Monday, April 2, 2007

Has "Lost" Lost It?


While this blog certainly focuses primarily anything and everything having to do with film, let us not forget the bastard cousin that seems to attract more and more screengoers away from the cinemas, TV.

I, like many others, have my set schedule for the week when I finally get to sit down at the boob tube. To list just a few of the drugs I take:
-24
-Prison Break
-South Park
-Veronica Mars
-Office
-Scrubs
-Heroes
-Entourage
and the one that I will probably OD on, Lost .

Lost has such a expansive and alluring plot. One so big that it would be impossible for them to play it out in the cinemas, yet it maintains cinema quailty. The acting, the direction, the music, all are just as good as you will see in any good theatrical experience. They dont have quite the budget for FX, so they can be a little hokey at times, but they do it better than any other show on TV.

The reason for this post though is not to attract new viewers, but to attract those that left. Season 3 keeps surprising me. Admittedly the first six episodes did start the show off slow, but the past five or six episodes have been some of the best stuff the show has ever put out. Yet all I hear about nowadays is not how great these last episodes have been, but just how poorly it is doing in the ratings compared to its once thriving self. Many are not patient enough to deal with the on-going plot that seems to just get more and more intricate. Many don't think they can wrap it up neatly and be able to explain it all. And than there are many who just simply like watching reruns of CSI: NY more. Let us not forget Lost is also the most Tivo'd show, which must account for something right.

I believe, when all is said and done, Lost will be remembered as one of the most satisfying experiences a viewer will ever have had or ever will. I have faith the writers know what they are doing. They are not in it for the money. They just want to tell a brilliant story. Talks with ABC are supposedly underway so they can discuss just how much longer Lost will go. The creators ideally wanted a 100 episode arc. With about 60 under the belt, there is still so much story to tell. Be patient. If you can't keep up with the show weekly, get the DVDs. DVD is what got me into the show to begin with. I promise you, anyone that has the patience to just appreciate the ride that Abrams and Company have created, you will justly rewarded in the end.

9 comments:

pengin said...

You know my opinion on this....Lost is excellent, and, while it may have its misfires, there is a damn good reason why it has generated fanboys who foam at the mouth come 10pm wednesdays. I won't go much into my love for this series now...not enough time or space on here....just gonna say that over at aintitcoolnews.com they have listed the flashbacks schedule for the rest of the season...and I now need a new pair of shorts. If you're angry about the lack of answers, just stick with it, because there's some major stuff coming our way.

chachiincharge said...

I saw that post on AintItCool too. Degroot and Ben are getting there own episodes. Cant wait. I dont even think we have seen the Degroots yet, even in photos. Two hour episode devoted to Ben. OMG! If he is telling the truth that means the entire episode should take place on the island. Hell even Charlie gets a flashback finally and it is right before the finale. This is going to be a most excellent final eight we will get to see unfold.

Brian Mulligan said...

I totally agree with you about "Lost." I'm one of its staunchest supporters and always have been. While other shows, such as "24," seem to be getting stale... why is a show that constantly keeps you guessing a bad thing?

I don't want to know the answers. I want to be strung along. I want the show's plan to unfold in a natural way, the way the writers envisioned it. To a point, I can understand the frustration, but I don't want the writers to try to quench the viewer's thirst for answers or producer's for ratings by upping the body count or rushing storylines.

Its slow pace and unknown path are some of its most alluring mysteries. And that's why "Lost" is the only show I'm glued to the TV for... even on vacation.

Brian Mulligan said...

Also, I want to have a brief discussion on favorite characters on the show (if that has changed from year-to-year mention who and why). I love the entire cast, but it's always interesting to see who's a Hurley fan, a Sawyer fan, a Locke fan, etc.

thedexter said...

As chachi knows, I'm relatively knew to the show. Of the first season I saw...two episodes I think. Maybe. Then when I started watching it every Wednesday night with everyone else, I don't know, there's something alluring about it. The characters aren't too pompous or busy being characcters...it's somewhat natural. And the buried alive episode, good god damn that was amazing.

I finally saw the "smoke monster" last night...and was somewhat stunned to see that it was actually...a smoke...monster.

The show, even in six successive episodes has plenty of twists in turns and shows that the show now in it's third season has not lost any steam and will continue to be possibly the most well written show on television.

chachiincharge said...

I have a soft spot for nearly all the characters, but the one I think I'm most fascinated with is Desmond. In the season 2 finale, when we finally see his flashback, it made the whole epic feel of this story feel that much more intimate and romantic. His flashback this year was such a kick to the balls. I dont know what to make of it, but all I know is that I loved it and thought it was one of the best yet. He has one more coming up this season, so we'll see if he can keep it up.

Since the forth episode "Walkabout", Ive been a fan of Locke. He has not only a killer past, but a really great island presence, and consistently surprises me. I was never really annoyed by his button pushing during season 2, I just thought it showed he can be manipulated just as easily as he can manipulate others.

Speaking of others, Ben...aka Benry aka Henry Gale aka Fake Henry Gale aka Benjamin Linus. I think, when all is said and done, he might be my favorite. So far, we dont know much about him, yet he is always so brilliant to see at work. Michael Emerson deserves a Emmy again (he won for a guest starring appearance on Practice). Im perhaps most excited to see where he will be taking us.

And even though his flashbacks arent the best, you gotta love Hurley. I will go so far as to say that there would be a bigger outcry if they killed him off than any other character. He seemed to simply be comic relief, but has since (due to Libby) has developed a really great depth to his character. Jorge Garcia and Hurley are probably one in the same, so I dont know how much of it really is acting, but I still love him.

What is so great about the show is as I type this I can come up with great reasonings for every character. Im a fan of Sun and Jin, Sayid, Sawyer, Charlie, Claire, Juliet, etc. The one that has perhaps gotten the least compelling and kind of annoying would be Kate. I just feel like she has lost some steam and seems well "lost." but I would be sad if she were killed too.

RIP Eko. We miss you.

thedexter said...

I'm surprised she didn't wash all that mud off of her.

pengin said...

Chachi got a short shout-out to my favorite, albeit currently deceased character, Mr. Eko. I'm not a religious person. Those who know me would laugh if I tried to pass myself off as one. For whatever reason though, I have a very strong connection to a story of redemption, or better yet of failed redemption. One of my favorite movies is La Dolce Vita, for this very reason.

Eko's story, which intertwined with Locke's so perfectly, was a story of a man looking for redemption...or so we thought. While I agree that his ending was rushed and could have been done a bit better, I still think it's the most emotionally powerful exit thus far on the show. His dualities and apparent contradictions were what made him most relatable to me, and I was indeed greatly saddened to see him leave.

Other greats...Charlie, I love the tease of impending death recently, can't wait for his flashback episode and what it will bring with it....Hurley, I'm fat and I have to stand by my brothers. Plus, he is the best source of humor and pure heart on the island...Desmond, dear god. How amazing has his story become. Fate vs. Destiny. Nothing new, but still, a former hobbit's life is on the line.

I think Ben has become an excellent addition, and Emerson's acting really held together some weaker parts of last season. I agree that Kate has lost a lot of appeal. I never really found her story that interesting to begin with, and it hasn't gotten any better. I'm happy that Sayid has been getting some screentime recently as well...he's always been one of my favs.

Brian Mulligan said...

Since I've missed responding to a couple of comments that I've intended to, today I've tried to add a "Recent Comments" sidebar to the main page where you can see all of the latest posts in their respective topics (I think this only works for the most recent month however)...

Anyways, "Lost" is definitely something I wanted to come back to, especially since I brought up the whole 'favorite character' subtopic.

I think I've kind of procrastinated on the response because my favorite characters have already been touched upon, mostly by chachi.

First season my favorite character had to be Locke. Absolutely the most interesting character with his back story and relation to the island, I was kind of disappointed that season two relegated him to the hatch for the majority of the time. I felt that the hatch would be a minor stepping stone Locke uncovers as he continues to lead the campaign across the island... but it didn't exactly work out that way.

Second season, with Locke tied down, I suppose I would have had to turn to Sawyer as my favorite (although his relationship with Kate became sort of annoying by Season 3). His is another back story that I absolutely love, with him having adopted the identity of someone who scammed him and then his slowly becoming that man. Fascinating.

Then with the reintroduction of Desmond at the end of Season 2, he's quickly jolted to the top of my favorites. I love everything about this character, the trying to change the past, the glimpses of the future, the "Hey brother" surfer-dude attitude and his somewhat standoff-ish approach towards revealing much about himself.

I look forward to the rest of the journey that the writers have us on, and maybe I'll have a new favorite by the time Season 4 comes around, who knows?

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