Siberia Becomes Reality

Siberia is a new hit drama on NBC that originally blended the platforms and social situations of a reality competition with paranormal drama.  In the beginning, we saw a group of people who were dropped into the Siberian wilderness to execute their survival skills along with their abilities to manipulate those around them in order to win a cash prize.  This put a shine on the idea of reality competitions, how far certain personalities would go for monetary gain, while others stayed true to themselves and their morals to work together and help each other survive.  Although throughout the first episodes we saw plenty of action, betrayal and relationships, we were also leaked information implying that all was not as it seemed.  Located in the Tunguska Valley, rich with paranormal history, the cast has now found that they are no longer in an ordinary game.  With strange events at every turn, we have been thrown into the exciting search for answers, the mystery of who else is with them in this remote location and the grim idea that none of them will make it out alive.  While this post is a recap of episode six, "Out of the Frying Pan", I will also include some updated theories based on the information we learned in this episode.  However, I encourage you to take a look at my other Theories posts as well, as they go deeper into the history and the situations from the combined first five episodes.  Without further ado, let's take a look at this week's Siberia!

• We began in the producers' deserted base camp that Carolina (who from here on out will be referred to as Joyce) led Daniel and Johnny to, in hope of finding answers as well as help for Irene who is gravely injured.  Although still in shock from discovering it empty and mangled, they quickly decided to scavenge what supplies they could.  Food, water and production schedules, as well as information on the mushrooms could be seen amongst the wreckage.  Johnny encountered a notebook detailing a storyline in which Joyce pursues him as a love interest that reminded him of her deception and gave the cameras a f-you showing that he is still hurt from the revelation that she is a planted actress.  Suddenly, we heard Joyce screaming in the distance as she discovered large pools of blood, as well as smeared handprints implying that the producers didn't leave willingly, but were attacked by something unknown.  Johnny made a comment about it appearing like someone had been shot.  This might connect to the gun shots Sabina heard in the woods as well as the location of the missing rifle.  If the locals, who I believe to be the "Valleymen" of real lore (see: Theories That Will Blow Your Mind!), have the gun they are likely responsible for the attack on the base camp.  To add to the uneasiness, the group heard banging in a nearby trailer and when Johnny went to investigate, he was attacked by Sabina who apparently had also found the camp independently.  This explains where she has been collecting some of the supplies we saw hidden in her secret cave.  While they didn't come across any medical supplies to aid Irene, they did find a CB radio that Sabina knew how to operate.  Unfortunately, upon trying to send out a distress call, it was revealed that the signal was somehow being jammed and thus they were unable to radio for help.  My question is; whether a person with equipment is responsible for keeping the signal from reaching the outside world, or possibly an electrical frequency caused by the "fire in the sky" or a time disturbance is what's causing the interference.  There was more blood in the trailer, but no bodies were present anywhere in the camp.  Meaning that whatever attacked them removed the bodies, possibly the producers fled after the attack taking the injured with them or maybe even something more paranormal where the crew somehow disappeared.  Feeling endangered, they collected what they could and quickly set out back to Irene and their camp.     
• Meanwhile back at the settlement, Esther, Neeko, Annie and Miljan have assumed that the other group had pushed the red button, gotten Irene to safety and, tricked by Esther's tactic, would not be returning as they crossed the forfeit line.  While Esther defended her actions, claiming that it's a game and she played it well, guaranteeing $100,000 to each of them by eliminating five contestants at once.  However, both Neeko and Annie are appalled by her actions and feel like she cheated, along with the fact that she used someone's life or death situation to manipulate the contestants and also made things harder for them, as with less people it would be more difficult to survive the winter alone.  Miljan, a cutthroat player himself with other mental issues in play, was on Esther's side, agreeing that it's a game and the point is to win, not help each other out.  When the five contestants returned, with Irene in their arms, Esther, Miljan and Neeko are suddenly confused and surprised.  While Neeko and Annie ran to their aid and helped provide Irene with pillows and supplies, Esther and Miljan held back.  Esther realized that her trick had now backfired, as instead of abolishing them from the game, she had made a plethora of new enemies shocked by her tactics and Irene's life was still in jeopardy.  Both Johnny and Joyce verbally accosted Esther and while Joyce used colorful terminology to describe Esther, Johnny replied "We're playing a game? She's [Irene] dying!" making it clear that using someone's life to be victorious was going to far.  In Esther's defense, she believed that by pressing the button Irene would've received the help she needed, in addition to her ultimate goal of eliminating her competition. 
• The group explained what had happened; that the red button was nothing more than a prop, the fact that no one showed up to help them, and their discovery of the abandoned base camp.  Neeko doubted their story initially, as he has always taken the stance that no one is to be totally trusted, especially after Esther's last move, and brushes off all of the strange activity to scare tactics executed by the producers, but when Johnny showed him the supplies they gathered combined with doubt that they would invent this elaborate tale at the risk of Irene's life, I think he begins to come around and starts to have genuine concern as to their current situation.
• After settling Irene in her bunk, the group started to debate what's really going on and what their course of action should be.  Sam made a connection to jamming radio frequencies in times of war, when it was used as a tactic to block signals in order to carry out surprise attacks.  Johnny brought up the major questions of who is doing this and why, which was when the group began to realize there may be more than one "who" affecting their survival.  I think this is an important fact to point out: on one level there are the actions of the producers to create more drama for the show and on another there is the "who" that are connected to the strange events.  Sam believes that the producers are trying to cover up whatever went wrong and decided that the only way to substantiate their claims is for the cameramen to continue shooting in order for the contestants to have some kind of proof.  This helps makes sense of the fact that the cameramen don't bail after finding the base camp in the condition it was and why we still will have footage of whatever happens in the remaining six episodes.
• The Revealer went off!  The horrible foghorn sound interrupted their conversation as the contestants rushed to see what it had in store for them this time.  Johnny pulled out a bag which contained a gas mask.  This caused panic and anger to ensue as there are ten contestants and if a gas mask is needed only one can survive.  Johnny went on a tirade throwing and breaking anything he could get his hands on before attacking the real issue, The Revealer.  With help from Sam they were able to push it onto its side, after which Sabina and Daniel attempted to pry open a door located on the back of the contraption.  Upon opening it, they discovered clock-like gears and a timer which implies that the producers pre-programmed the machine to go off in certain intervals without their presence.  In addition, they located an inscription inside the door written in Russian, Sam translated it to read "Behavior Control Simulator, Test Group C".  While the contestants were all confused, angry and likely scared, they began to wonder about the possibility that they were Test Group C, meaning others had come before them and what was happening was part of some experiment.  I don't believe this is the case.  This is one of the things the production crew did and I think it was a great idea for a reality competition storyline.  They found a box that had a terrifying appearance and was probably originally used in insane asylums, POW camps or even shady science experiments.  They decided to have it transported to the settlement and stock it with various items that would cause drama and help move the storylines along, as each time its horns alarmed the contestants would rush to it and probably fight over the items inside, ensuring some action for the show.  I don't think it is connected to the strange events, just like the red button, it is more of a prop that would strike fear and conflict within the camp.
• With everyone now aware that they are trapped there, with no means of communication and no outside help they debated on whether they should stay and wait for someone to rescue them or leave and try to find a village or a way out of their current predicament.  Without much knowledge of the terrain, or any idea how far or which way civilization may be, they chose to build a large bonfire to create a smoke signal to attract attention to their location.  Strangely, Miljan doesn't take part in the conversation and doesn't seem to have any desire to leave the camp or any concerns about the newly discovered information. 
• The group ventured into the forest to gather large pieces of wood for their signal fire, except Miljan and Sabina who have other ideas in mind.  Sabina trekked to the site of the trap that injured Irene and inspected it thoroughly.  She heard a twig snap nearby and scanned the foliage for life while quickly recovering Irene's bow and arrow for defense.  Back at the settlement, Miljan snuck into the girls cabin where Irene was resting and in an eerie scene he covered the camera with his jacket hiding whatever his actions and motives were.  Sam noticed him leaving the cabin and put him to work on creating the bonfire.  Joyce made a comment on the strange weather, that might be significant if it differs from the norm, but at this point we don't really know.  Daniel apologized for outing her as an actress and they bonded a bit when he admitted that not only did he watch her previous work, but he loved it. 
• Sam located Miljan's secret journal and confronts him about it.  Miljan took off like a bull charging at Sam claiming "it's mine, it belongs to me", almost like he is possessed by his secret finding.  The others ran in to break them up and now they are all aware of Miljan's dirty little secret.  Sam begins to translate the journal that was written by Kulik in 1927, who was one of the real-life scientists that went to investigate the Tunguska event from 1908.  He read "Our guards were frightened by the sight of the abandoned outpost, fearing what they called the 'Valleymen'".  I have been theorizing about these "Valleymen" since the third episode and concluded that they are the mysterious locals in the woods who are responsible for both the trap and the spear (see: Siberia Theories That Will Blow Your Mind).  To my enjoyment, Sam also believes this and shared it with the group.
• As nighttime approached, there was a montage of the group working together to finish the bonfire with Daniel giving a monologue, likely from one of his interviews, regarding the fact that you don't really know someone until a crisis, that he needs to believe that everyone is inherently good and there is some kind of plan in play in the universe.  This highlights the whole basis of the reality competition; how far people would go to win money and actions they take to hide their real personality in a game, but now that they face real life and death situations they have come together as a united front rather than competitors, they have formed real bonds and are looking out for one another.  Just as they began to light the signal fire, Sabina suddenly doused out the flames with a bucket of water.  Obviously having knowledge of the locals and fearing their presence, she explained that if they light this thing, everyone would know there location, friends and enemies.  In addition, they don't know who or what attacked the producers and Sabina took the standpoint that they should barricade themselves in the cabins and gather everything they could to defend themselves rather than advertising their location.
• Irene is fading fast and while Daniel tried to ensure her that help is coming, she could see right through his lies.  Their bond however, is strengthening and Daniel promised to protect her.  We learned more about Daniel's need to ensure that she's okay from a personal story from his past.  While Daniel and a girlfriend were walking home they were jumped by three men, everything in his head screamed "run!" and as an instinct he did.  He later found out that she had been stabbed six times and now wants to prove himself, that he is a good person and aid Irene in her time of need.  However, her wound looks infected and she awoke screaming thinking she was being attacked by someone, it is clear that if they don't get her help soon she will die.
• Neeko questioned the group about the rifle, aware that they might need it to defend themselves sometime soon.  Although everyone denies possessing it, Sabina comes clean about stealing the bullets.  At this point, I feel confident that the locals or "Valleymen" have it as it was placed in the woods, where they could have easily swiped it in addition to the gunshots Sabina heard and Johnny's comment regarding the appearance of someone being shot at the producer's base camp.  Taking some time to reflect with a walk in the woods, Daniel spotted a large pole with a blinking red light in the distance.  He gathered the others to show them and decided he was going to check it out, as I believe he feels as if it is his last hope to save Irene.  While Miljan was adamant about staying, Johnny and Sam chose to embark on the ten mile trek with Daniel at first light.  I believe just as Daniel is motivated to protect Irene, Sam feels the same drive to ensure Daniel's safety.  The three of them packed up and all made farewell messages in case they don't return.  Upon Sam's advice, Esther apologized to Irene explaining that she genuinely thought she would get help, although Irene doesn't absolve Esther, I think that both of them feel a little bit better afterwards.  At the last minute, Joyce decided to travel with them and ran to catch up.  In an eerie scene, Miljan appears as though he knows what will happen next as he pulled up his sleeve and caressed his self-made tattoo of the mysterious compass symbol combined with a sinister smile.  When the four arrived at the beacon they were astonished at what they found.  Rather than help, a village, or outpost, they gazed upon a large crater with the forest decimated around it and are given one more question to add to the list, "Guys, what happened here?".                   

Overall, the reality competition is over and the contestants now face real life and death situations with no hope of a helicopter reigning down on them just when they need it.  The group dynamics have changed drastically as it's no longer a game and they will need to lean on each other to make it through not just the physical and emotional challenges but the paranormal activities around the settlement as well.  We have a group with multiple alpha males, trust issues, and a variety of relationships that must come together in order to survive.  "Out of the Frying Pan" was an episode filled with revelations, but yet again more mysteries to solve and unless they come to an understanding of the site's history and the people who still haunt it today, they won't be able to overcome the hurdles in front of them.  Siberia has now shifted into a fast action drama and captured the viewers in a week to week quest to find out who will survive and what's really going on.  Below, I have some updated theories but after a few more episodes and a little more research, I will post another update post dedicated to the mysteries we all are dying to solve.  Tune into Siberia Mondays on NBC and check back here for weekly recaps, real life facts about the area and more theories regarding what's really going on.  Enjoy!

Theories from "Out of the Frying Pan":

1. What happened to the producers?

• At this point I believe that the "Valleymen" attacked them.  My only question is why did they take the bodies?  My guess is that they believe that the thunder-god Ogdy caused the time-loop, the 1908 Tunguska event and the "fire in the sky".  They likely are sacrificing the bodies in hope to either reverse the time disturbance or harness the power of the god.  As they are beginning to appear more aggressive, I'm going with the latter.  The Tunguska event was the biggest event in Earth's history and to harness that power would make them a powerful force.

2. What is causing the radio to be jammed?

• I don't think the "Valleymen" are in possession or capable of interfering with radio signals as they seem to be quite primitive.  Instead, I think that they are all trapped in a kind of bubble that isn't part of the normal progression of time.  This electric frequency is what is preventing them from contacting the outside world, like a pocket universe they are not technically in the "real world" anymore and thus cannot communicate with it.

3. What is the significance of the inscription inside The Revealer?

• As I mentioned above, I think this is a producer related thing and not something connected to the other strange events.  It is a towering contraption that looks good on television and, as its original use was for behavior modification, would make for good drama.  I don't think they are part of some experiment, just that this was a good prop for use in the reality competition.  

4. What did Miljan do inside the girls cabin?

• Short answer, I don't know.  However, we have seen in the last few episodes that he appears to be guided if not possessed by the journal.  He studies Ogdy more, he seeks out Sabina's necklace, he carves the compass symbol into his arm.  All of this leads me to believe that there was something in there he wanted.  He didn't hurt Irene, so I don't think it was her, but another trinket or important piece relating to the "Valleymen" or the original settlers is at the top of my list.  He also could've done a religious ceremony over Irene which is why she later awakes thinking someone is attacking her, possibly preparing her as a sacrifice.

5. Who are the Valleymen?

• I had found when researching the Tunguska Event in the first episode about this exact expedition trip to collect samples from the event in order to determine if it was a comet, meteor or something else entirely.  The trip was delayed weeks when their local guides refused to go any further in fear of the "Valleymen".  While I had first hypothesized it was the beast, after more information I concluded in my Siberia Theories That Will Blow Your Mind post, that they actually referred to the locals who I thought were responsible for both the trap and the spear.  After this episode I feel comfortable with that hypothesis along with the fact that Sam also shares my thoughts!

6. What was the large crater at the end of the episode?

• I believe that this is the crater from the original Tunguska event. I have a good amount of information on it in both my theories posts (Theories Blown Open & Siberia Theories That Will Blow Your Mind).  Basically the repots say that there was suddenly lights in the sky that resembled a second sun.  When researchers, including Kulik, went to investigate it, they could not come to a consensus on what cause it as it did not have the minerals expected of a comet or a meteor and there was nothing found in the crater as would be the case in a normal earth impact.  They also found ice, which is a phenomenon when space shuttles re-enter the atmosphere and it was reported to look as if it had a wingspan.  This information made me think alien space craft, however that isn't my top pick.  I can't wait to find out more information about the site on the show as I think it will help guide my hypothesis in the right direction.  I am glad that real history has clashed with fake reality as it makes for an incredibly interesting story. 

Thanks for reading and I would love to hear your thoughts as well!  I will respond to all comments, just give me a little time, and would love to theorize, debate and bounce ideas of each other.  My apologies for the time it takes me to get these posts out, but they don't write themselves!  Andrew Koerner does a good recap as well, you can find it here.  Please take a look at my other posts as even the recaps contain theories as to what's really going on and my thoughts about particular scenes as they relate to the bigger picture.  I will be doing some more research and writing a new post dedicated only to Theories after a few more episodes.  Tune into Siberia Mondays on NBC and check back here as there is much more to come!      

Siberia Theories That Will Blow Your Mind!

Throughout the first episodes of Siberia we have slowly been leaked clues about the mysteries underneath the reality competition.  While I have individual posts recapping the events and oddities, I thought it would be a good idea to just lay out what we know and hypothesize regarding what is really going on.  This post is based on all the information we have learned thus far under the assumption you are up to date with the episodes.  If not, I encourage you to check out my other posts where you can easily browse through the events to get the gist of what has happened.  This is an updated post that contains some of my original theories and some that have been slightly revised or added onto due to new clues and facts.  I am a mathematician, particularly a logician, so I accept the premises we have been given as truth and try to find my way to a logical conclusion, but in a fictional show anything goes!  Below I point out the real events of 1908, as well as what we have seen, to try and better understand the story within.  I would love to hear your thoughts, as well as start a dialogue, so please feel free to comment!  Let's check out the questions Siberia has posed so far, enjoy!

1. What are the facts about the real event in 1908?

• While I normally like to base all my theories only on what we see in the show, I made an exception here because this is a real event in Siberian history and with a bit of research I was able to find out a few interesting facts:
1. The "Tunguska Event" happened at 7:15 AM on June 30, 1908; it is the biggest event of its kind in known history.  People observed what looked to be fire in the sky or a "second sun" falling into our atmosphere.
2. While researchers have tried to explain it away as a comet or meteor, no one can seem to come to a consensus as the minerals found and the eyewitness accounts don't quite line up with either theory.
3. Atop that there was no evidence left behind, such as a piece of a meteor or comet like would be expected.  Instead for the days following the event the skies continued to glow which is a phenomenon having to do with ice particles (which were found at the site) that has also been seen when space shuttles enter the earth's atmosphere.
4. The shape of the crater had what is referred to as a "wingspan" resembling a butterfly.
5. To make it even more eerie, when overhead photos were taken of the site, they were ordered to be burned.
6. While theories are all over the place, the strangest was the idea that it was a black hole traveling through Earth, but it was dismissed because there was no evidence it came out the other side.
7. When a science expedition tried to research the site, at a specific point their local guides would go no further in fear of what they referred to as "Valleymen".
• Although I am pretty good with my sciences, I am no meteor, comet or black hole expert but this info did spark a few theories I find to be plausible.
• The original event was an alien space craft.  It would explain why it left no remnants; either because the craft was moved, left earth, or has the ability to cloak itself in order to not be seen.  (I realize that I am talking about a real event and am implying there are actually aliens in the Siberian woods, but I'm going out on a limb in order to theorize what's happening on the fictional show.)
• Due to the fact there was no evidence of a black hole exiting on the other side of Earth, it could possibly have been a wormhole which is believed in fringe science to have the capabilities to transfer objects, people, beasts, etc. through space and time.  I like this theory a bit more because there is no need to explain how a spacecraft left or remained undetected, rather it could be that the wormhole simply transported alien creatures from light-years away to earth and they remain in the Siberian woods.
• This would also explain the more recent events from the show.  For example: how a skeleton containing a duplicate necklace as Sabina's is in the forest.  Possibly the lights in the sky were an effect of the opening of a wormhole that transported the contestants forward in time, or to a parallel universe where Sabina had lived and died already.  It is similar to Battlestar Gallactica when Starbuck returns to earth to find her ship along with her dead body though she was still alive.
• It could also explain what happened to the producers' "base camp".  Upon realization that their contestants had disappeared, they were frightened and quickly fled the site.  This goes along with why there were no longer supplies or a helicopter waiting as the contestants and the cameramen who were with them inside the radius of the wormhole are now in a different time or universe than the producers.  The base camp was not inside the radius so they didn't suffer the effects of the wormhole. 

2. What is the beast in the woods?

• While at first I thought that the unknown beast in the woods could have been formed through science experimentation, which could also explain the mutated frog, DNA manipulation didn't come until around World War II, well after this event.  In addition the cave drawings showing the beast seemed to be from long before that.  (More about both of these are in their own sections below.)
• There is also a chance that the beast is somehow a natural creature.  However, this has a lot of holes in it for me, because it has been around a long time and the cave drawings show a second sun implying the beast is related to the event.  Maybe it was mutated from the event rather than a science experiment and still lurks the Siberian habitat.  While I'm not really feeling this explanation, I suppose it's possible.
• Whether a creation of science or an alien it is clear that this beast is big and strong.  I originally hypothesized that it was an Alien vs. Predator-type situation where they visit Earth, but it has become clear that however they came to be they have been part of the Siberian habitat for thousands of years.  In addition, if they are only visitors we know that at least one got left behind. 
• I don't believe they are predators by nature.  They don't seem interested in attacking the contestants and I'm not sure if Tommy wandered into their area or if they hold the mushrooms to be valuable, as they attacked him right after the fungi was uprooted, implying they were offended in some way.  I think the mushrooms might be a coincidence and am leaning more towards the idea that Tommy wandered into its territory, but overall I believe that the beast was responsible for Tommy's death.  
• It was also interesting that when Daniel and Sabina were being chased by the beast, when they stopped it stopped like its goal was to run them off rather than attack them.  The other big event was the mauled tiger at the end of "Lyin' and Tiger and Bare", that posed the question: why would the beast attack the tiger?  I think that because it obviously didn't eat the tiger and it was practically placed right outside the settlement, it served as the beast's way of warning the contestants not to veer too deep into the woods. 
• In related news, the beast has to eat.  So while I don't think it is interested in attacking the humans, I do think it was responsible for stealing Johnny's deer in the episode "Fire in the Sky" (see: Siberia Gets a Little Stranger) as the animal was completely ripped from the trap and it required something with great strength to do that. 
• This also relates to the deer head decoy in the episode "She Said It" (see: Siberia Gets Good).  As both the decoy and the trap appeared to be human made, it is a safe assumption that the trap was set by the locals (which I discuss later in this post) in an attempt to catch the beast as it hunts the local wildlife.   

3. What happened to the original settlers?

• Even after all this you still have to ask yourself, what happened to the original settlers?  Were they killed by the aliens?  Were they transported back through the worm hole or on the ship?  Were they effected by the event and possibly mutated like the frog?  Are they still there?  I know that last one seems impossible, maybe even improbable, due to the age they must be.  However, if the extraterrestrial event did affect their composition in some way, their lifespan could have been extended.  Plus I don't believe for a second that after a hundred-plus years a bracelet from an original settler would still be just laying in shallow waters (referring to what Sam found in episode 3; see Siberia Gets Into the Thick of It).  Unless the beast also thought it to be a good luck charm and has been wearing it around, could the settlers have been transformed into the beings and Anne held onto it all this time? 
• A much more probable answer that I have concluded from newer episodes is that the event opened a wormhole that transported them through time.  That's why they are still alive now in the woods, and the bracelet was a token of one of these original settlers that was recently lost.
• While at first I thought that the "Valleymen" of local lore referred to the beast, I now am leaning towards the idea that they are actually the original settlers and this is who the cameraman was referring to after Tommy's attack when he repeated "I saw them" in Russian.
• No matter how you slice it, currently I have no real answer to this question; but I do have some concrete theories now that I know more about the original event and I hope you do too.

4. Who are the locals and the child in the woods?

• As mentioned above I believe the locals are the original settlers or possibly other versions of our current contestants, known in folklore as the "Valleymen".
• A few new facts have come to light based on some of your comments and some research as well.
• "Ogdy", the name Miljan gave to the totem pole, wasn't invented by Miljan, it is actually the thunder god of the Evenki people, the original people of the Tunguska area.
• The mysterious compass symbol that Miljan also found and then carved into his arm (see: Siberia Gets Good!) is an ancient Mesopotamian symbol that refers to the sky god Anu.
• These two facts lead me to believe that the settlers are either trying to worship these gods, as they both are related to the sky and thus the event in 1908 and in the episode "Fire in the Sky", in an attempt to set the timeline back, or...
• They believe that the events are brought on by the gods and are attempting to harness their power perhaps for something more sinister.  the locals may protect the beast because they view it as a god and think if they kill it they can harness its power and stop the time loop.
• I also think that they are guarding the beast, possibly in belief that by killing it they can return to their normal timeline or can harness its power as the beasts arrival coincided with the event.
• Regarding the children, I think they are a part of the local tribe.  However the child we saw had a similar appearance to Natalie or even Berglind, one of the first contestants to be eliminated, which makes me think they could have abducted them.  How the locals returned them to their youth is still something I cannot explain.
• I think the locals are responsible for the spear left outside the cabin in the episode "Fire in the Sky" (see: Siberia Gets a Little Stranger), but it begs the question why would they want them to leave?  Possibly since they are aware of the time-shifts they know that if they don't leave before the event they will also be trapped in a different time.  They also could be living the same event over and over which could explain the skeleton with Sabina's locket as it is really her dead body and they are trying to warn them to get out before it happens all over again.
  
  
  
  
  
  

5. Are the contestants wrapped up in this by accident or is there a reason for their presence?

• We can connect Sam's lineage back to Russia because we know that his grandmother is Russian.
• I believe Sabina is there for a reason as she is an Israeli solider which links her heritage to Siberia as well.  She was also aware of the terrain when they first arrived before having time to study it, she showed off this knowledge once again by being able to find the gun (presumably) before the others and she was able to locate the cave to stash her gear.  The necklace also seems like an eerie connection to the land and the fact that it was connected to a skeleton, suggests the body is Sabina's and the contestants have been transported through time.
• I can't get over the coincidence that Sam's bracelet is engraved with the name Anne and we have a character named Annie, this could be a family name which would also tie her back to Siberia.
• Miljan gets "guided" and finds the food shed, totem pole and journal.  I think the totem pole is of more importance than his make believe companion and old friend  and we see him studying it and also trying to keep it a secret.  The journal seems to be leading him to Sabina's locket and the other odd findings in the woods.  Whether they have all been there before and this is some type of reincarnation of his ancestors guiding him it definitely appears as though he too has a connection to the area. 
• Although I was sold on the descendant/relative angle, I'm now starting to wonder if this is just a big time loop and if they don't get out they are destined to have the same fate.  The contestants are modern people living in the modern world though, so descendants isn't out of the question as they clearly aren't the original settlers.  However, if the event causes a displacement of time, maybe they are descendants of the settlers, but the locals are really other versions of themselves trying to keep their new selves from repeating their past.  Complicated!

6. What do the cave drawings represent and why are they important?

   • If I continue with my axiom that the original event, as well as the beast, is extraterrestrial in nature, rather than man-made, then I would have to account for its presence before the 1908 event.  What I originally discounted as a sun, upon repeat views I noticed there is a sun as well as a large spiral in the cave drawings that reminds me of the wormholes in the series Sliders.  This could easily have been the ancient peoples' way of depicting either a spaceship, that the 1908 reports described as a "second sun", or my leading theory, a wormhole.  This means that the beast is an alien in the woods and has come to Earth before 1908.  The drawings themselves didn't really seem that cryptic to me, it showed early humans using spears to kill the beast and, if you look closely, the being seems to have a weapon of its own in hand.  Thus our beloved cast might not just be up against aliens, wormholes, and a superior being but enhanced weaponry as well.  The description I used in my blog for that episode(see Siberia Goes Deeper into the Woods) was an Anubis-looking creature, similar to human in form, with two-pronged feet (which matches the tracks found in the woods near Tommy's death site), three-pronged hands and a hooded cobra-like head.  I think the important thing to take from the drawing is simply that Siberians have been fighting whatever "it" is for thousands of years.
   

7. What secrets can be deduced from the mutated frog?

• In the first episode Daniel found a frog with an extra leg.  While this could be nothing, as this has happened before in nature, I don't think the show would include it if it wasn't important.  My first thoughts were that it had to do with the unknown presence in the woods.  Possibly that the beast is a mutated human and the same thing caused malformations in the frog.  While I'm not totally sure (now that I am leaning towards wormhole aliens, rather than science experiment gone wrong) it is plausible that the Tunguska event caused the mutation as high concentrations of various elements were deposited and the mutated frog isn't related to the beast.

8. Who is Sabina and what is the significance of her necklace? (and yes I think she has the gun)

• In the premiere episode she beat the fastest men and was able to reach the settlement before everyone.  To me this implies that she is familiar with the terrain and likely has a different motive than the others for being in Siberia.
• If she has more knowledge of their habitat then my supposition would be that she was able to make it to the gun before the others.
• Daniel found her in a hidden cave, in which she warned him not to enter claiming there is a drop-off and it is dangerous.  Again with her knowledge of the area this is probably her home base where she is plotting her course of action.  If she did steal the gun and bullets, this is probably where she has hidden them.
• Finally since Siberia was where Jewish prisoners were sent in the 1900's and she is an Israeli soldier, I believe Sabina could be Mossad, the CIA of Israel, who sends its members on various missions.  With her familiarity of the terrain and obvious secrecy, I think her goal is related to the beast; whether it is to track and contain it or possibly destroy the being altogether.
• We also have come to the realization that her necklace holds a special place in her heart and inside the locket is a picture of a young boy, possibly her son.
• When she came across the skeleton with an identical necklace, I couldn't help but come to the conclusion that the body was hers and they are now trapped in the time loop I have mentioned before.  There is also a possibility that someone else shared the same necklace, like her husband and the picture inside is her child.  This could explain her ulterior motives on the show, to find a lost relative.  Upon discovery of the body with the locket, she realized who she was searching for had died.  However I believe it is more probable that it is her skeleton.
  
  

9. What is the importance of Victoria's vision and the mushrooms?

• You had to pay close attention in the first episode to grab the line Sam read from the Revealer's paper concerning the mushrooms.  It said that they were used for rituals by the original settlers, for this reason I think they hold important value.  Depending on what happened to the settlers they may still be important to them or to the beast.
• I assume if you're reading this you know what happened with Esther, Victoria and mushrooms, if you need a recap check out Siberia Goes Deeper into the Woods.  Anyhow, Victoria ate the uncooked fungi and had a "trip" of epic proportions.  While she was obviously agitated and delirious she mentioned butterflies, the sky being green and on fire, and "you're all dead".  It became clear when Victoria chose to leave that she believed the mushrooms have the ability to show the consumer the future and what will happen next to the contestants was too grim for her to stay.  Perhaps another member of the group will also attempt to eat the uncooked mushrooms and get a glimpse into their future in order to help save them all!
• What was most interesting about her vision was the prophecy that they all would die.  If they don't travel into the "Valleymen's" territory they should be fine, right?  Perhaps something more sinister is about to happen (like in Alien vs. Predator the Predators came every so often to hunt the Aliens and show their superiority) such as another event in which the wormhole reappears and the beasts hunt the human settlers and what happened in 1908 will repeat itself.  Who knows if the contestants are descendants, maybe there will be a House on Haunted Hill moment where only one contestant survives because they are adopted!  I am not sure about the butterflies and the only thing that strikes me is that the Tunguska Event crater was described as butterfly-like in shape.  
• We see her prophecy begin to take shape in the episode "Fire in the Sky" (see: Siberia Gets a Little Stranger).  While the green and fire portion has come to fruition, her comment on "you're all going to die" has yet to be fulfilled.  We must ask ourselves that if they are in a time loop, and in past tries they have all failed, will this time be different?  Will they be able to use the memories of their "past" lives (as we presumably have already seen happening with Miljan) to change their fate and survive it all?  I believe so.  I think the fact that Miljan has already shown signs of remembrance that they are a step ahead but I will go into that further below.  

10. How many of the eerie events are created by the producers, and how many are something else entirely?

• The appearance and disappearance of the tiger as well as the deer ripped from its trap, I believe the tiger was a warning from the beast in the woods, while I now think the spear was left by the locals.  However we have to scrutinize the clues and guess whether the noises, movement and people seen in the wilderness are props executed by production to scare the contestants or from the unknown presence that haunts the Tunguska area.
• Now that the producers are no longer around, we can basically cut out this question because everything from here on out is some freaky sci-fi action!

11. What happened to the producers?

• Like I've mentioned above, I am really starting to believe that the contestants have been transported, due to the event and the wormhole, to a different time or parallel universe.  This means that the producers were most likely not attacked but rather upon the disappearance of the cast they fled the area and what remains are the supplies they left behind when they cleared out quickly and frightened.
• It is possible however, that they were abducted by the locals or attacked by the beast however, the latter is less plausible as I didn't notice any bodies or blood and I believe they were outside the territory of the beast.  If they were abducted by the locals we have to ask why and at this point I don't have any plausible answer for that.

12. Did Natalie really leave?

• By no means do I think she just got up and left in the middle of the night.  Her resemblance to the child makes me think that the locals abducted her but I'm not sure how to explain them transforming her into a child.  It's possible that the child is someone else and Natalie was still abducted but I just don't believe in a coincidence that big. 
• As I went over in Siberia Gets Good! Natalie seemed more interested than ever in staying due to her relationship with Annie progressing.  This doesn't line up, nor does she seem the type, to just leave without really any goodbye.
• Personally, I think that Natalie, in a trace like state from memories of a past life, left the camp voluntarily to join the mysterious locals in the woods. Possibly, Miljan was involved in her leave as we have also seen him have breakthroughs from a previous existence.

13. What's going on with Miljan and what is the importance of his journal?

• Throughout the show we have seen Miljan go from the fun jokester, to a little bit off, to completely removed from the group and suddenly interested in everything in their environment.  This change seemed to coincide with the journal.
• While I don't think he can read it, we know it has pictures and this could explain his piqued interest in Ogdy and Sabina's necklace.
• However, I believe that since the contestants are stuck in this time loop parts of his memory from living this all before have started to seep through.  This explains why he instinctively named the totem pole Ogdy, who is a real Evenski god. 
• If they also have a connection to the original settlers, that knowledge may also be seeping through and he is able to translate the journal even though his current embodiment doesn't speak Russian.
• In addition he appears to be guided by something as he found the food shed, the mysterious symbol, Ogdy and the journal.  This could be a connection to the original settlers, memories of his past life seeping through or possibly even both!
• The journal is obviously important and it seems to be from an original settler, possibly Miljan in a past life.  It likely contains clues as to what happened in 1908 as well as the significance of the things around them.  It also seems to have changed Miljan, possibly a type of possession by the original settler which is why his character differs and he is able to realize the significance of Ogdy and the compass symbol (both sky gods).
  
  
  

     ✓ What is Carolina hiding?

• She is the only cast member who doesn't use her real name.
• Daniel mentioned in the first episode that she was familiar.
• This one stumps me.  However while she may be lying about who she is, I don't think that it has any relevance to the big mysteries that surround the show.
• Conclusion: Carolina is an actress, put in the show by the producers to stir up trouble amongst the group. (Revealed in "Fire in the Sky"; see Siberia Gets a Little Stranger)

     ✓ What is the significance of the symbol that appears in credits?

• First off, for it to be in the credits of every episode must mean it has important significance.  To me it looks like a compass rose and at first glance I thought the arrows pointed outward like a signal to guide safe passage.  However, the triangles are actually inverted so I think it could be a way of marking the beast's territory.  It probably wasn't a good idea for whomever carved it as it could mean this way is safe, or this way marks death.  I personally prefer the latter as an arrow was a fairly primitive drawing and they must have inverted it for a reason.  We will just have to wait and see if it's marking dangerous areas, a safe passageway or something else entirely!
• As I also mentioned above, the symbol corresponds to the Mesopotamian carvings that represent Anu, the sky god.  This leads me to believe that the locals are worshiping the gods that represent sky and thunder in hope that they can escape the time loop they have been caught in due to the event.
• Conclusion: In the episode "Fire in the Sky", Miljan finds the symbol carved on a series of trees, which did turn out to be a compass, that eventually leads him to the hidden journal.  This journal appears to have been written by one of the 1908 settlers in Russian.  I suppose the carvings were a map to help them remember where the journal was hidden.  But it raises a new question: What secrets are contained in these writings that were stashed away for safe keeping?  As well as: Are there more of these symbols and do they lead the way to safe passage or mark the areas of danger? 
• Either way we still haven't fully discovered the importance of the symbol or the journal.  In the episode "She Said It" we saw Miljan carve the compass drawing into his arm, claiming he doesn't want to forget this day.  Maybe the locals or the original settlers believed that by worshipping the sky gods they would protect them and this is why Miljan carves it into his arm.  It is clearly significant and while we have found some answers, there are still more to be uncovered.

 
So what do I ultimately think about the mysteries of Siberia?

• The event is the effects of a wormhole opening into the Siberian wilderness. 
• The aliens come through this wormhole, but why the wormhole keeps appearing and how many beings stay is still unclear.
• The beast is not normally predatory unless it feels threatened or someone wanders into its territory.
• The ancient humans as well as the settlers tried to attack the beast as shown on the cave drawings and inferred by the trap we saw in the episode "She Said It".  They believe that because the beast appeared during the event it is connected to the time loop they are captured in.  Possibly by destroying it they hope to break the cycle and free themselves.
• I believe the 1908 settlers may have some relation to the contestants there now.
• Sabina is a Mossad solider with ulterior motives.
• The mutated frog is an effect from the change in normal elemental levels in its habitat caused by the 1908 event.
• Since I don't recall ever seeing the mysterious symbol in the show, other than in the credits, it could be the contestants, I pick Carolina, who carves it marking the areas in which the beast has been seen.  Miljan found the strange carving in the episode "Fire in the Sky".  Due to its apparent age and the old journal found at the end of the map, the symbols were likely carved by an original settler as a path to their hidden writings.  However, I believe this affirms that it is a map and can still be used in other places to mark out a safe, or dangerous, passageway as well as provide protection because of its connection to the sky god. 
• The mushrooms give the consumer the power to see the future, but what every time-traveling show has taught me, the events in these visions can be changed.  I think it would be a good idea for someone else to try them out and rather than bail, like Victoria, use their vision to help them survive.
• I think that the contestants are trapped in a time loop where they are living the same event over and over.  The disturbance in time is caused by the wormhole and the beast is also a creation of the event.
• The original settlers worshipped the sky god Anu (depicted by the symbol) and the thunder god Ogdy (carved onto the totem pole) in hope to break the cycle as the time loop corresponds to the "fire in the sky".
• Miljan is beginning to have memories seep through from his past life in the time loop and the contestants may be able to break the cycle if they follow the clues left by their previous selves.

I hope this was easy to read as conspiracy theories twist in and out everywhere and without the full story this is all just observations, research and hypotheses.  I will be uploading a poll with a good amount of choices so you can vote on what you think is really going on, so be sure to check back for that.  I would love to hear your thoughts and comments so please share, I will reply to all comments but it takes me a few days!  Stay tuned to Siberia Mondays on NBC, and check back here for full recaps, reviews, predictions and updates to my theories!   

References

Anu. (2013, August 5). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:18, August 8, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anu&oldid=567194539

Siberia. (2013, July 20). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 07:57, July 21, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Siberia&oldid=564991792

Tunguska. (2013, February 23). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 07:59, July 21, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tunguska&oldid=539818671

Siberia Gets Good!

This week's episode of Siberia "She Said It" was the game-changing event of the season.  There was  action, misdirection and mysteries at every turn and now we aren't so much in the throws of a reality competition but an action sci-fi flick that I have been dying to dig into.  While I normally like to follow each character throughout the episode, this week so many storylines crossed that I will be going mainly by order of events, followed by some new theories.  I will also be updating my main theories page so make sure to check back for that at Siberia: Theories Blown Open! later in the week.  For now let's take a look at this week's Siberia!

• The episode began with the cast in the aftermath of discovering Carolina, who up until now they believed was a contestant amongst them, is an actress planted by the producers.  While the entire group was filled with emotions of anger and shock, Johnny was the most effected as he was closest to Carolina and trusted her.  Although she admitted to burning down the shed and framing Johnny, she denied having any involvement with the event in the woods where she was wounded (Siberia Gets a Little Stranger).  She claimed that due to the event, along with her wounds, she is no longer interested in continuing the game or her role in it.  We even saw her speaking to a cameraman about wanting to view the footage from the camera that was following them in an attempt to understand what happened.  Unfortunately, he replied that the camera had been lost along with the footage it contained.  I believe her.  The producers couldn't have executed the light show, or wiped Johnny's memory of the event.  She seemed genuinely concerned both in front of the group and away, implying she wasn't a part of some plot.
• Thankfully, we next saw Sabina, retrieving the camera from the woods and toting it to her hidden cave.  Along with the stolen film, we discovered that Sabina had been stocking up the alcove with food, water, a flashlight and other supplies as well as the bullets (discussed in Siberia: Theories Blown Open!).  My thoughts are that she wants to review the footage in order to see what they are dealing with in the woods around them and to further her ulterior motives.  I believe she will find that it was not Johnny who attacked Carolina, but the mysterious people we have seen small hints of in previous episodes.  If the beast had attacked them, I don't think they would've survived, instead I think Johnny was able to fight off their attempted abduction which explains his tattered hands.  Below in the theories portion of this post, I will go more into who I think they are and what they are doing in Siberia. 
• Annie awoke to find Natalie missing with no one around the camp having any knowledge of her whereabouts.  When she went to retrieve her journal Annie located  a farewell message from Natalie claiming that she missed her ex-boyfriend too much and had decided to leave the camp.  I don't believe this at all.  It seemed like Natalie and her ex's relationship was bad, possibly abusive, and she seemed more determined to stay after her relationship with Annie developed.  I think this may be a Lost-like situation where Natalie was kidnapped by the locals.
• Sam took notice that Miljan has been sitting around a lot the last few days and not helping with the camp duties, which happens to coincide with his discovery of the hidden journal.  While I don't believe Miljan is able to read the inscriptions, we have seen that it includes pictures such as the mysterious compass symbol (see Siberia: Theories Blown Open!).  Miljan also seems more interested in studying his environment, possibly due to picture references in the book.  We saw him back with Ogdy, the carved totem pole, where he quickly diverted Irene away from it and lead her in another direction.  He also snuck up on Sabina while bathing to take a closer look at her necklace, although she quickly detained him, and made it clear that if he ever touches her belongings again she'll kill him, it makes me think that because Miljan pursued it, her locket has a connection to the area and the strange events we have witnessed.  While I'm not sure whether or not the journal lead Miljan to further investigate these things, he is definitely more inquisitive now that it's in his possession.  I had mentioned in a previous post that Miljan seemed "off", not just because of his sense of humor, but because he appears to have a darker side to him.  Later in this episode we saw him carving the mysterious symbol in his arm with a rusty nail, claiming he wants to remember this day, so I can say with some assurance now that there is something not quite right with Miljan.
• On a lighter note, Sam took on the father-figure role and brought Daniel along to fish.  While he teased Daniel about gifting a rock to Irene, it is clear he is looking out for him and cares about his well-being.  Carolina stopped by and though Sam was still angry with her and advised Daniel to not even look at her, Daniel proves he is his own man and ventured over to talk with her.  Unlike the other contestants Daniel wasn't upset with Carolina, he sees her as playing a role amidst a game.
• Irene had the most action-packed storyline this episode, as promised by the previews, however her day began as a simple hunting trip with her bow and arrow.  While alone in the woods, she heard the eerie sound of children laughing, though at first she though it was her imagination she heard it again, but from a different direction.  After running into Miljan studying Ogdy, he redirected her to another area of the woods where he claimed he saw a number of deer earlier.  Once spotted, she aimed and hit the deer head on, but upon closer observation she realized it was a well-done decoy.  Confused, she looked around the area when suddenly a large trap fell from above.  The trap looked human made, with sharpened spikes.  My guess is that the trap, as well as the deer head, was made by the local settlers in an attempt to catch the beast.  The lingering question in my mind is whether or not Miljan knew about the contraption from his journal and lured her there.  He ran for help and soon the bulk of the contestants came to her rescue as they cut of her circulation to keep her from bleeding out, removed the large spike stuck in her leg and carried her back to camp.  While they debated as to what to do with her, since she obviously needed medical attention, Irene stayed strong and firm that she did not want to leave.  
• We saw Esther trying to use her feminine wiles on Johnny after the harsh realization that everything Carolina said was a lie, including her name which she has now revealed is Joyce.  While they flirted a little, when news of Irene's accident came Esther told Johnny that it might not be such a bad thing, as there would be one less contestant.  This threw up a red flag with Johnny because he had concerns that she could be really hurt, and that wasn't good regardless of the game.  Esther continued to show a different side, while comforting Irene in the cabin she seemed impressed and moved by her resilience and strength.  She came out to the others and claimed she would sacrifice herself and go to the helicopter pad for help.  This was a surprise to everyone and they all were wondering why she was being so nice and out of character.  Not long after, Esther returned with the good news that the show would get Irene help and she didn't have to forfeit, all they needed to do was get Irene to the helicopter landing area where she would be transported to the hospital.  While Johnny, Sam, Carolina and Daniel helped carry Irene over the forfeit line and towards help, Irene remembered she had left her rock, a precious gift from Daniel, and Esther conveniently offered to retrieve it.    
• Meanwhile Sabina was wandering the woods when a young girl appeared in front of her, distracted she turned away and when she looked back the girl of 7 or 8 was gone.  I couldn't help but immediately notice the child resemblance to Natalie, who had also gone missing earlier that day.  When Sabina caught Miljan studying her necklace, we saw a clip where she revealed that it held a special place in her heart, inside the locket was a picture of a young boy, likely her son.  She had also heard the child's laughter in the woods before and while searching for the actual child she had seen, she came across a locket, identical to hers in the foliage of the forest.  Upon opening it, it revealed the same picture of the young boy and it was attached to a skeleton.  Where did this duplicate necklace come from?  I'm thinking time travel, it's the only way to explain how the same locket can be in two places at the same time, but we'll just have to wait to find out.  It also goes along with my theories on wormholes as they are believed to transverse space and time, but I will go into that further on my theories post.  Lastly, Sabina heard the discharge of a weapon from afar, which raises more questions than answers as none of the other cast members were shown hearing the shots as well.  
• Upon arriving to the landing pad they immediately saw there was no helicopter waiting.  Johnny quickly came to the realization that Esther had tricked them, she had lied about sacrificing herself and getting help while also cleverly never crossing the forfeit line with the others.  Although they attempted to push the red button for help themselves, they found it too was nothing more than a prop.  Angry and concerned about Irene they questioned the cameraman intensely, wondering why no one was coming to their aid.  Johnny and Sam both attacked the men demanding answers but apparently they had none.  Carolina/Joyce asked about receiving their daily supplies but found out there was no shipment that day and their radios were unable to get any signal.  Confused and desperate they followed Carolina to what she called "base camp", a production site she was aware of, to seek help while Sam stayed with Irene awaiting any kind of aid or transportation.  When they crossed the hilltop they discovered it was empty and ravished, with only remnants of the crew that was once there.  Although it is unclear if they fled or were attacked, it did seem as if the site was ravished and I didn't notice any bodies left behind.  
• I want to finish out with Neeko, although he didn't have a prominent storyline in this episode, he is still a major character and has the muscles to help out, the leadership skills and a level head that they desperately need.  In this episode we saw him really being a team player, helping where he could and providing positive feedback to help keep everyone's spirits up.  He even reached out to Johnny in a manly way by asking about how his finger was doing and wishing him his best.  We also saw him joking around with Sam and Daniel about who caught more fish and thanking them for their part in the group's survival.  In addition, he played the compassionate role as he comforted Annie when she was overwhelmed with Natalie's disappearance and Irene's injury claiming she hates it there and she hates this game.  He also showed disapproval and disgust when he learned what Esther did, and while she claimed he should be thanking her, he was far from happy regarding her actions.  And of course, he was the team leader he needed to be when faced with what to do with Irene, hearing everyone's thoughts and trying to come up with a tangible plan of dealing with the situation.  Go Neeko!

This week's Siberia gave us more drama, betrayal and unexplained events than ever before.  While we have a few more clues as to what is really going on, we also are left with a lot more questions.  I will go into a few of those questions below as well as my theories on the events, but I will also be updating my Siberia: Theories Blown Open! post with these questions where I go more in depth about the original event in 1908 that this show is centered on and the real scientific findings as well as the mysteries happening in the show to date.

Some New Theories:

1. The Beast

• While I can't yet speak to what it is or where it came from (see Siberia: Theories Blown Open!), I feel confident about its roll in:
• Killing Tommy
• Mutilating & Removing the tiger
• Taking Johnny's deer
• I'm still holding on that it is not from this world.  Due to the cave drawing I still think it emerged through a wormhole.  As well as the fact that nature doesn't really do it for me when it comes to the lights in the sky. 
• There is a possibility that it's natural, however it's not my top choice because:
• It was there a long time ago & appeared to be advanced
• It's obviously a formidable opponent for humans
• It seems somewhat intelligent as leaving the mutilated tiger right at their door stoop seemed to be a warning which was then also tidily cleaned up.

2. The Locals

• I have a strong belief there is some kind of ancestor/relative angle.
• They could possibly be the original settlers and the event somehow mutated them.
• This would account for the mutated frog.
• I believe they are guarding the beast and while at first I thought the "Valleymen" of real local lore referred to the beast, I now think they are speaking of the humans.
• I believe that it was them who left the spear as Da LadyBug Man pointed out to me, the spears in the cave drawing match the spear used as a warning to the contestants.
• However, if they want them to get out, then why lead Miljan to the journal?  It seems to me the contestants have been brought there to recreate the 1908 event to possibly right some justice, or discover what happened to the original settlers.
• But what I'm liking the best is that the original 1908 event transported them forward in time, explaining how they are there now.  They are the original settlers and after the second event in the episode "Fire in the Sky" the current contestants were also transported into the same time period as the original settlers.  Maybe even a parallel universe where they are now all trapped.  

3. The Contestants

• I don't think they are there by accident.  Whether it is all of them or just a few, they have some connection to Siberia.  I will go more into detail about this on my original theories blog Siberia: Theories Blown Open.  I believe it could be a House on Haunted Hill-type situation where they have been brought there.
• We can connect Sam's lineage back to Russia because we know that his grandmother is Russian.
• I believe Sabina is there for a reason as I go over in my original theories post, she is an Israeli solider which links her heritage to Siberia as well.  She was also aware of the terrain when they first arrived before having time to study it, she showed off this knowledge once again by being able to find the gun before the others and locate the cave to stash her gear.  The necklace also seems like an eerie connection to the land whether it is time travel, or someone else, possibly the boy or the child's father, had a matching one that proves their presence in the woods. But the fact that it was connected to a skeleton, suggests the body is Sabina's and they have been transported through time.
• I can't get over the coincidence that Sam's bracelet is engraved with the name Anne and we have a character named Annie, this could be a family name which would also tie her back to Siberia.
• Miljan gets "guided" and finds the food shed, totem pole and journal.  I think the totem pole is of more importance than his companion and old friend and we see him studying it while trying to hide it in this episode.  The journal seems to be leading him to Sabina's locket and the other odd findings in the woods.  Whether they have all been there before and this is some type of reincarnation of his ancestors are guiding him it definitely appears as though he too has a connection to the area. 

4. There are also some new questions we have to address:

• What happened to the producers?
• Since their were no bodies, I'm going with either the people in the woods abducted them or they fled when attacked by the beast or the locals.
• Another idea, is that the event that corresponds to the light in the sky has transported them into the future.  Therefore, the producers are long gone as all the contestants mysteriously disappeared just like the settlers in 1908 and are forward in the time line.
• Who are the children in the woods?
• We have seen adults in the woods, so the locals can't only consist of children but I believe they are part of that group.
• While I couldn't help but notice the child's resemblance to Natalie, I remembered something I had brought up in the first episode: that we never actually saw Berglind and Harpeet leave (see: Siberia Finds a Common Bond) The child actually resembled Berglind as well.
• What happened to Natalie?
• By no means do I think she just got up and left in the middle of the night.  Her resemblance to the child makes me think that the locals abducted her but I'm not sure how to explain them transforming her into a child.
• What's with Sabina's necklace?
• I question why Miljan sought it out and that makes me think he saw a drawing of it in his journal which connects it to the original settlers.  Possibly they hallucinated it in one of their prophetic mushroom trips but I think it is even more likely that time-travel or a past life kind of situation is what's going on.  They didn't have color photos in 1908 so it couldn't be that an original settler had one, but possibly they are reliving an event that has already happened.  This could have something to do with the lights in the sky, possibly resetting time until the correct order of events plays out.  Similar to Battlestar Galactica where Starbuck returns to earth to find her necklace and burnt body.  Could Sabina have died in the normal timeline and they have somehow been transported to the future where she finds her own corpse? That's seeming more and more likely!
• What made the trap and did Miljan know about it?
• It seems pretty clear to me that the trap was made by the locals in attempt to catch the beast.  I'm torn on whether or not Miljan knew about it, because I don't think he would intentionally harm Irene.  It is more plausible that he simply wanted to divert attraction from Ogdy and pointed her at the first deer he saw.
•  Who fired the gunshots?
• This one's a puzzler.  There is only one gun that we know of and it's located in Sabina's cave.  Since all of the other contestants were otherwise occupied and we saw no sign of anyone else hearing them, I'm leaning towards the idea that the girl, the locket and the shots were for Sabina possibly leading her to her destiny as we have seen Miljan guided as well.

Thanks for reading and I would love to hear your thoughts as well!  I will respond to all comments, just give me a little time, and would love to theorize, debate and bounce ideas of each other.  Andrew Koerner does a good recap as well, you can find it here.  Like I mentioned before I will be updating my theories page next, where I will go into more detail and connect more clues we have been given in the past.  I also will be uploading a poll where you can vote on what you think is really going on so check back in the next few days for those.  Lastly, I would like to apologize as I am quite sick at the moment thus it took me a little longer to put this together especially to my standards.  Tune into Siberia Mondays on NBC and check back here as there is much more to come!