One Guy's immediate reaction to "The Substitute"

Hi All-

While I let the episode and its pervasive awesomeness sink in, a few thoughts:

1. I DO NOT trust Smokey's narration.

2. Where was "2-Austin" on the cavern walls? We saw all the others but...where's Kate? She was touched by Jacob in her childhood, but maybe her name is conspicuously missing to protect her from Smokey? Or maybe it's Smokey's list, not Jacob's?

3. Really, really shocking that Smokey can see apparitions on the Island too- I had figured, in something of a deterministic fashion, that Smokey was the source of all apparitions and hallucinations on the island but...apparently Smokey can see stuff too. Interesting

4. Note that "Littelton" and "Straume" were on the walls but crossed off. That's Claire/Aaron and Miles. Are they "dead" ? Or at least Dead-er than Sayid?

5. According to Smokey, the reason the castaways are on the island is that Jacob picked them as possible "candidates" to replace him. In the sideways lost universe, they are not interfered with by Jacob. But what to make of Locke's apparently productive relationship with his father, referenced by his fiancee, Peg Bundy? That means that (a) Locke didn’t get paralyzed by his dad, and (b) maybe his father isn’t a grifter/scumbag who swindled Sawyer's folks, leading to their unfortunate demise? Does this portend a much happier life for Sawyer as well? Either way, I really enjoyed seeing Locke being off island, still handicapped but not pathetic.

6. Nice use of "Search & Destroy" by the Stooges.

7. Paralyzed Locke pre-island, Paralyzed Sideways Locke and the Smoke Monster- Locke all dont like to be told what they can and can't do. I wonder- does the Smoke Monster take part of his host's psyche? If so, maybe Smokey's weaknesses will be Locke's. Or maybe, just maybe, Locke has been a pre-destined host for Smokey?

8. I had always assumed that the smoke monster could take the form of anything dead on the island. Ilana seems to indicate that he's stuck as Locke. Is she wrong? Why?

9. Upon hearing that Jacob "burned up" in the fire, Ilana immediately scooped up protective ashes. Is that fire pit the remnants of Jacobs past? If so, how is that protective from Smokey? If Smokey is or was "just a man," how did he become a powerful column of black smoke that's afraid of Jacob's ashes?

Ah, so many questions...great episode. Thoughts? Theories?
-Drew