The season 5 finale raised a lot of questions about what has be going on and what will happen. The following are my thoughts of the events following the finale up to the end of the series.
I do NOT think a complete reset of the events following Flight 815's crash will happen. If that were the case, both sides would be constantly changing reality without any progress. "It only ends once; the rest is progress." However, I agree with other posts about alternate time lines. Desmond's flashes in season 3 in which he sees Charlie dies were perhaps visions of occurrences in alternate realities- it just happens to seem far-fetched to see the exact future in one's specific universe since it a) has yet to happen and b) nullifies the debate of free will versus destiny. If there is a time line in which the crash doesn't happen, I do not think it will be a focal point of the show- with the series end in sight, the war seems a larger issue than people making themselves at home. There might also be a time line in which 815 still lands on an Island without the Electromagnetic hatch. There would be some subtle difference in that time line that may be crucial to the end game.
Since some critical events happened in 2007, I believe that era will be the focal point. Jacob's "death" seems to be final (if man #2 seemed to lose his corporeal form, why not jacob too? ); such a catastrophic event could be the driving force for the inevitable war. I think the "war" that Widmore spoke about is between Jacob (who believes in the free will of man) versus man #2 (who believes in the inevitable fate of man's destruction). The Others and the castaways (who should be brought back from 1978 since their "job" was done) will choose sides as there are differing views on the two ideas. I think dead Locke's body may be a vessel for Jacob's spirit to inhabit. Finally, I think Aaron will be pulled back to the Island eventually (not during the war- in an epilogue), as people who are born on the Island usually are (like Miles or Charlotte). At the series end, some main characters will die (maybe Jack since he has a large leadership role), some will join the others (perhap! s Sawyer /Kate since they have nothing else going on), and a few may be lucky to leave the Island (Jin/Sun to see Ji Yeon, Claire to see her mother and young Aaron). Also, Desmond may return to the Island to the past, which may explain why Eloise knows "the Island isn't done with [him]". That may also explain why Widmore hates him- perhaps he sees Desmond in the past. Furthermore, if Penny comes with him that may explain why Widmore doesn't want them together- he may know that they are the Adam and Eve skeletons.
This is my first theory, so I am open to comments/ speculation.
I do NOT think a complete reset of the events following Flight 815's crash will happen. If that were the case, both sides would be constantly changing reality without any progress. "It only ends once; the rest is progress." However, I agree with other posts about alternate time lines. Desmond's flashes in season 3 in which he sees Charlie dies were perhaps visions of occurrences in alternate realities- it just happens to seem far-fetched to see the exact future in one's specific universe since it a) has yet to happen and b) nullifies the debate of free will versus destiny. If there is a time line in which the crash doesn't happen, I do not think it will be a focal point of the show- with the series end in sight, the war seems a larger issue than people making themselves at home. There might also be a time line in which 815 still lands on an Island without the Electromagnetic hatch. There would be some subtle difference in that time line that may be crucial to the end game.
Since some critical events happened in 2007, I believe that era will be the focal point. Jacob's "death" seems to be final (if man #2 seemed to lose his corporeal form, why not jacob too? ); such a catastrophic event could be the driving force for the inevitable war. I think the "war" that Widmore spoke about is between Jacob (who believes in the free will of man) versus man #2 (who believes in the inevitable fate of man's destruction). The Others and the castaways (who should be brought back from 1978 since their "job" was done) will choose sides as there are differing views on the two ideas. I think dead Locke's body may be a vessel for Jacob's spirit to inhabit. Finally, I think Aaron will be pulled back to the Island eventually (not during the war- in an epilogue), as people who are born on the Island usually are (like Miles or Charlotte). At the series end, some main characters will die (maybe Jack since he has a large leadership role), some will join the others (perhap! s Sawyer /Kate since they have nothing else going on), and a few may be lucky to leave the Island (Jin/Sun to see Ji Yeon, Claire to see her mother and young Aaron). Also, Desmond may return to the Island to the past, which may explain why Eloise knows "the Island isn't done with [him]". That may also explain why Widmore hates him- perhaps he sees Desmond in the past. Furthermore, if Penny comes with him that may explain why Widmore doesn't want them together- he may know that they are the Adam and Eve skeletons.
This is my first theory, so I am open to comments/ speculation.
