DH and I just watched the episode last night - SO MANY QUESTIONS! I love watching and then reading this thread.
My first question is - After Ben had talked Locke off the table, did anyone else catch Ben's reaction when Locke said that Jin was alive? He looked shocked and his voice kinda squeaked. Everything kinda blurs together and I can't keep this show straight - but was it Ben who blew up the freighter? Or maybe he looked so shocked because he knew that by taking the ring, it would be the perfect bait to get Sun back to the island?
Eloise seems to be neutral between Ben and Whitmore....I don't recall her seeming surprised to see Ben show up with the rest of the crew. So, I don't think Ben needed the information from Locke about who to go see - I think he truly knew. I think he waited to kill Locke to see if Locke knew - how much information had Whitmore passed onto Locke? That sort of thing.
Regarding the timeline...
Ben arrived when he was young on the island, and his Dad hated him. Whitmore was there and the leader of the "Others" (not Dharma). I wonder if Whitmore became a father figure of sorts to Ben, and then convinced Ben to kill all of Dharma (when did that happen, was Ben still fairly young?), including his Dad, and he could have power with their crew. (Which might have all been a big lie, just getting someone to get rid of Dharma.)
I don't know how/why Whitmore would have left the island. Maybe Ben manipulated him somehow and convinced him to leave, then moved the island so Whitmore couldn't find it. And since then he's been searching for it?
Anyone ever wonder if Richard Alpert is Jacob, since he doesn't age? Richard is his "human" skin?
We were also thinking that the blond in the previews could be Penny, but where would Desmond and Charlie be? I don't think there'll be many episodes with children; they grow too fast (like Walt). Too many questions!
I think the blonde in the previews is Sawyer's Baby's Momma. He looks totally SHOCKED to see her. Maybe she was on Flight 316.... this could also explain the new female character...
Locke, Ben, Alana, the guy who spoke to Jack in the airport (Cesar??), and the other 316 survivors crashed in present-day. Cesar and Alana were shown looking through somebody's office, so we're assuming that 316 survivors crashed on the "other" island where the Others held Jack, Kate and Sawyer.
I don't know about the 316 survivors being in a different time. The Station did look old, but the magazines were from the 50s and it was in the 70s due to the van condition. Possibly Dharma had abandoned that station by then and just left it to rot? But then again, how did Daniel's maps get in there if they aren't using it....
Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see why Alana and Cesar (sp?) from 316 are all so calm and obviously comfortable on the island they just crashed into. No panic or anything. Perhaps time has passed since they crashed and then her having the morning conversation with Locke on the beach?

Also, what exactly are they searching for? Cesar didn't seem surprised to find the laboratory/science station at all.
That is VERY interesting. Why are they so calm?! Maybe they are Whitmore's people...
But then why did Cesar ask Locke about Hurley not being surprised when the plane started shaking? It IS weird that they seem so calm though. Cesar looked like he was looking for something very specific in that office.
If Ceaser is assigned to be there by Whitmore (or who knows who else!), I wonder if Ceaser asked Hurley this to see what Locke knew. I agree that Ceaser did seem to be looking for something specific - he looked very determined, unlike the Losties when they would find stations - they would be wide-eyed and looking around.
Also,
If Widmore was their leader until the 80's then I think Penny was possibly born on the island. We dont know how old she is but she looks at least 30 to me. I still speculate that Eloise is Penny's mom and that Daniel Faraday is her brother.
That is VERY interesting....
Wow, long post - sorry!
