ABC's "Lost"

[FeelLikeANut]

I think JMS needs to go explain to the writers of Lost how good storytelling works. This show that started off so good has been getting more and more disappointing.

The writers are dangling the mysteries out far too long. They don't need to give away every secret of the show in order to satisfy the audience. They need to layer the questions and answers on top of each other. Take B5, for example. As early as the middle of season two, we got an explanation about who and what both the Shadows and the Vorlons are. Of course, the truth turned out to be much more complex, but we didn't know that yet. We were satisfied, and also the show still had plenty of mysteries to explore.

I think also that Lost is focusing on the wrong question. They appear to be staking the strength of their climax in answering what. B5, comparatively, focused on why, and even once we had the answers, there was still a fallout to deal with.

Does anyone else think the same? Or, for discussion, does anyone disagree?

[Radhil]

In the last season, there was a lot of "what", as you put it. Shows in recent weeks haven't been concentrating on mysteries at all (Desmond's flashes notwithstanding), they've been concentrating on the characters. I'm all for that.

[NotSoWize]

I'm still really enjoying "Lost," but I tend to agree that they pile mystery upon mystery and (at least apparently) seem to completely forget about some of the mysteries altogether. I read an interview with the creators recently and in it they stated that they were going to set a hard deadline for the show. I hope that proves to be the truth and that "Lost" doesn't wind up dragging on for far too long ala the X-files.

[I love Lyta]

Actually, for my taste they're stretching the whole series to much already.
Why does each new series have to go on for upzillion seasons these days...? YEAH I know. Cashflow...
Well if they set a hard deadline for it that's commendable but I already made up my mind about the whole thing being nothing but a big mindfuck, a socio-psychological experiment about obeserving peoples' (re-)actions in extreme situations with false memories planted into everyone's minds and the "Others" being the observers, after season 2 ended.
It's too unimportant to me to continue watching it.
I'd rather watch Smallville and the Justice League being formed.

[B5_Obsessed]

I'm starting to lose interest in LOST. I must admit it was my favorite new show two years ago, but since that time, the story seems to have become so fragmented and meandering, that none of us really seem to know where it's going anymore. Not to mention they've spent so much time focusing on Jack and his crew that we rarely see any of the other island cast anymore. And Jack is no help; you think he would have asked any useful questions while he had Ben's kidney sac open? He's on a first name basis with Mr Friendly/Zeek/Tom and we still don't know anything. And I couldn't give a shit about Jack's voodoo tatoo.

To me, it feels like they need to tighten up the narrative, get that good interraction going and start moving the story forward.

HEROES, like it or not, is dishing out plot an an amazing rate and at least utilizes all of its characters on a regular basis, even allowing these disparate characters to mix and match and interract with each other. HEROES did borrow concepts from LOST (and X Men, Rising Stars, 4400 ), but I feel that show is doing a much better job at entertaining us along the way.

And by the way,J.J. Abrams has confirmed he's directing the new Star Trek film, so don't expect any help from him from him in the near future.

[FeelLikeANut]

In one of his postings archived at the Lurker's Guide, JMS said that once a series gets rolling, no single primary question can be allowed to go more than about one season before answering it, otherwise you get into a frustrating situation where nothing is resolved.

This sounds exactly like LOST's problem, and it might turn out to be a fatal flaw.

[AmyG]

I'm on the same page as many of you about "Lost."

What did we have first season? A mysterious 'presence' that made it impossible to go more than a few hundred yards from camp without putting yourself in mortal danger. A polar bear in a tropical jungle. The numbers, everywhere. Whispered voices. Rain that seemed to precede Bad Events. A sincere need to go out and find food. A sense of isolation.

What do we have now? Book clubs. Bad rave rooms designed by people whose favorite movie was "A Clockwork Orange." Dharma-brand food everywhere. A bunch of people who aren't so much out to kill everyone anymore, but just kidnap them and feed them grilled cheese sandwiches and fish biscuits. How Jack Got His F-in' Tattoos (along with an STD from skanky Bai Ling, apparently). The numbers...what numbers? (They don't actually mean anything, so TPTB threw together a summer promotional campaign/game that culminated in a video that purported to explain them and then...we never heard about them again.) And...the massive, overarching, ill-fated love story of Desmond and Penny. WTF???

Imagine if we'd gone half a season of Babylon 5 with Garibaldi only getting one line (hello Sayid, Locke). Or if Susan, or Londo, had just not appeared for most of a season (hello, original recipe Lostaways during at least part of season two, and now season three). And that in second season, a ship docked outside of the station and we spent most of the time with their crew and captain, wondering what the fudge is happening over on the station (hello, Tailaways and Others).

The only thing that seems to have stuck from the first season is that the Lostaways are a bunch of uncurious monkeys. Jack asking Cindy why she was there, her reply, "To watch," and his complete and utter failure to follow that up with more questions...that was pure first season "Lost."

In trying to give ABC what they want (many seasons of a huge ratings-grabber show), "Lost" has lost its original mandate, and it's just meandering down different, boring paths these days. I'm sure one of those paths will lead to its cancellation.

[B5_Obsessed]

Again, HEROES last night. Excellent. Maybe the nearly nuking caveman scene went on too long, but otherwise loads and loads of story, both in the past AND the present. The show is definitely going somewhere, I have no idea where that is, but it's definitely moving along.

As for LOSt, I'm not done yet. I'll keep tuning in for a bit longer.

[DysfunctionalReality]

I think this is one of the best shows on TV for right now.

Is it the most original or idealogically intriguing show I've ever seen? Yes and no - relatively speaking. It does utilize a formula - to an extent, in regards to the mysteries and flashbacks. But it's not nearly as constained and limited in terms of continuous plot development as other shows (as in CSI/ Law and Order - in the most extreme cases).

In the end it really is all about personal taste.

Can't wait for Season 3 on DVD.

[Shadow-Sentient]

I think this is one of the best shows on TV for right now.

Is it the most original or idealogically intriguing show I've ever seen? Yes and no - relatively speaking. It does utilize a formula - to an extent, in regards to the mysteries and flashbacks. But it's not nearly as constained and limited in terms of continuous plot development as other shows (as in CSI/ Law and Order - in the most extreme cases).

In the end it really is all about personal taste.

Can't wait for Season 3 on DVD.

I agree. yeah, they have made quite a few blunders but '...I like that there are still mysteries on the island and that they haven't solved everything.' However, too much remains unsolved or unresolved. The introduction of the tail section seemed only to facilitate getting Rose's husband back to the fuselage campsite and to do so, they killed off the entire rest of the group.

Michael turning on them was a great twist but they should have killed Charlie instead of Libby. Hurley's decision not to carry a gun seemed absolutely stupid. If he chose to go along to get revenge ... why would he go unarmed against such a dangerous enemy? Also, why would he walk away instead of beating Michael to death after finding out that he murdered Libby. Things like this really bothered me.

Why haven't any of the cast realized that Alex is Rousseau's child? I know Sayeed had the most contact with her, but wouldn't someone know? Or are they saving that discovery for Sayeed ... hmmm

The 'Others' have proved quite disappointing. They infiltrated the castaways quickly and successfully but seem to be completely bankrupt at having any reason or purpose for doing so. Baby knapping and attempted homicide for what? Then they are surprised when the castaways come after them and even kill some of them? For such an elite and intelligent group, they aren't very bright.
I don't know ... hopefully some answers will be forthcoming soon. They have quite a few episodes already shot. If the popularity of the show wanes too much, they'll never see the light of day though.
I'm still holding out that the writers will pull their collective heads out of their butts and the show will return to the glory that wzs the second season.

Otherwise, there isn't a damned thing else worth watching on television right now.

[NotSoWize]

Last night's show sure was refreshing. It's great to be getting the Losties back together again. Seeing crazy, hillbilly Delenn was great as well . . .

[vacantlook]

Michael turning on them was a great twist but they should have killed Charlie instead of Libby.

Thing about that though, according to the various articles I read at the time it happened, is that the actor playing Libby wanted out of her contract to go do some other project. They had planned on offing Anna-Lucia all along, but Libby was just added to the death list because the actor wanted out.

Last night's show sure was refreshing.

I'm glad someone enjoyed it, then. To me, it was a yawn. As I posted on another board, it's the kind of episode one can grade papers to: one doesn't have to pay much attention to it to know what's going on.

[Shadow-Sentient]

Well honk my hooter! Someone finallyh told Rousseau. Just finished watching this weeks epi online. Have to agree, it was refreshing that it took place back at the beach.

[B5_Obsessed]

Well honk my hooter! Someone finallyh told Rousseau. Just finished watching this weeks epi online. Have to agree, it was refreshing that it took place back at the beach.

Truthfully, I don't think it could have happened sooner. None of them met Alex until after the abduction, I believe and they finally just got back. And Rousseau hasn't been seen since halfway through Season 2.

[Shadow-Sentient]

Alex helped Claire escape and in her flashback Alex tells her her name. I suppose Claire is so far removed that it's possible she didn't feel it relevant to share that information. Maybe my memory is failing me but I thought for certain she had mentioned it and Sayeed or Kate was there at the time. I know Rousseau had said a couple of times to different people that her baby "Alex" had been taken by 'the others'.
But it makes for much more drama to do it now regardless.
I was ecstatic with the last episode.
I'm hoping Sawyer comes around ... sorta the Han Solo type only meaner but for the moment he seems to not be 'changing his spots' despite his obvious internal struggle. Anyone wanna place a wager on the likelihood of Sawyer turning over a new leaf? You know if he does, they are gonna probably off him.