The flash-sideways is a tool for the writers to give closure for the characters and the viewers. It is like Harry Potter when you see everyone grown up. It’s supposed make you satisfied because everyone, no matter what happens to them in between the events of Season 6 and their deaths, will end up re-united with their loved ones. It is sad that they don’t get to do that in real life, but that’s because Jack is dead, and you don’t come back from death, no matter how much I thought Locke was going to be resurrected.
Now here are some questions I have. So Desmond, as a “fail-safe” was transporting between life and death. In the flash-sideways, does he realize they are all dead? I don’t think so, because when he comes back to this reality, he thinks he sees another reality, and thinks he is invincible. The reason why Desmond feels this is because he thinks he can “escape” to an alternate-reality where everything is fine, or even if he dies, he knows there is somewhere where everything turned out okay. IF he KNEW that the flashes brought him to the after-life, I don’t think he would have wanted to bring Jack there, because everyone will be there already. He thought Jack in the alternate-world was an alternate-Jack. What it really was, is that is was Jack after death, Jack’s soul.
Ben stays behind in “purgatory” because he needs forgiveness from his daughter. Weird how in the island world, the walkie-talkie didn’t really redeem Ben, he just wanted to kill people after all.
Anyway, I have more thoughts on this episode, and seasons in general, which I will spew afterwards.
I don’t understand the “walkie talkie” comment about Ben. What do you mean it did not redeem him. I do agree that he is going to need to create a healthy relationship with his daughter (and creating a viable future for her that he didn’t get to in life) in the limbo world in order for him to move on to what ever that is waiting for him.
One quip about the show is that now that I think about it maybe Hurley should have been the fail safe since he goes on to become the new Jacob.
Also, I would have to disagree about your comment on Desmond not knowing. I think he knew exactly what he was doing in limbo world the whole time. I was just hoping that it should’ve been Hurley. The writers should have had Jacob in the limbo world meeting Jack. That would have been nice.
Philosophically speaking, I think it is interesting that when you die you get placed in a world similar to yours and you relive it until you correct it, or rather redeem it. This philosophy roots from many religions that is practiced around the world; most notably Hinduism and Catholicism. An Easter egg perhaps can be seen when Jack enters the church/temple and we see a window pane with various religious symbols printed on the glass.