"The Constant," by itself, was a superb episode that answered quite a bit of our questions from seasons past. When taken in context with the rest of Season 4, though, there is one very large void that is created. The basis of this question is: how is it that the Oceanic 6 are off the Island, but not able to time travel the way Desmond, Faraday and Minkowski can?

There are several questions that need to be answered as we dive into these shallow waters of deep thought. The first has to do with exposure to radiation. Faraday made it fairly clear that an exposure to radiation has something to do with this time traveling mental state. Were the Oceanic 6 exposed? Kate has been pretty exposed lately, but not to radiation, ehem (OK, shallow thought there). The same applies for Jack, Hugo and Sayid. Unless, when the hatch imploded, everyone on the Island was exposed to the elecromagnetic field? But if that were the case, we would have seen Sayid go nutso while flying with Desmond. At this point you could say that the Oceanic 6 aren't able to time travel because they weren't exposed, but to that, I have another answer (in the form of a question): Minkowsi wasn't exposed to any sort of radiation that we know of, but he was still able to "fly." What gives?

The only other force that we've seen that can trigger this mental state is approaching the "border" of the Island - either on the way in or out. We know this because Minkowski, somehow within a span of days, was infected by this and ultimately died of it. But we didn't see him being subjected to any high amounts of radiation, did we? All he said was that he veered a little too close and all of a sudden he was "sick." But then again, Sayid comes back into play. He (and Frank) flew out with Desmond and neither of them were made "sick." Hmm.

In either case, some of the Oceanic 6 (at least the ones we know of so far: Jack, Kate, Hurley, Sayid) should be displaying signs of time travel, right? Then why aren't they?

The Submarine Saves Six Theory!
Yes folks, you guessed it: the Oceanic 6 get "rescued" via submarine. And they aren't even rescued! Ben lets them off of the Island. I'm sticking to my theory that the freedom of the Oceanic 6 is a result of another Benjamin Linus scheme. Similar to what I believe we'll find out happened to Michael (with him being Ben's spy on the freighter). The temptation of returning to their lives leads them off the Island with Ben as the facilitator; but like a guilt-laying parent, he manipulates them into hiding, lying and, ultimately, killing for him. What does this have to do with flashbacks and time travel? It seems to me that the only way to avoid getting stuck with the time travelers syndrome is to travel by submarine. That's how the Dharma people got onto the Island. That's how Juliette got onto the Island and that's how the Oceanic 6 will get off - and preserve their mental sanity.

Juliette. We're going to learn a whole lot more about her in the coming episode of Lost. Will she be one of the Oceanic 6? Not possible, right? Because she wasn't on the plane. Will she get off the Island, or even want to get off? I think so. And I am going to stick to my gut feeling that she's the one in the coffin. Maybe that question will be answered this Thursday as well. We'll just have to see about that.

 -bobbysketch