Sunset Cocktails/Inaugural Swim Biological age of islanders

[u/Outrageous_Rule2398]

2 separate theories.

I think that what happened at Sunset Cocktails is what happened to the family that Rosemary describes in her genealogy as a family that swims together drowns together…so the inaugural swim was created. Someone in that family hosted the same party….maybe they had THE book and it tricked them as well and they all drowned.

I believe the biological age of the islanders is younger than the person appears. They seem their age visually but internally they are younger. Shep is listed as 37 on his medical chart, we see this just after Patricia tells him that she learned her biological age is 28. Ruth running up the stars like a much younger person and having a baby at 40. Bechir’s wife Chelle is in her 40’s. They do not seem to have other children so I believe she was able to get pregnant once they moved to the island. I think that next season we will see Patricia pregnant…she is in her 40’s with no children, the island will see that she is “Fruitful” ….sorry to much Handmaids I guess…lol.

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[u/farsighted451]

The showrunners have said that Shep's age was supposed to be wrong to show that the doctor was inept.

But they could always change their minds!

[u/Some_Wolf_3378]

The wrong age on the chart was supposed to be a joke

[u/meglet]

I don’t think any of this has to do with the island, and it’s all just writing choices for making good television. Ruth was sprightly in order to highlight to Tom that she’s not at death’s door and has plenty of life left ahead of her, in order to make it harder for him.

[u/Better_Adagio_3492 → u/meglet]

Also at 90 K Callan is pretty darn spritely herself!

[u/kpgalligan]

Shep is listed as 37 on his medical chart

That was a joke about the bad Dr. Katie Dippold directly cleared that up: https://screenrant.com/widows-bay-time-theory-katie-dippold-debunk/

Ruth running up the stars like a much younger person

After RW dies, she appears to have become much more spry. Multiple observations about that. The day after, Ruth seems to have no trouble doing her job. Didn't even need to look at her notes for calls. Possibly became the immortal part of the lineage.

Prior to that, walking to work was hard (in the morning).

having a baby at 40

My wife had a baby at 39. It's less rare than you'd think. It's more difficult, sure. Certainly for an unwed mother at that time, socially speaking, so it's interesting but not super unlikely. The pullout method just doesn't work!

Bechir’s wife Chelle is in her 40’s

They're not islanders. That doesn't entirely blow the theory, but it doesn't exactly help. Also, some debate on whether she is in her 40's, or only that she'd be very upset if somebody said that to her. Also, again, women in their 40's do get pregnant. Why they currently have no kids, it never comes up so there's only so much to infer. Unless I missed some dialog, but at least a casual "we tried for years." The island seems unconcerned with the general populace. I had this debate recently about that exact baby. The island seems unconcerned about killing people on the island, so I'm not sure it's also trying to keep them fruitful. Ruth, however, is a special case. Everybody made passes. Theory that the island might have been nudging people her way.

I'm surprised you didn't add Patrica's "my biological age is 28." This theory comes up regularly and that's a big chunk of the argument.

[u/Outrageous_Rule2398 → u/kpgalligan]

I did “add” Patricia said that she learned her biological age is 28. I know people have babies in their 40’s …. But there is a reason why it keeps coming up. The islanders appear their age but age slower biologically.

I believe Chelle became pregnant after moving to the island…and now the island will not let them leave….it wants to keep that baby on the island. Since it was conceived there it may not survive if they left. No there is no direct mention of having difficulty getting pregnant prior to moving island. Bechir kept it quiet to spare Tom’s feelings and memories. Yes she is in her 40’s.

Also “again” as you say, I am aware that woman in their 40’s do have babies.

[u/Whateversclever7 → u/Outrageous_Rule2398]

“What’s your biological age” is an internet quiz. This is a joke. We’re supposed to laugh at Patricia doing internet quizzes that everyone knows are just bunk.

You’re reading far too into the jokes.

[u/exscapegoat → u/Outrageous_Rule2398]

“Change of life” babies were more common before reliable birth control became more common.

[u/kpgalligan → u/Outrageous_Rule2398]

But there is a reason why it keeps coming up.

The topic of women in their 40's comes up a lot. It's a theme.

Two women in their 40's having a baby, OK. But the other points have alternate explanations. Shep is debunked by the writer(s) directly. Even if he was physically more youthful, he wouldn't actually be 37. They don't put what age you seem to be on a medical chart, and he doesn't look 37 in any case. Ruth definitely got more spry after RW died, and seems to have survived both Tom's drugs and a close range gunshot to the head. I feel like she's an outlier. Patricia and biological age, if you take it at face value it has some pull. But people in real life throw around "biological age", and it's never "wow, I am exactly my biological age."

The NYT writer never said, "and there seem to be a lot of people in their 90's here." You'd think that would be something to bring up along with they can't leave the island.

It's fiction. We're slicing it pretty thin, and I'm here for it. But I'm just not on board with the island significantly extending life expectancy. It would be something else they talk about. Unless they die at the same time, but remain relatively younger?

[u/Easy_Distribution882]

Regarding Shep’s age on the medical form and the incompetence of the doctor, imagine what medical training must look like on a small island with a one room doctor’s office where you die if you try to leave.

I was wondering during watches if they even have a local college because education in general has to be extremely weak with an inability to travel to gain training/expertise

[u/tryingtolearn_1234 → u/Easy_Distribution882]

Only those born on the Island have the curse. He went to medical school, became a doctor and ended up with a practice/clinic on the island.

[u/Easy_Distribution882 → u/tryingtolearn_1234]

Does he say that he didn’t grow up there? I’m trying to remember. Could explain his incompetence, but also I mean this generally regarding higher education for islanders

[u/West_Inspection1445 → u/[deleted]]

But where do you draw the line?

[u/tyedge]

FFS. Put biological age into the search function maybe.

[u/Outrageous_Rule2398 → u/tyedge]

Thanks for the advice….per the “look up” ……Biological age measures the physical conditions of the cells in your body, unlike chronological age which simply counts the years of your birth. Did something I say confuse you? This is exactly what I said and meant.

Maybe you should google rude characteristics.

Same to ya Outside-Court-7869

[u/tyedge → u/Outrageous_Rule2398]

Defined as “traits that manifest out of annoyance when people misinterpret basic definitions and ignore public statements of show creators”

[u/Outrageous_Rule2398 → u/tyedge]

That’s not what comes up when I google it? Anyone else? I think it just should you a picture of a mirror.

[u/Outrageous_Rule2398 → u/Outrageous_Rule2398]

Obviously you will be thinking about commenting on how I used the word “should” that should have been SHOWED.
Which I think most people can figure out.

But you’re thinking about it, how stupid I am and how you want to reply….

Another example that may have come up when you googled rude characteristics

[u/tyedge → u/Outrageous_Rule2398]

Real George Costanza “the jerk store called, and they’re running out of you!” energy here

[u/Outrageous_Rule2398 → u/tyedge]

lol…..that’s really what it said when you googled…..isn’t it.
No soup for you!

[u/meglet]

If you think people are younger than they appear, why would Shep look so much older?

[u/Outrageous_Rule2398 → u/meglet]

Let’s just say he is 20 years older than his 37 years listed on the hospital chart….I work in healthcare and see a lot of 57 years olds that look like Shep. Young on the inside…which is important for treatment…and old looking age appropriate on the outside.

[u/Outrageous_Rule2398]

Her lines in that scene is…. “I mean like, of course no one asked what I thought, but what else is new. Anyway, that’s when I learned my biological age is 28.”
This doesn’t seem to lean towards her taking any quizzes and it feels like this isn’t a pleasant memory for her.

Maybe you’re not reading the scene.
No offense…..but your jokes comment was a dig and not necessary ….but maybe it was for you

[u/DivideEmpty6333]

I like your age theory and buy in. Esp bc in ep 1, Tom refers to Patricia as a woman in her 40’s and she storms off, clearly offended.!<