| abstract | - Faraday talks about people with free will being variables that can change the past. However the name of the episode is singular "The Variable". I propose that Desmond is the Variable, the one who can change the past. Support for this theory:
* Though the episode is Faraday-centric the opening scene focuses on Desmond.
* In that same scene Eloise says that for the first time in a long time she doesn’t know what will happen next. That’s because Desmond is the Variable, a wild-card whose past and future are uncertain.
* Faraday speaks of constants and variables. In "The Constant" Desmond chose Penny as the Constant. It would be a nice parity if therefore Desmond is the Variable.
* In "Because You Left" Faraday himself tells Desmond that he is unique and that rules do not apply to him.
* When dislodged in time in "Flashes Before Your Eyes", Eloise had to personally make sure that Desmond does not get engaged to Penny. Though ultimately Desmond did break up with Penny it was not in the way that Eloise described to him in the jewelry shop.
* After returning to the island from his flashback he is able to foresee the future, specifically the many probable deaths of Charlie, yet he is able to prevent most of them. He could not save Charlie the final time not because of some sort of destiny or “course correction” but simply because he was physically unable to.
* Daniel proved not to be "a" variable as he theorized, when his actions proved to be just part of history.
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