(NOTE: The comment submission form has been fixed. Sorry to anyone who tried to post something earlier and it did go through.)
Today I was having this conversation with a friend about “community”. How it’s shaped religion, art, pop culture, and of course the Internet; and how social deprivation in a culture will always lead to some kind of backlash; some alternative form of communal interaction. It’s a little passé, I know; to point out that we’re social animals and all that.
But it’s strange, cause this has actually been a theme in a few of my “on” and “offline” chats lately. I’m not really sure how to link together what I’m thinking here, but the bottom line is I’m really fascinated by it. I guess I’ve always been.
And I think that’s one of the reasons I’ve been loving Lost so much… and doing these Lost posts lately.
Aside from the show’s own themes of community and collaboration (The Castaways, The Dharma Initiative, The Others, Religion in general), I love how the experience of watching Lost and discussing it afterwards, fosters these similar “castaway” communities online. A bunch of strangers in this wild digital space, with a variety of backgrounds and disciplines, coming together every week to try to figure out all this Lost craziness. Which one of us is the mastermind, you think? Or the one most likely to whack you over the head with a canoe oar? Definitely @iitzelhv.
Anyway, let’s get to it.
So last night we got a few new goodies…
First of all, I just wanna say… I was seriously blown away, shocked out of my friggin mind that Sun is in 2007. Am I the only one that was like, “seriously??!!!” As I said to @michaelmuhney, they’ve got some serious explaining to do. Their reason for that better be air tight…….. or it better be the same reason as mine… when I come up with one.
Okay, let’s see. We now know it has nothing to do with Ben and Locke both turning that donkey wheel. So why then? What do the three have in common? 
Hmmmmm………… I’m seriously thinking this out as I type…………….. (a minute has passed)…………… (another few minutes have passed cause I took this photo and uploaded it to Flickr)
……………. oh wait! How about this??!! Maybe the vitamins that Juliet gave Sun in Season 3-4 had magnetically charged particles in them that were protecting her pregnancy from the Islands effects… you know, the way the injection protected Claire in Season 1! YES!!!!!
SO… Christian and Locke died and were brought back to life by the Island’s effects. Ben has never been affected by the Island’s effects, which is why he doesn’t heal (the tumor)… and Claire and Sun were both given some sort of medicine that protects them from the Island juju……… right?………… right?!!……………… *sigh* sorry, that’s all I got for ya.
But speaking of Claire, did you all see the easter egg? I didn’t. @erikpatterson actually pointed it out to me this morning. The scene with Christian Shepard in the Dharma house? Claire is there in the background…. or it’s a grip who got caught in the shot.
If you haven’t seen it, I’ll try to describe the moment: They’re standing, looking at the 1977 Dharma photo, when suddenly the door behind them swings open (part wind, part ghost). Then in a couple shots later, if you look behind Sun, you can barely make out the highlight of a blond head.
Cool.
Hey Claire!
Wanna know my favorite moment in the episode? The very end when young Ben meets Sayid in jail. An awesome moment of acting, no doubt about it. Am I the only one who thinks that little actor’s been studying up Michael Emerson Stanislavski-style? Waaaay impressive. He’s got that deadpan eye thing down perfectly now, huh?
Unless………….. wait a second……….. maybe…………………. hmmmmm……. that… could very well be…..
… that could very well be.
Related articles by Zemanta
- If the Dharma Initiative Took Out Magazine Ads… [Television] (i.gizmodo.com)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=3a4eed82-2908-4763-9a5a-4701a8037295)
March 20, 2009 at 6:50 am
are we sure it’s not just a Ted Danson cardboard standee behind her? I just think that is a reflection or something. It’s so out of focus and small that I can’t think they would have bothered to make it something intentional.
And you’re absolutely right about the Lost online communities. I just started watching Lost on DVD in May. before that, I just rolled my eyes when people talked about it. I didn’t think it would be all that good. Now I’m an addict.
Oh, but I wasn’t shocked at all about them not being in 1977. I figured they were in separate times. Although, I’m not sure they’re in 2007 either. They definitely changed times, cause they landed in daylight, and the island is very different. It could be even further in the future.
March 20, 2009 at 9:47 am
Smack, unless the writers are now resorting to just flat out lying, it is 2007. At the first cut away to the folks in 1977 the card read 30 years earlier.
March 20, 2009 at 9:58 am
So, I get the impression that Ben can’t go back to 1977 because he would meet his younger self and his head would explode.
Does that mean Sun and Lapidius are also in 1977 in some form?
That’s my line of thinking.
March 20, 2009 at 10:07 am
My favorite part was also the smallest part about the episode- when Sawyer says “Faraday’s got ideas about what we can and can’t do”, Jack responds, “Faraday’s here?” and Sawyer ominously answers, “He was.”
Of course, Dan could have gone crazy-go-nuts over the death of Charlotte and being around her as a little girl was a little too much for him. OR that should of him in the season 5 opener @ the Orchid station will finally be expanded on, and maybe Daniel has gone off time traveling.
As for Sun- I’ve got a theory! It’s because she left Ji Yeon back in Seoul. She left the island with a baby, and didn’t return with one (my theory doesn’t fall apart with Kate, I’m pretty sure she got knocked up the night before Ajira 316 left). Could be far-fetched, but it’s the only theory I have right now for her. Who knows, maybe the island just subjectively hates her, Ben and Frank- but I think the island may be miffed she didn’t come back with a baby. Cause you know, the island loves babies…
March 20, 2009 at 10:10 am
I’ve been watching LOST since nearly the beginning, but this is really the first season I’ve actually ventured online to read blogs about the show. And it’s fun! Almost as much fun as finding people in real life who watch the show and want to talk about it. lol!
Anyhoo, just wanted to say that I enjoy reading your LOST posts.
March 20, 2009 at 10:10 am
That’s not a bad theory. Maybe that little baby in Episode 1 was actually Sun…….. but then why didn’t Locke go too? Cause he was dead? And I guess it’s true that if Faraday and Charlotte blipped then that should means Frank Lapidus should too. Hmmm………. I guess my magnetically charged ingestibles theory needs some work.
March 20, 2009 at 10:14 am
Sarah, the Island so wants our babies!! What’s the deal??!! Anyway, I like your theory a lot.
Valerie, awesome! Glad to have you here.
March 20, 2009 at 10:16 am
I think Sun can’t go back to 1977 because she is already there… as a baby. Dr. Marvin Candle’s (aka Pierre Chang, aka Dr. Mark Wickmund and Dr. Edgar Halliwax) daughter, perhaps? Same reason Ben can’t go back. He’s already there and Daniel said they couldn’t occupy the same space.
So, the question I tweeted you about… the old “If you could go back in time and kill Hitler…” will Sayid consider that possibility now that Ben is young and vulnerable?
By the way, how funny is it that Jack is a janitor? Good one, Sawyer!
March 20, 2009 at 10:18 am
Oh man, JP – you are too quick for me!
March 20, 2009 at 10:22 am
I wasn’t as shocked as you by Sun being in 2007 but that’s because I only changed my mind about her being there as of last week. She was the only female I could see Frank leaving for the main island with… But I changed my mind about that after the very last episode thanks in great part to the previews we saw for this episode. So… nicely done if ABC was purposely trying to mislead us on that.
Once I changed my mind, I figured the only reason Locke hadn’t flashed was that he was dead (like Charlotte didn’t flash once she died either) and Ben is an Other and we already know they aren’t affected by the flash. But neither of those apply to Sun (in a way they wouldn’t apply to everyone else at least).
I actually like the idea of the injections making a difference. It’s definitely one of the things that separates Sun from the others. I also wondered if her connection to Widmore might have something to do with it. Seems farfetched though, if theories about this show can ever be farfetched that is.
What was your take on Ben throwing away his arm brace? Do you think the Island is healing him now?
March 20, 2009 at 10:24 am
I’m guessing the little baby is Miles, personally. Dr Chang is Chinese, as is Miles. In revealing his real surname finally, they gave us a big clue that his baby is Chinese. I’ve got a REeeeEEeaally far out theory that the reason Miles is a ghost whisperer as an adult actually has more to do with being around his dad’s experiments with time and space as a kid than it has to do with spiritualism.
I think Faraday, Miles and Charlotte blipped because they were left on the island when the skipping began, and back to the island being miffed- Frank was the one who flew the Oceanic 6 off the island. So Ben is in 2007 for obvious “he and Jacob are no longer BFF” reasons, Locke is lucky enough that the Island brought him back to life, Sun didn’t bring a baby and Frank was the pilot who flew the 6 off who started the time skipping to begin with. Again, this is all in my convoluted view of things.
All of that makes me think about Kate though, and if her getting pregnant the night before is really enough to appease the island for not bringing Aaron back. Aaron, whom Jacob wanted so badly. My theory- kicking the “she killed Aaron” or “left Aaron with Claire’s mom” theories in the face- is that Christian/Claire showed up and took Aaron, and that’s why Kate came along. She’s looking for her boy. Because my Sun theory is good, but it is biased. Why would the Island be pissy with Sun for not bringing Ji Yeon, and let Kate in with Jack’s embryo- unless it already had the last member of the Oceanic 6, Aaron?
*sorry for uber long comment*
March 20, 2009 at 10:25 am
I need to get back into a routine of watching this with other geeks to get my thoughts flowing. I liked finally seeing Radzinsky, glad he wasn’t made up by Kelvin Inman (an early prediction made by other theorists). If he’s the one who designed the Swan, he would know about all of the properties and secrets of it, would he not (or maybe it’s already built and he’s recreating it)? Why would he need the blast door map?
Anyway, the other questions raised about Christian/Smokie hanging around the camp, and Daniel’s whereabouts are good ones, but I got nothin’.
March 20, 2009 at 10:25 am
The theory that they can’t occupy the same space doesn’t really work though… because when they were blipping around earlier they blipped to that time when they were all on the Island first season. When Jack saw Clair giving birth… or Locke saw the hatch light. I still think that little baby is Miles…. Candle and Miles are so delightfully irritable. And yeah, I figured that’s what you meant with your question. I just thought for the show Lost it was a funny one. Just cause everyone’s about to “do” or “not do” something every week. lol.
March 20, 2009 at 10:30 am
Great, I love your ‘Lost’ posts & your theories a lot! And yes, Claire troubles me a lot as well. Can’t wait to see more of her in the show! + Lostpedia helps a lot with the urge of information & theories. I highly recommend the site!
March 20, 2009 at 10:31 am
Damn. I forgot that Frank theoretically should be flashing too since Daniel, Charlotte, and Myles did. Which reminds me of the fact I never understood why Juliet was flashing when the rest of the Others weren’t (we know this because Locke is standing with them when the first flash happens and all the sudden he’s alone).
I really like the idea that you can’t flash to a time if you already exist there. It explains why the Others don’t flash but Juliet does. However, does that theory make sense if Locke and Sawyer were able to flash into the moment of Aaron’s birth from Season 2?
March 20, 2009 at 10:41 am
Could be what? You are such a brat.
It would make sense that Clare was with Christian. She left Aaron to be with her dad. She even said so in the cabin, when she was in the rocking chair.
I know you are going to totally pick this one apart, but what if Sun is needed to bring them back to the present. Like the link that ties them to the present.
It was cool getting to see what happened to the plane. The pilot is getting more involved in the plot, which of course is cool beans. I liked him since Silverado.
I am digging this new plot twist. The flipping backing forth in time is neato.
James in charge is very cool. I love the tention.
March 20, 2009 at 10:49 am
Rae, what do you mean Locke was with The Others? When Locke time traveled for the very first time, he had only been with Ben just minutes before the wheel was turned. Presumably Locke blipped in time and was alone until he met up with the rest of castaways. The other characters he met in the various times he blipped to (Ethan, Richard, Kate, Claire, the 1954 Others) wouldn’t blip with him cause they belonged to those times.
March 20, 2009 at 10:59 am
Go back and re-watch the very first scenes of season 5. Ben tells Locke to go lead the Others, that he’s their Leader now. When we see Locke right before he flashes, he’s in the jungle and he’s with a bunch of The Others. He flashes and they’re all gone and he’s all alone and it’s not raining.
Grrr. Can’t find the episode to re-confirm what I saw but the Lostpedia recap of the episode has this, “Immediately after Ben turns the frozen wheel, a loud noise is heard and a flash lights up the sky above all the survivors who are still on the island. As the light dissipates, Locke realizes that it is suddenly raining, and Richard and the Others, along with their entire campsite, have vanished. Confused and alone, he shouts for anyone in earshot.” Link to recap on Lostpedia:
Oh, some screencaps?
Locke & Richard with the Others right after we see Ben start to turn the wheel.
Richard & Lock as the flash starts.
Ben all alone after the flash.
He shouts, “Hello?”
March 20, 2009 at 11:28 am
I think that Ben, Locke, and Sun are together because they weren’t supposed to return to the island! Ben told Locke when he left he wouldn’t be allowed to come back yet, both of them left and came back…..soooo I don’t know that’s my two cents, and where is Sun’s baby?
I love this show!!!
March 20, 2009 at 11:57 am
Sorry if you’ve got duplicate comments from me. Used to it showing the comment with the note about moderation so when it didn’t show up at all I assumed maybe the links it in it were causing an error.
March 20, 2009 at 11:59 am
I didn’t get any other comment except this one! Oh no!!! What the hell is happening to my comments?? Someone else told me they sent something that didn’t go through.
March 20, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Ahhhh!!! I found it in spam!!! And I found hers too!! Shoot. I guess I should check my spam more. Damn. I wonder how many other comments I’ve lost. I hope no one thinks I purposefully denied their comment.
March 20, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Ahh, that makes sense. No wonder it didn’t act the way I expected. And glad it was there because I accidentally closed the text file I had with the links in it in case it really had been eaten.
I only remember because it’s come up in multiple conversations I’ve had with folks. The whole community thing really does add to my appreciation for the show.
March 20, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Did I miss where Kate is pregnant, or is that just a guess?
March 20, 2009 at 6:56 pm
We were just discussing the same thing at work- how the show has created a whole community of people so involved in the outcome. I haven’t seen a show create a response like this for a long time. (I’m thinking Twin Peaks as one example.)
I think Sun isn’t in ’77 with the rest because she is not there for the same reason they are. They came back with a genuine interest to help and her motive is revenge. I know she wants to find Jin but she’s alos been on a mission to make Bn suffer. Maybe “the island” knows this.
My question is if Charlotte remembered talking to Faraday when she was little why wouldn’t Ben remember talking to Sayid? If he DID remember he’d already know about the time-travel and what’s going to happen, so when he tells people he doesn’t know what is going on he’s lying. Ben lying?! Shocking I know!
March 20, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Lol shout out! XD now my guess is that even though the Ajira people are in 2007 (cause I agree with John, the writer’s wouldn’t blatantly lie), the timeline is screwed and they are in an alternate future. Cause why would there be still the recruitment signs and those pics of the Dharma team inside the house? Didn’t The Others clean that place? So how come it’s a different future? I think it has something to do with Desmond, he’s the only one that’s able to change things. Maybe somehow he prevented The Others takeover of that place? Also, the more I look at that “Claire” easter egg, the more I’m convinced it’s part of the crew, cause she turns to the camera and appears to be holding like an Xbox control or something. So question, is there some thingy used while filming TV that may look like an Xbox control?
Also, I love being able to discuss Lost online, thx for this posts, love them!
March 21, 2009 at 12:22 am
I LOVE that theory, Itz!!!!!!!!! You’re right!!! That house was totally deserted like it had been left there for decades (dust on everything)… but it should only be weeks since season 3′s abandoning of that place.
I think this is String Theory at work. And the only person that would know about that kind of thing would be Daniel Faraday. Who’s now gone. If we remember, he was always preaching how “you can’t change the past you can’t change the past”… and yet in the first episode he’s clearly trying to do something with the donkey wheel… which means he had some sort of revelation at the dharma initiative. A plan to save things.
We also saw that in the last Ajira episode, Caesar was looking at photo copies of Daniel’s notes. I think it ties in to what you’re thinking here.
Also to clarify my response to SmackMack… it is 2007… HOWEVER they did slightly travel in time…. kind of. In season 4 we learned that there’s a sort of cashmere effect around the Island. A ripple of time that offsets the Island’s time by hours or days or something. Remember the doctor’s body washing up on shore, but the people in the freighter radioing he was still alive? Similarly the Ajira people are several hours in the future after they pass through the “time curtain” (for lack of a better word). That’s why it’s suddenly day.
And here’s where I wrap this back to your theory Itzel…….. if the Ajira flight has jumped into the future by several hours………. that means another version of themselves still exists outside the “curtain” in the past, hours away from flying through. We have to assume that looping paradox has always existed. But since this Ajira flight didn’t crash on an Island filled with an infinite number of other already crashed Ajira flights…. well that means we’re dealing with……. (wait for it)………….. parallel universes.
Man, I love this show.
March 21, 2009 at 12:59 pm
OMG yes! parallel universes! but if the Dharma losties and the Ajira losties are living in parallel universes of themselves, then would both of them belong to different realities? idk this kinda makes my head hurt lol.
And something else I’ve been thinking, what if it’s Sayid’s fault Ben is so messed up? Maybe he did something to kid Ben in the past and that’s why he’s like that now?
And agreed, I love love love this show!
March 22, 2009 at 4:47 pm
My brain’s exploding reading the last few comments, especially the thought of parallel universes. They’re going to have to address whether or not you can change the past — I predict we’ll get a Daniel Faraday-centric episode soon. I’m dying to know what Sawyer meant when he said that Faraday wasn’t with them “anymore.” Is he dead? Is he with the Others now? Is he both dead AND with The Others? Where are Rose and Bernard? (I think they’re with the Others, that’s the most logical answer to the “where have they been the last three years” question.) But the biggest question I have is why didn’t Sun flash back to the 70s with the rest of them. And the answer better not be “so we could hold off the Jin/Sun reunion until the end of the season.” I want a concrete answer. It makes sense to me that Ben and Locke and Lapidus wouldn’t flash — they weren’t part of the O6. But Sun should have flashed. (Sorry, this comment has so little to do with any of the above awesomely brain-twisty theories, I just had to get out all of these questions I’m dying for answers to.)
March 22, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Itzel — I like your theory that maybe Desmond somehow had the ability to change the past because he’s the one who’s been established as “different” (though it’s also been established that whenever he’s tried to change something that’s going to happen — i.e. Charlie’s death — the island course corrects that action). I assume they’re going to show us the Purge, but from our Survivors points of view……assuming time CAN’T be changed and the purge DOES happen per usual, I wonder if any of the people we know and love are in that mass buriel site?
As far as the Claire easter egg goes, I can’t imagine it’s a crew member. It just feels too deliberate following the “Hey Look at This Door Opening” moment. I didn’t notice her holding something in her hand, but I’ll go back and look. I predict we’ll see this scene again, from Claire’s POV. After they revisited the scene with Claire giving birth and Future Sawyer secretly watching, I keep waiting for more scenes that we’ll see from new POVs. God I love this show.
March 23, 2009 at 12:13 am
GinnyL, depending on how Wednesday’s episode goes, my next post is gonna deal heavily with Ben’s lying. I got a little somethin somethin
Itzel, the only thing I can think of that would look like an XBox remote is some sort of radio control device. Maybe for opening that door? I don’t know why they would need to be in the shot though. You could control something like that from well off camera. And it’s also a totally different shot. I think I’m with Erik. The door opening seems so deliberate… it makes sense that it would be somehow connected.