I just got back from my honeymoon in Hawaii where we visited many 'Lost' locations and its made me insanely excited for season 6. I wanted to post my big theory for next season to see if anyone can get behind it.

I believe everyone that Jacob touched will now have the same abilities that Desmond did after turning the fail safe key at the end of season 2, that "the rules" don't apply to them anymore and they can project their present day consciousness into themselves at any past point of their lives.

One possible clue to this is I believe the only other times we've seen the screen wipe to white like at the end of "The Incident" is when the Hatch exploded and the Des epi "Flashes Before Your Eyes" (which established/explained his ability.)

what this means narratively:

-Our characters can actually revisit previous flashbacks we've seen and alter their outcome. It would be amazing.

-If the plane lands safely in 2004, the characters from '77 will be the only ones aware of what had happened on the island and can essentially be the same characters without "re-booting." It could go even further than this, (we've potentially have seen at least a bilocational Walt before) the characters can exist in both eras.

-This would allow them to literally revisit flashbacks from season one and ask the universal question "If you could do it all again, what would you change?" Sawyer touched upon this last season by not traveling to the states to stop his parent's murder/suicide. Would every character be so inclined to let sleeping dogs lie? We could also gradually see how the changes in the past mold the future.

-Because Sun is the only character besides Ben (while killing him) touched by Jacob in present day, this could somehow be another roadblock to her reunion to Jin. Isn't that the secret to drama? don't give the audience what they want?:)

I'd imagine this could last until possibly mid-season or so, then get cleared up and we can move onto wrapping things up and whatever the big finale will be (that's for another post.) This theory started with the thought that anyone he touched would become age-less like Richard, but I really don't like the idea of our '77 characters having to hang out in the Temple or something for a few decades.

Any thoughts? I apologize if this theory is already out there or better explained with more citations elsewhere:) I wish I could wrap the Locke mystery into this, but no dice....

Esau, I liked your idea. The first thing that popped into my head while reading it was from the episode The Constant, when Daniel asked if Desmond had been exposed to high levels of radiation or electromagnetism. When Desmond turned the failsafe key, he was at ground zero of a huge burst of electromagnetism. That in and of itself propelled his consciousness back in time. But the effects of the electromagnetism seemed to stay with him, so that when he crossed the Island's barrier, it happened again--but this time his consciousness from 1996 went forward in time.

So it's possible that after the bomb explodes and exposes everyone to radiation (and possibly some electromagnetism thrown in from the Island as well), nothing might happen to them right away. They'll still be in 1977, a little dazed, and thinking that the idea totally failed. But soon after they find a way to leave the Island, and as soon as they cross the Island's barrier--watch out!! All kinds of crazy consciousness time travel stuff starts taking place. Maybe with some people their consciousness from 1977 goes forward in time. And maybe with some others their consciousness from the future gets sucked into their bodies in 1977. Imagine the chaos! And now they all have to find their Constants before they die!

Some interesting ideas, Esau. I wouldn't be surprised if we see some of the Losties who have retained their memories from everything somehow end up in the past and get the chance to do things differently - or not, like you said. How will any changes to their decisions about the situations in the past affect the future (which we are seeing as the recent past or the present)? Like some kind of ripple affect? Also, is this something that Jacob wanted to happen - since he touched them and everything? Maybe, some of the "touched Losties" are part of the bigger picture and Jacob wants them to re-do certain situations from their past in order for him to get what he wants to happen. I don't know. If so, is this tinkering with their Free Will? Are getting do-overs, or, at least, the chances for them, something that alters the course of Free Will and the way that we choose to do things. What's that old saying? "You only get one chance..." ---------> maybe that's not true on LOST...

It's one of my absolute favorite episodes, so I really, really like the idea of season 6 borrowing from Flashes Before Your Eyes.

You're totally correct about the flash to white instead of black thing: I can't believe I didn't pick up on that before. In FBYE, Desmond tries to propose to Penny, but they still end up breaking up. I love it because it's such a Twilight Zone type of idea where he can redo what went wrong, but it still ends up the same. It would be interesting to see the characters inhabiting scenes from earlier seasons but with the Desmond-type thinger of being able to predict/change things. It seems like a very feasible device that the writers could play with.

One question because I don't remember/understand: Jin and Sun were touched on their wedding day, what are you referring to when you say Sun was touched in present day? (I do have to say I can't even wrap my head around what all of that touching was about and whether Jacob time traveled to them or he was always there or whether he was trying to change them or gah!)

So it's possible that after the bomb explodes and exposes everyone to radiation (and possibly some electromagnetism thrown in from the Island as well), nothing might happen to them right away. They'll still be in 1977, a little dazed, and thinking that the idea totally failed. But soon after they find a way to leave the Island, and as soon as they cross the Island's barrier--watch out!!

I think that would explain a lot. It could be called The Desmond Effect. Somehow the Losties would have received some kind of powers that would allow them to interact with the Island or become players in the Island's Game. Whatever that is.


I think that the idea of the Losties being exposed to the Island's electromagnetism fits really well into some of the spoilers we've heard about.

As far as a plot device, I believe your ideas would be very interesting to see played out.

P.S. to Esau: "Mazal tov. Now stop reading this post and get yourself back to the wife."

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Taking a step back from the logistics of this theory, I also think this allows for the show to present an storytelling method that fits the established pattern: flashbacks, flashforwards, time travel, then a form of time travel into those flashbacks/forwards. If nothing else, that's why I think this is so viable.

what are you referring to when you say Sun was touched in present day?

Sorry for the confusion, Cap. I meant that Sun and Ben are in 2007, whereas every other person Jacob touched was in 1977 last we saw them.

is this tinkering with their Free Will? Are getting do-overs, or, at least, the chances for them, something that alters the course of Free Will and the way that we choose to do things. What's that old saying? "You only get one chance..."

Going back again to "Flashes Before your Eyes," there's the scene where Hawkings becomes angry with Desmond for wanting to buy Penny's engagement ring. She says that this isn't how it "happened," that he is suppose to walk out and leave Penny. Although he buys the ring, he stills leaves Penny and sets the rest of his story getting to the island into motion, even while having a do-over. I'm of the mindset that even if they change something in their pasts that destiny or fate or whatnot will course correct itself in some way.

P.S. to Esau: "Mazal tov. Now stop reading this post and get yourself back to the wife."

Thank you!! I'm literally rewatching season 2 of the show *right now* with my lovely new wife...life is so good:)

Esau, you should check out the "Unstuck Magic" theory in the spoiler-theory forum. The OP is a postulation on how Desmond-like consciousness could play out in s6.

Going back again to "Flashes Before your Eyes," there's the scene where Hawkings becomes angry with Desmond for wanting to buy Penny's engagement ring. She says that this isn't how it "happened," that he is suppose to walk out and leave Penny. Although he buys the ring, he stills leaves Penny and sets the rest of his story getting to the island into motion, even while having a do-over. I'm of the mindset that even if they change something in their pasts that destiny or fate or whatnot will course correct itself in some way.I think that we might see something like this, Esau. That even if the Losties, or some of them, get "do-overs" and make different choices, they'll somehow still end up back on the Island...

I believe everyone that Jacob touched will now have the same abilities that Desmond did after turning the fail safe key at the end of season 2, that "the rules" don't apply to them anymore and they can project their present day consciousness into themselves at any past point of their lives.

-Our characters can actually revisit previous flashbacks we've seen and alter their outcome. It would be amazing.

Um, they already have gone back into their flashbacks and changed things, and we have already seen those changes. However, they only have the power to change the past now - it does not give them the power to change the future. I think only Desmond can do that.

Jack: I can't let him get away with it.
Kate: What?
Jack: Not again.

Jack, for example, went into a flashback and made a change: he turned in his father at the medical review board.

Claire was constantly changing her decision to give up her baby for adoption. That's why she was getting so sick in Raised By Another.


Going back again to "Flashes Before your Eyes," there's the scene where Hawkings becomes angry with Desmond for wanting to buy Penny's engagement ring. She says that this isn't how it "happened," that he is suppose to walk out and leave Penny. Although he buys the ring, he stills leaves Penny and sets the rest of his story getting to the island into motion, even while having a do-over. I'm of the mindset that even if they change something in their pasts that destiny or fate or whatnot will course correct itself in some way.

You really don't want to change the past. Really.

Jack, for example, went into a flashback and made a change: he turned in his father at the medical review board.

Claire was constantly changing her decision to give up her baby for adoption. That's why she was getting so sick in Raised By Another.


1. I understand that flashbacks are a storytelling device provided to us viewers to give the characters depth and to explain their motivations.

This is quite different than time travel a la Desmond Style.

2. I thought Claire got sick because the DI was medicating her.

1. I understand that flashbacks are a storytelling device provided to us viewers to give the characters depth and to explain their motivations.

This is quite different than time travel a la Desmond Style.

The neat thing about any convention is that it may hold more than one meaning. We are well attuned to the narrative device of the flashback - yet in Lost it may also be a time-travel event itself. Time-travel events where people went back and actually made changes. We get to see what has changed, but not what it changed from.

2. I thought Claire got sick because the DI was medicating her.

Claire's sickness was owing to her flip-flopping enough that she'd be Smoked: she was on the verge of not getting on Flight 815. Ethan (not DI) may have tried to help with his syringes, but Claire's salvation comes from another Lostie - the one who was raised by an other.

... yet in Lost it may also be a time-travel event itself. Time-travel events where people went back and actually made changes. We get to see what has changed, but not what it changed from.

If a flashback was a travel back in time to change an event, I can't imagine which of the many flashbacks we have seen it would have been because so many of the flashbacks were tragic and showed the worst side of the Losties.

If the any of the Losties flashed back in time to change something, then this is the dumbest group of people who ever crashed onto an island to not have the common sense to change some rather major life changing events for the better.

So just as a wild guess, who changed what in their past so things would turn out better? Sawyer killing the wrong man? Kate not running from the law? Jack not screwing up his marriage? Locke not losing Helen? Sayid not getting tortured? Michael not getting hit by a car? And all that is not the worst of the flashbacks.

These folks missed some ... I'm gonna say it ... major opportunities to change things for the better in their lives.

In all, I don't have any idea what could possibility be a plot device for season 6. Flashbacks, flash forwards, time travel, time looping, whatever. I really don't care as long as the story goes forward with out a lot of filler and it believable in the Lost Universe.

P. S. Go Vincent!

The neat thing about any convention is that it may hold more than one meaning. We are well attuned to the narrative device of the flashback - yet in Lost it may also be a time-travel event itself. Time-travel events where people went back and actually made changes. We get to see what has changed, but not what it changed from.


I could see that being a really interesting twist, a huge reveal towards the end of the series that would redefine everything we've seen through the show and drive all of us to rewatch every episode. How does it further the plot though? If we're never to see how the past was shaped from the characters original decisions, so does it even matter in context to the story we've seen?

If the any of the Losties flashed back in time to change something, then this is the dumbest group of people who ever crashed onto an island to not have the common sense to change some rather major life changing events for the better.
Then you've got to ask yourself what their purpose was doing those things the first time.

So just as a wild guess, who changed what in their past so things would turn out better? Sawyer killing the wrong man? Kate not running from the law? Jack not screwing up his marriage? Locke not losing Helen? Sayid not getting tortured? Michael not getting hit by a car? And all that is not the worst of the flashbacks.

These folks missed some ... I'm gonna say it ... major opportunities to change things for the better in their lives.
That's assuming all things could be changed as easily. Hint: If you were the only witness, and nobody else knows, you can change it at will, can't you?

Robert

I think that although it's possible that we've already seen some "re-dos", we will see the Losties, or-some of them, get the opportunity to do a re-do or two in Season Six. I think that I agree with Papa Thor, though, that a lot of the flashbacks that we've seen haven't been shots of successful points in the Losties' lives, so it makes sense that what we see next might be some of those re-dos that we're talking about...

I think that although it's possible that we've already seen some "re-dos", we will see the Losties, or-some of them, get the opportunity to do a re-do or two in Season Six. I think that I agree with Papa Thor, though, that a lot of the flashbacks that we've seen haven't been shots of successful points in the Losties' lives, so it makes sense that what we see next might be some of those re-dos that we're talking about...
And I'm just as convinced that none of the points s/he mentioned will be redone. We may see scenes that look like they're incompatible with those scenes, but once the reason is revealed you'll see they were completely compatible.

Robert

If a flashback was a travel back in time to change an event, I can't imagine which of the many flashbacks we have seen it would have been because so many of the flashbacks were tragic and showed the worst side of the Losties.

If the any of the Losties flashed back in time to change something, then this is the dumbest group of people who ever crashed onto an island to not have the common sense to change some rather major life changing events for the better.

Not all the flashes back were consciously made, and not everything can be changed. Much of the time, I suspect that their emotions go back, which are pre-conscious phenomena. So they can be changing their pasts without even realizing it!


So just as a wild guess, who changed what in their past so things would turn out better? Sawyer killing the wrong man? Kate not running from the law? Jack not screwing up his marriage? Locke not losing Helen? Sayid not getting tortured? Michael not getting hit by a car? And all that is not the worst of the flashbacks.

These folks missed some ... I'm gonna say it ... major opportunities to change things for the better in their lives.

A significant constraint is that you can't go back and prevent yourself from coming to the Island, because it's the Island that confers the power of time-travel in the first place. So Kate can't escape the Marshal - he always has to catch her and get her on the flight. She might not have been the original fugitive, but that's another matter.

What Kate could do is save Farmer Mullen from the burning truck. That was new.


I could see that being a really interesting twist, a huge reveal towards the end of the series that would redefine everything we've seen through the show and drive all of us to rewatch every episode. How does it further the plot though? If we're never to see how the past was shaped from the characters original decisions, so does it even matter in context to the story we've seen?

We might not be shown what previously happened, but such events can certainly be suggested strongly enough for us to easily infer what might have happened before it was covered up. They can also show us what we haven't seen - like, who told Juliet out in the jungle that she had to blow up Jughead? Who really was messing around with the Boar that taunted Sawyer back in Season 1? How did Ethan convince Charlie that he needed to die again after he saved Claire from getting Smoked in Raised By Another?


If you were the only witness, and nobody else knows, you can change it at will, can't you?

Excellent point, Robert. Imagine how many books you could read!

Forgive me if someone has already mentioned this, but has anybody considered that the crash of flight 815 on the Island in and of itself was the "boulder" thrown in the water (described by Daniel) that would change events?

Also, I did the math once, and the length of time between the Black Rock's disappearance in 1845 and 1953 (the year just before Jughead shows up on the Island) is 108 years. I've already posted a theory that each cycle is 108 years long.

MiB mentioned that each time Jacob plays his game it always ends in destruction. If the time skips had not taken place, and Daniel would not have showed up to give advice on what to do about Jughead and the crack in its casing, what would have happened? Would everyone have died? Might the bomb have exploded, destroying the Island? If so, would it be safe to say that the 108-year cycle ending in 1953 would have led to the destruction of the Island, if events had been allowed to play out on their own without interference from time travel?

I don't know if it matters or not, but if the cycles are indeed 108 years long, then the halfway point for the most recent cycle is 2008 (54 years after 1954). Or 2007 if you count 54 years after 1953. Not sure if that means anything or not, but if it does maybe someone else can posit a theory.
100%
It should also be mentioned that Damon made a comment on http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/b122632__lt_i_gt_Lost_lt__i_gt__Redux__Who_Causes_ the_Incident_.html that the Valenzetti Equation calculated with 100% certainty that the world would end within 27 years. According to the Lost Experience, the Valenzetti Equation was created less than a year after the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. So if the world was supposed to end within 27 years after 1963, then it should have ended no later than 1990. But we all know that didn't happen.

Did something happen to postpone the inevitable, like Desmond postponing Charlie's death? If so, we know that none of the core values of the Valenzetti Equation have been changed, because according to the Lost Experience, they are still the same as of 2006. So unless something changes permanently, mankind is still fated to destroy itself.

If something postponed mankind's destruction, what was it? What happened between 1963 and 1990 that reset the clock, so to speak? Was it something that happened on the Island? Was it the Incident? Was it the fact that the DHARMA Initiative didn't leave the Island in 1988 like they were supposed to according to the Truce? Or was it something we won't see until the final season?

I think the variables to the VE are the Losties, or at least...six of them...and someone's been manipulating their lives in order to stave (???) off the end of the world...

I think the variables to the VE are the Losties, or at least...six of them...and someone's been manipulating their lives in order to stave (???) off the end of the world...

Very interesting. Might this explain how the lives of these total strangers are intertwined with one another's? Like Locke says, it was not by accident that they all landed on the Island.

Very interesting. Might this explain how the lives of these total strangers are intertwined with one another's? Like Locke says, it was not by accident that they all landed on the Island.Yes, like numbers in an equation, the Losties are always going to be connected...even if someone tt back to the past and makes some changes...I don't think that that connection can change or be broken...I think that Jacob and MIB and whomever else have been playing with their lives in order to try and change things...they've been looking for loopholes, etc...

Could it be that Sawyer did go to the mainland and stop his mothers murder and dad's suicide. He grew up differently and with his subconsious memorie of LeFlure decided to be a cop.He is on vacation in Australia only this time they land at LAX and his like goes on till Kate escapes the Marshall (yes, again). I think they all have memories of the island sometimes-flashes. I don't have any idea what else will go on but they end up going back and crash in the Sundra Trench. I know, major holes in this but that's the way I am leaning today.