I can’t connect to the Lost Forum right now, it’s probably too busy. So I will give my impression of this episode. Not sure which number, its the one before the last episode before the special Sunday one-hour and half long season finale. Phew, mouthful.
We finally get to see the backstory of Jacob and the one without a name, “brother”. The new element to the Lost mythology is not so new: its the energy source of the Island, the shiny light, the source of weird electromagnetic power.
We also discover the Smoke Monster’s motivations are not so evil after all. He doesn’t seem to be evil incarnate, but he just really really wants to get off the island.
We see kid Jacob and kid Smokey get into lots of scuffles, but what we don’t see is what is holding them back from killing each other. The Mother is very blunt. She doesn’t seem to lie too often. Although she is manipulative, telling Smokey there is only the island, she also tells Jacob straight out that she killed their real mother. Interesting how she doesn’t lie to Jacob but does to kid Smokey. Nurture versus nature here. No wonder Smokey despises father-loving Locke; Locke who does not want to see reason; who does not want to see that he is being manipulated.
Now we know the kid in the woods that appeared this season is Jacob. What is interesting is that even though Smokey can see dead people, Sawyer saw the kid as well. Is Jacob alive?
Another thing: “Thank you” are the last words of the Mother. Did she want to die, she didn’t seem to age too much, was she immortal and was it her goal to be replaced and rest in peace? If so, was Jacob’s goal to be replaced too, he seemed to accept his death too readily.
A lot of things don’t mesh. But it’s funny how unlikable Jacob’s character turned, and how sympathetic we become to Smokey after just 1 episode, these writers can really manipulate us, the viewers, as well. I didn’t like the flashbacks to Season 1, because it seemed to be a way for the writers to show off how smart they are. I mean, they could have easily written this backstory after Season 1. However, I guess that wouldn’t explain the rocks in the bag … I guess that would require some advance planning, like using the motif of black vs white, and rules and such. But still! I liked how young Kate looked, though 
Moving on! Good episode. Lost is definitely moving towards something. When did Jacob get his powers to grant wishes, etc? Hmmm. 8.5/10.
