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Flash Sideways

A flash sideways is not a flashback, flash-forward or an alternate timeline. It posits what would have happened if Oceanic flight 815 didn't crash on the island but instead landed in Los Angeles.

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The Substitute

Flash Sideways gallery | "The Substitute" episode guide

Flash Sideways Differences

1. Helen comes outside, and we see that Locke and Helen are together.
Helen and Locke live together and are going to be married, but in the second season episode "Lockdown," Helen broke up with Locke and refused to marry him.

Read related recaps:
Lockdown

Watch related episodes:
Lockdown

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2. Ben is a teacher at a high school.
Ben teaches European history at a high school, but he moved to the island when he was a young boy and lived his whole life there.

Read related recap:
The Man Behind the Curtain

Watch related episode:
The Man Behind the Curtain

Comments (14)

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MysteriousQuin

1 year ago

I really dislike the Flash Sideways (alternate time line) - the show took a turn for the worse when this began in Season 6. These aren't the characters we came to know. And now the characters we came to know are no longer the main focus of the action in the Island time line, either. It feels like the show already ended because the people we came to care about are no longer who they once were. And even before the sideways universe began, the characters started to change with no explanation. I'm not happy that they killed off John Locke, the loss of his character was a big loss to the show. I don't think he'd have killed himself when he went back to the present to bring back the Oceanic 6, either. He'd have kept trying forever if it took that long - he wasn't a quitter. Also I wasn't into the Sawyer/Juliet romance which didn't seem probable either, given the characters we had come to know. Also Kate suddenly becoming Mom of the Year devoting herself to Aaron (if she said "my son" one more time...) was out of character, too. She'd have given Aaron to Claire's mother where he belonged. Just sharing my thoughts.

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OhPatchy

1 year ago

This show is so frustrating. All the time travel jumps back and forth, now sideways has me seasick. I hate that we always had to wait what seemed like a year for the next season. Hated everytime announced "All your questions will be answered" Then they never answer the mysteries with anything more than a subtle 'it mighted of happened this way'. ALWAYS a letdown, with more questions added on. One time I made a list that had over 50 mysteries (still unanswered) how do they answer those plus the ones I missed in 1 season? If any of you guys know answers to the following, please elaborate... Anyone else noticed they never communicate with each other on the island? I never see mention that Ben and Freckles may have had sex. Didn't she end up with bleeding wrists when her James and Doc where held prisoner? Ben offered her this fancy meal, then when she got returned to the cage it looked like she had struggled, wrists where bloodied. Also I know Richard Alpert tested Locke when he was a child. Is it possible Locke was possesed by the Black entity even back then? Or how about Locke manipulated James into killing their father. Could it be even then he 'wasn't supposed to kill anyone'? I wonder why they havn't played up the aspect of locke being half brothers w/ James. The leader of the Temple inhabitors looks familiar, could he be a side version of Dr. Namaste' (Miles Dad) Since they can bring people back to life in that fountain how come not Julia? I hoped James escaped to go dig her up. Better yet BRING BACK that stud muffin Patchy! Help!!

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agra3

1 year ago

Locke is never "possessed" - the entity just appears in his form. James and Locke are NOT half brothers. The man from Tallahassee is Locke's father, NOT James'. James' father killed himself the night he shot James' mother.

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Abaeterno15

10 months ago

Her name is Juliet not Julia and the leader of the temple is definitely not a version of Pierre Chang. Locke and Sawyer are not half-brothers, Anthony Cooper just conned Sawyer's mother which made his father kill both of his parents. Kate had bleeding wrists because Ben made her tighten them not because they had sex, Ben likes Juliet anyway. Locke was not possessed, the Man in Black just appears in his form after he dies. Rose and Bernard would never agree to be the new Jacob because they agreed not to get involved with any of that kind of stuff if they stayed on the island, they just wanted to live in peace. Know what you're talking about before you start criticizing a show you have completely misinterpreted.

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OhPatchy

1 year ago

Oh Yeah I forgot this. i think Rose and her Husband should be the protectors of the Island. If not her maybe Michaels son. Remember he was getting all kinds of testing , he was 'special'. I know it would be blasphemy for me to mention Julia rising from the dead after a few days, but others have re-appeared. Maybe they'll bring back everyone, supposed dead included (Charlie & Boon Mr. Echo, etc) to Vote like a reality show, "Who will be appointed . 'Supreme Ruler of Temptation island' Maybe after 6 seasons we'll get a part !! Movie of the week)

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ultra7mm

1 year ago

So how does Desmond set down by Jack on the flight home from Australia? Desmond should have been on the Island already and now he is showing up on the flight. How about Whidmore? Was he exiled from the Island for siding with the "dark side" against Jacob who appears to be the "light side"? Is he working with the Smoke Monster Locke?

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ewc8892

1 year ago

everyone on the island is eventually going to die, and "reappear" inside their bodies in the flash sideways. we know this because right before juliet died, she told sawyer that they need to "get coffee sometime" and that the hydrogen bomb worked. right before she died she was switching between her island time life and the flash sideways life. at some point sawyer and her will end up having coffee. I think its unlikely that the flash sideways characters will come to the island, therefore they must all die.

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Bubyoats

7 months ago

this is a reply to drakecash who replied to you. I agree with everyhting they said - except - they said that everyone who died was in their sideways bodies even the ones that didn't die. Everyone in sideways land was dead. What Jacks father meant was that some had died before him and some after him but that the place was created so they could all find each other "after they died". Jack hadn't just died so now it was all happening in sideways world. Who knows how long it had been. Ben and Hurley briefly talk outside the church about being #1 and #2 on the island and we all know how long Jacob lived. All the dead were now just finding each other

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drakecash

7 months ago

The flash sideways is a form of heaven that the Oceanic 815 passengers created. Christian, Jack's dad, said that they created it and confirmed that Jack was dead. He also said that the people in the church have either died before Jack or will die after Jack. Thus, Shannon, Jarrah, Kwans, and the like that died on the island, and Locke too, are already in there sideway bodies. I think even the ones that have not died, Kate, Sawyer, etc., are in their bodies as well. I am confused that this ABC website says it is not an "alternate timeline" but would have happened if the flight never crashed and how once Desmond helps everyone see that they are in some kind of heaven.

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skagrawal4k

1 year ago

nice theory......i second u

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thatsubaruguy

1 year ago

The Locke Monster invites Richard to join his side. Richard declines. Locke seems about to kill him out of rage, but suddenly sees the boy in the distance, with blood on his hands. (Note that Richard can't see the boy.) Locke is afraid and leaves. Later, Locke and Sawyer are traveling through the jungle when Locke sees the boy again. (Note that Sawyer can see the boy, too.) Locke chases after the boy and is told, "You know the rules. You can't kill him." Locke is furious at being told what he can't do. Later in the cave with Sawyer, Locke invites him to leave the island with him. Given these events, it is likely that: - Sawyer can see the boy (who is likely a young Jacob) because he is a "candidate". Richard can't, because he's not. - The boy is referring to Richard when he tells Locke, "You can't kill him". (Remember that Richard is immortal, and that Locke appeared about to kill him earlier when the boy interrupted.) - The Locke Monster has previously said that he is trapped on the island. He obviously needs someone else's help in order to leave it, and is trying to use Sawyer for this purpose. It was never his intention to kill Sawyer. (It will be interesting to see how Sawyer, the master con-man, goes along with it long enough to answer some questions.) On the subject of which "Kwon" is referred to on the ceiling of the cave: it is likely that it is Jin. Remember that the island did *not* pull Sun off the Ajira flight, but all of the other original Oceanic people were yanked off the flight and dropped into 1977 (to reunite with Jin and Sawyer, who were already there). Sun, however, was left on the flight. I'm betting Jin is the candidate. (He has the better back-story, anyway; the "hero's journey" worthy of candidacy.)

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nmh8504

1 year ago

i think before the mock locke, the "man in black" took the form of jack's dad, christian...that's why claire has been "claimed". now that he is in the form of locke, he has more access to all of the other survivors. locke can now take the form of any dead person i guess. he took the form of alex when ben went to be judged by the monster...which we now know is locke. now is he possibly taking the form of sayid...or at least infecting him? i'm so anxious to see how everything works out!!!

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payaambob

1 year ago

but the island was clearly familiar with jacks dad, without a doubt, if u recall (i forgot which episode it was) when jack thought he saw his dad at this office (and it was late at night and everyone else was gone) the smoke detector went off and he took the batteries out... SMOKE MONSTER TIME TRAVELING????

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payaambob

1 year ago

thats not right... if u recall in Season 6 episode 3 Ben asked Llana if Monster Locke can change into other any other people, and Llana clearly stated that "no he is stuck like that" but u were close nmh8504

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hankie419

1 year ago

I don't think there was a nuclear explosion. The island would have been destroyed, & Juliet wouldn't still be at the bottom of the Pearl station. I think the white flash, when everything came back to normal time, was when Ben killed Jacob, and it changed things that Jacob had caused. Jacob touching all the main characters preordained that they would wind up on the island. In the flash sidways we've already seen people (Ben, & the Dr with Claire in the hospital) who were never on the flight from Sydney. I believe that by the end of the show, the characters in the flash sideways will be convinced to go (or be spirited away to the island) by Ben & the others.

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Abaeterno15

10 months ago

I would agree with you, but Ben killing Jacob happened wayyyyyy after the incident in 1977 so it couldn't have been that.

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energeticalien

1 year ago

Instead of saying that it posits what would have happened if the oceanic flight 815 didn't crashed on the island, they should say "it posits what would have happened without the influence of the island in their lives." Because that the main thing that seems to have changed and caused all of these subtle differences in the time line. The island is underwater. It's confusing when abc says it's not an alternate time line when it is. Or at least it "seems to be". But I guess that doesn't necessarily mean anything now that I think about it... I can't wait to see how all of this turns out!

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schweets2002

1 year ago

I thought the kid was referring to Jacob when he said he shouldn't have killed him. Is the kid Jacob because the first sighting he had blood on his arms

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tdawn22

1 year ago

that was my thinking too...that the child is Jacob...he also tells "The Man in Black or Smoke Monster" (Pretend Locke) that he can't kill the survivors...that was their rule from the beginning...

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Mhd Median

1 year ago

I don't understand, if Ben was on the island when it was nuked, how did he grow up to teach European history?

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skagrawal4k

1 year ago

because the island never nuked.....the bomb didn't explode...the DI's built the swan and left the bomb there...rigged it to the 'fail-safe key' which desmond blew in S2

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tictac_123

1 year ago

i think he was on te sub with miles and charlotte

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scarletjewels

1 year ago

Stupid that they say above it's NOT an 'altnernate timeline' because indeed it IS an alternate 'Reality' or 'Universe' !! However what I get is that 'what would have happened' is meaning - that actually they had to crash on the Isle to go back in time, to make the Bomb, to do the Incident. So actually that changed the past leading up to their flight. Which explains the month difference. But the main point is that the same souls always end up meeting - that's the Fate / Destina role in all of it.

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brutusfat7463

1 year ago

i have to agree. How is sideways lockes dad invited to the wedding and hugo said he's the luckiest guy alive. If it's just what happens if they don't crash on the island well Lockes dad still threw him out the window right. No way he's coming to my wedding. Hurley's house still burnt down. His mom still broke her ankle. Grandpa still died. Doesn't sound very lucky to me. This sideways thing has to be a completely different scenario all together. Not just what would have happened had they not crashed.

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Justinvaughn123

1 year ago

I wanna know what the kid meant when he told the Fake Locke that he cant kill Sawyer, that it was against the Rules.. What R the Rules???

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brutusfat7463

1 year ago

if the kid was saying you cant kill jacob he was a little late with that information cuz jacob is already dead when he said that. i dont think he's talking about sawyer either cuz that just seems too obvious for this show. Unless new locke has to kill sawyer for some reason to be able to go home. Very curious.

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brutusfat7463

1 year ago

i cant remember the episode but in one of them ben is off the island and he goes to see whidmore to tell him he's gonna kill penny. whidmore asks if ben is gonna kill him and ben says "you know i cant do that."i wonder why. And also whidmore cant kill ben wich is why that mercenary team had to capture him alive. Over and over Ben said they cant kill me. I dont know but this is the best show i've ever seen in my life and i have no idea whats happening.

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k80summer

1 year ago

What do you think

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skagrawal4k

1 year ago

that he cant kill sawyer becoz he is a candidate

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tdawn22

1 year ago

In the episode that we see Jacob and "The Man in Black" (Smoke Monster), you remember when "The Man..." told Jacob that he wants to kill him really bad and Jacob said that he knew. The rule was that they couldn't kill each other or that "The Man in Black" couldn't kill Jacob. In the same episode "The Man..." told Jacob that he was going to find a loop-hole one of these days...the loop-whole was that he came as Locke and convinced Ben Linus to kill Jacob... hope that made sense

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Lostman929

1 year ago

the kid was sayin you can't kill jacob not sawyer we dont know what the rules are yet

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lomac222

1 year ago

why is Ben in the "sideway" view? If the plane didn't crash wouldn't Ben still be on the island? He was leader of others before plane crashed. Any ideas?

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dcploveslost

1 year ago

first of all i thought it was strange that helen said to locke that his father would be at their wedding! so how did he get paralazed?

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skagrawal4k

1 year ago

we dont know exactly at what point did the lives of these losties changed in alternate reality... may b anthony cooper is nomore a con-man..he never pushed him....he never conned Sawyer's parents...sawyer never bacame a con-man...may b he's a fashion model nw because there is no such evidence that the events b4 the take off of ocienic 815 are same in the alternate reality too....u c...

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tictac_123

1 year ago

JMHO = he could have a foster parent , or they could just simply one to have his dad at the weddign even thoughe he tried to kill him , or he could of never pushed him ... @justinvaughn123 well you gotta think the island sunk , ben , ethan , juliet , desmond were NEVERat the island .. ((( just an example ))) what if desmond pushed him ?? or wat if locke donated his kindey to juliet ? oorrrr what he got an to a car accident with one of them ? think of it as a butterfly effect ...

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tdawn22

1 year ago

that's a good point...didn't catch that one...can't wait to find out how this thing pans out and why the alternate world or (flash sideways)

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Justinvaughn123

1 year ago

His dad pushed him out the window so this happened before the crash ethier way his dad pushing him out the window happened.. That is Y hes Paralyzed..

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jmets111

1 year ago

Since it's a sideways flash, his dad could actually be a good guy this time around, or more likely someone completely diferent altogether (we don't know 100% for certain that the guy who conned Locke for his liver actualy was his biological father).

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