I'm referring to the Star Trek:The Next generation episode called "Cause and Effect" from Season 5.

for more info on the episode in question click chere : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cause_and_Effect

Plot summary

The Enterprise-D (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_(NCC-1701-D)) is shown to be stuck in a time loop (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_loop), with events culminating in the destruction of the ship as a result of a collision with another Starfleet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfleet) vessel that emerges from a space-time distortion. As each loop proceeds, the crew members, though unaware they are in the loop, have the feeling of déjà vu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9j%C3%A0_vu); Dr. Beverly Crusher (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverly_Crusher) begins to hear numerous conversations before going to bed, and during one cycle, manages to record the voices on a tricorder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricorder). When she analyzes the voices, they are found to be that of the crew before the destruction of the Enterprise. The crew discovers they are in a time loop caused by tachyon distortions near the space-time anomaly, and program Data (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_(Star_Trek)) to send a short message to his counterpart in the next iteration to take action on. Data sends the signal moments before the ship is destroyed again.

On the next iteration, the crew still experiences déjà vu, but actions performed by Data often reveal the number three, going against their previous conceptions. They make the same conclusions from the previous iteration, and Data realizes the number three must have some significance to break the loop. The Enterprise again arrives at the anomaly, and as the other ship emerges, both Data and Riker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Riker) suggest alternate plans to avoid being hit. Though Captain Jean-Luc Picard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Luc_Picard) opts for Data's plan, Data comes to recognize that the "three" message was in reference to the insignia pips worn by Riker, and initiates his plan instead. The Enterprise is able to avoid being hit, and the time loop is broken. The crew discovers they have been stuck in the loop for 17 days, while the ship they narrowly avoided, the USS Bozeman, has been missing for more than 80 years. The Enterprise welcomes the Bozeman to the 24th century at the end of the episode.


Are the Losties' flashbacks the equivalent of these Deja-Vu experiences?

What we are seeing is not a time loop. The characters are not doing anything over and over again. There is one timeline with multiple perspectives. What we are witnessing is destiny fulfillment, not time looping. That was a good episode of Star Trek though :)

If you want to use a Star Trek episode for comparison, "Time's Arrow" would be the better choice.

What we are seeing is not a time loop. The characters are not doing anything over and over again. There is one timeline with multiple perspectives. What we are witnessing is destiny fulfillment, not time looping. That was a good episode of Star Trek though :)


You're wrong. Although there may not be singular events timeloop, there does seem to be a narrative timeloop:

1)Crash landing of group.
2)One of the group is killed by Smokie.
3)Encounters the Other
4)Struggles against the Other
5)Becomes the Other to another group of arrival.

This narrative loop occurs to head-body section of the Oceanic Airlines815. It occured for the tail section. It occured to Rousseau's crew.

It doesn't occur to Desmond--dont' know why yet.

Not a timeloop.

Like it was pointed out already. One timeline.

Granted we are learning that similar events seem to be occuring, but still no loop.

That's a great episode of TNG but it revolves around a Mobius loop, which doesn't appear to fit with what has played out in terms of the timeline in Lost. Geordi states "When we reach that point, whatever happened will happen again", but that isn't really what's happening on the island. Events are not repeating themselves over-and-over, except in the narrative sense that knowsnothing613 describes. Events only occur once, but they can be replayed. If you see what I mean.

Peace
M

That's a great episode of TNG but it revolves around a Mobius loop, which doesn't appear to fit with what has played out in terms of the timeline in Lost. Geordi states "When we reach that point, whatever happened will happen again", but that isn't really what's happening on the island. Events are not repeating themselves over-and-over, except in the narrative sense that knowsnothing613 describes. Events only occur once, but they can be replayed. If you see what I mean.

Peace
M

I agree. If I'm remembering correctly, in "Cause and Effect" the time loop was caused by the collision itself and the crew had to do something to stop this loop, ie. take Riker's suggestion. However in LOST something happened that wasn't supposed to happen, and now course correction is trying to correct it. It's a destiny vs free will struggle where "Cause and Effect" was not. That was definitely one of my favorite TNG episodes though.