Thursday, April 19, 2007

Thoughts on Catch-22...

* The title Catch-22 seems to be a reference to Desmond's dilemma -- i.e., save Charlie or risk changing the future. So did Desmond affect the identity and/or fate of the parachutist by saving Charlie's life? That's not exactly how Ms. Hawking explained course corrections to him. If she's to be believed, Desmond shouldn't be able to affect the parachutist at all because the universe will just course correct...

* Is the cable in the sand how the Others have access to information feeds from the outside world?

* Interesting how Sawyer recovered his mojo in ping pong against Jack, who seemed no slouch himself despite not having played since he was twelve. Hurley was presumably a superior player to both but I wonder if Sawyer's drubbing in prior episodes wasn't partly the result of his brainwashing in the Room. I have a feeling he's a luck-maker just like Hurley (not to mention Carl) and the brainwashing film is designed to control that power...

* What language was that translation of Catch-22? My guess would be Portuguese...

* I'm now wondering if there are multiple entrances to the Island snowglobe, only some of which the Others know about and/or can access. The helicopter presumably arrived through the same conduit as the food pallet. Is there something inherently traumatic about entering Island airspace, even though Swan has been destroyed?

* Did I spy Ms. Hawking in one of the photos on the Abbot's desk?

* Is the second photo of Des and Penny that the parachutist was carrying indication that Desmond's trip through time created paradox? Recall that the photographer took only one shot and made only one copy, at least so far as we saw.

* On a related note, Doc Jensen of EW.com has suggested several times that this might actually be the Desmond Hume and Penny show. He notes, for example, that their names are contained within the letters that make up "Department of Heuristics and Research on Material Applications Initiative" (i.e., DHARMA). My radical new theory, which I'll expand upon in a subsequent post, is that Des and Penny may paradoxically be Adam and Eve, not to mention the source of this new species on the Island. Stated succinctly, activation of the Fail-Safe has given Des a panoply of psychic powers. Penny will find him, and they will somehow travel together into the past, becoming Adam and Eve. The irony is that Dharma's efforts to use Swan to prevent reproduction by a new species on the Island will paradoxically be the source of the very same species! Anyway, stay tuned for In Gott We Trust...

9 comments:

Unknown said...

The writers have suggested the tie between Des/Penny and Adam/Eve. Jack found a black rock and white rock on them in the cave, and a similar set appeared to be on a table in Desmond's trip back to the apartment (where he woke up in the spill of a can of red "Future" paint). Could be a red herring, but why...?

Anonymous said...

I don't know how far helicopters can fly without refueling, but it can't be more than a few hundred miles. The arrival of the helicopter means, to me, that Penny has mobilized a full search party and this is the first indication of it. There must be a ship nearby outside the bubble of the island.
-Aaron

Anonymous said...

Yes, portuguese.

mike said...

Interesting post. A question, though: when you say Adam and Eve are you referring to the Biblical couple? Or the bodies uncovered at the cave in Season One? (Or both?)

Annie said...

Love your blog! I read it after every episode :)

Just wanted to put this out there... don't recall if you've ever touched on this... if so, my apologies.

I'm also fairly certain Penny will find Desmond, wether it be herself or through some Portugese scientist, who's to know? But I do have a small theory as to how she was even able to do this at all. When Desmond went back in time, and realized that he had done so, the first person he seemed to seek out was a friend who seemed to be a scientist of sorts. In any case someone Desmond thought would be able to answer if time travel is possible. I believe this is the man responsible for Desmonds rescue.

During that conversation they talked about the Island, the button, the amount of time he spent there, etc... and this man also knew Penny, since he told Desmond he should spot fooling around and marry her.

When Desmond Disappeared off the face of the earth, perhaps even at his "funeral", this friend must have told Penny about this night he had spent with Desmond years ago, when Desmond had told him he had time traveled and was currently on an Island. Once flight 815 also disappeared (assuming Desmond had told his friend about the plane crash) this proves to Penny that Desmond was telling the truth, Hence begins Penny's search for Desmond.

Any thoughts?

Anonymous said...

Why would someone on a helicopter have an oxygen mask on? I don't think that they can fly that high. This whole episode was based on Genesis chapter 22.

Bigmouth said...

First of all, you people (you people?!) are rocking my world with your excellent comments -- keep 'em coming!

Dan: I completely forgot about the stones in Desmond's apartment during Flashes Before Your Eyes. Great catch! Now that you mention it, I too remember thinking at the time that it could be a red herring. In light of my current thinking, however, maybe not...

Aaron: That's a very perceptive point about the fuel limitations of helicopters. Your scenario of boats outside the bubble strikes me as highly plausible. Another possibility that I've raised previously is that one entrance or "door" might be at the coordinates of the Numbers (i.e., 4.815, 162.342). I like that because there's a small island with an airport right nearby. Perhaps the helicopter, like previous food drops, took off from that island...

Anonymous: Thanks for the linguistic clarification! That pretty much confirms that the parachutist is connected with Penny and the two Portuguese guys who were tracking the anomaly at the end of Season 2.

Mike: Thanks! I am referring to the skeletons in the cave, who I believe are the metaphorical "Adam" and "Eve" of our metaphorical "Eden." Now who do suppose will play our metaphorical "God" and "Serpent"?

Annie: Thanks! And I think your speculation regarding Desmond's friend is both brilliant and highly plausible! What's interesting is that the first time we see Penny is right after Des presumably turned the key. She has the mysterious second photo, strongly implying it's his activation of the Fail-Safe and trip into the past that creates the paradox!

Anonymous: That's a great catch re the oxygen mask. Perhaps the trip into the snowglobe can be a little...intense? Come to think of it, I wonder if it resembles Carl's experience in the room...

Annie said...

Don't mention it my friend! And by the way i've been thinking alot about Ms.Hawking being in the Abbot's picture... it's making more sense to me now why Desmond seems so sure that she was a manifestation of his subconscience...or something like that. He must have recognized her from the picture, perhaps his monk mentor's sister...just a thought:)

bigmouth said...

Annie: That's an interesting thought! It's a strange coincidence to be sure. I wonder, however, if Ms. Hawking is some kind of Chronology Protection Agent. Maybe she's kept an eye on Des over time to make sure he ends up on the Island and we don't all die!