When Jack proposed that he was going out to "the line that we're not supposed to cross," I couldn't believe he was taking what Zeke said so literally. Here's the exact quote:

We've got a misunderstanding, Jack... you're people, my people, so listen carefully. Right here there's a line. You cross that line, we go from misunderstanding to something else. Now give me your weapons, turn around, go home.
Was I the only one that thought the whole crossing the line talk was purely metaphorical? The way I took it was that the Losties should not make any attempts to get involved with the Others, have a confrontation with the Others, etc. The idea that Jack thought there was an actual physical line that shouldn't be crossed made no sense to me. It's not like they've physically marked off territory where it's okay for the Losties to be and where it's not.

Just something that's been bothering me. Any thoughts? I could be wrong.

Metaphysical was exactly how i saw it.
Maybye the physical line is marked out by the BIG BLACK ROCKS lol:biggrin:

I, too, didn't take it to mean that there was literally a line they weren't supposed to cross. I figured Zeke said it metaphorically speaking as well. Perhaps it's a folly on Jack's behalf. I mean, it's a big *** jungle. How could you possibly draw a line of how far the losties are allowed to go? It doesn't make sense to me either.

Maybe that's why nothing happened... Jack was just standing at some random location in the middle of the jungle yelling at nothing. :rolleyes:

When Jack proposed that he was going out to "the line that we're not supposed to cross," I couldn't believe he was taking what Zeke said so literally. Here's the exact quote:


Was I the only one that thought the whole crossing the line talk was purely metaphorical? The way I took it was that the Losties should not make any attempts to get involved with the Others, have a confrontation with the Others, etc. The idea that Jack thought there was an actual physical line that shouldn't be crossed made no sense to me. It's not like they've physically marked off territory where it's okay for the Losties to be and where it's not.

Just something that's been bothering me. Any thoughts? I could be wrong.

Zeke looked down as he said it... so I figured that he meant a physical line on the ground.

Nothing happened because:
A. Jack never crossed that line, or
B. Zeke doesn't have his costume so can't make an appearance.

I'm with River...Zeke pointed down when he said it. I took that pointing the same as drawing a line in the sand. I believe it to be a literal line just like the rag on the tree that marks the beginning of the Dark Territory.

but while jack and kate are at the line, though it took a bit, Michael did show up... so until we find out why he showed up at that moment, maybe we can assume the others let him go at that line.

I'm with River...Zeke pointed down when he said it. I took that pointing the same as drawing a line in the sand. I believe it to be a literal line just like the rag on the tree that marks the beginning of the Dark Territory.

I took that gesture as just a punctuation of what he was saying, not "See, look! Right by my foot! A line!" More of a "right here [in this moment, not in this physical place], there's a line."

Maybe that's why nothing happened... Jack was just standing at some random location in the middle of the jungle yelling at nothing. :rolleyes:

any thoughts?

The way I took it was that the Losties should not make any attempts to get involved with the Others, have a confrontation with the Others, etc.

I took that gesture as just a punctuation of what he was saying, not "See, look! Right by my foot! A line!" More of a "right here [in this moment, not in this physical place], there's a line."

Jack and Co. weren't looking for the Others though, they were looking for Michael. So, why would Zeke show up to ward them off if they weren't looking for the Others in the first place?

I think that it just seems more logical that the Others saw them getting close to where they live and drew a line telling them not to come further.

Huh. I guess it could've meant either one.

I thought Zeke meant a physical line. As in, that is as far as they'll let the losties go. We don't know what is beyond that 'line'. Could be a three star resort or could be the Dharma headquarters. I think its something they don't want the losties to see.

i believe it's metaphorical, and was never intended to be physical.

I think Jack (or the writers) simply used the word "line" to make it clear that Jack attends to go back to the place where he first met Zeke.

That is the only logical place where he would find the others. At least he has a destination, rather than just walking blind.

Thinking about it, it's kind of weird that Jack considered Mr Friendly’s "line" in a literal sense, because in the flashback, Christian Shepherd used a similar terminology as a metaphor, warning Jack not to take things further with Gabriella.

But then again, he's a man of science, so I'm not surprised he took things literally.

I think Jack was just going to the most logical location. That being where they encountered the Others before. He probably figures they have that location monitored or within view of where they are, so that's the best place to make contact.

I think if there was a literal line, then the baloonies would have crossed it with their full days trek into the jungle.

I think if there was a literal line, then the baloonies would have crossed it with their full days trek into the jungle.

And you see how That ended...

I don't think ole Zeke necessarily meant a very literally drawn line that if you step 3 inches past an alarm sounds that launches missles, but I certainly got the impression that he was talking about a certain point in the island that the Losties shouldn't pass. The impression I got was that the losties were getting too close to either something the others are trying to hide from them or from the others camp, and they want them to stay away. I don't think it's unreasonable to think they haven't crossed it since didn't the tailies travel from the east side of the island around the south to the west? The area the Others are referring to could simply be far north.

If they meant just staying out of the others affairs then the Losties have been violating that for the last 3-4 episodes with Mr. Gale and there were no repercussions for that thusfar.

I thought 'physical' as if they couldn't come too close to the 'others'

Its a physical line. It has to be, because Zeke doesnt want the losties seeing what the others have up their sleeve aka, more hatches, that big ? and other stuff. They want the losties in the complete dark about the others and so they dont want them passing that point to get close to see.

And it does make sense about the day travel. The losties are on the west side of the island. The others are located north, the tailies were located east and theres the whole area south. You can go in either east or south for several days, but apparently in a several hour travel north, you get close to the others encampment. So thats why he drew the line there.

When somebody says "right here there's a line" period, while looking down at the ground, they are talking about a physical line. It's not like he said "you've crossed the line jack, don't do it again."

And how is it so "logical" that Jack should go to that place to meet the others just because he saw them there the first time? What would be the chances that they are standing in the exact same spot a couple weeks later out of all the space on the island? I know nobody thinks the others just stand there in that one spot the whole time. We've seen Zeke in the medical hatch and on a boat. How can he just magically appear somewhere on the island?

And to the person that said Jack knew he meant it metaphorically, and that he just used the word "line": this doesn't make any sense. If someone tells you not to cross the line again, using it metaphorically, why would you say "I'm going to go cross the line?" In Jack's perspective, this action would not be "crossing the line." And if he was quoting Zeke, he would stress it and made a slight pause before it like most normal human beings do. In other words: "I'm going to go 'cross the line.' " Jack obviously took it literally.

But like another poster said, I don't think Zeke meant it so literally to be taken like "once one of your feet hit the ground, at this exact line, we are all going to jump out of the bushes." I took it more like Zeke just didn't want the losties travelling north to look for the others. This is where Jack went wrong. He thought that exact moment his foot crossed the line they would all jump out.

And yes the balloonies did go north, but it's very possible that the others did not see them. It's a big island. Or maybe the others were aware that Henry was going to be sending them to the balloon and realized what they were doing.

I took it literally... just like when siblings who have to share a room tape some string to the walls. :D

And how is it so "logical" that Jack should go to that place to meet the others just because he saw them there the first time? What would be the chances that they are standing in the exact same spot a couple weeks later out of all the space on the island?


I think that's exactly why the writer had Jack shout "you say you're watching us." I guess that may or may not work for you.



I took it more like Zeke just didn't want the losties travelling north to look for the others. This is where Jack went wrong. He thought that exact moment his foot crossed the line they would all jump out..


I think he went back to the general area where Mr. Friendly threatened him not to go any further and implied that the Others are watching them, and assumed that if he started shouting about Henry he would get the Others' attention.