I re-watched HC over the weekend and made some observations.* Sorry if any of these have been posted before.
1)* Timing:* To all the folks who have been complaining about too many commercials.* My taping of the (East Coast) episode breaks down like this:
Island time* * * * * * *30m 37s
Flashback time* * * 10m 15s
Commercial time* * 19m 17s
(apparently Witchy needs to get a life)* **
I don't know --* 40m+ of show (Island time + Flashback time) and 20m+ of commercials seems like a good balance to me.* Again, my episode is East Coast (from other posts I've read, it sounds like some episodes were editted differently.)* Also, times are fairly accurate.* I started my VCR counter when the opening sequence started, paused/reset counter when commercials started, paused/reset when flashbacks started.* In doing that, I may have missed about a second in the time notation/counter resetting process.* However, a second here or there will not affect the overall times too dramatically.* I can post the actual (time) breakdown of the episode if anyone wants that.
2)* When they were setting up the perimeter guards, Sayid states that he'll set up "rotating shifts."* So, why did it appear Boone was on guard all-night (with no relief)?* The only thing I can think of is that the "rotating shifts" were to cover round-the-clock.* (ex. Boone takes an 8-hour night watch, someone takes an 8-hour "day" watch, someone else takes an 8-hour evening watch.)
Also, it appeared Boone was guarding the area where the beach meets the jungle.* (I'll try to find some screen shots to add in here).* If that's the case (that Boone was on the beach/jungle border), this lends some credence to my theory that Ethan got by a snoozing Boone and came in from the jungle.* That whole "came in from the water" is just sketchy to me.* Did Locke know Boone fell asleep and was covering for Boone by saying Ethan came in from the water?* Which leads me to................
3)* The "came in from the water" comment came from Kate.* "Locke says he [Ethan] came in from the water."* We, the audience, never hear Locke make that statement.* Is there something to this??
2)* When they were setting up the perimeter guards, Sayid states that he'll set up "rotating shifts."* So, why did it appear Boone was on guard all-night (with no relief)?* The only thing I can think of is that the "rotating shifts" were to cover round-the-clock.* (ex. Boone takes an 8-hour night watch, someone takes an 8-hour "day" watch, someone else takes an 8-hour evening watch.)
Also, it appeared Boone was guarding the area where the beach meets the jungle.* (I'll try to find some screen shots to add in here).* If that's the case (that Boone was on the beach/jungle border), this lends some credence to my theory that Ethan got by a snoozing Boone and came in from the jungle.* That whole "came in from the water" is just sketchy to me.* Did Locke know Boone fell asleep and was covering for Boone by saying Ethan came in from the water?
I posted that same question about rotating shifts in another thread, and no one responded to it. I'm really curious about that too. Especially if they're all so skeptical about Boone being capable, why wouldn't Sayid or Locke or someone at least walk by to ask how it's going and make sure he's not asleep. 8 hours would be an awfully long time to expect someone who's been awake all day to stay awake all night too.
I think we're supposed to assume that Ethan would have tripped the noise maker-thing like Vincent did. But we all know what assuming does... And I agree the "came from the water" explanation is sketchy.
All I can think is that the perimeter started from the water and went around in a semi-circle, using the actual water as part of the "perimeter" with no guards there.
Since "Joanna" died out in the water and there's been some speculation that she was pulled down, plus we've got the cable going to the water, I do buy the Ethan came from the water explanation. I think they didn't have that part boobytrapped assuming that no one would come from there.
I also think Ethan had the dog and let him loose to cause a distraction while he got away.
One guestion, If Ethan came in past a sleeping Boon why didn't he just kill Boon instead? 8)
Me:* You take all the fun outta everything!!!* *
I tend to be stubborn -- something about that "We're counting on ya' Boone" and "He came in from the water" is just plain WEIRD to me.* And I refuse to give up on figuring out what the real scoop is there!!!* ** I guess this is another mystery/oddity I have to deal with.
One guestion, If Ethan came in past a sleeping Boon why didn't he just kill Boon instead? 8)
I asked this in another thread! Great minds and all that..
What might have happened is Ethan got in the water from a place further up the beach or from another beach..swam a little ways out..then swam in toward the survivors...took Scot out and then swam back. I don't hink he came in from some hidden submarine base or anything like that *from offshore.
I know that's a stretch and he perhaps has super human strength and would probably know the currents and tides well enough I suppose.
3) The "came in from the water" comment came from Kate. "Locke says he [Ethan] came in from the water." We, the audience, never hear Locke make that statement. Is there something to this??
Witchy
Was the reference to the body coming in from the water? Maybe they weren't talking about Ethan.
I sometimes get really caught on little details too, so I understand why some people are skeptical about Ethan coming from the water. It's true, nothing is %100 percent sure, but how I interpreted it was...
--"Locke said he came in from the water". Yes, Kate says Locke said this. We also got to see Locke discovering Scott/Steve's body, then looking intently out toward the water while others are saying, "How did he get here when we have sentries?" (or something very similar). He does not say it out loud but seems to be realizing that Ethan most likely came in that way, is probably thinking, "DA*N, outsmarted by Jungle Boy again!"
By the way, it was dark while Boone appeared to be nodding off, then light when he woke up, but not a lot of time needed to go by in between -- it doesn't take all that long for dawn to break.
* 
And I agree the "came from the water" explanation is sketchy. 
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