I definitely disagree, because it isn't done willy-nilly but consistently fits a pattern.
6 = 1
5 = 2
4 = 3
Nearly all the time. It is an intentional structure, or dare I say it... evidence of intelligent design. It is no accident, and it is not lazy. After all, we have terrific storytelling (for the most part) over six years, and yet certain events in this season -- taken strictly by themselves -- appear on the surface to be rather contrived and out of place. But they happen because they are specifically designed to mirror Season 1. And this is done so that the true, would-be mystery-solvers among the fans can pick up on that pattern, and then look at what else occurred in Season 1 and make predictions about what else will happen in Season 6.
For example, the raft was a major plot point in Season 1. The Losties wanted off the island. However, the raft was sabotaged before it ever even launched.
I'm still trying to put together some thoughts on the ABCCBA theory (and as I think you know, I'm definitely a mirror/parallel advocate), but saw this and wanted to comment... A parallel isn't necessarily a "parallel." And "all the time" is pretty daring. (I address that in my longer post).
Therefore, I predict that the Losties will try to leave, either on the plane or on the sub, but that mode of escape will be disabled or even blown to bits, burned to the ground, thus blocking their escape, before that vehicle actually departs the island. Furthermore, I predict that it will be the sub, specifically. I am predicting now that Widmore will sabotage the sub or rig it to blow up to prevent escape from the island.
If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. We'll see.
Well, I'd bet farm on you
not being wrong in one of those transports trying and failing to leave. I'm with you there (I personally think they'll both fail).
BUT
This isn't meant to say that ABCCBA isn't accurate, or that the raft comparison isn't accurate, but at the risk of sounding lame:
Of course (at least) one of those things (sub, plane) is going to try to leave and not make it. There's no way that
both are going to successfully leave that island, and there's no way one would be left behind. First one will try to leave and fail, and then the other will try to leave and either fail or succeed. But to have both succeed or have left one unused seems inconceivable, story-telling-wise. The latter inconceivable for sure.
Similarly, at least one's
got to explode. Because this is LOST, and there's no way that at least one of those big things isn't going to be blown up. We're building to a finale, and at this point, a LOST finale without some massive explosion would be like dinner with no food. It's like they're just sitting around on Hydra island
waiting to explode. Hm...
If both explode, the plane'd probably be last and it'll echo the original crash.
lain: I just thought that one up now.
Also (while we're at it
), I don't think Widmore would blow up the sub. I think if he tried to stop anything, it seems to me more likely he'd try to stop the plane. I think Sawyer'll try to go through with his sub plan, and either MIB will stop the sub, or "the island" will step in.
While I was writing that last bit, I just got a new end-scenario speculation. But I have to think about it...
I hate that. Wait, I mean I love that.
Uh oh, I might have lost it... Um, the new end-scenario speculation I mean.
lain:
When the helicopter was preparing to land, and the island disappeared, did the other island disappear also?
Yes. Well, I don't know if we actually
saw it disappear(?), but it must have because it wasn't left behind when the island proper was gone.
I don't remember if we've seen it in different timelines, though. Actually, yes, I think so... When there was that mystery shooting canoe-chase time shift: The canoe was on the way to Hydra island and they flashed in time and they were being shot at by another canoe chasing them and then time flashed again and it was over.