I apologize in advance for the long post, but this episode really got me thinking.
1) I don't know whether Juliet is to be trusted with her "movie", although I'd say go with it. What does Jack have to lose, anyway? Not much.
I have my doubts about there actually being a rift between Juliet and Ben. There may indeed be some friendly rivalry between the two, but I think they are very much on the same team. It seemed odd to me that Ben admitted to Jack about having some elaborate plan to "break him" and make him "want to do the operation". What was even more odd was the comment that Ben made about Juliet resembling Jack's ex. Almost seemed as though he were trying to push Jack into trusting Juliet. This makes me believe that the real plan to break Jack has something to do with testing him and seeing if he will actually go along with Juliet's scheme.
2) Sad to see Eko die. Much rather would've seen Charlie go...oh well.
Agreed. I really expected Eko to have a more significant role to play within the events on the island. Who knows, maybe now we'll have Eko appearing in strange visions.
3) These two new Losties - they don't seem that great. Hopefully they'll have something important to contribute eventually.
I find it odd the way they have been weaving these new characters into the show little by little with almost no introduction. Maybe the producers are just holding out, but I think new characters demand their own flashback episodes. At least that way we would be able to feel some sort of connection to these new characters, rather than the indifference I currently feel for them.
4) Who was that creepy guy with the eyepatch? Oooo I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about him.
I don't even know what to say to this. The only thing I can think is - how many other people are there hanging around underground?
5) What's up with the black cloud...Locke says he saw a beautiful bright light, Eko sees a dark ominous cloud...huh? And what's its "motive"?
I'm beginning to think that smokey the monster can manifest itself in different ways depending on the person it is currently targeting. In the final scene where Eko's brother appeared, he said something about it being time for Eko to "confess his sins and be judged". That appears to be what happened. Maybe after Eko said that he wasn't sorry for the things he had done, the monster judged him and decided that he was no longer worthy of living. I can't help but wonder what would have happened if Eko had been sorry. Would he still be alive?
I'm beginning to think the monster is some sort of morality enforcer. I now think that it has a very direct connection to the others. Maybe they really are the "good guys", because they were the only ones left on the island after the monster killed the rest of the Dharma group. Overall, it seems more like the island judicial system than the island security system.