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Inigo Montoya
03-10-2006, 12:02
I'm trying to wrap my head round a few things regarding Lost and hope people will read this and let me know just how crazy my theories are :cuckoo:

Starting with a few so called "facts" that are floating around...

It appears that the six "bad luck" numbers are factors in an equation predicting the end of the world (from reading the lost experience - the numbers thread) and that the Dharma initiative had tried to change at least one of those factors/numbers to prevent this from happening (completely ridiculous mythology IMO but there you go)

It appears at one point they got desperate in their quest to change the numbers so they decided to release/test a 30% lethal virus on the island (*) which goes some way to explaining rosseau saying her colleagues got sick, the vaccine/claire's baby, desmond & hatch pal wearing protective gear etc ... (* as can be confirmed if you watch the Hanso/Dharma video on youtube)

Also I am sure this must have been mentioned before but the six factors/numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42 which had to be entered into the computer - add up to 108 which was the number of minutes between key presses in the hatch

And now is where I start with my own dumb and outlandish theories ...- I've just re-read what I wrote below and Im definately certifiable ...

One could therefore consider the possibility that the (electro)magnetic effects that were seen in the hatch could be in some way due to some form of (perhaps malfunctioning) system created by the Dharma initiative which was another attempt to change/influence the doomsday equation

Also IIRC in one episode of Lost a flashback story is provided of the black lady and how she went to the Australian outback to meet a healer to see if he could cure her terminal cancer - the healer explained that certain points on the earth were special and that it was possible for him to channel the "geological energy" (was that the term he used ?) directly below them in order to cure the cancer - however when he tried to cure her he looked shocked and if IIRC he said this wasn't the "right" place for her - later in the episode we find that the "right" place appears to be the island as her cancer is cured when she crashes their - this perhaps suggests there are at least two different types of "geological energy" - perhaps like there is a north and south pole for magnetism & a +ve and -ve charge for electricity (island energy being "negative/bad" with regards to the doomsday equation maybe)

Perhaps then if there is/was a Dharma created system in the hatch then it could be harnessing/storing/dissapating the same "geological energy" of the island as that responsible for healing the black lady's cancer and locke's legs - obviously at least some of what we saw were (electro)magnetic effects but that could just be a "subset" of the overall energy being harnessed which could explain the other effects such as the extreme noise and blinding light in the final episode of S2 after Desmond turns the key and lets loose all the stored up energy

Furthermore one could see a scenario where the system was created to try to change the numbers but also another scenario where the system was storing or dissapating the islands energy so as to merely delay the date on which the world was predicted to end (by the doomsday equation)

If the latter then when Desmond turned the key (which had a label entitled "terminate system" BTW - IIRC you saw this in an episode where Desmonds original hatch pal was drunk) there is the possibility that the date of the end of the world was "brought foward" because the system was terminated and so stopped delaying it

Now just how mad is that theory :cuckoo:

The other thing that came to mind is the "others" interest in Walts abilities - if you assume as is likely that the "others" are somehow involved in the Dharma initiative then it would suggest that this interest is because they think they may be able to use his abilities to affect the doomsday equation - the only ability i have seen hinted at so far is his ability to appear in more than one place at once so it is not really clear yet how they think Walt can help - perhaps if he can appear simultaneously on the Island and in the Outback at two special but opposite geological energy points on the Earth that may be useful somehow

Harsin
03-10-2006, 12:27
My theory - the writers are making it all up as they go along.

Coolhand
03-10-2006, 12:59
My theory - they're making it up weekly so that people post on internet forums with their theories, keeping interest up so that they can make at least five seasons, and make a fortune in the process.

cjay
03-10-2006, 13:08
As long as its entertaining, I don't care.

Inigo Montoya
03-10-2006, 13:17
even if they are "making it up as they go along" I still think its interesting to try to predict where its going - its very easy to be cynical but I enjoyed Lost and think the plot developments are a good discussion topic

the writers have to be limited to a certain extent by whats gone before i.e. the "stuff they make up as they go along" has to have a minimum level of consistency with what has gone before or viewing figures will slide

Hopefully I'll get at least a few posts from less cynical people actually interested in discussing the plot !

joconnor
03-10-2006, 13:31
There is no logical way to explain all the things that have happened other than the dream/purgatory theory, which would be a complete cop out.

What hasn't been factored into the above theory is:

What is the smoke?
How are people/things appearing from their past? (Kate's horse. Jack's Dad etc)
Wtf was that green parrot thing?
And so on and so forth.

The above things have a mythical element to them and cannot be explained by an equation that will predict the end of the world plot.

Inigo Montoya
03-10-2006, 14:00
I didnt mention those things as I thought my "theory" was already complicated enough and that possibly the manifestations you mentioned might not have been central to the "end of the world" plotline

IIRC someone on another thread suggested the smoke, horse, parrot & (dead) people etc... might all have been the same thing i.e. manifestations of the "monster" or "security device" which is some sort of Dharma nano technology experiment gone wrong but i really dont feel comfortable with that theory

TBH I wouldnt really like to vouch an opinion at this stage myself as the manifestations you mentioned are definately the weirdest and most obtuse happenings on the island

i suspect thought that the islands "geological energy" has something to do with the manifestations because of the other supernatural thing that happened i.e. locke and the black lady were healed

pandaboy
03-10-2006, 14:01
There is no logical way to explain all the things that have happened other than the dream/purgatory theory, which would be a complete cop out.

What hasn't been factored into the above theory is:

What is the smoke?
How are people/things appearing from their past? (Kate's horse. Jack's Dad etc)
Wtf was that green parrot thing?
And so on and so forth.

The above things have a mythical element to them and cannot be explained by an equation that will predict the end of the world plot.I'm not sure mythical is the word I'd use but I reckon the explanation for some of these things definitely have to take the show into more explicitly science fiction territory.

Jack's dad is an interesting one - he plays a part in quite a few of the character's backstories (apart from the obvious ones like Jack, Sawyer and Ana Lucia, it's certainly implied that he might be the Australian bird's father as well), and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he turns out to be involved with the Hanso foundation in some way.

As for the horse, is it that unlikely that there might just be a horse on the island? There were at least two Polar bears on it for a start!

The smoke I'd of thought has to be some sort of Dharma project gone wrong. As for the bird - no idea! ;)

As I'm enjoying the characters and their interaction, I'm in no hurry to see everything explained. In fact it's good to see a show confident enough to take its time in letting its story develop.

ph

cjay
03-10-2006, 14:11
Also, that giant foot should have an interesting explanation I would have thought.

Inigo Montoya
03-10-2006, 14:11
The only problem i foresee is that if the writers are making stuff up as they go along then they might throw in stuff they simply can't reasonably explain later on which could ruin it a bit

Jaime
03-10-2006, 14:50
Considering how many things have been resolved or had call backs I think it's pretty obvious that they aren't making it up as they go along.

Richie
03-10-2006, 14:51
The writers have said numerous times now that nothing appears in the show unless it's already been thought through to it's conclusion by them.

I'm of the opinion that the entire island is man-made and that there is somekind of subterranean venting system.

Inigo Montoya
03-10-2006, 15:04
I can go with the "large subterranean system with many vents" (e.g. locked being pulled into one, smoke appearing from one, voices/whispers coming from them) idea but theres no way the whole island is man made IMO

Soprano
03-10-2006, 15:08
It's all a computer game. Not my idea, read it somewhere.

cockbongo
03-10-2006, 20:23
Keep thinking aloud, Inigo, I like it. Don't listen to these cynics on here, i'm bored of their constant whinging too. Just enjoy it, guys!

The "black lady" is called Rose, by the way....

Damon Lindelof explained that basically there was an major "incident" on the island, and the Swan hatch was built as a "thumb" in the "dyke" of that particular magnetic anomaly. This pretty much implies that its a natural phenomenon as it must have existed before Dharma came to the island. But presumably this is *why* Dharma chose this particular island to research on...

As for Walt, we already know he has some kind of power to influence objects with his mind - witness Locke's knife and the bird crashing into his window in S1. They perhaps think that his powers can help in the manipulation of the numbers, and remember Henry Gale said something along the lines of "we got more out of Walt than we predicted".

The Others *could* be the members of the original Dharma Initiative. But a few of them would have had to be pretty young when they originally arrived. I think we'll be able to put some pieces together when we inevitably get Alex's flashback, that should be pretty interesting.

Oh, and it's my understanding that the virus Mittelwerk was talking about in the Lost Experience had yet to be released anywhere apart from a couple of Sri Lankan villages. It appeared to be his next step, and is supposed to be taking place in 2006 while the events of the TV show are based in 2004.

Zath
03-10-2006, 20:51
The only problem i foresee is that if the writers are making stuff up as they go along then they might throw in stuff they simply can't reasonably explain later on which could ruin it a bit

I agree on this one, its basically what Chris Carter and the crew did on X-Files and i remember reading interviews that almost boasted about that fact and its such a shame the show 'lost' its way in the end :shrug:

Richie
03-10-2006, 21:20
Seriously, like John Locke, you've just got to have a little faith! ;)

Jaime
03-10-2006, 21:40
I agree on this one, its basically what Chris Carter and the crew did on X-Files and i remember reading interviews that almost boasted about that fact and its such a shame the show 'lost' its way in the end :shrug:

But Lost is by a completely different team of writers who constantly state they have a well thought out plan and who even use the X-Files as an example of how they don't want the show to end up.

If you rewatch the first few episodes of season one there are lots of things that make alot more sense with knowledge of what's to come. In the episode where you find out that Locke was in a wheelchair Rose is featured heavily, sitting by herself contemplating something. She's not thinking of her husband's death which is first suggested (she claims he's alive - another plot that was obviously planned and ended with their reunion) but apparently contemplating the fact that she too, like Locke was ill before the crash.

Likewise, the entire drugplane plot has been fully resolved with satisfying explanation of how it got there and why the men were dressed as priests. Even back to the finding of the plane, Locke had a dream telling him he had to go there, but he was drawn away when Boone fell. He returns when his faith is shaken and Eko has a similar dream and they find another hatch - the real reason Locke was lead out there in season one.

There's even small stuff like in the pilot where Jack puts the drink in his pocket and gets up on the plane to go somewhere. Only after having seen the entire first season do you know that he's taking the drink to have it with Ana Lucia.

There is a plan. Have faith in the writers - these guys know what they're doing :)

Adam Thirnis
03-10-2006, 21:46
It's all a computer game. Not my idea, read it somewhere.

Yep that it is. They're all being manipulated by a spotty teenager playing on his PC while wearing a baseball cap the wrong way round. Which is why I find it hard to care about the characters.

Richie
03-10-2006, 21:55
Yep that it is. They're all being manipulated by a spotty teenager playing on his PC while wearing a baseball cap the wrong way round. Which is why I find it hard to care about the characters.
Just why would you convince yourself that this is how it is and use that as an excuse to not enjoy "the journey"? :shrug:
Some viewers just have no imagination! :oh-hum:
The writers have already stated that they are not going to pull a 'St.Elsewhere' "snowglobe" conclusion (where the entire show took place inside an autistic boy's head and he had a snowglobe of the hospital atop his tv set)! :nuts: :help:

Adam Thirnis
03-10-2006, 22:22
If you enjoy it good for you. Just don't kid yourself there's anything deep and meaningful going on.

Richie
03-10-2006, 22:56
.

Inigo Montoya
04-10-2006, 01:32
Damon Lindelof explained that basically there was an major "incident" on the island, and the Swan hatch was built as a "thumb" in the "dyke" of that particular magnetic anomaly. This pretty much implies that its a natural phenomenon as it must have existed before Dharma came to the island. But presumably this is *why* Dharma chose this particular island to research on...


Interesting that they've said the hatch was built to contain the "incident"

I wonder what the consequences are now the containment system has been terminated ? e.g. does this have any negative effect on the doomsday equation like i was proposing or will it cause some global ecological catastrophe - for example cause the Earths magnetic field to weaken or flip

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/magnetic/about.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/09/0927_040927_field_flip.html