HURLEY'S HEAD

One of the early LOST theories, and some still suspect one of the "craziest," deals with fan favorite, Hurley.  Hurley was universally the most likeable main character in the series.

But a popular fan theory was that Hurley is still in the mental institution and that each character is a part of his personality.

This is slightly different than Hurley (or some other character) was dreaming this all up (like a real bad Dallas cliffhanger solution).  This theory supposes that it is not a dream, per se, but a multiple personality disorder coming to life.

There is a bridge between the two places. Both at the mental institution and on the island, Hurley's "imaginary friend" Dave appears. In fact, at the mental institution, Dave tries to coax Hurley with food in order to escape the institution. Hurley hesitates, then stays (which is also odd, because Hurley was not committed so he could leave, supposedly, at any time). Then on the island, Dave tells Hurley that everything is all "in his head."  Only a last second intervention by Libby (who is also seen at the mental institution as a whacked out patient) saves Hurley from jumping off a cliff. In Dave's world, this would break the mental cycle in Hurley's head. From the show perspective, we are led to believe that Libby saved Hurley from certain death. For some reason, Libby's coaxing of Hurley off the ledge was not that of a lover, but like a nurse. But we know Libby is not a nurse, but a troubled patient. It is after that that Libby begins to reel Hurley toward her. If Libby was also an imaginary person, with some psychotic self-awareness that a multiple personality could manifest, then stopping "Dave" would be the only way to "save" herself in Hurley's complex mental world.

Libby could represent the caring person missing in Hurley's real life. Libby represents the romantic feelings that he cannot express to real people. On the other extreme, Dave appears to be Hurley's adventurous alter-ego, someone who is willing to take chances, risks, in order to get the nerve endings to tingle. If these two mental institutional characters are two ends of the spectrum, that sets up a linear character development plot line to dissect the series.

If we assume that Hurley is truly a troubled person, then the one event that set him over the edge was the alleged porch collapse incident where two people were killed. Hurley blamed his weight and presence on the porch for its collapse and resulting deaths. (However, we are never told that Hurley was actually injured in the incident. Some say that this may have been the gateway event for Hurley's own personal journey in purgatory; dying as a result of the porch collapse.) If Hurley truly blamed himself for two deaths, what if those two people were Dave and Libby? Since Hurley never acknowledged Libby as a patient when she came out of the jungle, could she also be "imaginary" like Dave? If so, then that squarely puts the island in the realm of mental illness and not a real place.

Then let's explore the some of other main characters in relation to this premise.

If Hurley was on the porch when it collapsed, killing two people, it is highly likely that he would have been injured as a result. We know he had some disdain for his regular psychologist who told him Dave "was not real." Hurley could have conjured a more sympathetic, miracle working alter ego in the form of Jack Shephard, who was similarly affected by serious daddy issues. Jack takes the form of internal healing for Hurley.

Then, we have Kate, who could be the musical persona of Hurley's mental state. As the girl next door character, Kate could function as possible love interest like the record store clerk, but real Hurley knows that he could never have such a girl. While Hurley is introverted, shy and dower on his prospects, Kate is the opposite - - - hard hitting, aggressive, manipulative and can put men on a string and pull them like a yo-yo. Kate takes the form of yearning for an exciting, adventurous personality.

Locke ties in with Jack in more ways than one. Locke could be the embodiment of two things: Hurley's actual porch injuries, and Hurley's internally perceived deficiencies in making friends, keeping a job, a lack of focus - - - the embodiment of all the darkest fears, such as dying alone. While Locke can scream "you can't tell me what to do!" Hurley cannot make such statements because he has repressed that will to stand up (even for himself).

Sawyer can represent luck. Sawyer was the one character who can make things look too easy. He can con money, change tacts, be quick witted and humorous, but also be cunning and strong. He is a
Robert Mitchum style "man's man" something that Hurley knows he could never be in real life. It is why the fire and gasoline combo of Kate and Sawyer would never work, because only opposites attract (or so that is the rules of relationships).

By "solving" his inner personalities with each other, Hurley can find some mental balance on his island. Remember, Hurley is the last man standing - - - in control - - - of the island, which could be symbolic of his mental state. And when the ending church scene is put together, it is another stage in Hurley's mind to come to a cliche "happy ending" for his imaginary friends.

A multiple personality disorder also erases all the plot line and continuity errors in the series because the events are not real but all in Hurley's head.