Wednesday, July 15, 2009

LT282: The Perception Theory Expands

PARTY OVER

Well the confetti has been swept up and the cake is all eaten. I’m talking about the celebration for 15,000 hits on LOST TIDBITS!

So, let’s get back to the analysis of LOST. Specifically, the Perception Theory. As you have read, the idea is that the prop errors we have noticed are not errors but clues. The clue is that it depends on our perception. When we see a prop error it means there are two (or more) timelines that are close, but not quite the same.


THE LOOP THAT MATTERS

As I was pondering the Perception Theory an idea hit me: what if we have seen the final loop? Is there a prop error-like scene that shows us the perception that explains the final outcome?

I propose there is such a scene and that is John Locke’s sweat lodge dream.

First, recall (or go back a few posts and revisit) that we noticed that stairs seemed to play a role in all this. For example, the prop error of choice is Miles going up and down the stairs as the picture frames change. Or when Boone has the vision of his nanny falling up the stairs and down the stairs. Well, John’s dream sequence is a) with Boone and b) involving stairs. Ok, the stairs are escalators, but work with me.

Let’s take a quick look at a few points in this post…


WHEELCHAIR

In the dream, John is told he will need his wheelchair. Why? I believe it is because that is how the final loop will end for John. Once in the wheelchair, always in a wheelchair. Fate will course correct – not as in improved walking skills for Mr. Locke, but back to where he was destined to be.


DESMOND

One of the more interesting things about John’s dream is that Desmond is shown as a pilot. Recall in previous posts we mentioned the title of episodes may have been a clue, specifically the first one, “The Pilot”. Could the clue be Desmond will end up being an aircraft pilot? He does seem to be on the fringe of the Survivors instead of tightly integrated with them.

As a side note, one reader reminded me that I forgot one pilot to mention: the pilot of the Black Rock. Oh yes, that person has to figure into the story to support the Perception Theory! Good catch!


NEXT ON TIDBITS

This should generate some conversation! Let me know what you think. Next time out we will take a look closer at the dream and the other outcomes for our Survivors as well any evidence to support this Perception Theory.

If you enjoyed the post, please consider clicking on the ad for me.

Thanks for reading!

Enjoy,
KC

LT281: 4, 8, and Now 15

THANK YOU

Today LOST TIDBITS received its 15,000 visitor! As you know the Numbers are my threshold, so it is a nice level to hit. And the thanks goes to you, the readers, for making it happen!

I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than for each person to click one ad for me! HA! I'm so close to that threshold of getting my first check after 14 months and 280 postings.

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Oh, you can expect a "real" post later today!

Thanks so much for reading!

KC

Sunday, July 12, 2009

LT280: Cloud Thoughts

Cloud Thoughts are those times when you lie on your back, look up at the clouds passing by overhead and just think about random stuff. One such thought was about the timing of the personnel in the Swan Hatch…


SWAN STAFF

We’ve met Stuart Radzinsky in 1977. In at least in one time loop Radzinsky was a button-pusher in the Swan Hatch. He was there long enough to be partnered with Kelvin Joe Inman.

It is estimated that Kelvin arrived after the Purge, so let’s say late 1992. Kelvin was previously a military member stationed in Iraq during the Persian Gulf War. This is where he crosses paths with Desmond.

My cloud thought is this: could Radzinsky have EVER made it through 1992? If so, this means the Swan Hatch gets built instead of blown-up by Juliet’s rock-inducing explosion. My other cloud thought is: doesn’t that cloud on the left look a little like the Jughead bomb?


THE PERCEPTION THEORY

When giving this theory some consideration, I happened to be looking for that scene with Miles going up and down the staircase where the picture frames changed. It seemed the episode titles might be some clues for this theory. Here’s some examples:

The Pilot – as you are probably aware, the first show in a series is called the “pilot episode”. Not even sure where this term comes from, but we are left wondering if Season 1, Episode 1 is a “pilot episode” or if the pilot episode is entitled, “The Pilot”.

From my perception, it seems the answer is “The Pilot” – as in a capital “P”. It is about the guy flying the plane. I’m thinking that all crafts that have crashed on the Island are operated by persons who are pilots. Planes for sure. Hot air balloons, I’m pretty sure they are called pilots. Does one pilot a ship?

Our list of pilots include: Desmond Hume, Henry Gale, Seth Norris aboard Oceanic 815, pilot on the staged Oceanic aircraft, pilot of the Coast Guard transport plane with the Oceanic 6 aboard, and Frank Lapidus who piloted two aircraft so far – the helicopter and Ajira 316.

From my perception, I think the person piloting the aircraft is a major clue.

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Orientation – these falls right into the Perception Theory nicely for your orientation affects your perception.

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Whatever Happened, Happened – I wonder if this title is not one of the biggest clues. In terms of the Perception Theory, it seems this title explains only one of the perceptions. For example, notice the used of the past tense. Both sides of the statement are in the past. Only from the perception of looking back would this be true.

In thinking about this episode title, it seems the proper title should have been “Whatever Happens, Happened”. In other words, the things going on now (and in the future) are predestined to occur. In fact, there is nothing clever or noteworthy of saying, “what happened yesterday has already happened”. That’s a big Duh! So instead of just being obvious, I think it is a major clue.

From my perspective the title is really saying that whatever happened to a) an individual in b) one of several time loops did actually occur for those two conditions. But it in no way precludes from other things happening for other people at other times. Clear? HA!


THE MAGAZINE

I was hoping the official LOST magazine that came out last month would be great, but was a bit disappointed. It celebrates the 100th episode of LOST and happened to be edition number 23 – so you can see why my hopes were high.

If I tried real hard to find some interesting angle it would be that the focused on the episode, “The Variable”. They even have two editions and the variable is the cover where Locke and Ben are found on the special edition. Maybe that one contains a bit more. I’ll keep you posted if I find something.


NEXT ON TIDBITS

Send me an email or leave a comment if you have a discussion topic you would like researched or discussed. On Wednesday’s post, you will find my proposed Perception Theory end game!



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Enjoy,
KC