(Who do you think the obit in the paper was about?)

Ben.

Yeah, I suddenly care again too.

I doubt they take Ben off the island. Maybe Sawyer in the obit? But then who was Kate going home to? Also, why did Jack say "go upstairs and get my dad" if he'd been dead for years? Oxy-induced lunacy?

She was wearing a ton of makeup.

So are they really getting off the island at the beginning of Season 4?

Here's what I'm trying to piece together: so jack reads an obit, calls Kate (I'm thinking) and says "I just read... " then almost jumps off a bridge... but then becomes a hero instead. Then goes to the funeral of said dead person, hoping to see Kate, no one shows. Apparently this person was neither "friend nor family" for Jack or Kate. Ben was definitely a guess of mine... but for some reason I feel like it had something to do with Walt or Michael. Walt coming back post-puberty to get Locke to botch the call attempt? Something shady.

Oxy-induced lunacy?

Yes. Ultimately it was the repeated references to his dad, and the cellphone that was too new to have been a flashback, which tipped me off, about halfway through, that it was a flash-forward.

Oddly, I've been saying for months on end now that, from a writing standpoint, it would be compelling if they at some point moved into present day, and then the flashbacks became "what ultimately happened on the island".

No idea if that's where they're headed, but this was close. Especially when you note that the episode began and ended with the flash-forward -- as if that were our new "present", and the island story was the flashback.

I agree that they should get back to real life eventually, but I doubt that the writers can make that compelling for the 3 more seasons they just announced. Of course, if Locke and others stay behind, there can be continued island action.

Any theories on the Naomi/Penny situation?

I doubt that the writers can make that compelling for the 3 more seasons they just announced

Remember, tho, that it's three mini-seasons of 16 episodes each, meaning only two regular seasons' worth of episodes: 48.

I'm assuming, at this point, a mixture of flashback, island, and flashforward. But I'm not sure that would work either, because you'd have to be figuring out each time whether its pre-island or post-island.

It's somewhat confusing whether or not it was a flash forward or back due mostly to the reference to Jack's father but the name of the funeral parlor is HOFFS/DRAWLAR an anagram for flash forward. And remember the casket presumably holding Jack's father in season 1 was empty. Don't know who it was who was in the casket at the funeral parlor but I'm pretty sure it's not Ben. My guess would be Sawyer or Locke.

It's somewhat confusing whether or not it was a flash forward or back due mostly to the reference to Jack's father

Well, it was confusing at the time because it was meant to be. I hope you don't mean it's STILL confusing, because it's obvious after the fact.

the obit has to be about ben.
he was definitely not friend or family.
and nobody shows up. i imagine most of the others who would have attended don't make it off the island.

Either Ben or Locke in the casket...with the possible events to come Locke could be 'not friend'

B!X - I noticed the phone right away and just mentioned to my husband 'hey they goofed, he can't have that phone it hasn't been made yet' but totally didn't put together the future until almost the end

And yes - Hurley's plowing down that Other with the van - awesome!

It should be either:

Ben
Locke
Michael

It seems to be in a black neighborhood, which suggests Michael. It could also be Juliette given that Jack and Juliette apparently aren't together. They could be torn apart from something in the future.

Sawyer and Kate are probably together with their likely child.

I think the big question isn't the answer to all these smaller things, but what direction the show will take over the next three years. (It's scheduled to end in 2010.) Alias would have some pretty astounding season endings and beginnings. In one, you get a two year jump in time with the main character having been knocked out and woken up without any memory of the time that had elapsed.

It could just play out like the last three Star Wars films where you find out why the future is as it is (as shown in the final episode of this season), but get some sort of resolution, such as them actually getting off the island (assuming, eg, that Naomi was lying/bad). Or we could move way forward and then have what happened on the island as flashbacks and we find out why Jack needs to get back and we move towards that end.

I just can't take it. Now Flash Forwards? When Jack Said go and get his father i thought it was the past. But season 1 Jack saw his Father. Lock's Father was there this season. Maybe season 4 will introduce Kates mother and Sun's Father.

It's definetly Flash-Forward because Jack tells Kate he uses the Golden Pass they (Oceanic Air) gave them to just fly anywhere.

It has to be Ben in the casket because Kates attitude when she replies "why would I go to the funeral"

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