties? They all aged after Jacob's touch (Sawyer and Kate as examples), so maybe all of them have different 'gifts' from Jacob.
I guess the one thing they all have in common is that they can't kill themselves, but I'm sure curious what else they can do or can't do.

OK, so if we play on the penal colony theme: and a lot of scots went to Aussie land (FYI, Sawyer in real life is more scottish then Des...)

So Losties converge on Australia - all these souls that have killed and are getting redeemed (Sawyer, Sayid, Kate, Jack, Jin...)

eh... I never thought of the Aussie angle, so I'll need to ponder...

we still don't know why Richard is not aging? Because Jacob touched Kate and Sawyer when they were little.....

One of the questions I want answered is- What is the Island? It's got machinery below the surface to move the island. Where did it come from? Who built/created it? What the heck is it?????

I thought this episode was beautifully acted and written. It had a little bit of everything. Emerson is soooooo good.

To those complaining about not getting all of the answers...do you realize when we get all of the answers the show will be over right??? Just enjoy the ride, the puzzle is coming together.

This was my fave episode of the season so far!! We actually got some answers and it moved the story along. It was moving, had mystery, great acting, it a had alot. It also gave us better insight as to how the sideways world is going to eventually connect us with the island timeline.

My only complaint is: not enough Kate! My boyfriend thinks I'm going to toss him over I'm into how beautiful she is!

I looked up Australian penal colonies on wiki to get some info on the subject and what is the first name I see? JEREMY BENTHAM!

@lizzy, I am not sure either how Desmond would play a pivotal role yet, it has just been a theory of mine for quite some time. Need to work on how it could work.

I still believe Widmore is bad, and I think Ben redeeming himself and coming over to Jacob's side all but cemented that for me last night. Just opinion of course, but I am pretty sure Widmore and Eloise are rolling with MiB/Flocke and have been for sometime now.

@blondie, I mentioned a simliar thought above in regards to Hurley. I wondered if Jacob gave Hurley the ability to speak to dead people knowing he (Jacob) was going to die. Granted, Jacob didnt touch Hurley until after his dead people visions, or at least the one touch we were shown.

It would appear Jacob gave Dogen some sort of power to protect the temple and its people. Even after Jacob died, the temple was still a safe haven as long as Dogen was alive.

Wonder who else might have received some special powers...

@jaytch — i just checked lostpedia, and youre right, jacob did brush fingers with both jack and sawyer.

jacob has touched: jack, sawyer, kate, locke, jin, sun, and sayid

jacob DID NOT touch ilana when he asked her for a favor off-island (when she was heavily bandaged)

@carla: I didn't have much interest in the penal colony idea until now. hmmm!

I would love to know what is in the book Widmore bought at that auction. I know it was from the Black Rock.

Thinking about the ship taking criminals to a Penal Colony changes every idea I had about the importance of the Black Rock.

I had always thought it carried black slaves.

I know it carried explosives and mining equipment (for that era).

And it sort of explained why the guys were left chained up in the ship. Because they were maybe dangerous murderers or whatever.

I used to know a little bit of Austrailian history (my son did a school project on it. lol!) The Penal Colonies were a big part of Aussie history.
But I don't remember Jeremy Bentham.

I had alway thought the captain and crew of the Black Rock were really bad guys who needed to be punished (or their ancestors) because they were slave traders.

But now, the crew might be good guys, and the prisoners the ones to be punished or at least made to attone for their sins.

thank you thank you I_Love_Sayid or whoever first mentioned the Austrailian Penal colony!

So Mr. F,i would love to hear your theories about the origin of the island, Jacob/MIB thing. I am not not not buying into the Jacob/Esau thing - i think their story has more to do with ancient mythology than a bible story - brothers maybe - cousins possibly,

but i really hope this final season unravels the purpose of the island. I can't let go the previous hints at reincarnation and that these happenings are a cycle finally coming to a close. i fear disappointing answers though

sorry Mr. F, i am so excited someone actually responded to one of my posts!!!

So it seems minor, and may have been discussed a long time ago, however, MILES gets more and more grey hair every episode. (Jack is getting grey at the temples too)

What's up with that?

Suze: Thanks for asking. My questions (some already listed on other posts)

1. THE ISLAND: What is the island and how does it do what it does? ie, sending polar bears to the desert, dissappearing after getting moved by a giant wheel, exuding extreme magnetic forces, and all that.

2. GIANT WHEEL: What the heck is that giant wheel and who figured out how to connect the wires to make that thing work?

3. HANSO FAMILY: What about the Hanso family Foundation. Is that still a factor in the struggle for the island?

4. U OF MI: How did University of Michigan reasearcher husband and wife team and Dharma Intitiative first find out about the island - who/what served as the link? (Is this already explained in Lostpedia? I looked but didn't find out).

5. ULTIMATE PLANS FOR ISLAND? What do the characters vying for control of the island want to do with the island?

6. JACOB VS MIB: good vs evil/ dark vs light thing aside, who and what the heck are they?

7. CYCLE OF PEOPLE: Why the ongoing cycle of people coming to/brought to the island? The island has had a lot of humanity on its hidden and mysterious shores what with the voyagers that crash into it, the Dharma gang, the Losties and all of the sundry folk that show up along the way.

8. NO KIDS: Why couldn't people have kids on the island?

9. AARON: What's up with Aaron being so important. We haven't seen him for ages.

10. STATUE: what's entire the back story with the giant statue and whatever culture built it, lately seen as just the giant foot?

So happy I would be to have these answered.

lizzy, I haven't responded directly to a post of yours, but I have been reading them all afternoon, and you bring up some interesting points! Keep it up girl!

@carla: JEREMY BENTHAM...you've got to be kidding. That's incredible and I wonder if it ties in in any way.

tenneeseewalker, it was YOU who first mentioned Aussie Penal Colony. Right? thanks if it was!!!

I still believe the flash sideways are what happens when the Losties blew up the hatch and the hydrogen bomb (or whatever it was). That is how Ben and his dad still went to the island and left the island. Remember, after Sayid shot Ben, his Dad suddenly realized his loves his son and stopped blaming him for his mother's death (or stopped being angered by the sight of him because it reminded him of his wife dying).
This is why Desmond never came to the island...they didn't need anyone to push the button. This is why the plane didn't crash in the first place. Yes, there were other repercussions of the them blowing up the hatch. But Jacob and MIB would have still lived on.

Remember Juliette's last words "It worked". The Losties are now living in an alternative time line on the island.
Remember when that really smart guy- Eloise and Widmore's son- he said that time was altered on the island. He ran an experiment to show how time ran differently there.....there's a question I'd like to see answered!

I still believe the flash sideways are what happens when the Losties blew up the hatch and the hydrogen bomb (or whatever it was). That is how Ben and his dad still went to the island and left the island. Remember, after Sayid shot Ben, his Dad suddenly realized his loves his son and stopped blaming him for his mother's death (or stopped being angered by the sight of him because it reminded him of his wife dying).
This is why Desmond never came to the island...they didn't need anyone to push the button. This is why the plane didn't crash in the first place. Yes, there were other repercussions of the them blowing up the hatch. But Jacob and MIB would have still lived on.

Remember Juliette's last words "It worked". The Losties are now living in an alternative time line on the island.
Remember when that really smart guy- Eloise and Widmore's son- he said that time was altered on the island. He ran an experiment to show how time ran differently there.....there's a question I'd like to see answered!

the lighthouse is designed like some invention by Jeremy Bentham that was used to watch prisoners in a prison built around it.

Cynthia, you could be right.
I think that is why the producers never really showed if the bomb went off or not so we could all argue about what caused the 2 timelines.
I guess we will find out in the next 10 episodes. :)

@lizzy, as suzie pointed out, nice posts!

As for my theories, I have had so many of them and everytime I feel like I am getting close something changes. All I am left with is a trash can full of crumbled up paper. :(

I feel like I am getting to wrapped up in the details and not seeing the big picture. Trying to solve every little mystery and not paying close enough attention to the big picture. Need to take a step back and take a new approach. Man, am I gonna miss this crazy show.

Apparently Jeremy Bentham actually coined the phrase "penal colony" in 1803 in regards to New South Wales, Australia. He was against the practice of relocating prisoners and was the originator of a new type of prison, which allowed outsiders to observe the prisoners without the prisoners knowing they were being watched. Wow. This has to be relevant somehow. tennessewalker... way to go! I never would have thought of this angle. To have a new idea this late in the game is exciting!

@suzie stephens... sorry! we posted at the same time. good call on the lighthouse!

Cut and pasted from Wikipedia (which I personally don't trust...)

Jeremy Bentham (pronounced /ˈbεnθəm/ or /ˈbεntəm/) (15 February 1748 – 6 June 1832) was an English jurist, philosopher, and legal and social reformer. He was the brother of Samuel Bentham. He was a political radical, and a leading theorist in Anglo-American philosophy of law. He is best known for his advocacy of utilitarianism, for the concept of animal rights,[1] and his opposition to the ideas of natural law and natural rights, calling them "nonsense upon stilts."[2] He also influenced the development of welfarism.[3] He is probably best known in popular society as the originator of the concept of the panopticon.

He became known as one of the most influential of the utilitarians, through his own work and that of his students. These included his secretary and collaborator on the utilitarian school of philosophy, James Mill; James Mill's son John Stuart Mill; John Austin, legal philosopher; and several political leaders including Robert Owen, who later became a founder of modern socialism. He is also considered the godfather of University College London.

Bentham's position included arguments in favour of individual and economic freedom, the separation of church and state, freedom of expression, equal rights for women, the end of slavery, the abolition of physical punishment (including that of children), the right to divorce, free trade, usury[4] and the decriminalisation of homosexual acts.[5][6] He also made two distinct attempts during his life to critique the death penalty.[7]

OK, point of history - I never thought the ship was a slave ship because the Pacific wasn't a major route (it was heavily East Africa, Atlantic, Caribbean).

But the Brits took the Cape of Good Hope route - so unless the Black Rock was way off course (cuz I have to assume the island is between Australia and US) it wouldn't have been a natural port to call on...

Then again, this dang island could be freakin space ship or something and thus, can be moving itself all over the place. So maybe being technically historical isn't logical...

(FYI, way back when when there were concerns the floating ship could not be the Black Rock because it was an 18th century model - blogs have posted that the production folks may have inadvertently used an incorrect model - but that it is the Black Rock.)

OK, off my dork-thinking.

I have been reading the diary since season 3, but have never posted. I have to share a few things though...

@ The Lost Man--I think I remember reading somewhere that Jack wasn't even supposed to live past the first episode originally. But I do think you are right--I think he will become the ultimate "candidate" and take over protecting the island.

It does seem that we are getting WAY more questions than answers, especially now that this is the last season. But that's how Lost has always been; you have one question answered and they throw three more at you.

I've been thinking about the finale. I remember hearing either Damon or Carlton saying that they've had the last scene mapped out for a while and they are working out how everything will lead up to it. I tried to do some research right after the show last night because I couldn't stop thinking about that. I couldn't find anything, but does anyone know exactly how that was phrased? Did they say "we've had it planned for a while" or "planned since THE BEGINNING"? If the latter is the case, then I think the last scene will be Jack's eye. Somehow it's a circle and Jack's the chosen one and he ends up back at the very first scene. Help me out here! I'm thinking and typing.

okay they are making more questions and not answering questions?

where are the other Others?
where is richards crew of others?
where are the other oceanic people?
where is danielle and when are he and mom gonna pop up in one of these sideway flashes?
wheres rousseau?
did i miss something and are there people still on island 2?
what or who the heck is illana really?
seriously the writers are gonna make my head explode.

OK, and lest we forget (homage to STrek) Botany Bay was the first colony/penal colony and was started in the latter 1700s.

I cannot say if Bentham coined the phrase or not but I totally forgot who he read, commented on, and agreed with (note the names at the end...):
Influenced by the philosophes of the Enlightenment (such as Beccaria, Helvétius, Diderot, D’Alembert, and Voltaire) and also by Locke and Hume,

I consider myself a huge fan of LOST. No one talk, call or make plans with me on LOST nights. I feel that every time Daniel posts a bad review, I find myself not agreeing, and loving the episode. However, I find myself getting easily annoyed this season with certain characters-Illana, Kate and Claire going way beyond the call of duty in their "tough girl" persona, the introduction of the characters at the Temple-very lame. The scene with Alex and Ben at the library in last night's ep-such over the top writign/ acting from her. At the same time their are certain scenes that give me goose bumps just thinking about them: i.e. the fuse with Richard and Jack last night. Can't wait to see how it all plays out. Def. leaves you thinking about something no matter what. Want Desmond to show up!

This whole thing about the Australian Penal Colony is kinda interesting isnt it? The island is a place where so many of the characters are doing penance and serving time and being held against their will. Maybe we've gone off on a tangent with it but there are some intruiguing parallels here, aren't there?

Plus the Jeremy Bentham tie in is a good one.

I agree that the whole Penal Colony angle is cool, but it doens't get us any closer to answers...still, nice observation and tie-in with LOST...

It's now time for DESMOND!!!

Just thought about something! Actually, I'm sure someone else probably posted about it cause I'm kind of slow today but...

...we do have actual proof of MIB lying to Ben. He told Ben he'd get to the gun first (true) and not to hesitate in shooting Ilana because she wouldnt hesitate to kill him, but thats not what actually happened...

I think all of the Losties were originally on the Black Rock. While the Black Rock was en route to Australia, Jacob or the MIB moved the island. When the island reappeared it was right where the Black Rock was in the ocean. That is why the ship is in the middle of the island. I think the MIB found the Black Rock first and "scanned" each prisoner to find the truly broken and evil people. He left the ones who had redeeming qualities (Richard) on the ship for Jacob to deal with. I think the MIB released the bad prisoners (The Oceanic 6) into the real world where they were able to release their evil ways and corrupt the world. I also think they could reincarnate themselves over and over again. Jacob finally hunted them all down and touched them, thus bringing them back to the island where they belonged, and ended evil's rule on the world. I also think Lapidus was the original captain of the Black Rock who was able to somehow sneak off the island.

Jack not dying (the cool dynamite seen) reminded me about Michael not being able to die. Remember on Keamy's ship he talked about all his attempts to die but "it wasn't time" and he couldn't? But finally he died when someone else blew up the ship.
Question: Was Michael touched by Jacob or Flocke?

@Mr F- Mr Future says bet the ranch on Syracuse Orange. (Opinions expressed are solely those of Mr Future and are not those of this blog, Daniel, TMZ or this individual poster. The ability to time travel is an unproven phenomena and opinion is split as to whether what happens actually happens versus the existence of parallel (sideways) Universes. When placing a bet with a state licensed or unlicensed entity, persons are doing so at their own risk.)

Kristin - that is a very cool story line you just summarized. I loves it!

@flashest monk -- HAHAHAHAHAHA. Glad to have you back:)

Someone wondered whether we had ever seen the numbers used as coordinates. Were they somehow connected to that swinging pendulum of Eloise? I just can't remember...

Lostpedia mentions that Jeremy Bentham's father's name is...wait for it...John Locke!!

@ Austin Wendy:

I don't believe so, but I could be mistaken. If I remember correctly, the only information we got on the Lamppost was that it was built to determine the best possible chance to "find" the island.

yea Kristin! I like it!

I havent been able to read through all the comments so i dont know if this has been mentioned but SERIOUSLY - off the island= no daddy issues.

~Locke's dad is going to be at his wedding
~Jack is a good dad to his son.
~Ben is taking care of his dad vs. killing him

ALSO- Ben is being a good "dad" off the island by helping Alex rather than throwing her under the bus like he did on the island

Great intel on the Penal Colony. Would NEVER have gotten that. I also was mildly wierded out by sexual tension Ben and Alex!

No one has talked about Miles saying Jacob hoped he was wrong about Ben. That made me think that Jacob didn't "know/Have" all the answers

Was not surprised in the least that Richard/Jack wouldn't die. Too easy. But I agree that each "gift" is probably different.

Again, why are people assuming that NotLocke has always controlled the smoke? We discussed this earlier this season. At some point he was NOT in control of smoke. Did I miss something where we all changed thought on this?

Also, did we already discuss (many moons ago) The placement of the book The Chosen in the tent? If so, I can't remember relevance.

Sarahbaddara (spelling?) where are you today!

ps: there are many phds who teach public when trying to become a principal. But alas, I doubt that was Ben's plan. Also thought he could have counter attacked principal when principal brought up recommendation. But obviously he has little backbone off island! lol

I just remembered that someone up there telling the history of Jeremy Bentham said he had an assistant named AUSTIN. Like John Austin, or something. But same last name as KATE.

also, I remember the stories about how the Jack character was going to be killed off in the first few episodes and Kate was gonna be the star. Then audience opinion changed that.
But I have always thought Kate might end up being our VARIABLE.
Just because we didn't see her name on the cave ceiling, doesn't mean it wasn't there.

@ Liz: noticed the no daddy issues also.

It's funny how in the early seasons I kept rooting for Ben to die/get killed because of his devious, back-stabbing ways but last last night I was surprised at his blackmail attempt in the flash sideways. Even more surprising was the fact that I was rooting for him not to die and was somewhat moved in his dialogue with Ilana that lead to him joining her "team." Is Ben good after all?

Bree - brilliant! I was just trying to think of who wasn't able to kill themselves in the flashforwards.
Question - Who are the final 6 candidates?

@ YesI'mLost:

The final 6 depend on how the KWON's are counted. If they're both "candidates," only 4 other remain...those would have to be Jack, Sawyer, Hugo, and Kate (all their names were on the Lighthouse dial). If only onw KWON is a "candidate," that leaves one more spot. Sayid was "touched" by Jacob, and he was on the list that was in the big ankh that Hurley had when they first got to the temple..., so I think it's:

Jack
Sawyer
Hugo
Kate
Sun
Jin

ORRRRR

Jack
Sawyer
Hugo
Kate
Sun/Jin
Sayid

So...we have a group of individuals who cannot kill themselves (those who have been touched by Jacob/those who are still being used by the island in some way) and then certain rivals who cannot kill each other. Right now I am trying to decide whether:
1)"Jacob" candidates cannot kill "MIB" candidates and vice versa (just as Jacob and MIB apparently could not kill each other) OR
2)There are only "Jacob" candidates, and these people cannot kill each other.
At first, I was under the impression that Jacob was the only one who had candidates, especially after Flocke told Sawyer that the island was "just an island", and didn't need to be protected from anything. However, in this week's episode, Flocke told Ben that he needed someone to stay behind and take care of things after he left!! It has been strongly implied that Ben and Widmore cannot kill each other. If this has something to do with the both of them being former candidates, I guess what I'm trying to figure out is: are Ben and Widmore on the same side/whose side are they on? It will definitely be interesting to see what happens when that submarine docks!

also, on a completely different note-I too was slightly creeped out by the whole Alex/Ben thing...why does she know where her AP History teacher's house is? inappropriate!! unless he is secretly her father...lol

and finally-i was also intrigued by the idea that up until the end Jacob was hoping that he was wrong about Ben...does this mean that he was hoping Ben wouldn't kill him? because dying didn't really seem to screw up his plans too much...

@ Ardendweller:

I think was Miles meant by Jacob "hoping he was wrong about Ben" was about Ben allowing himself to be manipulated by FLocke. I think that Jacob knew that Ben was able to be manipulated, but was hoping that he was wrong. This also implies that Jacob is not "all knowing" or "omnicient." If he was "hoping he was wrong" then the future wasn't already set...know what I mean...?

what if the "he" jacob was refering to was MIB?

@ Anon:

Don't think so...Miles said he was hoping he was wrong about you...

What if Flocke can't kill Jacob and Sayid couldn't kill Flocke because he was at one time a candidate for Jacob, but Jacob decided against it and started to target other people? That would explain Flocke's animosity towards Jacob.

I have to admit that I have not read all the comments on here so I apologize if this has been said.

In the earlier comments people seemed surprised Ben has a good side or don't want to buy that he can be good. I see it differntly. All the "bad" that he did or at least most of it was due to his blind faith in Jacob (who we are under the impression is good). He sacrificed so much of his life for this man that he never even got a chance to see. So Flocke manipulated Ben and got him to the point of hatred and humilation that led him to kill Jacob. Miles said that Jacob was hoping up to the last second that Ben wouldn't go through it. After realizing what he done and who tricked him into it, he was a broken man. The broken sad man we have been seing these past few weeks. Therefore, I am not surprised at all that he chose redemption. I believe Ben was on the "good" side the entire time until Flocke influenced him and used his insecurities against him which he is doing to all the Losties he can get his hands on. Since he was weak enough to fall for it, he is no longer a candidate. That doesn't mean he can't still be a servant of Jacob in some capacity.

@ Anon:

Don't think so...Miles said he was hoping he was wrong about you...

Posted by: Kruxoli | March 10, 2010 04:47 PM

And by "YOU" Miles was referring to Ben, as he was talking to Ben.

@ suzie stephens

I think you're right about the divergence between the time line we knew and the sideways flash time line. If the divergence was when the bomb went off, how was Ben's dad Roger alive in the sideways flash? He was shot and killed before the bomb was set off. It is more likely that it is the reality of what would happen had Jacob not touched the candidates and impacted their lives.

I liked this episode. It showed a side to Ben that we've never seen before. Sort of like the "anti-Ben". I agree with a grade of B+. Now, This may have been brought up a hundred posts ago, but does anyone think the ship shown on Ben's textbook was the "Black Rock"?

My favorite episode of the season! I was sitting on the edge of my seat. I give it a B+

sorry didn't read all comments, but did anyone see the picture at ben/and his dad's house. it looksed like smokie.

I didn't see the picture at Ben's house, but someone mentioned in the Locke centric alt timeline episode that one of the posters in the job agency looked like Desmond. Prop dept. is probably throwing in that stuff for the people who are trying to look for clues (like me!)

Anyone else think that it's funny that Ben gassed his dad and now he's changing his O2 tanks?

I also got a little "creepy" vibe between Alex and Ben like some others. Who would Rousseau work for in the alt timeline?

I've just been rewatching the episodes and something hit me. In all the flash sideways we have seen the mirror images of the main characters. In Jack's he was looking in the mirror down at his scar (which for an appendix scar was actually on the wrong side!) We saw Sayid's reflection in the door to Nadia's home when he first arrived. We saw Ben's reflection in the glass door of the microwave as he waited for the food to cook (and he pointedly looked at himself in that reflection). I believe in The Substitute, John Locke studied himself in a mirror. I am trying to remember if Kate saw herself in a mirror during her episode - wasn't she hiding in the bathroom in Claire's hospital room? Will have to rewatch that one. And of course, the mirrors in the lighthouse. This has really intrigued me...Love the Penal Colony idea/Jeremy Bentham!

i'm re-thinking the concept that the flash-sideways is a non-jacob interfereing world, because if that is true, doesn't that inherently mean that MiB wins?? the character's all seem so much better off in the sideways so if jacob never interfered in their lives he must be the 'bad' one, right? it just doesn't sit well with what is going on at the island right now (especially after the bloody temple massacre carried out by MiB that left one feeling like they were watching a horror movie at the end...i can't buy that MiB is the 'good' one. Maybe the flash-sideways is Jacob finding a way for it to end 'once' and for goodness to come out of that one ending - perhaps instead of constantly 'repeating' (ie desmonds constant time repeats, farraday always dying in time travel)
LOVE miles, his humor adds so much to the show.

After this week's episode, I will never feel the same way about the song, "Catch a Falling Star".
How creepy!

@Desertfox, I was thinking along those same lines when I wrote about "anti-Ben" (for lack of a better way to express this concept) in this last episode. Look back at this season's previous episodes with flash-sideways of "anti-Kate", "anti-Jack", etc. I think the next few episodes should highlight "anti-Sawyer".

Interesting how Ben AND Locke's dads are both in their lives in a positive way in the X scenes.

@ Cynthia: The producers have specifically said in the official Lost podcast that the flash-sideways are NOT an alternate reality, and the pop-up version of the episodes has said the flash-sideways are "what would have happened if flight 815 hadn't crashed."

~~~WARNING~~~ ~~~WARNING~~~ ~~~WARNING~~~
***SPOILER ALERT*** ***SPOILER ALERT*** ***SPOILER ALERT***

TV Guide's William Keck reports:

...Sun is grappling with the revelation that she (or hubby Jin), Jack, Sawyer, Sayid and Hurley were lured to the island by the godlike Jacob with the intention of choosing one to succeed him as the island's ruler.

Cuse says he and fellow mastermind Lindelof settled on this half dozen so they could focus on "compelling" characters without making the list completely predictable. (Thus, no Kate. However, he cautions "You shouldn't assume that just because someone isn't a candidate that they're completely out of play for the future of the island.")

With Jacob's island shaping up to be a metaphor for life itself, we're talking a package of priceless proportions. "From the moment that Desmond punched in the numbers in the computer and said he was 'just saving the world' it has felt like the island does have some kind of role in the world on quite a large scale," says Jorge Garcia (Hurley).

As the hour nears midnight on Oahu's Police Beach, where TV Guide Magazine has been given an exclusive fireside pass for the opening scene of the March 23 episode, even Poseidon seems to sense that something major is about to go down, with record-high waves crashing out in the darkened sea. Sitting on stumps a few feet away are three of the six candidates: Hurley, Sun and Jack, joined by Ben, Miles, Richard, Ilana and Frank Lapidus.

Elsewhere on the island, the recently revived Sayid has taken a dark turn in his alignment with Locke/Man in Black and Claire. "It's a compromising position for Sayid," says Naveen Andrews, adding that the audience should not rule out the possibility of his character finally finding spiritual redemption. "And eventually Kate and Sawyer join our litttle band," he says. "And then somebody else..."

For the time being, Jin remains "a free agent who hasn't declared an alliance. His goal is to find his wife, so he has a bit of back and forth between the different groups." Now shooting the 16th episode, he does not yet know whether Sun or Jin is the chosen Kwan, offering only that "the candidates hold a particular value to the island, and over the next few episodes, you'll see the extent to which people are willing to go to protect these candidates."

As the rest of the final season unfolds, Garcia says the list of candidates will "get smaller," while Jin offers the grim possibility that the island may actually fail in finding a replacement ruler and thus cease to exist. (Could that be why the island was seen underwater in the season premiere?) Lindelof adamantly declines to answer if one of the six will ever, in fact, be chosen.

@ the bishop's wife-
great catch with the oxygen tanks!! you know, as i was watching that part I kept thinking that there must be some reason they were making such a big deal about it, but i couldn't make the connection :)

i noticed that everyone has been focusing on the Alex aspect of Ben's flash-sideways (choosing to either "save" her or not). however, i was just as intrigued by all of the similarities between Ben v. the principal and Ben v. Widmore. In both scenarios, Ben feels that he would be a better leader because he truly cares about the school/the island, whereas the principal/Widmore is a more cold, uncaring individual who only wants power. And in both scenarios, Ben is able to convince John Locke that he is in fact the better man for the job. Ben gets Locke's support in the school, and gains Locke's trust on the island. In both scenarios, Ben cares a great deal about children/students, and is willing to defy orders to help them (on the island, he refuses to kill Alex after Widmore tells him to, and in the flashsideways, he holds a special study session to help Alex prepare for her exam, even though "history club" has been cancelled-btw: how great would it have been if Ben had walked in on the students studying by themselves and said "well i guess i'm out of the history club":):)). Finally, in both scenarios, Ben finds out that the current leader is having an inappropriate affair (the principal with the nurse, and Widmore with Penny's mother) and uses this information to try to take over the leadership position. I just think it was really cool how similar the two situations were. All we need now is for substitute teacher Locke to decide that HE wants to be principal, lol.

I thought it was ironic that Flocke made the comment to my Richard about him finally being out of the chains, and yet the smoke monster sounds like chains...

I thought it was ironic that Flocke made the comment to my Richard about him being out of the chains, yet the Smoke Monster sounds like chains

Well Crap...I just finished typing a WHOLE BUNCH of Q&A's that gave away a WHOLE BUND of sh*t and was typing THE VERY LAST LINE when my computer ate it!!! Go by the magazine if you want some juicy scoop. Good night:)

oops, double post. stupid computer!

I tend to refer to the off-island group as XJack, XLocke, XBen, as they are in the LA X storyline.

Anyone notice the doofy music they played for Jack and Hurley walking together?

I can't stop thinking about this...maybe there isn't an "ending"--it's circular. Just because in the flash-sideways Jack and Co. don't land on the island doesn't mean there's not another island that Jacob and MIB are on. Maybe Jacob missed the opportunity to touch them and bring them to the island, but he is going after the kids--David, Aaron, Ji-Yeon, Clementine, Dogen's son, Charlie (I don't know b/c we haven't seen Jacob touch Desmond, have we?). But then their names would have been on the Lighthouse, and we don't even know if everyone still has those kids besides Jack, Claire and Dogen--and I would bet that Sun and Jin don't. Just thinking and throwing it out there in case anyone else has an idea.
BUT--Jacob and MIB's discussion said there is one ending and everything else is just progress. So maybe there IS an ending. BTW--how many people had been killed in their little "game"?

Kind of reminds me of Faraday's course-correction statement.

Rewatching the episode from last night, Dr Linus briefly glances at his reflection in the microwave as he is cooking the "organic" dinner for Big Daddy Roger. This keeping with the "Looking Glass" theme of the Sideways Universe. Gotta love this show!

Regarding Elba (keep in mind as a student I was President of the History Club and we had five members. I will be filing a law suit against Cuse and Lindelhof tomorrow for ripping off my life), True Dat, Napoleon was stripped of all power. He was allowed to keep a 600 person body guard and ruled the tiny island that had about 100,000 inhabitants. He stayed there for 300 days, then, one night, stole off for mainland France. When he arrived, we was met by the French 5th Regiment. He approached them alone and challenged them to kill him, their Emperor. Instead, they unanimously proclaimed their loyalty and he took his power back. For the next 100 days, he valiantly waged war against the European Allies, tactically out maneuvering the Prussians and British before finally succumbing to superior forces at the battle of Waterloo. This time the Allies sent him to desolate Saint Helena's island which is like a bazillion miles from any mainland. He died of stomach cancer (probably why in all the paintings he has his hand tucked into his shirt, ala Al Bundy watching TV on the couch.)

Morale of the story, I think old Ben Linus has one big play left in him. Don't count the "little General" (Ben) out yet. (Tootsie- I am not on the BenWagon, just pointing out the obvious.) Also, beware of men who tuck their hands in places where you can't see them.

@ flashest--lol at the lawsuit. I think you have a good argument there.

Racking my brain to think of who else we are going to see. Wouldn't it be a hoot if Horace was the math teacher at Ben and Locke's school? Maybe he somehow got off the island too like Ben and his dad. Would also be awesome if Walt was in a class with Locke.

The second Ben wrote "Elba' on the chalkboard it all dawned on me. Remember that the funeral home name where Jeremy Bentham was an anagram for 'flashforward'? Elba is an anagram for Abel. Jacob and MIB are Cain and Abel. Good son and bad son, both trying to please their father. That's my theory anyway.

@the bishop's wife- I was thinking earlier about your comment about what two jobs Rousseau could be holding down. Former Science team member so maybe something in that field. Plus maybe a French tutor at night. I was thinking maybe she taught Science but we all know Arnzt holds that position at Sideways High.

CIA operative and translator perhaps? Radio communications? Yeah, and if she worked at the school, Ben might know that she worked the other job.

When Richard pops out of the jungle on Hurley and Jack, I am really surprised that we didn't hear WHISPERS first. Remember the Others had that weird way of popping in and out of the jungle, always preceded by Whispers. Jack even asked Richard where he came from and he said, "not yet". I'm thinking the Others discovered early on some way of bending the three dimensional plane of the island to kind of pop in and out of places. Kind of like a mini-wormhole. Remember Daniel Faraday looking at the way light was refracted on the island and commenting how it just wasn't quite right, like it was bending just a tad. That's an ANSWER I want before the last episode. What's up with the WHISPERS and how did the Others do that stuff.

I just know because everything is "sideways" like flashest said, Desmond and Penny won't be together. It's opposite world.

@Bishops Wife- Someone commented about how did Alex know where her teacher lived. Would make sense if Mom was also on the faculty, they might see Ben socially on occasion. Still waiting for Ben's first love, Annie, to make her appearance as well.

lol at "Sideways High"

@ Desertfox-
good catch with the mirrors! i noticed how Jack kept looking at his reflection, but i had forgotten about the others

In Sideways world, wouldn't Desmond be the guy who never ran away from a challenge or a relationship. Might actuall work for Widmore and be like the rising star in his Global Corporation. Penny would find him to be BORING, especially if he had Daddy's approval.

I also think Sideways James Ford is not a Con Man. Maybe a former FBI agent who now heads up a International Security company (similar to his alter ego, LaFleur.) Might just run into Juliet in a corporate setting and ask her out for coffee after work. He talked like he knew about Con Men when he spoke to Sideways Hurley on the airplane. Doesn't mean that he is a Con Man. (Sounds like Jack talking about his tattoo, that's what it says, that's not what it means.)

Speaking of Jack, I thnk our little boy is finally growing up. He must be making Jacob sooooo proud. That scene with Richard showed that he is finally starting to figure things out. But it would take a Man of Faith to sit their with a fuse burning down on a stick of dynamite not to flinch. Interesting in Sideways World, he is still a Man of Science. I agree with Lost Man that Jack is probably destined to be Candidate Numero Uno, but I think less predictable more interesting ending would have Hurley take Jacobs place and Miles take MiB's place. Imagine how nuts Miles would get with the prospect of arguing with Hurley for all Eternity. Think he wouldn't be looking for a loophole and planning to torch him. Thus the next cycle begins.

Richard was on the Black Rock initially. Locke/MIB said to him 'the last time I saw you, you were in chains" . He was a prisoner on the Black Rock.

i was discussing last night's episode with my dad and he brought up an interesting point regarding which Kwon is the "candidate"-he thinks that it must be Sun, because Ben and Eloise were adamant about getting Sun on the Ajira flight. Jin was already on the island at that time, and so if he was the candidate, there was no real reason that she needed to go back. I know everyone was told that they needed to "recreate" the original flight as closely as possible in order to get to the island successfully (and therefore it is possible that Sun was just brought along to make sure Jack, Hurley, and Sayid got there). However, I never really believed that this was true; I always kind of thought that was just something they said to get everyone on the plane. I realize it is possible that, at some point in the future, the Losties may be given an opportunity to leave the island. So, it is possible that Sun is needed there to make Jin stay (or vice versa). However, until something like that happens, I am going to assume that Sun is the candidate.

and they had to get Frank there too--because he was supposed to be on 815 but he overslept.

@flashest--See? Desmond would be totally different and not with Penny, you are right. It breaks my heart. That's one thing I want from Lost--Desmond and Penny together in the end.

Jacob touched both Sun & Jin at their wedding- so I wonder what Jacob really knows- since he thought he knew Ben as well. Someone brought up the Cain & Abel angle & I have to think that's a possibility because everyone answers to someone and all those names in the lighthouse (and the creepy cave) came from someone...who could it be...the dad of all daddy issues I bet. Also, I suspect the island sinks to protect the world from Flocke and his followers- those who Jacob touched a.k.a saved get their chance at redemption which we are witness to in these flash sideways story lines. And, this I have to get out there- why for pete's sake are they holding MIB/Flock's character's name hostage? His name better be earth shattering since it's been the carrot dangling in our faces all season thus far...looking super forward to Ricardo's episode :) Love the eye liner/dark lashes- this is the true mystery of the island :)

Desmond and Penny need to be together... they give me hope that there's a chance for me! ;)

But really, they do need to be together.

@Tony C., I don't think Ben's dad was killed by a gunshot at the Incident, he was gassed by Ben later, during the Purge, if I remember right...

@ the bishop's wife

HOORAY! We ALL want DESMOND and PENNY together in the end.

In an interview last year, the producers said that DESMOND was the most popular character on the show, and they felt that they owed the audience the "DESMOND/PENNY" re-connection that they had on her yacht with the Oceanic 6.

Let's hope they make their story the "happy" one......

@Flashest monk...Rousseau would be an ideal candidate to be teaching wilderness, hiking, and camping classes. An outdoor school that offers the students hands on training, like how to set booby traps, and is also a character building experience.

Just read all the posts. Thanks everyone for the belly laughs ! :)

@izzy
I believe you are mistaken. The enhanced episodes confirmed that Jacob touched both Jack and Sawyer (hence the camera zoom). We are not sure if Illana received a touch (how'd she end up all battered in the hospital anyway?)

@vynyltap
What we know is that the candidates have a corresponding number but we don't know why. We also don't know why these numbers were the serial number to the hatch door, the mileage on Hurley's car or why they came from out of the middle of the ocean (Rousseau's team heard the numbers and proceeded to the island to investigate and the crazy guy from the mental hospital who Hurley got the numbers from and who's partner killed himself to get away from them). Yes we know that the smoke monster is MIB but I don't think you can even begin to call that an answer. Are we sure MIB has been all the "dead people"? If so, why did Illana say MIB is now stuck as Locke? Plenty of questions, I could go on and on!

Query #1-
In season 4, after Keamy kills Alex and Ben leaves the island, Ben gets to Widmore's penthouse. Widmore ask if Ben is there to kill him and Ben responds something like "You know I can't do that." So I wonder how that factors in to the who can kill whom story line.

Query #2-
During the study session with Alex, Ben's text book is on a page about the "East Indian Trading Company". Were they associated with the Black Rock? I recall that name being mentioned in the season 3 episode about Desmond's constant. Widmore was buying the Black Rock's log book at an auction. Was it being sold by that company?

One more just for fun-
Was FLocke's promise to Ben to be in charge of the island a real promise or was he using it just to get Ben to try and kill Illana? I ask because FLocke told Sawyer that it was just an Island and it didn't need protecting. I know "in charge of" and "protecting" aren't the same thing but I was just wondering.

@ Kruxoli

haven't finished reading all the comments, but in regards to your post to YesI'mLost about the 6 candidates, at this point it would seem Ilana is unaware Sayid is claimed/joined MIB. Also it doesn't appear Ben has mentioned it. That in mind, Jarrah is still counted among the six, so it would be:

8 Reyes
15 Ford
16 Jarrah
23 Shepard
42 Kwon
51 Austen

Ilana says that 6 remain, and confirms Sun's last name is Kwon, then mentioning that she's not sure if its her, Jin, or both she's suppose to protect. So I'm assuming by saying there are 6 left, she means 6 names. So if it turns out that its both of them, it would still be 6 names but 7 people. Although by the time that is known, I'm sure she'll know Jarrah is claimed and is not a candidate any longer.

Regarding the Penal Colony stuff. Pure genius. I'm reading all this info about the colonies and Jeremy Bentham and there are too many coincidences to actually be coincidences. Just researching this real Jeremy Bentham you find references to alot of the same names as on island. Locke, Rousseau, Dawson, Hume, etc. Reference to someone named Blackstone (Black Rock). He was mainly prominent during the Napoleonic Wars (Napoleon referenced in last nights episode). And a reference to a guy named William Charles Wentworth (Charles Widmore).

Okay, sorry, I got carried away. But I don't think its just a coincidence, considering they also made Ben a European History teacher. I have a feeling we're gonna see Jack's son and Walt in this history club as well possibly. I know Walt would technically be a bit young with it being 2004 and all, but he's "special" and might be advanced.

@ Flashest monk

We won't be seeing Annie or getting answers on that. I can't remember where it was, but I remember reading an interview somewhere and that said to be one plotline/question that won't be answered.

@ flashestmonk, who was number four on that list, did we ever see?

maybe when jacob thought he hoped he was wrong about ben, that he wasn't referring to the fact that he was about to get killed.

maybe he knew something was going to happen to ben in the future (i doubt it was the ilana incident, either) that ben needs to choose the right side for... whatever that is.

i liked someone's post earlier about all the kids of the oceanic 6, wouldn't that be a trip!

oh ALSO,

what the heck was the deal with eloise saying locke HAD to be wearing christian's shoes?

does that have something to do with flocke being stuck? or inhabiting a new version of locke in the first place?

How did Hurley recognize Richard? He said he saw Richard 30 years ago... when in the 1970's did they meet?

We probably won't see Jack's son in Ben's history group, he went to a private school, Ben taught at public school.

@donthatekate, #4 was Locke, Flocked crossed him out in the cave with Sawyer.

where are the other Others?
where is richards crew of others?
where are the other oceanic people?
where is danielle and when are he and mom gonna pop up in one of these sideway flashes?
wheres rousseau?
did i miss something and are there people still on island 2?
what or who the heck is illana really?
seriously the writers are gonna make my head explode.

Posted by: lost in la | March 10, 2010 01:53 PM

@lost in la, I think the other Others and Richards Others are one in the same. When the freightor folk came to the island, the others made there way to the temple. Now some went with Flocke and the rest died.

All the other Oceanic folk are dead I believe. Most died in the freightor explosion and the rest died during the time flashes in the flaming arrow fight with the others. Minus our Losties of course.

As for Faraday and Eloise, your guess is as good as mine, sure we will see them sometime in the flash sideways.

Rousseau is dead, her and Karl were shot dead when Alex was captured by Keamy and crew.

It would appear that Flocke and his evil army are gathering at the Hydra island, island #2.

Dont know much on Illana other than she has a strong connection to Jacob and seems to understand some of what is going on.

@Flashest... Syracuse it is, felt like deja vu when I read that. :)

@LSK, good call, Roger Linus was killed by Ben during the Purge.

@desertfox, I believe Kate used a mirror in the auto shop, after getting the cuffs off. When she was going thru Claire's bag and came across the stuffed animal.

Someone brought this up to me before and I'm not sure if it's correct. A few episodes ago, when they were off the island, Jack had a scar on his side and his mother told him that he had his appendix taken out when he was eight. However, Juliet also removed his appendix when he was on the island. How did he still have his appendix if he had them removed as a kid?

Thinking about Juliet's line about "going dutch" and how some of us think that she's meeting with Sawyer. Anyone remember what Charlotte was saying in her "flashes"? Maybe she was with someone in the flash sideways.

@boundsoul - yeah, I think East India Trading Co. is gonna figure in with Black Rock - though they were not a 'penal' shipping line. And as said above - the routes to/from Australia were around Africa, not SAmerica - thus running into the island isn't clear (unless island moves).

@FMonk - oh gosh. I was head of the History honorary in College (Phi Beta something I think) - and we had, um, 5! HAHAAHAHAHA - I'd would have picked Prof. Ben for every class I could get...

kate is NOT a candidate - so I've still got two slots open: Jack, Hugo, Sawyer, Kwon...

I'm hoping to see Eloise in the coming weeks.

FYI - next week is SAWYER-centric... yea!

If those touched by Jacob cannot kill themselves, then Locke could not have committed suicide in the hotel room even without Ben interrupting him.

@Good Omen - I don't think we know that the touch is universal... this is what Richard's fate was - but that doesn't mean each other gift is the same.

Jacob touched Kate - she's not a candidate - so I'd think her gift, if any, is not quasi-immortality.

I interpreted Richard's fate to be that he didn't age (was immortal to a point). Jack proved with the dynamite test that none of the candidates could kill themselves. We know Locke was a candidate at one point, and that his inability to kill himself was consistent with the other candidates.

This is what I found on Bentham, and two groups, the Jacobins and the Feuillants. Interesting, could tie together the two groups on the island…and there are a few familiar names 

During French Revolution, Bentham was declared an honorary citizen of France and was an outspoken critic of the revolutionary discourse of natural rights and of the violence which arose after the Jacobins took power.

Jacobins: Most famous club of the French Revolution. Revolved around the creation of the Citizen. Citizenship is the expression between individual and General will, As commented in Jean-Jacques Rousseau's 1762 book The Social Contract, "Citizenship is the expression of a sublime reciprocity between individual and General will". This view of citizenship and the General Will, once empowered, could simultaneously embrace the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.The club was radicalized by the departure of its conservative members to form their own Feuillants Club in July 1791. This club saw far less success than the Jacobins, surviving barely a year before its members were arrested and tried for treason.[8]

Declaration of the Rights of Man: concepts in the declaration come from the Age of Enlightenment, such as individualism, the social contract as theorized by the English philosopher John Locke and developed by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and the separation of powers.

Feuillants Club: political during the French Revolution. That came into existence from a split within the Jacobins. The Feuillant party was formed to protect a conception of power. Their goals were to neutralize royalist by gaining the support of the moderate right, to isolate the democrats from the majority of patriotic deputies, to withstand Jacobin influences, and to terminate societies that threatened the nations independence of the National Assembly.

If you want to know who the "6" are, you might want to refer to my post of 3/10/10 at 7:01PM. Be forewarned, the post is full of spoilers:)

@saffyreblue - Bentham promoted 'utilitarinism/happines-making'[see more: http://www.utilitarianism.com/bentham.htm]:

Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, a work written in 1780 but not published until 1789. In it he formulated the principle of utility, which approves of an action in so far as an action has an overall tendency to promote the greatest amount of happiness. Happiness is identified with pleasure and the absence of pain. To work out the overall tendency of an action, Bentham sketched a felicific ("happiness-making") calculus, which takes into account the intensity, duration, likelihood, extent, etc of pleasures and pains.

In Bentham's theory, an action conforming to the principle of utility is right or at least not wrong; it ought to be done, or at least it is not the case that it ought not be done. But Bentham does not use the word 'duty' here. For Bentham, rights and duties are legal notions, linked with the notions of command and sanction. What we call moral duties and rights would require a moral legislator (a divine being presumably) but theological notions are outside the scope of his theory. To talk of natural rights and duties suggests, as it were, a law without a legislator, and is nonsensical in the same way as talk of a son without a parent. Apart from theoretical considerations, Bentham also condemned the belief in natural rights on the grounds that it inspired violence and bloodshed, as seen in the excesses of the French Revolution.

Bentham at first believed that enlightened and public-spirited statesmen would overcome conservative stupidity and institute progressive reforms to promote public happiness. When disillusionment set in, he developed greater sympathy for democratic reform and an extension of the franchise. He believed that with the gradual improvement in the level of education in society, people would be more likely to decide and vote on the basis of rational calculation of what would be for their own long-term benefit, and individual rational decision-making would therefore, in aggregate, increasingly tend to promote the greater general happiness.

@good omen - right you are - too many 'gifts' not enough reading... eh...

@MrF- Interesting coincidence, Syracuse is Daniel's Alma Mater. If I thought for a nano-second that he read his own blog, Mr Future's prediction may lift him out of his depressed state. Maybe Jacob touch the Syracuse team and save Daniel.

@jaytch - yeah I read that and it's still unclear... because there is only one Kwon - so ... and then the turning of Sayid... well, thanks! That's where I got a plethora of other good info...

@ Fanolost........THank you!

Starting to think the "Jacobins", (thats what I'm gonna call them from now on!) aren't necessarily on the right side.....maybe :)

One more thing I found on the Jacobins (the ones in history), they ran the "reign of terror", which were mass PURGES of enemies of the revolution and those disloyal to the republic.

Didn't Ben purge the Dharma people because Richard told him to? And wasn't it Jacob that told Richard to have this done? Hmmmmm.....

@fanolost -- I guess I'm a little thick today:) I don't understand the confusion. Sun, Jin, Jack, Sawyer, Sayid, Hurley. That's six. Just because two of them have the last name doesn't mean they have to be counted as one.

@saffyreblue - yeah, and you could also say Napoleon 'purged' a bunch of Frenchmen:

In the dreaded march to/from Moscow - where over 100k frenchmen were lost - Napoleon tagged 'tall' frenchmen as elite and conscripted them - so many of them were wiped out that, yes, the French gene pool for 'tall' was effectively exterminated and the French in the 19th century were shorter on the whole, then they had been. Actually, it prevailed into the 20th century, but as time/borders etc. meld together, 'pure' french blood is rare.

OMG - did the geek-meter just go off the charts?

@jaytch - well, yeah, Ilana says 'I don't know which one I am to protect.' So I take that as it is ONE of them - so I won't put more than one Kwon in the mix. And I don't think Sayid is in the mix anymore cuz he's, um, dead and resurrected.

The only thing is: did Ilana know that when she made the comment? I don't think so - so I wonder if her 'count' is off...

But I don't see the six there - and that's why I hesitate to believe what the writers/producers throw out at times... och!

@ Fanolost:

LOL...geek-meter...Napeoleon was the originator of "little man syndrome"...little men that act superior with beer balls to compensate for their height.

Napoleon was mentioned in the last ep, but I just found it strange that Jacobins were famous for purges...maybe this is where they got the name Jacob for one of the "leaders"? LOL

do we even know if des and penny are alive. didn't ben have a heck of a fight (at their boat) before he boarded aljair airlines. surely something went down there?

@espen, we saw what happened to Des and Penny after the fight in one of the episodes. They took him to the hospital and we saw the two of them in recovery later, Desmond reminding Penny he promised he'd never leave her again.

@fanolost -- point taken:)

When Ben tells Ilana that "No one will have me", the words have such a ring of truth. So many people abandoned Ben. His mother, his father, the Dharma Inititive, the Others, Juliet, Jacob...

When Ilana says "I'll have you", it was so touching, and brought a tear to my eye. It was a great moment.

Do you think that Ben has come full circle. After all, he did offer Arzt his parking spot, and he made a selfless choice in helping Alex... It is interesting that Ben feels paternal towards Alex on and off the island.

@sk - I don't know if it's full circle - but all the Losties changed on island as their off-island counterparts resolved things (Jack, Ben, Sayid, Kate) Jack now embraces his leader role (having changed his behavior with son), Sayid is turned (as his character returned to being a killer), Ben (after taking the high road with Alex/principal position)...

I canna wait for Sawyer hour...

In the category of "sometimes a tunnel is just a tunnel".....

There have been a lot of characters that some on here are wondering about, and if we will see them again...such as BEN's childhood girlfriend, ANNIE.

Her character obviously had an effect on how BEN grew up, however, I would not expect the writers to go back to all we have seen.

I only use ANNIE as an example --- there are plenty of other characters who we saw and seemed important at the time, but really not all that vital to find out about them.

Same is sort of true for VINCENT --- we have seen what happened to him ---he was with ROSE and BERNARD.

So while we may or may not see VINCENT again, and he may or may not be vital to the conclusion of the series, we at least know where he is in 2007.

@ Mr F 1202pm post yesterday
you said you think Widmore is on MIB side. Do you think he knows about the MIB/smokey. He might be coming to the island to help Locke, but Locke as he knows him is dead. So there might be a conflict when they reunite.

@Good Omen, it would have been interesting to see what would have happened had Locke tried to kill himself. I am with you, I to believe he couldnt have, the rope would have broke or something. He needed Ben to do the deed.

But I am also with fanolost to an extent. I think there is a difference between gifts from Jacob and the touch from Jacob. I believe the touch protects those people from being killed by MiB/Smokie, and killing themselves. Where as the gifts from Jacob are unique to each person.

Richard was given a gift of being forever young or something to that effect. His role was an advisor to the island people. Probably the middleman between Jacob and the leader of the others.

Dogen was given the gift or being the temple protector. He was able to keep Smokie out of the temple and keep those in the temple safe. They were all safe until Sayid killed Dogen, allowing Smokie to roll in and kill em all.

I have wondered out loud if Hurley was given the gift to communicate with the dead. As Jacob may have foreseen his own demise at the hands of Ben, and needed someone to communicate with after he died.

Still trying to figure out other possible gifts for the Losties...

maybe he found the island by having a homing beacon on the Ajira plane?

@ cynthia from yesterday.
You said that Ben and father left after the hbomb went off. well once ben was shot he was given to the others/richard. So how could he have left with his father. At that point and time he wasnt with the dharma people?

@ Mr. F and fanolost:
I agree that the gifts "given" by Jacob are different than being touched by him. I just hadn't really thought about Locke's attempted suicide as being impossible without the help of Ben until this last episode. I also think it was interesting that Ben killed Locke, MiB took on Locke's likeness, and then influenced Ben to kill Jacob. It convolutes the good/evil/Jacob/MiB dynamic for those that believe that's what is going on.

@Gregg, maybe I am on the wrong trail here, but I do believe Widmore and even Eloise are on the side of Smokie.

I am wondering if Smokie didnt make a deal with Widmore before he was exiled, similar to the offer Ben received. One day Widmore would once again be the leader and protector of the island.

It has always bugged me that Eloise has always known how to get back to the island, and she and Widmore had a relationship. For a man so desperate to reclaim "his" island, why was Widmore so patient in waiting to return?

Not to mention Widmores line about a war is coming and if Locke is not on the island, the wrong side will win. How does he know who wins or loses? How did he know to wait in Tunisia for Locke to show up?

Now add in Eloise's insistence on the dead body of Locke must be on Flight 316 and it makes you wonder what she knew as well. What if MiB offered her a chance to save her son? She already tried once with the H-bomb, and failed, would she just give up?

Starting to think that maybe, nothing solid yet, that Widmore and Eloise are in fact Adam and Eve in the caves. Hmmmm.

@jayatch
"And eventually Kate and Sawyer join our litttle band," he says. "And then somebody else..."

oooh i like hearing this it matches up with my idea that jin meets up with them.

Does anyone think that Jacob foresaw his own death. May be why he was on a mission to get the candidates to the island, especially Hurley and Miles. Both Miles and Hurley can now communicate with Jacob and relay important info to the others.

@Mr. F

I do not think Eloise is on smokie's side. I think she wants it to end like Jacob does so she can have a life where she does not kill her own son. That is why she helps the O6 get back. The island chose to flash dead locke into the present not the past for a particular reason. Just my thoughts.

@ Kruxoli - I doubt Hugo is a candidate. Remember Jacob had to/and still does tell Hugo what to do. remember from the lighthouse. jacob said something to the affect of "some people need a stranger in a taxi to tell them what to do, while others need to find it out for themselves.(both hugo/jacob looking at jack) my opinion still remains jack v sawyer

@ Gregg:

I think Hugo certainly is a candidate. He was on the Lighthouse dial, he was on the list from the ankh, and Jacob told him that he was a candidate...remember when Hugo was looking for the secret passage and Dogen found him? Jacob told Hugo to tell Dogen that he was a candidate and could do whatever he wanted...

@Mr. F - Widmore saying the 'wrong' side will win: who's wrong side? His? Well, wouldn't his side be the WRONG side for Jacob's band?

It's all perception - Jacob is not 'good' - my goodness, he/it manipulates just like MIB - he just doesn't cop to it as openly as MIB.

@good omen - if it's as simple as black/white, good/evil - it could have been wrapped up long ago. I have not felt it's that simple in all these seasons.

I've mulled over religion theories between the two: who is more right or more wrong (as these words are tossed about in some fringe organizations). There are undercurrents of organized religion tomes this season... but I cannot see ABC allowing for this kind of 'heresy' so have stayed off posting anything.

But what I'm getting at is the heart of Lost is more about perceptions/moral/ideals, imho, of course... or it is at least my hope...

Duh, no actually the other person that joins them is Whidmore. But it does mention Jin keeps going back and forth between groups hmmmm

In my opinion we still for sure need to see:

- Sawyer centric episode
Ilana centric episode (I am REALLY waiting for this one)
- Desmond centric episode
- Sun & Jin centric episode

@Gregg - you're saying the final matchup is Jack/Sawyer - but why negate that we do have up to six remaining candidates? They've not all turned/been killed, or otherwise tossed from the 'leader' ring at this point.

Hugo is a candidate. He may not succeed, but he's a candidate.

I also think Ben might just come back... he seems still to be the one who loves the island most.

@Glee the first - Sawyer is next week....

@fanolost -
I'm not sure its as simple as good vs. evil/black vs. white either. One of the best things about the show is that you can really build a case on any number of theories (ex. free will vs. pre-destination) and find the evidence to support it.

I think the writers have done a great job in doing thorough research, convoluting story lines so there is no clear answer, and, as frustrating as it may be sometimes, not answering all of the questions for the audience. I love the "aha" moments that come from watching the episode, thinking back on previous episodes in light of the newest one, and reading to see what others saw/remember that I might not.

@ Fanolost:

Thanks for the support. I agree, I think this will come down to Jack and Sawyer, but Hugo is still a candidate. I'm still undecided about Ben...and Sayid for that matter. Ilana KNOWS there are 6 left, but I wonder if she's aware of Sayid's..., um..., current "state of mind." I don'r see how she could know, which leads me to believet that she counts JARRAH as a candidate. Shepard, Ford, Jarrah, Kwon, Reyes and Austen...no?

@bb -- FYI -- producers guarantee we see Vincent:)

@kruxoli - I am not sure if Ilana's count is accurate, but we know (SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER) that Austen is NOT a candidate...

So I've got Sawyer, Jack, Hugo, a Kwon, apparently Sayid (though I don't get this), and still that leaves an opening... Widmore? heheheh

With all this talk about Smokey and Widmore being back, in made be think about when Keamey came to the island to collect/kill Ben. Smokey came to the rescue and killed some of Keamey's team, so at that time I thought Smokey was Ben's pet - but obivioulsy not - so why did Smokey, help them at that time?

@ Fanolost:

Yeah, just read that post again...So, if Austen is out, could it be:

Shepard, Ford, Reyes, Jarrah, Kwon, S., Kwon, J.? Or do the Kwon's count as one? Cuz if they do, then we have another candidate that's unaccounted for...could be Ben, or Whidmore...or LawnMower Man...

@shellie - I'm having a hard time assuming MIB has always been smokie.

Ben was able to call up smokie - so he had some sort of arrangement with it - but I do remember Ben not being thrilled about unleashing the monster - sort of like freeing it.

But then, smokie had been around the whole time - so it didn't need to be 'free.'

I just remember Ben not wanting to do it, but thinking he had to...

and so I am absolutely no help in trying to figure this one out... ppffttt

@Kruxoli, for whatever reason it seems Kate is NOT a candidate. Despite us being shown Jacob touching her (nose) and the name AUSTEN appearing on the lighthouse dial (#51). I am still holding out hope she plays a pivotal role in the ending of the show. The secret candidate.:)

I tend to believe that Sayid not joining up with Illana and crew may have given Illana a clue that Sayid had changed. So for now, I am not counting JARRAH in the remaining 6 candidates, opinion only.

@fanolost, similar to Good Omen, I dont think it is boiling down to good vs evil. I think that is what the writers want us to think, probably so they can pull the rug out from under us and go AH-HA, Gotcha! Just my opinion of course.

@kruxoli - I count Kwon as one (either or.. so they don't get two spots).

Criminy, forgot about lawnmower Jeff... he could turn out to be the longshot and I know he's important cuz we're all clear he should have been the pilot (and killt by smokie).

So does Flocke want him dead now since he knows he's on island?

And if Sayid is out of it - can we insert a newbie? I suppose not. We seem to lose candidates, and not replace.

@Mr. F - yeah I've never thought is was good/evil... and get all in a tizzy when white rocks/black rocks on scales are shown .... it needs to be deeper.... (thus the drivelings I posted above).

But as for Sayid - you're thinking Ilana knows so her 6 would not include him? Interesting...

@ Kruxoli/Fanolost - I hear what you are saying, but my end theory is Jack v Sawyer with kate being a factor.
All i'm saying is that Hugo is Jacobs messenger boy.. just like richard and even Ben. So if Hugo was truly a candidate, he would be making these decisions w/o help. a leader must make decisions not rely on someone telling them what to do. That is all Im saying. In my opinion, hugo is out.

I think all of the candidates are male, for some reason.

@ Gregg:

Hugo cannot be counted out as a candidate, regardless of whether or not Jacob tells him what/what not to do. A candidate is a candidate. I don't think that Hugo will be the "winner" so to speak, but he cannot be counted out as one of the six.

Call me crazy, but my favorite part of last night's episode was FINALLY hearing the stunning Oceanic 6 Theme by Michael Giacchino at the end. Been waiting to hear that again all season.

Sorry for the edit. But it's important to correct. That Michael Giacchino composition is "There is no Place Like Home", not "Oceanic 6 Theme".

@fanolost, yeah I think Illana knows Sayid has chosen a side already. I dont think they would have just left him at the temple if she thought he was still a viable candidate for Team Jacob. (Lord, now I sound like a Twi-hard...Team Jacob, doh!).

Of course, I am still holding out hope for my main man HUME to make his grand reappearance. Come on Dez, where are you?

On the Desmond note, remember back when Locke was trying to get into the hatch and banging on the door? The light came on and John took it as a sign. Later on Dez and John discussed that night, and Desmond admitted he was ready to kill himself. Is it possible Desmond was touched by Jacob and is a candidate? The minute he decides to kill himself a stranger begins banging on the hatch door, stopping him from doing it. Hmmm.

@ Kruxoli - we had a misunderstanding. Originally, i wasnt discounting Hurley as a candidate, i was simply saying he wont be the chosen one. but the more i think about my theory, I am now feeling like he's not a candidate at all. despite what jacob says. we will see soon enough

i was a little confused as to why Ilana told Sun that there were still 6 candidates left...Ben did tell her that Sayid had just murdered Dogen and the interpreter...

also, everyone is saying that people who have been touched by Jacob cannot commit suicide OR get killed by MIB...how do we know this? has MIB ever actually tried to murder a candidate? i accept the whole "can't commit suicide" thing, but i don't see why MIB wouldn't be able to kill one of them.

I loved this episode!

Have you been to the podcast website hosted by Jorge Garcia and his GF, Beth? This week Michael Emerson is a guest... check it out...

http://geronimojacksbeard.blogspot.com/

@ Gregg:

I agree, I don't think Hugo is the "one" either, but I still think he's a candidate...

@Gregg and Kruxoli-

lately, i have begun to suspect that Hurley will be the new Richard...thoughts?

@Mr. F - good memory on the saving of Des... hhhmmm could he be a candidate? Interesting. 9 epis to go and we've not seen Sawyer in 3, Des at all, Eloise at all... (I know Sawyer is up next)... it's interesting that's for sure.

@ardendweller - I think there's a lot of speculating going on about the gifts of Jacob and the touch of Jacob. Richard said he didn't age from Jacob's touch. Did he also say he couldn't kill himself?

If so, then isn't RICHARD a candidate? Or you get to keep the the gifts, as parting gifts... and he is no longer a candidate?

See, that's what I'm not getting - Ilana may need to protect him... but didn't she let him be dragged off by Flocke?

@ Fanolost:

Kate was touched, but she's not a candidate. So, going along those lines, Jacob's touch may impart one with a "gift," but it doesn't necessarily make them a candidate.

@ Ardendweller:

That's what I've been thinking! Hugo takes Richard's place as the island advisor...

@kruxoli, that makes sense. I hope they clarify this soon... but it's Lost, what am I thinking/??

I thought Miles might become advisor...I suppose if the cycle continues, Hugo and Miles can both be, for different 'sides.'

sorry - I couldn't read all the posts but I scanned them and I wonder - Lindelof & Cuse gave an interview a while back about how once the series ended they would be done with LOST - BUT someone else might go on with the characters in a movie or in books, etc. If they see that as a possibility, it seems like they are acknowledging there will be plenty "left over" to work with - just for someone else, not them.

If there is a new cycle--I think somehow Jack and Locke will be the new Jacob and MIB and maybe that's where it will leave us, with them on the beach talking about backgammon.

@ TheBishop'sWife:

That senario might be a little difficult, as Locke is dead and buried...

I mean Flocke--Jack will have to die and whatever Jacob is will take over his body too.

Anybody remember the original Twin Peaks series? It was created by David Lynch. Then he left and someone else carried on with some of the same actors/characters, settings, storylines - but it was never the same or as good. I think that's how it will be if someone else carries on with Lost, without Lindelof & Cuse.

@Berky - Twin Peaks rocked. And yeah the sequel didn't.

And no one will be able to do an 'alt-Lost.' But I'd welcome a movie - I'd gladly sit through hours...

@ Mr. F. - I forgot about Desmond's attempt that was interrupted by Locke. According to Lostpedia, Hurley was thinking about it and almost jumped off a cliff but was interrupted by Libby.

It could be argued that Charlie's death was suicide, since he was warned about it by Desmond, but not actually the one responsible for flooding the Looking Glass.

Charlie wasn't a candidate, and wasn't touched by Jacob that I know of, but just made for an interesting comparison.

I think Desmond is on that Sub.... I also think that Des helped Widemore find the Lamp Post, and we will be treated to a Flash Back of that scene where we see RIP Eloise, Penny then gets an information download from new friends Charles/Desmond....

ps Claire is Penny's mother :)

I haven't had a chance to read every comment so I'm sorry if this is repeating something but about Miles and the diamonds: I thought no one but Nicki & Paulo knew about the diamonds. Maybe I'm wrong about that. But also there have been instances of Miles getting info without trying - the scenes we've seen with him concentrating hard, on the ground, etc have been when he's *trying* to get info from the dead rather than having it just come to him. In the scene where his mom was renting the apartment when he was a little kid he just "heard" the dead guy in the other apartment. So I think he was able to "hear" Nicki and/or Paulo without trying and knew about the diamonds AND the fact that they were buried alive - remember, the Losties had no idea they were buried alive, because they were paralyzed by the spider bites.

@Good Omen, nice catch on Hurley, forgot about the "Dave" episode. Libby showed up just in the nick of time.

So we have quite a few examples of it...
* Locke stopping Desmond
* Libby stopping Hurley
* Ben stopping Locke
* Car crash stopping Jack

This new and final season so far is a joke. As someone who has watched Lost from day one, I'm so disappointed. Maybe my expectations are too high, but after last season how could they not be? Last season was on the edge of your seat thrilling, exciting...They are just wasting time now until the last 5 min.

@Mr. F. - I can't take credit for it, Lostpedia helped.

@ Thomas:

Could you please PLEASE explain how in the hell Clair is Penny's mom? I can't make any sense of it...

@Sparkle - I love Lost no matter what. But I'll admit - these Season 6 episodes will probably not end up being favorites. I think it is the fault of the flash sideways. I can see where they are a good story-telling device, and different from time-travel and flashbacks. But they are sort of boring because they are so normal compared to Island life.

HaHa on the way Ben runs. I was dying laughing when he took off. There is no way in real life he would have beat her to the gun.

Did anyone else think that Ben got some of that "Old Ben" sparkle in his eyes when lawnmower man told him he was the original intended pilot for 815? It makes me wonder if he might use that info to his advantage by passing it along to MIB.

Kudos to whoever brought up the idea that the 1st episode being called "The Pilot" could mean have more to do with Lupidus rather than the start of the show. I am on board with that idea! When do we get to know more about him? I think he is the dark horse here.

@ Mr. F - I too have a wastebasket full of crumbled paper.
Fanolost - I'm liking the whole Australia Penal Colony tie in.
I want to make a point and ask a question.
Point - Jacobs people are "candidates" while Flocke "recruits" people...they have definitely made a distinction. Again, free will comes to play.
Re: Widmore - I am leaning toward thinking he's on Flocke's side (assuming Widmore doesn't know that Flocke isn't Locke). I'm on Team Jacob I think he is the lesser of the two evils.
My question is: We assume that the child Widmore had off island is Penny, however, what if it turns out that he's actually Jack's father (through an affair)? That could be why Christian has such anomosity toward Jack. I don't know why that popped into my head.
@ ardendweeler re: Jacob's death - whether or not Jacob knew Ben would do, he had FAITH that Ben would not go through with it (thus Miles reading) and he sacrificed himself as Jesus did. We drew the paralell to Sayid= Judas. How about Ben=Peter (deny, deny, deny)?
One more point - When Lapidus talked why he didn't get on 815, Ben quipped "The island got you here anyway"! That was pretty creepy. Not pet-cemetary Claire "Catch A Falling Star" (which Ive been hearing in my head for the last week now), but creepy just the same.

Here is my theory. In the final episode Jack will be killed. Jacob will take over his body. Jack and Locke will battle it out. It will be a role reversal as Locke will represent freewill while Jack will represent destiny. Jack will win but be mortally wounded and whichever of the remaining candidates left standing will take over. I don't see any way they can take down MIB without Jacob's help.

@LostLover - good thoughts on recruit/candidates.

Doesn't Eloise know Locke is dead? I bet that's how Widmore will know. Though I do find it odd that the funeral was for Bentham, right? So maybe that's to cover up his demise?

Food for thought- another scratching of the head... with 9 epis and 2 finales (sort of) to go...

@ Fanolost:

Yes, Eloise is aware that Locke is dead. I'm not sure how close she and Whidmore are, and of they're sharing information...

Anon @ 1:36 PM was me...

@fanolost, and it was Widmore who gave Locke the name Bentham as well. Odds are Widmore knows Locke is dead too.

@ Mr. F.: Forgot all about that...I'm sure that Whidmore would have put 2 and 2 together when the obit for Bentham was printed...

Well there ya go - so Widmore will be surprised to see a resurrected body - unless, if he's in cahoots, would think that this is MIB.

LostLover: Jack as Widmore's kid? hhhhmmm

Berky and Fanolost - Twin peaks was one weird show wasnt it? Most of the characters on that show were DE-mented. My personal fave: The Log Lady.

Maybe Lost producers will put out a movie. Hopefully better than the XFiles movie that came out after that show ended.

@Kruxoli scroll down to the title "Pregnant on the Island"

http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Claire_Littleton/Theories

It could be possible....

@ Thomas:

OK, it COULD be possible, but that a LONG LONG shot. If I remember correctly, when they flashed back to when they first encountered Whidmore, they were only there for a shot while before the next flash. Also, Claire was not with the time flashing group. Also, I think Richard or Whidmore would have said something about some wierd blond chick who strolled into their camp...

Sorry bro, no offense, but I'm not buying that theory...

@steamy - thanks for the reminder about des/penny. i had totally forgotten.

i think that dead locke had to wearh Christians shoes has something to do with MIB/Jacob. temple folks don't wear shoes.

every episode shows a bottle of water

i think ben and widmore can't kill each other for the same reason MIB/jacob can't. HOWEVEr since widmore "broke the rules" and killed alex, mabye he's not alive and a non- locke type of soul?"

or maybe for 100's of years they had these rules and never tested them. and in fact they can kill?

i'm just excited to watch! thanks daniel for your fun updates. WHAT WILL we do without you next year?

When Miles was talking about that Nikki and Palbo had 8 mil in diamonds and mentioned they were buried alive, why did no one say something about that fact. And did you notice Miles had diamonds, did he dig them up without anyone else noticeing? Sorry if I am restateing a prev. post.

@berky-who wrote- “Lindelof & Cuse gave an interview a while back about how once the series ended they would be done with LOST - BUT someone else might go on with the characters in a movie or in books, etc. “

Actually what Cuse has been saying in Interviews was that ABC is owned by Disney and consequently Disney owns the future development rights to all things LOST, so if they want to do movies or video games or whatever, they can do whatever they want I understand what you are saying that normally (like your Twin Peak example) this doesn’t work out. Its kind of like when a rock band comes back with like the drummer and the bass player and try to pass themselves off as the original. HOWEVER, I happen to have a screen play in development with Disney that I think everyone who reads this blog will absolutely, no doubt, L-O-V-E once it is finally released. My working title is LOST- Return to the Island (in IMAX 3D). Unfortunately the project got green lighted a little late in the game so we have been unable to sign a few members of the original cast due to movie and television commitments they have made after the final season is over. You will be happy to know that we have signed Kiele Sanchez to reprise her role as Nikki Fernandez and Rodrigo Santoro as Paulo. We think their on-air chemistry will translate well to the big screen. We have also signed Rebecca Mader as Charlotte Lewis (without giving away too much of the plot, I personally can’t wait to see her nose bleed again and again and again). And of course, Cheech Marin was between Tarantino films so we snapped him up to play Hurley’s Dad. In addition, we have signed Neal Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser) to be our Jack Shepherd. Rachel McAdams to play Kate Austen. Colin Farrell as Desmond Hume, Sandra Oh as Sun Kwon and Kristie Alley to play Hurley. We suffered a set back on Tuesday when Corey Haim died as we were negotiating with his agent for the role of Daniel Faraday, however, we have decided to go with Corey Feldman instead since they are basically the same person. Also we are toying with the idea of using Gary Coleman for young Walt and Shaquille O”Neal to play tall Walt. Filming starts in August in Hawaii. I will keep everyone informed of our progress. If you have any ideas for actors we should audition for Sawyer, Juliet and Ben (we are really struggling with Ben), please let me know. I am sure this product will be every bit as good as the original. I mean, have your ever seen a movie made from an old tv series that didn't capture the same magic. Trust me, you'll love it (especially in 3D. Spoiler alert, we are thinking of making the smoke monster blue. Worked for Avatar.

@ Flashest:

HAHAHHAHAHA...That's the best thing I've read in a while...

@Kruxoli- sad thing is, you know it could happen. No doubt. Although I think they would have to sign up a few more of the original cast. Unless they did a prequel, like the island in the 1950's with Widmore and Eloise.

@bb 7:51am...Oh Ya !!! We need a Vincent episode, or at least back story on Vincent. Vincent has been everywhere. When he wasn't with the Losties on the beach, or with Rose and Bernard, where was he ?

Did he visit The Temple or The Others ? Vincent the Wonder Dog ! Totally under the radar... Just going for a walk around the island.

Naughty... C'mon Flashest monk.

So far I have seen Locke eat an orange and a mango gazing outward on the beach, Jack eat a mango at the Temple after staring at the ocean, and Ilana eat a mango, eyes fixed on the ocean, while Ben digs his grave. Hmmm.

Someone is coming to the island. Do you think Eloise is on the sub also ?

The look that Locke, the substitute, gave Dr Linus in the the teacher's lunchroom, sure looked sinister to me. Is he really sideways Smokey ? And Alex creeped me out. She pulled a "Ben" on Ben. Totally... Smokey ! The Principal...Smokey ! Trying to corrupt Ben maybe. Distractions...Slight of hand.

SteamyKeamy - pah.
Can't believe no-ones mentioned Steamy Alex.

Wow, she looked great in the flash sideways.

Just seen on wikipedia "She dated 57 year-old actor Jeff Goldblum." What!?!? what!!? WHAT?

That's more confusing than lost itself.

@Flashest

Ha, too true.

Who would pay Ben? Hmmm....knowing Hollywood that role would be reserved for Will Smith :-)

@AmarilloSlim- Yep, Will Smith would have to learn how to run again to imitate the last episode. I was thinking about Robert Downey Jr and how, based on Tropic Thunder, he could a perfect be Michael-"Waaaaalt". But he's tied up doing Iron Man 2. Sucks.

Emilie de Ravin's movie, "Remember Me" opens in theaters across the country today. She plays opposite the heart throb from Twilight which means by Sunday she will be hated by every 13 year old girl in America.

Sunday? I'm pretty sure they'll be posting how evil she is by midnight tonight... ;)

Those Robert whatever his name is mega 13 year old fans can scare me a little...

Real quick on the 6 candidates Illana mentioned. I had time to sneak in a rewatch lastnight and I am now fairly certain Illana is counting both Jin and Sun as candidates.

ILANA: Because your last name is Kwon. So is his. And I don't know whether I'm supposed to protect you, him, or both of you.

SUN: Protect us? What are you talking about?

ILANA: You're candidates. To replace Jacob.

Illana is talking to Sun about her and Jin being candidates, as shown above "You're candidates". So I feel fairly certain we should count Jin as Sun as 2 of the 6.

Jack, Hurley, Jin and Sun are 4 of the 6 Illana is counting.

It is possible Illana may believe Sawyer is still a candidate. I dont see how she could know he is over to the dark side, as far as anyone knows he simply left the temple to be alone.

I dont count Sayid anymore, as Ben reported back to Illana that he killed Dogen and Lennon. Surely that would indicate he has chosen a side.

That leaves room for at least 1 unknown candidate, if not 2 of them. I made a case for Desmond yesterday being a possibility. Now may be time to make a case for one more guy...

Frank Lapidus. He was supposed to be the pilot of 815, but managed to oversleep. But as Ben said in their chat, the island still got him in the end. Not once, but twice. He misses the first calling, takes the chopper on the 2nd calling and escapes. But somehow ends up piloting flight 316 for his 3rd shot at the island. Sure seems like he is meant to be there. And toss in this little exchange from the Incident...

BRAM: How long you been listening to us?

FRANK: Long enough to wonder what the hell I'm a candidate for. [He gets up with the help of Bram] Who the hell are you people?

ILANA: We're friends.

@ Mr. F.:

Wow...nice catch on LawnMower Man...totally missed that convo with Bram

How could you leave out this classicline?

Jack: What to try another stick?

@Flashest monk...How about John Lithgow as Ben. He can play bad, just like Ben, and he has the emmy from Dexter to prove his acting chops.

So, in light of Mr. F's contribution @ 6:05 AM, I believe the six candidates are:

Jack
Saywer
Hugo
LawnMower Man
Sun
Jin

@Mr. F - but we're still not certain if Ilana knew at the time about Sayid being dead/not dead... likely not?

So our '6' may be down to 5.

Sawyer - no one knows what's up with him, so do not add him as part of the dark side. He wants to go home. That doesn't mean he's zombie-esque as Sayid, Claire, and some of the Others are. It means he's being, er, um, SAWYER.

Kate looked odd - don't know if staring into the belly of smokie has changed her... but I'll be interested to see her in smokie's camp.

Jin - again, is he turned or just hanging because he's scared and doesn't want to die in the jungle? Knowing Sun's around, but not being able to look for her ... maybe you side with a group until...

@ Fanolost:

I originally thought that Ilana was unaware of Sayid's "turn," but after Ben told her that he killed Dogen and Lennon, I think she knows that he's "infected" and probably not a candidate...

@fanolost, I agree that the case for Sayid still being a candidate is not closed. It is my belief Illana knows he is out of the running after killing the temple leader and Lennon. But that is just my opinion, so I cant rule it out yet.

I think it is quite possible Miles got Illana up to speed on the going ons at the temple. They had a long walk thru the jungle to the beach, so it is possible Miles explained Sayid dying and coming back. Pair that up with Ben telling her Sayid killed Dogen & Lennon and I believe Illana may have a very good idea what has become of her former prisoner.

I also agree with you on Sawyer, he is not a zombie follower as of yet. He is currently running with the dark side as MiB's recruit. But, he has not been "infected" that we know of, so he should still be a possible candidate. Sawyer still being a candidate hurts my Desmond theory, but oh well.

So I am with Kruxoli on this one, the 6 he listed ae the 6 I believe Illana is referring to. IMO of course. :)

I think Kate's odd look was in refernce to seeing a dead John Locke up and walking around like nothing happened. That was the first time Kate has seen Locke since prior to flight 316 when they had him in a casket. It would rattle me for sure, so I am guessing it did the same to Kate who was probably thinking...What the F ?

And speaking of Kate, is it possible she has a different role to play on the island? I am starting to think that not everyone Jacob touches is a candidate, that some are given other duties.

Richard, long life/doesnt age, advisor to the island people. Richard referred to it as a gift, but given the two sides of Lost themes, it would make sense that it is a gift and a curse. What did Richard have to give up?

Dogen, protector of the temple and temple folk. He sacrificed his life and his life with his son, so his son could live. Dogen now serves Jacob and protects the temple, or he did.

Illana, while she wasnt exactly touched in her meeting off island with Jacob, who is to say she wasnt given a similar deal? She was all burned and/or bandaged up, now she looks very healthy. She is now a bodyguard for Jacob and protector of candidates.

Different roles for different people. Some are candidates, others serve Jacob and protect the candidates. So what the heck is Kate's role in this war?

I'm all about Lapidus being leader -

Do they need two leaders? The yin/yang, two sides of the same coin, good/evil, blah blah...

If this is a cycle and it continues (I know... if...) then we could have Lapidus and a Lostie... and Miles and Hugo split up...

And one team goes to Hydra (which it seems has already happened in the past) and the other on-island...

And they await the arrival of the next generation... if that timeline still exists (dogen's, jack's jin/sun's, claire's, sawyer's, kids...) with the niece and nephew of Sayid thrown in..

now that's a movie I'd go to see.

(since Mario VanPeebles directed this last epi - and he 'starred' in a Highlander movie - I vote for him to direct this movie)

@flashest monk
My vote is Edward Norton to play Ben

@Mr. F - totally agree that Jacob's touch doesn't mean you're ARE a candidate. It means you had to get on island fer shur... but after that...

I also think whatever was 'supposed to be' changed with the early/manipulated demise of Jacob.

Game on - all bets off - what 'were rules' are tossed out.

I'm sure that's why Widmore can come back - he couldn't before, but things have changed.

I have a question...When the Ajira flight first crashed, some flashed back to the 70's, and some just plain ol crashed. Those that DID NOT flash, Ilana and Bram (and their crew) Lapidus, Sun, FLocke, Ben, Caesar...right...? Now, if Ilana and Bram (and their crew) KNEW that real Locke was dead (as they were carrying around his body in that big box), WHY DID SHE LET FLOCKE GO TO JACOB? Shouldn't she have at least tried to prevent that? I remember that some of them managed to get away for a little bit (like when Sun and Lapidus encountered Christian in a beat up looking Dharmaville), but still...

@kruxoli, was she there when Ben/Flocke went in or was she foraging somewhere and came back to find they were already in there?

@ Fanolost:

That's what I'm trying to figure out/remember...How was it that she let FLocke out of her sight when she (and Bram and crew) KNEW that real Locke was dead...Again, I remember Sun and Lapidus "getting away" and Sun hitting Ben with an oar, if I'm not mistaken. Then they ran into Christian and then Sun and Lapidus saw FLocke waiting for them outside...

Also, when Ilana and crew made it to the statue, they dumped real Locke's body to inform everyone of "what they were up against" (or something like that). That leads me to believe that she knew all along what was in the box and that FLocke was FLocke...WHY WOULD SHE NOT HAVE FLOCKE UNDER TIGHTER SURVEILLANCE? Just seems odd to me that the "bodyguards" let the biggest threat do as it pleased...

@Kruxoli, my guess is she is not able to stop nor kill MiB and she knows it. She knew Flocke wasnt on the plane and mentioned that to Caeser...

CAESAR: Nobody recognizes him?

ILANA: No. Whoever he is, he didn't come with us.

CAESAR: Then how do we know he isn't one of the ones who disappeared?

ILANA: He's not.

CAESAR: And how do you know?

ILANA: Because he wasn't on the plane.

CAESAR: What did this man have to say?

ILANA: You can ask him yourself.

Her job was to bring the evidence (Lockes dead body) to Ricardus and to protect the candidates. Had Illana and crew gotten there a few minutes sooner maybe they could have prevented it. Then again, maybe Jacob was supposed to die.

@sk- Lithgow definitely has the chops to play Ben but he's too tall. Then again, if you buy Amarilloslims proposal that Hollywood could select Will Smith for the role, then Lithgow is an improvement. (I like Will Smith for Sawyer, what do you think?) Anyway, I came up with Gary Oldman this morning. Played Bram Stokers Dracula, he could definitely pull off Ben, and he is the right size. Two months of training at running like a 2 year old and he would have the part down cold.

@Mr.F - are you making up Ricardus or is there a reference to that name (I think the latter...)

Which then has me questioning, again, Ricardus being on the Black Rock - cuz that name goes back farther... like centuries before...

So maybe he was chained within the the hull of the island ship - but did not come to the island on that ship...

RICHARD: It's okay. It's all right.

ILANA: Which one of you is Richardus?

RICHARD: It's Richard, actually.

ILANA: What lies in the shadow of the statue?

No make believe here.. :)

@Mr. F - HAhAHAHAAHAHA - I knew it... so then, that's like 12th century naming - which, when you think about just how pained Richard looked when discussing his captivity - has me thinking he is far older than previously thought - well I've always thought back to Egypt... - not that he hasn't been on ships before, but he's been island-associated for a verra long time...

Oh and...
Going back to names scratched at lighthouse and cave - we don't know whose is whose...

Flocke seemed to go into the cave that had been Jacob's. Why not think that Lighthouse was MIB's? Jacob wasn't at all upset Jack smashed the mirrors...

It's clear someone toyed with the names (the scratching out, the different handwriting, the less-faded ink)... so I'm not holding to any of the names being 'set in stone' if our only point of reference is either place.

@ Mr. F.:

THANKS! My mind is a LITTLE clearer now...

they're not lost anymore, Widemore found them---> show over.

Why has MILES' hair & beard gotten so grey?? There must be a reason in the storyline for that.

JACK is getting more grey hair as well.......

Thoughts???

@good omen- if anyone could play Ben, its Ed Norton. He believe he could even make himself Ben's size and stature if he wanted to.

@bb- ran out of Dharma brand Grecian formula. Hurley thought it was the ranch dressing?

@fanolost, another instance...

JULIET: Estne... Ricardus ibi? [Subtitle: Is... Richard there?]

JULIET: Ricardus Alpert? [Subtitle: Richard Alpert?]

[She looks over to Jones.]

LOCKE: Did you just say "Richard Alpert"?

Latin is the language used by the others, the language of the enlightened right? Wonder if the name has any latin ties to it.

@bb - I forgot to respond to you when you originally asked...

Miles I think is just getting grey - I believe he's 40. I certainly can relate (though i started in my 20s...) and we've been commenting on this throughout haven't we? We first saw him in Jan08 - so that would be mid07 for filming...

And I'd venture the same for Jack - greying at the temples. Even if it was a ploy for the show - it would be showing he didn't get the same gift as Ricardus... but I think it's just his real hair.

Kate - her hair is also different/fuller - and now that she's hawking what, a L'Oreal line of color, I bet they asked if they could 'glamor' her lockes just a tad...

my two cents is it's not production, but reality.

@Mr F- "No make believe here.." People have to constantly remind me that this is only a tv show. Don't let this happen to you, its ugly. Seriously, this is all make believe (or so I'm told by dead Charlie and during my AA meetings when I run into Christian Shepherd.)

@Mr. F - well, I guess if we're going by that they speak Latin - it may not harken back to Alexandrian times... It is Latin, FYI.

Oh and it means 'powerful ruler.'

Go figure.

So by denouncing his origin name - does this mean his 'time' is over?

Sawyer: Shirtless Matthew McCaughnahy

Juliet: Julia Roberts with her hair dyed blond and without all the toothy-smiley stuff she does

Ben: Ryan Seacrest or Simon Cowell

Flashest, how about Kevin Spacey as Ben? After the Usual Suspects, he can pull off anything, plus Seven, he can creep people out. Keiser Soyse....(not sure how to spell it)

@ Fanolost

Good insights into the cast members' hair colors and styles. :)

@flashest, all make believe... yeah right, from the guy who predicted the World Series winner, NCAA Football winner, and the Superbowl winner. :)

I made a bet with my hatch mate on March Madness. Winner gets to go home and the loser is stuck pushing this bloody button for eternity.
4...8...15...16...23...42 !

Just saving the world Brotha, Go Syracuse!!!

the creators and cast discuss the flash sideways and season 6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5vjrl-8pdo&feature=related

Damon & Carlton answer a question about Vincent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=netoLTjvJaE&feature=player_embedded#

@bb - just one person's opinion... ;)

@sandra- I think you have the winner there. Spacey was Michael Emerson before we knew there was a Michael Emerson. Also, role in 24 where he is the card counting professor and Play It Forward where he has the burn scars (Emerson's face in LOST always looks like he just got thru fighting a raccoon for table scraps.)

Here's one for everyone- John Larroquette for the role of Locke. (Or Lithgow could do it in a pinch.)

Fine I'll bite on this flashest Monk - I think Locke would have to be played (even if he is old) by Jack Nicholson...

I do believe the numbers on the dial of the lighthouse are coordinates. In mathematics, the polar coordinate system is a two-dimensional coordinate system in which each point on a plane is determined by a distance from a fixed point and an angle from a fixed direction. Polar coordinates are circular in nature, 2π rad being equal to 360°. Angles in polar notation are generally expressed in either degrees or radians.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Polar_graph_paper.svg

Jacob Bernoulli used a system with a point on a line, called the pole and polar axis respectively. Coordinates were specified by the distance from the pole and the angle from the polar axis. Bernoulli's work extended to finding the radius of curvature of curves expressed in these coordinates.
Following his father's wish, Jacob studied theology and entered the ministry. But contrary to the desires of his parents, he also studied mathematics and astronomy.
Bernoulli chose a figure of a logarithmic spiral and the motto Eadem mutata resurgo ("Changed and yet the same, I rise again") for his gravestone;

@Walt!!!, interesting read...

One problem is that the radial coordinate is fixed, it is the exact same for every person on the dial. On the lighthouse dial, the only coordinate you can change is the angular coordinate. Which leaves us with two conclusions...

1. They are not coordinates.

2. They are coordinates, each person has a fixed distance from the (island?) center.

But what does the fixed distance represent?

Polar coordinates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0fv9V9GHdo

Walt and Mr F you are making my nose bleed with the polar stuff. I like Kevin spacey for ben; matthew for sawyer is funny;jen aniston for juliet; and bruce willis for locke maybe mcdreamy as jack and sandra bullock as kate.

OK, actually, in a movie version, I'd verra much like to have the original losties.

You can work around schedules - there's no reason to substitute...

I'm casting my votes for Matthew McCaughnohottie as as Sawyer and Edward Norton as Ben!

Back to the candidates, I do think Lapidus is important. He is getting a lot of attention on the show right now. But what about Sun and Jin? I thought maybe Jin was the candidate because in the sideways world, they aren't even married. The female security guard at the airport called her by her maiden name. And I don't think they are wearing wedding rings either. This HAS to be important...

@ Desmond'sLostShepard:

Nice catch on the Kwons in the sideways world...but, the candidates don't matter there, they matter on the island. And, on the island, there are currently two Kwons...

How do we know that Ben and Rousseau ever made it to the island after all? Is it because the bomb went off in 1977 and not earlier?

Hmm... Well, maybe they are candidates together. I can't see one leaving without the other, unless by death. Especially since they just spent the last three years trying to unite! I'm not sure where I'm going with this but if the sideways world is opposite of the island world, and they're not married in the sideways world, then maybe their union is even stronger on the island and they ARE the Adam and Eve. Does this make sense to anyone?

@DLS - I'm not going to say the other timeline is 'opposite' but there is a correlation between what happens there seems to happen to on-island persona (Sayid, Ben, Jack...) It seems to be some sort of off-island resolution to the persona does same on island.

The reason I don't say opposite is because off-island Sayid isn't opposite to on-island, merely trying to be different. Also Jin isn't opposite off-island, he is still working for Paik...

I'm not sure what's up with the Kwons - I know loads of folks are saying 'not married' and all - and I know her ring was a huge deal on island... so not being on in off-island is interesting.

But her father would not have allowed his unwed daughter to travel unescorted with Jin.

So I cannot say I think they're not married. Maybe, just maybe, they secretly married and were escaping to the US to get away from Paik - but it's all speculation at this time.

In parallel land, JIN is still telling SUN to button up her sweater....... N wonder she threw him "under the bus" at customs at LA X!

@fanolost- I think a LOST movie would be the worst thing that could ever happen. I hope they do such a great job with the final season that no one is tempted to try to do a movie. Of the hundreds of television series that have been made into movies, the rule is the almost never live up the to original and quite often just SUCK. I created that scenario last night as an example of what probably would happen if they try. Money talks but I doubt it would be that easy to put the complete original cast together in a timely fashion and even if they do, odds are we would all be very disappointed.

On the other hand, in a Sideways Universe, Jack Nicholson as Roger Linus and Kevin Spacey as Ben would get me into the theatre.

Also, what is happening in the sideways world seems to be affecting the island time. Hurley has been wearing that same red shirt all season and is still alive. I'm sure their not being married is going to affect the island world, I'm just not sure how!

@ fanolost:

nicely put!

@dls - it may not be their being married, it's how they interact and possibly resolve issues of some sort.

For instance, if Jin seeks revenge for whatever has happened, I'll guarantee on-island Jin is going over to the Flocke side.

Likewise, if Sun is not into Jin off island and leaves him or something - that will do something to on-island persona - whether it makes her go away, or find him - is a matter for the writers. Again, it's not necessarily opposite...

@dls - thanks.

@FMonk - Jack as Roger is nice.... but he'd be one great smokie... 'hey Ilana, I'm hooommmmeeee'

just arguing a moot point... but if Miles can read dying peep's last thoughts, wouldn't he know that Nikki & Paolo were buried alive? and Sun, Lapidus, etc were cool with him digging up their graves? guess if Ben was all diggin a grave, they figured he could dig up two. join in on the fun.

"nice to see you out of those chains" <--- couldn't it have been MIB who was the one in the chains?

@flashest monk
real talk. why are you so funny? you have me in stitches with your posts.

@ WhereIsDesmond:

In my opinion, Miles doesn't seem like the type to care if they were buried alive or not. Anyway, what would it matter? He would have told them they were buried alive and then what? It's not like having the knowledge of them being buried alive will change anything.

@Kruxoli

care? mebbe not. but think a mention isn't unreasonable.

Damon Lindelof posted that he is thinking of Bonini's paradox.
Bonini's paradox can be seen as a case of the map–territory relation:
The map-vs.-territory distinction arises in a dramatic scene in David Foster Wallace's novel Infinite Jest.

anon @4:41 was me

@ WhereIsDesmond:

Agreed...

Re: Bonini's Paradox:

The more accurate a model is, the harder it is to understand. For example, a highly complex thing such as the brain becomes more and more difficult to understand as the "model" becomes more "complete" Going along the lines of Walt!!!!!'s post, in regards to maps and territory, a map becomes more useless as it becomes more accurate. A map is a book is easy to use/read because it is simple (works on a scale...the world is obviously much bigger than the representation on any map). Now, if that map were to become DEADLY accurate, say a 1:1 scale model, it would be unusable! That map would be as large as what it was trying to represent.

What this has to do with LOST...well, the more we try to answer stuff, the harder it becomes to understand what we're trying to explain!

oops...I meant to say A MAP IN A BOOK...in the previous post

First, I am praying that we get another shot of Desmond, in his birthday suit, running through the jungle.

As for Sawyer...I hope that he drinks all of Wimomore's MacCutchen 60 year old whisky before Widmore makes it to the island...Remember, Charlie found a bottle in Sawyer's secret stash, and got Desmond drunk to find out what secrets Desmond would spill.

Drink it up Sawyer. You are So Worthy !!!

Steve Bucemi(sp?) as Ben
or James Woods as Ben

Robert Downey Jr. as Locke
*think of him bulked up like Ironman*

Helena Bonham Carter as Claire

Julia Louis Dreyfus as Kate

David Spade as Charlie

Jackie Chan as Jin

Brad Pitt as Sawyer

Jake Gylnhall as Jack
or Tom Cruise as Jack

actually, Robt. Downey Jr. could play Jack, Sawyer, Locke or Ben. (can you tell I am a fan?)

and Clint Eastwood as Christian.

in his day, Jack Nickelson could have played Jack, Sawyer, Locke or Ben too!

I guess that's the sign of a really good actor, when you can see them in so many different type of characters.

Hey, anybody see Tropic Thunder? I say Robert Downey Jr. could even play Sayid! lol!

@tennesseewalker... Seacrest&Cowell LOL!!! Are their names written in the cave ?

Dakota Fanning as Claire.

John Goodman as Hurley

Give Robert Downey Jr. the Emmy already. He can do anyone !

Johnny Depp as Sawyer? He ain't tall and blond, but he's charming and cool. Or maybe HE could be Ben?

and Orlando Bloom as Desmond.

Ohhh !

Lindsay Lohan as Frenchie ?Or is that too much of a stretch ?

well, if they can keep her out of Charlie's stash! lol!

Courtney Love ... Claire

Ed Norton... Ben ?

isn't the lighthouse dial similar to elenor (whatever her name is) dial back in the flashfowards that shows the coordinates to get on teh aljair plane? hers is only missing the names, but same idea, right?

isn't the lighthouse dial similar to elenor (whatever her name is) dial back in the flashfowards that shows the coordinates to get on teh aljair plane? hers is only missing the names, but same idea, right?

Maybe Chloe Sevigny as Rouseau. Lindsey is a little too pretty. Or at least she used to be.

yea, Courtney Love would be a good Claire!

Courtney Love as ROUSSEAU

Chris Brown could play Michael. *he seems sweet, but he can get mean!*

Gary Coleman could play young Walt *he needs the work!*

and Will SMith could play "tall Walt". lol!!!

that Elizabeth whats-her-name from "The View" could play Kate *cause nobody likes her either*.

sorry Flashest Monk, didn't realize you talked about Robert Downey Jr. way up there. I guess I missed some posts.
Anyway, sounds like we are both fans. :)

Hell...Robert Downey Jr. could even play Dogen !!!

Bety White as Elinor Hawking! Right after she gets done hosting Sat. Night Live.

who would be Faraday?

McDreamy?

Sandra Oh(Gray's Anatomy) could be Sun

Ben Stiller could be Ethan. lol!

OH! Robin Williams as Faraday!

How about Christian Bale as Faraday !

I keep thinking if Heath Ledger was alive, what character he could play.
Sawyer?
or Jack? or Ben? or even Locke?
I think Sawyer.

and for only the price of the flight to Hawaii and a few weeks lodging while filming in Hawaii, I will donate the services of my dog Bart to play Vincent.

goodnight!

Sawyer is irreplaceable ! one of a kind !!!

@Walt...Thanks for the link about Vincent. HA! HA! Loved it.

Mickey Rourke as Mikhail

Woody Harrelson as Radzinsky

Tila Tequila as the Bai Ling character.

if Tila Tequila ever showed up on Lost i would gouge out my eyes and wish for death to come quickly.

@Walt - I want to thank you for the link about Vincent (the Wonder Dog) too. Vincent will survive! I just want to see him once more. I am a little disappointed that the writers don't seem to realize how important he is. He's more that just a dog:)

it's pretty bad when we think someone would be worse than Bai Ling!

HELP: in present day on island, does jack know claire is his sister? If yes, explain why? I am getting yes and no -- and that he only knew in a flash forward.

@kbbie, it appears he knew that Claire was his sister from the Season 4 episode(s) 12,13, and 14, There's no Place Like Home. After Christians memorial service, Carole Littleton came over to him and told him about hers and Christian's daughter being on the same flight as he was, that she was pregnant, probably near him, and her name was Claire. So it's most likely safe to assume that Jack knows who his sister is...

@lovesteamykeamy thanks -- Yes, i am aware of that info. But does he know at present time -- right now on the island? I don't know the date of that funeral and it was a flash forward. Many are telling me he does not know today (on the show today).... thoughts?

I would go with him knowing it... the flashforwards were in the original timeline, and he was told this on the original one. In the flash-sideways one, I believe he doesn't have a single clue about it. But that's my idea.

Anyone catch the excile of napoleon to the isle of Elba reference by Ben teaching in clas in alt? check it out... he escaped the island to regain power -- and did (albeit not for long)

also: He was in power again for 100 days until the battle at waterloo (whic...h took place in 1815.... flight 815) thoughts?

Jack on island definitely knows Claire is his sister. He found out during his three year life off island between the two plane crashes. I can't remember if it was exactly in a flash forward that we/he found out, but either way it was during this time and therefore happened.

He got rescued with the other O6ers and then held the memorial for his father. Which is where/when Claire's mother showed up.

The Jack we know now that is on the island is the same Jack that was home for 3 years before coming back to the island, landing in 1977 and then jumping to 2007 with Miles, Jin, Kate, Hurley, Sawyer, Sayid and Juliet. The Jack that gave his business card to Locke is a Jack we don't really know yet, the one with the son that plays the piano. Otherwise, everything that we saw Jack experience up until this season is the Jack that's on the island now.

Re: Jin and Sun,

I think their sideways timeline is going to show the same thing that happened on the island - that is they have to learn that they love each other and are worthy of each others love.

I would be totally disappointed if Sun gave up being with her daughter to leave (possibly forever, she didn't know what would happen on the island) and go find Jin only to have them torn apart by whatever drama unfolds on the island.

Plus, i think in the sideways there is a lot more to reveal about them - we don't even know if Sun was planning on leaving or even if she speaks English, we are only assuming based on before this season, but a lot of things are different, i mean seriously, Locke's dad? Jin and Sun could have awesome lives, or Jin could be the rich guy that rescued Sun from the docks in a poor fishing village.

If Rose and Bernard are seemingly opposite in the sideways timeline than perhaps all the couples are?

And yes, i know i posted twice in a row but i just got off work and i am bored. Don't judge me.

@ lizzy

No judging you at all by me! I have posted twice in a row as well. LOST just keeps those thoughts coming!

Ohhhhh...he said, "It's nice to see you out of those chains?" ???!!! I thought he said, "It's nice to see you out of those jeans."

@Lizzy -- thank you! any thoughts on napolean?

I love Lost and this board because they make me think. And, Daniel, you rock. Just thinking about the Cain and Abel theory: Does anyone remember the whole Evil Twin dealio from season 1?

Amy Adams as Charlotte lol

Hey maybe Sun and Jin are going to have an arrainged marriage in the sideways timeline and they don't even like each other yet!

I just rewatched Dr. Linus and noticed Ilana's conversation with Sun. It almost makes me wonder if she doesn't even know all the candidates herself. She says there are six candidates but she doesn't know whether to protect Sun, Jin, or both but she knows there are six candidates left. Why would she phrase it like that? I can understand not knowing whether it was Sun or Jin based on only having a last name, but why would she say she didn't know if she should protect BOTH? Kinda made me think they are both in the running. I would think she just would've told her she needed to protect them until she knew which one it was... her wording was was riddling to me

what if annie is davids mother????? hmmmm

@anonymous, re Napoleon,

i don't really have thoughts on it other than i think that the writers like to tease us with these kinds of things. Like the little anagrams that are hidden in names and such, like that van ben was driving in the last season, the name on it ended up being an anagram for reincarnation.

I think that a lot of episodes have hints to the character's personality in it, but we aren't really meant to think too deeply on it. Napoleon is known as Le Petit Corporal(the little corporal, suits ben i think) who had his power stripped of him, that could be all. I mean remember that episode where Juliet played 'Downtown' at the beginning? Is there something hidden in that song about Juliet? No, i think in the end it just showed us her personality and how she used that song to make herself happy (mine is you're so vain, lame i know)

Or it could be referring to the many alliances Napoleon made during his regime to try and maintain a dominant edge in Europe. Perhaps the writers are alluding to the fact that Ben is still playing both sides and to not trust his following Ilana and seemingly not choosing Not-Locke. Perhaps he is the best poker face or just really doesn't have anything to lose or gain anymore.

This site is turning me into the ultimate lost geek, i was already a history geek.

@anon and lizzy - there's a bit of Napoleanic chatter earlier last week up in the posts....

Sawyer-centric episode tomorrow night!!! Titled "Recon". Hhhmmmmm.......

Wondered if the "Recon" meant it would be Sawyer. Again, following Season 1, episode 8 was about him too. Already excited for it!

@lovesteamykeamy -- Sawyer better be out of the cave:) Can't wait!

Hope he's out of that dang cave and doing something. And it might be far-fetched... but what if in Alternate Reality Land he went home from the airport and met up with Cassidy and Clemintine? That could be interesting to see him as a dad...

@LSK - anything Josh is interesting, entertaining, and oh so easy on the eyes (and ears, love that drawl)

Ben, then Sawyer... yep... the epis are looking up!!!

Agreed. He's definitely a good sight and sound. And these epi's are getting better and better. Now if they could bring back Keamy again... well that'd just make the bad going on for me right now disappear for an hour or so...

hey, what's this 'bad' all about LSK???

Thought to ponder: Keamy didn't get buried now did he?

Nope, they just left him there on the floor of the Orchid. Which keeps hope a little alive. But I'd take seeing him in Jin's alternate reality world...

Bad's just I need a vacation... nothing big. Just very, very, very tired of my job. Which is probably why I haven't gotten much done today... ;)

this turning the clocks ahead - along with the terribly long, cold, crappy winter most of us have had - does take its toll... hang in there.

(my stupid pear tree is all budded and I know there's at least 2 more hard frosts coming - I'll be checking the azalea tonight too...)

And work... yes well... but we have 'em right? year two of no increase... pppfffttt

But we have SAWYER night tomorrow. Get some B&Jerry's, wine, and curl up - rewatch Ben and then drool between 9-10....

Oh yeah, B&Jerry's has become some of my best friends. Winter, snow, the lamest job on the face of the earth (I transcribe old letters from 1895 from books of carbon copied paper to the computer. And they're all about land. And the Oceanic Steamer Company, which made me laugh). And of course there's the whole heartbroken in RW (not Keamy this time). That one sucked. But nothing messes up LOST night for me! :) Boy will I miss this show in June...

*Eagerly awaiting a Sawyer-fest*

Sorry... Work Exhaustion just got the best of me there... *facepalm*

RW? What? What? Did someone do you wrong?

Transcribing land papers... well, see, I'd prolly like that! Oceanic.. HAHAHAHA - ya gotta love that...

I know, no life come May 24th... och.

Now... breathe... you got through Monday...

I'm good. Just tired I guess. And tomorrow I stay home for LOST Day and watch the show. :)

@lizzy thank you!

what if annie is davids mother?????

@LSK
This may make you feel better: morphthing.com! Now you can upload pics of yourself and Keamy and morph your very own little Keamies! heehee! Or you can morph your faces together for some laughs. It's just something fun :) Richard and I have enough babies to inhabit an ISLAND! lol

@DLS, LOL, thanks. :)I've got one morphing now... and good thing you've got enough for the Island... we need more Magical Island Babies around. ;)

@ fanolost

As you said, the episodes are looking up:

BEN, SAWYER and next week, RICHARD!!!!!

LOST rocks!

@bb - really? Finally... yea yea yea... though I'm prepared for a lot of questioning after these epis... och...

LSK - how are ya today?
You work on Oceanic stuff, I'm dealing with the name 'Jacob' and writing...

I'm doin' good. In LOST Day mode, so nothing can get to me. :) And today is my weekly day at home too. I started doing the stay home Tuesday thing in September... lucky it turned out to be LOST Day. :)

Love how we can find LOST references in anything, you know. ;)

@ lovesteamykeamy
Did the Oceanic Steamer Company have a ship called the Black Rock?
That would make my day.

I'm board at work so I googled it.

Oceanic Steamship Company
Founded in 1881 by John D. Spreckels & Brothers and ran services from the USA, initially to Hawaii, later to Australia and New Zealand. In 1926 Oceanic sold out to Matson Line and became a subsidiary company
http://www.fromoldbooks.org/ScribnersMagazine-1903-11/pages/100b-Oceanic-Steamship-Company/

@standi, never saw a Black Rock, but still might. And cool about the history. :)

@standi - HA... Australia!!!

@LSK - Tuesdays at home... nice!

So sometime tomorrow, we'll get a pic of Sawyer/Ford for an entire week, right?????? That should make what's coming up for me a tad more palatable...

Hope whatever is coming up for you works out okay, fanolost. Looking at a Sawyer pic can always help. :)

Ben, Sawyer then Richard...Booooo. Where are the lovely ladies of Lost?

So tonight we get to see Sawyer in the LAX timeline and see what he has become. So will his parents be alive? Will he run into Juliet for some coffee? Or heck, maybe Juliet is Jack's wife in LAX and Sawyer is gonna run his con on her. Oh the possibilities.

I think it'd be cool if we saw Sawyer and Clementine, seeing him as a father to her. And going to get coffee with Juliet.

@ LSK
Me too. I wonder if he'll be a good guy? I was trying to think what all RECON could mean. Reconsider (change a decision) Reconcile (adjust, settle; restore union after estrangement Recondition (restore to original condition) Reconstitute/Reconstruct (reorganize, rebuild)...I'm bored. Can you tell?

@LSK - ha, I have him available as wallpaper... heheheh, though I don't always use it here...

It will all be fine eventually - fingers crossed.

OK, I don't want this Juliet/Sawyer off island thing, at all. It should have been me - but did I get a casting call?

But it does make sense.

Mr. F - you already had Kate... and Juliet for how many openings (the first 4 I think...) You've seen Sun... so what more do you need? Ilana? She'll be baaacckkk....

@DLS - REcon, as in Re - con... so maybe he's still the con man... I think he is... maybe Juliet is just another scam... heheheh (OK, I can dream...)

But maybe it's a play on reckon... I reckon, day of reckoning... I've been in the south too long... och

@ fanolost
ME TOO! I thought you were from the south when you mentioned your azaleas and the frost. It happens every time! Lol! But hopefully we will see some warm weather and some pretty blooms very soon :)

@DLS, generally speaking, the word Recon is used mostly in the military, short for Reconnaissance.

Wiki: Reconnaissance is a mission to obtain information by visual observation or other detection methods, about the activities and resources of an enemy.

At least that is the first thing that came to my mind after reading the word Recon. So will Sawyer try to join up with Ilana and crew and get a handle on what is going on with Team Jacob?

@fanolost, well the Kate episode helped some, but Sun was only a brief appearance. We got some dirty, jungle Claire but that wasnt on top the request list. And Juliet didnt count, crying while half dead on repeat didnt do the trick.

Yeah, it'd be cool to see him good. Or as a father/conman.

They should have sent you that casting call, fanolost. Would have been awesome.

Yeah, I've been wondering if Recon is for Re-con, or something else.

Ahhh, the south. Was down in school in Tennessee last year. Loved it, even though it was crazy. Going back to visit in two weeks. :)

@Mr F- re: the lovely ladies of LOST. Let's see we got multiple scenes of Juliet all bloodied up and broken and crying out in pain, and we got to see Iliana shackle Ben like a dog and shoot at his feet when he was digging fast enough. Weren't you turned on during those scenes, I know I was. What more could you ask for? Let the women have their beef cake. :)