I just happened to notice this. While Desmond is cleaning up his kitchen area there is a backgammon board and pieces layed out on the table. Interesting.
Its funny that you bring the backgammon board up, having just watched the season one again and wathcing this episode, it all seems a little game like. The flashing icon on the computer screen is like an 80's text adventure game, and Locke seems to not take anything serious as threatneing him. He is willing to sacrifice people (Boone) like they were pieces on a board game. And we all know Locke likes board games. And the way he approaches the hatch with no fear, it could be faith, or it could a be calculation on his part (everything he does and says after they blow open the hatch manipulates Kate into coming). This is all a little rambly, hope you guys can pick up on what I'm trying to say. There is just a lot of instances where games are eluded to in the show.
i agree about the game aspect of locke. jack asked him at one point if he liked games, and locke said absolutely. Its the fine line that locke is walking between faith and lunacy. is it all connected, or is it just coincidence? were they put there for a reason, or was it just a freak occurence? for my part, i do think there is a reason, but it may not be what locke thinks (if he does think anything).
finally, lets think about the point of backgammon. the purpose is to move all the pieces off the board. is there a corollary to lost? is someone moving all of them off the board? is the island "off the board? is the hatch off the board? is the grave "off the board"?
There was a refernece to the game GO on that new show Criminal Minds last night. They talked about how it is the single most difficult board game ever made. I believe they said that back in acient china or somewhere, where it originated the king would make all of his generals in his army learn the game. GO is all about stradegy. They acctually profiled the killer based on the way he played the game GO, as an extreme aggressor, I wonder how Desmond plays.
Okay- they ARE playing 'Go' in the movie Pi.
Here's an interesting little article about the game, especially in relation to that movie. (Which has a lot to do with numbers, religion, and government secret type stuff.. EXCELLENT movie!) http://www.pithemovie.com/go.html
and
and 