Ep: 1.23 Exodus

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Black Rock is in the same area where the Smoke Monster lives.
2. It drags Locke, and Jack and Kate save him before the Monster can pull him down into his hole by throwing dynamite down after it. Locke still does not think the Smoke Monster will hurt him.
3. Locke argues with Jack about saving him. Locke also says he is a man of destiny. Jack says he himself is not.
   

Questions:

1. Why would the Smoke Monster try to take Locke? Protect him? Angry at him? For what?
2. In 16 years, the Smoke Monster has never taken Danielle. Why not? It has taken her family and friends.
   

Ep: 1.22 Born to Run

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Walt is psychic.
2. Kate is a runner who will sacrifice her own friends, as we saw in the bank robbery, and the way she tricked Sun into trying to poison Jin.
   

Ep: 1.21 The Greater Good

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Locke recovers some of his trust by telling part of the truth, but Jack and Sayid still distrust him. And Locke is still lying.
2. Locke admits to sabotaging Sayid's radio rescue efforts.
3. Locke finally shows Sayid the hatch after almost getting killed by Shannon.
   

Questions:

1. It appears Locke would ruin his own birthday party. Is he really so silly?
2. What would Shannon do if she knew Locke's best friend killed Boone?
   

Ep: 1.20 Harm

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Jack personality: Great on commitment but can't let go.
2. Locke's goodwill is running out because of his secrecy.
   

Locke and The Smoke Monster

RE: The Locke and Smoke Monster Team
TIME PERIOD: Season 1

We all know that Locke's journey of faith must hold the keys to the island. In episode order, here is what we see:

1. The Smoke Monster kills the pilot as he attempts to use a transponder for rescue.
2. Locke crashes on the island with a great feeling of destiny, and his paraplegic legs are healed.
3. Locke meets the Smoke Monster. They both like what they see. Ensuing episodes prove the Smoke Monster is helping / speaking / leading Locke.
4. Locke is so secretive about this spiritual trek that he limits members of the search team for Claire. I am sure Locke fully expects it is the island that has taken Claire, and it's no big deal if we ever see her again. He disregards others' well being to continue his quest. He gives up looking for Claire when he finds a hatch. His secrecy threatens his own quest, and he physically hurts Boone rather than letting him reveal his secrets. The reason for his secrecy is likely due to two things; he doesn't want anyone to tell him he can't continue (don't tell me what I can't do), and he also sees it as a very personal, spiritual experience, rather than as an island phenomenon that the other survivors should know about. Actually, it is both. And keeping it a secret is a huge mistake, as Season 5 viewers now know.
5. The Smoke Monster gives Boone a hugely valuable lesson; he must stop protecting Shannon and allow her to choose her own fate. Sounds like good advice, and a lesson on free will to me.
6. After his trebuchet and other approaches fail to open the hatch, it appears Locke begins losing his faith and therefore the use of his legs. He is becoming increasingly frustrated, but continues to bang his head straight on at the problem. Little does he know that even a cursory search would find a nearby door.
7. He has a dream that leads him and Boone to a plane. Boone is killed as he attempts to use a radio as rescue. I strongly believe the Smoke Monster was not leading them to a plane. It was leading them to the Pearl, which they didn't find.
8. The Smoke Monster tries to take Locke down its hole, which has meant disappearance or death to everyone else. Locke still has faith in his destiny, and his safety with the Smoke Monster.
   

SUMMARY:
In this interpretation, the Smoke Monster is not all bad. Sure it is very actively keeping them from getting off the island. It is also leading the man of faith (the guy who is listening) to discover the DI. Later, it uses Ecko to show them the Pearl, since the plane dream did not. We have yet to figure out exactly why the Smoke Monster demanded Ecko's life in return, or if it is Ecko's refusal to feel regret for his life that brings the Smoke Monster's judgment. It could be either one.

And what if the island, as many have speculated, is an Afterlife scenario, where dead people, chosen by Jacob, have one last chance at redemption? And somehow the DI has stumbled on it with real live people. If the Smoke Monster disallows people from escaping, well, they are dead already anyway. And if the Smoke Monster judges those he deems beyond redemption, well, that's what they're there for.

Or perhaps the Smoke Monster is demanding sacrifice for leading the Losties forward? We don't know. A complicating factor is that although Locke is especially attuned to the spiritual dance of the island, it takes a long time to figure things out because he doesn't have help. He would benefit from a few more helping hands, and some logical (scientific?) minds. The secrecy is holding him back, and getting people hurt:)

Lastly, Locke's lack of communication holds him back in many instances in later episodes as well. He never relates his island experiences to the other Losties. He never tells Jack what he is doing when they have that famous meeting at the Orchid before he moves the island. He just says, "Jack, the island doesn't want us to leave." Without examples, Locke sounds like he's losing his mind. When he returns to the mainland, he only implores them to come back. He doesn't explain himself. This is a recurring Locke theme and severely limits his effectiveness.

Ep: 1.19 Deux Ex Machina

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. The island is definitely talking to Locke.
2. Boone is injured and dies because he tries to send a message for rescue. This is what happened to the pilot in Ep. 1.01.
3. I believe Locke's island dream was not meant to find the plane, but to lead him to the Pearl. His secrecy is now causing him and others around him injury. Locke's faith is taking him somewhere, but his insistence on doing it alone is holding him back.
   

Questions:

1. Did Locke's waning faith cause his legs to fail? Likewise, they were restored through his own resolution.
   

Ep: 1.18 Numbers

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. The numbers 4,8,15,16,23,42 are special, but bring bad luck.
2. Life is very tough for Hurley. It's virtually beyond his simple mind.
3. Hurley's desperation can drive him to action, and it turns out well:)
   

Ep: 1.17 In Transition

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Sun's father is forcing Jin to become a terrible man in payment for marrying Sun.
2. Sun doesn't know it.
3. Jin has become bitter and angry because of it.
4. Best written story so far.
   

Ep: 1.16 Outlaws

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Sawyer became the man he hated, and when confronted with the possibility of killing the real Sawyer, he struggles to do it even though it's been a life long goal. When he finally does kill him, he finds out it's the wrong man.
   

Questions:

1. Kate identifies with Sawyer, but seems to want redemption from the upstanding Jack. Guilt?
   

Ep: 1.15 Homecoming

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Charlie is weak and given a choice, will make the wrong one.
2. The kidnappings would create mass hysteria in real life. And most would be in the caves by now.
   

Questions:

1. What's with Claire having no memory? Kind of hokey way to avoid returning with any new information on the Others.
   

Ep: 1.14 Special

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Michael is a very controlling father. He will lose his son that way.
2. Sawyer is a thief and respects no one.
   
3. Walt has some sort of psychic power.
4. Walt learns his father loves him.

Questions:

1. We get the feeling the writers are stalling for time in order to drag out the story. How much do we really need to learn about all these people? It drags terribly, and most of it seems superfluous.
   

Ep: 1.13 Hearts and Minds

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Locke hurts Boone when he threatens to tell Losties about the Hatch. He also appears to be in league with the Monster thing now. Locke's credibility ebbs further.
2. Sayid is helpful and reaffirming. Shannon benefits.
3. Hurley tries briefly and gives up, ensuring failure. His parochial view of life prevents him from learning anything about the experience, other than that he was totally wrong about Jin; he doesn't hate Hurley.
   

Questions:

1. The Monster is helping Locke. Why is Locke so secretive? Regardless of the Monster's end objectives, it is dangerous and hurtful for Locke not to tell the other Losties what is occurring here. He is potentially sacrificing all of the them for his own 'spiritual' quest.
   
2. It is undeniable that Boone learns something useful in the whole experience; he needs to stop trying to protect his sister and leave her to her own fate. Is the Smoke Monster both good and bad? It did kill the pilot, but the lesson is invaluable.
   

Ep: 1.12 Whatever the Case May Be

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Kate is willing to endanger innocents' lives and kill people, both in the past and present, to retrieve a childhood toy. It's significance can not equal the trouble. Like Locke in the previous episode, she is a deeply flawed character.
2. Kate creates more conflict and keeps more secrets. We can only imagine the negative reaction if people knew what she's done to keep the toy plane. Jack gets a glimpse. What's surprising is that after all that work, she can't share it's meaning with him.
   

Questions:

1. Are we supposed to have lost all respect for 2 main characters in the show? Maybe the writing is just over the top and superfluous at times.
   
2. The last two episodes beg our common sense even with the reality constructed by the show. Is this series worth watching?
   

Ep: 1.11 All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. This episode begs our credibility, and fares worse with repeated viewings. The reaction by the camp (e.g., hardly anyone searches for Claire and Charlie) is manufactured and silly. Remember the Losties have just found out they have been infiltrated by someone who could hardly be working on their own, and kidnaps 2 people. It is totally illogical that anyone would refuse Michael's help, or that he would be the only additional volunteer, or that he would listen to Locke.
2. Locke is so enamored with his spiritual island quest that he would rather have no one helping him find Claire.
   
3. Locke isn't really interested in finding Claire; he loses the trail but keeps walking, and gives up the search immediately after finding a hatch.
4. Locke shows he is not to be trusted. I am more worried than ever that he is more than ready to sell his soul to the devil.
   
5. Jack never gives up, and takes failure personally. The episode showed clearly that few people understand the dedication needed to reach one's objectives, (in this case finding Claire and Charlie) which is why so few people do. I'm not sure they intended this lesson.
6. Jack is unimpressed with Kate's secrecy.
   

Questions:

1. Did Jack just out act everyone on the show, or why was he the only one with a realistic, and appropriate response to a horrific kidnapping by an infiltrator?
   

Ep: 1.10 Raised by Another

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Claire is a typical slightly lost young woman. Her boyfriend is weak. She's not much stronger.
2. Charlie hangs around Claire to be important.
   
3. Ethan is an impostor.

Questions:

1. Is it foreshadowing that Claire is told by a psyhic not to allow her baby to be raised by another? The act of trying to save her is what puts her on the plane.
   

Ep: 109 Solitary

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. There are other people on the island.
2. Danielle has been on the island 16 years. She is mentally unstable, and tortures Sayid.
   

Questions:

1. Who else is on the island? Is there voodoo or magic going on?
   

Ep: 108 Confidence Man

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Sawyer is a con man. Worse, he's turned into the man who destroyed his father and mother. He's a fool.
2. Kate is attracted to Sawyer. She wants to understand him. Maybe two peas in a pod.
   
3. Sayid knows how to torture, and ashamed of it.
   

Ep: 1.07 The Moth

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Liam, Charlie's brother, is a selfish, egoist, addict.
2. Charlie must be important or he pouts and acts out. He's immature, and needs some affirmation.
   

Questions:

1. Someone is actively sabotaging rescue efforts. Are there other people on the island? Is this going to turn into "Lord of the Flies?"
   

Ep: 1.06 House of the Rising Sun

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Jin has a violent temper.
   
2. Michael is kind of a fool, but doesn't know it, and can't understand why people don't like him.
3. Charlie is an addict with weak character.
4. Kate is a runner and afraid of commitment.
5. Sawyer is a thief and a selfish jerk, profiting from other's misfortune.
   

Ep: 1.05 White Rabbit

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Jack never gives up helping a friend. He is turning into the leader of the group, without whom everyone is going to die or kill each other. His father Christian is negative, berating, and abusive, and recently deceased. Christian seems to lead Jack to water.
   
2. Locke is keeping secrets.

Questions:

1. Jack is having hallucinations?