1) Mark Pellegrino (Lost’s Jacob) plays Lucifer. How can anyone not want to watch that?

2) The show is in the middle of a big fate vs. free will storyline. The main characters have actually been told at this point that there is no free will, everything is predestined, and they are and always have been pawns. Obviously the satisfying story would be to see the heroes exercise free will to “save the day”, but try as they might, at every turn so far they haven’t managed to do anything but what they’re fated to do. It’s very interesting stuff.

just like the other man is locke, jacob would be walt! This may overcome the writers concerns about his age since its jacob, you know. It can also show why the others wanted walt so badly and thought he was special!!

Also a showdown at the end between locke and walt, about the bright and dark since they discussed this in season 1, is a perfect idea to bring those two together firstly to explay what locke meant by the stones and have a showdown between them,,

I should be a writer man, and if this happens then lost will be the best show that ever and will ever come in history

Also, when Kate saw the horse from her past — I believe the powers-that-be on the show have said that was an island manifestation. If so, I assume it’s Smokey. But why? Even if it’s not Smokey… again, why?

(My sense is that as the show has progressed, just what the “spirits” are has evolved over time; I’m fine with that, but am starting to wonder a) why Smokey can only appear as someone who’s dead, and b) if Smokey is the only entity who’s able to do this trick… or if some of the appearances have actually been Jacob (i.e., Kate’s horse).

Now that he has Locke, we probably won’t see Christian unless he needs him to swing Jack some way. (Kind of like the basic weapon of a video game, useful on the first levels, but as you progress you forget it- until its needed for some specific purpose).

Also, I’ve never thought it possible that Smokey could manifest as two (or more) different characters at the same time — remember, “Locke” isn’t around when Ben goes to be judged and sees his daughter, for example; when she goes away, “Locke” comes back. But in S5, when Sun and Lapidus are in New Otherton with “Christian”… doesn’t “Locke” call to them from outside? (I can’t remember now, will have to break out the DVD now! That might be wrong, come to think of it)

While I wonder if he’s the manifestation of Smokey… I don’t necessarily think he is Jacob, either. If anything, he really does seem like the true “spirit” of the island. I don’t know… “Christian” always seems like a good guy, as if he’s trying to inspire whoever he’s with on to better things. (And not necessarily the MiB’s agenda…)

Really, I just think the odd thing about it is that for all MiB/Smokey’s limitless power… he can’t, say, take the form of Sawyer while Kate’s on the other side of the island — it’s only the dead. (Then again, you can sprinkle a ring of ash to keep Smokey out — how powerful is THAT??!!) I think part of the explanation will happen as part of the Claire-followup in 2007, when they explain whether or not she died in the mercenary attack. It’ll probably involve Miles as well, since he can read the thoughts of the dead… he’s already shown quite an interest in Claire post-attack, as if he knows she’s a zombie/MiB/spirit.

One of your arguments that the Losties are all “special” is as follows:

The flashback device used in the first and second season seems appropriate for a show about “special” characters. It’s like the show is saying: Look! These individuals are each so special we have to write entire episodes of backstory for them so you can see how unique and interesting each of them is.

I strongly disagree with that statement, actually, and in fact, I think it’s a pretty good argument that they’re not all special. You could have had an intricate flashback device with even the most mundane of characters in a situation like this. In fact, that’s the quality about Lost that drove me to it – the way that each character used this crisis in his or her life to reflect on a lesson learned from a similar crisis in their past life. I don’t think it implies any “specialness” on the part of our heroes. (Also, I think losing touch with this device has made the show get less appealing as time goes on. But who am I to complain? I’m still watching.)

@Kevin,

I don’t know, as soon as newLocke/Smokey said “I’m sorry you had to see me like that,” it seemed obvious to me that he was also, in fact, every dead character we’ve ever seen walking around – including and especially Christian. Can anyone convince me why that wouldn’t be so?

Finally, @no one in particular:

I liveblogged the season premiere last week. If you’re interested, you can read it here. Obviously, there will be spoilers. http://www.jon-eric.com/blog/2010/02/liveblogging-lost.php