when we saw her in the flashback, she wasn't a random background person, she was staring at Hurley.

I've been wondering about that, myself. But, it just seems to me that if she'd been there for any length of time, Hurley would have remembered her, too. And just because she looked like she was starting at Hurley didn't mean she was seeing him. So, I'm still iffy on whether or not Libby's got an ulterior motive here. We seem to be attributing negative motivations for Libby because she was in a psych ward, yet we're all "poor Woobie" for Hurley. I'm willing to think "poor Woobie-ette" for Libby until proven otherwise.

Why did Libby do the elaborate misdirect earlier in the season when she and Hurley were doing laundry and Hurley was trying to figure out where he knew her from? She went into the long song-and-dance about how she saw him rush on to the plane, and how he stepped on her foot when he was trying to get to his seat, which couldn't have happened anyway since she was in the tail section and he was in the middle of the plane. Was she embarrased for herself - that she was in the same hospital as he was? Or she didn't want him to realize she was lying about being a therapist? Things that make you go hummmmm...

misdirect earlier in the season when she and Hurley were doing laundry and Hurley was trying to figure out where he knew her from

Oooh, good point! I have a terrible memory for earlier episodes. However, just because she was in the tail and he was in the middle doesn't mean that they couldn't have crossed paths in getting seated or going to the loo. Also, we have no reason to doubt she was a therapist, even therapists can end up needing psychiatric care for various reasons. It's just, we're giving Hurley the benefit of the doubt that what we see from his perspective is true, despite the fact he's having hallucinations and we're only imputing Libby with lies and trickery. We have no proof of that, yet. I can only think it's because we've been familiar with Hurley since the beginning of season one, we like him and feel sympathy from him. The tailies, OTOH, we still aren't quite sure about, despite their stories of death and kidnapping by the Others. It's always possible they have already been recruited by the Others and it's all an elaborate scam, although I don't believe that myself.

just because she was in the tail and he was in the middle doesn't mean that they couldn't have crossed paths in getting seated or going to the loo

Now that I'm thinking about it, maybe he was trying to remember why he didn't remember her from the plane.

I'm trying to remember their conversation - I do know that she said something along the lines that he stepped on her foot hard trying to get into his seat as he passed her. The only reason I remember it, is because at the time I was struck by the fact that it couldn't have happened the way she said it, because passengers load at the front of the plane not through the tail section. I do know that it hurt his feelings/embarrased him so he changed the subject.

no reason to doubt she was a therapist, even therapists can end up needing psychiatric care for various reasons

Oh I agree, she could very well be a therapist.. it's just an easy explantion as to why she wouldn't want Hurley to remember her from the hospital.

It's just a question that always stuck with me about her, until this week I was betting on her being one of the Others and that the story she gave him earlier about the plane was a cover story.

Eh? I could be totally off base, and remembering wrong.

She could have been a long term plant by the island to observe Hurley as it started the countdown to the crash....

Oh I agree, she could very well be a therapist

I guess she could be a therapist now. Or maybe was all along, and had her own breakdown. But when we see her, she's definitely a patient, and taking meds. And the look on her face? Not confidence-inspiring if she were my therapist.

Still, I'm interested to see how it all works out, because Hurley has one of the most interesting back stories in my opinion, and so much of what happened to him is integral to what they're going through. (You know, if it does.)

Now I'm tempted to get out my season 1 DVD's and play the Hurley ep when we saw him get on the plane to see if he steps on anyone's foot. Because it's just one of the things that's always bugged me about her story. Although, she could have been headed to the bathroom when the plane started to crash and she just grabbed a seat and ended up in the tail section. Just makes me wonder where they are going with this, if anywhere.

Me, too. Except I don't have S1 DVDs.

::sob::

She could also be stalking Hurley, and that makes me wonder where her money comes from...

I also liked "Henry's" assertion that the island is invisible to the rest of the world, or at least, you know...lost.

I also wonder if anyone will ahve a tie-in with Hurley's other investiments, or the sneaker factory that burnt down.

Maybe Libby was also on the deck that crashed. She might actually blame Hurley for her breakdown.... Nah.