This came to me while I was on the train this morning, listening to the latest Lost podcast, in which it was pointed out that it was significant that Charlotte has a PhD in cultural anthropology from Oxford.
What if…
…they're not in Hell or purgatory, which has already been denied by the producers, but they're in Hades?
Not actual "they're dead" Hades, but what the ancient Greeks might have discovered and modelled Hades on in their myths.
Consider the evidence:
- The four-toed statue of a giant that looked a bit Greek (the Titans imprisoned in Tartarus)
- The Hydra station, the Hydra being a beastie that Herakles killed in one of his labours. An allusion by the Dharma Initiative to the island's history?
- The fact you have to cross a body of water to get to the island (à la the River Styx)
- There are dead people walking around on the island
- There's only one way onto the island and one way off (bearing 315), much like the hidden passage to Hades. And you mustn't look back (ie change course) or else everything goes pear-shaped
- There's a monster with many heads and a snake like tail (Cerebus/the smoke monster) that guards parts of the island
- The island cures ills (cf the Styx making you invulnerable)
- You can't have a baby on the island (no new life in Hades)
- There are different regions on the island, some good, some bad (Elysium, Tartarus, etc)
- The original others who appear never to age (the Olympian gods, etc)
Anyway, someone's probably already come up with the theory before, and I've yet to work obols and pomegranates into it. But I thought it was an interesting possibility all the same.
March 28, 2008 | Reply
That's a pretty damn interesting theory. I like it.
That's what I love about LOST. It's fun to come up with these theories and think that you're right and then see how your theory plays out for good or for bad in coming episodes. It's so much more than just an hour long.
(Look at this guy for example. He's obviously spent WAAAY to much time thinking his theory up to have much of life but bizarrely it's compelling reading even if it has a few glaring holes)
http://timelooptheory.com/
March 28, 2008 | Reply
AHW Rob! Now I'm going to have to trawl the interviews with JJ Abrams et al to find out if they have debunked any of these before! Sheesh.
Actually its not a bad theory, but I'm still more of a fan of the lost in time/back in time theory. I'm surprised noone on the island has said 'Bermuda Triangle' or similar yet? Unless I missed it?
March 29, 2008 | Reply
Oh and if you want a really really really thought out possible explanation look at this!
http://timelooptheory.com//the_timeline.htm
*blimey*
March 29, 2008 | Reply
Is there an echo in here? ;)
True, that theory is REALLY thought out though...
March 30, 2008 | Reply
The moral of this story.. never post while drinking beer!
March 30, 2008 | Reply
Great theory! Like it :)
March 31, 2008 | Reply
Very good theory, probably too good for Lost. Much as I've loved it this year I still expect it to ultimately be a crushing anti-climax.
March 31, 2008 | Reply
You're all very kind. I'd like to be right. However, 90% of all my theories about everything turn out to be wrong. My favourite worst theory ever was my Isaiah Washington is the next bionic man theory. Seemed logical, turned out to be pure arse.