Did anyone notice that when Jack was listening to David’s answering machine, the woman said that David was “a candidate” for the music conservatory? The “candidate” theme is popping up all over the grid. I loved how Alterna-Not-A-Very-Good-Father turned into Alterna-Great-Father with ONE conversation about how David could never fail in Jack’s eyes. Alterna-awesome-parenting.

So after last night’s episode, I’m pretty sure (now) that Christian is “evil.” When Claire left Aaron in the middle of the jungle and took off to be with Christian, Christian was in Jacob’s Cabin. I thought that meant that Jacob and Christian were working together, especially because there was a ring of ashes around the cabin which was protection from the smoke monster. But now that Locke, Claire and her daddio (and possibly Sayiid) are all one big evil clan, I’m now convinced that Christian is evil. With that being said, how BAD ASS would it be if Jack took over for Jacob and the “new war” is Jack Vs. His Father.

I’m ridiculously excited for next week’s episode considering the fact that the “scenes from next week” were a combined total of 3 seconds long!! If they can’t show us anything from next week, I have a feeling it’s going to be MIND blowing.

-I like that idea that the Cave was Smokey’s place of record keeping, while the Lighthouse was where Jacob got the Numbers. It would make a lot more sense than Jacob writing the numbers down again on a cave wall when they were already written at the Lighthouse.

-Claire was awesome, albeit super crazy. I’d really like to see her and Jack finally discover their half-siblings. Given that Jack is heading down the Candidate path and Claire down the Infected path, I’m thinking that’s going to be a big moment in the Jacob-Smokey War.

-”That’s not John, that’s my friend!”

-It seems out of place that Dogen was at the same recital as Jack and David, but I guess it could reasonably make sense.

-Jack’s appendicitis: that’s the second time we’ve seen Jack in the FlashSideways confused by something that happened on the Island. The other was when he vaguely recognized Desmond. If Jack takes Jacob’s place, perhaps he starts to reconcile the two timelines?

-For anyone that complained after “LA X” and “What Kate Does,” if you’re still upset, I think hope is lost for you. “Lighthouse” was not as good as “The Substitute,” but it’s again given us answers and is definitely moving us towards the conclusion of the grand mystery.