Lots of spoilers ahead. If you haven’t seen Lost, what are you waiting for? There are only 75 hours of TV to catch up on.
I haven’t read what I’m sure are hundreds of theories on the Lostpedia for this past episode, because I wanted to come up with a theory of my own first.
Last season we had time travel, and the nuclear blast that stopped the uncontrollable flashes seems to have created an alternate universe.
My theory is that while the Losties on the island fight Esau and come into their own as island dwellers, the Losties off the island will realize something is up (coffins are missing, etc) and play a pivotal role in setting things to right on the island.