Is everyone else dead from the HSQ?

It wasn't a huge surprise, exactly. I suspected that Ben would kill Locke, but HOLY GOD that was still something to watch. I love the little fucker, but SHIT.

I wouldn't be surprised if we got an alternate version of Widmore's being nasty to Desmond that makes it him trying to protect Penny.

What do you mean, Frank?

In Widmore's scene with Locke, he came off as the Good Guy. We've generally sided with Ben despite his...being Ben because we know him better and we've actually seen him do good things once in a while, whatever the motivation. Widmore, on the other hand, has generally been painted as eeeevil. Uh, mostly by Ben. But in that scene...I started to question who was right. Especially given the reveal that he was an Other, maybe he really is simply trying to protect everyone.

I agree with you, P-C (although I'm not sure I ever sided with Ben). I'm just still not sure that's what Frank is saying.

Is everyone else dead from the HSQ?

I think the board was down for a while during the show (EST, at least), and then I went to bed b/c I'm a sloth.

I had stuff to say, and now I can't remember it.

Oh! Other than Ben being a TOTAL PSYCHOPATH. I really, truly, believed his compassion in wanting to help Locke -- right up until he killed him. Jesus.

It was the Eloise Hawking thing that set Ben off, right? V. curious, b/c his reaction made me think he wanted to avoid her -- and have Locke avoid her -- but then in the previous episodes, we saw him meet with her.

I'm not thrilled with the whole other camp of crash survivors. I really don't want yet more new characters. But was the woman talking to Locke the marshall with Sayid? I would swear she was.

Also, I'm not surprised we didn't get it, but still annoyed that we got no Sun/Jin reunion this episode.

I'm more than annoyed that we were given a Jin cliffhanger then no follow up. Boo.

I wasn't surprised that Ben killed Locke, but I still don't understand the timing. I thought Eloise was someone he knew well enough. Still, they both did a fabulous job with the scenes.

Woman talking to Locke was the marshall, and totally I agree about the lack of need for new characters. I'm sure they are all related and are supposed to be there....

I was half asleep watching, but most of my thoughts were wishing we were on the island. I wanna go back...

Still, they both did a fabulous job with the scenes.

By the time Jack told Locke he was a sad, lonely old man with no love in his life (I'm paraphrasing), all I could do was laugh and laugh, because (1) hi Jack -- pot; kettle, and (2) I understand that part of what drove Locke to attempt suicide was that everyone made him believe he was a sad, lonely old man, but seriously -- everyone but Walt (Walt!!!) just bagged on him so hard that it got comical by the time Jack did it. Like, okay, it's time for the obligatory Mock John Locke scene.

I always love Hurley. "Hey, am I talking to a guy in a wheelchair?"

I'm just still not sure that's what Frank is saying.

The board went boom before I could post again.

I was thinking that where initially the scene between Desmond and Widmore came off as Widmore being a ginormous asshole and snob, I'm now wondering if he was trying to get rid of Desmond to save Penny somehow. IOW he wasnt' being nasty because he wanted to, or just because he could, but because he felt he had to.

I wasn't surprised that Ben killed Locke, but I still don't understand the timing.

I wonder if Locke killing himself might have messed something up with the plan (i.e. a variation on "suicides can't get into heaven"), whereas if Ben kills him, it will all work out OK.

Oh, I like that theory, Frank.

I still think Ben truly didn't want John to kill himself, because I'm sure Ben had some use for John towards his own ends, but I'm confused how John knowing to contact Eloise tipped the scale. Because Ben is then in contact with her, as we've seen, working together. So I don't understand why Ben suddenly changed his mind about Locke living. If he'd not killed him, then it still would have been the Oceanic 6 and Ben and Desmond planning to go back, but this time with Locke. *scratches head*

Did I miss a scene or two with the new survivors, or did they jump right into the middle of their story? If the latter, I'm cool with that since we've seen this scenario at least twice before.

I didn't mention this last week, but Terry O really brought his A game in the scene with Christian, and even before that when he's struggling with his broken leg. I had sympathy pain crawling over my skin.

Very concerned about the status of Aaron and Penny. And not sure why, but feel they are connected.

Just occurred to me: Ben wants the power and control, he wants to be the special one, and Locke keeps usurping him. So Ben shoots Locke, steals the task of turning the donkey wheel. And when he sees that Locke has the key to actually getting everyone back (Eloise), that's one more thing that Locke is "taking away" from him. He can't let Locke be the saviour of the island, so he killz him ded.