What If Old Biff Told Young Biff He Was His Older Self in Back to the Future Part 2?

In the original Back to the Future Part II, the core plot hinges on the pivotal moment when Old Biff Tannen delivers the 1955 almanac to young Marty McFly. If, however, Old Biff had instead told young Biff that he was his older self, the ensuing storyline and the film as we know it would have been drastically altered. There would have been no story, and no Back to the Future Part II as Michael and Doc Brown would have simply returned to the normal 1985 from which they’d left at the end of the first film.

Without the almanac, Marty and Doc's mission would have ceased to exist, and they would not have ventured back to 1955 to stop the tyrannical Biff from gaining power. Instead, the film would have ended well before the midway point as Michael and Doc Brown discovered the normal 1985-filled with an ordinary suburban atmosphere, free of Biff's authoritarian control and criminal deeds.

Transformed Hill Valley and the Alternating Futures BTTF 2 Presents

In Back to the Future Part II, the story revolves around the discovery that 1985 has become a nightmarish crime-ridden area. The reason for this transformation is Old Biff handing the almanac to young Biff in 1955. When Marty and Doc realize the consequences of this, they must attempt to travel back to 1955 and prevent young Biff from acquiring the book. By doing so, they aim to stop Biff's tyrannical rise to power. This alternate storyline showcases the complexities of time travel and the ripple effects of even the smallest actions.

The Crisis of Identity—Old Biff's Caution

One crucial question arises: why didn't Old Biff simply reveal his true identity to young Biff? It is highly likely that Old Biff overheard Doc and Marty's argument about the almanac and discovered that Doc Brown had built a time machine. If he overheard the entire conversation, he might have inferred the potential dangers if young Biff encountered his older self. Keeping this knowledge secret was a strategic move to avoid disrupting the timeline and ensuring his future remained intact. Biff, despite not being the sharpest, understood the risks associated with revealing his true identity.

Phenomenon of Meeting Your Future Self

Situations where someone interacts with their future self, such as when 1985 Jennifer encounters 2015 Jennifer, can lead to significant emotional and mental turmoils. The impact of such an encounter is profound, as it challenges the individual's sense of identity and future. For Biff, if he had met his older self, it would have been a traumatic experience. The realization of his future self, with all its success and criminal activities, might have induced a feeling of despair, regret, or even a sense of resignation. This encounter could have further complicated his already messy life, potentially leading to even more destructive behaviors.

Personal Reflections on Future Possibilities

Considering the scenario where Old Biff did indeed tell young Biff who he was, I would have responded with skepticism. There is no way for Biff to verify the information beyond a shadow of a doubt. Each version of the future is a possibility, influenced by the choices that I can make. Even if Old Biff claimed to know my future, such a statement would be nothing more than speculation and projection. For this reason, any attempt to change my future would require more concrete evidence, not just a verbal claim. The almanac given to young Biff by Old Biff was a practical and effective method of altering the future, and no amount of verbal verification could replicate its impact.

Old Biff did young Biff right by providing the almanac, as it set in motion the events that saved Hill Valley and possibly altered Biff's life trajectory. This act of handing over the almanac was a pivotal moment that had significant consequences, leading to the eventual transformation of Biff's character. In the end, we can only speculate about what would have happened if Old Biff chose a different course of action.