So much to discuss about last night’s episode, and I’m writing this on my lunch break, so let’s get right to it:

• I always love episodes with heavy doses of Sun & Jin and this episode was no exception. I just love the intricate and complex layers to their relationship. Off the Island, Sun is about to put a cap in Ben when she is told, after three years of assuming her husband was dead, that Jin is actually alive. On the Island, Jin hears Charlotte’s death bed comment (“Do not let her come back. This place is death!”) and resolves himself to do whatever it takes to keep his wife and daughter from returning. Jin gives Locke his wedding ring to prove to Sun that he’s dead; but the ring does just the opposite when Ben presents it to Sun as proof of Jin’s survival. Like I said, I just love their storyline. I just hope it’s wrapped up in a satisfying way in the end.
• Charlotte’s death wasn’t a huge surprise; I felt that all this time travel stuff had to eventually kill somebody. Honestly, she’s had a nosebleed for pretty much the whole season, so we could see this one coming. Big revelation, though: she was born on the Island and has knowledge of a conversation with Dan from her past. Did she just remember this or has she been covering this up for some time? And why would Dan tell younger Charlotte to “leave the Island and never come back” if you can’t change the past / future? What’s the point if the “universe” is going to course correct anyway? I’m guessing we’ll learn more about Charlotte’s mysterious parents as the season progresses. Complete guess here, but I’m guessing her father might be Brother Campbell, the monk who posed for a pic with Momma Farraday.
• I love the Smoke Monster. I really do. I have no idea what he / she / it could be (a security system?) and I doubt any final explanation will fully satisfy, but it’s just one of the coolest elements of the show. Did last night’s scene remind anybody else of the Sarlacc pit from Return of the Jedi? Au revoir, Montand.
• Rousseau has been messed up for a long time. I’m wondering what led her and her fellow crewmates to turn on each other. I’m curious to know about the “sickness” she described in Season 1. Now that the Island seems to be “locked” in place (pun intended), maybe we’ll never know.
• Speaking of Locke, my man of faith ventured down into the Island’s underbelly to fulfill his destiny. There he meets Christian who scolds him for not following his earlier instructions. Which leads me to wonder if Ben was ever supposed to turn the wheel in the first place. Much has been made of the fact that Jack, Kate, and the O6 were not “supposed” to leave the Island. But it seems that perhaps Ben falls into this same category. In an ironic twist, Locke is now the sacrifice the Island demands. (If you’ll remember, Locke made the same comment about Boone when he died.)
• Favorite moment of the night: Sawyer’s expression when he recognized Jin. I loved his “Well, whadd’ya say?”
• I want to see more of the Temple. If the Temple is where Smokey lives, could it be that the Others have always had the ability to summon him? Does the Temple also give Island-dwellers the ability to summon up the images we’ve seen in episodes past (like Eko’s brother, Kate’s horse, etc.).
• Question: If Locke successfully “unstuck” the Island and the crazy time-flashes are over, where or when will the Island finally “land”? And how will that complicate the efforts of the Oceanic 6 (or fewer) to return to the Island?

That’s it for my thoughts. Your reaction? Again, I think this season just gets better and better from here.