I know that more than one person can come to the same conclusion, build the same theory, at the same time. However, no one on this board, or any other that I know of, has made the specific link between Ben's difficult birth and the death of his mother with the deadly Island pregnancies.

The whole issue of the polar bear is very interesting. At face value, it looks like Walt may have "created" the polar bear, given the impetus of the comic and Walt's uncanny abilities (of which we've only gotten a taste so far). But it seems the polar bears pre-dated Walt on the Island. Think of the bear cages in which Sawyer and Kate were held last season, and Mr. Friendly telling Sawyer that it only took the bear 2 hours to learn to get the crackers.

I'm thinking of deeper, more complicated and potentially harmful stuff like Eko and his brother, who was a total manifestation of the Island, and a dangerous one.

But there is also the positive side of Island manifestations, like Locke being able to walk again and Rose being cured of her cancer.

It's a bit different with Ben, though, as I am writing this I'm realizing it. Ben's manifestation is affecting others, while Eko's, Locke's and Rose's manifestations have been restricted to themselves. But isn't it just like powerful, narcisstic Ben to not allow anyone on the Island to have what he was not able to have, i.e., a full gestation and a mother living to tell the tale.

Well, who knows if I'm right or wrong. I just think it's just too much of a coincidence to be otherwise.

I realize that the polar bear pre-dated their arrival ("Fish Biscuits" became an erzats curse word where I worked for few weeks after that episode). However, the first season had a lot of that sort of thing, with Kate's horse and Jack's dad and so on--unless I'm totally forgetting any explanation of that. Trust me, I don't consider myself an expert on the show.

What they appear to be using to keep everyone off-guard is a combination of supernatural and natural causes of things, and I'll be interested to see how they resolve that.

..Trust me, I don't consider myself an expert on the show.

I am a self-acknowledge LOST geek. I am addicted, totally and completely. I've seen each episode at least 10 times. I've watched the whole shebang, Seasons 1,2 and 3 start to finish, at least 3 times. What can I say, I love that show.

But there is also the positive side of Island manifestations, like Locke being able to walk again and Rose being cured of her cancer.

And, Jin or Sun's sterility being reversed. Was it ever confirmed who couldn't do their part?

Maggers, your theory is either correct in that the "threshhold" is Ben's doing. Or, it is the Island that limits the gestation and it affected Ben's birth years ago. After all, it seems that the Island chooses it's inhabitants and not the other way around.

In any event, I love this new "Spoiler" edition of the thread. It's liberating to discuss these issues without fear of reprisal.

And, Jin or Sun's sterility being reversed. Was it ever confirmed who couldn't do their part?

Well, the doctor in Korea stopped Sun on the street to tell her that it was Jin who was infertile, not her, as he had said in the office to spare Jin's male ego. The Island upped Jin's sperm count, or so it appears.

Maggers, your theory is either correct in that the "threshhold" is Ben's doing. Or, it is the Island that limits the gestation and it affected Ben's birth years ago. After all, it seems that the Island chooses it's inhabitants and not the other way around.

That's an interesting take on it. So the Island could have killed his mother in Oregon or Washington State or wherever he was born, thus setting up the situation by which Ben arrives on the Island. Hmmm.... well done, Scott. I couldn't rule that out as a possibility.

Good episode. I was filled with foreboding throughout. More to come later.

Well, it's nice to know that no one reads my posts, which I acknowledge, are generally long.

Yeah, I know that theory, it's MY theory which I created immediately upon seeing Ben's flashback about his birth. I've been writing about it since then, and posted the item below yesterday or today.

Do you get a credit in the season finale?

How is this thread supposed to be any different from how the LOST: Season 4 thread was?

How is this thread supposed to be any different from how the LOST: Season 4 thread was?

[spoiler]Eh, probably 'cause I was doing this. [/spoiler]

• Is this the last we've seen of Claire? (notice again the similarity to Exodus, with the baby being left in the bushes in a makeshift basket)
  
  
• Is this why Sawyer stays on the island - because he feels responsible for losing Claire and feels that he must stay to try to find her?
  
  
• What was Kate doing which she had promised Sawyer?
  My first guess is that is has something to do with checking up on his daughter.

How is this thread supposed to be any different from how the LOST: Season 4 thread was?

Because it's the SPOILER thread. No courtesy coverup needed.