i was thinking that if one of the first-season themes was redemption (charlie kicking heroin, boone getting over shannon, locke getting his legs back, michael learning to be a father, etc), maybe they're setting up season 2 to have everyone's redemption challenged. there's a planeload of heroin to tempt charlie, locke's legs are failing and michael's son has been kidnapped. how will people deal with those challenges? will there be tough choices between white and black for everyone? do i recall correctly that one of the creative minds behind Lost said season 2 would be darker, and that jack might not be such a hero?

if this is indeed a running theme, i think it would solidify the concept that the producers are setting up a classic good-vs.-evil battle for the finale, whenever that is. is it a coincidence that they've been on the island 40 days and the bible says christ went into the wilderness for 40 days and nights?

one big question on redemption: what was Jack's inner fault/need for redemption? in his wedding vows, after his fiancee said jack had fixed her, he said she had fixed him. could it be that Jack, like his father, had a drinking or other problem that she helped him break and that he resumed when they split? he has carrying around a bottle on the night before his wedding, and the flight attendant on 815 gave him two little bottles of booze to go with the drink he already was knocking back.

also wonder if Locke's paralysis is the direct result of Hurley's bad luck somehow? he worked for a box company, and Hurley's lawyer mentioned -- when talking about the fatal shoe factory fire -- that he also had acquired a box factory.

i think all of these people have crossed paths at least once before the fateful flight, in more significant ways than just being in the same place at the same time (as with sawyer's presence in the australian police station).