I had a theory that I just thought of, and posted it on the "readers theorize" post, but that's a bit far back and I thought others might not see it....here's what I wrote...
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I just had a thought. We've been told that this next episode (tomorrow's Cabin Fever) is the only FlashBACK left in this season.

And the rumors have said that it's a flashback belonging to Locke, given the information about Alpert being at his birth, and the different kids playing Locke at various ages.

But what if it's not a Locke flashback?

What if it's a flashback for Richard Alpert? And the whole thing just happens to involve Locke to a good degree. It flashes back to Richard Alpert at various stages of Locke's life, perhaps stepping in when something potentially would happen that would knock Locke off his path that leads to him being on the island.

In that way, Alpert could have been John Locke's guardian all those years, and he just didn't realize it.

And when they met on the island, John just didn't remember or recognize him from his youth.

I haven't seen that mentioned anywhere and wondered what people thought about it.

@Gary:

No.

Well, I can't argue with your logic there, Meh.

I was saying from the night "shape" aired, that ben does NOT control the smoke monster. He was just able to let it out.

I don't know, Gary. I kind of like that idea. It would be a joint flash-back of Locke and Alpert. I like it. Ignore meh, he's an ass. Open your mind a little will ya.

I realize that he's an ass. lol

Now, I also realize that this idea is not going to happen. It's a Locke Flashback.

However, I thought it would be cool if like every flashback it was Locke and Alpert, and you just assumed that it was a Locke flashback.

And it was how he had actually known Alpert years before and due to either Alpert doing something to him so he wouldn't remember him, or Locke just genuinely not remembering, Locke would not recognize him on the island.

And then finally in the last flash, it would just be Alpert reporting to *whoever* and saying "everything is taken care of". And at that point you realize that it wasn't a locke flashback, it was an ALPERT FLASHBACK the whole time.

And that Alpert's job was to protect John Locke, and keep him on the path that leads him to the Island. As if some things would happen throughout Locke's life that endanger him from staying on that path. Perhaps it's a job offer that takes him to another part of the country, perhaps it's him deciding NOT to go visit his father, and therefore he was never paralyzed, which would have not kept him off the safari thing or wherever he was going to, and would have kept him from getting on the airplane to Los Angeles.

Just a fun idea I had. As I said, I know it's not going to happen, but I thought it was an interesting idea.

Wow, considering this thread was supposed to be about Attack of the Show, the comments are way out there. I am really glad I didn't read this thread until today, because as a spoiler avoider I would have been SUPREMELY PISSED OFF at all of you. Thanks a lot, Gary!

Has anyone realized that all the flashbacks that involve the "6" don't age????

I have personally been disappointed with this season since the premier. There is just something missing that I can't put my finger on. I think it may be the pacing, but I'm not sure. Some highlights of the season for me were episode 2, in which we were introduced to Faraday and "friends." The Aaron revelation was also nice. I don't know--I think it's just getting a little over-the-top and lacking in its mysterious subtlety and shocking twists. I know that frustrated a lot of people, but this season just comes off as too forced in my opinion.

How come this video won't play? Anyone else having that problem?