What we know and what we "know" ... many of these aren't really solid facts but are likely, or at least apparent, facts:
• In 1977, Richard claims to receive orders from Jacob.
• In 1988, Widmore claims to receive orders from Jacob, but Benjamin challenges that all Widmore's orders actually do come from Jacob.
• Christian is not resurrected, but is probably a manifestation of the Island and/or Jacob, just like Alex was in "Dead is Dead."
• Cheesy flash-back-face-in-cloud/smoke effects are still cheesy, even on LOST.
• Ben has a soft spot for kids. Which explains a lot, about Alex, and about why he presumably did not kill Penelope (but did get beat up).
• At some point between 1977 and 1988, Ethan becomes an Other. Could have been due to the Purge (there are various theories about why the purge wasn't in the 1990s, one of them being that when Dream Horace speaks to Locke, Dream Horace may not think it's 2004).
• Widmore, now revealed to have an appetite for creature comforts and life off the Island, is probably the one who had the Others move into the barracks after the purge.
• Penelope probably really is Widmore's daughter; but who is her mother? If it's a woman "off Island" then it's not Ellie...
• Widmore was not banished via the FDW, though for all we know the submarine could have dropped him off in Tunisia. It's a pretty wacky submarine. If it even is a submarine. Or perhaps it merely transports people to the Looking Glass, which is a way off (and on?) the Island.
• Locke really is special, and the Island really does want Locke there.
• If Ben was being honest to Sun, and "dead is dead" then Ceasar is crab food.
• Sayid's captor, and at least two other people, know something about the Island, are probably working for Widmore, and will probably go after Ben and John, though it's unclear why they didn't already go after Ben, if that really is their objective. Or perhaps they really need whatever is in the metal crate first.
• Frank was probably supposed to answer "the Orchid" to not have gotten smacked in the head (not that he would have known), though the sun would have to rise or set directly between the statue and the Orchid for a shadow to literally fall that way.
• As I theorized earlier, Ben's usefulness is diminishing and his days are probably numbered.
• The 1977 survivors might actually leave 1977 before Ben is returned... and Ben really may not have any memory of any of them... though I like it better if Ben does have at least some knowledge of who they are and what they are supposed to do... it makes the earlier seasons a little more interesting.
• The Others probably put the Goopy Monster-Summoning Drainage Puddle (GMSDP) in Ben's (and possibly Widmore's) old house... it seems unlikely that it would just happen to be part of the Dharma compound.
• There ARE real horses on the Island, at least in 1977. Hmmm... Theory by Kirbyjon
• In 1977, Richard claims to receive orders from Jacob.
• In 1988, Widmore claims to receive orders from Jacob, but Benjamin challenges that all Widmore's orders actually do come from Jacob.
• Christian is not resurrected, but is probably a manifestation of the Island and/or Jacob, just like Alex was in "Dead is Dead."
• Cheesy flash-back-face-in-cloud/smoke effects are still cheesy, even on LOST.
• Ben has a soft spot for kids. Which explains a lot, about Alex, and about why he presumably did not kill Penelope (but did get beat up).
• At some point between 1977 and 1988, Ethan becomes an Other. Could have been due to the Purge (there are various theories about why the purge wasn't in the 1990s, one of them being that when Dream Horace speaks to Locke, Dream Horace may not think it's 2004).
• Widmore, now revealed to have an appetite for creature comforts and life off the Island, is probably the one who had the Others move into the barracks after the purge.
• Penelope probably really is Widmore's daughter; but who is her mother? If it's a woman "off Island" then it's not Ellie...
• Widmore was not banished via the FDW, though for all we know the submarine could have dropped him off in Tunisia. It's a pretty wacky submarine. If it even is a submarine. Or perhaps it merely transports people to the Looking Glass, which is a way off (and on?) the Island.
• Locke really is special, and the Island really does want Locke there.
• If Ben was being honest to Sun, and "dead is dead" then Ceasar is crab food.
• Sayid's captor, and at least two other people, know something about the Island, are probably working for Widmore, and will probably go after Ben and John, though it's unclear why they didn't already go after Ben, if that really is their objective. Or perhaps they really need whatever is in the metal crate first.
• Frank was probably supposed to answer "the Orchid" to not have gotten smacked in the head (not that he would have known), though the sun would have to rise or set directly between the statue and the Orchid for a shadow to literally fall that way.
• As I theorized earlier, Ben's usefulness is diminishing and his days are probably numbered.
• The 1977 survivors might actually leave 1977 before Ben is returned... and Ben really may not have any memory of any of them... though I like it better if Ben does have at least some knowledge of who they are and what they are supposed to do... it makes the earlier seasons a little more interesting.
• The Others probably put the Goopy Monster-Summoning Drainage Puddle (GMSDP) in Ben's (and possibly Widmore's) old house... it seems unlikely that it would just happen to be part of the Dharma compound.
• There ARE real horses on the Island, at least in 1977. Hmmm... Theory by Kirbyjon
