Smokey not himself
There was a bit of it last week, with Smokey waving the knife around and carving that stick and his conversation with Desmond but it was his interaction with Jack in this episode that is making me wonder if that really is John Locke on the island now. That somehow he's back or was able to crossover…

That's possible and an interesting theory.
I also think that at least one of our island regulars is no longer who they originally were. If the timelines are getting that close to merging it would be entirely plausible for some people to have crossed over entirely.

I don't think Kripke's had that much involvement as of late anyway.
Plus I think Sera Gamble will do just fine with Edlund and Carver still on board.

I kind of thought the whole point of that was to show us how self-righteous Dean was being, like he thought he was doing the right thing. Much like how Sam thought he was doing the right thing last season.

Are you sure that was Michael in the beginning? Zach just referred to him as his boss.

I just rewatched and it sounded more like erotically to me this time.

Neurotically
I'm pretty sure that's what Zach said and not Erotically.

Even if it's a tidbit of information divulged from the shows writers or creators can it really be considered a spoiler when the information shared is painfully obvious?
i.e. A lot of people are going to die on the last season of Lost.
And yes, I get that it's a difference between "I think this might happen" and "I know…

Smokey said the same thing Mr. Eko said about the stick.

It just reminded me of Locke and made me think about the timelines merging but Mr. Eko would have been amazing Smokey.

I think lots of people are going to die too and it's not an idea based on any kind of spoilers I've read but based on the fact that this is the final season of Lost and people are just going to die. It's inevitable.

I know I've sort of said this already but I think Ilana already served her purpose. She got the candidates together and handed things over to Richard, just like she was suppose to.

Ah, that's a good point Tristiac.

I don't recall but did we actually see Desmond alive in the well? I thought it was just him curled up at the bottom of the well.
If that's the case he could be alive or dead. I mean in theory.

The tone of these answers is the issue I have. Instead of speaking frankly to one another some of them are being done as if the character was looking directly into the camera in order to deliver it.
But maybe I just feel that way because it's the end, I don't know.
Still, I think this particular answer could have been…

That's a good point. I kind of felt like we got her back story already when we saw Jacob visiting her. I didn't really expect to get more than that although it would have been nice.

We were definitely monkey pawed on the answers.

It has got to be trolling. Or irony? Is this what irony sounds like now?

Weren't we already told that Smokey was trapped in his current body?
I don't think he could be behind the whispers or the ghosts. Stranger things have happened, though so who knows.

I agree with Some Nerd. I want the real Locke back so badly that I'm willing to accept any reason for his return.
Also these are excellent questions, hulk!