i think that that the black fog is anti-matter. Has anyone read the book "Angels and Demons". It said that there was matter wich all things on earth are made of and anti-matter. When teh two colide the anti-matter conquers the matter and they explode. This would explain why it blasts through trees.

I know this has nothing to do with this particular episode...but I believe that this show is all about religion. Everyone is finding their way through a dangerous place, trying to get home. The island is a microcosm of the world. Walt is their jesus and they are trying to find him.

In response to Alex's comments, post #25...

Alex talks about Hactar, a computer from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series that had been blown to bits and scattered as a dust cloud around a solar system. Hactar had the ability to produce images (holograms) out of thin air completely of his own volition.

Remember when Locke recently pieced together the Dharma film that had been spliced? The missing piece warned about not tampering/tinckering with the computer (and referred vaguely to a previous episode/accident that had ocured because someone tried to use the computer for something other than the number sequence/button). Maybe that first "accident" created the black smoke monster...hmmm those pesky rogue computers.

i don't know if anyone mentioned this already, but in the credits the drug dealers were called 'morroccan drug dealer #1 and #2"...sayid is iraqi...very very dif...

Does anyone know the name of The Kinks song Charlie was irritating Jin with?

Everything on the island is a manifestation of someone's thoughts. Some of the manifestations are a combination of multiple survivors thoughts. The drug plane is Eko's. Desmond was Jack's. The hatch is Locke's (his need to have faith in something). Kate's horse. Hurley's numbers.

I wonder if this is what Mr. Eko was thinking when he faced the monster:

"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain."

Did anyone else notice or remember that Eko was dressed in Black Tie when he crashed into the ocean? He is still wearing the remains of a tattered tuxedo shirt. Not many people travel across the globe in full black tie. It gives the feeling that his journey could have been a last minute decision escaping out of a big event (wedding or party?) Could lead to another very cool back story...

Until I came here, I wasn't thinking that the black smoke was "the" monster. I thought it was something more like the ghost of his brother. Perhaps too simple for Lost, perhaps not.

All I want to say is HELL YEAH did I nail Eko's backstory right on the head. Ryan will back me up on it, too. Great episode, I thought. Made me feel all warm and squishy inside being right about Eko and feeling right-er about the nanotech.