Which Desmond do we have now? 1996 or 2004

[Folly529]

Once Des started jumping, it seemed that his 1996 consciousness was dominant. 

I'm interested in seeing whether he remembers everything (including the jumps) or nothing (blanks out during the flight and comes back now) or only up to 1996?

[LostAndSeek]

It's pretty clear it's 2004 Des, isn't it? As soon as he got Penny on the phone his memories of the Island came back.

[thebeann]

Yes, no debate. 2004 Des is back. HE knew Sayid, he talked about having been on the island...

[Laklost]

2004 all the way.  The show confirmed it.

Minkowski apparently travelled the other direction.  His 2004 consciousness was trapped in between times and cooked his noodle.

[LostAndSeek]

I agree with Lakkie!

[§møĐēąη]

Me too.

[westy]

The time travel between Desmond and Daniel seems to have changed Daniel more than Desmond. When Daniel first arrived on the island, he seemed to be an extremely fragile basket case who relied on Charlotte to care for him. He was a nervous wreck and very very confused. After "The Constant" he seems more confident and has a much stronger personality--especially in dealing with Charlotte (scolding her for having a bad attitude, opening up about his feelings for her, etc.). It's almost as if he is now a different person. Maybe another "version" of Daniel--a different "consciousnes," as it were--"took over" after this experience with Desmond. Why he would be affected in this way in unclear, but I believe the change in his attitude is rather glaring and we should consider how it came about.

[Laklost]

That's a good observation, that Daniel is more assured.  But I really read that it was because the time travel anomaly was what he was looking for.  I can't explain it, but I felt like the island became a giant tilt-a-whirl ~ and Daniel was the only one enjoying the ride!