'Light vs. Dark' in 'Lost': Kate's horse

Some of the entries in the "Light vs. Dark" series depict some of the most dramatic moments in "Lost" history. This isn't one of those entries. I'm not sure anyone answers "Kate's horse!" when asked about the show's most pressing mysteries or seminal moments. But not every possible interference by either Jacob or The Man in Black can be full of Sturm und Drang.

In fact, one could argue that the more inconspicuous moments are equally, if nor more, important in the grand scheme of things. If every act of interference called attention to itself, they would be a lot less effective. Sometimes, a soft touch is needed, whether it be starting a stubborn car or gently pushing an important character toward his or her ultimate destiny. For every fever dream portending a dire fate, there's a silent horse staring into your soul.

The Episode: "What Kate Did"

The Sequence: After arresting Kate in a transportation terminal in Tallahassee, Edward Mars drives her toward her arraignment. A black horse passes in front of their car during a dark, stormy night, causing Edward to swerve off the road and hit a pole. After a brief fight, Kate manages to escape, watching the black horse seem to acknowledge her before returning to the wilderness. On the Island, Kate sees the horse multiple times. The appearance of the horse distresses her until Sawyer admits he sees the horse as well. Kate slowly approaches the horse, pets it, and watches it return into the jungle.

The Case for Jacob: We know from "The Incident" that Jacob's had his eye on "Katie" for quite some time. Producing the horse in conjunction with Wayne's ghost inhabiting Sawyer's fever-racked body gives Kate the chance to confront her past in order to forgive herself. Given that Sawyer, another person visited by Jacob as a child, can also see the horse gives further credence that Jacob had a hand in this.

The Case for The Man in Black: Come on, the horse is black! Case closed! OK, maybe we need to look a bit closer. The Man in Black could have sent the horse as a way to remind Kate that she's in fact NOT good. This is why she kisses Jack: it's self-loathing as well as a way to touch something she perceives as noble and moral. Destroying her self-worth would ensure that she would not be able to reunite Claire and Aaron after their separation in Season 4. Unfortunately for The Man in Black, Kate confronts her past instead of shrinking from it.

The Zap2it Opinion: I think the former is more likely, but the latter more compelling. As we'll see when we get to Hurley's imaginary friend Dave, not all of The Man in Black's overt attempts to corrupt future members of the Oceanic 6 work the way that he wants. The horse's silent nature calls to mind Jacob's methodology (a gentle push versus a hard shove), the insertion of Wayne's memories into Sawyer's body gives this round to The Man in Black.

What do YOU think?