OK, after reading a billion theories, I think have more questions than ever. Forgive me for the length, scatter-brainedness, and if I repeat an idea you've mentioned, but here are some of the many issues I have with the theories on season six.
First, as Miles foreshadowed, there is the obvious question that has divided the debate into two camps: Did the losties setting off the nuke stop the incident (ALT/reset), or did it create it (WHH)?
WHATEVER HAPPENED, HAPPENED?
Based on many others’ theories and evidence, I almost buy into the idea of WHH, except for a few problems: If it worked, then they died, since WHH and dead is dead in a single timeline. How then will we see all of these and the other old characters in the final season (unless they suddenly flash with no reset/alt timeline, or are dead and ghosts, which both seem to be lame magical solutions rather than plausible ones).
This is the main issue, but there are also issues of paradoxes, some of which I’m not convinced that they will ever be able to rectify (as mentioned in another person’s theory).
One paradox here would be that the incident always happened, even though it hadn’t happened yet for Jack, Kate, sawyer, etc. It would seem that prior to them setting off the nuke, the event shouldn’t have happened yet…but it DID? I suppose the Lost producers have already rectified this issue in other instances, however, such as Ben’s shooting, where he does appear to remember the event in question. So in other words, even though the Losties haven’t experienced it yet, those past events always happened, and can be remembered by people who had experienced them in their past (right WHHers?).
But then another question pops up in my head: Why does Ben seem to have always remembered being shot by Sayid, whereas Desmond only remembered meeting Locke (during the flashes) later in the future at a seemingly arbitrary time, and in the form of a dream. Wouldn’t Desmond have always remembered that experience, because in a singular timeline, whatever happened, happened, right? (Any input on this would be great).
PLANNING BY MIB OR JACOB’S WORK?
Next, before even delving into the possibilities of alternate timelines or a reset, there is another huge question, perhaps the biggest question that has been debated very little.
It seems that the MIB has done much to get his loophole and put himself into his current position. He even goes as far as saying something like “you have no idea” how much he’s done to get this all in motion. So my next question is: To what degree has the MIB meddled in the lives of the losties to achieve his ends?
We all know that Jacob was a pushing force to getting the Losties to the island both times (visited Hurley before the 316 flight), but what’s interesting is; the events leading to the 316 flight seemed to be part of the MIB’s plan. He was the one that had Richard tell Locke that he had to die, which inevitably led to the return of the Losties to ’77. But was this a negative side effect or part of his plan all along? Since he’s had complete forsight thus far, he must have known that this was going to happen as a result, even though Jacob is the one who says “they’re coming”.
Of course, the MIB’s ultimate end was getting Locke to die and return, so that he may use the body to manipulate Ben, but I wonder much about who is behind the Losties going back. If it is Jacob (as one would assume), then how could the MIB not know his plan would lead to their return? Maybe he’s not scared by Jacob’s threat after all.
ALTERNATE TIMELINE
I tend to lean in this direction (although it would be somewhat disappointing that they might have zero challenges in explaining many weird past occurrences; i agree with others it would seem too easy to rectify everything) But I’ll leave the speculation on this to all of you, as I’m still not completely sold on this theory either.
However, the ALT theory seems to be the only one in which the original timeline can be preserved, while still allowing for alternate circumstances to occur and old characters to exist at the same time.
And as many bloggers, Matthew Fox have mentioned, the two timelines then merge together, and Desmond would seem the likely candidate, having existed on both the island and in the original timeline (or maybe multiple timelines too?; I know some have speculated on that).
Aside from the producers stating that there won’t be alternate timelines, I guess one of the biggest issues with this theory arises from the barracks scenes where it seems that things have changed in the original timeline. This would imply an allout reset, right?
Like many others, I am not a fan of an allout reset that would change and negate everything that has happened on the island already, but with that piece of evidence, it’s harder to argue with.
I guess my final question then is, how can they possibly rectify all these issues (and many more) without negating the history of the show, but still bring back the old characters without a lame magical solution… can’t wait to find out!
First, as Miles foreshadowed, there is the obvious question that has divided the debate into two camps: Did the losties setting off the nuke stop the incident (ALT/reset), or did it create it (WHH)?
WHATEVER HAPPENED, HAPPENED?
Based on many others’ theories and evidence, I almost buy into the idea of WHH, except for a few problems: If it worked, then they died, since WHH and dead is dead in a single timeline. How then will we see all of these and the other old characters in the final season (unless they suddenly flash with no reset/alt timeline, or are dead and ghosts, which both seem to be lame magical solutions rather than plausible ones).
This is the main issue, but there are also issues of paradoxes, some of which I’m not convinced that they will ever be able to rectify (as mentioned in another person’s theory).
One paradox here would be that the incident always happened, even though it hadn’t happened yet for Jack, Kate, sawyer, etc. It would seem that prior to them setting off the nuke, the event shouldn’t have happened yet…but it DID? I suppose the Lost producers have already rectified this issue in other instances, however, such as Ben’s shooting, where he does appear to remember the event in question. So in other words, even though the Losties haven’t experienced it yet, those past events always happened, and can be remembered by people who had experienced them in their past (right WHHers?).
But then another question pops up in my head: Why does Ben seem to have always remembered being shot by Sayid, whereas Desmond only remembered meeting Locke (during the flashes) later in the future at a seemingly arbitrary time, and in the form of a dream. Wouldn’t Desmond have always remembered that experience, because in a singular timeline, whatever happened, happened, right? (Any input on this would be great).
PLANNING BY MIB OR JACOB’S WORK?
Next, before even delving into the possibilities of alternate timelines or a reset, there is another huge question, perhaps the biggest question that has been debated very little.
It seems that the MIB has done much to get his loophole and put himself into his current position. He even goes as far as saying something like “you have no idea” how much he’s done to get this all in motion. So my next question is: To what degree has the MIB meddled in the lives of the losties to achieve his ends?
We all know that Jacob was a pushing force to getting the Losties to the island both times (visited Hurley before the 316 flight), but what’s interesting is; the events leading to the 316 flight seemed to be part of the MIB’s plan. He was the one that had Richard tell Locke that he had to die, which inevitably led to the return of the Losties to ’77. But was this a negative side effect or part of his plan all along? Since he’s had complete forsight thus far, he must have known that this was going to happen as a result, even though Jacob is the one who says “they’re coming”.
Of course, the MIB’s ultimate end was getting Locke to die and return, so that he may use the body to manipulate Ben, but I wonder much about who is behind the Losties going back. If it is Jacob (as one would assume), then how could the MIB not know his plan would lead to their return? Maybe he’s not scared by Jacob’s threat after all.
ALTERNATE TIMELINE
I tend to lean in this direction (although it would be somewhat disappointing that they might have zero challenges in explaining many weird past occurrences; i agree with others it would seem too easy to rectify everything) But I’ll leave the speculation on this to all of you, as I’m still not completely sold on this theory either.
However, the ALT theory seems to be the only one in which the original timeline can be preserved, while still allowing for alternate circumstances to occur and old characters to exist at the same time.
And as many bloggers, Matthew Fox have mentioned, the two timelines then merge together, and Desmond would seem the likely candidate, having existed on both the island and in the original timeline (or maybe multiple timelines too?; I know some have speculated on that).
Aside from the producers stating that there won’t be alternate timelines, I guess one of the biggest issues with this theory arises from the barracks scenes where it seems that things have changed in the original timeline. This would imply an allout reset, right?
Like many others, I am not a fan of an allout reset that would change and negate everything that has happened on the island already, but with that piece of evidence, it’s harder to argue with.
I guess my final question then is, how can they possibly rectify all these issues (and many more) without negating the history of the show, but still bring back the old characters without a lame magical solution… can’t wait to find out!
