How Old is Shannon?
Pretty simple question … right?
Episode 10 from Season 1: Hurley is taking a census after Claire was attacked. In speaking with Shannon he asks for some basic information. Her response is:
“You want my information. Name: Shannon Rutherford, Age: 20, Address: Craphole Island.” Transcript
OK - easy enough- Shannon is 20. But …
Shannon’s dad died in Jack’s ER room. He was 57 at the time. Transcript
It was at that time when Jack bumped into Desmond running the stairs. Desmond was training for “A race around the world. Impressive, I know.” –same transcript
So far so good. Now we just need to know how old Shannon was when her dad died in that accident. That text for that comes in the episode titled “Abandoned” Transcript
Here is the answer when Boone pours Shannon a drink of alcohol after the funeral. She says, “I’m 18, Boone. Your mom’s going to freak.”
So, it looks like 2 years (and maybe a few months) have passed between Shannon’s father’s death and her being stranded on the island. But then there is this …
We go back to Desmond. Desmond is being quizzed by Jack as to how Desmond ended up in the hatch. Desmond’s answer was, “It was 3 years ago. I was on a solo race around the world, and my boat crashed into the reef, and then Kelvin came.” Transcript
So, Desmond places the death of Shannon’s dad some time further back than 3 years ago.
Either Shannan lied about her age or … Desmond lost track of time or … they all are being experimented upon by having memories implanted. Those memories sometimes cause inconsistencies.
A few more points about this two year period.
Between the time when Shannon was 18 and 20 Jack had operated on his future wife. She had gone through her extensive rehab. She and Jack became engaged. Then they were married. Finally, something else happened to where Jack and his wife are no longer together (divorce/death?). That’s a lot to happen in 2 years.
On Shannon’s side she was living in the states at 18 with no money. Yet, in the next two years she has moved to France for at least 1 year and has had 3 boyfriends that Boone has paid off in order to have them break-up with his sister. Oh, and she was married somewhere in there as well. We just don’t know for how long.
Finally, for Desmond he must have concluded his training, started his solo race, and traveled as far as the mystery island. All of that was supposed to have concluded prior to his crash on the island 3 years ago.
My bet is that at least 4 years have passed between Shannon’s dad dying and our Lostie’s ending up on the island.
