Because I'm such a masochist, I've decided to gradually watch all of lost over again until the show returns to tv for its final season. Feel free to tell me if I've got facts wrong, as my memory is only awesome, and not perfect.

*note, in one of the first two episodes, one of the first scenes locke has is explaining Backgammon to walt, "two sides, one light, one dark, worlds oldest game", etc. Foreshadowing much?

Most basic, and heavily suggested: Jacob and his black shirted friend are the two powerful forces on the island.
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Everyone has guessed that Blackshirt is the smoke monster, and that "Smoke Locke" used Ben to kill Jacob in the more present time line. I submit to you that in that episode, TWO attempts were made and executed on Jacob's life.

How?

Jacob IS the electromagnetic pocket of energy on the island. The humanoid form we see is but an avatar of his will. Think about it... we know that Jacob vanished from Ben and wasn't heard from for a long time. Suddenly, after the electromagnetic disturbance that crashed the original plane occurred, when locke and ben go to the cabin, he's suddenly around and about again?

Also, he seems to be the force ATTRACTING people to the island. Great ability for the electromagnetic entity no?

The only thing that prevents this theory from gaining some more ground in my mind is "who told Feredae (spelling?) to detonate the H-Bomb?".

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Jacob's powers?

Jacob has the power to leave the island (apparently) at will. He appears timeless, and both he and his black shirted friend appear to be bound by a set of guidelines. He also appears to have a suggested pool of power that he doesn't tap into, or that we just never see.

What if Jacob can wildshape at will? The ability to take on any animal form might be a great way to keep tabs on the folks on the island. If only there were an animal that never seems to age, always makes it out of the most INSANE scenarios, and just turns up later without a scratch....

...Vincent may NOT have survived the original plane crash. I heavily suggest someone watch the series as I'm going to continue doing very shortly: think what vincent sees and if that would betray any sort of "greater then canine intellect".

Hey, wasn't there also a horse that kate and James were following?

Oh, and he can apparently heal death to whatever degree he desires. Hence his bringing post-splat locke back to life.

more later

There was a mobisode where Christian spoke to very dog-like Vincent and told him to "Find my son" or something and Vincent definitely understood what was being asked.

What could that mean? Dead Christian gave orders to an animal, but referred to Jack as "my son".

If someone's using Vincent's body, they sure know how to use it to act like a dog. It doesn't seem like a human in a dog's body.

Yet Vincent understood the message, and obeyed it. Can whoever's in Christian's body speak to animals or did he sort of, inject himself telepathically into Vincent's body but didn't COMPLETELY take over, just sharing it. And --- Christian touches Vincent physically! Just like Jacob did to everyone. He lured this strange dog over to give him a loving pet on the head.

It's almost like one of those biological relationships (I can't remember what its called) where an organism latches on to another one for it's on benefit but the other organism keeps it around because it needs it. Vincent's been surviving pretty darn well on his own, is it great hunting skills, or something more....?

Locke,Christian also want to live - but maybe only under one condition, they share their body with someone omnipotent enough to keep them alive.

robuck, it's called symbiosis or a symbiotic relationship. Can I add that Christian doesn't touch Locke when he breaks his leg with the compound fracture - almost as if he CAN'T touch him. So the question is, how can he touch Vincent? Vincent is going to play a major role in this whole puzzle.

Might I make this suggestion? If Christian and Blackshirt are indeed one and the same or at the very least Christian is an aspect of Blackshirt or under his control then why not help John Locke with his goal of turning the wheel, getting off island, dieing and then returning so Blackshirt can take over his chosen vessel? Christian [b]can[b] touch things. Vincent, lanterns, doors and baby Aaron to name a few. I'm guessing Blackshirt/Christian can't touch Locke for fear of contaminating him prior to becoming him. Just a thought as I slowly work my way through earlier seasons.

I completely agree with you on this one!

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