Back to the Future II plot hole
- Thread starter ZeNd
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because the "act" of returning to his time line and loosing the ability to undo what he has done sealed the creation of the alternate time line, there's a deleted scene of old Biff fading away (supposedly Lorraine finally got fed up with Biff and shot him in 1999) but only after Doc & Marty get into the DeLorean
Asked and answered by the writers. 
In spite of Doc's illustration the movies' time theory seems to be that the times are a physical, actual, real place that can be reached and left. Changing the past didn't so much as "create an alternate timeline"/"another universe" as it just "changed the present."
This is evidenced by Doc's telling Marty that leaving Jennifer in the alternate 1985 won't be a problem as when they fix the problem the "timeline will change around her and she'll be fine."
So Biff arrived to the same 2015 as the one Doc and Marty were in because there's no other 2015 to go to, that the course of events over the last 30 years are different doesn't matter. It's still the same, physical, place.
This is evidenced by Doc's telling Marty that leaving Jennifer in the alternate 1985 won't be a problem as when they fix the problem the "timeline will change around her and she'll be fine."
So Biff arrived to the same 2015 as the one Doc and Marty were in because there's no other 2015 to go to, that the course of events over the last 30 years are different doesn't matter. It's still the same, physical, place.
My pleasure.
This is what I thought about the situation. The changes occurred in 1955 and began to ripple forward; had already altered 1985 by the time Doc and Marty traveled there; and the changes were just catching up to 2015 as Doc and Marty left the 21st century. In effect, the door to that 2015 was closing with Doc and Marty slipping out the crack before it shut.
No need to make it that complicated.
The linked explanation above explains it completely. By the time Biff gets back to 2015 it's totally changed. No 'ripple' explanation needed.
Watch the movie again. The other characters have already left Marty's house by the time Biff gets back so they have no way of knowing anything's changed.
This is the explanation that is the most plasuable but at the same time I don't buy it. Heres why. The difference between 1985 and 1985A were huge. Hill Valley turned into a cross between Compton and Las Vegas, why did Hill Dale (as far as apperance) look exactly the same in 2015A? It should of looked all trashed out and ghettofied.
Also, after seeing the deleted scenes in the BOFII DVD, they REALLY should of left the Biff fading out scene in here. It really shows the writers were at least cautious of continuity errors. 2015A Biff certainly wouldnt have been the same 2015 Biff, and the scene shows someone killed him before 2015. Makes perfect sense.
I sometimes think we should have a FAQ pinned to the top of this forum with answers to these recurring questions.
Hilldale already *was* starting to look like that. Remember what the cop said as they were taking Jennifer home? "Nothing but a breeding ground for tranks, lobos and zipheads". Perhaps Hilldale was already starting to change?
Someone already asked this question
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=128594#post4381874
Doc and Marty also overlooked this when going back to 1985 in part 2
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