You can feel it in the air. The Lost backlash has begun. You can feel people getting a little bit antsy about the show and what everything means and whether or not the people behind the scenes even know where they're going with the story. It hasn't exactly jumped the shark yet, but a lot of people think that at the very least it's starting to put the water skis on.
Doug Elfman at The Chicago Sun-Times is fed up. He's sick of the "revelations" that lead nowhere, all the coincidences, and characters acting dumb.
Of course, this from TV Guide's Ask Ausiello won't help. Producer Damon Lindelof:
Will we get any clarification about the numbers this season?
Damon: Carlton might want to punch me for actually going on record and saying this, but I think that that question will never, ever be answered. I couldn't possibly imagine [how we would answer that question]. We will see more ramifications of the numbers and more usage of the numbers, but it boggles my mind when people ask me, "What do the numbers mean?"
Oh boy.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-16-2005 @ 3:06PM
Ed said...
I think that tonight's episode is going to appease a lot of complaining fans for a few weeks.
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11-16-2005 @ 3:34PM
Tucker said...
Ed, I think you're wrong.. I think tonight is going to piss even more people off because it will deviate from the Season 1 mold even more. If I recall, it will be entirely a flashback for the tail survivors. Don't get me wrong, I can't wait for that, but prepare to hear tons of people bitching and moaning about another week without Jack, another week without the hatch, etc.
Unfortunately, when a show is this popular there's no way to please everyone. As for the numbers? I'd be shocked if they DID provide some sort of explanation... I think the whole point is not to know. It's an old storytelling device. The mystery of it all is so much more important than the actual "reveal," and I think Lost has been masterful at walking that line.
Think about it honestly - how would people react if the big numbers reveal came about. It wouldn't matter what the explanation was, nobody would like it. I think when Lindelof says, "but it boggles my mind when people ask me" he's referring to being surprised that people think the producers would actually do that reveal.
Lost is a show with very broad appeal and huge popularity - but at its core, it plays more as a niche show for a group of devoted followers. Somehow it just got caught up in the mainstream.
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11-16-2005 @ 3:56PM
G said...
New fake lost website:http://www.kingcrossstatepolice.com/
Check out the fake error message. Call the number for the "help desk in Seattle" and u will hear a promo for this week's episode.
If you 'view source, there is some more info and a link to Kate's mugshot:
http://www.kingcrossstatepolice.com/flyers/00-0428-23-5607-01.jpg
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11-16-2005 @ 4:17PM
Emily said...
"What do the numbers mean?"
Damn good TV on Wednesday night at 9pm eastern. That's what they mean.
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11-16-2005 @ 5:29PM
BGDC said...
I'm thinking unless this episode rocks, I'm done with Lost. I've given it all season and every episode has sucked.
With the demise of Arrested Dev. and with Lost sucking, I have zero reason to watch TV now.
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12-13-2005 @ 4:51PM
CJ said...
Just don't pull an "X-files"... never having a solution to ANYTHING, and characters acting like nothing weird ever happened. All these serial shows (Prison Break, Surface, Alias, Lost, Invasion, Firefly among others such as the past show "Pretender") NEED to end some time if you are to do that style of a show.
1) Dont cancel the show and leave the viewers hanging! (Thanks Joss!)
2) For pete's sake, have a real ending, not one where the ending is "left up to the viewer". That's a cop-out
3) Keep taking chances, kill people off, change the enviroment up... just dont fall in a rut!
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11-16-2005 @ 5:58PM
Matt Sidesinger said...
"With the demise of Arrested Dev. and with Lost sucking, I have zero reason to watch TV now."
I am beginning to feel the same way. I never watched TV in college. Now that I have a DVR I watch a lot of TV. After following a few shows now for a about 2 seasons, I have come to realize that the big 4 make shows for idiots. Shows keep getting worse and the ones that are actually good get cancelled.
I will soon lose interest in LOST as they treat me like an idiot and yank me around for ratings. I am tired of bullshit "FILLER" episodes.
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11-16-2005 @ 7:31PM
Lynn said...
Wow, talk about Missing the Point Entirely.
The show is not about the numbers, the monster, the mysteries, etc.
It's about characters. And how these characters learn and react, grow and change. How their past experiences inform their present. It is a character-driven show in an adventure show wrapping.
The people who consider the episodes that focus on character to be "filler" do not get it and never will. They should quit watching because the show will never make them happy.
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11-16-2005 @ 10:17PM
Lost Me said...
If you take the show as being about characters, it's even worse, in fact it's inexplicably bad.
Can you tell me why Charlie wouldn't be upset to be sleeping on the beach when he knows there's shelter? Why Jack would give up getting answers from Desmond (at gunpoint) because he's too emotional over his divorce?
They are not characters at all most of the time, they are obvious and poorly written plot obfuscations, a means to avoid revealing more than they have to.
It is not a good character show, but calling it that makes a lot of fans here and on other forums feel like they "get it", which is fine. Enjoy.
All I've got left is The Shield, hopefully they'll end it right this season and be done with it.
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11-16-2005 @ 10:24PM
Space Man said...
One other great piece of character work is Hurley connecting up dynamite inside because he thinks everyone will hate him for controlling the food. He couldn't figure out they'd hate him for blowing up the shelter and the food, and he couldn't just say no and walk away from it and let someone else deal with it. Yes, indeed, good stuff, almost eerily realistic.
They should just chalk up the magic to Midichloreans or find out that Locke is from the planet Zeist, because this show has totally jumped the shark, with feeling. I can't believe I bought into it even knowing Abrams gave us Alias. Shame on me.
On a side note, it's not the best show ever, but when it comes to endings, they did it right-- Space: Above and Beyond is out on DVD now, and it's better than most sci-fi.
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11-17-2005 @ 4:02PM
ErricZ said...
If y'all hate it so much, they why do you insist on watching and posting?
I know everyone is entitled to an opinion, however, it seems many people are too used to having TV/Hollywood handing you the plot points without letting you think and try to figure out what's going on with a community behind you.
This is great character development here, maybe you're used to watered down crap that doesn't tickle the mind at all. Go watch some cookie-cutter, reality TV garbage if you want mindless entertainment ... or maybe the next XXX sequel.
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11-18-2005 @ 12:05PM
Donna said...
"Answers, damn it, answers!" What a comment on our society is this reaction to a TV show. Gimmme Gimme Gimme. I want what I want and I want it NOW!!
I enjoy every moment of the show because the every moment is good. This show is structured so well that every moment is imbued with meaning. If you don't believe me, watch the DVD of the first season. Heck the foreshadowing in the first episode is AMAZING! The end game isn't the point. Yes, it's the characters. But it's the mystery as well.
Do you get on the roller coaster and ask when it will end? Enjoy the ride, my friends, Enjoy the ride!
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