Lost Discussion Group: Charles in Charge

Submitted for your consideration this Lost Discussion Group Thursday: Charles Widmore, who we've discovered in the first part of season 4 is going to play a significant role in the series going forward. Very significant, it looks like. Yet we really know very little about him, beyond his role in Desmond's life, and his brand of whiskey.

So: what's Charles Widmore's game? What does he want from the island? Did Desmond get to the island by accident or through Chuckles' elaborate machinations? If the latter, why in the world would he do this? Is he a bad guy, and if so, could Ben actually be telling the truth when he says "We're the good guys"? And how does he juggle his evil island-related schemes with running his Orange County real estate empire?