oh my brain. This is like Looper.

So Timeline 1: John follows DJ’s instructions to denizen, dies, and the worlds get fucked up. Dave goes back in time to

Timeline 2: Where DJ still tells John to do the shit, but also sees the other trolls talking with future John/their future selves.

So basically, in order to have a stable timeline in 2, timeline one needed to exist at first.

TIME TRAVEL PEOPLE!