Let the theorizing begin!

Why?

I can't imagine him leaving for another reason. Although I guess he might have used the magic closet.

I think I shall spend the summer in denial because dead Jin is not acceptable.

Here's my handwavey denial theory (remember Wesley and the Slit Throat of Denial?): the Zodiac picked up an unconscious, wounded-but-not-dead Jin somewhere in the water -- the blast would have flung him in their direction [yes, because I SAY SO] -- and took him back to the island before it moved.

So when the Oceanic 6 (now with bonus dead guy!) finally get back to the island, there will be a tearful reunion between Sun and Jin. [Yes, because I SAY SO.]

Hey, it's no more implausible than the rest of the show.

My test of whether the writers can see this all the way through is if they remember that Desmond and Frank would probably have to go back too. Although that's not quite right either - Locke wasn't one of the escapees in the helicopter. Is it just the crash survivors that need to go back? Would Aaron count as a survivor, even though he was one of the six? Technically, he was on the plane, I guess. Makes me wonder if there are supernatural forces on the island working at cross-purposes, given Kate's dream, though I guess that could just be a dream and not a "real" message from Claire.

I think we can all agree, though, that Michael is dead like a dead thing.

At this point, I'm not convinced Michael (or Jin) is dead. Why would Hurley tell Walt that he was protecting the people on the island by lying, and he told Walt that included his father? Why wouldn't he just tell Walt that Michael was dead? Isn't it crueler to give him false hope?

I think at that point in the future (which is at least a couple years after Hurley and Sun go to Jin's grave) Hurley knows that Michael and maybe Jin are actually alive. I think either Locke/Bentham visited him that month too, or he heard it from the various island dead he keeps in touch with. And (memfault) chopper guy confirmed it is possible to talk to the dead.

People are calling season 5 ZOMBIE SEASON.

that's because the creators keep joking that the final season will be the zombie season...

Aha! That explains it.

Speaking of the creators, they kept the big Ben Moves the Island scene secret by giving it the codename Frozen Donkey Wheel. Hee.

Point of interest.

Ben Moves the Island

I really wanted to be moved by his grief during that scene -- since he knew he was being exiled from the island -- but the fact that, just prior, he let the boat blow up and evinced not one shred of guilt, made me not give a damn about what he was losing.

Ben doesn't really seem to feel guilt at all, now that I think about it. Has he ever shown the capacity for guilt?

I'll buy that he was emotional over the loss of his daughter, and I loved his snide remark to Locke about how he's sure HE won't have any trouble with those pesky emotions!