2 Timelines… Ugh

Published November 4, 2016 · Updated July 6, 2022

I’m not a subscriber to the 2 timelines theory. I think you have to jump through too many contortions to make it work (Dol is present Dol for most of first 2 eps, then blended in 3/4, then almost all past in 5th, except perhaps when talking with Ford…ugh).

But, the fifth episode presented some information which, if viewed through the 2 timeline prism, makes the story feel less hackneyed.

The two Lawrence’s. If a single line, then either he was re-purposed quickly or there can be multiple versions of the same host running different loops. 2 timelines and the one with William is in the past and shows the initial meeting (of man in black / William and Lawrence).
The money man / the foundation. MiB states he saved the park after Arnold died…assuming via buyout/money. If William is young MiB then perhaps Logan dies in the park, William goes on to help the company buy out the park, marries the sister, and inherit/run the company in the MiB’s present. As CEO he steers the company into a more altruistic direction and establishes the Foundation.
The maze. As William the maze iconography seems to be less of a secret thing. This would be his initial encounter with the idea. Obviously he wouldn’t uncover the truth of it because it’s x years later and as the MiB he is still looking for it. The idea that it was hidden after the William time-frame hence the scalp tattoo etc…feels less hackneyed than the writers deciding to be all mysterious at the beginning but dropping the pretext 5 eps in to beat us over the head with the iconography.

As I said, I’m still not on-board with the 2 timelines. I feel the show would need to be playing pretty dirty to make it work (coincidence Dolores went off loop twice and present security orders a pickup, but only see past pickup attempt of order never seen given, and then never shown present pickup attempt).

Later! –Richard3

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