The Fringe

Well, not just a dream, but a dying man's dream. I'm not sure I can explain it any better than I have. Among the clues given I think the most telling was a shot of a book with the title An Occurrence at owl Creek Bridge. This was a Bierce short story and not even a book unto itself. This story is ONLY notable for the surprise ending revelation that almost the entire story was a dying (on the gallows) man's fantasy. It wasn't placed in the show by accident. Likewise for the other, similar clues. Moreover, Jeff's assertion that the writers denied it was all a dream confirms that at least it was always a consideration and topic of discussion. The Owl Creek story inclusion was, at minimum, an attempt to generate such controversy. So for me, there is no doubt of this hovering question throughout the series: was it or wasn't it a dying man's dream/fantasy? Here is a clip of the first minute of the 6 year series and the final minute. For me, it answers the question. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulwWolBrcbo (if there had been numerous allusions to stories about time loops instead of narrative dreams I'd be more inclined to accept Gerry's hypothesis)