Desmond didn’t change anything!
+3 5 Votes
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By emzi
- Desmond didn’t change anything!
- Created: Mar 3, 2008
- Last updated: Aug 14, 2008
- After episode: 3.22: Through The Looking Glass
- Status: Current
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I think that when Desmond went back to 1996 those events did actually already happen.
— emzi
I haven’t posted a theory on this site in a while, but that’s mainly because I can never think of anything good or interesting. I think now though, I have. I apologise if this has been posted on a similar level already. Feel free to let me know of any similar theories to this. :)
I think the events that are happening with Desmond and his going from 2004-1996, are very similar to those in the film, The Butterfly Effect (one of my favourite films!).
I think that when Desmond went back to 1996 those events did actually already happen, but like Evan in The Butterfly Effect he’d suffer “blackouts” at a certain point when he was coming back from the future.
So, the whole story of Desmond going to see Daniel in 1996, going to see Penny’s father, going to see Penny herself, all those events I think did happen anyway, it’s just that Desmond suffered “blackouts” whilst these events happened.
Isn’t it true that Desmond got kicked out of the Army? Could it be because he’d suffered these “blackouts” and couldn’t remember what had happened to him, therefore the Army saw him as unfit to carry out his duties?
It does also explain why Penny has been looking for Desmond for 3 years! (We already know Penny was looking for him before he went back to 1996).
And the reason Daniel may have forgotten his encounter with Desmond is because of all the radiation his head has been exposed to - it’s bound to have some sort of effect on him (i.e. forgetfulness!)
Key characters
| Short Name | Full Name | Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desmond | Desmond David Hume | 2.23, 3.17, 4.5 | 858 |
Key episodes
| # | Title | Aired | Central character | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.22 | Through The Looking Glass | 5-23-2007 | Jack | 1252 |
| 3.8 | Flashes Before Your Eyes | 2-14-2007 | Penny | 233 |
Key locations
| Theme | Relevant Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|
| The Swan station | 2.20, 2.23, 2.14, 2.17, 2.1, 2.2, 1.11, 3.3, 3.8 | 469 |
I agree with your overall point: the past happened and Desmond simply fulfilled it.
Remember when he first met Brother Campbell, the monk? He describes how he just ‘woke up’ in the street with no idea how he got there, and Campbell was standing over him. That anecdote, for me, confirms what The Constant was all about.
I’m not sure the blackouts were why he got kicked out of the army, though. He ended up in prison and branded a coward, so I think that story has a little more to it. . .!
+1
Emzi, Desmond from 1996 came 2004 (and dislodged 2004 Des) not the other way round. That’s why Des was confused in 2004 and didn’t know who anybody was etc. His 1996 self was bouncing around between the two times his 2004 self didn’t.
Why would Des have gone to see Daniel and Penny in the original timeline?
the butterfly effect is a really good film. i myself have been thinking about it since watching lost. maybe your right, i have been wandering what is going on with des since the hatch emploded, why didnt locke or echo get these flashes also? its all a bit strange really isnt it? nice thought dude
Thanks for all your comments :)
AngeloComet, I’d forgotten that Desmond went to prison. Maybe they will show why in a future Desmond episode (I hope!).
Lojozz, Des went to see Daniel and Penny in the original timeline because Daniel from the future told him to. And when Desmond did go back to 1996 from the freighter, Desmond in 1996 blacked it out so he has no recollection of it.
I referenced The Butterfly Effect because that is exactly what happens in that film. Evan has blackouts when he’s a kid, it turns out that these blackouts where when Evan from the future was taking over his youngerself.
I know the Desmond on the freighter is in the mind of 1996 Desmond, but what I’m saying is these events have already happened, it’s just that Desmond blacked them out and has no recollection of it.
I totally agree with you. I was thinking the exact thing, and ive never seen the butterfly effect. I think Des going to prison is connected to the flashes and such. Maybe he got charged for going AWOL (i don’t even know if you can go to prison for that). He did just pick up and leave to go find penny without permission. And was it these flashes that led him to the race which in turn would lead him to the island, which he already knew he was going to do. ?? One more thing to think about, when Des was training and met jack he said “see you in another life brother” I always new this was significant. Is it possible that Des remembers Jack from the future and knows they will meet up again.
Actually macneil Desmond did have the freedom to leave the barracks. When he rang Penny from the pay phone he said that he wanted to see her and that he has two days leave starting. So Desmond was not AWOL but using this leave to travel to Oxford.