A World Without Lost Island, Jacob, or MIB…
Written 30th March
I find it interesting that the Losties fates (in the ATL) while still interwined with each other either seem to be 180 degrees to the original timeline fates, or vary slightly, or vary immensely. Seems like Sayid is still longing for Nadia, but cannot have her and she cannot have him. Keamy is still a thug, and dies violently at the hands of someone he has threatened. Kate is on the run again (as usual). Clair still has Aaron and is still helped by Kate. Sun is still involved with Jin, but not married to him this time. Jin is still apparently abusive (as we saw in Season 1) and still running “mafia” errands for Sun’s father. Jack has still lost his father recently, but is not an alchoholic or popping pills anymore. He also seems to be at peace with the relationship he had with his father, and also seems to be a good dad. Of course, the fact that he has a son now is interesting and definitely different. Hurley is still mega rich, but believes he is blessed not cursed. He is happy and appears well adjusted. Christian is still dead, and still a lost corpse apparently. Ben appears well-adjusted and cares about others (his Dad and Alex) in a way we never saw before. Roger Linus lives to old age and has Ben to care for him. Desmond is a ghost now possibly. Sawyer is a cop now, but still hunting down Sawyer as before. Charlie Pace seems exactly the same (drug addicted). Boone was not successful in extricating his sister out of her relationship, so Shannon’s life must also be different. Bernard and Rose seem to be exactly the same as before (happy loving couple with Rose still dying of cancer). Dogen is able to enjoy his son’s performing at the piano competition. And Locke while still crippled physically, seems to be well adjusted and accepting of his handicap. He also ended up married to his love and has some sort of relationship with his father, based on the dialogue we have heard.
So the main thing I get from the ATL fates compared to the original off island fates of the Losties is that circumstances in a world without the island (and Jacob + MIB) for at least some of the characters were different enough in the past to enable some of them to lead good lives (Jack, Locke, Hurley, Ben Linus, Roger Linus, Dogen). For others, nothing seems to have gotten either better or worse (Rose/Bernard, Keamy, Claire, Kate, Christian, Sayid, Jin, Sun), just circumstantially a bit different.
A world without Lost Island, Jacob, or MIB in it seems to have made a big positive difference for some of the characters, while not much for the others. I think we will see that the current/future actions of the island’s candidates have an impact on what we are seeing in the ATL. Perhaps Jacob’s near-end game is to be able to identify those who were able to improve their karma, as it were. For what purpose I haven’t a clue! Perhaps we have yet to see Jacob have the ability to “time line” jump and interact with the un-Losties. Maybe ATL Locke will somehow be able to kick MIB’s smokie butt and save everyone, as it was foretold earlier that he would. Personally, I would love to see such a finale!
