We aren't seeing flash forwards, we are seeing what those that want to leave are envisioning upon their returns to civilization, turning into the thing they fear the most.

Jack turning into his father, a drunk.

Sayid returning to a torturer working for Ben.

Kate going to prison and having to care for a child she wouldn't even hold for a moment.

Hurley ending up back in the institution with another "Dave" (Charlie)


Think about it......


The flash backs were the losties remembering why they got on the plane, now they are thinking of what will happen if they do it again.

TPTB have agreed they are flash fowards

We aren't seeing flash forwards, we are seeing what those that want to leave are envisioning upon their returns to civilization, turning into the thing they fear the most.

Jack turning into his father, a drunk.

Sayid returning to a torturer working for Ben.

Kate going to prison and having to care for a child she wouldn't even hold for a moment.

Hurley ending up back in the institution with another "Dave" (Charlie)


Think about it......


The flash backs were the losties remembering why they got on the plane, now they are thinking of what will happen if they do it again.

Pretty sure that they are Flash Forwards..
Why envision something like that....
Wouldn't you envision something positive?!

After all they been through, maybe not.

In history, film, television and other media, a flashforward or flash-forward is an interjected scene that takes the narrative forward in time from the current point of the story. Flashforwards are often used to represent events expected, projected, or imagined to occur in the future. They may also reveal significant parts of the story that has not yet occurred, but soon will in greater detail.

The producers have outright stated that the flashforward events are definite occurances. The future will not change.

I like this possibility and think you raise some good points and an argument for your theory. I like the rest think they are true events, but must admit I'm leaning in on your side of the fence a little:)

I like the thought! I'm pretty confident that they are flashforwards, but you definitely bring up an interesting little tidbit to toil with!

Why are the flashbacks supposed to be "memories" of the Losties? Is this written somewhere? For me it was always a narrative tool to depict the past of the main character of the episode but not neccessarily a "memory".
So the flashforwards work in the same manner for me.

Do you see the "previously on Lost" segment at the beginning of most episodes as a memory too?

For me the flashforwards are a genius invention.
First it shows us what happens when they leave the island. It is much more interesting than to see the final episode of the Losties being rescued and then ..... nothing.
Or probably additional episodes that nobody would be interested in after the rescue has taken place. I can only congratulate the producers for their great idea.

And second: it builds up another tension for future episodes. Great!
The mystery expands into outer island realms.
I like it.

i wish and hope these ff are not set in stone..... i kinda like this idea even though the producers have said these are future occurances...

I like this possibility and think you raise some good points and an argument for your theory. I like the rest think they are true events, but must admit I'm leaning in on your side of the fence a little:)


agreed

Does anyone find it odd that Kate is the only member of Oceanic Six who is not suffering that much in the flash forwards? Even more interesting is that her suffering is . . . less, due to a series of lies?

I like the thought! I'm pretty confident that they are flashforwards, but you definitely bring up an interesting little tidbit to toil with!Agreed. I think that it is pretty much confirmed that they are flash-forwards, but you make an excellent point about their future situations off of the island -- rather than it being a 'better' life, it is all what they dread the most.

In addition to your list, we can add Kate being confined to one place when her instinct is to run.

It's the same idea, which came to my mind, when I saw "The Beginning of the End". And although, I've read all, what CC and JJA told in the podcasts, I can't get rid of this idea.

If it's true, if all the FFs are only imaginations, what should TPTB do, if they were asked, whether the FFs show really the future? They coulnd't deny it. They even can't say "we don't answer it", as they do often with obvious secrets. This is a "major secret", which is absolutely necessary to be kept hidden. There don't be even rumours, cause otherwise this "gamechanger" wouldn't work any longer and the whole season - or more, as long as they intend to integrate FFs - collapses.

Now, 3 episodes further, this idea gets increasingly stronger. As "Andok" writes, there's a pattern. All FFs show the same picture: Nothing good ever happens to all those, who have FFs. Not only, that the FFs show, that their greatest fears and what they fight their whole life, not to become (a drunk, again a torturer, like the father, a prisoner, a mother, a madman), came true, there is even no evolving in their charakter. The FFs show only, what we already know about the Losties. They show the status quo, the point of development until now, where the real time events on the island take place.

The quintessence of every FF is: Stay on the island! Isn't that exactly, what Ben wants? All the FFs look like, as they are Bens wishes, that prove itself true just in the right moment.

The FFs are similar to all the other dreams and visions, we've seen on the show. The "entrance" to the mind of a person with a dream, vision or FF is a very strong emotion.

Is it such a strange idea to think, that Bens ability includes "sending" Jack in TTLG some "keywords", that Jack forced to think about the future, just like thoughts, you can't get out of your head? So Jack himself "produced" a FF, slightly directed by Ben (Alex: "That's what my father does. He manipulates people." - 'The man from Tallahassee') only by projecting Jacks greatest fears, right in that moment, when Locke failed, to prevent Jack connecting the freighter-"invaders". Jack is the "first choice" for such a FF, because he is the leader with the most influence. But his FF didn't succeed. Jack promises, to rescue all of the Losties, are stronger than his feelings about a possible horrible future. So the "second choice" of a FF is Hurley, the charming guy everyone trusted. And now, lucky for Ben, this FF works. At least partial and half of the gang joined Locke, the "defender of the island". But Ben hasn't finished his mission. There are still other Losties at the beach, who want to leave the island. Sayid, Kate ...

This is an interesting theory! And I half really want it to be true, because then the desperate, bleak future world that we see our Losties in isn't real.

But, if the Flashforwards end up not being real, then all these episodes are just a tease, and that would be super annoying. Since they only have these last 3 seasons to wrap up the entire show, I don't think they'd spend their time working on mysteries that aren't really happening.

to all of the relative newbies that are posting in this thread...The powers that be have said that these are legit flash fowards. It is not their imagination. It is about what happened to the survivors when they got off the island...come on over and over analyze the rest of our questions and lets let go of this one...lol

we need your input into the other questions lurking...

This is an interesting theory! And I half really want it to be true, because then the desperate, bleak future world that we see our Losties in isn't real.

Damon Lindelof to Doc Jensen, in a very recent interview:

We want to work toward a future where Jack is absolutely miserable and wants to go back to the Island. Everything we present to the audience has to be factual.

The producers have outright stated that the flashforward events are definite occurances. The future will not change.

Yes and on more than one occasion.

Why are the flashbacks supposed to be "memories" of the Losties? Is this written somewhere?

No worries, they're not memories. TPTB have said they are for the benefit of the viewer so we may know more about the Losties than what we are seeing in the present. They add to our perspectives and give us a chance to judge for ourselves. Interesting though how learning some are thugs, murderers and torturers hasn't stopped some of us from loving them.

Damon Lindelof to Doc Jensen, in a very recent interview:

That interview was great! No paradoxes - AMEN! :biggrin: