It went back to the island and Locke was talking the person who he was talking to at the start (I can't remember his name right now). The person told him that some people just disappeared when the plane was about to crash, and that Hurley was one of them, so it appears it was the members of the Oceanic 6. Also he said that some people were injured, and Locke asked to see them. Ben was one of them.

Locke was talking to the guy who said to Jack at the airport ticket booth, "My condolences. I'm sorry about your friend."

My question is, why did Ben kill Locke when he had just stopped him from committing suicide?

Ben totally turned when he heard Locke tell him that he had to find Mrs. Hawking (Faraday's mom). No idea why he went homicidal on JL because of it,though.

Two reasons why he killed him. The most obvious is that he just got the vital piece of information about Ms. Hawking. The other is, according to Catholicism (and probably a few other religions) suicide is a non-no and won't get you into heaven. Although the "Island is Paradise" train got derailed by the producers back in S1, it could be something along similar lines. He has to die but not to kill himself (then, again, Christian pretty much drank himself to death).

The guide (Rogers) showed Lost as being 65 minutes. I figured they finally fixed the problem with TVGuide Canada and didn't bother padding it. It cut off, but probably only the last minute. One of the theories used to be that either the guide data provider or the SA PVR only handle 5 minute increments, so when Lost was 61 or 62 minutes it would round to 60 and we'd miss thelast couple of minutes; perhaps this week it was 66 or 67 minutes and the guide data was rounded to 65. Bottom line is we (Rogers customer) still lost.

Whose fault was it Global couldn't simulcast properly? Them, CTV, Cable company?

I think actually it's the CRTC's fault for cutting rules to begin with.

At least Bell managed NOT to cut off the ending this time! I think Ben realized after hearing about Ms. Hawking, that John was supposed to die, and he made a mistake saving him. I'm just basing that on the fact that he seemed surprised. Don't know why though, that Ben is an odd little fellow.

-Mike

Could we maybe create a separate thread for the discussion of quality issues with various cable providers?

That entire scene with John's suicide preparation and subsequent murder was intense!! It's now harder than ever to tell who is "good" and "evil" when it comes to Ben and Whitmore. And the introduction of Cesar and the woman is only adding to the confusion. I love the show, but I want to know everything all at once, dang it! Not just one week at a time! :p

My question is, why did Ben kill Locke when he had just stopped him from committing suicide?
Well, Ben's been evil all along, and he's a master manipulator. Just ask Sayid. John Locke provided two vital keys for Ben to return to the island:
- the name of the person Jacob/Christian told him to visit in order to return (Eloise Hawking)
- that Jin was alive (Ben figured he could use that info push Sun to return to the island).

Earlier Ben stopped JL out of pure self interest--Ben still needed JL to get back to the island (i.e. Ben had no idea how to get everyone on the plane without JL doing some more work).

For one, Sun was trying to kill Ben. Since Ben was "watching" everyone, I have no doubt he knew Sun was after him. Given her deadly intentions, how could Ben ever convince Sun to get on the plane? Well...JL inadvertently provided that information, and even Jin's ring (also note that Ben later lied to Sun, claiming to have no idea when JL didn't visit her...).

For another, it's entirely possible that Ben did not know the name of Eloise Hawking. That was provided to JL by Jacob/Christian. Charles Widmore knew where she was, but that doesn't mean Ben knew.

Anyway, those two keys were enough for Ben...it wasn't a look of surprise, but rather opportunity (suicide scene already laid out, Ben could take advantage).

Lastly, we have no reason to believe that Ben knew Locke would be alive once back on the island. Richard told JL that JL would die...and Ben knew that. If Ben wanted to get back--and we certainly know he does--killing JL fulfils that angle. More importantly from Ben's self-interest perspective, JL in a coffin means Ben would be back at the top of the leadership ladder.

I've had the theory--just wish I had posted it before last night's episode--that we didn't really have any proof that Charles Widmore was out to annihilate the island, including everyone from Oceanic. Essentially all we had was Ben's story that that was their plan. Well, why should we believe a word Ben says?

After all, Oceanic survivors weren't fired upon unless they were with Ben (which is one reason Ben sent the Others away--he himself was the target of the mercenaries, so they'd be in danger if they stayed behind). Meanwhile, since he couldn't face them alone, Ben needed some help...so he convinced some of the Oceanic survivors their lives were in peril simply by being on the island. Maybe I'm forgetting a few things, but I'm pretty sure it the only Oceanic survivors ever fired upon were those with Ben, or those helping Ben.

Charles Widmore is dangerous by Ben's version of events. Ben is dangerous by facts of the story (mass murder, killed Juliet's lover, manipulated Sayid to kill on his behalf, doesn't care about other people on the plane, etc.). Haven't we seen enough to know Ben is evil and acting purely in self interest?

Ben is a psycho, and last night's episode validated my opinion quite a bit. Course that could all change in a week. :)

I'm with you on this oilblue.

Ben is evil.

Great show.

Yes I think you're completely right.

I was actually thinking about something that seemed odd to me but putting it into this perspective it kind of makes sense.

Ben claims that Charles Whidmore is intent on killing everyone on the island and that is why it must be hidden from him. However it was Charles Whidmore who told Desmond where to find Eloise Hawking. So if Whidmore knows where she is and she can find the island how can the island ever be truly hidden from him?

On the other hand Ben was surprised to find out about Eloise Hawking which seems to point to the fact that he had no idea how to get back to the island.

Did anyone think that the way Jack got his father's shoes was a little too convenient? Just seemed like laziness on the part of the writers.
Agreed, pretty lame way of getting the shoes in. Why not just have Jack order a burger and fries and have come with a pair of his father's shoes.

Agreed, pretty lame way of getting the shoes in. Why not just have Jack order a burger and fries and have come with a pair of his father's shoes.
Why focus on this one "coincidence" - the show is full of coincidences - likely for a reason.

Just miss their good writing. The end of I believe season 1, where Jack is giving Sawyer the gun before they head out on the raft, and Sawyer mentions Jack's father, that was a great scene and great writing. I am still waitinf for them to let us know who was in the car at the end of season 3 (if you want to call that disaster a season) when Jack meets Kate at night by the airport, she mentions she should go and says something along the lines of " I should go, you know how he gets "..Who was he?
As far as Locke, everyone is still the same person on the island, Jack is still a doctor, Sawyer a con, Kate a slut, and Hurley a slob. One thing for Locke to walk, but they never explain how he goes from a insecure push over, with no self esteem as a box maker, to Rambo/MacGyver/Mosses? No he is a professional tracker, hunter, weapons man? I think this is right up there with the remote controlled smoke, that only seems to appear when then run out of ideas...

Oblblue:

I think your theory has a lot of merit, and it certainly seems that Ben is the "bad" guy to Whitmore's "good" guy.
The only thing that has been nagging me is all that dynamite on the ship; it didn't serve any purpose other than to keep the survivors on the island. Which isn't so "good".

I think that this isn't about as black and white a line as "good" vs. "evil." Both Ben and Whitmore have their own agendas and will Lie, Deceive, and Kill anyone who gets in their way.

Ben has to be bad, anything that is done is for his agenda, at least that is how it appears. As far back as season 2, with having Michael pop the 2 chicks in Desmond's pad. Just when you think he maybe leaning toward normal, he is right back to himself..More reasons to lean towards him as the bad guy, than Whitemore.

I am still waitinf for them to let us know who was in the car at the end of season 3 (if you want to call that disaster a season) when Jack meets Kate at night by the airport, she mentions she should go and says something along the lines of " I should go, you know how he gets "..Who was he?I could be wrong but I believe she was referring to Aaron, her "son". Remember at that point in the season/series, the audience did not know Kate was caring for Aaron.

Ben has to be bad, anything that is done is for his agenda, at least that is how it appears. As far back as season 2, with having Michael pop the 2 chicks in Desmond's pad. Just when you think he maybe leaning toward normal, he is right back to himself..More reasons to lean towards him as the bad guy, than Whitemore.
I'm not sure that there is "Good" and "Evil" here. I think Ben and Charles are both after some personal gain and willing to do whatever they need to in order to achieve their goals. I think both will stop at nothing.

I could be wrong but I believe she was referring to Aaron, her "son". Remember at that point in the season/series, the audience did not know Kate was caring for Aaron.
Pretty sure there was a driver in the car, when she looked back..Could be wrong, not sure Kate would take the child out that late at night.

Watched the episode again last night, couple of things I noticed second time around:

- Jeremy Bentham has a Canadian passport :cool: but it has a 10 year expiry, rather than 5 years

- the paper bag containing the extension cord is from a store called "Angels Hardware" ;)