...and was just testing Ben to see if he knew. after all, he's seen the eye of the island and it was beautiful.

He's seen it, but he still doesn't understand it.

He doesn't know what it is, but was testing Ben to see if he would really give answers to Locke's questions.

Plus I think Locke doesn't understand the duality of the monster. He has seen it as a bright light, but others see it as black smoke.

Have you been watching the same show as me? Locke testing Ben? Locke is Ben's play thing, his bitch. Don't give Locke too much credit now.

Good point freighter hater, if anything was made apparent to us, it's that Ben is so far ahead of everyone else it's not even funny. Locke did see the Black Smoke in the 1st season premiere, it's what tried to drag him underground.

Have you been watching the same show as me? Locke testing Ben? Locke is Ben's play thing, his bitch. Don't give Locke too much credit now.


As much as I hate to admit it (Oh, scary, shrewd hunter Locke where are you?), I agree with you about Ben and Locke's relationship. It's especially obvious with Ben just happening to shoot Locke where his kidney used to be. Ben totally planned that.

I don't think Locke was testing Ben. Locke knows a little about the monster and is trying to learn more.

Although Locke has "seen" the monster, he still doesn't know how the monster decides to show its "face" to, where it comes from, or what exactly it is. Ben obviously has a special connection to the island and information that Locke wants to know more about. Locke has been all about the island and the mysteries for the whole show and Ben is the key for him to find out.

I agree that Ben is the man and has probably been the most interesting character of the whole series. But I don't think people give Locke enough credit either. I believe that Locke has a connection to the Island that maybe even Ben doesn't have. Just like the scene in the Cabin when Locke heard Jacob and Ben couldn't believe it. I fully believe that Locke is (by the end of the series) Ben's equal and eventually his victor. It's like a life chess match that Ben is winning, but Locke's getting better with each turn! neo

Didn't Juliet say "We don't know what it is?"
She was pretty close to Ben for a time. I wonder if she's telling the truth.

Ben is definitely playing dumb, although I guess we don't know enough about Ben, Locke, or the monster to know who knows what.

I get the impression that Locke doesn't totally understand the monster, though. He had a positive experience with it the first time, but since then it tried to drag him down a hole (and for whatever reason, scared him at first), and it also killed Eko, who Locke had an important relationship with. I don't think Locke expected the monster to kill Eko and that probably had an effect on his perception of what he might have thought was a benevolent force.

I think he was asking Ben out of both genuine curiosity and a test. If Ben doesn't actually know what it is I'll be surprised. (Juliet probably knows way more than she lets on as well.)

I think the writers added that to tease us even more. We all want to know what it is and we were so close to knowing.

I was tickled that Locke had a chance to ask a question - and he finally asked THE QUESTION all of us would ask if we could interogate Ben! :woohoo:

I read the scene as Locke not understanding the nature of smokey and getting angry when Ben didn't tell him about smokey. Locke has shown some cunning in the past, but he is no match for the likes of Ben.

I disagree that John is no match for Ben. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a "Locke Lover", but I do think he has the most connection with the island and I think the island/Jacob is looking at him as a Saviour. i.e. Jacob asking Locke, "Help Me!". Make no mistakes, Ben is the villain people. I believe that Jacob has a special power and Ben has him locked in a hut like a slave and Locke will eventually be the hero. He might not be there right now, but he will overpower Ben before it's all said and done! neo

...and was just testing Ben to see if he knew. after all, he's seen the eye of the island and it was beautiful.


Yeah! Initially while watching the episoe that question came out of left field. It was the last thing I expected Locke to ask. I even put it as a shocking moment in my poll.

But then I started to read where people thought it was a test and actually that is exactly what it was -- a test to see if he could get a truthful answer from Ben.

I agree that Ben is the man and has probably been the most interesting character of the whole series. But I don't think people give Locke enough credit either. I believe that Locke has a connection to the Island that maybe even Ben doesn't have. Just like the scene in the Cabin when Locke heard Jacob and Ben couldn't believe it. I fully believe that Locke is (by the end of the series) Ben's equal and eventually his victor. It's like a life chess match that Ben is winning, but Locke's getting better with each turn! neo


I absolutely agree that Ben is the most interesting character in the entire series. Ben is an experienced survivor. But I don't believe, as some, that he is key to the mysteries of the island. He is a first rate con man, but a only a mid-level bureuacrat. His connection to the off-island organization that supported him with information, supplies, and kidnap victims appears to have grown tired of dealing with him as "keeper of the island". Hence his attempted removal by Abbadon & Co.

I think Locke has more natural connection to the island than Ben. Take the fact Locke knew it was going to stop raining (because he is almost one with the island). Ben is jealous and curious of that. Ben still has time on the island as his weapon. He knows emor just from being there longer.

He knows what the monster can do. I think he wants to know how it works

Peace
M

I almost laughed when I saw this scene. The fact that Locke just asked "What is the smoke monster?" so blatantly felt like the writers were doing it explicitly or the fans of the show, because we all have been asking that question since the start.