It's probably worth waiting to see what happens because there's no way to intelligently hypothesize what's in the head of the producers. I will say this though, from the previews of the next episode that aired at the end of the last episode, there were no hints of a Desmond centric episode.

I dunno just a thought

I personally think it's easier for people to wrap their brains around the idea of continuing with the regular Island timeline we've known all along and now this new alternate timeline which started in 1977 at the time of The Incident when Juliet bashed the nuke with a rock. It was at that moment when the course of lives of our Losties, Ben, Ethan, Dogen, and everyone else we've seen (or have yet to see) was altered and this separate timeline began.

I've heard it said, and I agree that these timelines are going to somehow converge. The first tangible sign of this, I think, is Jack not remembering his apendectomy.

I am of the opinion that this “timeline convergence” is going to get a big boost with the next Desmond-centric episode and that Desmond himself is going to be a key factor in the universe “course correcting” itself. Since Season 3, there seems to be a pattern that there would be a big episode like this, per season, centering around Desmond, and offering invaluable exposition on some of the show's larger themes, beginning with “Flashes Before Your Eyes,” in Season 3, and continuing with “The Constant,” in season 4, and “Jughead” in Season 5.

BTW, love the podcast. I listen every week…

I'm really curious to see if Desmond returns and if he and his abilities play any major role. The actor is still listed in the main cast, but he was also accused of sexual harassment last season by an employee on set, so it seems up in the air.

As everything with Lost, wait and see, wait and see.

You know how in one scenario the soccer team wins, and he remembers that. That's the only evidence we have of looping, and I know in that episode they were dealing with conscious mind time travel, not the looping of the story.

“It only ends once – everything else is just progress.” When Jacob spoke these words, I think it's likely he was referring to the endless conflict between himself and the Smoke Monster, not our 815'ers in a time loop. Now that we've seen the long list of names and numbers crossed out at the cave and the lighthouse, it seems even more likely to me that Jacob has been looking for that one, final group of people who can end the conflict once and for all. I still don't think there's much direct evidence for a massive time loop theory – bear in mind we still don't know exactly what the flash sideways are.

The same thing is happening to the characters in the Alt universe… except they don't have the ability to remember the other timeline. If their ENTIRE lives have truly been changed by blowing up Jughead in the 70s (sunken island = no Jacob interfering in their lives), wouldn't they have been more aware of those changes their whole lives? But no, it isn't until Oceanic 815 DOESN'T crash that they start being all like, “WTF mate?” and noticing each other (see Kate staring at Jack in the middle of a friggin carjacking, Kate not going back for Claire until she sees the very same killer stuffed whale she gave Aaron in the other timeline, Jack not remembering his appendix scar).

So basically yes, their entire lives are changed from start to finish, but they aren't aware of it until that inflection point in time where the plane was supposed to crash. Desmond's attitude on the plane also seemed to have an eerie contentness, as if he knew what was going on because he can remember.

But I feel like we're seeing sawyer run another long con, but the biggest of all this time (fooling smokey).

Diagram is good but I think the correct decision's gotta point back to the start of the redemption timeline in the 70s bc everything is diff in their lives, not just the plane not crashing.

Also, u guys should look into this new “mirror theory” I've been reading about. In light of the mirror we saw in the lighthouse, ppl subsequently noticed that every flash sideways has occurred right after a character looks in the mirror.