I'm very curious now as to how much of the previous events of the season were all part of the plan to get Jack to trust Juliet. Like even back when she asked Jack to let Ben die, was this staged and known by Ben? So the trial and everything, did they actually never intend to possibly execute Juliet? The mark they gave her after the trial has to be genuine, but is this just a sacrifice that she was willing to make to make their whole con more believable. It would make sense that they go through all of this effort, because it really makes it believable that Jack would trust her after all of this. Quite interesting...

I know, I know! It makes my head spin. It makes you rethink everything she has said and done and reanalyze it.

Yep, my head is still spinning :eek2:

It does now seem that Juliet's flashcard message to Jack about Ben was all a setup to gain Jack's trust. And we know that at least one Other ("the sheriff") knew what Jack's tattoo said, so they branded Juliet to make her seem like she was no longer one of them -- another way to get Jack to trust her. And then the whole "left behind" thing. Man, those Others are devious!!

Juliettes entire flashback was one of being used herself (and heartbreaking in its revelation)....so far the only true con man is Ben and even he seems to have his reasons

The mark they gave her after the trial has to be genuine, but is this just a sacrifice that she was willing to make to make their whole con more believable.

I think it's a definite possibility that the whole thing has been a con. I never quite understood the purpose of "marking" someone in a place on the body that is usually covered by clothing, but it makes sense that Juliet would probably not agree to be branded on her forehead or something.

And if the branding was a part of the con, does that mean Alex was in on it? Plus her voice on the intercom that led to Jack seeing the Skate sex. Hmm.

I think that Juliet did want Ben to die on the operating table. It was the prefect opportunity for her to get rid of Ben so she could leave.

Ben keeps dangling the promise to let her go like a carrot in front of her. So she's had to shift several times in order to meet that goal. Just like she is now. I don't think all those events were part of the con.

is there like a con artist convention (con-con?) where people can learn to con on a level like this. Its just crazy. Its like a non stop con that was set into motion decades ago and just keeps playing out on the island, except now a plane full of new people are there to make the con all the more layered and devious. Which came first? The con or the con artist? Because it seems every good con artist is getting conned over and over again...

I'm beginning to believe in some theories by Dr. Suds and LostSanity that the entire thing is one big con and just about everyone is in on it. It's the only thing that really makes sense.

I think that Juliet did want Ben to die on the operating table. It was the prefect opportunity for her to get rid of Ben so she could leave.

Ben keeps dangling the promise to let her go like a carrot in front of her. So she's had to shift several times in order to meet that goal. Just like she is now. I don't think all those events were part of the con.

I agree with this. If we believe that the whole Card show/branding was a Con, then we have to conclude that Ben/The Others knew in advance, that Jack would "botch" the operation, then move to Otherville, that Kate would go free with Sawyer and Juliette would kill The Other as kate and Sawyer were escaping....and then Locke and Kate etal would come back for Jack...

Too many ifs for that to be a successful plan. I think she's thinking on the fly and is still very much an Other because ben has promised her another way to get home.