It's been suggested either here or another thread that when they "die" in one reality, they go the the alt/sideways reality. I'm wondering if that's what happens to Kate—and in the sideways reality, she's not a candidate (hence name crossed out on cave walls?). I know a lot of people dislike her, but I think she's going to be a big player in the ending.

Lucy, that link was funny—and the Friends reference was spot-on.

That's one guess that's floating around. The clue also stated that it's "not very important."

*shrugs*

I just got chills....

anyone else?

So I think the alternate reality isn't a true parallel universe -- I think it's a Matrix created by Eloise out of guilt for killing her son.

I'm not sure what to call it. But it reminds me of a "deja vu" type of situation.

Good theory, I will no longer speculate....

but I do like it

I loved this episode!!! I don't know what the alt is, but I agree with Sen in that it's not parallel. They're in 2007 on the island. It's 2004 in the alt. It was 1977 on the island when the nuke exploded. My guess (although I hope it's not true because it's one of the more common theories) is that the explosion altered everything from 1977 on and the ALT is their lives without the island. However, that doesn't explain how they have flashes of an island they supposedly never visited.

Is anyone else still wondering if/how Aaron is going to come into play in a major way?

Along with many other things, yes lol.

So I just realized that FOX is EVIL, EVIL, EVIL (ok I already knew that....I'm a Joss Whedon Fan....)

But they've decided to put Glee up against Lost....sorry, I love Glee, but I will not miss Lost...I'm so happy for Hulu....(I do not own a DVR or TIVO)

Sooo why are people married and related to different people in the alternate reality? I finally watched last week's episode.

Oh and why is Desmond all brain-washed? It made sense for him to change his mind about Widmore after passing out, but what about following Sayid? Weird!

Who is married to/related to different people?

Widmore was always father to both Penny & Daniel. Eloise was always Daniel's mother.

Charlie loved Claire.
Daniel loved Charlotte.
Desmond loved Penny.

Haha oh...I guess I'm just confused. Hmm...I know I'm remembering Daniel and Eloise in a different context at (I think) Oxford. Oh, whatever!

Good episode last night! Some questions...

Michael explained to Hurley that the whispers were (paraphrasing, mostly) people like him who couldn't move on because of what they've done. Now, when he says people like him, does he mean people who have died? Or, specifically, candidates who have died?

If he means candidates who have died, that leads to more questions. I'm wondering if dead candidates are trapped until there are no more candidates left, and MIB leaves the island. Clearly, the whispers have been around since the beginning of the show, and Jacob was (allegedly) secure in his position of island-protector. That suggests to me that the whisperers won't be able to move on even after Jacob is replaced. So, I can't help but wonder if they'll ever be able to move on.

Why are all the flashsideways so focused on relationships? Charlie told Des in a previous episode about his love-at-first-sight encounter with Claire. Des had a similar experience with Penny. Now Hurley and Libby? What's this really all about? The early flashsidewayses weren't nearly so relationship heavy.

Des didn't really die when Locke pushed him down the well, did he? And what's up with Des running over Locke in the flashsideways?

After the Ilana and Black Rock incidents, Richard, Miles, Ben, Lapidus, Sun, Jack and Hurley broke off into two factions: Richard, Miles and Ben in one, and Hurley, Jack, Sun and Lapidus in the other. Surely it isn't just coincidental that Richard's group has no candidates and Hurley's group has only candidates (plus Lapidus, who could be a candidate since he was supposed to be the pilot of 815).

And, one final comment... I love Libby! So glad to see her back. :)

i don't think so because the preview for next week looks like him coming back and besides hsi being killed would be so incomplete right now.

I swear, more I am watching now the more it seems like these folks are in some kind of purgatory or 'hell'