Flash-sideways is more like a Flash-do-over?

Last episode left me thinking that the flash-sideways is NOT an alternate dimension/timeline that sprouted from the explosion of the Swan station. Alternatively, it's a flash-do-over ignited by Man in Black / Beardo / Fake Locke, in which the characters get their wishes granted and live their lives over again.

In Sayid's case, Fake Locke more or less promises that he could have Nadia back (which, in the 'flash-do-overs' is true, despite the fact that she's married to his brother.) For the others, Claire keeps her baby, Kate redeems herself by taking Claire to the hospital (and thereby properly uniting Claire with her son), Locke accepts his wheelchair conditions gracefully, Dogen is happily united with his son, and Jack turns out to be a good father (even though that pizza was like, cold for 2 hours when David finally finished his audition).

Ultimately, the flash-do-overs showcase that even though the characters all get what they wished for, their lives aren't necessarily 'better' or entirely 'different'. Kate's still annoying, for example.

Was this totally obvious? WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK

BONUS! Related Nerdroid comic:

Comments

[apgwoz]

Uhh... that does seem obvious now that you say it.

[.tiff]

Also, now that Jacob is dead, everyone is "free". I've never been entirely convinced that Jacob is the good guy here. He basically enslaved Dogen in exchange for saving his son, and you could technically argue that he made Sawyer and Kate into what they are today (he bought that stolen lunchbox so the police didn't take away young Kate, he gave Sawyer the pen to write that angry letter when he was a kid). In other words, the previous timeline was the "Jacob" influenced timeline, whereas the new 'flash-do-over' timeline is the one brought to the characters by the Man in Black.

[kevinshay]

Well, this theory would explain why the flash-sideways storylines are so damn boring.

[Xris Ernest Hall]

Ah, so the flash sideways stories are basically like the vision that Jesus has on the cross while being crucified at the end of the Last Temptation of Christ, when Satan shows Him what His life would have been like had he not been the Messiah (loving wife, kid, all that suburban stuff.) It's a good theory, and I don't think that its incompatible with the idea that it's an alternative reality.

[.tiff]

Did Jesus' alternate timeline have kickin' rims?

But yes, I guess it's something like that. I think the point is that neither the MIB ignited reality is that much better than the Jacob-touched-me reality, except we know that in the Jacob timeline they've all essentially become slaves of the island for one reason or another.

[Xris Ernest Hall]

>>>> Did Jesus' alternate timeline have kickin' rims?

No, but it did have a kickass soundtrack by Peter Gabriel, featuring Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (called "Passion.") If you've never listened to it, I recommend.

[Chris Furniss]

Yeah, I can definitely get down with this theory. Although, sideways-Jack seems to have this glint in his eye that indicates that he knows something. The appearance of Desmond on the plane in the first episode is also kind of wonky.

The Jesus analogy works really well. My theory is that Jacob is the original Jacob from the bible, and that we'll see a lot more biblical stuff as the show winds down. It's like Lost is THE BIBLE 2.

[Steve Calderon]

Totally agreed, and I might even take it a step further. First off, Jacob is the bad guy. He's basically the devil. He has the ability to grant you a do-over, but he gets to "keep" you. Everyone on the island (the temple folk) was approached by Jacob at some point and offered a deal - you join my little army and I will fix your life, but this version of you stays here with me. Smoke Monster is somehow included in that. Maybe he was the first one or something. Maybe he accidentally inhaled his little smoke babies in his real life. I don't know, but just forget that part for a second. Anyway, now that Jacob is dead, everyone he enslaved is free. What happens when they go home and find their alternate selves living their fixed lives? I don't know. But that's what I'm going with for now.

[.tiff]

If Jacob was really ALL THAT, wouldn't you expect a little more loyalty from the temple-folk? As soon as Fake Locke was like "Dudes, you're free." they were like "SEE YA TEMPLE. We're with THIS GUY."

[David Jacobs]

"If Jacob was really ALL THAT, wouldn't you expect a little more loyalty from the temple-folk?"

Yes.

[Steve Calderon]

"If Jacob was really ALL THAT, wouldn't you expect a little more loyalty from the temple-folk?"

Not in my scenario. They're not sticking around the temple because they love him. They're sticking around because they're obligated to as their half of whatever bargain they made. Once he's dead, deal's off and they can go home. Kind of like what I imagine happens to the Oompa Loompas after Willy Wonka dies, but before Charlie moves in.