The Black Smoke

[Reed]

Ben summoned the mysterious beast in what was truly a magnificant sight. The way it attacked the Freighters as they tried to shoot it down was great viewing. It had that "War of the Worlds" feel to it - Humans against the unbeatable/immovable object.

Though if Ben can control it, why has he not used it before? Was he responsible for it's other appearances, namely Eko's demise and dragging Locke down the hole in the S1 Finalé? I would not say that is a given as I think it has a mind of it's own also.

It is interesting that Ben only summoned it the moment he stated in awe that "he changed The Rules". Surely it was mandatory he called it BEFORE Alex was murdered was it not?

Where is it written that Ben had to ALLOW people to be murdered in order to captuire him before he could retaliate back? The Freighters had already killed several Survivors with several failed attempts in this episode. I suppose their deaths were not overly important to him - or for that matter "The Rules".

[JB Sawyer]

Well for me "the rules" were that Ben wasn't 'allowed' to kill any of Widmore's men, and Widmore wasn't allowd to kill any of Bens people. Hence why The Temple would be safe for Alex, Dani and the other one - because Ben's people would be there. The survivors that were killed (the red shirts) were not Ben's people.

So when Keamy shot Alex, breaking the above rules, Ben snapped and basically said to himself "If they're going to break the rules, I'll show you how it's done". He thus released Smokey on Widmore's men.

Also on the note that does Ben control all of Smokey's actions, no I don't believe so. I, like you, think that Smokey has a definite mind of his own. And I still haven't discarded the idea tha Smokey could be an entity of Jacob - after all Ben is the only one that can communicate with him, tus summon Smokey.

[Matt Gogi]

Originally Posted by JB Sawyer

Well for me "the rules" were that Ben wasn't 'allowed' to kill any of Widmore's men, and Widmore wasn't allowd to kill any of Bens people. Hence why The Temple would be safe for Alex, Dani and the other one - because Ben's people would be there. The survivors that were killed (the red shirts) were not Ben's people.

So when Keamy shot Alex, breaking the above rules, Ben snapped and basically said to himself "If they're going to break the rules, I'll show you how it's done". He thus released Smokey on Widmore's men.

Also on the note that does Ben control all of Smokey's actions, no I don't believe so. I, like you, think that Smokey has a definite mind of his own. And I still haven't discarded the idea tha Smokey could be an entity of Jacob - after all Ben is the only one that can communicate with him, tus summon Smokey.

Agree with that entirely

[lost-lover]

Smokey attacking the Freighties was brilliant. I agree with the rule-breaking thing as well. It's possible though, that when Ben said Alex wasn't his real daughter the Freighties took that as a sign she wasn't one of Ben's people. If Ben disagreed then only half will view the rules as broken. If that makes sense.

[monster-eats-pilot]

I think Ben atrracted smokey. We know that smokey doesnt like the fences and because the fences were off I think Ben merely attract smokey to the barracks. I agree smokey has something to do with Jacob and Ben cannot control it.

[Reed]

That explanation makes complete sense. So simple yet I could not think of it myself. One would think that the Black Smoke must have it's own mind as it were, otherwise many of it's actions would have to be 'connected' to Ben's motives/goals and that would get rather confusing.

Originally Posted by lost-lover

Smokey attacking the Freighties was brilliant. I agree with the rule-breaking thing as well. It's possible though, that when Ben said Alex wasn't his real daughter the Freighties took that as a sign she wasn't one of Ben's people. If Ben disagreed then only half will view the rules as broken. If that makes sense.

Very good point, though my bet is that Keamy KNEW he was breaking "The Rules". Though at the same time I have to question whether they had done their research on Ben and his family. They did not shoot Alex for one thing, though on the other hand if they KNEW Alex was his Daughter, why bother holding her hostage if they knew that Ben knew they could NOT kill her.

[Reed]

Originally Posted by monster-eats-pilot

I think Ben atrracted smokey. We know that smokey doesnt like the fences and because the fences were off I think Ben merely attract smokey to the barracks. I agree smokey has something to do with Jacob and Ben cannot control it.

But Ben seemed to 'summon' it, almost as though he has COMPLETE control over it. I think it was Ben's own little secret. God knows how Ben became to control it. Unless he does not control it and when he went into that hidden room he changed Fate?

[monster-eats-pilot]

The scene where giant mad smokey came storming through was just brilliant though
Last thing I expected

[monster-eats-pilot]

Originally Posted by Reed

But Ben seemed to 'summon' it, almost as though he has COMPLETE control over it. I think it was Ben's own little secret. God knows how Ben became to control it. Unless he does not control it and when he went into that hidden room he changed Fate?

Well yes but he would never of been able to do that while the others were living there due to the fact of the fences. I don't think he has complete control over it though as he was wary of the losties getting to near to smokey. Although Ben didnt seem afraid of it.
I guess if he has control over it, smokey still has a mind of it's own and would be unpredictable.

[Reed]

It was very intense to say the least. Interesting that everything was shaking - something we have never experienced before with the Black Smoke.

[monster-eats-pilot]

But that wasnt just abit of smoke or the mechanical smokey we've heard that was like the ultimate smokey, a giant massive worm of smoke.