TVSquad

The best part about this past recap was that it showed the Oceanic 6's story chronologically. I'd been thinking about editing together something similar myself to get a better feeling of the flow of events. Nice of them to do it for me.

Reply

If I wanted to take my mind off of it, I wouldn't watch it. Lost is one of those shows where a simple recap is not enough. If you have not been watching, you just can't start watching now and really get it. Maybe that's unfortunate, maybe that's the sign of a good drama show - if you can walk up to it and start watching at any point then it's probably not very deep and interesting.

Please, no more recaps. "Previously, on Lost..." is more than enough. And how can it be "from a different viewpoint" (as it was advertised) when all they do is show previously-shown clips from old episodes? How is that from a different viewpoint?

Reply

I agree that it was helpful to have them show the Oceanic 6's story chronologically. Both my husband and I had forgotten one or two elements to the story so it was good to see the recap. But we always prefer a new episode of course. Wouldn't it be great if they could do both every time they show a recap show? Recap first then followed by a new episode. If I recall correctly they have done something similar in the past. At the beginning of the season they were showing a previous episode with the pop-up boxes giving more details about each scene which I found kind of cool, although my husband didn't care for those.

Reply

I've wondered before if Lost would be as compelling if the story was presented chronologically. The recap show was too short to know if this would work but it would be interesting if after the series ends a chronological list of scenes could be made available. Maybe ABC or a cable network could run the series in chronological order. I would be interested in seeing an alternate version of Lost.

Reply

i usually don't watch the recap shows and last night's show proved why this was a good practice. i would have rather had a repeat or one of those episodes where information flashes at the bottom. that would have been good for last week's episode as i am sure there were a lot of hidden meanings in miles' story. last night was a "lost for dummies" recap.

Reply

I hate recaps, so it pains me to say this, but if I had known it was the 06 story in chronological order I might have watched. I've been a little hazy on exactly how all that happened. They should have maybe made that point a little clearer (maybe they did and I missed it).

Reply

Lost is usually one of those shows that do VERY GOOD recap shows. For example the one before the season premiere was pretty fantastic. I remember telling my brother this recap episode is better than some original episode of some other shows.

Having said that I do agree that "something" special was missing from last night's episode. I mean I did like the chronological ordering of the events, but maybe because we just had a new episode last week, for regular fans it was a bit too much (unlike the first recap at the beginning of a season).

Would've been REALLY cool if they had re-ran "The Constant" though to prepare us for the bound-to-be awesome 100th episode, "The Variable." I'm so excited!

Reply

They should do recap shows (maybe more of them), but they need to be really meaty ones with 5-10% new material. Certainly material that points out interesting stuff, or tosses a monkey wrench into what we already think we know.

The best clip shows were always ones like the Simpson's did. Remember the musical one? Sure it is a clip shop, but the stuff holding it together was interesting. Then they get a cheap ep, but we are interested in the outcome, or at least being taken on a side trip.

Reply

I cannot stand recap episodes. At all. The End.

Sequel: I still cannot stand recap episodes.

Trilogy: I destroyed the second Death Star recap episode. There are no more recaps, and now I have to burn my father's corpse while I put up with Wookies and Ewoks dancing around me.

Prequel: I don't think I like recap episodes, but I'll give them a try.

Prequel sequel: I'm not too sure these recap episodes are entirely a good thing.

Prequel sequel sequel: I like recap episodes, but now I'm an amputee so it kinda sucks to ffw through commercials.

Reply

I didnt watch it, because the reason I buy the seasons is so that if I get confused I can go back and watch it. I dont need to see a 2 hour recap to get me back into swing.

Reply

I have no problem with them. They help some viewers keep up and enjoy the show more, and it's not even impossible they might hook one or two odd new viewers who have been curious but a bit hesitant (True, it's not going to hook a lot of new viewers, but there are people who will give even complex shows a chance if they can get at least a general idea of what's going on. I should know, I'm one of those people. :-) )

It's just one week. I'm a big boy and can go that long without a new episode if it helps others enjoy the show and maybe even helps keep the ratings healthy by keeping people onboard and snagging a new fish or two.

Reply

Here's the real issue:

ABC started the season in January, with a 2 hour season premiere. In order to have a 2 hour finale during May Sweeps, they needed to take 2 weeks off.

For next season, which of these 2 scenarios would you prefer:
1. The new season of Lost starts in Mid-January, with a few weeks of no new episodes through the run
2. Start the 1st or 2nd week on February (9 months after the season finale) and run with no repeats until the end.

Reply

Ian, you're right on the money. Darlton promised the season would run straight through with no re-runs. That's why they've filled in gaps with enhanced episodes and clip shows.

For those of you who are interested or need a night off, there's another recap episode scheduled to air on May 13.

Reply

I actually liked the recap show. Obviously it was filler but I found it helpful to understand a show that has become too dense and too confusing more often than not.

Reply