Does anyone else not like Lost?

POSTED BY: Thrawn
UPDATED: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 03:21
VIEWED: 11248
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THRAWN

Sunday, October 24, 2004 3:34 AM

I feel like this show has a really wonderful premise, namely a bunch of varied and interesting characters stuck on an island and forced to survive. One is addicted to drugs; instant drama when they run out. One is pregnant; instant drama when that becomes important. They need to find food, etc. It could be a very human drama about survival on the edge.

Instead, we get random monsters, inexplicable miracles, and unnecessary hallucinations, not to mention the fact that every character explored so far was going through a major life-changing experience in Australia before the plane lifted off. It's not necessary.

The core idea is wonderful, but they're almost totally ignoring it, and instead spending lots of time in flashbacks to other important events in these people's lives. I don't care about that. I care about how they are surviving and about their interactions. Generally, there are a few scenes of that, and a whoooole bunch of useless and often surreal development that accomplishes nothing but make the show flagrantly unrealistic.

It's frustrating.

AERRIN

Sunday, October 24, 2004 5:04 AM

I agree that they really need to tighten their story and focus on the 'now' instead of spending 3/4 of each episode in flashbacks that honestly aren't that interesting.

Save something for later, eh? I'd much rather see them learning to interact as a group. I'd much rather see those things come out as they tell each other. I'd much watch them come to terms with not being rescued, figuring out how to live. I feel a little like the personality of the various characters is being force fed via flashback plots (that are starting to get a little much) instead of letting it develop through their interactions with each other.

I still have hope, though. If they break this pattern, they still have time to pull a really awesome and interesting show out of the great starting pieces they have. And they've got some really interesting characters. Unfortunately, they're generally the ones that get the least screen time.

So. Here's hoping.

PURPLEBELLY

Sunday, October 24, 2004 7:38 AM

I don't have much to add, but I am so astonished that I agree with everyone that I had to reply

The show makes mistakes, but I'm happy to go with it because it does enough that's right. I'm resigned to the need to allow leeway to a large-audience TV show. The themes of response to disaster and redemption through trial could make the show significant for this time and place; shame it won't develop those themes until after the election.

The same is true, for me, of Firefly. There are narrative arcs I'm not interested in. Everyone is pretty. There are concessions to the Network suits. Still a fan, though.

COLSKI

Sunday, October 24, 2004 12:12 PM

I have to say I look forward to Lost every week but some parts of the storyline that are just too unbelivable.

Select to view spoiler:

Mainly the bald guy waking up from the accident and being able to walk and the Doc finding the empty coffin, I don't know what they are trying to get at.

I am looking forward to the story of the Iraqi's reasons for being in Australia and on the plane espeically with what we know so far about his history.
The flashbacks have been okay but I agree that there are too many. I'm waiting for them to complain about the food supply "Survivor" style.
Funny that it is brought up here because I was talking to a friend about Firefly who was a Lost fan and I compared the open questions left on Firefly to those if Lost were cancelled now. He now understands how annoyed I am for Firefly being cancelled.

EVILMIKE

Sunday, October 24, 2004 1:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Thrawn:
The core idea is wonderful, but they're almost totally ignoring it, and instead spending lots of time in flashbacks to other important events in these people's lives. I don't care about that. I care about how they are surviving and about their interactions. Generally, there are a few scenes of that, and a whoooole bunch of useless and often surreal development that accomplishes nothing but make the show flagrantly unrealistic.

I think the problem is that you and the producers have a different idea as to what the core idea is. You were hoping for a show about surviving an airplane crash and they are working towards something else.

CAPTAINCRUNCH

Sunday, October 24, 2004 2:05 PM

You guys almost sound like a certain unnamed network's executives. Let the writers write and see where they take you. The basics of surviving a catastrophe have been done before - they're trying something different.

STARPILOTGRAINGER

Sunday, October 24, 2004 2:30 PM

I like Lost somewhat, enough to keep watching (nothing else on for me at the time it's on), but I'm disappointed, and want to like it more. I guess I disagree some with the others in the thread though - I like the flashbacks for the most part (although some aren't that interesting), and I find a lot of the characters really interesting or compelling, and there are a couple of master strokes there (like when the jerk guy failed to pull off the mercy killing).

My main problem is that I have the really strong feeling that they're not really intending to solve any of the mysteries, they just want to jerk us around - like how they 'cleverly' avoided telling us which crime Kate actually did - now, even if she tells people, we'll have to wonder if she's lying, and they can keep jerking us around like that for a long time. Same with the monsters, where are they, what's going on with the transmission, etc.

My other big problem is that some of the island survival thing just doesn't really ring true - there are 48 survivors, but we only see a handful of them ever do anything, people heal way too fast from injuries (though I'll be pleasantly surprised if that happens to be part of the mystery of the island), and I doubt they'll have problems with shaving or all the other stuff that you'd expect on the island. I get the feeling that 'problems' are only going to come up when they decide to do an episode about it, that really should be going on all the time (like making sure there's enough food and water).

I'm hoping it'll get better though as it finds its legs.

Star Pilot Grainger
"Remember, the enemy's gate is down."
LJ: http://www.livejournal.com/users/newnumber6
http://www.unreachablestar.net - Comics & SF News/Reviews/Opinions

EVILMIKE

Sunday, October 24, 2004 3:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by StarPilotGrainger:
My main problem is that I have the really strong feeling that they're not really intending to solve any of the mysteries, they just want to jerk us around - like how they 'cleverly' avoided telling us which crime Kate actually did - now, even if she tells people, we'll have to wonder if she's lying, and they can keep jerking us around like that for a long time. Same with the monsters, where are they, what's going on with the transmission, etc.

It will certainly be interesting to see how the show evolves. However, I think they already have had considerable payoff from resolution to some of the mysteries they have given us:

Why was Locke acting so wierd at points? Why did he say that a miracle had happened? Now we know.

Who was the man Jack saw? Now we know.

Who was the prisoner on board the airplane? Now we know.

EMBERS

Sunday, October 24, 2004 3:46 PM

actually I think you guys all like the show more than I do...
I've been tuning in because there is absolutely nothing else on, but I haven't been able to find the characters, plot, or mysteries in any way interesting...
I keep expecting to GET interested because of the good reviews (and I assumed the reviewers have seen more episodes than I have)....

but really, I can not see what all the excitement is about.

STARPILOTGRAINGER

Sunday, October 24, 2004 4:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by evilmike:

It will certainly be interesting to see how the show evolves. However, I think they already have had considerable payoff from resolution to some of the mysteries they have given us:

Why was Locke acting so wierd at points? Why did he say that a miracle had happened? Now we know.

Who was the man Jack saw? Now we know.

Who was the prisoner on board the airplane? Now we know.

Yes, but those are the 'mini-mysteries'. The ones that are set up to be resolved within an episode or two. The cuffs were found in the same episode it was revealed who they belonged to. The fact that Locke said a 'miracle' happened was the episode before we found out what it was (and I guessed it in advance, because of how they used the empty wheelchair in a scene almost immediately before or after we heard about Locke's miracle.) They're not the big mysteries -what the hell is up with the island, why are there polar bears, what's the big invisible monster, where _is_ the island, etc. Maybe they'll attempt to solve them, but I get the feeling they have no intention to. The mini-mysteries are what they use to distract us from being jerked around on the bigger issues.

Star Pilot Grainger
"Remember, the enemy's gate is down."
LJ: http://www.livejournal.com/users/newnumber6
http://www.unreachablestar.net - Comics & SF News/Reviews/Opinions

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