I realize that the latest theory has Michael in season 3's coffin, and I agree, especially considering the "Meet Kevin Johnson" episode from season 4. But first a little more set up...
Recall from season 3, that Charlie was on a particular path, a timeline where he will be able to flip the switch in the underwater hatch, allowing the sat phone to work to make a call for help, all at the cost of his own life. All the while, Desmond kept saving him, course correcting time so that he will stay alive long enough to fulfill those duties.
Clearly, Michael is on a similar path. He can't die even if he wanted to kill himself (whether crashing his car or even shooting himself). He had to accomplish something first before, as Friendly would put it, "the island would let you go."
Later on in the timeline, we see Jack, bearded, on a bridge, ready to take his own life. Perhaps by then he is somewhat aware of these course correcting/destiny principles, even if he hasn't fully accepted it yet. He might even be aware of his own timeline, that he has something to accomplish before he can die, which could be why he was trying to take his own life; testing (like Michael did) to see if the island would allow him to die. But with the news that Michael is dead, he realizes something, and he realizes that he must return to the island along with the rest of the O6.
From that point, where Michael is dead, I think one of two possible conclusions came to Jack on that bridge. Either 1 Michael was able to accomplish what he needed to do, so then he was able to kill himself. And because Michael successfully died, Jack realized they needed to go back. Or 2 (which I think is more the case) Micheal died but did NOT finish what he was supposed to do. From that, Jack realized that something went wrong in the timeline, and Jack finally understood that to make things right again, they had to return.
Theory by mykietown
Recall from season 3, that Charlie was on a particular path, a timeline where he will be able to flip the switch in the underwater hatch, allowing the sat phone to work to make a call for help, all at the cost of his own life. All the while, Desmond kept saving him, course correcting time so that he will stay alive long enough to fulfill those duties.
Clearly, Michael is on a similar path. He can't die even if he wanted to kill himself (whether crashing his car or even shooting himself). He had to accomplish something first before, as Friendly would put it, "the island would let you go."
Later on in the timeline, we see Jack, bearded, on a bridge, ready to take his own life. Perhaps by then he is somewhat aware of these course correcting/destiny principles, even if he hasn't fully accepted it yet. He might even be aware of his own timeline, that he has something to accomplish before he can die, which could be why he was trying to take his own life; testing (like Michael did) to see if the island would allow him to die. But with the news that Michael is dead, he realizes something, and he realizes that he must return to the island along with the rest of the O6.
From that point, where Michael is dead, I think one of two possible conclusions came to Jack on that bridge. Either 1 Michael was able to accomplish what he needed to do, so then he was able to kill himself. And because Michael successfully died, Jack realized they needed to go back. Or 2 (which I think is more the case) Micheal died but did NOT finish what he was supposed to do. From that, Jack realized that something went wrong in the timeline, and Jack finally understood that to make things right again, they had to return.
Theory by mykietown
