This Cycle Would Succeeded Because Boyd Picked Up the Talisman

So I just started rewatching the show with all the knowledge we gained from Season 4, and I realized something for the first time when I saw the scene where Boyd picks up the talisman from the ground in Episode 1.

There was a popular theory circulating around this sub that a story-walking version of Julie placed that talisman there so Boyd could find it. And I think that theory was right.

The only reason they got this far in the cycle is because Boyd picked up that talisman from the ground in Episode 1. Bear with me, because I swear this will make sense.

It always seemed odd that the talisman was lying on the ground. The camera even focuses on it. When the monster entered the clinic and killed Kenny's father, we didn't see a talisman on the floor.

So Boyd picks up the talisman. Fast forward to when the Matthews family arrives in town and crashes the RV. Boyd rushes to the scene and finds Ethan trapped inside. Kristi says it will take some time to safely remove the metal rod from his leg.

Boyd reaches into his pocket and takes out the talisman. If Boyd hadn't picked it up earlier, they wouldn't have had time to go back to town, grab a talisman, and return to the RV. The only reason he had it with him was because it had been lying on the ground.

Now, the implications of this are huge. This is how they learned that the talismans work this way.

Because of this, Fatima was able to save herself and Ellis during the Colony House attack.

Because of this, Boyd and Sarah went into the woods, and Boyd ended up in the dungeon where he met Martin and became infected with the worms. Because of that, he was able to kill Smiley, which ultimately triggered Smiley's rebirth and, I believe, also led to Fatima becoming a monster.

Because of this, Tabitha and Jade went into the tunnels and dug up the bones.

As you can see, so many major events can be traced back to Boyd picking up that talisman.

I made a video where I explain this theory in more detail, along with several other clues I found during my rewatch of Episode 1.