In another strange coincidence, I picked up a copy of USA Today lying around work and saw this, which also happens to be online....
USATODAY.com - Lost in 'Lost'The article goes into some of the theories fans (like me) have proposed, and explains some of the "hype" if you want to call it that.
The theories they list are as follows, along with some of my thoughts (briefly):
- Island as laboratory: the "Hanso Foundation experiment." I believe there is a lot of truth to this. The "Skinner Box" concept is especially poignant. Exactly what this theory entails is unclear.
- Electromagnetism: This is obvious, as the compass screwup and radio interference suggests. Not only that but the hatch was shown to have some sort of giant generator. I suspect we'll learn more.
- Time-space continuum: I'm not buying into this one. Multiple dimensions and time-travel? No. If the "others" can make themselves look like they've been there forever with costumes and makeup then they can disguise the abandoned medical hatch.
- The Numbers: Retired Yankee's jerseys? How on earth is that relevant? I don't have a theory on the numbers yet....
- "Collective Consciousness": The "small world" is somehow a projection of all the survivors psyche's on one another. Its obvious that something is going on with the castaways brains. The mere fact of Walt's polar bear says this. But I don't think they're all acting on each other.
They also quote the producers as saying that purgatory is
not an option. While I will agree that it doesn't explain the overall story, there is some relevance and influence of the purgatory concept to the story, as you'll see in the post following this one, which I wrote prior to reading the article. (Really!) Not so much to do with the plot, but more to do with character development. Or maybe I invented it all. Who really knows?
I'm also glad the "snow globe" concept is stated as untrue. For lack of a better phrase, that would be weak.
They also get into what we'll see in the episodes up-to-and-including the season finale. Some key points:
- The situation with Walt and Michael will "be resolved." (Whether that's good or bad they don't say.)
- We'll learn why the plane crashed. (Is that really important?)
- Desmond will return. (Well that was bound to happen sooner or later, since no one seems to get off the island.)
Personally, I don't believe there is "one theory to rule them all." The truth will be some kind of mishmash of things, probably some things we haven't even seen yet. If the way last season transitioned into this one is any indication, there are going to be a lot of things we haven't seen yet. Granted I'm a bit late to this party but I don't think I'm "out there."
Remember one of the tenet's of another castaway: "Questions are a burden, and answers a prison for one's self." Remember how that one turned out.

There's some other links in the sidebar I'm going to have to check out, plus a slew of LOST sites I hadn't seen before. Man this is going to be a lot of work!
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