It’s 1977. Two guys named Hugo and Miles are having a conversation about how they’ve traveled back in time. If 1978 hasn’t happened yet, if “The Empire Strikes Back” hasn’t been made, if flight 815 carrying Hugo hasn’t crashed, and if a freighter carrying Miles hasn’t found its way to the island: how is it possible for these two men to have memories of meeting one another?
In short, if the event of their meeting does not yet exist, how can they remember it?
The only way you can remember something happening is if it has happened. The incidents of time travel occurred in 2004 and 2007. Unless 2004 and 2007 have taken place, then Hurley and Miles cannot be in 1977.
Therefore, this cannot be the way things have always been.
It’s a basic paradox involved in the very idea of time travel (it’s probably one reason why we haven’t been able to figure out how to do it yet) and why it remains the subject of the purist fiction. Whether or not the writers of “Lost” have considered this remains to be seen, but let’s assume for a moment that they have. I believe this is how history has played out:
Original Timeline: The Dharma Initiative conducts their experiments on the island unabated and incident-free. Sayid is not there to shoot Ben. Ben never becomes an Other. The Others never take back control of the island. The Lostaways crash on said island. Through a course of events we will never witness, possibly involving conflict with a still-constituted DI, the island instructs the Lostaways to turn the frozen donkey wheel and travel back in time.
Timeline #2: The DI sets up shop on the island. This time, our Lostaways are in 1977 with them. Sayid has yet to make it off the island, to be manipulated by Ben, and, possibly, they have never met. Sayid does not shoot Ben. Ben never becomes an Other. The Lostaways attempt to cause the incident (perhaps to prevent their future misery and the hands of the DI) but fail because there is no Juliet to detonate their bomb. The DI maintains control of the island. The Lostaways crash on the island. Conflict between the DI and the 815 survivors – including some between Ben and Sayid specifically instigated by the island - ultimately results in the Lostaways traveling back in time.
Timeline #3: Sayid shoots Ben. Not having been forced into performing spinal surgery in the previous timeline, Jack decides to save his life. The Lostaways fail to cause the incident. The DI maintains control of the island. The Lostaways crash on the island. The island puts a tumor on Ben’s spine. Ben forces Jack to operate on him by kidnapping Kate. To put it mildly, this pisses Jack off (pun intended). Eventually, conflict again ensues and causes the Lostaways to travel back in time.
Timeline #4: Sayid shoots Ben. This time, Jack refuses to save his life. Ben is taken to the Others who adopt him as their own. But the Lostaways again fail to cause the incident (no Juliet). However, with Ben as their inside man, the Others are able to regain control of the island. The Lostaways crash on the island. Events very similar to what we the audience have witnessed take place. Conflict with the Others and the freighter cause the Lostaways to travel back in time.
Timeline #5: Sayid shoots Ben. Ben becomes an Other. The Lostaways fail to cause the incident. The Others regain control of the island. The island creates a fertility problem. Richard recruits Juliet. Ben falls in love with her. Even though she fails at her assigned task, Ben conspires to keep her on the island. The Lostaways crash, yada yada yada, and travel back in time.
Timeline #6: Sayid shoots Ben. Jack refuses to save his life. Ben becomes an Other. Juliet causes the incident. All bets are off.
Now then, maybe there are other timelines with other not-so-attractive, non-blonde fertility experts who don’t have awesome cleavage. Timelines with Faraday; timelines without Faraday. With the Oceanic 6 leaving the island; without the Oceanic 6 leaving the island. Perhaps there were similar time loops necessary in order to get the hydrogen bomb to the island in the first place. Perhaps Kate wasn’t even on the original flight 815, but was eventually summoned by the island to give Ben the required leverage in order to manipulate Jack into performing his spinal surgery.
Maybe this is the sixth timeline, maybe it’s the six millionth. No man can say. But I’ve always thought of the island as a conscious being. I believe it retains the knowledge of previous versions of history and is taking measures to produce a different outcome.
Why? The cause can only be determined upon seeing the effect.
PS – If my son and my grandson are spinal surgeons, I better not end up in the s****iest rest home in California.
In short, if the event of their meeting does not yet exist, how can they remember it?
The only way you can remember something happening is if it has happened. The incidents of time travel occurred in 2004 and 2007. Unless 2004 and 2007 have taken place, then Hurley and Miles cannot be in 1977.
Therefore, this cannot be the way things have always been.
It’s a basic paradox involved in the very idea of time travel (it’s probably one reason why we haven’t been able to figure out how to do it yet) and why it remains the subject of the purist fiction. Whether or not the writers of “Lost” have considered this remains to be seen, but let’s assume for a moment that they have. I believe this is how history has played out:
Original Timeline: The Dharma Initiative conducts their experiments on the island unabated and incident-free. Sayid is not there to shoot Ben. Ben never becomes an Other. The Others never take back control of the island. The Lostaways crash on said island. Through a course of events we will never witness, possibly involving conflict with a still-constituted DI, the island instructs the Lostaways to turn the frozen donkey wheel and travel back in time.
Timeline #2: The DI sets up shop on the island. This time, our Lostaways are in 1977 with them. Sayid has yet to make it off the island, to be manipulated by Ben, and, possibly, they have never met. Sayid does not shoot Ben. Ben never becomes an Other. The Lostaways attempt to cause the incident (perhaps to prevent their future misery and the hands of the DI) but fail because there is no Juliet to detonate their bomb. The DI maintains control of the island. The Lostaways crash on the island. Conflict between the DI and the 815 survivors – including some between Ben and Sayid specifically instigated by the island - ultimately results in the Lostaways traveling back in time.
Timeline #3: Sayid shoots Ben. Not having been forced into performing spinal surgery in the previous timeline, Jack decides to save his life. The Lostaways fail to cause the incident. The DI maintains control of the island. The Lostaways crash on the island. The island puts a tumor on Ben’s spine. Ben forces Jack to operate on him by kidnapping Kate. To put it mildly, this pisses Jack off (pun intended). Eventually, conflict again ensues and causes the Lostaways to travel back in time.
Timeline #4: Sayid shoots Ben. This time, Jack refuses to save his life. Ben is taken to the Others who adopt him as their own. But the Lostaways again fail to cause the incident (no Juliet). However, with Ben as their inside man, the Others are able to regain control of the island. The Lostaways crash on the island. Events very similar to what we the audience have witnessed take place. Conflict with the Others and the freighter cause the Lostaways to travel back in time.
Timeline #5: Sayid shoots Ben. Ben becomes an Other. The Lostaways fail to cause the incident. The Others regain control of the island. The island creates a fertility problem. Richard recruits Juliet. Ben falls in love with her. Even though she fails at her assigned task, Ben conspires to keep her on the island. The Lostaways crash, yada yada yada, and travel back in time.
Timeline #6: Sayid shoots Ben. Jack refuses to save his life. Ben becomes an Other. Juliet causes the incident. All bets are off.
Now then, maybe there are other timelines with other not-so-attractive, non-blonde fertility experts who don’t have awesome cleavage. Timelines with Faraday; timelines without Faraday. With the Oceanic 6 leaving the island; without the Oceanic 6 leaving the island. Perhaps there were similar time loops necessary in order to get the hydrogen bomb to the island in the first place. Perhaps Kate wasn’t even on the original flight 815, but was eventually summoned by the island to give Ben the required leverage in order to manipulate Jack into performing his spinal surgery.
Maybe this is the sixth timeline, maybe it’s the six millionth. No man can say. But I’ve always thought of the island as a conscious being. I believe it retains the knowledge of previous versions of history and is taking measures to produce a different outcome.
Why? The cause can only be determined upon seeing the effect.
PS – If my son and my grandson are spinal surgeons, I better not end up in the s****iest rest home in California.
