1.) I am totally scratching my head over this too, Redglory! it's bugging me to no end! Why doesn't Desmond recognize Daniel when he sees him on the island? Why doesn't he look relieved an thrilled and grateful the second he lays eyes on Daniel because it means he wasn't insane 10 years before. You'd think that would be a major relief to him, right?

2.) Further, why isn't Daniel totally relieved to see Desmond on the island? He had found his constant! That's a big deal. It means he's not going to bleed from the nose and then die a horrible disorienting death, yet there is no look of extreme gratitude and relief on his face either. He and Desmond look at eachother like they're total strangers.


I think these are great questions.

I wonder if Desmond does not recognize Daniel because he has not met him yet, or rather he is not part of his "consciousness" yet because the past meeting (at Oxford) does not happen until the future (on the boat) leads him to his past. Once they have met in the past the future is changed and thus they now know each other and should respond as though there is a connection when they next meet. But previous to the jump back they wouldn't know each other...right?