Lost: I'm Not as Lost as I Was

So I watched both episodes of Lost last night and I think I understand what's happening in a show logic kind of way. Ben is manipulating to get the Oceanic 6 + the body of "Jeremy Bentham"/Locke back to the island because... unclear. But he is working with the mysterious British woman who previously advised Desmond - she appears to have some scientific way to work out when the island will appear and she may be Faraday's mother. Jack is ready to believe Ben and get back to the island because he feels guilty about what happened to those who were left behind (as well he should). Sayid doesn't trust Ben despite the fact that he's been working for Ben. Sun also is seeking to bring down Ben with the help of Widmore even though Ben didn't have anything to do with Jin's death and she may or may not be trying to manipulate Kate. Kate is on the run again after a mysterious someone (Widmore?) is trying to prove she is not Aaron's mother because they want Aaron (although presumably they could prove he's Jack's nephew?) Poor Hurley is caught up in all this mess wracked with guilt and confused about what to do (although he did have the ghost of Ana-Lucia to help him) so he gives himself over to the police for murders Sayid committed to get away from Ben and the confusion.

Meanwhile, the island is skipping around in time for Locke, shirtless Sawyer (pity he managed to find a shirt), Bernard and Rose, Neil/Frogurt, other Oceanic survivor extras, Juliet, Miles, Faraday and Charlotte. It is not catching the ageless Richard Alpert somehow so he had to give Locke the compass that Locke did not choose when he was a child to identify himself to Alpert when the island flashes to the past. It is skipping around in time because the Oceanic 6 left and/or Ben turned the frozen wheel but it will stop if the Oceanic 6 come back which will happen if Locke dies. Although the past can not be changed, time travel scientist Faraday knows how to manipulate the system and plants a memory for Desmond to remember in the future so he will track down his mom at Oxford (although if it's the woman helping Ben she's in L.A.) Faraday also knows why Charlotte doesn't feel well (is it the same thing that affects you if you fly on the wrong heading?) and he is savvy enough to appear in the 1970s when Dr. Chang/Candle/other names is discovering/building the Orchid station. Also, Dr. Chang/Candle/other names had a wife and son who could possibly be Miles.

The people skipping around in time on the island are in danger because at any given time, whoever else is on the island will not recognize them and will want to harm them - ala Ethan pointing a gun at Locke and mysterious British soldiers sending flaming arrows at the castaways on the beach.

Right?

Thoughts: I am excited to learn more about the time travel issues although I hope there are some clear rules to it. I feel so bad for Hurley (seeing him in that Shih-Tzu t-shirt made me want to cry) and while I am certain he will be rescued from the police, I just hope he isn't manipulated too much by Ben or Sun or anyone else. I am dying to know what Ben is really up to and why it's so imperative everyone return to the island. Will Locke be resurrected if they return? Why are there so many ghosts and only Hurley can see them? Oy - stay tuned.