Changing the numbers
+12 12 Votes
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By JediRedeye
- Changing the numbers
- Created: Sep 19, 2007
- Last updated: Aug 14, 2008
- After episode: 3.9: Stranger in a Strange Land
- Status: Current
- Flag this theory:
“That’s what it says not what it means”
— JediRedeye
Ok guys I have been doing a lot of thinking on How they will change the numbers, or to what values they will change to. This follows in with my theories on the I Ching. Check these out if have not already.
http://www.lost-theories.com/theories/2007/sep/10/chinese-food-thought/
http://www.lost-theories.com/theories/2007/sep/11/chinese-food-thought-pt-2/
So I can’t get out of my head that the creators have said if we look closely, we have been given clues to what is going on. Well on this site that is all we look at are the clues, so again I will say that I think some of our theories are pretty damn close to their mark.
With that being said, we know that they(Hans/Middlewerk/DI) are trying to change the values of the numbers. Even changing just 1 value would be a success. Thus far none have been changed. 4 8 15 16 23 42. To me logic states that if you are going to change something you need to start at the beginning. So my guess is that they need to look at the number 4.
From the very first episode we hear about Jack’s 5 seconds of fear. Kate starts using the countdown when she is being chased by Smokie. We also hear her say it other times when she gets the fear. The number 5 is very striking on Jacks shoulder. We see it all the time as Jack has a liking for the Larry the Cabler Guy look, going sleeveless throughout most of the first season. The Woman from the Others(can’t remember her name) that starts reading Jack’s tatoo, also asks if he knows what it mean. She takes a great interest in it and at the end of the episode tells him what it says. Jack replies “Thats what it says not what it means”. Getting off track here sorry. I don’t think it’s the Chinese script that is the important part of the tatoo but the 5 itself is the key.
The best place to hide something is in plain sight. I think the creators have given us a big clue here. Not so much as the how or why but the who. Jack our fearless leader is forever being told by Locke that “you’re not supposed to do this, or it wasn’t supposed to happen like this.” What if all of these little events that Jack is “not supposed to do” are slowly changing the value of 4 in the beginning of our sequence. We still have a ways to go to find out but I do believe that we will see Jack as the catalyst that changes the value of one of the numbers. When he acts he does it with the best intentions, whether they are the best choice or not, well that remains to be seen. I think the 5 on his shoulder represents far more than 5 seconds of fear, as he stats. As Jack said before about his other tat “That’s what it says not what it means” I think the creators have given us one of the biggest plot clues and character foreshadowing right from the very first episode.
Thanks guys for the read, I would love some feed back to see what you all think.
Key episodes
| # | Title | Aired | Central character | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.22 | Through The Looking Glass | 5-23-2007 | Jack | 1252 |
| 3.9 | Stranger in a Strange Land | 2-21-2007 | Jack | 126 |
| 3.2 | The Glass Ballerina | 10-11-2006 | Sun, Jin, Jae | 201 |
| 1.18 | Numbers | 3-2-2005 | Hurley | 113 |
I really like this theory - it’s different and gives us something to think about. I never thought about changing the numbers before.
Good theory :)
I think it is a brilliant idea JediRedeye.
If we get a flashback of when Jack actually gets that part of the tattoo it could be a huge clue.
Check the screenshots of Jack when he was in Thailand with Achara.
http://www.lostpedia.com/wiki/Tattoo
http://www.lostpedia.com/wiki/StrangerinaStrangeLand
The Other who commented was the “Sheriff” or Isabel.
Good idea but I wouldn’t put a lot of stock into Jack’s tattoo being a clue. Mathew Fox got that tattoo when he was on Party of 5 (that’s what the 5 is referencing) and the Producers said on the Season 1 DVD bonus materials that they were close to covering it up but decided that having the tattoo show gave the character a little bit of a rough edge they hadn’t considered for the character before. If they really wanted to use it as a clue would they have been close to covering it up? The idea of changing the numbers is good but the 5 on Jack’s arm is meaningless as far as Lost goes.
emzi , Sham Thanks guys
kat; I agree that synchronicity is very much a part of what is going on and with the Losties right in the middle of it. As for the Hatch detonation and the equation being insignificant now, The hatch is insignificant, but the equation remains the same they just need a new source for the input, ie: the Losties. I think by not acting within the pattern is where the numbers will end up changing.
Jukin: According to the producers they we going to kill Jack in the Pilot and have Kate lead the Losties. I understand that the 5 came from his Party of 5 days but I think due to the changes with in the writing of the show from S1-S3, I think we will see some greater meaning behind it. Writers are always looking for source material and this is LOST. I do think we can expect to hear more about it in the episodes to come.
And they were going to off Ben as well until the series exploded.
So now the writers have to come up with something that works.
Don’t be surprised if the writers are reading what we a discussing right now.
Namaste
Sham if you’re right I’d like to suggest that they write in a part for a guy from New Jersey that’s about 40ish and an architect who hooks up with Kate on a regular basis. it would also be smart if the guy had a name like…. oh I don’t know… let’s say Jukin! That would really make this show rock!! :)
LOl! I hear ya Jukin.
Let’s write ourselves into the script.
Wouldn’t it be nice?
yes it would be nice.
Jukin, that is great! I would like to see them use my t-shirt on the show that says ” we’re all here because we’re not all there” I live on an island in the Caribbean and it’s very befitting the populous here.
Back to the post. I also wanted to point out that in Stranger in a Strange Land they went through some effort to cover up the 5 when showing Achara putting his tat on. like it was his first. And I feel that through that action they are intergrating it into the details of the show.
I really like the idea (especially as I just changed your plus 4 to a plus 5—hope that means I’m in tune with the synchronic). I do think the numbers are still going to play a role even though they aren’t being entered into the computer on the island anymore. For one thing I wonder if they are still being used off island by Widmore and Paik in some kind of control of the markets and “futures.” That might play into the flashforward stories, as well as whatever happens when the boat lands.
I like that idea jaz, about Wimore using the numbers in the outside world. I would like to see some Penny/Widmore/Paik flashbacks in the upcoming episodes. I do think the numbers are coming back into play down the line as the rest of the show unfolds.
Jedi: Great theory, +1. Lovin the fact that you brought the numbers up again, and with a new twist!
The numbers seemed to play such an important part in the first two seasons, I just can’t imagine that they won’t be revisited again in future episodes. That would seem like a letdown to me.
Great theory Jedi +1
Yes, I like it too, Jedi; very original!
Jedi: This is a great theory! You definitely are on the right track! I concur with Kat, that synchronicity goes hand in hand with the numbers. +1
Jedi, I just remembered Naomi’s tattoo. We can see 4 squares on her right shoulder (although there could be more we can’t see).
http://www.lostpedia.com/wiki/Image:Naomi.Tattoo.jpg
Maybe she was sent by the “bad guys” to make sure the first number remains 4?
Just a thought. :)
LOL… a little spy paranoia for the a.m. Check this… what if the writers of LOST are the trolls on this site? Giving -1s to theories they don’t want us to uncover just yet, burying them so people won’t read them… letting some good ones slip by because they want them to be uncovered at this point etc.
Can’t say I’d ever picked up on that before, so a great post Jedi. +1 and it’s about time someone came up with something new to do with the numbers so Bravo!
I had always associated your username with star wars but after reading that you live on a Caribbean island my mind leans towards another explanation! LOL! if so then ‘through the looking glass’ doesn’t just apply to LOST as you have your counterpart here in London :-)
also you left a thread (latin on the blast door map) & asked 4 a link but I wasn’t sure exactly what you meant? I’m pretty sure you have toggled the map on the link you posted & seen the latin either on it’s own or it’s placing with all the other stuff removed? anyway, well done on an interesting post Jedi.
Jedi, I think the idea of a solution to the VEquation being found thru the Losties (you specifically point to Jack) is very creative. I’m not sure if it holds though because the numbers were being transmitted long before flight 815 crashed on the island.
But maybe Jack and gang are part of someone’s “Plan B” ?
What has always fascinated me about the numbers is why have them input to a computer? If their purpose is to discharge the electromagnetic build up, why not just have a discharge button? Why enter a series of numbers UNLESS THE numbers MEAN something TO THE computer?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%98rsted_(satellite)
If the island is the source of the possible cataclysmic event that could destroy the world, then maybe the numbers represent several things: lat/long coordinates, time spans, variability fluctuation, Telsa energy buildup - all of the key variables involved in the Orsted satellite’s mission or functional operation. A lot of the numbers are coincidentally involved in the Orsted’s technical specs:
http://www.lost-theories.com/theories/2006/dec/16/magnetosphere/
Could be fun to ramble on this one…..