I thought it was a cruddy, disappointing finale and further proof that Abrams and the writers are more lost than the fans. But, then again, I thought that the Thin Red Line was a brilliant movie, so what do I know?

Kalshane, I've bookmarked your list post, thanks. (I was hoping someone would take the bait.)

What turned the smoke black? It looked like a simple fire to me.

How come everyone is so sure those Deliverance boat-folk were the Others? Did I miss something last night?

Maybe the Others are just as much trapped as any one else by the "security system" -- maybe they can only go so far before they end up being taken back to shore. The island is protecting itself from being discovered by the out side world.

And the Others think that Walt can get them away with his creepy mind powers.

Unless it's something as simple as a marker *for* the Others, i.e. we're heading out in the Incredibly! Convenient! Boat, we'll make a fire on the beach, and we'll know where to land when we get back.

I had postulated upthread that perhaps it was to send a signal to various tribes of Others that it was time to make their move.

I have to admit, the dynamite scenes bothered me too, and not just because they went on too long.

Dudes, you just watched someone who supposedly knew what he was doing blow himself up. Don't make us spend the next hour watching both the primary hunter/protector and the only doctor on the island fighting over it.

Find a measuring tape, pull down your pants and be done with it.

I had postulated upthread that perhaps it was to send a signal to various tribes of Others that it was time to make their move.

Ooops. Sorry. That's what I get for skimming. And skimming while a toddler is hanging on my leg, at that.

Question--do we know that the boat people who took Walt are really the Others? Maybe they're just working for the Others/listening to the voices that belong to The Others/just plain old pirates sailing the South Sea.

I also read Hurley's thumbs up to Walt as just general good will to anyone who would engage with him. However, that we were shown it means, to me, that they are one of the dichotomous pairs on the island (Jack and Locke being the other).

I think the people on the boat are the Others, and I don't think they want to get off the island. I think they drank the koolaid, and are the keepers of the island. However, I don't think it's their baby (or, at least, the people we saw aren't the ones in charge). There may be a Great and Powerful Oz. If so, I don't know whether Jack or Locke would be Dorothy. I don't see Walt joining the cult, unless JJ is really in love with the idea of child-as-mouthpiece-of-Eeeeevil.

There have been too many people who seem like they weren't supposed to be on that flight for me to think that anyone was actually not supposed to be.

Maybe the Others are just as much trapped as any one else by the "security system" -- maybe they can only go so far before they end up being taken back to shore. The island is protecting itself from being discovered by the out side world.

And the Others think that Walt can get them away with his creepy mind powers.

I like this theory. It still doesn't explain why they took Alex, but it still explains a lot.

How come everyone is so sure those Deliverance boat-folk were the Others? Did I miss something last night?

I thought it was implied by the French woman hearing the Others saying they were coming for the boy.