Maybe this far fetched thoughts can help accomodate events more fully into your theory:

Since we are talking about a dream, wich, in it’s turn, were prompted by the strange series of events that happened to Des, one manner to achieve a complete dream theory about it is to find a way to fit some pre-cognitive event (or even better, events) into the timeline period comprised between the hatch implosion and Des’ dream.

Let’s try an example: what if Des, after the implosion and having acquired his pre-cognitive powers, had an ‘event’ and saw Sawyer and other losties being captured and taken to ‘alcatraz’ island. He then tried to change the ‘future’, but ended up failing and captured by the others.

Thus, despite his efforts and the fact that he manages to get free (loosing his clothes in the process ), all he was really able to achieve was coming full circle, by falling unconscious on the same place where this whole ‘adventure’ started.

This, in turn, leaves him with an aftertaste of defeat and hopelesness, which is later on translated in Des’ dream into the speech of the old bookstore lady.

There, now, all events we saw in last episode are explained away as a dream, aimed at reconciling all of the new information Des was exposed to in those fatefull hours…

Given that both series of events (dream and failed atempt to prevent the losties’ abduction to ‘alcatraz’ island), happened in tandem and consecutively, he would be fully excused for thinking all of it was real, which, in its turn, would explain his reaction to Charlie’s words.

Cheers

P.S. I know the events I created are a bit ludicrous, but their objective was only to ‘prove’ there would be a way to completely reconsile toeknee’s theory and all events we’ve seen so far, without tapping into time-travel territory.

You didn’t offend me and I apologize if I let you think so. It’s just I don’t have the same way as yours to interpret “Lost”.
As for me, most people are too rational or down-to-earth, I just don’t know why but I guess you might be rather like Jack and I am rather like Locke …!
My point is that Lost is a fiction, it’s kinda of a poetry, it’s a tale. It’s not a usual show people watch after drinking a beer and eating pizzas.
There are many symbols that enable us to think about life in general.

The mystery is a feeling impossible to understand, for me this is its definition.

But if you ask me about the questions raised by the show, I would answer in different words.
For me this a quest of the human soul about what is destiny, free-will. Consequently, I don’t really “care” if Des’ really travelled yes or not, this is a secondary matter.
But obviously, you don’t think so, so I won’t insist and I totally respect your opinion.
I also like reading the comments in order to catch details I didn’t see.

To Andreas

I sincerely regret Job doesn’t write any more posts on the blog cause he was answering my personal questions about philosophy. He had many literary references that are necessary, according to me, to understand what the show means.
For the rest of it, I totally agree with you but again when I speak about Lost with my friends I try to understand the philosophical aspects of the show.
Lost looks more and more like the movie “Matrix”, this is full of wonderings about religion, choices, past, which are fundamental themes of humankind for ever.

Regarding frenchy’s comment about why we need to discuss things as much as we do, I’d think you’ve been visiting this site long enough to know that discussing and making up theories is what we do, hehe!

Sure, we could just enjoy the show and not think about it, and sometimes I would really love to just do that, but with episodes like “Flashes Before Your Eyes” there are so many strange things going on that I personally start thinking about them and want to discuss it with my friends to fully understand what I’ve seen.

Like it was written above, Lost is not 24 or “Die Hard” and there are so many things going on that you are kinda missing out if you don’t think about and discuss the mysteries.

We know the Others know everything there is to know about (at least some of) the losties – what if they’ve perfected a method of viewing the character’s pasts, in effect like we’ve been doing? While it appears like the flashbacks are just another form of narrative, what if we’ve been seeing exactly what the Others have been researching and studying about the characters?

Also, I love that they’re getting metaphysical with the science-fiction component of the show, and reigniting the mystery and intrigue – for me this season’s been just as good as the first.