Cuse and Lindelof have repeatedly stated that this season we would never really know when in time the story is taking place. Now obviously we know the Oceanic 6 storyline is taking place three years after the rescue as evidenced by multiple title cards stating so. And we also have to understand that by the island's time traveling trips, it's storyline takes place in a timeline devoid of date. However when exactly is Desmond's storyline which started on the boat with Penny taking place?
It is written to make us assume that it is happening concurrently with the events of Ben and the Oceanic 6 in L.A. but we don't know for sure. My theory is that in the current timeline of the Oceanic 6, Desmond is already dead.
Let's look back at "Ji Yeon" in which the writers made us believe that Sun's off island scenes were happening at the same time as Jin's, but the twist was that Jin's scenes were flashbacks and Sun's were flash forwards, in a future without Jin.
Now looking at "Because You Left" we find Faraday bending the rules of time to introduce a new memory to Desmond. And Desmond, having been through time travel before knows the difference between "flashes" and dreams. Per Faraday's wishes, he sets sail for Oxford to find Faraday's mother.
Many have theorized that "Ms. Hawking" is Faraday's mother, and it would make sense. Except that "Ms. Hawking" is not at Oxford, she is in L.A. with Ben trying to find the island.
Here's where theorizing and conjecture comes in to play:
Desmond goes to Oxford, finds "Ms. Hawking" and tells her of the message her son sent to him through time and space. She then tells Ben about the message and who came to Oxford to deliver it. So Ben comes to Oxford to kill Penny. Or perhaps he sends hired gun Sayid to get the job done. Maybe he just kills Penny. Maybe he kills Desmond before realizing that he's been set up (because obviously upon killing Desmond or Penny, Sayid will realize they have nothing to do with the Oceanic cover up.)
Thus Sayid loses trust in Ben, and flees to L.A. to warn Hurley.
But also, Daniel's sending the message to Desmond thru time triggers him going to Oxford, which triggers Sayid to realize Ben is setting him, which triggers Sayid going to Los Angeles, where all the Oceanic 6 can reunite and go back to the island to save time and space. So in essence, Faraday's distress signal worked and Desmond is a sacrifice the island demanded.
"You can go now." - Christian to Michael
So basically, I believe the big bait and switch will be that Desmond's storyline is happening between the events of the rescue and the current Oceanic 6 storyline. Sayid might not have to kill Desmond to realize Ben's setting him up, but if he's doesn't, this kind of twist would not have much impact.
Theory by Josh Boyd
It is written to make us assume that it is happening concurrently with the events of Ben and the Oceanic 6 in L.A. but we don't know for sure. My theory is that in the current timeline of the Oceanic 6, Desmond is already dead.
Let's look back at "Ji Yeon" in which the writers made us believe that Sun's off island scenes were happening at the same time as Jin's, but the twist was that Jin's scenes were flashbacks and Sun's were flash forwards, in a future without Jin.
Now looking at "Because You Left" we find Faraday bending the rules of time to introduce a new memory to Desmond. And Desmond, having been through time travel before knows the difference between "flashes" and dreams. Per Faraday's wishes, he sets sail for Oxford to find Faraday's mother.
Many have theorized that "Ms. Hawking" is Faraday's mother, and it would make sense. Except that "Ms. Hawking" is not at Oxford, she is in L.A. with Ben trying to find the island.
Here's where theorizing and conjecture comes in to play:
Desmond goes to Oxford, finds "Ms. Hawking" and tells her of the message her son sent to him through time and space. She then tells Ben about the message and who came to Oxford to deliver it. So Ben comes to Oxford to kill Penny. Or perhaps he sends hired gun Sayid to get the job done. Maybe he just kills Penny. Maybe he kills Desmond before realizing that he's been set up (because obviously upon killing Desmond or Penny, Sayid will realize they have nothing to do with the Oceanic cover up.)
Thus Sayid loses trust in Ben, and flees to L.A. to warn Hurley.
But also, Daniel's sending the message to Desmond thru time triggers him going to Oxford, which triggers Sayid to realize Ben is setting him, which triggers Sayid going to Los Angeles, where all the Oceanic 6 can reunite and go back to the island to save time and space. So in essence, Faraday's distress signal worked and Desmond is a sacrifice the island demanded.
"You can go now." - Christian to Michael
So basically, I believe the big bait and switch will be that Desmond's storyline is happening between the events of the rescue and the current Oceanic 6 storyline. Sayid might not have to kill Desmond to realize Ben's setting him up, but if he's doesn't, this kind of twist would not have much impact.
Theory by Josh Boyd
