This Tuesday’s Lost demonstrated, at the very least, the undeniable truth that these characters, whether on the island or not, are inextricably tied to one another and to the island.

At the center of  this Tuesday’s narrative was  John Locke.  John’s life in the off-island time line is much happier than his life before Oceanic Flight 815.  He is engaged to Helen and living in a picturesque suburban town.

Almost immediately in the episode, however, John is fired by his employer after it is discovered that he did not attend a company conference in Sydney.  On the way out to his car with his personal items, John discovers that he has been parked in.  By who, you might ask?  Hugo Reyes, who just happens to own the company.  And what’s that?  Hugo sends him to a temp agency (that he also owns) and guarantees him immediate job placement.  When John arrives at the agency, the manager is Rose.

The most significant connection, however, occurred in the first episode, where John meets Jack Shephard.  Jack tells John to call him; perhaps he can do something to help his condition.  After John is fired, he calls Jack, only to be disappointed when he hears a woman’s voice.  In an emotional moment, John reveals to Helen that he was fired, and that he cannot call Jack.  He doesn’t believe in miracles.  Helen does, and notes that perhaps the meeting of her future husband and the spinal surgeon is “destiny.”  Viewers, surely, couldn’t agree more.

In the island time line, Sun insists that they bury John’s body.  When asked if anyone wants to say something in remembrance of him, there is a hesitation.  Ben reluctantly steps forward, saying “John Locke was a believer.  He was a man of faith.  He was…a much better man that I will ever be.  And I’m very sorry that I murdered him.”

This moment brings a sad realization.  Though John is clearly happy with Helen in the off-island time line, it is difficult watching him live a life of skepticism.  On the island, John was a believer.  He believed he had a purpose, that he could do some good.

Is this purpose on the island over?  It would seem so, now that the smoke monster has taken on his form and Sun, Ben and Frank just buried his body.  But as all Lost viewers know, things are never quite as they seem.

Either way, Terry O’Quinn, who portrays John and now the smoke monster, ushered in one of the largest reveals in the show’s history on last night’s episode.  The dreaded numbers made an appearance, and we learned that they correspond to the names of some of our favorite characters.

The smoke monster took an angry, guilt-ridden Sawyer to a cave on the island that we have never seen.  On the cave’s ceiling were scribbled out names, along with numbers.  So what does it mean?  The smoke monster revealed that the names on the ceiling are “candidates,” potential future protectors of the island, to take the place of Jacob.  Only five names remain after the smoke monster crosses out #4-Locke: #8-Hurley, #15-Sawyer, #16- Sayid, #23-Jack, and #42-Kwon, which could refer to either  Sun or Jin.  Suddenly the numbers that have seemed so unlucky have a whole new meaning.

Noticeably absent from this list was Kate, despite the fact that Jacob seemed to “choose” her when she was a young girl.

This leaves us with some important questions.  Why were these individuals chosen as candidates?  Will one of them emerge as the new protector of the island?  Or will all of them escape what could be just a twisted game between Jacob and the mysterious smoke monster?

Tune in to Lost at 9 pm on Tuesdays for more answers!