MaryJ said:
Locke and Ecko both appear to be men of faith. Could that have something to do with the smoke leaving them alone? If you're faith is strong, you are able to resist it or something? I don't have any reasoning for the time it grabbed Locke, although even then Locke wasn't afraid. He told Jack to let him go.
This is what I was thinking, too. Remember that episode that was called "Man of Science, Man of Faith" (re Locke)? Both had faith that they wouldn't be harmed by it.
I could not catch the images in the smoke at all. Thanks Phorsenuf and TiggerPiglet! I thought I heard a weird sort of whirring sound as Eko looked at the images in the smoke as well, like a camera.
Remember last season at some point, Locke made a comment along the lines of "I have looked into the eye of the island, and it is beautiful". I always thought that referred to when he came face to face with the "monster". Now that I've seen it, though, I don't know how he'd call it "beautiful", unless the images of his past were beautiful ones.
I too, was surprised about Eko's past. I know he did what he had to do to save his brother, and once you get caught up in that stuff, it's hard to get out, but did he really have to slash those two guys? That freaked me out, too, he seems like such a good guy.
And Skuttle, ITA about Charlie and his stash at the end. I felt so bad for him when Claire kicked him out. I hope this doesn't push him to start using again.
Great episode. So glad next week will be new, too. Hope this is not considered a spoiler, since it was shown in the previews.... Did you hear the voice saying "this is
our island", like it was telling them to get off? Well, duh, I'm sure they'd love to leave if only you'd
let them instead of taking their kids and blowing up their raft!

(Assuming the voice was an "other".)