FlashForward: Quantum Superposition Theory

Now that we now the main premise of “FlashForward” is course correction, quantum superposition seems like a plausible theory explaining the motivation behind the fabrication of the flashforward. The recent episode, in which the “Blue Hand” is revealed to be an organization dedicated to providing a support group for those who did not have a flashforward, answers some of the critical questions.

Quantum superposition theory assigns complex numbers, or probabilities to every possible situation. Because probabilities can be positive or negative, when the chances of a given situation happening increases, the probability of that situation happening goes down. What this means in reference to “FlashForward” is that technically, course correction, or changing the future is possible. Essentially, the flashforward decreased the probability of the future coming true by increasing the possibility of that future coming true.

FlashForward: “Scary Monsters and Super Creeps” Review

Perhaps the most riveting episode yet, “Scary Monsters and Super Creeps” did an outstanding job in engaging the audience without giving away too much of the story. And of course Dominic Monaghan may just yet deliver the show from the brink of obscurity. To be honest, I continue to watch “FlashForward” for two main reasons, one of them being Simon, played by Dominic Monaghan, and the other, finding out the actual cause of the “FlashForward”.

Right from the onset, Simon blatantly addresses the ultimate question of what caused the “FlashForward”, as if he was speaking right at the audience. While on the express train headed towards Los Angeles, Simon sparks a conversation with a woman. He goes on to explain that he is a famous quantum physicist and claims that he might know what caused the “FlashForward”. After some time of meaningless flattery and flirtation, Simon admits that in theory,  quantum physics may be responsible for the “FlashForward”, siting “quantum superpositions” and “Schrödinger’s cat” as some of the examples.

Next we find out that a secret organization “Blue Hand” is actually responsible for the attacks on the FBI agents, although their motifs aren’t completely clear. Dmitri follows the signs which are conveniently placed all over LA to a safe house. Whether or not the “Blue Hand” is somehow connected to Simon is yet to be discovered? What we do know however, is the fact that Lloyd Simcoe, the guy with the kid, is connected to Simon.

What We Know:

Here is what we know so far…

Simon is a quantum physicist who is somehow involved with what caused the “FlashForward”

Lloyd is also an academic who is Simon’s close acquaintance

Towers which may be linked with what caused the “flashforward” are built in Somalia

“Blue Hand” is somehow involved and are trying to stop the investigation

Lloyd told Simon that they are responsible for the death of 20 million people because of their experiment

Someone in the government is leaking information

Now connect the dots…

FlashForward: “Gimme Some Truth” Review

A somewhat pedestrian episode, “Gimme Some Truth” was an introduction to what may turn out to be a story tangled in complex interrelations. Rather than introduce new characters and plot structures, the show may follow a “closer-to-home” approach to storytelling. In other words, our conspirators and co-conspirators may be hiding in plain site.

I’m beginning to think the “flashforward” was somehow sponsored or manufactured by the government. It would make for an interesting story. Perhaps an unofficial, clandestine research organization, sponsored by the CIA, was tasked with creating a way to “peek into the future”. The Department of Homeland Security would be all over this. Can you imagine having the ability to prevent a terrorist attack six month into the future? Not a bad idea.

All they have to do is cause the “flashforward” and index or record the images on a database for some playback action. That way they can prevent something from happening in the future, similar to “Minority Report“.

For the most part, I found myself anxious to get to the end while watching this episode. The blatant tribadism and the often misplaced Sun Tzu aphorisms made this episode all the more unbearable to watch.

FlashForward: Black Swan Theory

The “Black Swan Theory”, as described by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, a Lebanese epistemologist and a mathematical financier, refers to the fact that all large impact historical events occur undirected and unpredicted.

He asserts that all major scientific discoveries, historical events, and technological breakthroughs are “black swans”, or outliers from the normal historical distribution.

Since these events are impossible to predict, we need to learn how to exploit the positive black swan events, while avoiding or preparing for the negative ones.

The basic premise of Taleb’s Black Swan theory is that almost all high-impact, consequential historical events are unpredictable and occur at random. The humans are only able to fabricate explanations for these otherwise unexplainable events in hindsight. The theory assumes that it is basic human nature to find pattern in the patternless, to find form in the formless, and to find reason in chaos.

Perhaps the organization responsible for the “blackout” is out to prove Mr. Taleb wrong, and nullify the Black Swan theory by proving that the unexpected can be predicted, the future can be changed, that there is reason, and nothing is random.

Flash Forward: Black Swan Review

Alright folks, its official, the “blackout” was not a random event, but in fact caused by a group of people, compliments of Simon, or Charlie if you’d like. I guess all the theories pertaining to the “event” being a natural occurrence can be discounted, now that we know it was fabricated.  That interesting, cliff-hanging phone call in the end of the episode, left a lot of people pondering as to the connection between the man from Olivia’s dream and Simon, as well as their connection to the “blackout”.

I guess it seems like my earlier prediction might still hold water. I just cannot associate  Simon (Charlie) with a terrorist, or a villain for that matter. I might be wrong, but from what I can tell, he seems more like an idealist, a sophist perhaps.  If he is somehow responsible for the “flashforward”, I would imagine it would be for some kind of “epistemological” reasons.

I really like the beginning of the episode, especially the juxtaposition between the calm, serene music, and the chaotic scenes from when the “blackout” occurred. Ned, because of his strange flashforward, in which he imagined himself a black man, caused us to wonder whether the flashforward’s are accurate or merely figments of our imagination. But this question was quickly answered once we find out he has a pigment skin disease, which other wise would have caused him to die on the operating table.

Dimitri finally opens up. Enough said.

And Alda, Osama’s girlfriend, seems to know more than what she’s telling, albeit she led the agents on the wrong path, it seems to me that she might know the people responsible for the flashforward. What I’m still unsure about is whether the flashforward had something to do with Ned’s condition, and if the blackouts have some kind of side effects? My guess is yes, I think the flashforward will affect certain people in certain ways, perhaps opening up abilities they never knew they had.

FlashForward: Flash Me Forward. Please!

flash forward

After watching the first episode of the new television series “FlashForward“, I could not help but speculate about what might have caused the mysterious black out. We’ve all done that, lets admit it, prematurely predicting the rest of the movie before it even started.

How many times has your friend annoyed you with his wacky and often inaccurate theories on “Lost”, or “Fringe”? Not enough right? Well…sorry folks, here is another one.

Before going into much detail about “FlashForward” it’s best we try and analyze the general synaptic structures of similar television shows. Lets take “Lost” for example. From the onset, the director skilfully manipulated us into formulating various theories on the main thematic elements of the show. First it was the “purgatory”, then came the “ET”. In hindsight the time traveling theme was quite obvious right? Not really, not for me at least. And of course there remains a plethora of questions before we get to the bottom of “Lost”.

So now we come to “Fringe”. Although not as mysterious, or philosophical if you’d like, as “Lost”, “Fringe” blatantly confronts us with the themes of time travel and parallel-universes, while putting a lot of emphasis on technology, biology, and fringe science.

So what does “Lost” and “Fringe” have in common? Both of them have some elements of time travel, multi-verses, technology, and biology. Both of the shows focus on the mystic of the human mind, and the power of modern science. Although I can’t tell you definitely what “FlashForward” will be about, I can tell you however what it’s not going to be about. It will not reference religion or extraterrestrials within its plot. No, the black-outs were not caused by the gods, nor by the Aliens. It will most likely have some of the more familiar elements of modern technological advances, time travel, parallel-universes, and a secret organization plotting world domination. Think of “FlashForward” as something along the lines of – Jack Bauer meets Lost – an action packed sciene-fiction joy-ride which will only get better, I hope.