Pondering the Tangent Universe theory by Kelvin

I haven't really kept up with Lost theories for a while. So I'm not sure how much this theory has been discussed, lately. But I heard it mentioned a couple times, in random threads. So I decided to ponder it a bit. And here's what I'm thinking:

Even though the producers have always said that they're opposed to paradox, changing the past, changing the future, and creating alternate versions of characters; I actually DO like the 'Tangent Universe' aka 'Donnie Darko' theory. I think that it could work pretty well for Lost (even though it isn't very original). And to me, it makes A LOT more sense than some of the 'reset' and 'alternate reality' theories that I've heard.

That said, though; I still have to wonder about some things:

According to the 'Tangent Universe' theory, there is a PRIMARY universe that will always exist (unless the world ends). And the tangent universe is a universe that has somehow branched off of it. And it has to be closed/corrected, in order to save the world.

So, assuming that they go down a similar route on Lost; then what will happen to the characters - who time traveled to 1977 - in the primary universe? Due to the explosion/Incident/cause of the tangent universe, they will all have to be dead, right? Because there's no way that a nuclear bomb could have went off - and destroyed the electromagnetic energy - without also killing everyone who was anywhere near it. So that means that Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hurley, Sayid, Miles, Dr. Chang, and Radzinsky all died in the explosion. And history WAS changed in the primary universe. Because we know that Dr. Chang and Radzinky were always supposed to have lived past the Incident.

Right?

Okay. Now, I can't possibly imagine that they would just do away with the current storyline that involves 'The Man in Black', Ben, Richard, Sun, Lapidus, Ilana, and Bram. So let's suspend disbelief, and pretend that all of those characters, plus whoever else that is living in the primary universe - during present day 2007/2008 - doesn't have their present changed (even though Jack and company DID actually manage to change the past).

And let's pretend that the versions of everyone in the '9/22/04 tangent universe' somehow have all of their memories from the 'post-9/22/04 primary universe'. Now, I don't the slightest idea how that could happen. Or make any sense. But if one of these characters is gonna have to find a way to close/correct the tangent universe; then they would HAVE to have those memories, in order to know what to do to save themself, their friends, and possibly the world.

Right?

Okay. So at least one of them has to find a way to the Island, find a wormhole into the primary universe in 1977, and then stop the bomb from getting to the Swan site. If the tangent universe theory holds any water, at all, then this HAS to happen, as far as I can tell.

But do we honestly want to see all of that a second time? They've already spent 2 whole seasons trying to get back, and trying to "fix" things. Would it not be overkill to do it all over again?

And is there really enough time to go through all of that again, anyway? They still have a TON of questions to answer, relationships to cater to, character development to wrap up, et cetera. We still have to learn all about Jacob, 'The Man in Black', the cabin, the temple, the whispers, Richard, the true purpose/agenda of 'The Others', the smoke monster, "Christian", where Claire disappeared to, Ilana and Bram, the statue, the Black Rock, Adam and Eve, the fertility problem, and HOPEFULLY some more about Desmond, Eloise, Widmore, Walt, Aaron, a couple more things about DHARMA, and maybe some clarity on the 'hows and whys' of "the frozen donkey wheel" (i.e. who the hell put it there?). And that's not to mention "Kate's big choice", Claire and Aaron being reunited, Jin and Sun being reunited, the "war" that we keep hearing about, what the "candidate" business is all about, a probable Jack/Man in Black showdown, et cetera. And I'm still leaving things out. But that alone is A L! OT to wrap up in just 18 hours. And you already know that they'll continue to ask more questions, before they go into full-on answer mode.

So I just don't see how there's time to deal with two different realities or universes, at this stage. And there CAN'T be a complete reset. There's just no way. They're NOT gonna let 5 years of storytelling come undone. And that's exactly what a reset would equal. So what else does that leave? There's still the most logical explanation: Whatever, Happened, Happened. And Dead is Dead. Just like they've always maintained. And at this point, that's what my money is still on.

But since I'm open-minded; how about this scenario?

MAYBE they've actually been in a Tangent universe ever since the moment that they hit turbulence on Flight 815. And Jacob and The Man in Black's little game actually pulled them all out of their primary universe, somehow. And the "It only ends once" comment has something to do with the closing of this tangent universe. And now Jacob thinks that he's FINALLY found the right group of people to close it. And that's why he didn't seem to mind dying. And maybe once it's done, they'd all be able to return to their primary universe. BUT the Incident provides a wormhole that gives them all a glimpse of how terrible it will be to go back to their primary universe. So this season will partly be about them finding a loophole of their own, that lets them stay in the tangent universe, and on the Island!

I just came up with that last paragraph, completely off the top of my head. So I'm sure it's full of holes. But I'll attempt to plug them, and submit a longer theory on it sometime this week. I think I can make some sense out of it, once I've actually put some thought into it. But I literally just now thought of it. So that's all I've got so far.