Awesome.

Let me just start by saying that this week's episode rocked.

For one, it was really well done. I loved the opening shot of Jack's eye as he woke up in the jungle. I loved the subtle similarities between waiting in the airport for the Ajira flight and waiting for the original Oceanic flight (Hurley reading a comic book like Walt did, Sayid in handcuffs like Kate was, etc.). I loved the symbolism and literary/biblical references that Julie mentioned. I loved everything about it.

As for some questions we need answered now:

- What on earth did Kate do with (to?) Aaron? She looked so freaked out when she was laying on Jack's bed that my immediate thought was that she killed him. Not sure if she has that in her (although she did kill her father), but that was my first thought.

- What was Ben's "loose end" that he needed to tie up? And who beat his face into a bloody pulp? I really like the theory that he went to kill Penny (and I feel a bit sheepish that it didn't occur to me). It makes sense though, and that would give Desmond a reason to go back to the island, since right now he seems pretty intent on never going back.

- Was Ben really supposed to be on that plane? I was probably reading too much into it, but he seemed to have a guilty look about him as he got on the plane at the last minute. Plus, he seemed to be flat out lying to people throughout the episode (e.g., when Jack asked him if he had known about the Lamp-Post). He wasn't on the original Oceanic flight - does that matter?

- Now that Jack and co. back on the island, will the flashes stop? Are they in the same time as Sawyer, Juliet, etc.?

- Who is the guy who told Jack he was sorry that his friend had died? I don't doubt that we'll see him again, especially since he was the only non-Oceanic 6 person sitting in that part of the plane (besides Ben and Sayid's cop lady).

- What did Sayid do to end up in handcuffs? And why would he be going to Guam?

- Jin is part of the Dharma Initiative now? Heh?


And now for a couple theories...

- Ben mentioned that Locke has to take the place of Christian on the Ajira flight (since Christian was in the coffin on the Oceanic flight). Jack's visit to his grandfather seemed like a somewhat random scene (since, to my knowledge, we hadn't met his grandfather before). There doesn't seem to be any such thing as coincidence in LOST, so why would they throw that scene in there? Jack could have easily gone to his mother's house to get something of his dad's to put in Locke's coffin. Plus, when Jack mentioned that he might be going away for a while, it almost seemed like his grandfather knew what was going on. Maybe this whole island thing extends farther back in Jack's family than we had realized.

- The writers made quite the effort to recreate the original conditions of the Oceanic flight, but what about the pregnant chick? I'm thinking Kate might be pregnant. Think about it. It would help recreate that aspect of the original flight. She and Jack had just gotten "reacquainted." She's clearly upset about whatever happened with Aaron, so she may be wanting to fill that void. Aaaand it would make for some interesting drama if/when she reunites with Sawyer on the island. Yep, Kate is preggers. You heard it here first.

Can't wait until next week to hear about Bentham's death.