So it looks like the entirety of everything is actually a game of Ben vs. Widmore in some way.

I was thinking that, too. That (although I'm sure that JJ Abrams didn't actually plan the series this way, not from the beginning) the island is the prize in a long battle between Ben and Widmore (Ben said that Widmore "changed the rules" twice in last night's episode, and I think that's telling), and that everything -- and everyone -- else is just collateral damage.

Including the crash survivors. Which is interesting, because it's a focus that, like I said, I don't think the series started out with. Not at all.

ION, I still have a hard time hearing Caleb from The O.C. have a British accent (though faint).

Ben said that Widmore "changed the rules" twice in last night's episode, and I think that's telling

That, and Widmore's "That's MY island." I'm wondering if he funded the Dharma Initiative back in the day, and Ben somehow managed to undermine/take over.

I'm also intrigued by the possibility (as someone posited last night) that everything in the "real" world we saw with Ben could have happened during the brief period he was in his secret room.

I think I would put it as the "brief periods" he was in his secret room. I think he uses that room a lot. As do 1 or 2 other people in his crew.

"SloanDaddy" - I like it.

I'm very sad that they killed Alex - poor kid. And the SMOKE MONSTER reappearing!

I can't believe that Sayid found Nadia, married her and then lost her again. So sad.

So. I haven't watched yet, but it just got kicked up in the queue.

ION, I still have a hard time hearing Caleb from The O.C. have a British accent (though faint).

OH MY GOD THAT'S HIM!!! I never noticed.

hearing Caleb from The O.C. have a British accent

isn't he a kiwi? *goes to check imdb* yep! new zealand it is!

Did we meet the doctor with the slit throat from the ship before? I'm remembering (which memory I don't completely trust) that we just heard about him from Fisher Stevens tied to the bed in the sick bay.

Anyone else mentally yelling at Jack, DUDE, *Juliet* is a DOCTOR, go talk to her!

Oh yeah, we met the doctor, he visited Desmond and Sayid in the sick bay and, IIRC, showed them to their room which Michael/Kevin had not yet cleaned of some unnamed shipmate's blood splatter.

So are we to interpret that the people on the boat are lying about the doc or that the time split is so major that he could be dead and washed up on the island and simultaneously in the ship?

When did the island get telegraph contact with the ship? Why does Kate not know morse code? I thought in season that was included with her various boyscout skillz like tracking and hunting.

After hearing stories from people involved with the show about the actress who plays Claire, i was a little excited to think she had been knocked off so easily. "So simple! That totally explains why Kate is raising Aaron in the future!" But then she was fine. *sigh*

That was the doc? Now I'm confused about him, drat.

Seriously, I'm surprised anyone knows Morse code. How does Bernard come to know it, I wonder what that story is.

After hearing stories from people involved with the show about the actress who plays Claire,

Do tell! o/