michel, I value your opinions! Yes, Rose pretty much said what Jack did to her in the initial flight. Also, the stewardess gave Jack only one bottle of liquor, not 2... While Hurley was indeed now the luckiest man alive, I did not notice too much change in Locke. I thought he was quite sad and tragic, especially the scene with him waiting for his wheelchair. Heartbreaking scene, and then Jack looks over to him, and it's almost as if Locke is ashamed of himself. When he spoke of the walkabout, I thought he was lying...I didn't consider this to be a truth, but could it? To me, it was tragic that he had to lie to Boone, which made me empathize with his character, as I had seen how vital he was when vigorous and mobile. As for the two time continuums...yes, they are both, or have existed. But, I do feel like the survivors feel like it "didn't work" that they were time traveled to post implosion of the swan by Desmond, or the present 2007. Even Kate remarked on it, and Miles said he remembered the white flash and the ringing in the ears from his previous time travel. So, I think they perceive themselves to have time traveled. But, Miles later tells Sawyer that Juliet said it worked. So, the time travel explains to them how they get to the present 2007, and the explosion of the bomb that works is what gets them back to Flight 815 in 2004. I don't think both time lines will go on eternally in parallel lines. I think somehow the 2007 time line will indeed converge into the 2004 time line.
Loved your comment about Jack and never being able to get it right....the poor man of science.
With the island submerged I think we are seeing the result of the bomb explosion and what it did to the island in 1977...maybe. Or, is it remaining submerged from when Ben moved it and it disappeared. I do have some questions regarding the submerged island. Right now I'm leaning toward it being submerged when the bomb went off...? Regardless, I definately agree that it's all "progress". I'm thrilled that we get to see some of their post flight progress!
You could be right about XLocke-man in Black...he could want to get off the island, but I do think that he first wants to go to the temple, where he used to live as smokey. This should become apparent in the next episode or so.
Very interesting assessment that at some point Jacob had left the cabin to have been replaced with XLocke/man in black, and thus, the others, who perceived themselves as the "good guys", could have been doing bad things on direction of the man in black. But, Ben did speak to Jacob and wanted to know why he had never been allowed an audience with him, and noted all of the lists and instructions that he had carried out, and Jacob did not deny this. But, are we certain that Christian is with the man in Black and smokey? I am not certain.
Regarding Richard and the others. I think it is becoming more clear that Richard was originally a slave on the Black Rock. Somehow he was emancipated, most likely by Jacob. The man in black knew him while he was enslaved. We also know that Richard is eternally ageless, and has also been around for centuries. I think Richard knew that Jacob lived under the statue. It was Ben that took Locke to the cabin to see him....I'm not really clear if Richard knew where Jacob was at all times. What is clear is that he is the protector of the Island, and the messenger for Jacob. He assists the leader of the Others, whoever that leader is....Eloise, Widmore, Ben, Locke.
I do think Hurley was the vehicle that Jacob used for his loophole and now it appears that Sayid will be the vessel, as Locke is for Man in Black....but you were indeed right about the guitar case... Can't wait to see what Jacob has up his sleeve!
Can't help but wonder if Sawyer will get ideas about Juliet and her dead body now...wouldn't that be interesting?
Where were Michael and Walt...Mr. Eko, Ana Lucia, and I'm sure others. But, just as we didn't see Claire until she was in the taxi after the flight, perhaps they will appear somewhere. I have no doubt that we will see them all this season. I also think there will indeed be consequences that have not been considered because of their intervention with fate.
Regarding what happens in LA...I was THRILLED with the scene between Locke and Jack and the hope I now have for him to be able to walk again. So, I really do love seeing what happens with the survivors as they land in LA.
For me, they have more than redeemed themselves on the Island...can't wait to see the season unfold and for their fates to be revealed.