Characters are 'avatars' of themselves in a shared, highly immersive experience. The characters all have troubled backgrounds, but are redeemable. The Hanso Foundation is experimenting in a virtual reality (VR) world approach to resolving psychological, physical, and sociological problems.
Selected People
Diverse groups of folks were each set up to have a reason for travel to the same destination. They started out on what appeared to be an actual transoceanic flight. Instead of crashing, they were put under and transported to a high tech facility and are in a semi conscious state. They are interacting with one another in an elaborate island setting with intriguing environmental elements to keep them stimulated and working through situations.
The paralyzed can walk. Those with cancer are cured. Heroin addicts are confronted by piles of heroin, and so on. The Others on the island really are the 'good guys', as stated in this season's finale. They are avatars of the scientists running the experiment. As a character reaches a point of resolution, they are removed from the VR scene permanently. Sometimes, the characters are allowed to have visitors, who make guest appearances in the shared VR world as avatars of themselves.
Theory Doubted, Questions Answered
Related comments are extracted from the ABC.com Lost blog where I first posted the plot theory:Q: The season finale disproved this possibility when it showed the Portuguese guys looking for the island -- there is an outside world, and the island does exist.
A: The Portuguese are looking for the facility where the Lost are immersed in the VR world.
Q: Who is Avatar? I don't remember that character.
A: 'Avatar' is a term used for a representation of a person in a virtual environment.
Q: The theory is wrong because the producers said the Lost group is really on an island.
A: The location where the Lost group is experiencing shared VR is in a facility that is on an island.
Q: The theory is false because the producers said the characters are real and feel pain.
A: The people are real behind the Lost avatars. One will very likely die from cancer. Another will never walk again. One is struggling with weight and through experience in the Lost environment, may gain the self confidence to resist the virtual food.
