I don't know if this is a virtual reality experiment, which has been suggested, but that might explain why the Asian dude's age is inconsistent. He may be a running part of the program, like a constant represented by a real person running the experiment, or someone completely fictional.

I really got the sense last night that the two timelines are headed for a convergence. It's like Desmond is readying the people in the alternate timeline for the final battle, as well. Had this feeling last night that a lot of the Losties on the Island were headed for their death scenes, and just when The Lockeness Monster thinks he's won, he'll be somehow faced with Losties from the alternate timeline, only they won't be so "alternate" anymore, as they will have come to remember their Island selves. Whether the alternate timeliners fly another plane, and Desmond makes it possible to both bring them into the future *and* to the existing Island, or whether The Lockeness Monster gets off the Island only to find that there are a group of people (people he thought had all been defeated) waiting for him on the "mainland", I do see the parallel universe converging somehow. It also felt like Juliette's last words, "It worked," had greater meaning.

And I may be way off base with all of this, but I do love the idea of the real John Locke in a mother ****ing showdown with The Lockeness Monster. There even seemed a hint of that in the way Smokey was talking about the real Locke. I had this, "Just you wait, tough speaker!" feeling. Then again, maybe real Locke was just a sucker. Heh.

And THEN they all realize they are in some sort of virtual reality experiment or game? Heh.

I think that was an intended part of the funny.

Totally. Everyone's rallying at the hospital. Desmond is pretty much a less-subtle version of Jacob (lack of subtlety necessitated by his later start), "nudging" them all towards decisions and paths that bring them together. Can't wait to see what happens when they all get there.

Anyone else catch the echo of episode 1. Whidmore blows up the beach, next thing you know, we're watching Jack wake up with muffled hearing, and Locke running around the beach being a helping hand. Felt real familiar. Smokey may turn out to be more like the real Locke than he realizes.

Have to admit I was almost disappointed when they didn't, even though I have been dying to see them reunited. It would have been so awesomely tragic!

EH - love all that you said above, seemed that way to me as well. Really hoping for the redemption of true John Locke.

Did anyone figure out why the ep was called "Last Recruit"? I feel dumb...

High in the air:D

I believe Jack was Locke's "last recruit".........at least that's my take on it.

I thought they were surely getting zapped. Hand raised.

I'm still going with the parallel dimension thing.

Is there also general agreement that Lockeness wasn't telling Jack the truth about Jack's dad, Christian? Because Lockeness cannot cross the water (he's trapped on the island and they've listed off his restrictions, etc.), but Christian appeared to Michael on the boat, and he appeared to Jack at the hospital, after Jack was rescued. So...methinks Lockeness is a liar.

The building that they used for the pregnant lady/Desmond escalator scene is about five steps away from my office. The building is on Fort Street Mall.
:)

At this late date one would think that big reveals like this should be the truth...but something doesn't add up....either Lockeness can move accross water and lied about that, he's lying and has never impersonated Christian, or he was telling the truth and has sometimes impersonated Christian.

Another funny thing though.....in both Locke and Christians case, MiB needed their bodies to impersonate them.....when he impersonated Eko's brother, there was a body also.....but how did he impersonate Richards wife on board the Black Rock?????

Kate's horse?


Something tells me MiB isn't the only one doing this.....

Well, there are ghosts, too. Hurley saw Richard's wife, so maybe that really was Richard's wife. Heh. Who the eff knows.