Now that I’m almost completely out of time I thought I’d float out a new thought. I was rewatching the Season 5 premiere again and I noticed something interesting. Sawyer, Juliet, Daniel, Miles and Charlotte go for a jaunt into the jungle. They go searching for The Swan to verify what year it is (a useless idea since they have a flash once before they get there and another while they’re leaving). Through Locke’s story we know that at the point when they get to the Swan it is 2007, after Ajira crashes on the Island. Richard met him in that episode under “Locke”‘s direction. What caught my eye was the condition of The Swan.
This is a picture of the blown up Swan in the Season 5 Premiere. This is not the same imploded Swan that we’ve seen before. (Sorry it’s so dark.)
Here is a picture of the imploded Swan as we last saw it in Season 3
Now I understand that creating a set like that would be hard to recreate exactly, but they didn’t even come close. Look at that picture again, all you can see is scrap metal . Last time we saw it there was nothing left but the pit.
You can probably see where I’m going with this. The exploded Swan that we see in that flash looks very much like the Swan as we see it at the end of Season 5, in The Incident. Is it possible that they are in the same condition? Is the 2007 that we’ve come to know the actual present? Juliet intended to change the past by blowing up The Swan, perhaps she succeeded and everything that happened since Ajira landed was what actually happened.
Whoa, I’m starting to lose track of reality. Here’s what I’m trying to say. It’s kinda like our heroes were skipping around on a record, but in that scene they jumped on to a totally different record, a record they created when Juliet blew up The Swan.
I find this little theory comforting because it means that what happened in those scenes wasn’t totally erased. As sad as it was to see “Locke” take over Locke, and to see Jacob die, it was still very significant and I don’t want to have to go through that again.
– izi
Not Confused Just Lost 
Interesting theory, for sure. But I doubt that’s why we see a “different” Swan than the first time it imploded. While the image is clearly different, I’m betting it’s just a “oops” moment by the CG staff. When we first saw the Swan implode (Season 3) you can see parts of the structure in the pit. And if you think about it, there’s still the external door that’s at ground level. So somewhere there has to be a hallway or something that survived. I’d guess the Swan we see in Season 5 is well after the implosion, but maybe with some more debris in it from rains, landslides, etc. Who knows, maybe Rose and Bernard use it as a trash pit?
Haha, stop being so reasonable. You’re ruining my fun. No, I kid. You’re probably right.
Even if I am right and this is a different exploded hatch it still makes no difference, I was just hoping to stir up some fun before the premiere.
I’ve had my own theory that I’ve been meaning to post up here, involving the “changed” future being the present we’re already in, just no involving the Swan.
My theory was that the timeline has changed, and that the people in the “present” last season (Sun, Frank, Ben, the Ajira people) are currently in the changed future. The Dharma town that they went to did not look the same as when we last saw it. The Others had been using it for years, and a few of the buildings were blown up. When Sun and Frank reached it, there were still many Dharma signs and banners, and the windows were boarded up as if it had been abandoned on purpose, and not fled from in terror. Also the infirmary did not look like it had when the Others were in control. This might also explain the “flash” that we see form the Ajira cockpit, where they were flying at night, and then approached the island in broad daylight. What this means for the rest of the people from 1977 I don’t quite have an idea for yet.
Good to hear from you Bones.
I totally agree with you. I can’t see the writers discarding all of what has happened since Ajira 316 crashed. It would be totally nonsensical if we lost all of that plot development.
The one wet blanket I will throw on this theory – why does Ben not seem to notice any of these “changes”?
I agree it is an interesting theory, and if I had the mindpower to think the theory through properly just now I would be joining in the “yes, and” gang, but for now that’s all I’ve got – why doesn’t Ben react more strongly to this ‘changed’ Dharma?
This I hadn’t thought of, you’re right. I mean Alex’s room is the same to him, and we still see Hurley’s Risk game. But some things are definitely different, I don’t get why so much Dharma stuff is still around. It seems like some kind of alternate reality, if not completely changed. Who knows, none of us are ever right anyway hahaha.
Now I’ve woken up a little bit, I’m beginning to remember – things have ALWAYS been out of place / changing in Lost. Like this:
http://lostcontinuity.blogspot.com/2007/04/bens-fridge.html
In “The Man From Talahasse” we clearly see the contents of Ben’s fridge completely change. Now, there should be no practical reason for this continuity change – why would the crew need to move the contents around, even if filming was broken up between scenes.
Also, in Season 4 when we continually return to the scene with Ben, Sun, Jack, Sayid, Kate and Aaron at the waterfront, where Ben convinces Sun and Jack to go with him back to the island, Kate splits with Aaron and Sayid says something along the lines of “GTFO”, the dialogue changes. I can’t remember off the top of my head, but it is something like:
1st time – Sayid: “And if I see you again I will kill you.”
2nd time – Sayid: “And if I see any of you again I will kill him.”
3rd time – Sayid: “I will kill you the next time we meet.”
I can’t find the exact quotes, but it is something along those lines.
So these “continuity errors” have been around for some time – I began cataloguing them after the ‘waterfront’ incident but I found it hard to seperate what was genuine error (the Claire-esque crew member accidentally visible in a scene, making it seem like Claire was a ghost) and what could be a timeline/storyline issue.
I’m sorry for the vagueness – it’s been a while since I’ve had to really think about Lost – it’ll all come back to me once Season 6 begins 😀