It was about time for a proper Benjamin Linus episode- and this one did deliver the goods.

One of the things that got emphasized (again) was Ben's distinctive dislike for being called a 'liar'- this might not seem all too surprising given that he is a manipulator, and a player doesn't want to get caught in his own game...but there's an asymmetrical relation between manipulation and lying. Though Ben did lie more than a bunch of times, I can't help notice that he seems to prefer clouding things up and playing with people's perspectives, over simply lying to them. An example of that would be his "I was born on this island" thing. Perhaps not biologically so, but was not Benjamin Linus as we know him, born on the island- after killing his father and help Hostiles destroy Dharma community? Like Ben said, it isn't altogether true that he was born there..but is it a lie, really?

I think Ben did a very daring thing on his part when he asked Locke in the previous episode to kill his own father. In a way he presented Locke the opportunity, much like giving him a gift that bounds the giver and the taker with common obligation: in a way, Ben passed the island's gift to Locke (which, has caused much trouble to Ben himself and apparently will continue to do so) and Locke had to but accept and return the gift (when he lacked the will and motivation, Alpert helped him 'clear his mind'). Much like it changed Ben's life tremendously (from being a guilt-ridden orphan to a much stronger leader type), getting rid of his father will change Locke's, but not without the distress it would cause on Ben's authority. Timing and content of Alpert's talk to little Ben and Locke in the previous episode is peculiarly similar as well, making one think that a 'who rules?' kind of confrontation between Locke and Ben is inevitable and will take the rest of Others' involvement to some degree.

I wonder what everyone makes of the Ben-Richard- Locke thing?

__________________
"Bear...? Is that you?"-- Hurley S03E4