The producers of LOST recently commented on theories submitted by fans. Below are the ones that got an “A”. The last is particularly on the right track, apparently, in unspecified ways. Click the link above for the rest of the theories, the whole article, and more! [Also see here for a discussion of the hieroglyphics on Ben’s door]
The diabolical experiment
Matthew Abbadon (the thin man who recruited the freighter crew) gains control of Aaron. This brilliant boy is fated to grow up and eventually work in a secret “Area 51” military laboratory on a remote Eniwetok-like island. A diabolically powerful experiment goes very wrong and Aaron is trapped in another dimension, eternally unstuck from space-time normal and only partly able to contact this dimension (as through Ben and the dead, like Jack’s dad and Charlie). We know Aaron — as an adult after the disaster — by the name “Jacob.” Everything which happens in Lost is part of a desperate millennia-long effort orchestrated by Jacob to alter the flow of events such that his original fatal error in creating a space-time rift is averted at the critical moment. Across centuries Jacob manipulates forces to gather the interconnected Lost-ies; their fates are all bound together with his fate. Jack the healer exercises free will and — thanks to eventually working together with Locke, and most especially thanks to the love and sacrifice of Kate — rescues and cures Jacob, so healing the space-time rift and saving the world. Jack and Kate will live the rest of their lives together in love, ultimately becoming the island’s Adam and Eve at rest in the cavern.
The producers commented:
Cuse: “First of all, any theory that contains the words, ‘a diabolically powerful experiment goes very wrong,’ I love. That’s the foundation of 100 great science-fiction stories.”
Lindelof: “It’s a wildly imaginative theory … This is a great theory because it’s time-travel-related and it’s saying Aaron is Jacob. … There were people earlier this season who were thinking that Harold Perrineau (Michael) was playing a grown-up version of (son) Walt. People keep going to this place. It’s sort of a great Rod Serling Twilight Zone device — a future version of yourself comes back and warns a younger version of yourself not to do something or to do something. But we’re not dealing in paradox (on Lost). We really limit ourselves.
“And we like it because it’s very character-based. Whereas many of these theories don’t even mention any of the characters, this one mentions Abbadon, Jack, Kate, Locke, Aaron and Charlie. It’s nice to have the focus on our characters.”
Cuse: “The fluidity of space-time is something which is very much on the right track in this theory. Even if some of the specifics are not quite right, there’s a lot of free thinking in this theory.”
Lindelof: “It’s not exactly the most accurate theory in the world. But there is a lot of supporting evidence, a lot of thought. Obviously, this person watches the show very closely.”
The 6 and the Sickness
What do Jack, Kate, Hurley, Sun and Sayid have in common? None of these five were anywhere near the Swan station when it imploded and the sky turned purple. So what does this mean in relation to the Oceanic 6? Very simple. They are literally the only survivors of Oceanic 815 that can safely leave the island without dying. We know that the ‘Sickness’ is actually the form of time travel that Desmond experienced when leaving the island on the helicopter. But Desmond didn’t die when he left the island because he found his constant in Penny Widmore. But more importantly because he had been injecting himself with the Dharma vaccine since the day he entered the Swan. This brings us to Aaron Littleton, the last member of the Oceanic 6. Aaron has been injected with the same vaccine in the womb and after being born. The vaccine seems to curb the effects of the sickness when leaving the island. We know at least some of the 815 survivors are still living on the island in the future. Meaning only those who can leave the island will. The rest of the Lost-ies are left behind (unwillingly) due to the effects of the ‘Sickness’ they will experience when leaving.
The producers commented:
Cuse: “In ‘The Constant,’ we obviously saw that it’s important to stay on the right bearing going on and off the island. As the freighter got closer to the island, people started experiencing sickness, and we know that Rousseau’s people suffered from a sickness when they came to the island, so this person is in the house in certain areas.”
Lindelof: “The causal relationship between the sickness and the strange fluctuations in space-time is a good catch. As far as the Oceanic 6 being the only ones who can leave the island, that is incorrect, so we’re going to say it’s a wash.”
Dharma Chameleon
There is an off-island presence for Dharma that is working to get back onto the island to finish their work with the Valenzetti Equation. Ms. Hawking (the white-haired time-traveler who crossed paths with Desmond) was a former Swan worker and developed the same ability Desmond has. Ms. Hawking accidently got this ability during the original incident. She survived by finding her constant — Brother Campbell — and left the island. After leaving the island, her visions developed, and she has seen what needs to take place in order for Dharma to regain control of the island. Her visions include a complicated pattern of people that are required to be on the island in order for a set series of events to occur for Dharma to return to the island. With the help of others, including Christian Shephard, Richard Malkin, Nadia and Libby, the group ensures that specific people are on the plane in order for the series of events to occur. Desmond must reach the island to cause Flight 815 to crash; Locke must locate the hatch to keep Desmond alive. Desmond must influence Charlie to turn off the jamming device. Jack calls the freighter.
The producers commented:
Cuse: “This is a very evolved theory that has a lot of stuff in it that’s pretty close to the mark. We really responded very strongly to this theory.”
Lindelof: “We liked the way it was worded, so concisely. And because it does contain the aforementioned theories of time travel and manipulation of space-time, this theory gets a solid A.
Cuse: “As a matter of fact, we can’t even comment on it too much because there’s a lot in here that’s pretty accurate.”
Lindelof: “We’re not going to explain why we’re giving it an A. Hopefully, the writer of this theory will take their A and be very proud, put it up on their refrigerator.”
Cuse: “It’s not all correct, but we kind of responded to the way this person thought.”
Lindelof: “It’s not all correct, but it could be correct.”
Cuse: “Or parts of it could be correct.”
Lindelof: “That’s correct.”
Cuse: “I will say that this person is going to really respond to Season 5 and feel very superior to everyone else.”
Lindelof: “Then, in Season 6, we will crush their spirits and prove them wrong. And until then, they should enjoy the ride.”
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