LOST fans: Anyone think the characters are really dead and don't know it?

[liberalhistorian]

My mom and I have become devoted fans of ABC's Lost, which is surprising since we really don't watch much network TV anymore. We haven't been this involved in a TV series in a long time.

I was watching it with her last Wednesday, when she came up with a theory I'd never thought of but which is beginning to make sense. She thinks they're really dead but they don't know it, and that they could be in some form of purgatory (we're not catholic, but she just used that as an example) or something similar. I'm not sure I agree with that, but it's certainly an interesting theory I hadn't thought of before. What do you think?

[neebob]

1. No, but now that you mention it. nt

[liberalhistorian]

8. I wouldn't have thought of it either

if my mom hadn't mentioned it. One thing I just thought of, though: if they really are dead and don't know it, wouldn't they have seen their bodies like they saw the bodies of the dead passengers?

[Eric J in MN]

2. The Bill Mumy character would go to heaven, and the

evil scientist would go to Hell.

[koneko]

3. I've heard that theory

There are times when it makes TOTAL sense. It would explain a lot of things. . .

All I know is that the producers put a lot of stock into all of the imagery, down to the books the characters read. Since hearing that, I find myself wishing that I'd taped it from the beginning so I could go back & analyze it.

It is a really good show, which is refreshing.

[liberalhistorian]

5. Yes, it actually would

explain a lot of things, first and foremost how Locke is able to suddenly walk again after thirty years of being in a wheelchair. Then again, there are some other ways where the theory wouldn't make sense.

And it is, indeed, a refreshingly good, original, creative show. I especially like how they handle the flashbacks for each character, so you get to really know them for who they really were and are, and not just who they are on the island.

[russian33]

4. Never thought of it that way, but it's kind of cool

Who's the evil creatures on the island then? Dead republicans like Strom Thurmond?

[liberalhistorian]

7. LOL!

You never know! Although I can certainly think of worse hells than a beautiful island.

[kostya]

6. Neat coincidence. Just got finished watching Abre Los Ojos, a

Spanish film. It will give you yet another theory, or may make you wonder about your own reality. :) Nope, I ain't givin' none of it away!

- K

[TheDebbieDee]

9. Another theory that I've heard is that........

the events since crashing on the island and the actions of the survivors are all the workings of the doctor's delusional mind.

[liberalhistorian]

10. Now, that's something I also

hadn't heard, I suppose it's possible. The episode where he kept seeing his dead father and found fresh water after finally following the apparition would seem to give that some support.

[jessicazi]

11. I have heard of that theory before (all dead)

but a magazine, TV Guide (???) did a story on the various theories and they interviewed one of the writers, or someone in the know, who said that was not what was going on. Take it for what it's worth.

[liberalhistorian]

12. Well, writers are supposed

to say things like that, they don't give their secrets away unless they want the show to have a very short run. Of course, the writers themselves may not have decided yet what's really going on.

[boi1946]

14. I've wondered if they were all dead, too...

then, they could be all being used as experimental subjects by the scientists left on the island who are responsible for the polar bear, and other anomalies ...or it could be a governmental or alien experiment in mass hallucinations...
I've thought of so many different possibilities. It's a very thought-provoking show.

[liberalhistorian]

15. Yes, there are infinite possibilities

(I also hadn't thought of the ones you just mentioned); that's one of the things that makes it such a good show.

[henslee]

13. That would be such a contrived, convenient "out". bb

[TreasonousBastard]

16. That's a common theme...

and Sartre's "No Exit" is responsible for who knows how many "Twilight Zone" episodes.

But, although it explains a lot, it's risky to base a whole series on them being dead.

Personally, I don't think the writers have fully worked all of it out yet. This is one of those things that tends to have its own life, and, like many books and plays, the characters are driving the writers in directions they haven't thought of.

I still can't figure out how ANYBODY survived that crash. though.

[liberalhistorian]

18. Well, they survived

because it's a TV show, lol! Actually, there have been many crashes where people have survived, defying all odds. The crash in Sioux City Iowa in the late 80's is a main example; more than half of the passengers survived, many weren't even injured.

And yes, I think you're right, being a writer myself I'm well aware of how characters can take control and you just let them lead you to wherever they're going. I think that's what's happening, the writers themselves probably don't even know what's really going on, they're just letting the characters take them along. It's going to be a very interesting ride.

[Goathead]

17. The character who played Merry in LOTR

has a tattoo that says "Living is easy with eyes closed" That sounds like it supports the "their dead" theory. Either that or it means they are not seeing what they are supposed to be seeing. I am trying to uncover all the clues. I just got hooked on "Lost" I love it.