Talk: The Variable

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The incident is going to happen[]

Ok i should really put this under the incident, but i think it should be here, because faraday discusses it in this episode.

We know the incident has happened in the past, and it seems clear this happened while the station was being built, as it is nowhere near complete in construction yet.
This means that Dr Chang's words in the orientation film are wrong when he said "not long after the experiments began however, there was an incident" - they could not start experiments if the station was not built and people living there etc.
the incident room in the LOST video game may not be fully cannon, i beleive that they filled the whole hole where they drilled with concrete, and there is nothing inside, there was no reactor, because they had not even put it in place.
They still finished building the station, and they used it to discharge the magnetic energy.
This still leaves us the question why they could not automate the process of discharging the energy, and could very well be a psychological experiment since they went to all the trouble of building the station.
- Now looking at what faraday said, the incident was going to kill everyone on the island, this is why eloise hawking would of left the island, not to mention other "others" too, but we still dont know about the DHARMA initiative yet. It seems aparent that DHARMA was not aware of any danger and the incident would of happened without any warning, so how many DHARMA knew something wrong was going to happen? As this story path is before any intervention before the jughead bomb, that faraday wants to blow the hatch up with. This is when it gets confusing, as if they blow the hatch up, everyone lives, unless they were in the explosion radius, but this hadnt happened as shown in season 2, the swan was clearly there long after the incident, the only thing i can put it down to is these "variables" that faraday is mentioning, even though they thought earlier that they cant change the future, faraday beleives that they themselves can change the future, as they are the "variables"-- Nzoomed talk contributions 05:46, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
By the end of Season Five, hopefully we'll know all there is to know about the Incident. You raise some good points, particuarly about how DHARMA will survive, so it's definitely a wait-and-see thing. Marc604 06:13, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Once the Incident began an infinite time loop "started" in which 30 odd years went by and a population (the left-behinds) was sent through time before settling in 1973. The infertility results because any children/people added to the population in the loop would cause an increase of X children/loop. This would in turn increase infinitely (through any probability of conception over absolute zero at an infinite rate) so that the population would reach infinitely instantly and destroy the loop. Therefore no people can be added to the loop who are not subsequently removed from the loop.
- Examples of added/subtracted from time loop:
  - Alex is born to Danielle (added) but killed (removed)
  - Aaron born but leaves the island and does not return to the loop
  - Ji Yeon
  - Ethan (conceived before arrival of Sawyer & co.)
- An issue with this theory may be the fact that the Others don't seem to travel through the loop with non-natives (evidenced by their disappearance in front of Locke); still it seems that this theory may be partially right, with the time loop/"paradox" prohibiting the arrival of new players in the loop.Asymetric 10:54, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Episode title[]

Is "The Variable" the sister episode to the season 4 episode "The Constant"? Or is it in reference to the Valenzetti equation. A new number, a mystery number, or a hidden number? Or is the variable that which our people do to drastically change, alter, or distort the future, present or past? Daniel has returned so maybe he will or has figured out what they need to do technically to get back to 2008 and what will eventually cause the "incident".--Mrnotwen 04:04, 16 April 2009 (UTC)

Well Desmond was Daniel's constant and Desmond is known to be able to change time so maybe he's the variable? --Gorbeh 04:15, 16 April 2009 (UTC)
- Variables and constants are direct opposites. -- Sam McPherson T C E 04:25, 16 April 2009 (UTC)
  - Yup. Constants are things that stay the same while Variables are things that change. "The Constant" was about finding something in your life that is always there for you and holding on to it. The Variable should be the opposite to that. Maybe something in your life you want to run away from? dposse 23:36, 20 April 2009 (UTC)
    - I also think Desmond could be the Variable. Daniel stated that he was special. Maybe Daniel was wrong about changing the past and Desmond the only person, who is able to change something.--Asian_Dawn 09:40, 28 April 2009 (UTC)
    - Eloise said that she didn't know what might happen to Desmond, evidence that there is some level of variability about Desmond, compared to the other characters.
It could introduce the Ilana/Bram faction with some centricity around one or both of them. Ben vs Widmore is "the constant." Ben and Charles have been playing this game of chess with the Island for nearly 20 years. The return of DI/(Insert Possible Outside Interest Here) could be "the variable" that shifts the power away from The Others. Jack Dutton 03:29, 23 April 2009 (UTC)
I think that the producers refered to the episode asThe Constant's sister episode in their most recent podcast.

<hiero>O34:O4-G17-D58-A1</hiero> zholmboe 13:44, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Fourteenth episode[]

The article says this is the thirteenth episode of season 5, but it's the fourteenth. Presumably just a copy-paste error from "Some Like It Hoth". ShadowUltra 04:43, 16 April 2009 (UTC)

Centricity[]

Since we see Daniel returning to the island and the name of the episode is somewhat science-related, it can be assumed the episode will be Daniel-centric --Timich 13:54, 16 April 2009 (UTC)

You can assume that all you like, but it won't be put on the site as fact until the episode airs. I do agree though.--Baker1000 18:05, 16 April 2009 (UTC)

I kindda agree that we should expect Daniel-centricity, or at least presence in flashes from Desmond as the title of this episode clearly mirrors the title of a previous episode the had Desmond and Faraday-centricity "The Constant".--Orhan 94 10:13, 20 April 2009 (UTC)
I always figured the people on this site knew about centricity long before the air-dates, but weren't allowed to put it on the site until the actual airing. The centricity for the remaining episodes (Save for the finale) as well as the finale name and finale "code word" are known too, but I won't say those, because I assume it counts as spoilers. Darmikau 23:29, 24 April 2009 (UTC)
- I saw this episode as an Eloise-centric episode. Did anyone else see it that way? Luminifer 06:27, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
  - I certainly saw it as Daniel and Eloise centric. Not just Daniel -- Plkrtn talk contribs email 09:43, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
    - Eloise and Penelope's, and later Eloise and Widmore's conversations clearly centered on Eloise, and clearly mirrored the on-island events, the way certain flashes mirror the on-island events in the earlier seasons. --Orhan 94 11:48, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
      - Every flashback scene had Eloise in it. Every flashback scene did not have Daniel (if you count the offisland present day stuff). *shrug* Luminifer 21:50, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
        Not true. Eloise was not in the scene where Widemore came to visit Daniel after he saw the fake 815 footage and began crying. Likewise, Daniel was not in the hospital scene, so I think it could be argued that this episode had dual-centricity.
        
        I agree - count me in for Daniel/Eloise centric.AlaskaDave 12:40, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
  - No. Just Daniel. All of the flashbacks centered on Daniel, which is how we traditionally determine centricity. The Penelope scenes are not flashbacks, they are "real time". --Jackdavinci 20:11, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Ireland[]

The main page says Ireland will be getting this episode on April 26th, presumably skipping the hiatus week in which the clip show is on. Will Ireland really be getting this episode before America? Or is this an automated error? -- Tristan0709 09:50, 20 April 2009 (UTC)

Airdate?[]

Episode page says april 29, but the front page says this:

New: "The Variable" airs Apr. 26th at 9:00 pm GMT

What's correct? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Acolyt3 (talk • contribs) .

See the above section regarding Ireland. Ireland is the one that shows an airdate of 4/26/09. It will not be shown in the USA until 4/29/09, that is for sure. Whether or not Ireland will really see it before the USA is unknown. That would suck for us Americans. No offense to Ireland, we just want to see it 1st since that is how the show has always aired. Or maybe because we are selfish like that??? NEVERGIVEUP Contribs Talk 17:12, 20 April 2009 (UTC)
- Actually, several of the episodes in season 3 were shown in Canada one hour earlier than ABC on CTV. (If I remember correctly it was "The Glass Ballerina" through "I Do") Nick2010 06:46, 21 April 2009 (UTC)
  - I watched this season's episode "LaFleur" at 7pm on A Channel here in Canada, two hours before it was aired in the States. I don't know why they did it, I just know that's what happened.-- Steele talk contribs 00:42, 28 April 2009 (UTC)
- That is actually an error, Ireland is not getting the episode before America. It just hasn't been changed to show the one week break on the template. I'm sure someone with the powers to do so will correct it now that it has been brought up.--Baker1000 19:55, 20 April 2009 (UTC)
- THE RULES HAVE CHANGED!!! BWAHAHA --Timich 22:04, 20 April 2009 (UTC)
- It's better if it airs in Ireland, then we'll all download it and see it before it airs in the US! ∇ϕ 07:43, 21 April 2009 (UTC)

Will it be on time?

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 27, 2009

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TO HOLD NEWS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29

On Wednesday, April 29th, President Barack Obama will convene a nationally-televised news conference at 8:00PM EDT at the White House.

Due to limited space, members of the media... blah blah blah Ripple619 00:37, 28 April 2009 (UTC) Ripple619

The Hydrogen Bomb[]

So Faraday's plan to prevent the energy from being released is to DETONATE THE HYDROGEN BOMB? Say what?! I don't understand what this would do except for destroy the entire Island! Any theories out there?--Mrmagic522 04:42, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Does anyone know the range of destruction of an H-bomb and also the size of the Island?--Mrmagic522 04:42, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
- The radius of total destruction of the WWII Nagasaki bomb was about a mile. Dave92127 06:11, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
- However, this is a Fusion-powered H-Bomb which also contains a fission bomb (to reach the energy required to fuse H to Helium) so the blast would be much more powerful. H-bombs or thermonuclear weapons are 1000 times as powerful as their little brother, the atomic bomb. Videos of the Bikini Atoll tests from the 1950's (on which Jughead is based) show that entire islands and the surrounding water are easily engulfed by the massive explosion.
Nerd Moment: The plot mechanic of Metal Gear Solid 2, is that the Sons of Liberty will detonate a Hydrogen Bomb above their target, creating an Electro-Magnetic Pulse effect. Of course, this being from a computer game I have no idea if Hydrogen Bombs can actually do this and if it could, what effect an EMP against a pocket of electro-magnetic energy would actually do. Gredge 09:09, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
- Here's a conversation from the videogame Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. -- [Talk] 11:54, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Ames: What are you babbling about! The nuclear strike is not a threat -- it's been the objective all along!

Raiden: They plan to slaughter millions of people!?

Ames: No -- a high-altitude detonation. You've heard of the Compton Effect?

Raiden: The total disruption of electronic equipment caused by EMMA pulse.

Ames: Textbook answer. Well, when an average nuclear warhead goes off within the atmosphere, the result is an electromagnetic pulse of up to 50 billion megawatts. The EMMA field can reach tens of thousands of volts per meter, and most electronic equipment will be toast in an instant.

Going off of this this conversation, I get the idea that Faraday thinks detonating the bomb over or near the electromagnetism will suck it into it's blast (EMMA field) like a vacuum. -- [Talk] 11:54, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
Nuclear detonations do, in fact, create an electromagnetic pulse[1]. - Amandakay1 13:52, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

The way the EM was eventually disapated/rid of/rendered safe was by the failsafe causing the hatch to implode/explode/detonate, so it seems Daniel knows this kind of explosion will be the only way to .. deal with the Electro Magnetism. --Integrated (User / Talk) 15:14, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Jason the Other in Dharma?[]

Can someone get a screenshot of when Dan was down in the Orchid and was told he had to wear a hardhat? The guy who told him he needed one reminded me of Jason -- http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Jason_(Other) -- who was an Other. The-room 05:38, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

- can't tell 100% but it could be --Integrated (User / Talk) 15:42, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

It's the same actor (Ariston Green), but I don't think there's any significance to it. I think they were just reusing an actor, which they've done a couple times before. He looks roughly the same age, despite the Orchid scene taking place almost 30 years earlier, so I doubt it's supposed to be the same character. -- COMPOSSIBLE Talk Contribs 20:50, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

I could see them reusing a character if they were a redshirt, but Jason is an Other who was actually NAMED in the show. Therefore, I think this has more significance, and Jason joined the Hostiles before the Purge. -- CTS Talk Contribs 22:43, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Unless he's like Richard (which is unlikely for such a minor character), I doubt he's the same character as Jason. -- Sam McPherson T C E 22:54, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

I doubt it as well, but I just had to confirm whether or not that was the same actor, and it was. Seems cool to me. Maybe it's Jason's dad? Just kidding. The-room 04:44, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

I think he basically was a redshirt, but just happened to have a couple lines in some episodes. According to the page for Ariston Green, he also appeared as a background Other AFTER Jason's death, so it seems that they've just reused the actor. -- COMPOSSIBLE Talk Contribs 07:09, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

Thats true i believe he was in TNPLH part 2 as a background other so im guessing they just use him when needed, although is it really that hard to find another actor. --Czygan84 23:11, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

It's possible that he was ageless too; it might not just be Richard who is. It just seems odd to me that they would reuse him (an actual Other who had been named in the show). -- CTS Talk Contribs 23:15, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

Thats just lost being lost, lets be honest when it comes to production they arent the best. I know for a fact he was in TNPLH so obviously they just reuse the actor (his head was basically snapped of his shoulders in 3x22). --Czygan84 04:22, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

someone want to explain why they think he's being used for multiple characters? As I understood it he DID play Jason in No Place Like Home - Sayid snapped his neck on the beach. Therefore this shouldn't be a case of him playing multiple roles.
- You're thinking of "Through the Looking Glass, Part 1". -- COMPOSSIBLE Talk Contribs 17:33, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Timeline blooper[]

Chang gets Miles to drive him out to the sub at night while Lara and baby Miles are still awake. Chang wishes the new arrivals "could all get a good night's sleep, but, uh..." Faraday wants Miles to take him to Jack right away. He knocks at Jack's door at sunrise. Jack goes to see Sawyer at 6:00am. Meanwhile Faraday and Miles drive directly to the Orchid. This all seems to happen within an hour or two.
So what's Chang doing? Apparently getting a good night's sleep as he wakes up at 8:15am. He feeds baby Miles, showers, shaves, etc, then starts recording the orientation film for the Arrow, ignoring the Ann Arbor scientists. He is interrupted by Eric and taken to the Orchid where Faraday and Miles have been waiting.
Is Miles really that bad a driver it takes him all night to get from the dock to the Barracks and then 3 hours to get from the Barracks to the Orchid? It seems only poor Miles can't get a good night's sleep! -JamesyWamesy 06:53, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Explains why Chang and Miles are always so crabby, doesn't it? Possibly Miles insisted Faraday sleep first and visit Jack first thing in the morning. Robert K S tell me 07:00, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Bart McQueary 14:26, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Another thing I noticed, when Faraday is at Jack's he is wearing a dark blue jumpsuit with a Swan logo and no name. At the Orchid he's wearing a gray jumpsuit with a generic Dharma logo and the name "Joe". -JamesyWamesy 07:08, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

It was pretty clear to me that the eventual plan for Faraday was not well thought at time the premiere was written--either that, or the plan had to be changed significantly between the time the premiere was written and the time this episode was written. Faraday's trip to the Orchid in this episode was a pretty clumsy insertion, done merely to conform to the scene that had been written before. He goes to deliver a warning to Dr. Chang, but doesn't grab Dr. Chang at first sight? He hides his identity from Dr. Chang one instant, only to be candid and revealing the next instant? If he had grabbed Dr. Chang before Chang entered the Orchid, he would have had no problem convincing Chang he knew about the future: all he would have had to do is tell Chang what Chang was about to find down there. (Faraday obviously knew that the minor incident at the Orchid was going to happen, and what time it was going to happen at.) A whole speaking part written in, just to put a hardhat on Faraday? The jumpsuit continuity error was the least of the scene's problems. Robert K S tell me 07:21, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

I agree that the scene seemed slightly off kilter. However - we see Miles and Faraday at the Orchid sitting and waiting. What's to say they didn't arrive there and wait for two hours? Daniel doesn't make a move until Chang turns up. --Integrated (User / Talk) 15:20, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

But why would he wait for 2 hours at the Orchid if he knows what time Chang was going to arrive? You'd think they'd want to get some sleep somewhere... -JamesyWamesy 17:59, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

And Miles ask 'Are we waiting for something?' just about the right time Dr.Chang shows up and not in the two hours they have been waiting. It seems like they only have been waiting 10 minutes. And Miles didn't look tired at all after a day of driving around from Barracks to grid 334, then back to Barrack only to be instructed to go straight away to The Orchid and then drives Dr. Chang to The Swan site and when he finally should go get his good night sleep he made a detour to Chang's house and Chang ask for his help to bring the scientist in. That's when the saga continue and all up there happen. He should be tired as hell and go to sleep not packing up to run with LaFleur and co.--IceCrash 14:54, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

When was Daniel cured?[]

In this episode he tells his mother that he can't accept Widmore's job because "he needs someone who can do really really complex space-time calibrations and calculate bearings and I just, I don't know how to do that anymore." Eloise says the Island can take care of this.

By The Economist, he has calculated the bearing that the helicopter needed to follow, but in Eggtown he's struggling with the cards. ESachs 10:07, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Charlotte mentions that the card remembering was 'progress' suggesting his memory was improving the longer he stayed on the island. This is more evident as the show has gone on, at first he was quite forgetful, however he didn't show any signs of that from the latest episodes he has been in. Phobia27 10:44, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Wouldn't they need the bearing to even get on to the island in the first place? ESachs 11:32, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

They would. First, they would need a location. Widmore got it the same time Penny's listening post picked it up. Daniel then provided the bearing, but how did he do that if he hadn't been cured yet?--Jim in Georgia Contribs Talk 12:49, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Maybe it's a combination of the two, the Swan implosion gave them the location and they used the Lamp Post to calculate the bearing. Could have been a subtle clue that Widmore and Ellie had ulterior motives. ESachs 15:03, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Perhaps his ilness was of the periodic character, i.e. it appeared and disappeared from time to time? QuiGonJinn^{Be mindful of the Living Force...} 13:47, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

My guess is that Daniel began to be healed, even though it was a slow process, when he got into the general vicinity of the Island. Much like the way he and Jin moved when the Island did becuase they were with the "bubble", on the freighter he was close enough to draw on the Island's healing properties and started to get better which alowed him to figure out the bearing needed to get to and from the Island. Iburnedthemuffins 13:53, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

It would be just like rehabbing a bad leg. some days you can walk 10 feet, others 50, others not at all. Ups and Downs, but an upward trend over time.--Xocgx 14:00, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Also, just because Daniel wasn't confident that he could calculate bearings and such, doesn't actually mean he couldn't do it. Maybe he took a swing at it and found he was capable after all. Sithboy 21:55, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Baby Miles[]

It's good that we know now where "Because You Left" opening scene takes place in the grand scheme of things. Might be worth noting under Bloopers/Triva that two very visibly different babies portray Miles in ("Because You Left") and ("Some Like It Hoth") and it is only by ("The Variable") that these events are shown to be only hours apart. --Integrated (User / Talk) 15:34, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Don't think it's Blooper material, Because You Left was filmed around August time, whilst Some Like It Hoth in February, that means the first baby Miles would have ages 6 months since the first scene. The producers probably had no choice but to change babies, as the first one would have aged too much. Phobia27 20:02, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Almost all the Aarons were different for the same reasons. It's not a blooper; it's common with the use of baby actors. Some of the Aarons were even girls! ---- LOSTonthis darnisland 04:47, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

Storyline Analysis[]

Do we know for sure Widmore is Daniel's father? If so, shouldn't it be mentioned in the synopsis? Dave92127 16:02, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
- Yes. Widmore said to Eloise, "He's my son, too."
  - Maybe he's lying. :) Luminifer 21:54, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
    - Until they come up with a way for us to give a TV character a paternity test, we'll take his word for it... similar to how we take his word for the crash being faked. Robert K S tell me 03:22, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
      - .. who is "we"? Luminifer 04:23, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
        We = Lostpedia. Anything other than what was revealed it a theory and not allowed in the article. ---- LOSTonthis darnisland 04:48, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
        We (the LOST community) should assume that he is his father, but the statement "He's my son, too" doesn't necessarily mean he is his biological father. Not sure if that may take part in a future storyline, but it's something to consider. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Ldickmey (talk • contribs) .
        Completely disagree, Until we are given reason not to believe that Widmore was telling the truth, we have no reason to believe anything else. There is no motive for lying as Eloise would know who Daniel's father was since, you know, she had "relations" with them. To assume anything else is absolutely crazy. When someone tells you that they are someone's father, do you immediately ask "biological or adopted?" No because you assume they are telling the truth until told otherwise. Everything is LOST is not a lie or a mystery. Come on people!!!! (thanks for letting me rant!!!) NEVERGIVEUP Contribs Talk 16:26, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
        It's not exactly uncommon for the writers to purposely insert a phrase or action into the storyline to get the viewers to believe one way, and then completely shift the other direction. I agree that, in all likelihood, we are to assume that Widemore is Faraday's biological father, but to completely dismiss the notion that we could be dealing with some other type of situation would just be naive based on past experiences with the show. Just my thoughts. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Ldickmey (talk • contribs) 2009-05-01T11:34:44.
        This is getting ridiculous you could say everything on the show is a lie and then it would all be questioned lets just take charles at his word. --Czygan84 23:08, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
        
        I got one for ya, who cares? Life's too short to over-analyze LOST in this asinine way - better to spend mental energy on the time travel and undead stuff.Asymetric 11:20, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Daniel's Music[]

Anyone know what it is that Daniel is playing?--Tricksterson 16:39, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Fantaisie-Impromptu by Chopin -- I added it to Cultural References. Seems to be popular on TV shows lately -- only a few weeks ago someone was playing it on Dollhouse. Oh, and I like that for once on TV, Jeremy Davies actually hit the right keys (as did Harry Lennix on Dollhouse) -- and Spencer Allyn did a good job of looking like he did :-) LOST-Kaneda 19:43, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Yes, this is definitely the Fantasie piece. I just rewatched. The part Daniel plays is at 1:10 in the video below. Jabberwock talk contribs email - 15:03, 7 May 2009 (UTC)

Swing Set[]

I know this is totally random, but it has bothered me for some time that the swing set or swing sets in Dharamville/New Otherton had swings made of plastic the way they manufacture them today. Then in this episode, when Daniel talks to young Charlotte on the swing, they have finally figures it out and replaced the modern style swings with the older sort, having metal chains that attach directly to a flat plastic seat. I was not around in the 1970's, but in the 1980's when I had a swing set, that's what the swings looked like! Anyone else notice this? Iburnedthemuffins 17:48, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

I'm not so sure, I didn't really look at the swings, but I recall generally three kinds from my childhood: wooden ones (generally with the paint chipped off), cheap plastic flat ones, and rubber bendy ones (like tire rubber, not to mention the ones actually made of old tires). Except for some advancement in the plastic and rubber, they really haven't changed that much since then. I've never seen a swing (for anyone older than two) that didn't have metal chains, however. Clamshell 22:55, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

The more modern version had plastic covering the metal chains for safty and were used through every episode up to and including "Dead is Dead" (see: http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/File:5x125_AlexBenSwing.jpg#file) and in "the Varialbe, the swings look like this: http://spoilertv.iimmgg.com/image/ab4b1b303ec790739fdc26d48b65fe7a —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Iburnedthemuffins (talk • contribs) 2009-04-30T22:10:18.

It's tough for me to tell from the picture whether the chains have plastic, or they've just been painted. Robert K S tell me 15:36, 9 May 2009 (UTC)

UQ's[]

Is this really a UQ? (Why was Richard sure that Daniel was bluffing?). Seems to be inferring that he had some foreknowledge this was going to happen. I don't think that's the case. He just had a feeling that Faraday didn't really want to shoot anyone, just talk. I just don't think that's a UQ as it will NEVER be answered. NEVERGIVEUP Contribs Talk 17:58, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

True, in addition to this, Daniel looked very reluctant to shoot Richard, mainly for the reason he was barely even pointing the gun at Richard just before he was shot. Phobia27 20:38, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Daniel and Charlotte[]

In This Place Is Death Charlotte told Daniel that he himself told her that she had to leave, and if she came back she would die. However in this episode I cannot remember Daniel saying anything about Charlotte dying, just that she had to leave. So where did Charlotte get the dying part from? Or did Daniel actually change the past, by not saying that Charlotte was going to die? I'm probably in the wrong here since no one else has mentioned that yet, but it seemed like a big blooper to me. Phobia27 20:38, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

They didn't really show the end of the conversation, and the sound sort of just faded out. I think we're supposed to assume that he did finish with the rest of what she'd said he'd said. Although I think there's some squishy timey-wimey stuff going on here: if he said it from memory, then he's repeating what Charlotte told him he'd say, which kind of implies that he doesn't totally believe in his newfound theory that free will can change the past. Clamshell 22:59, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

They deliberately didn't bother showing the end of the conversation because we all knew what he was gonna say. --Integrated (User / Talk) 06:11, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

I can't really argue this, but it does seem important to establish that in this episode they only introduced the possibility that there is a variable & maybe you can change the past. "Maybe" was the key to this episode, & we will find out later. If that is the case, then wouldn't it be important to establish that Daniel hasn't really changed anything yet. That could have been done with a confirmation that he indeed told Charlote about dying if she came back. The conversation could have gone like... "Maybe I can change things & this will not matter, but just in case I need you to know that if you come back you are going to die." Again, I can't really argue that it didn't happen after they cut away, but it seems like it would have been important for the viewers to see that happen. To much assuming is what leads us to Jack is Jacob theories (please, no one get offended). NEVERGIVEUP Contribs Talk 13:55, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

And too LITTLE assuming is what leads us to "Juliet helped Ben set the flaming DHARMA van trap" or "Locke didn't blow up the sub he just hid it" theories ;) --Integrated (User / Talk) 17:03, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

Point taken. I agree that we can assume it happened, but I'm not sure why they didn't show us. Did they really need that extra 10 seconds to complete the episode? Maybe they did. It just seemed important to close that part of the story by seeing it happen. Just like they closed the scene of Daniel watching the coverage of the faked Oceanic 815 wreckage, & also closed the 1st scene of the season from ("Because You Left") by completing hit here. That's all... but I do agree. NEVERGIVEUP Contribs Talk 17:37, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

"I tried to avoid telling you this, I didn't think I could change things. But maybe I can." That is the last sentence we see. So I think it's basically leading into him telling Charlotte never to return.. and they thought "Do we REALLY need to show this? Everyone knows what he's gonna say" and so they didn't .. --Integrated (User / Talk) 07:36, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

"The women in your life will only be terribly hurt."[]

I added a Literary Technique about this quote. However, English is not my tongue language, so feel free to improve my phrasing. OmerMor 21:17, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Is Daniel Dead?[]

Should Daniel's death be taken as fact yet? The end of the episode is clearly a cliffhanger and it is quite possible he will survive the gunshot. MixMasterMike 02:48, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

I was wondering when this was going to come up. Everything that the episode has shown us says that Daniel is dead. We can speculate all we want about whether he is alive, but main articles aren't the place for that. On top of all this, I'll be extremely pissed off if he didn't die. He was my favourite character, but if he's not dead then it completely invalidates the entire premise of this episode (ie: that Eloise had to sacrifice her son to maintain the timeline). Since it wouldn't makes sense for the producers to invalidate an entire episode, it's a pretty safe bet that he's dead. See the whole Caesar thing for a similar debate. Jimbo the Tubby talk contributions 03:00, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

Unless the sacrifice was not to kill him, but to give his son to the Island by bringing him to The Temple so he can be healed. After that, we know the consequences: he will always be one of The Others, he won't remember everything and is likely to be a servant to the Island. Since the Chang videotape hasn't been recorded yet (as far as we know) and Faraday is the one who is filming,... well, we still have some pieces to stick together --Devotee 03:28, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

This is an interesting idea, but it encourages the suggestion that Daniel is alive and well when Flight 815 crashes. Jacob, anyone?--Emissary23 03:36, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
- Hmmm!!! Luminifer 04:21, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
We don't know that Faraday is the one filming the video. A bunch of people speculated that Faraday is the one filming the video. I don't recall any official confirmation of that. If I'm wrong, link? Jimbo the Tubby talk contributions 03:43, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
- We do know this; see the comic con video page. Davies himself confirmed it, and he also indicated we only saw half. However, Darlton has pulled a fast one now and claimed it's promotional, meaning they changed their mind midstream? It annoys me, to be honest, since we've waited for months to see the other half and to have the LaFleur controversy settled. And yes, he's dead. ---- LOSTonthisdarnisland 04:51, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
  - Excellent catch, Lostisland. Although Dan's death really sucks. He was one of my favorite characters :( that is stupid that they would crate this tape for Chang, which even Davies said we'd see more of only to have it thrown in our face as being a silly promo. --LOST-The Cartographer 05:05, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
  - The only link on the comic con video page that claims to be a source for Daniel being the voice in the video is an interview with Jeremy Davies in which he talks about the video (says that only half of it has been released), but in no way confirms that he was the voice. Jimbo the Tubby talk contributions 05:35, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
    - Jimbo, do we really need it to be confirmed that it's Jeremy Davies' voice? He's not disuising his voice at all. It's Davies. Are you just being devil's advocate, or do you really not think it's him? Marc604 06:20, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
      - A little bit of both. Something about the voice doesn't sound quite right, pronunciations of certain words and whatnot (listen to how he says "how do I turn this off?"). But for the most part, I can't see the producers scrapping this promo as not relevant to the actual series, and I think it'll come into play eventually (like the Orchid orientation film did). However, it also seems like the video is being filmed sometime closer to the Purge (specifically, after the 12-hours-from-now impending Incident). Combined with the knowledge that Faraday is dead (see the link that's been posted), it seems unlikely that the voice in the video is actually Faraday. I'm not saying that it definitely isn't him (there could be some forthcoming time-travel hijinx, perhaps), I'm just saying that it might not be. Jimbo the Tubby talk contributions 06:34, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
So if it is true that Faraday is dead, and that the Chang video was pure promo and should not be considered canon... the doesn't that set a precedent that no other "internet" videos should be considered canon? For instance, should we consider the Valenzetti Equation CANON, if it has never been brought up on the show???--Mrmagic522 06:39, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

Faraday WILL die. BUT he is not dead as of YET!...If Eloise knew that she was sending Daniel back to die, she must have known that he also had to do something absolutely crucial during his time there...which he has not done YET! In his dying moments, Daniel will perform the crucial act which Eloise will witness. He will probably do something with the H-bomb before he dies. Who knows? Maybe he evacuates everyone else and detonates the bomb, sacrificing himself (for Charlotte?/the Island?).--Mrmagic522 15:16, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

No.... Daniel IS dead. Cannon. See above note from LOSTonthisdarnisland & this [2]. NEVERGIVEUP Contribs Talk 15:34, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
Daniel told his plan to Jack and Kate, so his work can be continued by them. If Eloise knew he had something yet to accomplish on the island, his passing it on completes that, essentially. Sithboy 18:48, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
Well, it's still possible for Daniel to show up in Season 6 as part of some flashback, as the TV Guide article says, pointing out the specific wording, that Davies's "full-time" status as cast on Lost is over. So, the only hope for that video will be that Daniel shows up in Season 6, shown in a flashback where he runs an experiment on himself that send him to post-Incident Dharma times to make the film with Pierre Chang. Otherwise, the video is now a dud.
Will we see Daniel again probably but is he dead, absolutely. Like its said above the producers probably had an idea and changed their minds, i know its bull and trust me i am pissed because not only did i like daniel but i wanted to see that video getting made. It crap that the producers keep doing this to us you would think they had an idea he was going to die so why not put someone else like jack or sawyer in the film its not like davies did anything to get fired so they had to be thinking about killing him when they made the film, so why even put him in the film, but yeah hes dead. --Czygan84 23:03, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

Well. While the TV Guide article does infer that Daniel has died in the Variable, the staff quotes are slightly more ambiguous. Damon and Carlton may have orchestrated an early postmortem just to throw us off. We know he'll be dead by season's end, but it ain't guaranteed that we've seen it yet. Now, I doubt it, but nothing is definitive. Damon and Carlton know how to use the press in their favour. --Jacknicholson 18:04, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Unbelievable!! Darlton tells you outright that Daniel is dead & people STILL don't believe!! Are Libby, & Anna Lucia still alive too? We didn't question their deaths when they happened. Yes, Daniel can come back to the show in a flash forward/backward/time travel.... but face it people, he is dead. Let's move on to the next theory & let it go. We'll see him again. I'm sure you can even visit his facebook page & become his friend if you want. NEVERGIVEUP Contribs Talk 13:38, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Daniel's jumpsuit[]

When Daniel arrives on the island he is wearing one of the navy blue Swan jumpsuits. He leaves Jack's house wearing it, but when he arrives at the Orchid station he is wearing the gray construction jumpsuit. Shouldn't this be noted as a continuity error? --LOST-Jackieboy 23:37, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Maybe he changed in the Jeep? They were going to a construction site and he knew what was going to happen in his notebook. Who knows? I don't think it's crazy enough to be a continuity error...just an unexplained quick change. Brotha305 23:50, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

No, this is not a continuity error. He had to change so that he could be permitted into the Orchid. His "Orchid" jumpsuit says Joe on it, so it was most likely stolen. -- CTS Talk Contribs 18:23, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

First Hundred Days[]

Would it be dumb to mention in trivia that this coincided with obama's hundred day? is all trivia dumb anyway? Four4elements 02:45, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

In terms of Lost being a product of its times, I think it should be included. --Emissary23 03:37, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
You know, I thought of this too. Obama's inauguration was the day before the season premiere, and his 100th day is the same as the show's 100th episode, one week before the season finale (with the day after that being Obama's 108th day?). Sithboy 18:51, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
I think it was intentional - recall that Dead is Dead was intentionally put onto Easter week. They have been manipulating the schedule (really, the clip show the previous week could have been put anywhere in the season), and we know how Hollywood feels about our new President.--Jsultan 21:08, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
Personally, it seems like this is reaching. Obama doesn't have anything to do with Lost, and in Lost world he's not even president yet, given that the latest date shown is in either late 2007 or early 2008. This is just a coincidence, and not even a very good one. --Cobblepot 22:15, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
- I thought it was interesting. And '316' was aired on the 316th day or something like that wasnt? well thanks for adding it, whoever Four4elements 01:34, 7 May 2009 (UTC)

How did Eloise know she would shoot Daniel?[]

When Widmore mentioned his sacrifices, her reply was “I had to send my son back to the island, knowing full well that…” before she was interrupted. This seems to indicate that by telling him to return to the island, she had some sort of foresight that she would shoot and probably kill her own son.

But how is this exactly possible, given that this is Daniel's present? ie. Daniel had never been shot by his mother up until that point in his PRESENT. I assume it should be the same as Desmond's 'dream' where Faraday tells him to find his mother, which never happened, and Desmond never remembered, until it actually did happen (in the present). This shooting never happened in the past, and so how could Eloise have possibly known before sending him to the island? shrodes 03:35, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

No, she knew. Whatever happened happened. It's Daniel's present, but her PAST. She knew she had to get Daniel back to 1977 just like she knew she had to get the Oceanic 6 to come back. She is like Abbadon: she gets people where they need to be. --Emissary23 03:43, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

It was Daniel's present, but Eloise's past. Whatever happened, happened. This inclues Daniel getting shot. It just hadn't happened to Daniel yet, but it had happened to Eloise already. Jimbo the Tubby talk contributions 03:45, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

Case in point, Charlotte told Dan in This Place is Death that "as a child, a "crazy man" told her that she must leave the Island and never return, or she would die." She then realized it was Dan. But this happened before Dan went back into the past. --LOSTinDC 15:34, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

How did she know? Because she remembered she shot some weird dude claiming to be her son back in 1977. Here's the interesting question: if events are set in stone, why does she need to guide him to his destiny? If she purposefully encouraged him to become a concert pianist instead of a scientist, wouldn't he eventually somehow blunder back in time to 1977 in order to be shot by her anyway? For some reason it matters that he becomes a genius physicist that invents a mental time machine.--Znils 00:09, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

Because the events of her guiding him are also set in stone. Causality still exists, but the causes are fixed. Jimbo the Tubby talk contributions 00:24, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
Does this really need to be said again, THERE IS ONE TIMELINE - there are loops within that timeline but only one course of events for our universe.

Last name questions[]

I think that we should start removing questions about different last names among family members as a last name can be changed legally. I don't think that we should fill UQs with questions such as: "Why is Miles' last name Straume, not Chang?", "Why is Ethan's last name Rom, not Goodspeed?" or "Why Daniel's last name isn't Hawking or Widmore?. --Orhan 94 08:07, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

Agreed, it is a legitimate question in the real world as to why someone changed their name, especially their last name & not their 1st..... but this is LOST & it will never be answered. The point is to reveal who are the parents of each person & that is the important part, not why their last name isn't the same. That's irrelevant. NEVERGIVEUP Contribs Talk 14:07, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

Not a big mystery, Miles likely took his mother's name, and Eloise probably married (or re-married) someone named Faraday, who just isn't in the picture anymore. Anything like this could've happened for Ethan, or Rom could've just been faked for the survivor's sake, seeing how similar it is to the literary figure Ethan Frome. Sithboy 18:55, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

Any maybe, just maybe they didn't want to give the characters the same name or it would have been obvious as to who was related & they wanted to keep it a mystery. Crazy thought! NEVERGIVEUP Contribs Talk 19:12, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

Yeah its just to keep the relationships secret i mean if daniels last name was hawking it wouldnt be a secret, plus i wouldnt be surprised if maybee after eloise kills daniel eventually jack tells eloise Daniel's name and thats why she names him daniel faraday, that would be cool. --Czygan84 22:58, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

Daniel Playing Piano[]

I don't know if this mean something or somewhat significance but I noticed Daniel playing the piano(older one not the kid) is pretty good but when her mother came in and he heard the door slammed he suddenly stop playing. That makes me thing maybe he just making it up about his memory condition.--IceCrash 14:54, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

I think it is more to do with him going against his mother's wishes. She told him to give it up and concentrate on science, but clearly he disobeyed. This foreshadows their differences regarding time travel and whether you can change things or not. --Chesebrgr 15:06, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

Actually, Daniel stopped and then a few seconds later realized that it was his mother that came in. I don't think the two events are related. Iburnedthemuffins 16:48, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

This page is for discussion of what is on the main page The Variable. This section is a theory and doesn't relate to the Main page. To discuss theories, please do so at Talk:The Variable/Theories. NEVERGIVEUP Contribs Talk 17:45, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

I thought it was odd that she wanted him focusing on math and science instead of such "diversions" as music, given how mathematical music is. Sithboy 18:57, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

What did Jin say?[]

When Hurley and Jin saw Radzinsky and co. walking through the barraks with guns, Hurley says, "that's not good.." or something like that and Jin says something that I thought sounded Korean. Did anybody catch that? Just curious. Brotha305 20:28, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

I'm not entirely sure. From listening to it again, I'd say either he said something in Korean, or he said "Hurley, change." --Celebok 07:44, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

The captions on the streaming episode from ABC.com say:

HURLEY: That's not good, right?

JIN: (Speaking Korean)

It reminded me of Firefly. People just speak in another language to swear under their breath or vent steam. It's obvious what he meant, don't need to know the exact words!--Chesebrgr 08:59, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

I don't speak Korean, so have no idea what he said, but phonetically it sounds something like "A-ni-chen-cha". £乚ב○艹Ю Zholmboe Talk 08:21, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Desmond's injuries[]

It seems to me that the severity of Desmond's injuries might be a continuity error between "Dead is dead" and "The Variable." In "Dead is Dead" no bullet wound is visible after Ben shoots Desmond, and Desmond seems to be in rather good condition as he pummels Ben and throws him into the ocean. In "The Variable" Desmond appears to have some sort of life threatening injury that requires surgery, and his right arm is clearly shown in a sling. Any thoughts? Oanjao 03:01, 4 May 2009 (UTC) Nah. It looked like he got shot on his right side or perhaps his right arm, and it went through the grocery bag, so you wouldn't have seen the injury in the original scene. And massive adrenaline surge to protect his wife and kid before he's lost too much blood explains the fighting. --Jackdavinci 20:24, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Francois Chau[]

Why is he always uncredited? He's credited in the press releases...ShadowUltra 03:18, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

I've always wondered this too...Kaisle 16:10, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

Yeah maybee he wasnt credited eary on when he was just in vids but since at least s4 hes always been credited. --THE REAL DEAL998 02:52, 7 May 2009 (UTC)

"I don't know"[]

Daniel says he doesn't know why he's crying when watching the fake Oceanic 815 news. Later he says that is just sad. But he also says that he doesn't know why it affects him so much. So apparently we still have no answer to why he was crying. Or is it a question that will never have an answer to? --Dr. James (4 8 15 16 23 42) 15:51, April 3, 2010 (UTC)

The scripture tells us that Jesus wept as he look up upon The City of David (as in Jack's fictional son). Clue, somewhere the alternative ending that I (perhaps only I) saw in that moment and so many others. The manipulation of Desmond, the figure of Hugo, the fact that Faraday nevers meets Ben except through Desmond's fists. Ben, like Hugo, terrify angels, demons, and even God. Faraday glimpses Ben's soul and understands how much Widmore would do to keep Ben hidden from the world. The writers chose a different route, much to my displeasure.--Past recaptured 17:10, July 31, 2010 (UTC)

the best episode.[]

in my myopic opinion, this is the key episode in the series. The End would have worked better without this episode. This episode sets us up for everything that needs to happen, but did not. Faraday is a divine figure, another Christ. the term has been applied to both St. Francis and Spinoza) His death at the hands of mother mirrors Christ's death. It was the proof that Jack demanded of God's existence. It sets up a three way conflict between the female goddess and Faraday and that character that is the true protagonist, Ben. (Please my comments on ben and mib in another blog concerning mr. sheep) The concept of sideways as Faraday's "kingdom come" springs forward from his death. It could have foreshadowed the final duel between Ben and Faraday's army to borrow a phrase from Harry Potter. Ben would have destroyed MIB. Sideways time would have become real as Ben is defeated. Jack lives, Locke walks, Sun and her husband live, Desmond takes over Widmore's empire. Hurley remains to give Ben a choice: go back to sideways time and take your chances OR remain here among the ghosts. Hurley remains explaining that he has learned that he can pass effortlessly between life and death. He must remain; the island is his kingdom. Finally, we say Hugo digging in the sand and Faraday appearing alive and well in the shadow of the statue. the final ambiguity: is Faraday living or dead or beyond such distinctions as Hugo is. BUT this was the road not taken.--Past recaptured 05:06, July 31, 2010 (UTC)

What does this have to do with improving the article? This should be a blog--PSC Soap 22:19, January 23, 2011 (UTC)PSC Soap