4/12/2010

Lost Update Twilight Zone - The Parallel


Lost In The Twilight Zone Update: 04/12/2010

With ABC Lost approaching its climatic series finale on May 23rd, the Grassy Knoll Institute has one or two more Twilight Zone Updates to discuss the correlation between Rod Serling’s science fiction television program, The Twilight Zone, (1959-1964) and the current ABC network hit, Lost.

Some Background Before We Proceed:
The Twilight Zone was a classic science fiction television series created by Rod Serling that aired from 1959 to 1964. Each episode intertwined the supernatural with topical moral events in today’s society ending with a twist convoluting the outcome. I argue that the same can be said about ABC Lost. The castaways are more than just stranded on an island. There are mysterious forces at work of powers unknown. And just like the Twilight Zone, a twist is inserted in the story convoluting the outcome.

The Twilight Zone had a standard format. Each episode began with a prologue, usually with the host, Rod Serling doing the voice over introducing the characters and setting. At the end of the show, Serling would offer up a final narration of what the viewer just witnessed.

Tonight’s offering is: Season 4 Episode 113 The Parrallel
Original Airdate: 03/14/1963

I think once you see the similarities of both programs, you will quickly realize that Lost is a modern-day Twilight Zone.

Monologue:
In the vernacular of space, this is T minus one hour. Sixty minutes before a human being named Major Robert Gaines is lifted off from the Mother Earth and rocketed into the sky, farther and longer than any man ahead of him. Call this one of the first faltering steps of man to sever the umbilical cord of gravity and stretch out a fingertip toward an unknown. Shortly, we'll join this astronaut named Gaines and embark on an adventure, because the environs overhead — the stars, the sky, the infinite space — are all part of a vast question mark known as the Twilight Zone.

Synopsis:
Astronaut Robert Gaines, Major, is on a routine space orbiting mission when his capsule malfunctions and he blacks out. However, he awakes on Earth with apparently no major problems and is released from the hospital and permitted to go home.

But things seem very odd to Major Gaines as inconsistencies pop up. He notices that his own daughter doesn't know who he is and everyone calls him Colonel when he knows he's a Major. And he argues with his friends and family that John F. Kennedy is the president of the United States even though no one else has ever heard of the man.

Major Gaines believes that he has slipped into a parallel universe where almost everything is the same but a few major changes in history. He returns to his capsule in hopes of traveling back into space and landing in his own universe but he blacks out again.

Major Gaines wakes up to find himself in his capsule back in space. He finds his landing points and pilots the ship to a safe landing. He thinks that this was just a great big nightmare until Mission Control receives another transmission from space... From Colonel Robert Gaines.

Epilogue:
Major Robert Gaines, a latter-day voyager just returned from an adventure. Submitted to you without any recommendations as to belief or disbelief. You can accept or reject; you pay your money and you take your choice. But credulous or incredulous, don't bother to ask anyone for proof that it could happen. The obligation is a reverse challenge: prove that it couldn't. This happens to be the Twilight Zone.

Lost Tie In:
Desmond is a modern-day Major Robert Gaines.
Desmond embarks on a solo trip around the world in his ship. He blacks out and wakes up on the Lost island. As Desmond continues on his journey, he realizes that something is not exactly right. There are inconsistencies that cannot be explained away. He begins to have flashbacks and flash forwards where people do not know who he is.

As season six approaches its end, Desmond realizes what is happening and tries with great effort to return to his reality. He understands that he is living in both universe's at the same time and that he can control the outcome. Perhaps Desmond controls the blackouts forcing another chapter to further him along to find his home, his world, his universe, his Penny. Notice when Desmond blacks out and wakes up, he is in an alternate reality.

And just as Major Gaines in the Twilight Zone received a message from his alternate in space, Desmond has also send messages to the past and future Desmond. The question however, is where does Desmond ultimately belong?

Submitted for your approval. Please use the comments section below to voice your opinions.



LURKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

8 comments:

  1. First time commenter, long time reader. I have tried to disprove your theories, the VR and the Twilight Zone connection and I must say, you have both well thought out. As other theories are being forgotten, you are forging forward. I hope you are correct and satisifed come the series finale.

    This Twilight Zone does mirror Desmond especially the black outs and waking up in another place. And not just Desmond, but Sayid as well. In his alternate reality, Sayid was a wealthy business man but not married to his love, Nadia. Like the Twilight Zone, things were close to being the same, but some major changes were off.

    And the same for Jack, Sun, Jin, and everyone in the alternate reality. They were the same people, but a little different. This was an excellent comparison.

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  2. I'm with Megan on this. And I guess with you to LOTGK. All the charaters when in the side flash sort of knew each other and all were the same people but it looked like they made different life choices. The astronaut went into space like Desmond went on his journey and both woke up in different dimensions. They both knew something was wrong and both attempted to correct and get back to their world.

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  3. Welcome to the comments section Megan and than you for sticking with us all these years. As for first comments, yours is an excellent one. Major Gaines and Desmond were in parallel universe's and both knew they were. When I saw Desmond working for Widmore and was his right hand man, this Twilight Zone episode popped out at me.

    Thanks for reading and commenting and please don't wait six more years until your next comment.

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  4. Exactly, all the castaways are leading at least two double lives. And don't forget about then lives they were leading in the 1970's for some of them.

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  5. You are on to something with the twilight zone tie in. Desmond does know about the two universes and now is at ease with it. Wasn't the Twilight Zone a stand alone every week type of show. Lost is threaded for six years.

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  6. I hope so. i have been hoping for six years now. :D

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  7. Lost End Game4/14/2010 6:42 AM

    Now this is a much better thought on Lost. I see the similarities in both shows. Question though, who is gonna play Rod serling at the end of the show. hahahah

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  8. Yes, I truly believe the writers of Lost are heavily influenced by Rod Serling and the Twilight Zone.

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