The rules have changed: "The Shape Of Things To Come"

Season 4 opens another can of kick-butt-ery goodness.

I'm going to sound completely fan-boy here, but I'm still giddy over this episode.

"The Shape of Things to Come" is NOW my favorite episode of the year... and I come to this conclusion based on this criteria:

• The most amazing scary appearance of the smoke monster, EVER! Finally the monster is back to being scary and EVIL! Like a tornado from hell!
• Ben is a bad-a$&. Ben became a whole new character for me. He's tough, resourceful and willing to let his kid die for some reason we don't yet know.
• Ben has the greatest piano bench ever!
• Ben has a huge arsenal.
• Ben controls the smoke monster.
• Ben apparently "warped" or teleported to Iraq. What the...?
• Ben totally manipulated Sayid in Iraq. His recruitment plan was devious!!!! Ben's parting smile was so creepy... but awesome.
• Alex's death was heartbreaking. I actually felt sorry for Ben.
• Claire got blasted with a rocket launcher! And she lived!!
• Penny is now a target.
• Jack is going to die from appendicitis.
• Dan is an evil liar. Dan deserved a butt kicking.
• Bernard can understand Morse Code.
• What is going on between Charles Widmore and Ben?!
• Is the doctor from the ship dead and alive at the same time?
• Was Hurley's quote (while playing Risk) about Australia being the key, a clue?
• LOST is awesome.

What did you guys think?!