This thread discusses the Content article: What a Guy Notices After Watching ‘Back to the Future’ for the Eleventy-Millionth Time

Hi there! First off, thanks for writing this. I have a love for the BTTF movies myself. I've always felt a connection to them and I think they are, without a doubt, the best comedy/time travel movies ever made. Although I see the argument that 2 and 3 aren't nearly as good, I still love them because I love the characters. I even read the novelization of the movies, which, if you've ever read a book based on a movie you know, aren't all that great. I played the video games on the Nintendo and . . . well anyway, I like the movies, k?

So, let me address one thing in your article and then tell you about a little question I have had for some time. First:

I don't think the clocks being 25 minutes slow had anything to do with time travel. If your theory is correct then Doc would already KNOW his clocks were 25 minutes slow and he would not be surprised or delighted when he hears them chiming over the phone. He probably wouldn't even react. I think this is just to show us how cooky the Doc is. As for the car potentially killing them if it doesn't work . . . yeah, I think that's a little cooky evidence again. I mean, when it works he goes nuts! "If my calculations are correct . . ." he says. I really think it was a leap of faith for him.

OK, now on to my question:

So we know from BTTF 2 that when you travel to another "universe" (and I read Gott's book as well. Fantastic!) the other "you" still exists. Biff talks about Marty being in . . . is it Switzerland? Anyway, there can be more than one of you around is the point. So my question is this: Where's Marty 2? In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, let me explain.

We meet Marty 1 in 1985(1). This is the Marty we know and love travel through time with. After his adventure in 1955 he returns to 1985(2). Here, things are different. Now, I'm willing to accept the idea that his life somehow had him meet up with Doc Brown anyway (who, in my opinion he only met up with in 1985(1) because his home life sucked and he was a slacker which would have changed with a good home life provided in 1985(2) but whatever) but where is the Marty from 1985(2)? Marty 1 goes back to his house, gets into bed, goes to sleep in wakes up to a whole new world. But there was another Marty, Marty 2, who grew up in this world. Who knows Dave wears a suit to work. Who still dated Jennifer . . . OK we'll accept that too. But where is he??

I open this to the masses. Your thoughts?

I don't think the clocks being 25 minutes slow had anything to do with time travel. If your theory is correct then Doc would already KNOW his clocks were 25 minutes slow and he would not be surprised or delighted when he hears them chiming over the phone. He probably wouldn't even react. I think this is just to show us how cooky the Doc is. As for the car potentially killing them if it doesn't work . . . yeah, I think that's a little cooky evidence again. I mean, when it works he goes nuts! "If my calculations are correct . . ." he says. I really think it was a leap of faith for him.

Zero argument here. I don't know if calling my hypothesis "insane and overly detailed" in the article communicated that my tongue was slightly in cheek, but I definitely advanced the notions in that part of the piece more in humor than seriousness.

Tone's sometimes tricky to communicate online, and in any event well said.

As for your other question: I understand what you're saying, and here's my take:

When Marty(1) arrives in 1985(2), he replaces Marty(2). That leaves the question: Where does Marty(2) go? I think he goes to 1955(3), with a "turtles all the way down" infinite regression through the multiverse.

Ah yes, 1955(3) of course! You know, once you say it it seems so obvious.

I KNOW, right?

Huge BTTF fan - must have seen the Trilogy 100 times as a kid (no kidding). What always struck me was the paradox. The biggest one of concern to me was this:

Marty1, our lovable time traveler, makes it back from 1955 in time to see Doc gunned down and his 1985(2) self, Marty2, drive back in time. Unless things go differently in 1955, Marty2 would end up coming back at the same time. The multiple universe idea would suggest that Marty2 ends up in 1985(3) with the only difference being that it's Marty2 there not Marty1.

As a kid, I always wondered what would happen in Marty went home and then Marty2 came into his bedroom back from his trip. A brief discussion (they won't be unbelieving already having experience time travel) and then Marty3 walks in. Soon the room and house are filled with Marty's. In fact there is a new Marty coming back every minute (or fraction of a second, whatever). The town fills with Martys and becomes a world altering phenom with Martys taking over like zombies. Marty1 would have to go on the run in order to survive the fury of the populace as they cope with being overrun by Martys. The National Guard would be gunning down Martys in the street. But the Martys would not be defenseless as they have the DeLoreans and can travel in time. They'd be time travelling all over the place in order to avoid the horrors of 1985(2), causing other paradoxs in their wake. Probably Marty and Doc would have to provide the solution. That would be a BTTF sequel to remember!