I think the ash is simply a barrier, which means that it could have been keeping something in, as well. Of course, if TMIB were in there, then there was no way we would have seen the smoke monster at all during the course of the show, so scratch that idea. But if it had been Jacob… Well, didn't he live under the foot…

Maybe he was distracted by Frogurt avec sleep mask. What was that knucklehead dreaming about, I wonder…

No, no, it wasn't me. A couple of people advanced that idea on the comment section for the pre-game article.

It's funny that someone who's never seen this show is more or less in the same position as someone who's watched every episode five times.

I think this show has been lacking a Mystic Asian. We had a Magical Negro and a Manic Pixie Dream Girl (um, Bai Ling was kind of pixie-ish, right?).

Theories
I part of me wishes I were above the allure of all the online speculation and theorizing. I LOVED LA X, but as soon as the parallel reality conceit kicked in, I thought, "So they *are* doing that." The theory was advanced here, and some interviews with the show runners hinted at a new kind of storytelling for…

Seriously, if the Island turns out to be a spaceship ran by hyper-intelligent polar bears, I would still probably love it. After the last couple of seasons, and this premiere, I'm convinced whatever they do, it'll work.

But it's weird to point to Ana Lucia and say she's a "strong female character" just because, what, she carries a gun and hits people? She's also pretty emotionally fucked up and not in her right mind half the time. Yes, she's an asshole, and I think the writers (or the fans?) tend to confuse "strong female characters"…

Jeez, calm down, everybody. Not liking a handful of fictional female characters on a TV show with a huge cast doesn't make you a misogynist. I dislike other characters on this show, too, I just mentioned the ladies because people were talking about Kate, and I kinda wanted to defend her, or at least point out people…

Turns out we were on planet Earth all along!

Yeah, and I had no idea breakdancing figured so heavily into the Island's mythology.

There is a clip on this thread, a very special clip. And when you click on it, John, whatever you imagine will play.

Magic Pixie Superheroine, I mostly agree with what you're saying about Kate. Nevertheless, I find Juliet and Sun more annoying. To be fair, I warmed up to Juliet a bit during season 5, but when I watch season 3, I just want to see her get punched right in that smug little face of hers repeatedly. As for Sun, I don't…

I generally dislike most of the main female characters that Lost has thrown at us, and that makes me feel like a sexist or something, but really I think it's just bad acting and/or bad writing that they get stuck with. I don't mind Kate as much, but Shannon, Sun, Claire, Ana Lucia and Juliet? Ugh…

So, it'd be a W-ALT timeline then.

Good point with the well. I think though that if a polar bear DID turn the donkey wheel, there'd be more evidence of this happening. For one, it'd mean that the Dharma Initiative moved the island, which is kind of a big deal, and something that would have come up at some point.

Ah, yes. My mistake. Jeez… you'd think I'd remember that after going through all the seasons the last few weeks.

Polar bear!
Can someone explain how a Dharma Initiative polar bear ended up in Tunisia?

"Time being reset leaves Des exactly where we met him, on the island, and he will do anything to be reunited with Penny."

"only one of the three girls in that picture is hot… i think you all know which one"