Yup, I love Lost, I've been lost in Lost on and off for years now. Not in the die hard, been there since the beginning, fanatic sort of way, heck I watched every episode online. Many people are annoyed by this show, and will make dignified sounding snorts and scoffs the second they read this. This is because Lost was different than any other show. The plot was never hammered in stone, it was always moving, adapting, it made you think the writers had no idea what the !@#$ they were doing. Most people would look at that sentence and go, wait, isn't that a bad quality in a show? The thing is, somehow Lost made it work, and it never ceased catching my imagination throughout the entire incredibly odd story.
How? Some would say, "Bullshit plots that made you think the next episode would answer your billions of questions, 'cept it doesn't, instead adding more." If this is your response, then you completely missed the entire point of Lost, and are probably one of those people complaining about the unsatisfying ending. Lost was never attempting to lead you to a satisfying end with the plot, it was leading to an end to the Characters you've come to love. This is what they really stressed in the final episode, it wasn't about the resolution, it was about the journey.
I enjoyed reading this short article after finishing the final episode, and I agree with every word. Lost was something different, even those who hated it would have to agree, because the reasons they hated it were the very reasons it was such a unique show.
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/05/24/lost-finale-the-ending-explained/
I'm going to miss it!
Anyone else watch it? What was your thoughts on it, and how it ended?
I thought it was a really good show the first 1 or 2 seasons. Then I missed a few episodes and got REALLY lost. I guess I just didn't care enough to go back and watch the few episodes I missed. This show kind of reminds me of Heroes. They were both really good shows, they both liked to kill people off, they both made u ask tons of questions, they were both really hard to follow if you missed a few episodes, and they both had crazy plots.
I didn't watch the series finale for lost and I doubt I could anyways because I have no idea what has happened. lol.
Oh, one more thing since you're a fan of the show, maybe you can explain this to me... Wtf was that black smoke monster crap???
The black smoke was a very strange concept, which they only get to explaining in the 5/6th seasons. Until then all we heard was "It's a security system for the island.", which honestly left more questions than it answered. It's a big spoiler, so read further at your own risk, unless you don't mind spoilers. (I do!)
The black smoke is in fact, not a security system for the island, quite the opposite, there is a security system to Keep it on the island. It is the main villain of the entire series, and the one thing constantly leading the plot forwards, which you only realize at the end. Every illusion that appeared was its doing, guiding the characters throughout their personal development. Jack following his father through the woods, for example. How it came to be is explained, but knowing lost, not in very much detail. Just think of it as... the essence of evil, and if it ever left the island, well I don't really need to spell out doom for you.
I've been a fan of lost in the same way as you sort of, Lucifer. I didn't even begin watching the show when they aired the first episode. I knew the show was around, but I started watching the entire series online. The time at which I watched it and caught up to it was around the forth season. I watched it during the summer and was caught up for the next season when it began to air. :)
I read around half of the article you linked to, but I get the idea of it. I support the article in a way that the parallel universe is a sort of purgatory. Not completely in that manner, but you get the drift. They were experiencing how it could be and the final part was the transcendence past this with all of the others.
I never got into this. I may have liked it if I got into it, but I'm not sure. I'm usually not one for tricky plot twists. Not that I can't follow complicated plots, but plot twists for their own sake do not interest me. I would be more interested in a fully developed story, complicated or not. Not to say that Lost doesn't do that... but from everything I hear, and from the bits that I've seen, it seemed like the goal of the show was to really just take twists and turns just for the sake of it.
I watched Heroes by the way, and I enjoyed it when it was telling a story. Towards the end they got more into the twistiness that really just didn't have any reason or motivation.
I think a great example of a show that does plot twists well is Battlestar Galactica. It definitely had a lot of the same twists and unexplained elements going on, but it was always going somewhere.
Edit: Just read the article you linked to. Again, I have to stress that I did not see the show, but a lot of what the article says I don't particularly agree with.
"That?s not really how a narrative has to work though."
Eh... yea, it kind of does. A narrative tells a story. It has a beginning, middle, and end. Well, to be clear, you can have a narrative that does not follow this model, but why? Why tell a story that leaves critical plot elements open to interpretation? Sure, you can leave thematic elements open ended. That adds layer and complexity. But if you're telling a story, tell it. Does the hero get the girl... or not? Do they foil the villains evil plan... or not? To add complexity you don't leave those questions unanswered. You answer them, but you hint throughout the story that there is some additional layer to the meaning behind the characters actions and situations.
At least that's my opinion.
Greatest show of all time, period. No other show will ever even remotely compare. Lost goes so much deeper in complexity than any other show I've ever seen, and has countless parts that are just straight up brilliant. Most other shows out there are just some cliche copy-cat concept, feel like they are being made up as they go, or just fail to have a consistant plot (and honestly, if the plot of a show is so loose that you can just jump in during any episode to a show, whats the point to begin with? Unless it's a comedy at least). The thing about Lost is, while it has a very deep and complex story line with lots of twists and all that, at least to some extent they had the entire plot for the entire show planned out before they even started the first season. This is WAY more than you can say for any other show. But as a result, you really can't miss any episodes. Also, while you start asking tons of questions while watching, if you hang in there almost all of them really will be answered. For some of the answers it requires you to use your brain a bit, pay close attention, and connect things together, but answers are definitly there. For anyone who is interested you should be able to watch it on abc.com or hulu.com.
By the way Lucifer, stop giving out spoilers!
To be fair I named one show which does everything you mentioned, and I know of several others. It is a trend in television series that they are becoming more serialized rather than episodic. Lost was not the first nor is it the only show to do this by any means. I can't speak to whether it is the best or not obviously because I haven't seen it. In any case, I agree with you that I enjoy watching a serialized show that engages you and makes you think, but I do occasionally enjoy watching episodic shows. I also like shows which blend the two such as House. There are elements in each episode of a larger plot arch, but there is also the smaller individual episode plots. The Stargate series does this very well. But anyways, I'm a bit off topic here. I just feel it is a bit unfair to elevate Lost over any other series, when there are certainly other shows that has a lot of the same depth that is being referrenced... beyond that it is personal preference as to the quality and content.
Everything I said (and am about to say for that matter) was my own personal oppinion, and everyone is entitled to their own.
Either way, I feel you really can't make any big claims about the show unless you've really given it a full on chance. I've gotten at least about 7 people into the show all whom were convinced it would suck before trying it. Many of them even were still stubborn about it through the first few episodes. However, nearly every one of them quickly became so obsessed with it that they just about did nothing but watch it and sleep for days on end. As for Heroes, don't even get me started on that shows plot :P Not surprised at all that it got canceled (and yes, I did watch it quite faithfully at first).
I really don't want to get into a debate about it though. All that really needs to be taken from anything I've said is that... In my opinion, Lost is and always will be the best show ever.
P.S. As a side note though to what Lucifer was originally saying, they really do answer just about every question to some extent or another. So while you certainly are right about what the main point of the show is, you still can't say the rest can or should be thrown aside. I've seen all the seasons multiple times due to always trying to show it to friends, and in doing so have gotten keyed in on a lot of stuff that my friends wouldnt have caught without my help.
I did not read any of your posts because i don't want spoilers. But now that it is all done is Lost worth watching all the way threw? I got Netflix and wanted to know.
Quote from: ARTgames on May 25, 2010, 05:53:56 PM
I did not read any of your posts because i don't want spoilers. But now that it is all done is Lost worth watching all the way threw? I got Netflix and wanted to know.
If you were to read Meiun's posts, you'd know the answer. ;D
If you were to read Lingus' posts, you'd know the other answer. ;D
Btw, Meiun, I want to clarify. I do recognize that I haven't seen the show, so all of my impressions are based on second hand accounts. I'm not actually saying Lost isn't a good show at all. I'm simply saying that it does not stand alone as the only show to have a complex plot, etc. I get the feeling from what a lot of Lost fans claim (and your post is just an example) that this is the case. When in reality there are a number of shows that do this (and no, I would not claim Heroes to be one of the best examples of this. As I mentioned, that would be Battlestar in my opinion.)
But you're right that there's really no point in debating whether Lost is the best show or not. It's based on opinion, I haven't seen it so I'm not even claiming that it isn't, and I'm sure if I were to get into shows that I feel fit that bill many people would not have seen them anyways. Hope that clears up my point.
Quote from: ARTgames on May 25, 2010, 05:53:56 PM
I did not read any of your posts because i don't want spoilers. But now that it is all done is Lost worth watching all the way threw? I got Netflix and wanted to know.
It's definitely worth watching a few episodes, just to see if you get a good feel from it. I watched season 1-5 on Netflix, then season 6 on Hulu.
Btw, I was never saying other shows don't have complex plots per say. It just is my opinion that relative to Lost it is extremely rare to find one as complex. But you really just gotta try it out for yourself, and to do that properly would take you watching quite a bit more than just a few episodes (as well as doing so from the beginning without skipping any).
And Lingus I know you wern't trying to bash it haha, I just enjoy being extremely stubborn about Lost due to my obsession with it ;)
Lost was actually based on both the book "Lord of the Flys" and the TV show "Survivor". I never actually watched it though.
Quote from: Meiun on May 25, 2010, 08:25:14 PMAnd Lingus I know you wern't trying to bash it haha, I just enjoy being extremely stubborn about Lost due to my obsession with it ;)
Hah, cool. Yea, I'm definitely that way about a lot of the shows I watch too. I dunno, if you can't be at least a little bit fanatic about it, then why watch it in the first place?
I certainly may give Lost a try one day. And I'm not one to just watch a few episodes. Especially given the fact that there are a finite number of episodes now, I would be inclined to watch every one of them if I watch any.
Quote from: Mr Pwnage on May 25, 2010, 08:27:42 PM
Lost was actually based on both the book "Lord of the Flys" and the TV show "Survivor". I never actually watched it though.
Uhhh, that couldn't possibly be farther from the truth. If it were possible for it to share negative similarity with either of those, I'd say that. The main premises of the show really arn't even about just "being on an island" or being Lost at allllll, or even much about how they deal with one another. So, no, just no.
Sooo, reading the article is kinda a spoiler, but as I don't have any recent plans to sit down and watch all the seasons of the show and some of you have seen them all I have a question....
!SPOILER ALERT!
So everybody on the island dies in the end...? Is that correct?
Quote from: DarkTrinity on May 26, 2010, 03:30:47 PM
Sooo, reading the article is kinda a spoiler, but as I don't have any recent plans to sit down and watch all the seasons of the show and some of you have seen them all I have a question....
!SPOILER ALERT!
So everybody on the island dies in the end...? Is that correct?
Actually as far as I can tell by the article, alot of people dont die and on the island they all find happiness and that kinda shizzle.
OFF the island however, in the versions of themselves that never crashed, they lead sad little lives.Yeah Spoiler ^^^^^
Quote from: Meiun on May 25, 2010, 09:22:43 PM
Quote from: Mr Pwnage on May 25, 2010, 08:27:42 PM
Lost was actually based on both the book "Lord of the Flys" and the TV show "Survivor". I never actually watched it though.
Uhhh, that couldn't possibly be farther from the truth. If it were possible for it to share negative similarity with either of those, I'd say that. The main premises of the show really arn't even about just "being on an island" or being Lost at allllll, or even much about how they deal with one another. So, no, just no.
... Ahem:
Quote from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_%28TV_series%29#ConceptionThe series began development in January 2004, when Lloyd Braun, head of ABC at the time, ordered an initial script from Spelling Television based on his concept of a cross between the novel Lord of the Flies, the movie Cast Away, the television series Gilligan's Island, and the popular reality show Survivor
YOU'RE ALL WRONG! Not based on, based on a concept. (Point for me! Woohoo!)
Ahahahahahahahaha, I love cracked.
http://www.cracked.com/blog/how-to-really-survive-being-stranded-on-a-deserted-island/
Quote from: Scotty on May 26, 2010, 06:06:39 PM
Quote from: Meiun on May 25, 2010, 09:22:43 PM
Quote from: Mr Pwnage on May 25, 2010, 08:27:42 PM
Lost was actually based on both the book "Lord of the Flys" and the TV show "Survivor". I never actually watched it though.
Uhhh, that couldn't possibly be farther from the truth. If it were possible for it to share negative similarity with either of those, I'd say that. The main premises of the show really arn't even about just "being on an island" or being Lost at allllll, or even much about how they deal with one another. So, no, just no.
... Ahem:
Quote from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_%28TV_series%29#ConceptionThe series began development in January 2004, when Lloyd Braun, head of ABC at the time, ordered an initial script from Spelling Television based on his concept of a cross between the novel Lord of the Flies, the movie Cast Away, the television series Gilligan's Island, and the popular reality show Survivor
YOU'RE ALL WRONG! Not based on, based on a concept. (Point for me! Woohoo!)
Still has absolutely nothing to do with either in the slightest way shape or form. Like I said, being Lost on an island isn't even really the main theme when it comes to the plot.
Quote from: Meiun on May 26, 2010, 11:13:16 PM
Quote from: Scotty on May 26, 2010, 06:06:39 PM
Quote from: Meiun on May 25, 2010, 09:22:43 PM
Quote from: Mr Pwnage on May 25, 2010, 08:27:42 PM
Lost was actually based on both the book "Lord of the Flys" and the TV show "Survivor". I never actually watched it though.
Uhhh, that couldn't possibly be farther from the truth. If it were possible for it to share negative similarity with either of those, I'd say that. The main premises of the show really arn't even about just "being on an island" or being Lost at allllll, or even much about how they deal with one another. So, no, just no.
... Ahem:
Quote from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_%28TV_series%29#ConceptionThe series began development in January 2004, when Lloyd Braun, head of ABC at the time, ordered an initial script from Spelling Television based on his concept of a cross between the novel Lord of the Flies, the movie Cast Away, the television series Gilligan's Island, and the popular reality show Survivor
YOU'RE ALL WRONG! Not based on, based on a concept. (Point for me! Woohoo!)
Still has absolutely nothing to do with either in the slightest way shape or form. Like I said, being Lost on an island isn't even really the main theme when it comes to the plot.
Never said it had to be similar, just based on concepts, take one concept from each even, and then make up the rest as you go. God knows J.J. Abrams can take something awesome, put it on TV, then proceed to beat it to a bloody pulp. Seriously, he's gone so far with it, they might as well just make a genre called "Time Travel", it'll sit somewhere between a drama and comedy.
Come to think of it, if you took all of those shows, and blended them into one... You'd have quite possibly one of the most complex and difficult to follow shows imaginable... Oh wait...
Quote from: Meiun on May 26, 2010, 11:13:16 PM
Quote from: Scotty on May 26, 2010, 06:06:39 PM
Quote from: Meiun on May 25, 2010, 09:22:43 PM
Quote from: Mr Pwnage on May 25, 2010, 08:27:42 PM
Lost was actually based on both the book "Lord of the Flys" and the TV show "Survivor". I never actually watched it though.
Uhhh, that couldn't possibly be farther from the truth. If it were possible for it to share negative similarity with either of those, I'd say that. The main premises of the show really arn't even about just "being on an island" or being Lost at allllll, or even much about how they deal with one another. So, no, just no.
... Ahem:
Quote from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_%28TV_series%29#ConceptionThe series began development in January 2004, when Lloyd Braun, head of ABC at the time, ordered an initial script from Spelling Television based on his concept of a cross between the novel Lord of the Flies, the movie Cast Away, the television series Gilligan's Island, and the popular reality show Survivor
YOU'RE ALL WRONG! Not based on, based on a concept. (Point for me! Woohoo!)
Still has absolutely nothing to do with either in the slightest way shape or form. Like I said, being Lost on an island isn't even really the main theme when it comes to the plot.
I think you're exaggerating a bit Meiun. They clearly have at least a little bit of something to do with eachother. Given, maybe not the theme of the show, but you can't disregard the fact that in all of those examples they are stuck on an island. That's a basic concept. And that is not absolutely nothing in even the slightest way shape or form.
Inspiration comes from many different places. You can take elements from certain things and include it in your work. Then you obviously have to make it your own. Which was clearly done here. None of those other examples have as much complexity or crazy shadow monsters or what have you.
Btw, speaking of JJ Abrams, what does anyone think of Fringe? Are the Lost fans just fans of the show, or do you enjoy Abrams' other work as well? I'm personally a huge fan of Fringe. Talk about complexity and depth. If you are into science fiction at all, you would definitely like it.
I enjoyed the first season of Fringe thoroughly, but never got around to starting the second when it came out. From what I hear from my sister, the plots pretty damn insane, haha. I'll have to continue it sometime.
You need to watch the show to know what I'm referring to. At least half the scenes in the show don't even take place on the island at all, in addition to the fact that while "the island" does play a very important role in it, based on what the underlying themes and plots are it very well could have been a place other than an island, as well as a lot of the twists, themes, and plot elements not being directly (or in many cases nearly at all) based around them being on a tropical island. Gilligans Island and Survivor that is the entire point of the show, Lost it isn't. As well as them being a comedy and a reality show, which Lost isn't either of. Yes, I was ex agerating a bit, was just trying to emphasize that is not the type of thing you can so loosely generalize.
Quote from: Meiun on May 27, 2010, 02:17:05 PM
You need to watch the show to know what I'm referring to. At least half the scenes in the show don't even take place on the island at all, in addition to the fact that while "the island" does play a very important role in it, based on what the underlying themes and plots are it very well could have been a place other than an island, as well as a lot of the twists, themes, and plot elements not being directly (or in many cases nearly at all) based around them being on a tropical island. Gilligans Island and Survivor that is the entire point of the show, Lost it isn't. As well as them being a comedy and a reality show, which Lost isn't either of. Yes, I was ex agerating a bit, was just trying to emphasize that is not the type of thing you can so loosely generalize.
Understood. Thought I don't think anyone was trying to generalize. As Scott posted, it is something the creator of the show has clearly admitted to that Lost is at least based somehow on the other shows mentioned. But I get what you're saying. They have very little in common other than some minor elements.
Quote from: Lucifer on May 27, 2010, 01:54:53 PM
I enjoyed the first season of Fringe thoroughly, but never got around to starting the second when it came out. From what I hear from my sister, the plots pretty damn insane, haha. I'll have to continue it sometime.
Definitely. This season was mind blowing.
Quote from: Lucifer on May 27, 2010, 01:54:53 PM
I enjoyed the first season of Fringe thoroughly, but never got around to starting the second when it came out. From what I hear from my sister, the plots pretty damn insane, haha. I'll have to continue it sometime.
Haha, I was the same way! I watched the first season and just never got around to watching the second season... I think I had night classes on the day it was on or something...
The finale of Lost was a big let down. Boring, lame, and hardly worth the time I spent watching it.
Quote from: Seifer on May 29, 2010, 10:19:50 PM
The finale of Lost was a big let down. Boring, lame, and hardly worth the time I spent watching it.
I disagree, but your entitled to your opinion ofcourse. The creators said ahead of time that people were either going to absolutely love it, or hate it.
Lmfao.
One last thing.
http://www.cracked.com/video_18190_lost-wars-because-adding-jedis-can-fix-anything.html