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I was a little surprised anyone survived the smoke monster. Let alone the people who most deserved to die to it.

That brings up some interesting questions: What kind of control does Ben have over the monster? Did he just want it to create a diversion? Or is it all some kind of elaborate hoax (yes, that's a long shot)?

From Ben's behavior, I got the impression that he had the power to call it and that was pretty much it. That would be why he told the others they needed to run as far away from the soldiers as possible — clearly he wasn't afraid of the soldiers at that point since the monster was attacking them, so he must have believed the monster would come after the castaways once it finished with the other intruders.

Well, that certainly makes sense. OTOH, Ben's behavior always seems to be deliberately calculated to elicit actions or thoughts that further his goals. He can't be trusted; there's always the possibility (probability?) that he has an ulterior motive.

so jacob, posing as christian, lured claire off... or perhaps claire had one too many bangs to the head and wandered off.

I didn't want to look too closely, but those bodies of carl and rousseau, they didn't look much like them, did they? So the soldiers buried them? Really?

<hoping>

also, I do not know why kate was being so mysterious about her errand for Sawyer. She was obviously giving money to his ex with the baby. Why should that put jack over the edge? Oh yeah, jealous much.

Because he's Jack.

Exactly.

Sigh... the more I watch the more I both want to keep watching and stop watching.

It is a highly charismatic and wise, though a bit clumsly, bard.

OK, I saw Dr. Doolittle do this years ago!

(he called on a giant whale to push the island)

Hmm... creepy other was interested in Locke a long time ago... hmm...

And he seems to NEVER age.

Que a whole bunch of time traveling mumbo jumbo.

I love the guy who never ages. For some reason I just don't look to time travel for the answer to that. Dunno why.

Claire was super weird. I have a feeling we'll be seeing Desmond less and less for a while.

Oh, and what a gigantic whining pansy Ben was this episode. I realize he just got screwed over on the loss of his daughter by the island/rich guy who's name escapes me at the moment, but c'mon, Ben. I thought you were tougher than that.

Yes, he deflated greatly in my eyes. But remember, he will still manipulate Sayid to kill people in the near future. And I think he will end up with Kate in the end. Or maybe creepy Richard will end up with Kate.

Creepy Richard?

I don't think it's time travel either. It seemed like he'd been living on the island for quite a while when Ben was young, and he looked the same then too. (By the way, in case anybody missed it, he was also the recruiter who sent John that pamphlet about the physics program.)

That part was so Twin Peaks. My brother brought up an interesting point, though: Earlier in the series, they said that only Claire is supposed to raise Aaron — but now both she and Christian seem happy to give it up (to Kate?).

I think Ben has been on a downward spiral for a while now, ever since he started to suspect the island liked Locke better. His inability to protect one of the few people he cares about seems to have finally knocked him down. Obviously he'll be back before too long.

Richard Alpert

I have been bitching about this endlessly to my friend I watch with.

The entire psychic who told her she must raise it, knew the plane would crash, but later turns out to be a fake in a different flashback thing may be the out, but I'm not happy about it.

What I found interesting about last night's episode is we now know that the predestination reaches as far back as the late 50s/early 60s. I get the feeling Immortal Guy may turn out to be very, very old (talkin' in the 1000s here). And I still suspect he might be Jacob.

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Tangent: I have no idea what other people thought of Christian, but I figured he was a ghost or manifestation of the island. That was until I saw that stubble last night.

Ain't nothing creepy about him.

Though I wish he'd break out his fake spanish accent from that show Brooke Shields had on NBC.

If you're taking about Richard, I'm pretty sure he's not Jacob. He was one of Ben's subordinates, whereas Jacob is Ben's boss.