Tonight’s episode, The Beginning of the End, is only a few hours away.

I have no idea what’s in store for us tonight but here are some of my thoughts, ideas, and theories…

1) After last season’s “game changing” finale, where we were treated to a flash-forward rather than the typical flashback, I have thought that this season might follow the same pattern. I have wondered whether season 4 will take place in the present (off the island) and that the flashbacks will take us back to the events that lead to some of the islanders (we only know of Jack and Kate) escaping from the island.

2) This last theory has gained more legitimacy with me due to the title slide featured on the commercials. The advertisements show the island reflecting off the ocean but the reflection is that of a city skyline.

3) 6 people will leave the island. The commercials have featured the number 6 flashing subliminally between images of the new season. We know that Jack and Kate leave the island. Your guess is as good as mine as to who the other 4 are. However, one of them might be Michael because…

4) I think Michael (Walt’s Dad) was the person in the coffin Jack visited in last season’s finale. If it is Michael, then he and Walt might have been the ones who led the “rescuers” back to the island. We saw Walt telling Locke to crawl out of Dharma pit last year. Before that, the last time we saw Walt, he and Michael were leaving the island in a small boat.

5) In the finale, Jack throws a raging, drunk tirade when he is challenged by the chief of surgery. “Bring my father down here ands see if he’s drunker than I am,” he railed. Ummm… as far as we know Jack’s father is dead. He died in Australia and Jack went to bring him back to LA. It was the whole reason Jack was on Oceanic Flight 815. Now Jack could have said this because he was drunk out of his mind. He was out of touch with reality and dealing with a lot. However, the island is special. Locke was in a wheel chair prior to arriving on the island. Jin was infertile. The island has significant healing powers. If the body of Jack’s dad was on that plane… Nah! That’s crazy talk. Or is it? I think I might have seen Jack’s dad in the season 4 trailer. He’s alive. I’m calling it.

Only 2 hours to go… Check back during the show.