Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-5513888-20130903031231/@comment-27648912-20130919004947

I highly doubt this theory.

In Episode 12, when Yuri talked to the AI in the Second Computer Room, he stated that she wouldn't know The Programmer "even if he did say his name". This would crush the theory of Otonashi being The Programmer at all.

Also, it could be possible that time doesn't exist in the Afterlife or its mixed. Kanade may have died after Otonashi, but she may been there for a long time first before Otonashi arrived.

I really hope the Visual Novel and the fan made sequel "Afterlife Reincarnation" would help us explain this.