Uncharted Island

Apparently not everyone was as convinced as I was that Desmond did not travel back in time in the ”Flashes Before Your Eyes” episode.

Some people have gone to great lengths discussing the physics and metaphysics of time travel, the paradox of time travel, the possibility of alternate or parallel universes, and other such things. 

I’m quite partial to anything mentioning the similiarities between Desmond’s encounter with the knowing jewelry store lady and Neo’s encounter with the Oracle in The Matrix Reloaded.  Both pairs were sitting on a bench having their metaphysical discussions.  The Oracle offered Neo candy.  Desmond was offered roasted nuts.  I don’t buy into the theory that the LOST island is a false reality like the matrix; I just like that I wasn’t the only person who immediately thought of the Oracle when I watched the scene.

The theory that interested me the most, since I don’t buy into this whole time travel thing, is that the old woman was Smokey.  We already know that Smokey pulled Mr. Eko into a vision where he thought he was talking to Yemi, but it was not Yemi, and it told him so.  If Desmond was having some sort of coma dream, which I still believe, then Smokey could’ve insinuated itself as the old woman.  Why?  I didn’t come up with this part myself.  Maybe Smokey wants Charlie dead, as it wanted Mr. Eko dead, and it tried to convince Desmond about the universe’s tendency to “course correct” so that he would stop trying to save Charlie.  I think this is plausible.  Given the island mythology as we’ve seen it, it seems more plausible to me than any of the time travel theories.  This is more about psychology and parapsychology.

Of course, I don’t think Desmond is the type of person who will be able to just sit back and stop trying to save Charlie just because the universe (in this case, the island, or Smokey) will find a way to try again.  If he sees a future where Charlie is going to die, he will continue to try and save him.

I know this debate is going to be going on for some time.  (Pun not initially intended.)  The writers like to mess with us by adding in Stephen Hawking’s books and anagrams (Mittelos = lost time) to imply that something is going on.  I think time travel is a red herring.  Time will tell if I’m right.