I wish I was as cool as Brian K. Vaughan

Unfortunately, I really don’t have time to write much this morning, so I’m just going to transcribe my notes from last night’s fantastic Lost and and expand a bit on my thoughts. Hopefully, I can revisit this tomorrow or some time next week.

In the first flashback, the guy playing younger Widmore looked a lot like Alan Dale – good casting.

Very amused by Ben making Locke into new castaways’ Ethan.

Ethan is like Anakin to Ben’s Obi Wan. (Padawan, right? I’m rusty on my Star Wars lingo…)

The whispers – Ben tells Rousseau to run when she hears them. I guess that’s why she’s so scared of them, but what are they?

“I assume you’re referring to the fact that I killed you.” Only Michael Emerson could deliver that line.

Ben’s shooting of Caesar shocked me – I certainly thought he would last longer. But then again, maybe he will if the Island wants him to.

Risk – When Ben entered his old house, they clearly showed the game of Risk that Hurley, Sawyer, etc. were playing back in season 4. I took this to mean that there are no alternate timelines, i.e. whatever happened, happened.

Was slightly frightened for Ben, but didn’t really think they would kill him.

Was more scared for Penny – thank you, Lost, for not killing her. That would have been devastating. But the fake out (“…apologize to Desmond Hume for me.”) made my heart skip a beat.

Should we believe that Ben knew Locke would be resurrected? Can you believe anything he says? Lying and manipulating truly comes so easy to him. But he doesn’t seem to want Locke around and certainly doesn’t enjoy being the one asking the questions. So enigmatic is that Benjamin Linus. Which is why Michael Emerson is so damn awesome.

“What lies in the shadow of the statue?” So do Ilana and the others have ties to the Island? Are they part of a cult? Do they know Richard and have connection to the hostiles/original Islanders? Could they be “infected” like Robert and crew?

I think we received confirmation that Ilana, etc. are the people in the outrigger that were shooting at Sawyer, Juliet, etc. in the “future” rainstorm. (In “The Little Prince,” I think.)

“I have some ideas.” If I’m remembering correctly, Ben said this to Jack in the funeral home while they looked at Bentham’s coffin.

Ben telling Sun that he can’t control what comes out of the jungle (thinking it’s the Monster) only to have Locke appear = foreshadowing?

I guess Ben doesn’t know about Christian, because new Locke seems very Christian-esque. Could new Locke be like Christian? Is he different? They both seem to be very connected to the Island. Could they both be part of the Island now? Could Jacob be possessing Locke? Could Locke simply be another manifestation of the Monster?

The hieroglyphics that Ben was looking at inside the temple seemed to show the Statue reaching out to the Monster, which had a face. I don’t really know what to make of that.

The holes that the Monster came out of = Cerberus vent? Or is the vent the hole that it pulled Montand into? I’m still assuming that Cerberus is the Monster as named by Radzinsky. How would he know about the underground vent though? Probably wrong about this one.

So happy to see grown-up Alex again. Wonder if she’ll show up again to haunt/watch over Ben.

I loved the “Sins of Benjamin Linus” smoky montage.

Loved that Desmond’s boat was named “Our Mutual Friend.”

Seems like there is more to Widmore’s banishment. He clearly had some sort of leadership role among the Hostiles, but Ben did openly defy him with Rousseau, so his power wasn’t absolute. Maybe because the Island never chose Widmore? Could all these problems be related to the wrong leader of the Others? Widmore wasn’t right, Ben wasn’t right, maybe Locke truly is and the Island needs him.

As always, Terry O’Quinn and Michael Emerson do fantastic work together. I’m thinking a remake of ‘Perfect Strangers’ starring Ben and Locke’s post-finale Island adventures. (Assuming they are both still around by then.) If this happens in the fall of 2010, I want my cut. (And Sam Anderson could reprise his role as Mr. Gorpley!)

Ben as villain or hero? This was my last note of the night and obviously I could write for days about this, so I think I’ll leave it as is. My gut says ultimately Ben will be viewed as a hero of the Island with questionable morals. But I’m more often wrong than I am right, so we’ll see…

Just another great, compelling, entertaining, answer and question filled ep. I think there are only 5 more episodes before the end of the season. I’m guessing we’re heading toward “The Incident” because why else would we be back in DI time if we weren’t going to see that, but I don’t know how that will hook up with “future” time. Well, unless the two are related – could this be how Jack, Hurley, Kate, Sawyer, Miles, Juliet, Faraday, etc. all return to 2008? And if so, what happens next year? Once again, I’m getting way ahead of myself and I think I should just let the show get us to the finale before I start worrying about the final season.

One request before I head off. Ok, two requests. Please let us find Faraday soon. And please bring Desmond back to the main story on the show. I really miss them both.