-This episode confirmed that Richard Alpert came to the island on the Black Rock. Now, was he a slave or a pirate? If he was a slave, it would explain his nostalgic gazing at the chains and cuffs. But if he was a pirate, it would explain his eyeliner look… hmmmmm. Either way, Jacob brought him to the island (remember that banter between Jacob and Smokey on the beach, and the Black Rock was sailing in)

-I agree that the writing on this episode wasn’t as phenomenal as it usually is.
A show of hands, please. If your teacher doesn’t show up for your after school club, do you:

A) Show up at his house (?!?!?!)
B) Twitter about it
C) Go find a hottie to tutor you

Yeah, I didn’t pick A either.

Along with the bad writing, they didn’t explain why Alex HAD to go to Yale. Hell girl, go to your safety school and you will be guaranteeeed and fully ride! When Ben was tutoring Alex in the library and she was telling him the juicy school gossip, she said something along the lines of “isn’t that totally perverted?” And Ben went “Totally.” Now THAT mother fucker can delivery a line. I was rolllllling with laughter when Ben said “totally.” Well done, Dr. Linus.

-Here’s just a thought. When AlternaLocke suggested to Ben that he should be principal…do you think that was really alternaLocke…or was it (dun dun dunnnnnnnnn) AlternaSmokey?! Do you think AlternaSmokey was trying to get Ben to overthrow an evil dictator (or principal)?

-The makeup artists on the show did a GREAT job in making Ben’s father age. He REALLY looked like an old guy. Another well done. Also, do they REALLY make organic turkey frozen dinners? Can frozen dinners really be organic? Oxymoron, anyone? Lame-o! Though the dynamic between father and son in that scene was an amazing change from Drunk Dharma Daddy Drama. However, now that I’m thinking about Dharma Ben and Roger….that means that they had to be on the island before it sank! Because it did sink….in the alterna-timeline, though we haven’t seen anything remotely linked for quite a few episodes.

-You mentioned that Ben was intrigued by the fact that there was a doctor on 815. However, Ben was excited that there was a medical doctor on 815, since he had a cancerous tumor in his back, and needed Jack to perform surgery. AlternaBen is a doctor, as in, has a doctorate.

-Is Ilana driving anyone else insane? I really don’t think she’s the best actress ever…and those damn pants and belt HAVE to go. But in the most heartfelt scene, she forgives Ben and accepts him into their group. Team Jacob +1. With that being said, Miles mentioned that before Ben killed Jacob, Jacob was hoping that he was wrong about Ben. Ugh, disappointment, a parent’s greatest weapon. I think the redemption that Ben had, was the “I was wrong about Ben” that Jacob was looking for. Also, when Ben stumbled upon them in the very beginning of the episode and Ilana immediately asked about Sayid, and Ben replied “I’m fine, thank you”…THAT was classic Ben: sarcastic and unloved.

Crazy Jack? Bada ba BA baaaa, I’m loving it. Multiple episodes without Sawyer? Not loving it.

PS- Ben digs an AMAZING grave. Seriously, it was a perfect rectangle! Also, Ilana mentioned 6 candidates she needs to protect. Are we counting the Lockness monster, Jin and Sun together?! Ah!

-Alex’s last name is still Rousseau. Interesting.

-I feel like every time Artz is on, he’s trying to overdo his novelty of being the guy responsible for the funniest line in Lost history, “Dude, you got some Artz on you.”

-Is Jack becoming Jacob? He certainly seemed to take charge at the Black Rock.

-Here’s my big theory: The FlashSideways are reliant on what happens to the characters on the Island. Compare Sayid last week to Ben this week: Both AlternaCharacters were faced with a decision of loyalty at the same time as their Island Characters. Sayid had the choice to go with Smokey or return to the Temple at the same time he had the choice to avenge his brother or stay out of it. He chose to go with Smokey and then killed three guys in L.A. Ben on the other hand had to choose between pleading for his life and going to the other Island when he had the choice to become principle or help Alex. He chose to go with Illana and Alex. So it seems going with Smokey will cause a bad turn in your AlternaLife. There’s still some missing pieces, but it’s a start.