As of Season 2 Episode 6, these are my speculations:
Something happened which split the group into four:
1. Silas - has his own agenda (although, IIRC, he was protecting Gavin/Isaiah because he made a promise to his mother, so they're probably "aligned"?)
2. Aldrich - had her own agenda
3. Gavin's mother - to permanently shutdown 1988
4. James (father) - who doesn't care what happens to the past as long as the future is saved
I think when they learned they were causing the sinkholes, James changed his agenda. They will stay in 10,000 B.C. and restart the human history their way.
Also, Gavin's mother said that their own future (2076) changed after the sinkholes started showing up randomly in their history. This is probably what gave James the idea to keep the portal open, and maybe to stay in 10,000 B.C.
I'm also suspecting that James is using the portals as a weapon. When they opened a portal to 1988, it caused an earthquake, a sign of an impending sinkhole.
If that is correct, then wherever the portal is opened, a sinkhole will eventually show up too.
The portal from the Lazarus project is one way. The sinkhole is the loop back. That is why the sinkholes are showing up. The energy produced by the Lazarus portal needs a loopback. Since no one's controlling it on the other side, a loopback portal shows up randomly.
Now, why a sinkhole? It's not the sinkhole per se, it is the location of the original portal.
Over time, throughout history, the elevation of land only kept on going higher and higher. Back in 10,000 B.C. compared to the modern era (1980s onwards), a lot of layers were already added.
So, when the loopback happens, it returns to the same elevation, and it is underneath the layers of soil that accumulated over thousands of years. Which resulted into sinkholes.
Only problem, the location of the portal is random. The only possible fixed thing is its elevation, hence the loopback portal is always underneath.
--- Another possibility, James already knew everything beforehand. His wife, Silas, Aldrich, they were all kept in the dark as to his actual agenda.
NBC really puts the wokeness factor into high gear in season 2. For example, in episode 3 during prison break discussion let's throw all logic and the fact that two experienced ex-soldiers are there, out the door so we can let the women make one of the most stupidest illogical decision because it's 2022 and we all have to be woke.
This was a boring season which concentrated more on family drama rather than being a scifi show. Now i am not sure if i should even watch season 3.
Shout by ponceyVIP 7BlockedParent2022-11-08T15:57:43Z
So frustrating to see resources and time put into this absolute shit show. I can't find one redeeming quality about it and it's absolutely baffling to me how anyone could find this enjoyable, and why it got a 2nd season. I've never rated a show a 1, but since I can't give it a -5000, a 1 will have to do.