So bear with me a sec, I think that I agree with the idea that there are/were two Charlies, which means that he is dead (the universe self-corrected the problem by killing him off on the island). But now not-island Charlie never went there, continued on with his life...except my theory is that he is not a manifestation of Smokey, but rather he is now one of the people who help the universe course correct, like the old lady.

I think that the lack of scars and the totally different than island Charlie look are clues to the idea that he is notislandCharlie. I think that his message seems a bit more consistent with the message that Desmond got that he had to go back to the island (couldn't be happy with Penny).

Thoughts?

I just started a theory thread saying that Charlie is not a ghost but a time traveller and is very much alive off the island. You can check it out if you like.

http://www.thefuselage.com/Threaded/showthread.php?p=1735990#post1735990

Hmm...I would go along with that if Charlie had actually been there, but he was in Hurley's mind. He disappeared. I don't think he was actually there. Sure, he slapped him, but Dave threw something at him, and he felt that too. It's a good thought though.

Hmm...I would go along with that if Charlie had actually been there, but he was in Hurley's mind. He disappeared. I don't think he was actually there. Sure, he slapped him, but Dave threw something at him, and he felt that too. It's a good thought though.

But didn't the old jeweler show the same propensity for being able to "disappear?"

I don't think Charlie disappearing suddenly means he wasn't there. If he was time travelling he could easily take off in an instant once he realized Hurley was no longer listening to him.

But didn't the old jeweler show the same propensity for being able to "disappear?"

... When did she disapear?

I like the idea of Charlie as a time traveler or guardian. That doesn't explain him swimming in the fish tank at the police station though. Maybe swimming Charlie was Hugo's imagination, but his other appearance reminded me of the jewelry lady. Very calm. Telling Hugo what he must do.

... When did she disapear?
Yeah, I don't remember that at all.

Hmm, maybe I'm just smoking something today, but I could have sworn in that "flashback/time travel" epi with Desmond there was a scene where she was there and then not there. Not that she couldn't have walked away...maybe I'm just conflating things in my mind. :)

Hmm, maybe I'm just smoking something today, but I could have sworn in that "flashback/time travel" epi with Desmond there was a scene where she was there and then not there. Not that she couldn't have walked away...maybe I'm just conflating things in my mind. :)

I must be smoking the same stuff!!! I thought Charlie seemed very much like a "course corrector". Maybe Hurley was not meant to leave the island, like Desmond, he has a destiny to fulfill? Remember, Mrs. Hawking was in the photo with Desmond's Brother from the monastary? She may have had a completely different "other life" before she became a course corrector who just happened to be in the jewelery shop that Desmond chose?

The fact that Charlie "disappeared" wouldn't bother me, he had already said what he came to say. He might return to Hurley again. And who knows, maybe he has "appeared" to Jack as well, with the same message? That could explain why Jack's hitting the bottle and the pills, and maybe some of what we're smoking??!!!

I'd be really ready to accept Charlie being a figment of Hurley's imagination if it wasn't for the other patient seeing him too.

I'd be really ready to accept Charlie being a figment of Hurley's imagination if it wasn't for the other patient seeing him too.

Exactly my thought! Either Charlie really was there, or that patient was also in Hurley's head, but I'm leaning towards Charlie really being there, because it's weirder. :)