Incident theory
We know the Swan is being considered/built and it has to to w/electromagnetic blah-blah-blah. We know that the body Miles picked up in the jungle like they did it every day died ‘cuz his filling was pulled out and ripped through his brain/bone. We know they say you had to press that button to let some electromagnitism go once in awhile down in the hatch, and we know the hatch door had the numbers on them.
Doubting the electromagnatism was that strong pre-Dharma, maybe they do something – either uncover or cover for example – in this quest that causes ‘the incident’ and the electromagnetic stuff has to be manually discharged. The numbers used were the ones on the hatch ‘cuz they would be easy to remember and 108 is as good as another number – it’s just for ease of remembering.
Hurley’s mentally ill friend just recites the numbers ‘cuz he the stress of using them all the time drove him a little nutty and this habit is what he broadcast when people could hear the numbers on the transmitter.
They send most people away (especially the kiddies) as they try to fix the problem.
Somehow this keeps them from having kids – except Carl. No one knows from where he came. Anyway, the inability to have kids is why Ben couldn’t bear to off baby Alex.
Are you saying Hurley’s mentally ill friend was Dharma. You said he used the numbers. in “Numbers”, I believe Leonard says he heard the transmission of the numbers over and over. It makes you wonder why the numbers were being transmitted.
Hopefully we’ll get a “Numbers 2” episode sometime in the future.
I think it is likely they uncover something that triggers off the electromagnetism and this is what is pulling metal about and requires them funneling off that energy build up in order to stave off a major incident.
I do think the numbers are significant, and not just for ease of remembering. They add to up 108, and the leak is secure for 108 minutes. If they could have used any numbers, why not 99 99 99 99 99 99 or numbers that secure the leak for longer than 108 minutes? They were obviously restricted in some way in choosing the numbers.
Good question about Karl … where did he come from? Maybe they brought a mom and son on the island for DI in 1988? hmm … something to think about.
The numbers remain one of the largest mysteries on Lost I too have no doubt they are very relevant, and have deeper meaning.
I think the Incident is Hurley’s attempt to destroy the Swan. He thinks that if he can destroy it, the plane will never crash there. What can they use to destroy it? Jughead!!
The Hostiles buried it, and they want the Swan destroyed too b/c it is in their territory, and DHARMA broke the truce.
Thoughts?
As I’ve said before, I think it’s coincidental that a satellite orbits the earth in 108 minutes. I believe there’s a conncection there.
This alters my theory, but adds info …
After rewatching the Orchard Orientation Buttercherries references http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gERdALb5vQ&feature=related I noted 2 things I think are Incident related.
1) Chang’s still got his arm.
2) He’s not shocked there could be double #15 bunnies.
3) He IS concerned, though, and says ‘Don’t let them NEAR each other’
4) He also says, “When did you set the shift?” (-20) “How long?” (9 minutes) So they must have been doing experiments right then. (think they were gonna’ show it in the orientation vid?)
The Orchid has to do w/time travel – so we assume there’s 2 bunnies ‘cuz one traveled upon itself – but just before they see 15#2 it looks like something falls from the sky (another bunny? a minor flash like Sawyer, etc. endured?) But, how did 15#2 end up so high on the shelf? Were they gonna’ put him there in 9 minutes but are ‘just learning?”
I think every number symbolizes some sort of equation importance. “4” has its meaning, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42. Maybe “15” has an important factor specifically with time travel. And ya, the numbers add up to 108, which may have an overall importance of its own and Faraday may have supplied these numbers.