Temporal Mechanics in Back to the Future II: The Fate of Old Biff Tannen

Much like the themes explored in Back to the Future II, the concept of time travel and its consequences has puzzled viewers for decades. In the iconic movie, the characters travel through time, changing events and histories. One question that often arises is: What would have happened if Old Biff stayed in 1955 after giving the sports almanac to his younger self?

Official Interpretations vs. Fan Theories

As a viewer, it can be intriguing to speculate on alternative outcomes. For instance, the movie may have shown a different 2015 had Marty and Doc stayed longer in 1985. Given the events that unfold, it is plausible that the timeline would have been altered. Specifically, it can be inferred from a deleted scene that Biff Tannen would eventually be shot by Lorraine in 1996, leading to his death and the eventual fading out of his existence. This deletion highlights the complex nature of temporal mechanics in the movie.

The Time is Like Treacle Theory

One popular fan theory is that time behaves similarly to treacle (a viscous liquid). This theory, often featured in other sci-fi works like Legends of Tomorrow, suggests that changes in the past take time to propagate into the present. The further back one travels, the longer it takes for changes to materialize.

According to this theory, if you travel back 30 years, as Marty does from 1985 to 1955, the changes take a relatively long time to manifest. When Marty returns to his present, everything still matches the initial timeline, but once he goes to bed, the new timeline is created and changes take effect the next day. Similarly, if Biff were to time-travel back 60 years, the changes would take even longer to manifest.

This theory suggests that Biff would return to 1955 and find an unchanged 2015. However, he would eventually start to see the world changing around him as the new future takes hold. Eventually, Lorraine's actions in 1996 would result in his death, and he would fade out of existence.

Deleted Scenes and Timeline Consistency

Deleted scenes provide additional insights into the temporality of the movie's narrative. A particular deleted scene shows Biff being shot by Lorraine, implying that he eventually dies. This scene indicates that the movie's creators intended for Biff's time line to be altered by this event. The timeline's consistency is thus maintained, as Biff's absence would explain his absence in the future scenes.

The Complexity of Temporal Mechanics

Despite the intriguing theories and deleted scenes, time travel and its mechanics can be overwhelming to understand. In Back to the Future II, the movie effectively demonstrates the concept of temporal entropy, where the past events continually influence the present. However, it also leaves room for a more nuanced interpretation, where the timeline self-corrects over time.

The theory of time being like treacle suggests a more gradual and organic change, while the story's consistency indicates that changes do occur, albeit with a delay. This complexity reflects the inherent challenges of time travel and its effects on narrative and human understanding.

As a fan of Back to the Future II, the time travel themes offer a rich exploration of temporal mechanics and the consequences of altering history. Whether through official interpretations or fan theories, the movie's adherence to its internal logic and the theory of time behaving like treacle provide a fascinating narrative experience.

Conclusion

While the movie Back to the Future II may leave some questions unanswered, it provides a compelling exploration of temporal mechanics and the consequences of altering history. The theory that time is like treacle offers a plausible explanation for the events depicted in the movie. Despite the complexities of time travel, the movie's consistent narrative ensures that the final timeline is self-contained and logically consistent.