Well, this episode basically cinched that you're right.

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We finally got us some answers about Richard. We not only know that he hasn't aged in about 20 years- now we know it's been as much as forty.

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As for the whole scene inside the cabin-

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Anyone else think it was surprising when we saw Christian Shepherd? I hadn't known he was going to be in this episode, so I was all... waitWHAT.

Also, I think Locke seeing him might mesn he is in fact not a hallucination. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we pretty much learn earlier that if someone has a hallucination, no one but the person it is for can see it? (ie, that episide with Hurley's imaginary friend, what's-his-name.) Although my memory could just be failing me.

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Also, I have a theory about Desmond-

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I think he's pretty much as good as dead at this point. He said in this episode, "I am never setting foot on that island again as long as I live" or something to that effect.

To me that seemed like foreshadowing, to the "he's as good as gone" end. :<

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