Lost

[Matt]

Exactly. They could start some mumbo jumbo scientific explanation, but that would almost certainly end in catastrophy - it will be picked to death. There's no explanation, there needs not be one. All it needs is a theme, and it has that. Besides, even the Man Of Science is now The Man Of Faith

You'd never make all people happy with an "answer", and it genuinely doesn't need one.

[ezee ryder]

Yeah, I agree with both of you guys.

They don't need to give a definitive answer to every single question that has been raised during the series, sometimes a little mystery is a good thing.....especially when it comes to Lost. You just need to look at this thread as an example of that, the mystery related to certain aspects has brought up some wonderful discussions.

If they did try to answer every single question then they would end up "angering" or "disappointing" some viewers anyway. Kind of moving onto what HumanEnergy was talking about, some of the best movies ever made have had ambiguous elements to them. Would Lost in Translation been better if we had been told what Bill Murray whispered into Scarlett Johansson's ear?! Would Pulp Fiction have been better if we knew the contents of the briefcase?! I know I certainly wouldn't want those questions answered.

Coming back to this season, I was slightly disappointed with the previous episode but I have still immensely enjoyed this final season. I can't wait to see how it all ends.

[EJG1980]

Indeed, it's the transformation of the characters, the whole "faith vs fact" theme, fate vs freewill, etc., that are the important things. The Island and the goings on there are intriguing and fascinating, but they're still really a means to an end to push the characters in various different directions.

[spagmasterswift]

This season has had some real bull**** moments so far with the

->Open Spoiler<-

Black Rock flying from the sea to the middle of the island, destroying the statue as it went

and now the

->Open Spoiler<-

magical cave of yellow light that transforms people into smoke monsters

...come on, I mean really,,,,come ooooooon! Is this being written by their children or something?

Also, that post should be read in Homer Simpsons patronizing high voice, you know the one...

[jagvirdi]

I thought it was a great episode really.

->Open Spoiler<-

Seems like MIB died when Jacob threw him into the light and out came the smoke monster and took the form of MIB.

It explains why MIB said he so wanted to kill Jacob (but couldnt) at the end of season 5.

There is no way that the writers will wrap up the ending nicely to please everyone. I just hope it isnt going to be a Sopranos style cop out!

[Jebus]

Anyone else think that

->Open Spoiler<-

Jacob is actually the evil one

all along?

As for comparison between Lost and films like Lost in Translation, I feel there has to be a line drawn there, one is a 90 minute or 2 hour film, the other is a 6 series long show which has a huge time investment to the viewers. The people behind the show keep promising answers that don't come and I find myself thinking, why don't they just keep their mouths shut and get on with the show.

All I want is some closure to some of the mysteries on the island, but every time it looks like it's going that way (the most recent episode being a great example of this), they open up yet more mysteries, and for it's lazy writing, that or the people behind the show honestly have backed themselves into a corner, which again, is lazy writing and poor planning! I'm struggling to remember a single "major" mystery that has been accurately and properly explained the the viewer.

I must admit, from my point of view it doesn't help that most of the characters have become utterly detestable over the last few seasons...I meam, I can't stand Jack anymore, or Kate for that matter. The only ones left I actually like is Hurley and Desmond!

I'm there to the end now, but I'll be glad when it's over, I can't believe how long this season has taken to actually get going! It's as though they thought they had 30 episodes left and half way through someone told them otherwise.

[peeveen]

Agree with most of what Jebus has said.

I thought that last episode was terrible. It beggars belief that they have set up almost five seasons of plotlines, and now expect the viewers to ignore most of it in favour of this "two brothers" stuff. The token nods to previous events (broken statues, skeletons in caves, etc) have been crassly-executed measures to placate the more-inquisitive fans, and as such are almost insulting. Anyone with half a brain can see that this "conclusion" is an Olympic-grade exercise in back-pedalling and crack-papering.

Lost has shown plenty of promise, but has largely failed to deliver. When the dust settles, the legacy of this show will be one message: anyone can just make up weird ****, but it takes real creative talent to weave a coherent, consistent and conclusive story around it.

[ezee ryder]

As for comparison between Lost and films like Lost in Translation, I feel there has to be a line drawn there, one is a 90 minute or 2 hour film, the other is a 6 series long show which has a huge time investment to the viewers. The people behind the show keep promising answers that don't come and I find myself thinking, why don't they just keep their mouths shut and get on with the show.

I get what you're saying to a certain degree, but I wasn't comparing them directly mate. I was just comparing one certain element.

I could be wrong be wrong, but have the people behind the show actually said they will give answers to every question that has been raised during the series? I know they have said we will get some answers, which is fine by me. Like myself and some others have said, sometimes a little mystery is a good thing.

[peeveen]

I could be wrong be wrong, but have the people behind the show actually said they will give answers to every question that has been raised during the series? I know they have said we will get some answers, which is fine by me. Like myself and some others have said, sometimes a little mystery is a good thing.

Whether the creators have explicitly stated the intention of neatly explaining everything or not, it is a mystery drama show on primetime TV, not some sort of gonzo Lynchian mind****. I would respect the writers more if they just went into meltdown (a la "The Prisoner") rather than this apology of a final act, which I can only see being satisfactory to people with short attention spans, or Heroes fans.

[rmoxon]

I get what you're saying to a certain degree, but I wasn't comparing them directly mate. I was just comparing one certain element.

I could be wrong be wrong, but have the people behind the show actually said they will give answers to every question that has been raised during the series? I know they have said we will get some answers, which is fine by me. Like myself and some others have said, sometimes a little mystery is a good thing.

They have always said they will answer all the major questions we have, but thats looking doubtful now, as I stated earlier in the thread I think that is what is upsetting some people, they have been told this last season would be big on answers, it was suppose to be what the focus of the season was, and it really hasnt been for most part. Basicaly the writers have copped out, they probabaly have no idea how to explain alot of stuff.

As I said a few pages back though i really want them to just conclude the main characters story in a good way now, after that i would accept any other explination about the backstory of the island as a bonus.

[ezee ryder]

Whether the creators have explicitly stated the intention of neatly explaining everything or not, it is a mystery drama show on primetime TV, not some sort of gonzo Lynchian mind****. I would respect the writers more if they just went into meltdown (a la "The Prisoner") rather than this apology of a final act, which I can only see being satisfactory to people with short attention spans, or Heroes fans.

Simple really, if you feel let down and are not enjoying then don't watch it. I know I would do that, did it with Heroes.

Nice to know I have a short attention span because I am still enjoying this final season, awesome. Oh look, something shiny......

They have always said they will answer all the major questions we have, but thats looking doubtful now, as I stated earlier in the thread I think that is what is upsetting some people, they have been told this last season would be big on answers, it was suppose to be what the focus of the season was, and it really hasnt been for most part. Basicaly the writers have copped out, they probabaly have no idea how to explain alot of stuff.

As I said a few pages back though i really want them to just conclude the main characters story in a good way now, after that i would accept any other explination about the backstory of the island as a bonus.

Ah, now this is actually a decent response to what I said.

Yeah, you're right. They have said pretty much all the major questions would answered and, personally, I think they are on track to do that. They can always fall off that track though and even if they do, (this might sounds selfish) as long as I find the ending satisfactory I will be a happy bunny.

[rmoxon]

Simple really, if you feel let down and are not enjoying then don't watch it. I know I would do that, did it with Heroes.

Nice to know I have a short attention span because I am still enjoying this final season, awesome. Oh look, something shiny......

Well I agree about Heroes, I gave up on that just like you, lost has been far better than heroes this year, but then i always thought it was far better than Heroes anyway.

I dont think you have a short attention span, I also dont think people who arent enjoying lost right now have short attention spans, if anything its the opposite, they pay attention to it too much, built themselfs up waiting for answers and as a result were probabaly always going to be let down.

Some people have put a little too much into the show I guess and that also makes it impossible for them to give up on it.

[peeveen]

Nice to know I have a short attention span because I am still enjoying this final season, awesome. Oh look, something shiny......

Hey, I wasn't having a dig at you ...

I'm still watching the show (not binning it now after watching 99% of it!), and taken on it's own merits, then yes, this season and it's "two brothers" story arc has been, and still is, enjoyable enough ... but as a satisfactory conclusion to the whole thing? No, it's a joke.

[ezee ryder]

Well I agree about Heroes, I gave up on that just like you, lost has been far better than heroes this year, but then i always thought it was far better than Heroes anyway.

I dont think you have a short attention span, I also dont think people who arent enjoying lost right now have short attention spans, if anything its the opposite, they pay attention to it too much, built themselfs up waiting for answers and as a result were probabaly always going to be let down.

Some people have put a little too much into the show I guess and that also makes it impossible for them to give up on it.

Again, another good post.

I can understand the whole investment "argument" to a certain point, but at the end of the day if you're not truly enjoying it then why continue watching it?!

That is something which I find quite difficult to comprehend. Hmm.

[figflair]

It's a tough one where to draw the line. I stuck with Heroes until the end of the third season and then thought 'why the hell am I still watching this crap?' When the latest season started I was really tempted to start watching it again but resisted and I'm glad I did.

I stuck with BSG right until the end hoping for a pay off but didn't get it and looking back I wish I hadn't bothered with the entire final series. They kept people waiting for an explanation and then realised they couldn't explain it all coherently so it just became a mess. It would have been so much better if they had just finished when they got back to earth with a massive '**** you!'

Or you could go the other way like Babylon 5 which tied everything up earlier than expected and they jusy tagged on a fifth season for the hell of it. It's is still my favourite show ever though, if you don't count the last season.

I think I'm one of the few people who wasn't disappointed by how the Sopranos ended simply because it was not what I was expecting, which should always be applauded.

As for Lost, apart from getting a bit bored in the middle of season 3, I have never 'lost' patience with it. I can honestly say that if it ends without anything else being answered then I would still be happy and grateful for all the enjoyment it has given me in the last 6 years. The fact that we are all still talking about it just goes to show what an impact it has had. I don't really believe that all the questions will be answered in the finale, however, I wouldn't rule out some big surprises.