Conversation on "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham"

Brandon: so like I said, better episode than I thought it would be.

Amy: Mmm hmm

Brandon: big question of the day: why did Ben kill Locke?

Amy: And the teaser wasn't as revealing as I thought it was

No kidding

Why didn't he let Locke kill himself?

I have two theories in that way:

Brandon: something vital changed

Amy: Either Ben wanted to know what he knew and then found out he knew too much (how cliche) and therefore killed him

Or something with him being able to come back to life means he can't kill himself...

Why did Ben look so angry at the time, though?

Did he find out later that he actually needed Locke to get back on the island?

And he's like, "Crap. I killed him. Oh well, I guess I'll just steal his body with this van I have..."

Brandon: ok one thing at a time

Amy: Ha ha ha

Sorry

Brandon: Option A: Possible. The only thing that changed was that Locke revealed he knew of Hawking.

Amy: But why would that upset him so much?

Brandon: you think Ben looks angry as he kills Ben? Or is it just the extreme focus needed to strangle someone to death?

Amy: I think he looks at least a little angry

Brandon: we'll get back to that

Amy: Kay

Brandon: Your Option B: No, because I don't think Ben expected Locke to resurrect.

Amy: Huh

Brandon: He says "I'm really going to miss you, John."

Amy: Hence the Thomas story to Jack

Brandon: why say that if he anticipates seeing him again on the Island in like a day?

Amy: That's true

Brandon: ooh but I forgot about the Doubting Thomas stuff.

Amy: Yup

I think it was a story about himself

Brandon: Maybe Ben is just the writers' vehicle for setting it up... he doesn't know about it himself.

a good possibility

Amy: Right

Brandon: and re: why bring Locke back to the Island...

Amy: He found out something later that changed his mind - I'm guessing Eloise talked to him

Brandon: the prevailing thought right now is that Ben killed Locke after Locke revealed he knew about Hawking either because A.) Ben did not know about Hawking before that moment, and once he knew she was the key to getting back he had no use for Locke OR B.) Locke was not supposed to know about Hawking, and once it is revealed that he did, Ben had to kill him, as a rival for control of the Island.

Amy: Huh

Brandon: also: Ben then decides to use Locke's body as the "Christian" on the flight, HOWEVER there's a good possibility he doesn't know that Christian was raised somehow into some vague sense of living. He's never seen him.

Amy: Ah

That's true

That makes sense

Brandon: so I'm guessing he'll be shocked when he wakes up from his plane-crash injury coma and sees John staring at him.

Amy: No kidding

Talk about nightmare coming true

But if Locke is a proxy for Christian, why did he resurrect rather than come into the sense of being that Christian is?

Brandon: Locke is a chosen Island protector like Richard, Christian, not.

also: Ben says once you turn the wheel you can't ever go back. He and Locke do go back... but end up on the Hydra island. Does the Hyrda not count, or is Ben lying (again)?

Amy: But why can Christian come back as a ghost or whatever?

Or the island changed its mind

?

It would kind of make sense that the Hydra kind of doesn't count -

Brandon: no idea why Christian was raised like he was. Maybe the Island can do freaky stuff with bodies that are dead upon arrival.

but the Hyrda moves with the main Island.

Amy: And is considered part of the island by Dharma, at least

Brandon: but they aren't Island

Amy: That's true

Brandon: and as my latest poll discusses, who is the good guy here? Widmore, or Ben? Each of them are excellent at at least playing the good guy, even when you know their body of work doesn't point to that being the case.

Amy: I think they both have agendas and do what it takes to get it done, whether being good or bad goes with it at the time or not

Brandon: right, so if you're Locke, who do you want to help? Whose agenda more closely mirrors your own?

Amy: Do we know what their agendas are?

I think they both want control of the island

Brandon: ok but to what end?

Amy: Widmore wants to commercialize it, I think, and just have sheer power of the island

I think Ben has more respect for the island and keeping it safe, but he likes the power, too

Brandon: so you go with Ben?

Amy: I'm going to say yes, even though he's super manipulative and we see his true colors, which are a bit freaky

Brandon: also, he kills Abbadon, which GRR

but I guess we found out all we needed to? He works for Widmore. He wanted to get Locke on the Island. The end.

Amy: Ha ha - because he was answering questions?

Pretty much - that seemed like his purpose

Brandon: so Widmore wants Locke on the Island, Ben doesn't.

doesn't that make Widmore the one to follow if you're John?

Amy: I though Widmore just doesn't want Locke to die

Brandon: well, he gets Abbadon to send Locke on the Walkabout, remember?

and he says something about helping Locke convince the others to go back, Locke included.

Amy: The walkabout thing is true - but how does Locke know Widmore is telling the truth this time?

Brandon: he doesn't

but he fixes his leg and gives him the means to go anywhere in the world

Amy: Yup

I guess what it comes down to is: do you stick with the person who wants the best for the island or the person who will get you there?

Brandon: turns out, Locke kinda waffled between both and ended up back there anyway. :)

Amy: Yup

Lucky for him

I felt bad for him again - I haven't felt that for awhile

Brandon: when he's all despondent before he tries to off himself?

Amy: Mmm hmm

Brandon: Mandi and I disagree on that one.

Amy: And how he's just trying to do what's best for everyone

But no one will listen to him

Brandon: is he sad because he feels like he's failed and decides to just end it all? Or is he just at the end of his rope (haha) and decides to follow Richard's advice because he feels like there's nothing else to do?

Amy: Yeah - I think he's trying to fulfill what Richard tells him, but I also think he's truly despondent

Brandon: fair enough

and then there's Walt

Amy: Random

Doesn't feel like he's part of the story anymore

Brandon: I know

all that time spent where the Others kidnapped him, and now no one cares if he lives or dies.

Amy: Nope

Brandon: did we talk about this already? About how Walt is special, but not like the Others thought he was?

Amy: I don't think so

Brandon: I think that's a big thing. The Others in Season 2 or whenever find out that Walt is special.

so they kidnap him, thinking maybe he should be their leader?

then later it shows them all being COMPLETELY FREAKED OUT by the kid, which means they had no idea what he could do.

and he was definitely not what they hoped he was.

Amy: Which makes me laugh

Nope

Brandon: exactly

so this brings up the question: what is the deal with Walt?

Amy: Which is ironic, considering it was kind of the island that wanted him

Brandon: was it, though? Did Jacob want him or did Ben or Richard do it on his won?

own

Amy: I dunno - does Locke know something everyone else doesn't, or did he really just want to visit Walt?

Somebody's going to have to take over when Locke or Ben dies

Brandon: yep

Amy: Which makes me want to ask why Alpert isn't in charge all the time

Brandon: Walt just represents all of the thousands of loose ends the writers now have 1.5 seasons to tie up.

Amy: Yup

Brandon: Maybe Alpert isn't special (beyond his ability to remain 28)

Amy: Ha ha - yeah, that's nothing

Brandon: Mandi and I have commented more than once that his function is much like an old noble in a kingdom where the new prince is in charge, but doesn't know what he's doing.

the noble acts in an advisory role as much as he can, because he knows how to take care of the kingdom, but the power all resides with the spoiled new kid.

Amy: Why does he continue to do it?

Because he's not royalty?

That seems dumb because he's ageless

Brandon: *shrug

Jacob has not deemed him to be the leader, so he can't be the leader.

but he is loyal to the Island

so he stays

Amy: He is the one who is always talking about destiny and not trying to change it - maybe his old age has helped him realize his place and to be find with it

Brandon: right

of course, then we go back to the idea that Jacob is a prisoner.

Amy: Of Alpert?

Brandon: his "help me" and the theory that the volcanic ash around his cabin makes a cage of some sort.

of someone. Usually theorized to be Ben.

Amy: But then Ben says the island is displeased with him and he has to leave - that doesn't free him?

Brandon: maybe it did. We haven't seen or heard anything about Jacob since.

Amy: Again - I think it's pointless to have so much power and yet allow yourself to be confined

Brandon: allow himself?

1. We don't know what power Jacob has.

2. We don't even know who or what Jacob is.

Amy: That's true

Brandon: one last thing

Penny

Amy: Kay

Brandon: so Widmore says he was the leader of the Island for more than three decades

say 1954-1992

he's what... 50-something?

Amy: Okay

Yeah

Penny was born on-island

Brandon: 50 when he gets off Island, 70 or so now

yeah, bottom line, Penny was either born on Island

OR

adopted, like Alex.

Amy: She's not his?

Yup

Huh

Brandon: also, if you look at Penny with a "she was born on-Island" lens, she appears to know more than she lets on.

Amy: Yes - she found the island, after all

And is pretty against Desmond having anything to do with it

Brandon: exactly

Amy: Makes sense

So she's like Charlotte

Except not wanting to really find the island again

Brandon: possibly

anything else?

Amy: I don't think so

Brandon: ok

Conversation on "316"

Amy: Um - I mostly have questions about Lost
It's not what we know - it's what I want to know

Brandon: ok hit me. We can post the conversation on the blog

Amy: Kay
So - first off, who was the "smart man" who figured out how to find the island?
Chang?

Brandon: Mandi says Widmore

Amy: Hmmm

Brandon: he at least A. Knows it exists and B. wants to get back

Amy: That's true
Did Faraday figure out how to find the island, or did Widmore?

Brandon: Photo on the wall of the Lamp Post is a 1950's style shot of the Island with US Army labeled on it

Amy: Right

Brandon: Right, Widmore doesn't seem very technology-savvy... remember how he uses a Pager in The Economist?

Amy: Ha ha - yes

Brandon: but if he had the theory and hired Daniel to find it, he'd still be responsible, right?

Amy: That's true
Desmond doesn't feel the need to go back - why does everyone else?
How did someone get Hurley and Kate to go?

Brandon: Someone kidnapped Aaron and told her the only way she'd get him back is by returning.
Hurley... no idea.

Amy: That's what I thought - but she seems ashamed

Brandon: And what law-enforcement group wants Sayid in Guam?

Amy: Yeah...
Seems like an Oceanic/Widmore coverip
*coverup

Brandon: bottom line is this: The Island wants them back, and so they're all going back.

Amy: That's true

Brandon: As Sayid shows, it doesn't even require your cooperation.

Amy: Ha ha
No kidding
All Ben would have to do is call in some info on Sayid's jobs he did for Ben

Brandon: but Guam?

Amy: I dunno

Brandon: maybe he's being sent to a Guantanamo-type place.

Amy: That could be true

Brandon: he sees the other 6, realizes what's going on, and accepts it when compared to the alternative.

Amy: So, the island takes only the people in first class?

Brandon: and Lapidus? Good work, writers, putting him there. The intended original pilot for 815.

Amy: Yes it was
It looks like it's the Oceanic 6, plus Frank and the random police person who make it on the island

Brandon: My guess. And Hispanic Guy.

Amy: Have we seen him before?

Brandon: no

Amy: He seems vaguely familiar
...
Okay

Brandon: I'll double check

Amy: He talks to Jack in line like he knows him
Or of him

Brandon: more plausible

Amy: Could it be Widmore, putting more people on the island, like the original team sent to find the island?
And why did the first group parachute/freighter in, rather than take a flight?

Brandon: ok so the guy's name is Caesar.

Amy: Aaaahhh

Brandon: but we've never seen him before. How we know his name, no idea.
your above questions are good ones

Amy: Yeah - that's weird
Maybe Widmore has an idea about how to find the island - but he doesn't have the flight book anymore, considering he had to leave the island
So he has to find other ways
ie - Faraday

Brandon: the flight book?

Amy: The random book Eloise looks up the flight in and shows to Jack

Brandon: well that's just a list based on the results of the research at the Lamp Post cross-referenced with flight plans.

Amy: Oh

Brandon: Also, nice work with Lamp Post.
Go Narnia.

Amy: Yay!
They get the best book references in there
Okay - so Locke dies

Brandon: Ben is read The Odyssey

Amy: Does he come back alive - or join the Order of Dead People of the Island?
Ah - I was wondering what book he was reading
I could read "yss"

Brandon: he's going to resurrect. They set it up hardcore with Ben going all Christian theology on us.

Amy: That's true

Brandon: the book says "Ulysses," the Latin spelling of Odysseus.
so it could be the Illiad.

Amy: What was the loose end Ben ties up?

Brandon: the one where he's beat to a pulp?

Amy: Yeah
Sayid?

Brandon: I'm thinking a Widmore agent.

Amy: Does Aaron have to go back to the island? If so, has someone kidnapped him and taken him there?
Hmmm

Brandon: the "loose end" is probably "going to get my broken arm set"

Amy: Ha ha

Brandon: Aaron has always been considered one of the Oceanic 6, right?
and he's got that "special" thing going.
I think he's got to get there eventually.

Amy: Right
And that's probably what they told Kate
Why does Kate not want to talk about it, though?

Brandon: that bugged me. Jack's like "Okay!"

Amy: I mean, it's painful and all, but she seems ashamed, not in pain
I know - the classic Kate "I'm going to sleep with you to make you stop talking"

Brandon: haha she's nuts

Amy: Yes she is

Brandon: hmm ashamed... but why?

Amy: Maybe she thinks it's her fault they took Aaron from her
Even if it's not

Brandon: fair. But doesn't answer why she wouldn't just tell Jack.

Amy: Or the fact that she made that promise to Claire to not take Aaron back or go back herself
Right

Brandon: 1. She didn't promise Claire anything.
2. Claire only cared that Aaron not return.

Amy: Hmmm

Brandon: 3. Claire was some kinda hallucination. :)

Amy: Ha ha
Or on the side of the island that doesn't want them to come back

Brandon: right
The heck is with Jin?

Amy: I have no idea
How could he be around long enough between jumps to put on a dharma suit and get a dharma van?

Brandon: no kidding
like I said in my post, he acts 100% Dharma
even alone
which means he's bought into the Dharma context of "There are hostiles here, anyone not Dharma is a threat."
which means he's probably experienced a hostile attack?

Amy: Yeah
How did he have time in between jumps?
Or maybe when the Oceanic 6 come back, the people are stuck in the time period they've jumped to?

Brandon: assume the jumps come at random intervals... maybe they're stuck in a really long one

Amy: That could be true

Brandon: because the 6 have been back for like 5 minutes.

Amy: But I thought the problem was they were moving too fast

Brandon: me, too, and maybe they still do
just this is an abnormally long one

Amy: Hmmm

Brandon: once it's done, back to quick skips

Amy: Does it seem like Jin knows them/
?

Brandon: yes
he's surprised and recognizant
but how would the Losties and Freighter folk infiltrate Dharma?
do any of them have contacts with the organization?
Juliet might could fake it....

Amy: Didn't you think they recruited people from crashes and such?
Pretend you've crashed and you're golden
But all we saw was Jin who infiltrated Dharma

Brandon: no, the Others do that.
Dharma brings their people in on boats, apparently.

Amy: Maybe Dharma does it, too

Brandon: Ben and Roger

Amy: Hee hee
Roger Workman

Brandon: we saw Jin and Faraday acting Dharma.
not a leap to assume the rest get in, too

Amy: Faraday looked like he was just sneaking in, though

Brandon: true
the Jin thing comes from just about nowhere.

Amy: Yup

Brandon: annoyed at the "Hey look, Jack, Hurley, and Kate made it back! Now let's show you how they did it!"
meh

Amy: Ha ha - you didn't care that much?
Except they DON'T tell you how they make it back, really - what lead up to Hurley and Kate going back

Brandon: much like next week's "Hey here's what Locke did from Locke's perspective! You already know he spent a lot of time trying to convince the others to go back, then killed himself, but here it is live!"

Amy: Yeah

Brandon: it just feels like they're wasting time

Amy: Maybe it's vacation time
;)

Brandon: when Jack is sitting there with Locke's suicide note for like five minutes before he opened it I got annoyed

Amy: Or it was when it was being written
Ha ha
No kidding

Brandon: I wish you had believed me? Really?
lamest note ever

Amy: Were those the magic words, or did he just happen to read them right when the window opened?
Ha ha - especially a suicide not
*note

Brandon: super obvious

Amy: Not "Say these magic words and drink a bottle of vodka:"

Brandon: Mandi did theorize that Ms. Hawking represents the fusion of science and faith. A Locke/Jack hybrid.

Amy: Huh - it's true
Although it kind of seems the church is a front for the Lamp Post

Brandon: Hawking believes.

Amy: That God controls the island?
Oh - she believes in SOMEthing, not necessarily faith in God
Gotcha

Brandon: just believes. It's like in Serenity where Book tells Mal to just believe in something.

Amy: Right

Brandon: Ms. Hawking controls the Lamp Post. Was it forcibly taken from Dharma, or is she part of them?

Amy: Good question
I think she took it over after everyone from the Initiative dies

Brandon: lots of Dharma on the mainland.

Amy: It seems she was part of the original Dharma initiative
Yeah

Brandon: so part of the original... but Dharma seeks to exploit the Island, contrary to the goals of the Others.

Amy: That's true - I think she's kind of a cross and set apart from it all
She doesn't trust Ben completely, but helps him get back to the Island
I like the "Keeper of Time" theory

Brandon: haha that was the best. "Is he lying?" "Probably."

Amy: It was awesome

Brandon: note he lies about his mother teaching him how to read
and about knowing Locke killed himself.

Amy: Right - but I think he's just tongue in cheek about the reading thing

Brandon: he was, but it's still a lie

Amy: Yeah

Brandon: a meaningless, compulsive lie

Amy: I think he's a compulsive liar

Brandon: me, too.

Amy: Sometimes it just comes out

Brandon: right.

LOST conversation

My sister Amy and I had a LOST conversation over Google Chat Thursday afternoon. Here's what happened:

Amy: I read your post
That pretty much sums things up
Except - why was Juliet being so affected by the time jumps?
I thought Farraday said that the time you spend on the island correlates with how well you take the jumps

Brandon: yes
and she's been on the Island longer than the Losties

Amy: But she seems to be more affected -
Or about the same

Brandon: no way
she's been working for Ben for at least a couple years
we don't know exactly how long

Amy: I know - but she seems to be affected more

Brandon: um
because she has spent more time on the island
I'm not sure we're on the same page

Amy: I thought the MORE time you spent on the island the LESS you're affected by the jumps

Brandon: no no
it's the opposite
that's why Charlotte is dead

Amy: Ohhhh

Brandon: and why Miles is so interesting

Amy: Interesting?

Brandon: he was the next one to get a nosebleed after Charlotte
which means he's spent a lot of time on the island at some point. Chang's baby?

Amy: Yeah - he was
I'm pretty sure he is
But when/how did he get off the island if it showed Chang as being under fire and basically planning to die?

Brandon: an excellent question
maybe Faraday got him off?

Amy: Hmmm

Brandon: maybe Chang sent his wife and kid off before the Purge

Amy: Maybe
That would make sense
When did they have the sub?
Dharma Initiative?
How does Charlotte know about the well?

Brandon: yeah, but Charlotte made it sound like getting off was easy with Dharma

Amy: Yeah
She did

Brandon: remember her and her mom packed up and took off no problem

Amy: Right

Brandon: Charlotte spent anywhere from 5 to 20 years on the island
that's a lot of time to learn about it
still a chance she's Ben and Annie's kid

Amy: Yeah - but no one else knew about the cave
That's what I was thinking, too

Brandon: what cave?

Amy: The wheel cave

Brandon: Locke told her they were looking for the Orchid
she'd know where that was, and that there is a well nearby

Amy: Maybe someone might have fallen in the well - but how would they know to turn the wheel and then how would they come back?

Brandon: the well's a fake
it was an early way to get there
camoflauged entrance

Amy: Huh

Brandon: I still think the most important stuff we learn is during Jin's experiences with Rousseau

Amy: I think so, too
But Smokey was acting completely different than usual
Why didn't he make Eko a guard?

Brandon: also: Jin's English is kick-awesome after like two months of informal training.

Amy: Or the pilot?
Ha ha - no freaking kidding

Brandon: make Eko a guard?

Amy: And yet, he starts speaking in Korean
I mean - change Eko and send him back out among the Losties

Brandon: he starts speaking in Korean because the concepts discussed were a bit obscure and too important to miss and because Charlotte was there

Amy: What would be the point of Smokey doing that?
Wight wight
And he knew Charlotte spoke Korean?
Or the audience needed to know?

Brandon: yes he knew she spoke Korean

Amy: How?

Brandon: on the way to the baby station, he notices that she understands him talking to Sun

Amy: Oh yeah

Brandon: and calls her on it

Amy: Wight wight

Brandon: But re: altering, why not change Jack? Or Locke?

Amy: Yeah

Brandon: but
how do we know he hasn't? :)

Amy: Woh...
Dun dun dun
I pretty much love that Eloise is like, "You need everyone to go back to the island" and then only half show up and she's fine
uh
Huh

Brandon: yeah exactly

Amy: She made it sound dire
Maybe they can go through time and snatch the others somehow
;)
Brandon: well, the preview for next week shows that Kate is in, somehow


Amy: Yup - Jack pours on the charm and she's gone

Brandon: heck no

Amy: Ha ha

Brandon: he's poison to her
something else has to happen

Amy: But it shows them kissing
Kay - whatev

Brandon: true. Kate's messed up.

Amy: Sooo true
My guess is she gets into more trouble with Aaron and Jack comes to save her and tell her he'll be a dad to Aaron

Brandon: and then she's like "Sweet deal, let's go back to the Island!'
not seeing it. But I guess it could happen.

Amy: Yeah - okay, no
But I
'm pretty sure the only way she'd go back is if Aaron was in mortal danger

Brandon: agreed
but re: Robert and Danielle....

Amy: Okay
I was like, "No wonder Danielle's all messed up!"


Brandon: what the heck is the point of Smokey altering Robert, sending him back to convince Danielle that it's really him, and then shooting her dead?

Amy: Exactly

Brandon: just take her if you want her dead
seems overly complicated

Amy: No kidding
I agree
Unless Smokey's just playing
Or there are the conflicting powers on the island - again

Brandon: yep

Amy: One side wants her dead, the other wants her alive
Smokey doesn't get her because he's controlled by one power -

Brandon: but he's altered Robert to do it, right?

Amy: And something else weird altered Robert

Brandon: possible

Amy: Just because it's so out of character for everything we've seen for Smokey

Brandon: so there's mind-altering equipment at the Temple?
:)
and Smokey merely retrieved the Frenchies to be altered by The Others?

Amy: Hmmm - that's an interesting thought
Except...Juliet turns the fence on to keep Smokey out -
Maybe during the purge - or other types of battles - Smokey changes sides
Or gets pissed with everyone
Or Jacob loses control of everyone

Brandon: it's incentive to keep Recruited Others from exploring the Island? Because Ben certainly can control him

Amy: He can?
Has Ben every come up against Smokey?
*ever

Brandon: he releases Smokey on the mercenaries after they kill Alex

Amy: Oh yeah

Brandon: and they leave him alone
I mean Smokey does

Amy: We don't know that for sure...
Do we?
Doesn't he just disappear?

Brandon: he goes down into an ancient cave, and seconds later Smokey's wreaking havoc
he has to control him

Amy: Right
Or someone else in the cave does

Brandon: right after Alex dies? It's waaaay too conveninent that Smokey randomly shows up and starts pwning mercenaries at that money
moment

Amy: Then, why don't they just have Smokey kill those not on the list?
I like money better
;)

Brandon: ha

Amy: Seems like if he can figure out who to kill and who to keep alive, then it would be much easier than the Others snatching the ones on the list
And the kids

Brandon: yeah, Smokey seems to be a bit out of control
somehow

Amy: And pregnant women
Yeah
But seems incredibly in control in Rosseau's time

Brandon: like he's been on the Island longer than anyone, even the Others, and they know his tendencies and can take advantage of them, but they don't control him

Amy: Right
Or Ben made some sort of sacrifice/deal with Smokey to get him to do what he wanted that onc
*once

Brandon: maybe

Amy: Why does Ben fall out of favor with the island?
Could that be why?

Brandon: he used Smokey for his own purposes?

Amy: Right

Brandon: I think it's a general thing... like with Widmore.
just started being selfish and thinking you know better than Alpert/Jacob

Amy: Huh - right
How does Rosseau die?

Brandon: shot taking Alex and Carl to the Temple
mercenaries

Amy: Oh, wight wight

Brandon: tragic, tragic figure

Amy: Yes sir

Brandon: has to kill her crew and her husband

Amy: She looks so happy and pregnant at the beginning

Brandon: gets her baby stolen

Amy: Yeah

Brandon: spends the next 18 years being hunted and entirely alone

Amy: Has to give birth alone

Brandon: yep

Amy: Finally meets her daughter again, and then dies trying to save her

Brandon: well, that's actually good in comparison to the rest of her time on the island

Amy: That's true

Brandon: what mom wouldn't give her life for her kid?
at least she saw her again

Amy: True

Amy: So - were Rosseau and Carl and Alex going to the Temple - like, the cave where Smokey dragged them?

Brandon: must be

Amy: Have we ever seen it before - besides Ben going in there before Smokey kills the mercenaries?

Brandon: where the Others were chilling during the mercenary attack

Amy: Huh

Brandon: not sure Ben actually goes in there

Amy: So Smokey must know enough to not kill others

Brandon: Juliet sure seemed afraid of it
but was it all an act?

Amy: Yeah- that's the weird part
Maybe - or Ben kept it under his hat until the Others really needed to hide out

Brandon: kept what?

Amy: The fact that Smokey wouldn't kill Others and they have some control over him

Brandon: or he can

Amy: True

Brandon: another annoying thing

Amy: Shoot

Brandon: we were introduced to Smokey before anything else Island and we know little to nothing about him

Amy: Nope
Then, all of a sudden, his entire character seems to change with Rousseau