So this episode, we discovered that Widmore in BOTH timelines seems to know about BOTH timelines. The same seems true for Hawking.

We may have been given a small clue by Ms. Hawking though. She tells Desmond he's not ready, and says that thinking about the alt is a "violation".

Is she talking about a violation of physics? Or another kind of violation... perhaps a treaty?

Could the alt possibly be a deal granted by the MiB, though some sort of treaty? Maybe that's why most of the Losties alt timelines seem to be 'better' than the real ones. But who are the people having the most issues in the alt?

Sayid - Once dead, now living... kinda
Charlie - Dead
Daniel - Dead

Of course, Desmond is still alive in both timelines... and the Hawking/Widmore combo know he's the most likely to join the two timelines. So what better way to keep tabs on him than to make him your own employee? Look at the way Widmore tries to subtly convince Desmond that being without family and friends is the best thing possible in life, as if he's trying to prevent him from remembering the alt.

I'm sure there are quite a few holes in this theory, and I may be way off, but it's something to think about...

Back when Desmond kept saving Charlie... from drowning, electrocution, being shot by an arrow, etc... he was actually seeing what had already happened in previous iterations of timelines, and was remembering those events across multiple timelines. Four iterations ago he saved Charlie from drowning, three iterations ago he saved Charlie from drowning then saved him from electrocution, and so on and so on.

I'm guessing Hawking, and probably Widmore, both not only have that same ability but are better at it than Desmond.

why do you think that Charles knows about both timelines in both timelines? i don't think i saw anything in the altverse?

why do you think that Charles knows about both timelines in both timelines? i don't think i saw anything in the altverse?

It's the only thing that makes sense from my viewpoint. We know that Hawking and Widmore are together in this timeline, and we know that Alt-Hawking knows about both timelines, and Reg-Widmore knows about both timelines. It's safe to assume that Alt-Widmore and Reg-Hawking know as well. Again, this is only a theory, but Widmore having Desmond under his employ to keep an eye on him (and try to convince him that staying single is the best idea) is evidence in the theory's favor, I think.

Back when Desmond kept saving Charlie... from drowning, electrocution, being shot by an arrow, etc... he was actually seeing what had already happened in previous iterations of timelines, and was remembering those events across multiple timelines. Four iterations ago he saved Charlie from drowning, three iterations ago he saved Charlie from drowning then saved him from electrocution, and so on and so on.

I'm guessing Hawking, and probably Widmore, both not only have that same ability but are better at it than Desmond.

Hurly: Loop dude, loop. :biggrin:

The mri tech mentioned having to start over from the beginning if Des pushed the panic button. Maybe pushing the button on the island kept everything in check but the failsafe key started the time loop over again.

Another vision of Desmond's - seeing Claire get on the helicopter. Another iteration?