Simply because the show does not end until 2010.

And...?

The rescue process can begin though, right? Hasn't it already?

Simply because the show does not end until 2010.

Yes, they can leave. Not everyone, but some can.

I don't think that anyone really thinks that anyone will be rescued in the finale, do they?! They've been talking about rescue since season 1, wouldn't you be talking about it too?!!

Don't forget a season is only a few weeks in LOST time. They can still get rescued. Maybe not for three years, but it could happen.

A season of 24 is only one day, so don't get stuck on the three years.

I could see some kind of rescue hapen and the show moves off the island for the last season.

I'm with the other posters....nobody said that they "all" had to be rescued. afterall, there are roughly 40 survivors still and there isn't a helicopter that i'm aware of that can carry that many people. Perhaps only a handfull of people can get on...specifically, women and children and elderly or...pregnant women and children and their mothers and elderly. I see Sun and Claire getting on...maybe Kate, Rose and Bernard....and wouldn't it be tragicly Lostish if the helicopter crashed?

If you believe that Desmond is actually seeing "flashes" of the future... or a possible future, there's really no time frame as to when Claire gets on the helicopter. He told Charlie that he had to flip the switch so that rescue "could happen." Charlie flipping the switch and stopping the jamming frequency doesn't necessarily equal immediate rescue, rather it puts in motion certain events that will lead to rescue.

Personally, I still don't believe that Naomi and "Penelope's" crew are even there to rescue Desmond. I think the Losties are going to be surprised when they see Widmore helicopters unload Dharma paramilitary crew prepared to reclaim their facilities.

Yeah, I just don't see everyone getting off this island, either - but I agree that SOME might. And without Charlie, what would keep Claire on that island? I think it makes sense that Claire would be one of the first on a rescue helicopter.

I disagree with Kate's leaving, though. I think all our heroes are going to die on-island. I do think Hurley's got a good shot at leaving, though! :)

Don't forget a season is only a few weeks in LOST time. They can still get rescued. Maybe not for three years, but it could happen.

A season of 24 is only one day, so don't get stuck on the three years.

I could see some kind of rescue hapen and the show moves off the island for the last season.

honestly that would be kinda cool. THe last season the losties are trying to put there lives back together. I imagine Hurley would find his fortune squandered (but he would likely be pleased). I know that the magic happens on the island but I think that would be an interesting way to wrap the show. Brings us the big mystery and then follow some (those that remain) survivors home for a few days. Having Charlie return as a legendary rocker would be really fun to see.

I think some will get rescued and some will get left behind. The rescued ones will have to deal with the grief of leaving loved ones on the island, leading to a new rescue attempt. I could totally see the show going in that direction. I've always thought that Jack and Kate are Adam and Eve - the runnign title for Lsot was "The Circle" after all.

So if they don't leave the island, it might mean Charlie doesn't die?

My guess is that Naomi's ship enters the snowglobe and gets stuck.

I see Sun and Claire getting on...maybe Kate, Rose and Bernard....and wouldn't it be tragicly Lostish if the helicopter crashed?

Rose, Bernard, and Locke are the ones that would most likely NOT leave the island. But also....what do Kate and Sawyer have to go back to? A life on the run?

I I see Sun and Claire getting on...maybe Kate, Rose and Bernard....and wouldn't it be tragicly Lostish if the helicopter crashed?

And then they find they have survived another unsurvivable crash only to find themselves on the same island but in a different timelayer and they can see themselves doing things but they can't do anything about but watch and whisper.

Nah that's crazy talk now :)