Lost 6.01/6:02: LA X, Part 3

OK, where was I?

I was starting to analyze what we know about Smokey so far.

He’s been around since ancient times, as suggested by the hieroglyphs depicting him with Anubis, which implies both the Island and Jacob were there as well. (Although there are entire histories of possibilities in the idea that Jacob was later put there to balance Smokey/MIB or Jacob unseated Smokey/MIB in some way, etc.) He is summonable and is clearly a security system of some sort (for the whole Island it seems, and the Temple specifically?), although what other purpose he serves (justice or vengeance, etc) isn’t quite clear or consistent yet.

OK, he was also around and free in Dharma times. They built the sonar fence likely to fend him off, and built the barricks, specifically the home of the leader of DI, over the summoning pool. (With what level of awareness did they do this?)

He was active in the 80s, ripping off arms and all. (The rest of the group went in after Montand, but how were they “sickened”? Did they get captured by Others and taken to the Temple? Did they become Others? Is there some other sickness other than what happens when you are submerged in the pool and become one of them? Is there a Smokey possession thing that occurs besides the normal Smokey takes the form of a body or a person from your mind? This is murky to me…)

I would like an explanation of his relationship to the Temple, the Cabin, and Jacob.

And here’s something: Everyone is freaked about MIB coming but prior to this had seemingly forgotten about his existence. Wherever he’s been, whatever he’s been doing, it’s been a long time of them feeling quite safe from him, yet they all seem to be aware of Smokey. He’s been running free and “protecting the Temple” and “protecting the Island.” So does that mean that none of the Others, including Richard, are aware that MIB and Smokey are one and the same? They seem aware of both Clark Kent AND Superman, but have never known that they are the same. That makes me lean toward the idea that Smokey is its own entity, but either or both MIB and Jacob have found ways to control it. Having watched again, we see Flocke disappear behind a column, where he could have hidden inside it or in the floor if he knows of a way, then from the hall comes Smokey. And after Smokey leaves, Ben tries to go out the same way and Flocke appears behind him, as if he never left the room. And when asked if he IS the Monster, Flocke does not actually answer. In addition, the theory of Locke being the Smoke Monster came before the thought that he was MIB because Locke disappeared just after Ben falls through the floor of the underground Temple passages and is visited by the Smoke Monster then “Alex.” (This is definitely MIB, right?) And of course, in the podcasts and interviews, Darlton have said “Locke is the Smoke Monster.” Of course they haven’t said that Jacob isn’t ALSO the Smoke Monster. *shrug*

Back to what we know: Smokey killed the Pilot without even blinking. But he chased Kate, Charlie, and Jack and all lived. The banyan trees still seem to be something he cannot pass. Then he stares down Locke, who claims to see a beautiful bright light. When he next appears to Locke, he is not initially afraid (implying he felt familiar with the creature), but it tries to take him underground, like with Montand. He makes no moves against any other person after they drop dynamite down his pants.

When he approaches Eko the first time, Charlie witnesses it, but it pays him no mind (Charlie was also in a tree, but it placed the Pilot in a tree, so…). Eko sees people from his life and Smokey downloads all the necessary information to test and manipulate Eko. It manifests as people from Eko’s past and most importantly as Yemi, who it communicates meaningfully as. (If it could appear as the others, did it need Yemi’s body to appear as Yemi? Why was Yemi’s body missing?) Eko dies though because he is not “amenable for coercion” like Locke is; he is not repentant; he is, in fact, a threat (if Smokey is MIB or is sympathetic to MIB’s needs) to Smokey’s ends. He will build the church, he will push the button, he may up the “faith” factor of the Island (making Jacob stronger), baptizing people, getting people to start a cycle MIB’s had to endure a dozen times before, and maybe through all of this, making Jacob stronger or proving Jacob’s point, IDK. He would be a direct threat to MIB’s use of Locke, certainly.

Smokey is supposedly the reason for the spiders that paralyzed Nikki. Kate and Juliet had a run in, where the banyan trees protected them and Juliet was clearly scanned, although she had known of the entity, since she knew the sonic fence would repel it. Ben called the Monster to attack the mercenaries from the freighter, but that was basically a wash. Was that because the mercenaries assisted MIB in his plans or were they spared by Jacob, possibly even to support his ends?

Smokey’s reactions to water on the Island have been speculated on for a long time, and we’ve never had evidence he can go to Hydra Island. And if Jacob has influence or dominion over the water, then Smokey might be repelled by it.

And what is the relationship of Christian to MIB to Jacob to Smokey?

Some minor easy predictions while I’m yapping:
Miles is dead soon.
Jack is still the most important dude.
Aaron comes back into play.

Jack does not remember in Timeline 2. He’s just dejavuing. Did he come into consciousness at any point in time and what is the importance of that point in time? I think, although many things were altered since Swanfest 1977, the main thing that was needing altering was the moment at which Oceanic 815 (or whatever plane holds our important Losties, or even just Jack, for that matter) passes over the Island. At that point, Jack begins to have strange feelings because this is the critical moment. I can’t even say “his consciousness” plays a part because that implies flashes, which I do not think is the case. I do think the Timeline 2 Jack is informed by the finished Timeline 1 Jack. The “New” Jack is more laid back and OK with things. He admits he cannot save Sayid and allows someone else to take the lead and can accept responsibility for what happened to Juliet and Sayid without the usual Jack reactions. As R said, he finally has what his father said he did NOT have.

I am in support of the possibility that yes, Timeline 2 is actually a flashforward/back, wherein Jack, at the end of Timeline 1 (1977 bomb through 2007 Swan/Temple), has figured out what must be done to actually make this work, and all the bomb did was blow them to the point in time in which they could actually save Jacob and themselves. But I think it’s just as likely that this really is a parallel timeline in which we get to see both things that happen.

OK, R is here now, so I will jot more down later…