If I am not mistaken, the “mama” bear Locke killed while rescuing Eko DID NOT kill the plane’s pilot in the show’s Pilot.
The pilot was Smoky’s first victim, while Charlie, Kate and Jack are also inside the wreckage looking for survivors.

My boyfriend, who’s pretty media-savvy, says the fact ABC gave Lost that much extra time is actually to the show’s credit– the networks often kill shows after a year for a variety of reasons. So I’m taking the “glass half full” approach to the cutoff time. It would be esp. cool if they were able to do 108 epis in all, what think, Damon and Carlton?

No one seems to have mentioned so far the impact that murder will have on Sawyer, or Locke, for that matter…. At least in the Catholic world view, murder is a mortal sin, meaning your soul is basically banished to the eternal flames unless you fully atone, etc…. So I for one felt a huge sense of forboding over Sawyer’s action, for the sake of his beingness. (Recovering Catholics almost never entirely lose the imprinting, unfortunately! ). Any other thoughts or feelings on the subject?

And if the Island isn’t purgatory, the guys sure use a lot of purgatory-related themes. If nothing else it’s a good framework for their storytelling, I guess!

Connie – I agree that the normal rating methods may not be working for Lost, actually for many shows now. With DVD’s, online streaming and iTunes, a lot of people are choosing not to watch their favorite shows at the scheduled network times. I thought I had read somewhere that Lost was the most watched show online (on ABC.com) and also has an extremely high volume of iTunes downloads. I usually watch the show on Wednesday night, and also download to iTunes! (I don’t have DVR!)

If you do the math it is just 2 seasons, only stretched to 3.
Regular season = 24 episodes.
final 3 seasons will be 16 episodes each
2×24 = 3×16

Many critics are choosing to look at the scheduled cancellation as proof that Lost has dropped fans and ratings, which may be true to some extent, but Lost is such an unusual show with an unusual format that I can’t help but think that the normal methods of measuring ratings don’t apply. The fanbase may be shrinking somewhat, but what is there is very loyal and very tuned in to the show each week whether they watch it as it airs, record it for later or purchase DVD’s to watch over and over. More importantly, we all knew the end was coming. The story of Lost demands a deliberate natural ending and not one forced by a low-ratings cancellation event, or worse, a sudden cancellation that leaves us poor Lost fans hanging a la “Invasion”, “Threshold”, “Surface”, “Daybreak” and even the recently cancelled “Drive”. It is annoying to hear that our beloved Lost is being shut down due to low ratings and dissatisfaction in the fanbase…hey, critics!….say that to our faces!

Just my take…

Connie

Cooper asks Locke, “Don’t you know where we are?” but Ben says we don’t have time for that. Do you think that Ben thought that Cooper was going to rant about being in Hell?

- Rousseau claims she was part of an expedition and that the others all got “sick.” I can’t recall if she explicitly says that they died but this could all be metaphorical; she could be psychotic, of course, or she could have kept her “sanity” while the others on her expedition either mutinied (under Ben?) or were coerced/trapped by him. Maybe she is an exiled Other along the lines of what they wanetd to do with Juliet.
- Rousseau and Ben both imply that they are Alex’s parent. Maybe Ben impregnated her and brought her to the island to conceive Alex there.
- Rousseau I think mentions someone on her expedition who lost an arm, and there has long been speculation that this might be Marvin Candle/Mark Wickman.
- Rousseau has lots of traps set for the Others, but they seem to know how to avoid them pretty well… except for Ben. The way he wound up in the hatch was via Rousseau’s trap. Could he have willingly walked into it? Was she complicit in this plan?

All good questions. She seems a little to willing to not seek out the Others for someone who has been on the island 16 years… maybe we’ll get a flashback with her this season? (I think I heard something about this… trying to live relatively spoiler free…)

Has the bear been seen since season 1?

Thanks!

NOTE to ABC: I guess I could tape the shows and FAST-FORWARD through all the commercials on Thursdays.

whew,head hurts.

Those NOT on plane required more extensive programming ie.((DES, because he was random element, who was an early ‘lab subject’)).

then STAGE Crash/Break-Up scene this would be easy to simulate in /on sound stage.
Gas Them..put them on island .
-The Others May also be on the Outside , because “The Crash” was only a “Special Effect” in the Sky ala copter in clouds.
Certain people were players in the big picture early on
Hurley,Libby,Dave because they had shared Memory in NutHouse
Dave was a plant…SO was Libby, by whomever *Hansho* is running whole show.
-whole thing IS a massive experiment with
mind control/fertility/Psychwarfare/behavioural modification//all of them were guided to Austrailia ((Known as “”OZ”")) and flown. or just moved.over the rainbow, to a magical island,where anything can happen.
-Certain people are resisting ,programming better [or worse] than others;;Locke,Hurley ,Des,Jack,Juliet
-Pauolo and Nickie, Ekho,Ana Lucia were Bad people so experiment rejected them,Libby got in way somehow she went random as well. Sawyer and Kate are next,then Charlie.
-Strange that Des has seen all of Charlies deaths ahead of time…..He was *cross programmed*,maybe.
-Finally, Kds resist programming wll or may not be programmed at all just like “Control” subjects.

Any or all of this may be total horse bleep, but with all the speculation I thought I would throw down .

Peace
Dig ,Simon Dig..
Leslie Arntz is “Man Behind the Curtain”

On a total tangent… don’t know how many of you listen to the Official ABC Podcast but there’s an interesting comment from Damon Lindelof and Carleton Cuse. One of them (forget which) says that they have been getting numerous questions submitted (via abc.com) about whether Locke’s father was the “original” Sawyer, and have deferred answering them so as not to lie on their podcasts.

They have repeatedly said that there is no time travel or purgatory or “all in someone’s head” theory at work. I have to assume they take the same approach that they did with the Sawyer questions… I think anything they debunk has officially been debunked, and any theories that revealed too much, they would probably not address.

If you don’t listen, it’s worth checking out.

But, Lindelof says, “the last five minutes of (this month’s) finale are going to seal our fate.”

I can’t wait!

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/May/07/br/br8547921036.html

I think that whenever the writers have main characters interact with someone of the opposite sex in a friendly way.. something is brewing and bound to happen. Nice observation

The reason Juliet wanted to tell her, is that she wants to get to work to see if she can do something to save Kate and the baby (get her samples, etc). The reason Jack doesn’t want to tell her is that he doesn’t want her to have to face the apparent death sentence that being pregnant can be on the island, at least not until she absolutely has to know.

There is no big mystery here, just a conflict within Jack regarding his feelings toward Kate, IMHO.

I just skimmed thru the comments above really quickly, but don’t you think Juliet and Jack were/are about to tell Kate she’s pregnant (Daddy Sawyer in the cages . . .)

Someone may have posited this, but I didn’t see it.

See:

LOST quiz: Can the lost be found?
(http://www.blog.ashleylangford.com/archives/2006/08/lost_quiz.html)

See:

LOST quiz: Can the lost be found?
http://www.blog.ashleylangford.com/archives/2006/08/lost_quiz.html

1st – Carly – - thanks for the refresher on Locke…it’s so much to keep track of, ya know? Hey — did you ( or anyone else ) have any ideas as to why he was unwilling to kill his dad, but would kill Patchy? ( Obviously it was crazy to think that anyone would kill anyone else Braveheart style like that when they didn’t know why or who or where or what was going on there on the island…but aside from that )

San Diego Dan – I like the idea that Locke’s dad could have been Smokey playing tricks on Locke / Sawyer for kicks…as I’ve said before…I am still leaning on Smokey being Jacob. Either Jacob’s unconcious or concious ability to manifest himself through his mind. In an earlier post a few weeks ago I went into a whole theory.

Stupid Question : Does anyone think Locke will hook up w/ the Flight Attendant girl? I can’t remember her name right now…but the one at the sacrificial pole w/ the kids who was in an episode also where she told Jack she was “observing”? I think something will happen w/ them…and when Locke goes coockoo for a woman I’ll bet he goes super coockoo…night of the long knives!

Backgammon : Here’s a thought

The objective of backgammon is to move all of one’s own checkers ( people ) past those of one’s opponent ( Other’s ) and then remove them from the board. ( Island ) The pieces are scattered at first and may be blocked or hit by the opponent.

Backgammon is a game of luck and skill ( fate vs. the con ) . It is played by two people with 15 checkers each on a board consisting of 24 (reversed number ) spaces or points. The checkers are moved according to rolls of the dice. Each player tries to bring his own checkers home and bear them off before his opponent does, hitting and blocking the enemy checkers along the way.
Backgammon has been around a long time, with origins dating back possibly 5000 years. The ancient Greeks played. So did the Romans. ( Could this be our mysterious 4 toed Statue? ) The game we know today was refined in England in the seventeenth century, which is also when it acquired the name backgammon. One significant innovation of the twentieth century was the addition of the doubling cube in the 1920s

A doubling cube, with the numerals 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 on its faces, is used to keep track of the current stake of the game. ( Not a complete match-up, but was interesting to know in the context of this show…most all numbers in play now…except 42 reversed ).

Interestingly enough there is an optional rule called “The Jacoby Rule” not that that means anything or that any of this does…but I found it fun to know.

In looking up Backgammon I came across Tabula ( meaning table ) and this reminded me of Tabula Rasa episode. When looking that up I came across “Senet”. This is apparently the origin of the modern backgammon game and may be the oldest board game in World History, although it is impossible to prove which game is the oldest…it goes as follows:

The oldest remnants of any ancient board game ever unearthed however are those of Senet, found in Predynastic and First Dynasty burials of Egypt[2], circa 3500 BC and 3100 BC respectively.

By the time of the New Kingdom in Egypt (1567–1085 BC), it had become a kind of talisman for the journey of the dead. Because of the element of luck in the game and the Egyptian belief in determinism, it was believed that a successful player was under the protection of the major gods of the national pantheon: Ra, Thoth, and sometimes Osiris. Consequently, Senet boards were often placed in the grave alongside other useful objects for the dangerous journey through the afterlife and the game is referred to in Chapter XVII of the Book of the Dead.

Book of the Dead :

Chapter 125 is probably the best-known segment of the Book of the Dead. It deals with the dead soul’s judgment by Osiris and his 42 ( Finally! I found the number 42! ) judge deities.

The deceased soul must recite the “declaration of innocence” which is addressed to Osiris and consists of the denial of a series of wrong-doings in order to assure Osiris that he has lived a decent life. ( Remind anyone of Ecko? ) The deceased must then address the 42 judges by name and deny a further 42 transgressions (one per judge). If the deceased is subsequently found worthy he will be taken before Osiris who will lead him to the realm of the blessed. ( This stuff is an Purgatory / Limbo person’s dream find, I know. )

The content of some of the statements of denial or the ‘negative confession’ (I have done no falsehood, I have not robbed, I have not killed men) has led some scholars to hypothesis that Chapter 125 may be the basis for the Biblical Ten Commandments[1]. ( More biblical references for those still paying attention ).

According to R.O. Faulkner, The Book of the Dead was used by the ancient Egyptians as a set of instructions for the afterlife. Not all the spells were used for every burial, but a selection depending on wealth and status. Some spells were gifts to the gods, while other were used so the person could walk ( LOCKE ), a spell for not dying again in the afterlife, and even a spell ‘For preventing a man from going upside down and from eating feces’(chapter 189) ( maybe Roger Work-Man…who knows…was weird so I left this in ).

The book is therefore not, contrary to popular belief, spells to raise the dead, but rather teachings on what the afterlife would contain and how to overcome the obstacles which stood in the way of reaching the field of reeds (or field of peace), the ultimate goal for an Egyptian in the afterlife.

The text can also be seen as initiation literature into the mystery of the afterlife. The afterlife is mostly a mystery to the average Egyptian, but by obtaining a Book of the Dead, he would be able to read it and would be part of the elite group which knew what the afterlife contained.The text was often individualized for the deceased person, so no two copies contain the same text.

The stuff I am finding is interesting…a little long I know, but I once heard ( it could have been on this site ) that you could figure out LOST by watching the 1st few episodes ( maybe just the pilot part 1 and 2 ). I don’t think this is true…but I’m giving it a shot. I’m going back now to re-review them and I’ll bring up any new wacky theories. As far as backgammon goes ( I’m pretty sure that’s where Locke and Walt play backgammon ) perhaps it is worth noting that the ties it seems to have to this ancient Egypitan, Roman and Greek stuff is woth looking into. Especially w/ all the names from these texts in play as well as biblical names. I like the idea that in Backgammon checkers move from one side of the board to the other. Along the way they cross each others paths and here and there some get snatched up. When one gets snatched up it starts over on the next come out roll ( Desmond? ) but does not die. It simply waits it’s turn to start again. I like the comment made by Desmond’s professor friend to his colleague stating that “Run the same experiment 10 times and you will get ten different outcomes”. I like the idea that the belief in the afterlife and the mechanics involved for these ancient cultures may yet to prove to be related to LOST. Maybe Ben wanted to read the “Book of the Dead” instead of Carrie. J.K…but if Chopper-Girl Naomi has a book of the dead in her backpack along w/ her copy of “catch 22″ the sh@# is about to hit the fan!

love LOST – - anybody who read all this…I love you too!

Sincerely,

Nuckinfuts

Stories and lessons from the Bible are influencial in our culture. There’s lots of enduring wisdom and philosophy found in the Bible that will always be true.

Is ABC a little left of center in their policies — probably. Is Disney — yeah, and so are lots of international corporations. Both corporations walk a fine line not to insult any one group.

What makes LOST great is not just any one thing: scripts, direction, chemistry between actors/charaters, adventure, sci-fi, symbolism (religious or otherwise), gorgous photography and audio, classic literary and movie references, mystery, life and death and GOOD vs. EVIL.

The last time I heard rumours that Disney had some sort of agenda, it was a gay agenda. I think both of the alleged biblical and gay agendas are just speculation by overactive imaginations. Disney’s REAL agenda is the bottom line.

Personally, I like the biblical references. I’m not currently a churchgoer, but I have always believed that stories that have lasted for centuries, do so for a very good reason – they’re very good, compelling stories, and many of the basics have a lot to say about human nature. That’s why we still study Shakespeare, mythology, and yes, the Bible. And for the record, I like the Hindu references, too.

I don’t see what one has to do with the other. Disney isn’t religious organization with some sort of agenda. They own other movie studios that release more controversial materials under different names. They are a company and are there to make a buck like all other companies.

As for biblical references, it’s obvious that Lost is full of biblical references, but also mythological references, scientific references. I wouldn’t read too much into that. The Bible is full of parables that make for interesting drama, which is what this show is. Put plainly, it’s art imitating life.

Then again, if you feel that strongly about it, there’s always the OFF button.

The best ammo on its behalf was in season 1, where throughout the year I thought you could make a very compelling case for this all being in Hurley’s (the only one who has been out and out declared mentally unsound, at least enough to be committed)… it’s his comic with the polar bears and an island in a bubble, and the numbers he had heard appearing everywhere.

Could it all be a communal mental experience? I guess, but that’s a pretty unsatisfying conclusion. “It’s all in someone’s mind” means virtually anything is possible. But if you really want to get all metaphysical (correct me if that’s the wrong term), how do any of us know that everything we perceive isn’t just what we imagine, and the boundaries of our own ability to fabricate parallel realities for infinite other people are limitless? (Holy cow, I need to go back to college and drink more beers and smoke more pot now )

I suspect the writers and producers are a lot like Ben.. teasing us with half-answers and paths that go in circles just to entertain us.. and it really does work. As much as we love to hate Ben.. he keeps us glued to the story. And again, I say what’s wrong with that. I love Ben.. I love Lost.

Why did Locke’s father try so hard to get Locke and Sawyer angry enough to kill him?

He didn’t ask for help, for mercy, for compassion.. all he did was do his best to create enormous rage inside of Locke and Sawyer.

Could Locke’s dad (on the island) really be Smokey the Monster, testing the character of Locke and Sawyer? It sure seemed like a test to me.. Locke passed (sort of) and Sawyer failed.

And didn’t Smokey test Eko too? (btw.. Eko failed)

Dave, Cooper appeared after the sub incident, but how long had he “been on ice?” The use of the sub had been discontinued following the Swan accident because it had destroyed sonar and navigational capabilities. Or so goes Mikhal’s story, but he’s the liar’s liar. There could be a second sub.

Vinny2Cubes, to me, the column or pillar that Cooper was chained to, symbolized the altar where Abraham was to sacrifice his son per God’s command — as a test of faith. In this case it was Ben playing God, commanding the son to sacrifice the father.

Wasn’t that great when Locke gave Sawyer that deepdown sincere, modest and grateful, “Thank you.” reminded me of Gary Cooper or Henry Fonda.

Naomi did seem believable, but I’m betting she and Mikhal have “a thing”. That communication device is central to something.

Hopefully this new/old place the Others are going to will shed some light on Dharma/Hanso/Mittelos. That’s fascinating to me.

UNLESS… maybe Ben’s M.O. is to keep everyone on the island, and by giving away the “Pala Ferry” boat (to Michael and Walt) and evoking enough manipulation to drive Locke to blow up a sub, he is achieving that objective. The other Others might be opposed to this (at least a few of them seem to believe they can get back home if they play nicely with Ben). Ben was supposedly born on the island, so he clearly has no need to go anywhere else. He could have left the island for treatment for his tumor if he wanted to.

Does anyone recall whether Anthony Cooper (Locke’s dad) showed up on the island before or after the sub explosion?

I loved Coopers whole dialog… a man truly convinced he was finally in Hell. Nothing left to loose… he could say whatever he wanted , you can’t do anything further to him. I actually cheered when Sawyer throttled him. The whole scene was awesome !

What is the secret Juliette and Jack share?

I think Naomi is telling the truth. She was searching for Desmond. Some rich chick gives her coordinates and they steam around looking but find nothing until she accidentily spots the island through the clouds late at night. I’m curious though about the remark asking whether they actually “saw” the helicopter. Wonder where that was supposed to lead us?

Why are the Ben/others roaming the jungle? Not back in their cushy condos? All this for Johns sake… take him to the totem pole or whatever that religious looking column was that they had Cooper tied to?

In the preview for next week the Sub is clearly visible. I’m thinking there’s another Sub. It would make sense to have a backup. One always on the island.

Lots of interesting answers and more questions. I hope the questions and mysteries never end… that would mean the show was over. Season 3 started out a little shaky but has developed rapidly into the best ever !!! Maybe the PTB actually read this stuff (and other sites) and take it to heart.

1. I loved when Sawyer brought the letter out.

2. Does anyone have any thoughts about this…Why was Locke so eager and willing to kill Patchy and Mrs. Clue? I only ask because he then had such a hard time w/ killing his father.

Either A : He knew ahead of time that the fence would not kill Patchy.

Or B : He did not mind killing Patchy in front of the 815er’s.

3. Locke seems to be very keen on letting the island do his dirty work. He only acts in his own interest a lot of the time and it does not shock me that he says he want’s to go alone. If that is the case or not we are sure to see soon ( I hope ). Locke hit Sayid over the head before the flare for the first radio transmission attempt. Locke forsaw Boone dying and let the island do it. Locke allowed the hatch to blow up ( before going mute and having the island heal him after he made amends ). Locke blew up the sub ( we think ). Locke was the last to see Ecko ( if I remember correct ) and sort of gave a look before decending into the 2nd hatch as if he knew something would happen. Locke was in tune with the fact that Walt was special before the Others got to him.

When Locke was working at the box factory I remeber the fellow employees joking that he was a “general” ( freak-o ). He was playing some sort of role-playing game, or this was more serious? This was right before he went to Austrailia w/ a briefcase full of knives. Full of knives. ( freak-o ) I also remember him talking to a phone sex girl and getting mad that she didn’t want to really meet him ( duh …freek-o ). I remember Locke working and playing in a toy store w/ a kid on a catch the mouse game or whatever it’s called. I also remember him working as a pest control guy. He also spent time in the cult / farmer / hunter.

I think maybe a few times : John Locke to island : “What do you want from me!!??” (freak-o, or not?)

So…And just as much as Dave above is dying to know what happened to Des when he went off into the woods a while back, I am still very interested in what Locke saw the first time he met Smokey and lived. The 2nd time Smokey didn’t seem so happy w/ Mr. John Locke.

4. I can’t wait to see who “Skeletor” was & where he was going w/ the beer!

If this is so, then it won’t be long before it’s confirmed.

If you remember, the communication device when first discovered, DIED when it was turned on. Charlie’s response – “shocker.” Mikhal took off with it, but gave it up TOO easily when confronted. I believe he gave them back a different unit for some reason. The original was a decoy.

Because when they showed it to Sayid — it powered up fine!

Could be, Ben has set-up Juliet to take the hit before they invade the camp to evacuate the pregnant girls — Sun and Kate. Naomi is the true mole. Juliet thinks SHE IS and so will everyone else when Sawyer turns on the tape. Ben is a crafty chess player who is moves ahead of everyone else.

I don’t believe Flight 815 was ever found and Des has been fed some kind of programable LSD.

Hanso and Dharma clearly have some connection. There is certainly the rather ominous suggestion that both are complicit in some BIG TIME coverups, and I hardly think a fraudulent plane crash is out of the realm of possibility.

I am *dying* to know whether we’ll find out where Des went mid-last season.

It’s a brilliant tie-in to the show in such that it enhances the experience of anyone who participated AND watches the show, but doesn’t preclude those who only watch the show from enjoying it.

Both Persephone and Penelope were characters from Greek mythology as well.

And Fernando, one of the things I love about the Others is that we have NO idea who is being honest and who is being deceptive. Richard could be acting on orders from Ben, or not. I have to imagine that some of them (maybe the Book Club group?) don’t agree with Ben’s ideology, while others (Tom? Danny Pickett for sure…) do.

Last week I wondered how the Dharma folks or whoever is running the show could fake a plane crash. They’d have to get another Oceanic plane and find bodies etc.

Naomi’s statement that the plane was found 4 miles down with bodies in it makes it soooo easy. Clearly a search team that was really a Dharma team said they found the wreckage and sent a robot vehicle down to film the wreckage. What actually happened is that the Dharma folks FAKED a video of the 4 mile deep wreck. That would be easy to do with CGI technology. In reality there is no wreck and no plane found at 4 miles deep. It’s a Dharma or whoever illusion for the world.

I still wonder if the “magic” on the island is that your dreams come true, nightmare or not. Your deepest desires materialize, and sometimes our deepest desires are frightening.

The possibility that Richard could have been acting on Ben’s orders and feeding Locke false information did cross my mind and could very well be fact. But I think what is important is Locke’s perception of Ben’s position within the group. Locke may be more driven to stage a coup if he thinks the Others are divided which we certainly have been led to believe given the actions of Alex, Carl, Juliet, the mysterious “other” Others (if they exist), and now Richard. Who knows but if it all isn’t just manipulation on SOMEONE’S part, be it Ben or the yet-to-be-revealed Jacob.

On a totally different note, Ben’s adamant stance against Alex and Carl’s relationship probably stems from his fear that she may get pregnant and die should they become sexually active.

I have a question for you. You wrote: “Ben may not have the solid following that he appears to have.” My interpretation would be that you are refering to what Richard told Locke right before giving him the folder with Saywer’s info (and also to Juliet’s “I hate you, Ben” from last week).

If that is correct, are we to assume that Richard is being honest with Locke? Could Richard have acted under Ben’s command as part of the manipulation scheme they are running on Locke? I’m just curious as to what your take on this is (or anyone else’s in this site), since I cannot come up with a clear understanding of Richard (and maybe you can). However, from what we saw in the preview for next week, we will learn more about Richard (he is seen looking younger and with longer hair) in one week.

Later.

My feeling is that Locke finally sees a chance to fulfill a his destiny and it lies on the Island. I think he is out to overthrow Ben and take over as leader of whatever they are doing. Ben is understandably uneasy about Locke’s as yet unrevealed power and is trying hard to control him and keep him in his place. After all, the Island and his power is all Ben seems to have going for him.

Ben planted the mini recorder for Locke to take and stir up more trouble for Juliet. Hopefully the Sawyer story isn’t complete; I’d sure hate to see him go. Thought of the Abraham story (Locke, Cooper, Ben at the ancient pillar) when he was commanded to sacrifice his son at the altar, as a test to God. Not sure if Locke passed or failed his test. When Cooper tore up the letter, I thought, “you shouldn’t have done that, dude”.

Here’s my comprehensive post on the Desmond/Penny picture. I just don’t know what to think of it. Maybe the producers want the physical picture(s) and the flashback to be slightly different for no reason other than to screw with us. Or maybe there’s a big reason. What do you all think?

http://www.shattershield.com/desphotos.html

I do know this — the poses are radically different and the backgrounds have subtle differences, too. A major Hollywood producer could get it right on the money — if they wanted to. The fact is, these two images are in our faces and have been several times — when they don’t need to be at all.

I choose not to think about the pictures again unless more info is served up by the producers or one of you has a Divine Revelation.

BUT in close examination of the photos, I DID see a previously unseen shooter on the grassy knoll and someone was dressed as a walrus — oh no, Paul is dead again!

The hunting of boar, the fear of ‘the monster’, the loss of civilization and order, the rival leaders, etc.

And the psychological tricks that fear and longing for acceptance play on one’s mind.

I am not sure what Ben’s thing is. I don’t understand why he is a leader. Why would all these diverse personalities with scientific minds follow Ben?

That to me is the biggest mystery, and I hope the writers know how to pay this one off.

I could almost understand it if he was CEO and signed all their paychecks.

Psychological experimentation and tricks are Ben’s forte. And so with that certainty, I had to believe he was testing Locke. Seeing if peer pressure and righteous feeling of justice and erratication of evil would cause John Locke to go against himself and kill his father.

Why, Locke didn’t see this I don’t know. Or maybe he did and he is playing a game of his own.

Right now I am just about over ‘Lost’. There is too much in the stew. It is more work than enjoyment. Character archs are sine waves and beginning to insult my intelligence or make me seasick.

I keep giving Lost second chances . . . but if there is no pay off at the season finale; I don’t know if I can justify watching it just to see Sawyer sweat.

we have already figured out there are “others” on the island besides her from her group of friends…..she is not alone remember….(maybe she just meant Ben and Kool and Gang, but i don;t think so)…..so if we think we didn’t see the helicopter taking the plunge (if the losties thought they could “Swim” to it, it wasn;t that far offshore…but they still didn;t see it???)….

its quite possible something else was dropped???…..the people she is talking about…..military divers??…supplies??….a means to escape the island???….i think the supposed helicopter will turn out to be some form of airplane (explaining high altitude suit) that didn;t crash…..perhaps the same one for food drops….

another helicopter question….is it even possible to parachute from a helicopter???…..I guess….but in ALOT of movies and even real life, if you crash in a helicopter….you crash and burn….not parachute to safety….

Loved the tie in of Locke’s father and Sawyer….finally they are seeing the connections…..

I don’t think it will be purgatory either….more mind games for the losties I guess…..Locke’s father would obviously think he was dead….and if helicopter girl is saying the plane went down as well….well, 1+1 usually equals 2…..except for on the island….

what was Ben referring to when they were leaving for a “new” place…but really an “old” place…..what role did that location play in their history I wonder????

peace…

I got a feeling in the last Locke episode that he was kind of moving beyond the ‘I just want to be part of the group’ thing. Even if finding Coop there kind of shocked him back into being the wimpy follower Locke again, it seems like a big stretch to me that he would just go along without pushing for any answers. I mean, they find his father down there, and he’s just hanging around, not trying to find out how he got there and why? They drag him out in the middle of the night to kill Cooper in front of everybody and he doesn’t ask why? Or tell Ben to do his own dirty work? Like I said, it seemed like a stretch to me, even for Locke.

Locke’s more interested in becoming accepted in a “special” group of people than he is satisfying curiosity. Ben knows this from his time spent with Locke in the hack and he’s playing him.
His time with the weed growing hippies can be a good parallel to his going the others.

I think it might be something to do with the island not being seen by the rest of the world.

I’m really looking forward to seeing what occurs when Sawyer plays the tape of Juliette taking about Sun and “Austen”.

Ryan and Jen, thanks once again for your wonderful insight in the synopsis. And the Notes and Notions clearly sum up and address what needs to be highlighted this week. So, I have nothing else to add (for now) other than I believe Sayid is on the right track mistrusting Naomi.

“Remind me not to rescue you, Sayid”. Ouch!

-I don’t think Naomi is lying. Cooper basically backed up everything she said about finding the plane.
-Anyone catch Goodwin in the crowd when Locke was supposed to publicly kill Cooper, maybe it was just me (after Mikal all bets are off)
-I don’t think Locke is joining the others per se. The fact that he gave away the tape recorder shows that. I think he is using the other to find more about the island.
-I’m interested to find out what Cooper did to the others that required his killing. I don’t buy the reasons Ben gave.

Locke really annoyed me too. I know that everyone is always complaining that they never ask the right questions, but, come one! He was in their camp for 3 or 4 days, I guess, and didn’t learn anything that they don’t want him to know. And then, at the end, he’s dragging back Cooper’s body to Ben, just like a little puppy dog.

I did love the Sayid scene … it was great to see him again. The look on his face as Naomi put him in his place was preiceless. The Danielle scene was great too, and weird … what the heck is she up to?

I was baffled by how Cindy acted like it was totally normal to be there with her little tent and the happy sacrifice. Do you think they brainwashed her?

That moment with the letter. Cooper is SUCH a good evil villain. I do think he’s actually dead. I can’t replay the episode, but I didn’t hear a noise. But I won’t totally rule out the theory.

Yeah, Kate blew it by running to Jack. But at least we see now that Jack is up to something. I can’t wait to see the battle for “control” of everyone. I don’t think anyone is going to trust Saint Jack anymore.

Sooooooooooo good. Love Lost.

Nice call on the numbers! I’m actually disappointed when a number comes up that can’t be attributed to the Dharma sequence. I like that Sawyer/Cooper stole $38,000 from Mary Ford (15+23).

I actually cheered when Locke’s musical theme came back at the end of the episode. I hope this is a musical cue that our amazing Locke has returned.

Everytime I heard the name Naomi, I remembered the quote from Ruth “Your people shall be my people.” I wonder if this reference is a clue to the motives of this character. Somehow, I doubt it .

What a good episode. Just the right mix of plot advancement, mythology, relationship, debunking rumors, and teasing. Holy cow am I excited for the last few episodes. And I agree with the posters above. Awesome season. I think it actually has fewer weak episodes (they characteristically have a musical interlude toward the end) than any other season.

LOVE the Locke-Sawyer connection that has been hinted at/speculated for so long now. Maybe each character has a “partner” of some kind… we’ve seen (so far) Locke/Sawyer, Hurley/Libby, Jack/Ana Lucia, Michael/Walt, Boone/Shannon, Rose/Bernard, Jin/Sun… you could stretch to say Kate/Sayid (via Kate’s dad and Kelvin)…

I am getting to the point (and I say this with admiration, not frustration or dislike) that I no longer know whether to trust most of the characters. Jack, Locke, Ben, Kate, and Juliet have all demonstrated an inherently duplicitous side that may be malicious (Ben) or selfish (Juliet, IMHO… I think she’s out for herself only) or benevolent. But I think we can’t ascribe any motive to any of them… they all tend to do or say whatever needs to be done, and all except for Kate are master manipulators.

I wonder whether Kate — either at the behest of Sayid, et. al., or because she thought it was the right thing to do — decided to “leak” information to Jack and specifically in front of Juliet. She could have done this to see where his allegiance lies or deliberately given misinformation (as we’ve seen Locke, Juliet, Sayid, and Ben all do effectively). (As an aside, I unfortunately have lost my faith in Kate and her previous bad-assedness to have really done this… I suspect she’s ‘just being Kate.’)

Why would the outside world be looking for the plane off the coast of Bali? If you’re going from Sydney to L.A., Bali is in the OPPOSITE direction. For now, I’m going to stick with the “coverup” theory, where the plane that was found was a plant to keep the world from continuing to look for the Losties.

Just how stupid is Kate? And just how duplicitous is Jack?

Obviously, Cooper’s car accident was actually a kidnapping, and either he didn’t know it, or he chose to try to con his way out of it.

When Ben discovers his tape recorder is missing, he’s going to know it was Locke that took it…unless it was planted there for Locke to take.

Josh Holloway did such an incredible job – we’ve seen Sawyer angry before, but nothing like this, where it was so palpably mixed with raw anguish and release. Getting sick to his stomach afterward was a really nice touch. And Locke’s “Thank you” was truly worth more than the price of admission.

2. why is it when they need to mess up an episode they through Jack in with his “holier than thou” attitude and Kate acting like a junior high gossip queen??

3. if cooper isn’t “really dead” like mikael, then I am officially done with the show. they can’t keep breaking faith with the audience like that. I half expected sawyer not to kill cooper, to stop. I’m glad he did not. great Tv, great characters, i loved locke’s “thank you”.

but if he starts breathing because he’s not buried or some other thing….i can deal with magic, but please let the laws of physics apply.

and Kate……SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!

Does this mean that since now Sawyer’s conflict within himself is resolved, he’ll be the next one to go? I hope not – he’s one of my favorite characters. As for the secret that Jack and Juliet weren’t willing to share with Kate “yet”, no doubt there’s more twists and turns yet to come this season.