I suppose I could spend a long time coming up with “ohhh COOL” observations and definitions for “31″ to explain the symbolism of the Time Difference both on and off the island. I won’t, though, because I’m too busy thinking about the deeper implications. This new wrinkle (in time! ha!), coupled with the Faraday character and the deal with Desmond and the older version of himself last year reinforces for me that the crux of Lost is going to be Time and Relevant Dimensions in Space. (Sorry, BOM!) I think the island is all about using electromagnetism to alter the movement of time on earth.
The philosophy of electromagnetism altering time is an old physics/philosophy dorm room geek wank, and I think the Lost writers are bringing it to television in a quasi-entertaining format.
I’ll let someone else explain the basics for me:
time moves at 186,000 miles per second in every direction. Because photons are perfect ellipses, they can attach to time, kind of like a rider on a bus. This is why time seems to slow down as you approach this speed… Time doesn’t slow down, it just does not pass as fast. In fact, to a photon, time does not pass at all.
The Lostpedia has a great breakdown on this and it’s one I’m subscribing to even more strongly after tonight’s episode.
Really, though, as much fun as my theoretical physics hobbyism is, I’m just glad they turned in an episode with a decent amount of entertainment. They had gripping story elements most of the way through, with only one exception.
I cannot believe that someone as savvy in the realms of cruelty as Sayid Jarrah would NOT realise the blond he fell for was a baddie. Maybe instead of taking all those torture classes he should have watched more TV. Then he would see the obvious along with the rest of us. He would also know that saying something like “the minute I give over my life to [Ben] is when I sell my soul.” Because that means we ALL knew from that moment on his flash-forward employer was Ben.
Can I just say how much of a valentine’s present it was to me that they didn’t let Jack participate in Sayid’s Charlotte web?! I’m so happy that people are pulling away from worshipping at the altar of Jack.
Although I do feel that the show’s writers are often like Locke in search of the cabin. They’re waiting for someone to tell them what comes next.
I just have to say that Act 4 of this six act play is starting to become my favorite. The reveals are awesome (employer Ben notwithstanding.)
As far as Sayid’s inability to recognize, maybe it had something to do with the fact that he’s Ben’s henchman now. It looks like Ben’s got him on a non-stop killing spree for quite a while, which could be really taxing his abilities. Plus, he was all focused on the “economist,” not the economist’s teenage personal shopper.
By the way, was I the only one that expected her to have braces on when she smiled? I totally thought she looked fifteen.