Lost: Lighthouse

I think it is safe to say that from this point forward I will intermittently refer to Smokey the Nemesis as "My Friend".  There is something so perfectly sardonic about that moniker that makes it more than endearing.  Claire has transformed into a scary figure on the island.  She wants to believe Jin is her friend but it is clear that Claire is as likely hug Jin as to kill him.  

Another person Claire is likely to kill is Kate.  Kate's appearance in the episode, however, seemed odd and out of place.  I cannot put my finger on why but it seemed to break the illusion of believability for me.  It was not a completely pointless scene as it did demonstrate that Kate left the Dharma barracks but we knew that she was going to do that already.  

Why Jin would hold back the truth of Aaron being safe and off the island only to come clean with Claire when she threatened the "Other" is a mini-mystery.  Then the trauma of seeing Claire as an ax murderer in the tent convinced him to lie again and he promised to grant Claire access to the Temple.  Hopefully Jin has a plan when he gets to the Temple that will not involve a blood bath.

Claire was captured by the "Others" and brought to the Temple where they tested her in the same way they tested Sayid.  Claire was branded on her shoulder while Sayid's brand was near his ribs, I wonder if there is any significance.  

Hurley and Jack's romp through the jungle was obviously the highlight of this episode.  Hurley wrote on his arm in lieu of paper, theorized that Jack and him were Adam and Eve, played relationship psychologist, and managed to through in a pitch perfect Obi Wan comparison that forced me to laugh audibly.  Jack for his part played follower once more, though I am guessing that it was for the last time.  Hurley was the conduit through which Jacob was able to put Jack back on his path, I am hoping he stays true this time.

Was the magic of the Lighthouse powered by Jacob or the island?  Is the Jacob we have seen Hurley talk to the actual Jacob or a manifestation of the island, taking the initiative to protect itself for once?  Who is coming to the island?  Is it Charles Widmore?  Could it be Alvar Hanso with a new and improved Dharma Initiative?

Lines are being drawn and sides are being formed.  Will Sawyer perpetuate Jin's lie regarding the whereabouts of Aaron?  If he does that mean he is actively helping "My Friend" or quietly laying the groundwork for a "long con"?  Kate is a free agent, that was made clear when her name wasn't listed in the cave.  Jack, Hurley, Lapidus, Sun, Miles, and Illana are all currently in camp Jacob but I wonder for how long. 

When "My Friend" Smokey the Nemesis leads Sawyer, Claire, and Jin into the Temple I wonder who will survive the ensuing chaos?  Will Illana, Sun, Lapidus and Ben get to the Temple before Smokey?  I am guessing they will arrive just before "My Friend" thereby allowing Ben to publicly stand with the Nemesis against the forces of Jacob.  

Dogan continues to be a character I am dying to know more about.  If he showed up off island in Jack's flash sideways does that mean he's not an immortal like Richard?  Will Richard appear in a flash sideways? 

The flash sideways' continue to get stronger each week.  I loved Jack noticing his appendix scar and asking his mother when it was taken!  The sideways flashes really do connect back to the island.  Jack in this reality has a son.  David must have a fairly major role to play as this series rushes towards conclusion.  I wonder if the boy in the woods that spooked "My Friend" is the child of another 815 flyer.  Maybe it was Sawyers child bending reality.

In the long shot theory department; are the flash sideways some form of reality altering therapy?  In the wonderful TV series "Angel", a character has a fictional life's worth of memories implanted because the life he led up to that point was so miserable that was a suicidal, homicidal mess.  These new memories gave him the strength of character needed to move on and become a productive human, even after they merged with the old ones.