OK, I know I slammed Expose at first, and on the surface it sucked, but underneath, I am starting to see things fit together.

The clues from Sawyer continually asking who the hell is Nikki, as well as their 'sudden appearance' and the 'wrong date' on the newspaper Paolo was reading (see Season 3 Epi thread - info from the Fuselage) are making me think that we may be experiencing an alternate reality or parallel universe - possibly caused by Desmond when he turned the failsafe key.

Read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_universe_(fiction)

especially this part: "Modern fantasy often presents the concept as a series of planes of existence where the laws of nature differ, allowing magical phenomena of some sort on some planes."

Here is the scenario - and this is based on Quantum Mechanics
ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Many-worlds_interpretation

Paolo & Nikki were not on the 815 we saw in the pilot episode. They were on a different 815 in a different reality.

The island is not in the same reality as our world. 815 broke apart as it transitioned from one reality/universe to another due to Desmond's originally not pushing the button.

No wonder it got ripped apart.

So we have at least 3 alternate realities.

1. Our world
2. The original 815 on the island
3. The Paolo & Nikki reality

The theory is kind of complicated, but one aspect talks about certain events causing branching - ex: failing to push the button or turning the failsafe as those key events that cause a new branch of a multiverse.

In certain universes, our laws of physics may not apply, so some of the things that happen on the island that seem weird to us, could occur.

I believed back in Season 1 that this show was about alternate time streams and am more convinced now that it is not only alternate time, but alternate reality.

How appropriate that LOST itself is potentially 'alternate reality' when we have been playing along with 'alternate reality' games.

They are LOST in more ways than one.

OK - what do you think???

Interesting theory.  And I'm all for it.  I can totally see what you are saying.  The only thing that bothers me is TPTB claiming there is a logical explanation for everything happeneing on Lost.  So what exactly is their definition of logical.  Either way I'm all for it.

Wow VM, that makes sense!! I don't really like this if it's the case, but it does make sense, lol!

Quote :

agrillo wrote : Interesting theory.  And I'm all for it.  I can totally see what you are saying.  The only thing that bothers me is TPTB claiming there is a logical explanation for everything happeneing on Lost.  So what exactly is their definition of logical.  Either way I'm all for it.

I'm not sure exactly what they said - logical or could be explained scientifically. In any event, quantum mechanics is a legitimate science and can explain things - albeit to us they seem bizarre.

I get the feeling that TPTB may have always wanted LOST to be more X-Files or Twilight Zonish, but thought if it was pitched that way it would not fly, so they pitched it differently.

Desperate Housewives was a situation that was pitched with a different slant than originally intended and it was a huge success.

They may be easing us into the fact that the show is more sci-fi than we think or were lead to believe. I never really liked the term sci-fi as the fi stands for fiction and I like shows that 'could' be real. A lot of the sci-fi shows actually are based on real principles and scientific theory - ex: Star Trek.

Many of the things they showed in 1960's - ex: communicators, holodeck, matter/anti-matter drive, phasers, etc were considered impossible then but not so much today.

I totally agree VM.  Try telling someone fifty years ago you could cook an entire meal in 5 minutes by the push of a button and they would think you were nuts.  I have no problem with Lost getting X-Fileish on us.  I just can't wait to see how it all ends.  As long as they don't get totally hokey on us, I'm sure I'll be happy with the end result.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_universe_(fiction)

This sounds familiar:

"Characters in the author's world could board a ship and find themselves on a fantastic island, as Jonathan Swift does in Gulliver's Travels or in the 1949 novel Silverlock by John Myers Myers, or be sucked up into a tornado and land in Oz. These "lost world" stories can be seen as geographic equivalents of a "parallel universe", as the worlds portrayed are separate from our own, and hidden to everyone except those who take the difficult journey there. The geographic "lost world" can blur into a more explicit "parallel universe" when the fantasy realm overlaps a section of the "real" world, but is much larger inside than out, as in Robert Holdstock's novel Mythago Wood."


and lower down in the same page.....

"Stephen King's seven-volume Dark Tower series hinges upon the existence of multiple parallel worlds, many of which are King's own literary creations. Ultimately the characters become aware that they are only "real" in King's literary universe, and even travel to a world — twice — in which (again, within the novel) they meet Stephen King and alter events in the real Stephen King's world outside of the books."  

and even lower....(bold is mine for emphasis)

"Another animated series, Futurama, had an episode where the cast travels between "Universe A" and "Universe 1" via boxes containing each universe, and one of the major jokes is an extended argument between the two sets of characters over which set were the "evil" ones."  

and a Wizard of Oz reference....

"The most famous treatment of the alternate universe concept in film could be considered the The Wizard of Oz, which portrays a parallel world, famously separating the magical realm of the Land of Oz from the mundane world by filming it in Technicolor while filming the scenes set in Kansas in sepia."  

and finally - interesting parallel to LOST:

"The Silent Hill horror video game series incorportates a concept of parallel worlds that are related to main character's emotions, memories, fears and other projections of his or her subconsiousness. The most common distinction is between the normal world (as the world is seen in reality) and the evil world (as the world is seen when it is devoured by evil powers). Characters are switching (i.e. altering) between these two worlds numerous times during the game's plot. There is a number of ways in which a character may swich between the worlds (for example, he or she may experience a pounding headache and, after this event, he or she "wakes up" in the evil world). The architecture of the evil world (also referred as an alternative world) is basically the same as the one of the normal, "real" world (for instance, a hospital in the normal world has its equivalent in the evil world)."  

--Last edited by Vincent_Madison on 2007-03-29 16:52:01 --

I loved the Dark Tower series and I see alot of similarities with Lost.  Along with my own personal guess as to how Lost will end.  You mention the Silent Hill game.  This is also very similar to The Talisman by King and Peter Straub.  Where the main character keeps switching between worlds (here and the territories).  And the affects in  one world affect the other world too.  
At this point in time this theory seems like the most plausable and I would be very happy with such an answer.

Robert Heinlein also wrote on parallel universes. In "The Number of the Beast" it was said the the number 666 was really 6^6^6 and that was how many universes there were

Not to be snarky just for snarky's sake, but it seems like some of these are just literary, etc. refrences to other universes and realities, and I don't see how they relate to the show.

I mean, shall we also add when Homer fell through the vortex behind his bookcase and ended up in the real world, and the Super Mario brothers movie to the list just because they also have alternate realities or parallel universes?

I can't speak for VM,Ms. Snarky, (LOL) but I mentioned The Talisman, because there is a strong Stephen King connection to the show.  And yes some of these are just examples of alternate realities, but if you combine it with VM's post to start the thread it all melds together.  

--Last edited by agrillo on 2007-03-29 17:41:33 --

oops deleted stupid post  

--Last edited by supermodel on 2007-03-29 18:51:47 --

This is a very interesting theory, Vincent, and it does put last night's show in a different light. I definitely need to rewatch the episode with this in mind.

Quote :

The clues from Sawyer continually asking who the hell is Nikki, as well as their 'sudden appearance' and the 'wrong date' on the newspaper Paolo was reading (see Season 3 Epi thread - info from the Fuselage) are making me think that we may be experiencing an alternate reality or parallel universe - possibly caused by Desmond when he turned the failsafe key.

Interesting that it is Sawyer - who wasn't with the other Losties on the beach after Des turned the key - who keeps asking this.

Quote :

ILovedEko wrote : Not to be snarky just for snarky's sake, but it seems like some of these are just literary, etc. refrences to other universes and realities, and I don't see how they relate to the show. I mean, shall we also add when Homer fell through the vortex behind his bookcase and ended up in the real world, and the Super Mario brothers movie to the list just because they also have alternate realities or parallel universes?

Actually I picked those references because I felt they DID relate to the show.

1. "Characters in the author's world could board a ship and find themselves on a fantastic island, as Jonathan Swift does in Gulliver's Travels or in the 1949 novel Silverlock by John Myers Myers, or be sucked up into a tornado and land in Oz. These "lost world" stories can be seen as geographic equivalents of a "parallel universe", as the worlds portrayed are separate from our own, and hidden to everyone except those who take the difficult journey there. The geographic "lost world" can blur into a more explicit "parallel universe" when the fantasy realm overlaps a section of the "real" world, but is much larger inside than out, as in Robert Holdstock's novel Mythago Wood."

2. "Stephen King's seven-volume Dark Tower - TPTB have said that Stephen King is a big influence.

3. via boxes containing each universe, and one of the major jokes is an extended argument between the two sets of characters over which set were the "evil" ones."

4. The Wizard of Oz - Henry Gale, balloon etc...

5. related to main character's emotions, memories, fears and other projections of his or her subconsiousness. - like smokey is able to manifest losties fears and sunconscious.

Quote :

Jeannie wrote : This is a very interesting theory, Vincent, and it does put last night's show in a different light. I definitely need to rewatch the episode with this in mind. Quote : The clues from Sawyer continually asking who the hell is Nikki, as well as their 'sudden appearance' and the 'wrong date' on the newspaper Paolo was reading (see Season 3 Epi thread - info from the Fuselage) are making me think that we may be experiencing an alternate reality or parallel universe - possibly caused by Desmond when he turned the failsafe key. Interesting that it is Sawyer - who wasn't with the other Losties on the beach after Des turned the key - who keeps asking this.

Good catch Jeannie - may be important!

I prefer an alternate universe as in Harry potter or Men In Black. Two worlds coexisting together, and only the smaller group seems to know of the existance of both. The larger group just goes on with life and ignores things around them they don't understand. Desmond turning the fail-safe could of, not merged, but made the larger group aware of the other group, calling back memories they didn't know they had.

Okay I still don't buy this.
I usually support these theories but I can't.
And here is why -- Vincent - your idea is excellent. I think it would be very cool and if you ask Rain and ILE, a few weeks ago I thought that this is what happened with N & P. But the way this episode was scrïpted, it does not jive.

There was a tiny hint about the alternate reality with Boone and the newspaper only a crazy fan would see because I still haven't found it although I believe the posts about it here.

And, the only other thing I see different is Jack's inflection during the "water at the caves" speech and the sheer obvious: N & P present. Beyond that, it plays as a true flashback.

If you read my theory about the Buffy storyline which played this plot out very sucessfully, you will see why I don't like it working here.

And if your theory is right - then shame on TPTB for not putting it together in a well-crafted fashion as Joss Whedon did. Because the episode I saw did NOT make me believe we have an alternate reality or a merged reality.

I posted the newspaper over in Episodes thread. Here it is:



I don't agree that 'only a crazy fan would see it'. TPTB know people have HDTV with DVR's and even if only some people see it they do it because that is part of LOST - remember the Widmore Construction sign? This was easier to see.

It's not really a tiny hint - it's a huge hint - just hidden well. I have learned from my own ARG's that making things too easy makes the game less challenging and fun, and we get way ahead of where we are supposed to be.

Sawyer's comments could be a shoutout once or twice, but watch the episode again - of all people - Sawyer would remember a hottie like Nikki. He did not at least three times - maybe more and they made it VERY obvious.

We'll just have to agree to disagree I guess.

I cannot believe that a major clue about an alleged alternate reality would be embedded in a screenshot which has to be paused, enlarged, and then downloaded to computer to analyze.

I know that this show is founded on its brilliant subtext, and its mystery. But would someone please point out to me one other occasion where a minute find such as this screenshot actually proved/solved a mystery?

I'm not recalling one that has been PROVEN. So I'm not buying into this one. Especially such a poorly written one.
/rant

Agreeing to disagree is good. That's what makes this world interesting. You may be right - I guess we will find out eventually - we better!!!!!

At least a spirited debate proves we all have imagination right?

I really love the idea of your theory. I wish, if its where the show is going, they could present it better. I mean, even the most scrutinous of viewers has to agree one mere newspaper clue is a weak foundation for a shark jump such as this.

Speaking of shark jumps though...was this the jump we've been waiting for?