So, while I may go along with the theory that the smoke monster was freed upon being fed a human soul (which, strangely makes me think of Gremlins...don't feed them after midnight! They turn into evil fuzzies of doom! Don't feed the smoke monster!)...as I was saying, while I may agree with that theory, what was the meaning of Mother's last words: "Thank you." She was thanking MIB for killing her.

Was someone trapped in a body that wouldn't die? Did someone's soul want out?

Seems a bit odd. Earlier on, she tells little MIB that he and Jacob will never have to worry about death. They grow up, but apparently there was a stop measure? Did she in fact have 'The Magic Touch", much the same way Jacob is later able to confer eternal life to Richard? Perhaps that was the secret of the Magic Wine. It grants The Magic Touch as well as Eternal Youth. Although, perhaps The Magic Touch stops you in your forties. MIB claimed to have been with The Others for what, 30 years? That would make him and Jacob 43. Odd age at which to receive Eternal Life. It isn't even one of The Numbers! At least it's a prime number.

So, back to Mother. She was tired. She wanted out of her guardian job. When she said that eventually Jacob or MIB would take her place, how exactly did she expect to die? Was she not gifted with Eternal Life? She hardly seemed to age much in 43 years. OR, was she unable to die? Did she basically con MIB into killing her? Or, did she not want to do that, but was thankful to die all the same?

How did she get there in the first place? How is it she knows what lurks at the bottom of the Light? Perhaps she's been down there? But then somehow her going didn't trigger the Smoke Alarm?

Okay, final rant. Jacob has really come down several pegs in this episode. The character came across as a weak-willed, mindless, pathetic second-best. He's not 'Special'. What does it mean anyway that MIB is?

And so, I close with, why say thank you?