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.
   

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: 104 Walkabout

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Locke is a hunter and was a paraplegic before the crash.
2. Jack is considerate but not religious.
3. Shannon uses people.
4. Charlie is a pigeon.

Questions:

1. Why didn't the murdering Smoke Monster kill Locke? He seemed to actually get along with it. There is something hugely wrong with Locke...
2. How did Locke's legs get cured like that? Why doesn't Locke tell anyone?
   

Ep: 1.02 Pilot 2

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Shannon: terrible attitude, bitch, won't try.
   
2. Boone: Shannon's brother, tired of her attitude, tries to help.
   
3. Jin: controlling jerk.
4. Sun: Helpful, controlled by rat prick husband.
5. Sawyer: accuses Sayid of destroying plane; this guy has issues. Hoards passenger items. They will have trouble with him. They will have trouble with him.
   
6. Michael and Walt: Michael is controlling his son Walt. I don't like him. His son doesn't like him.
   
7. Sayid: Communications officer.
8. Claire: Pregnant.
9. Hurley: Incompetent.
10. French distress call has been operating for 16 years, likely without an answer.
    

Questions:

1. There is a strange, huge thing on the island that kills people. What is it?

Ep: 1.01 Pilot 1

WHAT WE LEARNED:

1. Jack is a doctor and saving everyone.
2. Kate is helpful but lacking in skills.
   
3. Hurley is nice and incompetent.
4. Sayid seems calm and competent.
5. Charlie, musician, funny, kind, helper, but probably can't be counted on.
   

Questions:

1. There is a strange, huge thing on the island that kills people. What is it?
2. There's been a plane crash. Way too many people survived. Likely no one would have survived. This is either hokey, or they are really all dead. Which is it?

Is Dark | Anti-Jacob the Smoke Monster

It's a popular theory, and one I first assumed. But remember these two scenes:

1. Ben travels underground to be judged (by the Smoke Monster, right?). He is confronted by Alex who explicitly tells him not to hurt Locke (who was really Dark) and follow his orders.
2. Dark / Locke is walking with Ben towards Jacob. Ben tells Locke that his daughter Alex told him to obey Locke and not hurt him. Locke is surprised!

Questions:
a) If Dark was the smoke monster, why is he surprised to hear Ben say what Alex told him?

The two scenes still make sense if Dark / Locke was not really surprised. He illicits Ben's conversation with Alex to remind him of it, and further bolster Ben's willingness to kill Jacob.

I like that theory.