Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
What I'll Miss About Lost
With the Lost journey coming to a close tonight, it seems only appropriate to pay homage to a show that I believe made TV drama great. My husband and I began watching Lost the day it first aired, September 22, 2004. I remember seeing previews for it and my husband said "That looks like a pretty cool show. We should watch." And so we did! This has been the only TV show I've watched from beginning to end and I have many fond memories of watching it with my husband. With that said, here are the things I took from the show and that I'll miss.
Sense of Discovery: Before Lost, I'd never heard of the Casimir Effect, thought about the effects of electromagnetism, wondered about the physics of time travel, paid attention to ancient mythology or legitimately considered the many dichotomies that make up life as we know it.
Music: I don't know of another show that has a soundtrack like Lost. For me, a soundtrack is as important as the writing and the acting in a show. Michael Giacchino's compositions for Lost give add to the mystery, suspense, sense of doom but have a heartwarming effect at times as well. Giacchino's scores are brilliant and the show wouldn't have been as good without his compositions.
Unique Story Line: The Lost story formula began with flashbacks, evolved to flashforwards (genius) and now to flash sideways. Each episode is a piece of the puzzle and it makes the viewer think and try to regurgitate previously learned information in later episodes. It's a lot of work for a TV show but well worth it.
Rich Character Development: Each main character on the show has a back-story and uniqueness that I think the actors really embodied. Each has their own secrets flaws but each has potential for redemption. Some of the characters I love and some I hate but most evoked a strong emotion one way or another and that's what great character writing and acting is all about.
Mystery and Suspense: A lot of what kept me watching this show was constantly wondering, "What's gonna happen next!?" You never knew who was going to die or what mind boggling twist would happen on the show. Since Lost began, people have been trying to figure out the mysterious island and its properties and what it all means for the characters. We've gotten answers to some of those questions over the years but I've enjoyed all the speculation and tense episodes that have been a hallmark of Lost.
Perhaps one day another show will come along to spark my interest in the same way as Lost. But for now, if there was one show I could take to a deserted island to watch forever, it would be this one.
Below is a clip from the Season 1 episode "Walkabout" which I think is one of the best episodes in the entire series. To me, this one clip contains everything that makes Lost worth watching. If you watch Lost, you'll know what I mean. Enjoy reminiscing and enjoy the series finale!
Sense of Discovery: Before Lost, I'd never heard of the Casimir Effect, thought about the effects of electromagnetism, wondered about the physics of time travel, paid attention to ancient mythology or legitimately considered the many dichotomies that make up life as we know it.
Music: I don't know of another show that has a soundtrack like Lost. For me, a soundtrack is as important as the writing and the acting in a show. Michael Giacchino's compositions for Lost give add to the mystery, suspense, sense of doom but have a heartwarming effect at times as well. Giacchino's scores are brilliant and the show wouldn't have been as good without his compositions.
Unique Story Line: The Lost story formula began with flashbacks, evolved to flashforwards (genius) and now to flash sideways. Each episode is a piece of the puzzle and it makes the viewer think and try to regurgitate previously learned information in later episodes. It's a lot of work for a TV show but well worth it.
Rich Character Development: Each main character on the show has a back-story and uniqueness that I think the actors really embodied. Each has their own secrets flaws but each has potential for redemption. Some of the characters I love and some I hate but most evoked a strong emotion one way or another and that's what great character writing and acting is all about.
Mystery and Suspense: A lot of what kept me watching this show was constantly wondering, "What's gonna happen next!?" You never knew who was going to die or what mind boggling twist would happen on the show. Since Lost began, people have been trying to figure out the mysterious island and its properties and what it all means for the characters. We've gotten answers to some of those questions over the years but I've enjoyed all the speculation and tense episodes that have been a hallmark of Lost.
Perhaps one day another show will come along to spark my interest in the same way as Lost. But for now, if there was one show I could take to a deserted island to watch forever, it would be this one.
Below is a clip from the Season 1 episode "Walkabout" which I think is one of the best episodes in the entire series. To me, this one clip contains everything that makes Lost worth watching. If you watch Lost, you'll know what I mean. Enjoy reminiscing and enjoy the series finale!
Totally Lost on Season 6
SPOILER ALERT! Do NOT read if you have not watched episodes from Season 6!
I haven't posted my opinions on Lost since Season 6 began, mainly because I've actually felt lost this season. For me, this has been the most random season of Lost. The alternate timeline was a strange formula, (although brilliant) the characters on-island were behaving differently and there just seemed to be a general lag and malaise to the show. Even the enduring mysteries that were finally solved wasn't enough for me. I felt like the show was giving some answers simply for appeasement's sake and the revelations weren't organic and intrinsic to the nature of said mysteries.
I haven't experienced the spine-tingling, heart pounding, take-your-breath-away moments I did in Seasons 1-5 and I think that's one thing that's really bothered me. Let me try to hash it out. The whole season, until about 3 episodes ago, I couldn't see where the writers were going with this. I understood the alternate timeline and there were some connections here and there but it was more like watching a re-do or what if scenario. Big deal. I play out "what if" scenarios about my life in my head all the time. Meanwhile on the island, things kept going back and forth and no one could seem to agree on the best course of action to set things right.
Also, Zoe was a terrible character. But she's dead now and hopefully will stay dead. I will say that Illana's death was a highlight for me, as I couldn't stand her character since Season 5. She drove me crazy with her know-it-all, "I'm on a mission for Jacob" attitude and I thought it was great when she accidentally blew herself up with the dynamite.
The worst episode of the season for me was "What Kate Does." I know Lost has done quite a bit of mirror imaging this season and this episode was supposed to mirror "What Kate Did" all the way back in Season 2. However, the Season 6 version was terrible in my opinion. I know it was supposed to connect Kate and Claire but I wasn't buying it. What kind of lunatic accepts a lift from a criminal that had just held them at gun point!? That story line was pretty thin. I'm not going to suggest another way to do it because I don't feel like putting in the time and effort to come up with a decent plot when I'm not on the Lost payroll.
I also hate the fact that until this past Tuesday's episode, Ben seemed to have been castrated. There was foreshadowing of this at the end of Season 5 but this season his character's been way off base. I like Ben when he's manipulative and conniving. What happened to "How many times do I have to tell you John? I always have a plan." I just hope that for good or evil, Ben does have an end-game plan that puts him back on top. I want to see the old Ben before the series is over. I mean, he's the guy you love to hate, right?
I'm also pretty bummed that Jin, Sun and Sayid died in the sub. I'm especially ticked that Sayid spent the entire season as a zombie and then he got blown to bits. I get why he died because it was his redemption but I just hated seeing him mope about the island all season. Now Jin and Sun have never been my favorite characters but there have been some really touching moments between the two of them. Their death scene was one of those moments. RIP island Jin, Sun and Sayid!!
Anyway, those are the things I hated about this season and I may have an entirely different opinion when Lost is over for good. I'm sure when I watch this season again one day, I'll develop a whole new appreciation for it. Now on to some stuff I like and expectations for "The End."
"The Candidate" has been the best episode so far this season, in my opinion. I loved the on-island conflict between Locke and Jack while in the flash sideways, they finally agreed about the spinal operation. I've been waiting for the moment when Jack fixes Locke's back all season and I think we're going to see it in the finale. My brother thinks that if Jack fixes Locke in the sideways timeline, he may resurrect on the island and that will either kill or contain the Smoke Monster/MIB. (I think that's what my brother said anyway.) He can comment on this post if I'm wrong. I also thought it was great that Desmond and Hurley are totally "aware" in the flash sideways world and now it appears to be their job to ensure all the candidates meet at the concert which is obviously being held by Charles Widmore and Eloise Hawking.
I figure that once all of them are together, they will become fully aware of their on-island existence and then some kind of choice will have to be made that will perhaps converge the timelines as well as the separate existences of the characters. This all goes back to my hypothesis about Jacob and his copy of "Everything that Rises Must Converge." I'm not saying I got the ending exactly right and I'm sure Lost will throw in some serious twists (here's hoping anyway) but I do think the show is ultimately about a higher consciousness that aspires to redemption. The biggest themes in the show are faith v science and fate v free will and I think these will be resolved in a way that will allow them to coexist.
Lost finales have never disappointed me and I expect this one to be spectacular and bittersweet. I'm sad to see the show end but hopeful that I'll be pleased with the ending.
I haven't posted my opinions on Lost since Season 6 began, mainly because I've actually felt lost this season. For me, this has been the most random season of Lost. The alternate timeline was a strange formula, (although brilliant) the characters on-island were behaving differently and there just seemed to be a general lag and malaise to the show. Even the enduring mysteries that were finally solved wasn't enough for me. I felt like the show was giving some answers simply for appeasement's sake and the revelations weren't organic and intrinsic to the nature of said mysteries.
I haven't experienced the spine-tingling, heart pounding, take-your-breath-away moments I did in Seasons 1-5 and I think that's one thing that's really bothered me. Let me try to hash it out. The whole season, until about 3 episodes ago, I couldn't see where the writers were going with this. I understood the alternate timeline and there were some connections here and there but it was more like watching a re-do or what if scenario. Big deal. I play out "what if" scenarios about my life in my head all the time. Meanwhile on the island, things kept going back and forth and no one could seem to agree on the best course of action to set things right.
Also, Zoe was a terrible character. But she's dead now and hopefully will stay dead. I will say that Illana's death was a highlight for me, as I couldn't stand her character since Season 5. She drove me crazy with her know-it-all, "I'm on a mission for Jacob" attitude and I thought it was great when she accidentally blew herself up with the dynamite.
The worst episode of the season for me was "What Kate Does." I know Lost has done quite a bit of mirror imaging this season and this episode was supposed to mirror "What Kate Did" all the way back in Season 2. However, the Season 6 version was terrible in my opinion. I know it was supposed to connect Kate and Claire but I wasn't buying it. What kind of lunatic accepts a lift from a criminal that had just held them at gun point!? That story line was pretty thin. I'm not going to suggest another way to do it because I don't feel like putting in the time and effort to come up with a decent plot when I'm not on the Lost payroll.
I also hate the fact that until this past Tuesday's episode, Ben seemed to have been castrated. There was foreshadowing of this at the end of Season 5 but this season his character's been way off base. I like Ben when he's manipulative and conniving. What happened to "How many times do I have to tell you John? I always have a plan." I just hope that for good or evil, Ben does have an end-game plan that puts him back on top. I want to see the old Ben before the series is over. I mean, he's the guy you love to hate, right?
I'm also pretty bummed that Jin, Sun and Sayid died in the sub. I'm especially ticked that Sayid spent the entire season as a zombie and then he got blown to bits. I get why he died because it was his redemption but I just hated seeing him mope about the island all season. Now Jin and Sun have never been my favorite characters but there have been some really touching moments between the two of them. Their death scene was one of those moments. RIP island Jin, Sun and Sayid!!
Anyway, those are the things I hated about this season and I may have an entirely different opinion when Lost is over for good. I'm sure when I watch this season again one day, I'll develop a whole new appreciation for it. Now on to some stuff I like and expectations for "The End."
"The Candidate" has been the best episode so far this season, in my opinion. I loved the on-island conflict between Locke and Jack while in the flash sideways, they finally agreed about the spinal operation. I've been waiting for the moment when Jack fixes Locke's back all season and I think we're going to see it in the finale. My brother thinks that if Jack fixes Locke in the sideways timeline, he may resurrect on the island and that will either kill or contain the Smoke Monster/MIB. (I think that's what my brother said anyway.) He can comment on this post if I'm wrong. I also thought it was great that Desmond and Hurley are totally "aware" in the flash sideways world and now it appears to be their job to ensure all the candidates meet at the concert which is obviously being held by Charles Widmore and Eloise Hawking.
I figure that once all of them are together, they will become fully aware of their on-island existence and then some kind of choice will have to be made that will perhaps converge the timelines as well as the separate existences of the characters. This all goes back to my hypothesis about Jacob and his copy of "Everything that Rises Must Converge." I'm not saying I got the ending exactly right and I'm sure Lost will throw in some serious twists (here's hoping anyway) but I do think the show is ultimately about a higher consciousness that aspires to redemption. The biggest themes in the show are faith v science and fate v free will and I think these will be resolved in a way that will allow them to coexist.
Lost finales have never disappointed me and I expect this one to be spectacular and bittersweet. I'm sad to see the show end but hopeful that I'll be pleased with the ending.
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