Twilightners Theory
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By ProfOzone
- Twilightners Theory
- Created: Apr 16, 2007
- Last updated: Aug 13, 2008
- After episode: 3.15: Left Behind
- Status: Current
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This theory is based on Chess by risebysin. You may wish to read it before continuing.
What if the story of LOST is being written in such a way as to make scientific and metaphysical explanations equally plausible?
— ProfOzone
In 2004 Clifton D. Hawk self-published a novel entitled “Twilightners”… well, a dime-store novel, really… short… not classic literature by any means, although I still recommend it for an escapist read… and in it he has a discussion on synchronicity that I’ve mentioned in some of my posts and that I still think is relevant to the plot of LOST. But thanks to my good friend risebysin, I’m realizing there may be something even more pertinent to our discussions in Hawk’s novel.
The novel takes place in a future that is, apparently, not too distant where wealthy role-players use nanotechnology to bring realism to their games. However, the level of realism still isn’t enough for some, so they go about using their high-tech special effects to trick non-players into thinking the games are real… you know… like there really are such things as ghosts and vampires and the like. Because the “civilians” don’t know it’s a game, their reactions are very spontaneous and natural and this enhances the game experience for the players.
Naturally, this is all quite illegal.
Enter three people who are all physics professors that have been friends since childhood. One seems to have been killed. The other seems to have been kidnapped. And the third seems to have been recruited by an “immortal” who wants to solve both cases. The story then attempts to keep the reader guessing as to whether or not the events being described are real or fake. That is… the reader is put in the position of trying to decide if the novel is a science fiction (nanotech wielding role-players) or a fantasy (immortal beings trying to protect humanity from a dire threat). In the case of the novel, it doesn’t seem possible for it to be both.
What if the story of LOST is being written in a similar way… so as to make scientific and metaphysical explanations equally plausible?
Take the recent revelation of the use of timed implants. Wow. How advanced is technology like that? What things could it explain that could only have been explained by paranormal theories before?
But here’s the kicker… the new reality of implants doesn’t disprove the paranormal theories. It only provides a possible alternative in some cases.
So… what if, by the end of the show, all we have is two different ways to view how events went down, both equally valid, but then the show just doesn’t tell us which one is right? The point being, of course, that it really doesn’t matter which one is right. That both science and faith are perfectly potent and legitimate methods of coping with the events that surround us. Perhaps they’re even only different flavors of the same thing.
Dunno. Perhaps that’d be kinda cool.
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Great post Prof. I like the idea of the alternative ending of either faith or science. And most of the events through the seasons can have either a practical or supernatural reason behind it. I’m more into the paranormal and supernatural side, but thats just me hehe
Good stuff, keep it up
So, for example, we think that it is miraculous that Locke can walk on the island but really instead of giving a kidney to his father, they placed an implant which can be turned on and off. If they never explain who got the implants, we could still believe it was a miracle or some of us could remember “Hey rememeber that major operation he had?….hmmmm….”
Could be both. Kinda like life, lots of way to explain things depending on your particular belief system
I confess a bias myself, 108, even though I try to be as balanced in my approach as risebysin is. But, really, a balance of opposing forces seems to be a strong theme in the show.
That’s it exactly, shell. Exactly.
“balance of opposing forces”. Its like a split in society almost, at least with out losties. Between faith and science, and I think this is a very talked about theory with Lost, but we are missing out on the say ‘social and political’ aspects of the others. If we know a bit about their beliefs than we can come to a more stable conclusion about this battle of faith vs science and how much of a role it plays on the island.
Great point. The writers are banking on people trying to fill in the blanks and we often bring our own philosophies into the discussion. I doubt any catholics are convinced there’s random chaos at play and on the flip side I doubt any physicists think it’s God’s work, and as a result we keep scratching our heads and arguing with each other. This only throws gasoline on the fire and keeps us glued to our screens.
Right on, risebysin.
Notice how these ideas are kind of the opposite of what the “there’s no real plot” theorists say. Rather, what we’re suggesting here is, not only is there a real plot… but there’s actually two plots in one!
Recall the question? Are you a man of faith or are you a man of science? What a clever ending to “Lost” that would make! There would be an answer to satisfy all viewers regardless of their stance. If the Producers see this post ProfOzone, you just may find yourself writing for them! Bravo, well done.
You are too kind, dabiatchishere. :-) I agree it would be cool if the writers were doing something similar to what C. D. Hawk did in his novel.
I think the Lost production team has interns posting on every major Lost-related site, providing misinformation and introducing crazy theories. Watch your backs!
Uh oh… risebysin is onto me…
After some intensive research I’ve discovered that ProfOzone, or as J.J. Abrams would refer to him. Pr.Of.O.Z.O.N.E., actually stands for the Pr.otector Of the O.thers’ Z.oological, N.anotechnological and O.ncological Experimentation.
I will neither confirm nor deny the claims made by risebysin.
And I have no information relating to his mysterious disappearance.
OMG ProfOzone, LMFAO
Hahaha go ProfOzone!
Prof, you’ve just rocked my world!
This is absolutely the most plausible, interesting theory about Lost that I’ve heard.
How would the audience be made aware of the dual explanations? How will the storyline make it obvious? Be having characters divide into faith/science camps? By showing a Ben monologue in which he offers dual interpretations of everything that’s happened, but not say that either is true?
Well, I had an explanation, but it was too long… so I’ll post a part two to this theory.
ProfOzone, I must admit this is a very good theory. Personally, however, I’m hoping for some Usual Suspects-type ending where the last scene is just one character suddenly seeing the connections between everything. I hope they don’t actually steal this ending though, just something that is extremely well done and sums everything up without seeming like some guy just saying, “This is why it all happened…”
Risebysin, I am a Catholic and, while I think ProfOzone’s theory is very good, I don’t think it will end up being a story where both sides can feel they were right or even one where either side ends up being right. Rather, I believe this story is a balance between the ‘opposing’ forces of science and faith. LOST will end with some union of science and faith, perhaps it will even end with some symbolic union, such as Jack and Locke uniting, or prevailing, against some common enemy.
But in the end who really knows.
Well, actually, NT, I see your idea of the “symbolic union” as being perfectly consistent with what I’m suggesting here, and I’ve suggested myself that, in the end, when everyone thinks that John and Jack are at odds with one another, it will be revealed that they’ve actually been working together. After all, we weren’t given a glimpse of John’s farewell to Jack before the gassing. The point is, there are many ways the conflict might be resolved that aren’t simply “one way or the other”. In this post all I’m really saying is that they might just leave the resolution up to the audience, and in the minds of the viewers the “union” of science and faith is definitely one option. (It’s the option I personally prefer, in fact. :-)