Season 6 of Lost Premieres: Will This Season Be the Season of the "What If" Flashback?

Will Season 6 of Lost become the season of the "What If" flash? Viewers watching the season premiere of Lost were treated to scenes of Oceanic Flight 815 passengers Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Locke and the rest of the Lost Lostaways landing at LAX, the destination of their flight before it crashed into the mysterious island.

In the season 6 premiere of Lost, titled "LA X," the Lostaways safely land at their destination while we are simultaneously shown scenes of the Lost crew back on the Island, dealing with the aftermath of what came when the hydrogen bomb was supposedly detonated by Juliet.

While the Lost crew prepares for battle with the man masquerading as John Locke, the unnamed man on the beach with Jacob and the human form of Lost's favorite baddie, the Smoke Monster, an alternate set of the Lostaways go about their lives as if the plane landed safely in Los Angeles. As such, we see what life would have been like without the island. Kate would still be on the run. John Locke would still be wheelchair-ridden. Claire would be on her way to give up her baby. Charlie would be handcuffed and ready to be escorted to jail for drug possession.

Which raises the question: "Is this a series of 'What if?' scenes as opposed to flashbacks, flash-forwards or time jumps?"

Making it even more confusing is Juliet's almost-last words to Sawyer, relayed to him via Miles' communication with the dead. "It worked."

So, is what we're seeing in Los Angeles the destination for these characters if they are successful on the island? Or is it simply a glimpse into an alternate fate showing us that, to quote Daniel Faraday, "Whatever happened, happened" and it should remain that way.

While the meaning of the scenes in Los Angeles are certainly at the forefront of fans' minds, there's also the question of John Locke. With Sayid being raised from the dead at the end of the season premiere and a literal line in the sand being drawn between what appears to be good and evil, is there a chance that we will see the real John Locke in some fashion before the show is done? Is an epic battle between an evil Locke and a good Locke in the future for Lost, thus making the parallel to John's original analogy regarding good and evil while playing backgammon with Walt?

As season 6 of Lost comes to an end, the answers to these questions are only months, weeks and days ahead? What are your predictions for this final season of Lost?