The Smoke Monster was undoubtedly one of Lost's most intriguing mysteries. It was introduced in the very first episode (albeit not as the Smoke Monster we came to know, but rather, an unseen force) and periodically popped up throughout the seasons to torment our heroes. And amazingly, we weren't given clear answers about its origin until the show's third-to-last episode. And the "answers" we were given were greatly divisive, to say the least.
Some answers are clearly cut and dry. Other aspects about Smokey remain a bit more ambiguous. These are ten unanswered questions we still have about the Smoke Monster.
Why Did The Man In Black Turn Into A Smoke Monster?
In Across the Sea, it's finally established that the Smoke Monster was created when Jacob pushed his mortal brother into the Heart of the Island.
The Man in Black's physical body went in, and the Smoke Monster emerged in a clangorous roar. But...why? What in the Heart of the Island turned The Man in Black into the Smoke Monster? And why? Clearly not everyone gets smoke-monstered, as Desmond and Jack go in without a problem.
What Was His Plan?
The latter episodes of Lost establish that the Island serves as a "cork" that contains the evil of the world. The Man in Black is perpetually chained to the island for eternity, and he wants this cork removed so that the island will be destroyed and he can escape.
But then what? Was his plan to spread chaos and destruction across the world with the so-called "malevolent evil" that is being contained? Sail away and live life normally as an indistinct mortal in a post-apocalyptic wasteland?
Why The Mechanical Clicking Noise?
Maybe this is a bit pedantic, as we don't really need an explanation about why a certain fictional monster makes a certain sound. You can say "because that's the sound it makes" and be done with it. But when you introduce such an intriguing and distinct sound, it tends to generate interest and theories.
The mechanical clicking led many to believe that it was some sort of autonomous security system made of nanobots or something, but nope. So...why the mechanical clicking if not that?
Why Does It Make A Howling Noise?
Again, we can chalk this up as "because it does." But again, we argue that giving the Smoke Monster such a distinct personality trait as its eerie howling, then people will want to know why it does that.
How is it that a swirling cloud of smoke can make a booming howl that reverberates throughout the jungle? It's smoke, it shouldn't be allowed to vocalize. Then again, it's clearly not just smoke, because...
What Is With That "Scanning" Ability?
One of the most famous sequences involving the Smoke Monster is his iconic staredown with Mr. Eko. During the staredown, we go "inside" the Smoke Monster and see that it is "scanning" Eko and/or reading into his past.
So what's that all about? Does the Smoke Monster have the ability to read minds or something? And why did we never see this again? It's never explained in-show, and it's never brought up again.
Why Does It Kill Who It Kills?
Throughout Lost, the Smoke Monster represents almost certain death. It chases people, bludgeons people, and in most cases, outright kills them. But why? Sadly, it's never explained why the Smoke Monster likes to murder people. He just does.
It's also never explained how he decides to kill. It's established that he cannot kill Jacob's candidates, yet he outright kills Eko, who was indeed one of Jacob's candidates. So why kill Eko but not the rest of them?
Where Was It Taking Locke?
This is a sub-question relating to the killing question. In the season one finale, Locke is grabbed by the Smoke Monster and taken to a hole in the ground.
Our obvious belief is that it wants to kill Locke, but it's later made evident that the Smoke Monster cannot kill candidates (even though Eko's blatant murder throws that out the window, but whatever). So what was it doing with Locke if not trying to kill him? Or was it trying to kill him and ignoring the rules?
Locke And Christian's Bodies
At the beginning of season one, the Smoke Monster trolls Jack by inhabiting his dead father's body and taking it for a stroll (side question - why? Just because he's bored and wants to mess with Jack?) But Jack never finds his father's body.
But when Smokey inhabits Locke, Locke's corpse is still present and accounted for. So it's clear that Smokey doesn't require the physical body. Then...what exactly is Smoke Locke? And where is Christian's body if not in the coffin?
Why Was He Stuck As Locke?
It's made clear throughout the series that Smokey can transform from people to his smoke self to his physical Man in Black form. Then why was he "stuck" as Locke throughout season six?
The only thing that changed was Jacob's death, so we assume some magic wore off or something. But it's never given a clear answer. The "real" answer is that the producers wanted Terry O'Quinn to stick around, because Terry O'Quinn is awesome.
Why Not Go Over The Fence?
The island's inhabitants don't have many defenses against the Smoke Monster, but the most effective method of deterrence seems to the sonar fence.
For whatever, this sonar fence blocks the Smoke Monster in its tracks and causes it to glide away in frustration. But the fence's effects don't stretch above its height, as evidenced by Kate crawling over and surviving. So why doesn't the Smoke Monster just...go over it?