Jump to content

LOST (Merged 13X)


The Gun Of Bavaria

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 1.3k
  • Created
  • Last Reply
That's what Lost was, a primetime soap.

Dynasty or Dallas for geeks.

High five. You and I are on the same exact page on this.

What Lost was, was something that is sorely missed on TV. A TV show that can connect the audience to its characters without becoming some terrible clone of another show that never ends. For reference see: CSI, NCIS, Criminal minds, Bones, etc.

There are very few shows that decide to push the envelop and pull it off well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well now that it ended, you could still go back and watch it. As a fan of the show I already said it recently. The strength of the show is the development of the characters. Their relationships, how far they come and all that stuff. It's really the core of the show and I feel I guess... at peace with the ending.

I don't know what it is about Lost, but the few times I've watched, I've always ended up having Lost-themed nightmares afterwards. Last night was no exception. It's either the guy in the wheelchair grinning at me in a creepy manner, or I'm running around the island trying to get away from something, or I see the characters screaming and screaming. Whatever the reason, my subconscious seems to hate the show. :D Maybe it's too mysterious and suspenseful for me, haha.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's what Lost was, a primetime soap.

Dynasty or Dallas for geeks.

which is why i said what i said..

I never liked the soap opera moments.. last years finale was terrible with it being so kate centric..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's what Lost was, a primetime soap.

Dynasty or Dallas for geeks.

This is what I always say about Deep Space Nine! It's basically a soap opera with a little bit of mystery and "blahblah aliens blahblah federation" mixed in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a hand-me-down, but I got it from the Lost thread at JI. It's from someone at Bad Robot. I'll quote the whole JI post:

I found this explanation on another site to be quite good.

Someone from Bad Robot (The company that produced LOST) spoke out about the show:

First ...

The Island:

It was real. Everything that happened on the island that we saw throughout the 6 seasons was real. Forget the final image of the plane crash, it was put in purposely to f*&k with people's heads and show how far the show had come. They really crashed. They really survived. They really discovered Dharma and the Others. The Island keeps the balance of good and evil in the world. It always has and always will perform that role. And the Island will always need a "Protector". Jacob wasn't the first, Hurley won't be the last. However, Jacob had to deal with a malevolent force (MIB) that his mother, nor Hurley had to deal with. He created the devil and had to find a way to kill him -- even though the rules prevented him from actually doing so.

Thus began Jacob's plan to bring candidates to the Island to do the one thing he couldn't do. Kill the MIB. He had a huge list of candidates that spanned generations. Yet everytime he brought people there, the MIB corrupted them and caused them to kill one another. That was until Richard came along and helped Jacob understand that if he didn't take a more active role, then his plan would never work.

Enter Dharma -- which I'm not sure why John is having such a hard time grasping. Dharma, like the countless scores of people that were brought to the island before, were brought there by Jacob as part of his plan to kill the MIB. However, the MIB was aware of this plan and interferred by "corrupting" Ben. Making Ben believe he was doing the work of Jacob when in reality he was doing the work of the MIB. This carried over into all of Ben's "off-island" activities. He was the leader. He spoke for Jacob as far as they were concerned. So the "Others" killed Dharma and later were actively trying to kill Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hurley and all the candidates because that's what the MIB wanted. And what he couldn't do for himself.

Dharma was originally brought in to be good. But was turned bad by MIB's corruption and eventually destroyed by his pawn Ben. Now, was Dharma only brought there to help Jack and the other Canditates on their overall quest to kill Smokey? Or did Jacob have another list of Canidates from the Dharma group that we were never aware of? That's a question that is purposley not answered because whatever answer the writers came up with would be worse than the one you come up with for yourself. Still ... Dharma's purpose is not "pointless" or even vague. Hell, it's pretty blantent.

Still, despite his grand plan, Jacob wanted to give his "candidates" (our Lostaways) the one thing he, nor his brother, were ever afforded: free will. Hence him bringing a host of "candidates" through the decades and letting them "choose" which one would actually do the job in the end. Maybe he knew Jack would be the one to kill Flocke and that Hurley would be the protector in the end. Maybe he didn't. But that was always the key question of the show: Fate vs Free-will. Science vs Faith. Personally I think Jacob knew from the beginning what was going to happen and that everyone played a part over 6 seasons in helping Jack get to the point where he needed to be to kill Smokey and make Hurley the protector -- I know that's how a lot of the writers viewed it. But again, they won't answer that (nor should they) because that ruins the fun.

In the end, Jack got to do what he always wanted to do from the very first episode of the show: Save his fellow Lostaways. He got Kate and Sawyer off the island and he gave Hurley the purpose in life he'd always been missing. And, in Sideways world (which we'll get to next) he in fact saved everyone by helping them all move on ...

Now...

Sideways World:

Sideways world is where it gets really cool in terms of theology and metaphysical discussion (for me at least -- because I love history/religion theories and loved all the talks in the writer's room about it). Basically what the show is proposing is that we're all linked to certain people during our lives. Call them soulmates (though it's not exactly the best word). But these people we're linked to are with us duing "the most important moments of our lives" as Christian said. These are the people we move through the universe with from lifetime to lifetime. It's loosely based in Hinduisim with large doses of western religion thrown into the mix.

The conceit that the writers created, basing it off these religious philosophies, was that as a group, the Lostaways subconsciously created this "sideways" world where they exist in purgatory until they are "awakened" and find one another. Once they all find one another, they can then move on and move forward. In essence, this is the show's concept of the afterlife. According to the show, everyone creates their own "Sideways" purgatory with their "soulmates" throughout their lives and exist there until they all move on together. That's a beautiful notion. Even if you aren't religious or even spirtual, the idea that we live AND die together is deeply profound and moving.

It's a really cool and spirtual concept that fits the whole tone and subtext the show has had from the beginning. These people were SUPPOSED to be together on that plane. They were supposed to live through these events -- not JUST because of Jacob. But because that's what the universe or God (depending on how religious you wish to get) wanted to happen. The show was always about science vs faith -- and it ultimately came down on the side of faith. It answered THE core question of the series. The one question that has been at the root of every island mystery, every character backstory, every plot twist. That, by itself, is quite an accomplishment.

How much you want to extrapolate from that is up to you as the viewer. Think about season 1 when we first found the Hatch. Everyone thought that's THE answer! Whatever is down there is the answer! Then, as we discovered it was just one station of many. One link in a very long chain that kept revealing more, and more of a larger mosiac.

But the writer's took it even further this season by contrasting this Sideways "purgatory" with the Island itself. Remember when Michael appeared to Hurley, he said he was not allowed to leave the Island. Just like the MIB. He wasn't allowed into this sideways world and thus, was not afforded the opportunity to move on. Why? Because he had proven himself to be unworthy with his actions on the Island. He failed the test. The others, passed. They made it into Sideways world when they died -- some before Jack, some years later. In Hurley's case, maybe centuries later. They exist in this sideways world until they are "awakened" and they can only move on TOGETHER because they are linked. They are destined to be together for eternity. That was their destiny.

They were NOT linked to Anna Lucia, Daniel, Roussou, Alex, Miles, Lupidis, (and all the rest who weren't in the chuch -- basically everyone who wasn't in season 1). Yet those people exist in Sideways world. Why? Well again, here's where they leave it up to you to decide. The way I like to think about it, is that those people who were left behind in Sideways world have to find their own soulmates before they can wake up. It's possible that those links aren't people from the island but from their other life (Anna's parnter, the guy she shot --- Roussou's husband, etc etc).

A lot of people have been talking about Ben and why he didn't go into the Church. And if you think of Sideways world in this way, then it gives you the answer to that very question. Ben can't move on yet because he hasn't connected with the people he needs to. It's going to be his job to awaken Roussou, Alex, Anna Lucia (maybe), Ethan, Goodspeed, his father and the rest. He has to attone for his sins more than he did by being Hurley's number two. He has to do what Hurley and Desmond did for our Lostaways with his own people. He has to help them connect. And he can only move on when all the links in his chain are ready to. Same can be said for Faraday, Charlotte, Whidmore, Hawkins etc. It's really a neat, and cool concept. At least to me.

But, from a more "behind the scenes" note: the reason Ben's not in the church, and the reason no one is in the church but for Season 1 people is because they wrote the ending to the show after writing the pilot. And never changed it. The writers always said (and many didn't believe them) that they knew their ending from the very first episode. I applaud them for that. It's pretty fantastic. Originally Ben was supposed to have a 3 episode arc and be done. But he became a big part of the show. They could have easily changed their ending and put him in the church -- but instead they problem solved it. Gave him a BRILLIANT moment with Locke outside the church ... and then that was it. I loved that. For those that wonder -- the original ending started the moment Jack walked into the church and touches the casket to Jack closing his eyes as the other plane flies away. That was always JJ's ending. And they kept it.

In the end, for me, LOST was a touchstone show that dealt with faith, the afterlife, and all these big, spirtual questions that most shows don't touch. And to me, they never once waivered from their core story -- even with all the sci-fi elements they mixed in. To walk that long and daunting of a creative tightrope and survive is simply astounding.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well now that it ended, you could still go back and watch it. As a fan of the show I already said it recently. The strength of the show is the development of the characters. Their relationships, how far they come and all that stuff. It's really the core of the show and I feel I guess... at peace with the ending.

Agreed. I doubt I'll ever see another show of it's calibur. It was beautifully done, just absolutely amazing and wonderful. John and Ben in the courtyard, btw...wow. Those two, plus Jack (Matthew Fox) BETTER be up for Emmy's. Especially John and Ben.

tumblr_l2xd9dPz0N1qayczvo1_400.png

:P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

looks like the DVD set coming out has a 14 minute epilogue that will show the time from when Hurley becomes 'new Jacob' and the meeting in church at end..

nice wrap up article and video of Ben talking about epilogue..

http://www.examiner.com/x-5016-NY-TV-Examiner~y2010m5d27-Lost-Loose-Ends--including-info-on-an-upcoming-epilogue

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ok..i just finished it and i am still thinking.... i liked it.. still a little confused

and i already miss it.

what do we watch next?

I agree. The explanation above is excellent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well I finally got to watch it and my initial reaction is I really liked the overall episode, but there were a few things towards the end that overdid the sappiness a little for my taste. Although after thinking about it a little more and reading others' thoughts, I decided I'm happy with how it all ended (especially now after just watching the 24 finale, good God what a giant heap of dog crap). A lot of the moments throughout the episode were really cool and while I take issue with at least a couple aspects of the last 20 or so minutes, it's nothing particularly serious.

Oh, and while I can't blame them for doing it, the very end of the show was the single most obvious piece of television writing in history. Although it was probably so obvious to the point that people would've been disappointed if that's not what happened, I was literally just sitting there waiting for that scene and chuckled when it happened.

P.S. There were some awesome moments during the show, but I sure as hell didn't cry. Some of you ladies need to cut back on the estrogen.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I decided I'm happy with how it all ended (especially now after just watching the 24 finale, good God what a giant heap of dog crap). A.

It wasn't that bad. 24 isn't really supposed to be deep or have any meaning. It never aspired to what lost aspired to. It was like a rambo movie. Heck, the fact that Kim Bauer managed to go the whole season without getting kidnapped makes this one of the better seasons..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It wasn't that bad. 24 isn't really supposed to be deep or have any meaning. It never aspired to what lost aspired to. It was like a rambo movie. Heck, the fact that Kim Bauer managed to go the whole season without getting kidnapped makes this one of the better seasons..

Oh, I know that. It's not like I expected it to be anywhere near the same type of thing, but I was hoping the writing wouldn't be nearly as lazy as it was. Although I shouldn't be surprised given how poor most of the season's writing was. The fact that Kim made it through ok made that the only cheesy plot devise that wasn't beat to death this season. The last 30 minutes just had me laughing more than anything. Most of it didn't even make any sense.

But like I said, it only made me appreciate the Lost finale that much more. :biggrin:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, I know that. It's not like I expected it to be anywhere near the same type of thing, but I was hoping the writing wouldn't be nearly as lazy as it was. Although I shouldn't be surprised given how poor most of the season's writing was. The fact that Kim made it through ok made that the only cheesy plot devise that wasn't beat to death this season. The last 30 minutes just had me laughing more than anything. Most of it didn't even make any sense.

But like I said, it only made me appreciate the Lost finale that much more. :biggrin:

Lost finale >>>>>> 24 finale

that being said I was bummed when both shows ended. I am sure if and when there is a 24 movie it will be crappy and I will see it anyway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, I know that. It's not like I expected it to be anywhere near the same type of thing, but I was hoping the writing wouldn't be nearly as lazy as it was. Although I shouldn't be surprised given how poor most of the season's writing was. The fact that Kim made it through ok made that the only cheesy plot devise that wasn't beat to death this season. The last 30 minutes just had me laughing more than anything. Most of it didn't even make any sense.

But like I said, it only made me appreciate the Lost finale that much more. :biggrin:

Meh, I think I liked the 24 finale better in the sense that it was less of a letdown. I wasn't very thrilled with the lost finale, it was cheezy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Xin viec lam duoc ngay tai www.vieclamtuyendung.vn voi 5000+ viec lam luong cao, hap dan. Tim viec lam phu hop cho tung ung vien.

Trang viec lam tuyen dung truc tuyen hang dau ho tro gui ho so cho NTD ngay sau 1 gio dang tuyen.

Tim viec lam phu hop cho tung ung vien dang ho so.

Dung bo lo co hoi xin viec lam duoc ngay tai www.VieclamTuyendung.vn voi 5.000+viec lam luong cao, hap dan.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


×
×
  • Create New...