Damn Flashlight, where have you disappeared to? You defend all the early season drek and go AWOL when Lost produces some of the best work of the series. Absolutely great episode. This is one of the few times the flashback didn't feel like a distraction. Plus the mythology finally gets some serious traction. Others that don't age, the invisible patriarch of the island, and the slaughter of the Dharma initiative group. Intriguing stuff (plus no love triangle in sight).
Finally they are starting to reveal some answers but yet still giving us more questions. Are the hostiles the descendants of the Black Rock? And why was Ben's invisible friend asking for help. And is Locke going to die. Now this is must see tv, the Lost of old is back.
I guess we just assume Ben's little girlfriend died with the rest of the Dharma people. And I will not be pleased if it turns out that the island is some kind of supernatural afterlife way-station. Was the guy who found young Ben in the jungle the same guy who gave Locke the file on Sawyer? I'd say that requires some explanation.
Anyone notice that Jacob was visible in a few frames after Ben gets pushed against the wall? It was a little dark, but he looked kinda like Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski. Yeah it was the same guy. Richard Alpert. He also brought Juliet to the island. I thought it was a little strange, but it's possible that Richard is in his 50s during the present Lost time frame. I think Ben's flashback events occurred 20-30 years ago. Or maybe Richard is really hundreds of years old and the island prevents people from dying of old age.
Good ep! Enjoyed it a bunch. Wondered many of the same things you all have posted. Was disappointed that the Lostaway Beach subplot, confronting Jack & Juliet, turned back into a "we're all together in this" lovefest so quickly. And I don't get how Juliet could've known what was on the other side of the tape--since it never got to her. Remember, Locke stole the recorder from Ben before Richard had a chance to take it back to its hiding place in the medical bunker. Now, maybe she's just making an educated guess on how Ben & The Others operate, but she definitely couldn't know WHEN they'd raid the beach compound. And Jack couldn't really be PLANNING any sort of response in much detail (which seemed to be indicated IMO) without such knowledge. Meh--that needed to be tightened up somehow. At least they explained how Mikhail isn't really Zombie Mikhail.
It was part of Ben's plan. He leaves a tape recorder in the Medical Station, and tells Juliet before she handcuffs herself to Kate about the recorder. He tells her to find out who's pregnant and record that. Then he has her check the other side of the tape after a few days so she knows when the Others are planning to attack.
Hey, you may not LIKE the answer, but at least they provided one. That's a far cry better treatement than most of the mysteries on the island receive.
