Richard's Story, First Thoughts

Awesome, I was blown away.  OK, bye.

ha ha.  OK, I haven't had a chance to read any other recaps so this is where my head is at the moment:

It will take some time to sift through all the MIB v. Jacob material but my impression now is...  MIB is evil, Jacob is, at least, not a murderer and does seem to have the world's best interest in mind.  MIB is manipulative, Jacob is almost sinfully removed.  I think what struck me the most about MIB is that he let Richard lie in the hell of that ship, chained, starving, desperate, for days.  THEN he shows up with food, and releases him.  Then something fluttered in the back of my mind...this is what he did with Ben, too.  IF Ben was really getting direction from MIB in the cabin, not Jacob, and if MIB (as his return identity SMOCKE) manipulated Ben into killing Jacob, this seemed to be the same strategy that MIB used on Richard.  MIB had done his thing with the remaining crew (scoping them out to see who was the most vulnerable and killing them when they flunk his test) and then he comes to Richard in his smoke form.  He "sees" his anguish, his memories of Isabella, his desperation, and .... its showtime!  First sign he's a bit of a fibber...having Isabella tell Richard that he's dead and in hell!  After she goes he hears her screams.  THEN MIB makes his appearance in human form.  And uses Isabella as the bait to get Richard to kill Jacob.

Did anyone else notice a small black mark on the middle finger of MIB's  left hand?  I wonder if it was significant or just dirt?

Now, Jacob sure was a more, what shall I say, active fellow in this show.  Nice moves getting the jump on Richard.  I loved how Jacob proved Richard wasn't dead....  and note that he immediately gave him a blanket after his non-drowning, got him wine etc.  Now, I think Jacob's explanation of why he brought the ship a little vague - and are we to understand that the Black Rock crashed into the Statue and broke it into pieces?   The signature moment: when Jacob is going on about his little experiment, wanting people to act for the good and asking why he should step in?  Richard's simple, clear answer: "If you don't, he will."  Watch the look on Jacob's face.  He realizes his error in thinking, (well, DUH!) the penny has dropped, the light dawned...  Just amazing.  But I had the thought:  he reminds me of parents who say they don't believe in disciplining their children,  they want them to be good, just no use of  "No".  Yeah, right, they are the kids you NEVER want to visit!  Children, and people, need guidance, especially in hard situations like say, a shipwreck or a plane crash! 

As if this scene wasn't enough, we later get the fabulous moment when "current time" Richard is desperate once again, calling out in the jungle for the MIB to come, he's changed his mind and he wants another crack at that offer....  and HURLEY appears!!!  From there to when Richard puts the cross back on...Yes, I cried...oi vay, I was so vaklempt! 

Now, as I was watching earlied scene when MIB/Smoke Thing killed the crew, a question  LEAPED into my brain:  if the remaining crew all died how did the First Mate's Log get back to the outside world,  to the Hanso family, where at some point it was put up for auction and the clever Mr. Widmore bought it?  Hmmm?  THEN I had a crazy idea:  the log was found by the Others and stolen by Widmore when he was going to get tossed off by Ben.  He sold it to the Hanso family to get his stake to start up his company and eventual fortune...so he could then get it back.  Maybe he didn't realize its importance before he sold it. 

But, on the other hand....  Alvar Hanso probably had it, knew the Island had certain interesting properties and that's why he started up the Dharma Initiative.  Oh, but wait....those 2 theories may not be mutually exclusive...maybe Widmore sold the log to Hanso on one of his illicit off Island adventures. After all, maybe its Dharma/Widmore vs. Others/Ben.  Well, whatever, I think that darn Log is the key to something and I want to know how the heck it got off that Island!!!!

OK, one other little note is that obviously its not just being touched by Jacob that gets you a "gift" but that he has to WANT to give you something special.  Jacob had obviously touched Richard several times (during the fight for the knife, putting the blanket on him)  but not until Richard asked to live forever did he say "Now that I can do." 

Ok, that's all I have for now.  I am sure I will get many great insights from the briliant attendees of the LOST LUNCH Bunch.

Namaste, Yinz