A (bad) attempt at explaining why Desmond didnt recognise Faraday.

[TheDharmaShark]

Bear with me here

Ok so the basics are - due to the side effects Desmond's 1996 consciousness became unstuck in time and travelled to 2004. His 2004 consciousness however, was suppressed, and his 1996 mindset remained, hence why he had no clue what was going on.

Now, is it possible that when Desmond found his constant, his two consciousness synchronised? As Rocco (I think) said in another thread, Des seemed to be filled with an optimistic sense of purpose after leaving Penny's house. Also, as we saw in the 2x01 flashbacks and 2x23/24 flashbacks, Desmond seems to be a optimistic character (pre-Island/hatch). Is this because he was filled with an unexplainable sense of purpose? In 1996 (after finding his constant in 2004) he doesn't consciously acknowledge becoming unstuck in time, because finding his constant allowed his mind to make sense of things, to differentiate between the two times. Therefore, his memories of travelling forward in time to 2004 were suppressed, much like his 2004 consciousness was suppressed when the side effects took place.

This is a bit of a stab I know, but I've been trying since Thursday to make any sort of sense to all this

[Reed]

Originally Posted by TheDharmaShark

Bear with me here

Ok so the basics are - due to the side effects Desmond's 1996 consciousness became unstuck in time and travelled to 2004. His 2004 consciousness however, was suppressed, and his 1996 mindset remained, hence why he had no clue what was going on.

Now, is it possible that when Desmond found his constant, his two consciousness synchronised? As Rocco (I think) said in another thread, Des seemed to be filled with an optimistic sense of purpose after leaving Penny's house. Also, as we saw in the 2x01 flashbacks and 2x23/24 flashbacks, Desmond seems to be a optimistic character (pre-Island/hatch). Is this because he was filled with an unexplainable sense of purpose? In 1996 (after finding his constant in 2004) he doesn't consciously acknowledge becoming unstuck in time, because finding his constant allowed his mind to make sense of things, to differentiate between the two times. Therefore, his memories of travelling forward in time to 2004 were suppressed, much like his 2004 consciousness was suppressed when the side effects took place.

This is a bit of a stab I know, but I've been trying since Thursday to make any sort of sense to all this

Not sure if what I am about to say relates because it is confusing stuff but I got the impression Desmond could not FULLY remember his conscience from 2004 but he knew enough to find Faraday and Penny.

Though at times he seemed to be the same person in both 1996 and 2004, so I cannot really say what he is thinking after he walks away from Penny's flat. Either an unexplained sense of purpose or he specifically knew why he felt so content. It confuses me quite frankly.

I would imagine his consciousness did infact synchronise in BOTH times but to argue against this is the idea it only synchronised in 2004 because it is a newer time and it can only synchronise in ONE time. He was stuck in 1996 on The Freighter and so perhaps '1996 Desmond' in the flashbacks cannot remember the Island?

Do you suppose that after finding his Constant that Desmond got his memory back at the end when he shook Sayid's hand. I am confusing myself now.

[The Wizard]

I think he did get his memory back at the end because he told Penny that he had been on an island when previously he didn't know anything about the island, and then he called Sayid by his name. Then when Sayid asked him if he was ok, he said "I'm perfect" or at least I think that's what he said...

[Reed]

Originally Posted by The Wizard

I think he did get his memory back at the end because he told Penny that he had been on an island when previously he didn't know anything about the island, and then he called Sayid by his name. Then when Sayid asked him if he was ok, he said "I'm perfect" or at least I think that's what he said...

I thought he only knew of the Island because he had heard others talking about it and he knew Sayid's name the same way. While "I'm perfect" was probably just a sigh of relief that he had just saved his life. Then again, after finding his Constant, presumably he fixed his mind and regained his memory.

[The Wizard]

I don't think he did hear anyone else say Sayid's name because he wasn't around when the freighties asked him his name... also just because he heard people talking about an island doesn't mean he was on it.

[Reed]

Originally Posted by The Wizard

I don't think he did hear anyone else say Sayid's name because he wasn't around when the freighties asked him his name... also just because he heard people talking about an island doesn't mean he was on it.

Perhaps he put two and two together, i.e. that he had just arrived by helicopter. True, he did not appear to hear anyone say Sayid's name but it was just the way he said "thank you, Sayid", it was like he did not know him.

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted by TheDharmaShark

Bear with me here

Ok so the basics are - due to the side effects Desmond's 1996 consciousness became unstuck in time and travelled to 2004. His 2004 consciousness however, was suppressed, and his 1996 mindset remained, hence why he had no clue what was going on.

Now, is it possible that when Desmond found his constant, his two consciousness synchronised? As Rocco (I think) said in another thread, Des seemed to be filled with an optimistic sense of purpose after leaving Penny's house. Also, as we saw in the 2x01 flashbacks and 2x23/24 flashbacks, Desmond seems to be a optimistic character (pre-Island/hatch). Is this because he was filled with an unexplainable sense of purpose? In 1996 (after finding his constant in 2004) he doesn't consciously acknowledge becoming unstuck in time, because finding his constant allowed his mind to make sense of things, to differentiate between the two times. Therefore, his memories of travelling forward in time to 2004 were suppressed, much like his 2004 consciousness was suppressed when the side effects took place.

This is a bit of a stab I know, but I've been trying since Thursday to make any sort of sense to all this

Yup, I think you've pretty much nailed it

To exist in 2 places (or times) at once one must have independant consciousness - or be able to differentiate (as you said) between the two 'perceptions' of time. Otherwise, as we saw with Des/Mink, one becomes 'confused' an unable to be grounded (anchored) in one place in time, which ultimately leads to terrible consequences.

As you mentioned, by finding his anchor (interestingly he only needed to speak to her, and not 'see' her which again is a big shout out to the importance of 'perception' and how we perceive 'memory') he was able to 'find himself' (if you will) and become stabilised in his perception of the current time-line.

By going back into the perceived past and requesting that Penny keep her number and then making that call 8 years in the perceived future, he was able to draw from that a sense of purpose - an intangible sense of destiny (as you mentioned). As I said in another thread this can help us to look upon destiny (or the feeling of desiny and being 'supposed' to do something) in a while new way. The fact that Des walked away from Penny's house smiling and with renewed confidence is much like the 'optimism' that all of us have even in the darkest of times - we are able to find strength when the world is at it's bleakest - is this sense of 'belief' due to the intangible knowledge that at the other end of time things will work out just fine - can emotion and hope and faith travel through time? Can our perception of time be such that consciousness can act as a 'real-time' stream of emotions, feelings etc?

I think this is the suggestion with this episode.

It's interesting that the memory is the one thing that anchors us - it facilitiates our perception of the world and our place in it - how we perceive information is only really governed by how we perceive time - if we perceive time as being linear then we widen the filter of consciousness. imo.

[Lauren [is Lost]]

As much as i try to understand all this time travel business, i just cannot get my head around it. It just doesn't work. It's like in my brain it is simply not possible to comprehend. I just can't understand how when you go back and change something in your past, it has a knock-on effect and changes something else, so your whole life from that past point could be different. Aaaarrgghh

Also, the bit where Desmond visited Penny and told her to keep the same phone number because he needed to call her in 8 years...that was SO Back to the Future!!

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted by Lauren [is Lost]

As much as i try to understand all this time travel business, i just cannot get my head around it. It just doesn't work. It's like in my brain it is simply not possible to comprehend. I just can't understand how when you go back and change something in your past, it has a knock-on effect and changes something else, so your whole life from that past point could be different. Aaaarrgghh

It is baffling.

Although I'm not sure fate/the Universe would allow for someone to change their life per se (as the Universe course-corrects paradoxes, according to Mrs H), but the way I see it is that you can alter memories and perceptions via Desmond's method of time-travel. Therefore what will be will be (fate), but through a changed mindset (perception) you can perhaps make small alterations which fate will overlook (and not course correct) thus evoking new memories and actions which can impact on (and not necessarily dictate) what you do in the future.

(Could be wrong, just my current opinion )

[lost-lover]

A bit off topic but Daniel's hair made my laugh in the 1996 scene

[Lauren [is Lost]]

Originally Posted by lost-lover

A bit off topic but Daniel's hair made my laugh in the 1996 scene

Lol me too!

[TheDharmaShark]

Same with Sayid's in The Economist