LOST discussion - thar be spoilers ahead!

[-Super Hans-]

Starting to become abit disillusioned with lost these days, I couldnt give a damn about the characters anymore, I just find myself watching it to find out what the hell its all about. Invested way too much time to stop watching it now. Not a good episode yesterday (uk) I cant help but get the feeling there just making this ____ up as they go along

 

[Darth Caedus]

Starting to become abit disillusioned with lost these days, I couldnt give a damn about the characters anymore, I just find myself watching it to find out what the hell its all about. Invested way too much time to stop watching it now. Not a good episode yesterday (uk) I cant help but get the feeling there just making this ____ up as they go along

While I don't agree that I think they are making it up as they go, I do agree that some of the characters are losing my interest (especially Kate). I really don't care about the characters, but I'm finding myself caring about the others and the island more than anything (besides locke/evil locke).

 

[Agent0028]

I don't know that I've cared too much about the characters for awhile. I don't really care what happens to them outside of how it all ties together. They mystery of the island and what the hell is going on is my main reason for watching. I'm not sure that's not how the producers want it though. The first seasons really seemed to focus on the characters and their stories with the weirdness of the island as a backdrop, but these later seasons seem to be the reverse.

 

[LOTRFan]

LOST has lost it's emotional impact a long time ago for me, and I would compare the experience I had tracking through BSG on DVD; I couldn't put that series down, and there were plenty of mysteries and reveals. LOST just seems to be about how much crazy mind-f's they can pack in, without any real character development - the exceptions for me being Sawyer/Juliet and Sun/Jin. I just watch now to see exactly how this thing will end.

Maybe I would feel differently if there weren't such excruciating breaks between the seasons; but it is kinda eh for me lately.

 

[Darth Caedus]

LOST has lost it's emotional impact a long time ago for me, and I would compare the experience I had tracking through BSG on DVD; I couldn't put that series down, and there were plenty of mysteries and reveals. LOST just seems to be about how much crazy mind-f's they can pack in, without any real character development - the exceptions for me being Sawyer/Juliet and Sun/Jin. I just watch now to see exactly how this thing will end.

Maybe I would feel differently if there weren't such excruciating breaks between the seasons; but it is kinda eh for me lately.

I can agree with that, but I would add in Desmond/Penny to that list.

 

[Entropy]

Starting to become abit disillusioned with lost these days, I couldnt give a damn about the characters anymore,

I don't know that I've cared too much about the characters for awhile. I don't really care what happens to them outside of how it all ties together. The first seasons really seemed to focus on the characters and their stories with the weirdness of the island as a backdrop, but these later seasons seem to be the reverse.

LOST has lost it's emotional impact a long time ago for me, and I would compare the experience I had tracking through BSG on DVD; I couldn't put that series down, and there were plenty of mysteries and reveals. LOST just seems to be about how much crazy mind-f's they can pack in, without any real character development

You heartless basterds.

Like most novels, of course the focus has moved to the big plot stuff in this the final push. Very little character development in a story's last act, generally they focus on resolution and illumination. We already know who these people are and the off island stuff is showing that again, all be it in a different form. So yeah, it feels like familiar ground, which I think it's supposed to. But we've only gotten a measly 1 episode taste of that stuff, Kate's at that, and when we hit the more engaging stories - Locke, Jack, Charlie, Hurley, Desmond, etc. - and figure how they fit in with everything else, I think it'll be more interesting. And of course the personal stories will be overshadowed by these big, flashy reveals they been hinting at for 6 long years. And unlike BSG, I don't think Lost will deliver a lackluster conclusion. It won't suit everyone and will probably be maudlin in spots, but I think it's an unfair characterization that the show has lost focus on either the characters, their relationships or the big picture stuff and that they're just "making it up as they go along" or trying to jam in mind f's at the expensive of character. When all is said and done, and you step back from it, Lost will be one hell of a finely crafted, planned out story, the best tv's ever seen.

 

[Agent0028]

I agree Lost is going to go down in TV history as a one of a kind experience. It certainly fits the cliche "often imitated but never duplicated".

 

[Michael Crawford]

I've been happy...up until last episode. I get that they are trying to show how cosmic forces are still bringing together these people, but the set up with Claire and Kate was just eye rolling ridiculous. She was just waving a gun in your face an hour ago and now you're fast friends? Nothing about the situation in the sideways reality made any sense this week.

But at least we now know that they jumped forward in time to past the re-arrival of our other Losties. The fact that Danielle has been dead for years was very interesting...and now Claire has taken her place as the village wacko!

 

[Entropy]

I've been happy...up until last episode. I get that they are trying to show how cosmic forces are still bringing together these people, but the set up with Claire and Kate was just eye rolling ridiculous. She was just waving a gun in your face an hour ago and now you're fast friends? Nothing about the situation in the sideways reality made any sense this week.

All they needed was a quickie line addressing the weird deja vu 'I'm supposed to know you' feeling. For now, I think they left it up to the audience to fill in those blanks themselves. I'm prepared to chalk up a bunch of odd behavior to the nagging intuition/ka that these people feel connected to apparent strangers. I know I, on occasion, and most people as well I would wager, have done unexpected and odd things because of a 6th sense/gut feeling that told me I should, and, to my knowledge, I haven't traveled through time or been on a supernatural island before.

Should they not address this bleed of memories from one reality to the other, this deja vu connected feeling, then yeah, I could see it as ridiculous and poor writing, but I've a feeling that bit of info is coming down the pike.

 

[Agent0028]

Even I thought it was pretty silly, and I have a pretty high tolerance for stuff not making sense. But I've accepted less, so I can accept this as well. I agree that the intertwining of their fates plays a big role and helps make it easier to swallow.

 

[beeshaw]

MUCH BETTER!!!

 

[Maglor]

“The Substitute” was awesome!!!


Questions:

1) Did Kate have a number?

2) Does white really = good and Black = bad?

3) Who was the boy?
...I think it was Aaron!


Holy crap it seems that Jacob and MIB were just men in the beginning. Not Gods not aliens.


A lot to think about in this episode!

 

[Moonloop]

Ok, several things.

-The kid that appeared to Flocke was Jacob, perhaps being reborn and rapidly regenerating back into his older form? When he said to Flocke you cannot kill him, etc....He was referring to Sawyer (the candidates).

-Sawyer is important to Flocke as we saw when he was saving James from falling to his death. This in turn can screw Flocke over as Sawyer can have more control/influence is he is that important to Flocke.

-Sawyer is aware of what Richard told him. Sawyer will play it out for now, but he is not taking sides right now...regardless of his "hell yeah", he is a con-man after all.

-So we know the numbers are associated with our main characters who are candidates.....they are all candidates to take over Jacobs job or protecting the island. We know Flocke said that it's just an island, that coming from a 'man' who can turn into a pillar of smoke and take the form of others? And island that has cured cancer, cured paralysis, had immortal beings walk on it....this island is not just an island.

-The side reality....is this perhaps how their lives would have been if Jacob never touched those select few? Quite possibly yes, because we know that by Jacob touching them....it led to the path that we saw in Seasons 1-5. But if he didn't, then the side reality is what happens and the Island is under water.

-I think it is still unclear whom is good and whom is evil....is there a good or evil side in this conflict? What deems evil on this island? Maybe MIB's actions are evil but what his action will achieve is for the better, and Jacobs actions are for the better but with the ultimate outcome being evil. Or the other way around.

-The real John Locke is not finished yet. It seems as if the real John Locke is somewhere inside of Smokey's human form. Crazy or not, I could see John Locke somehow retaking his form back from Smokey. Either way John Locke will return, Darlton have said he is important to the story and I don't think a dead John Locke is the answer.

There's much more.

 

[SwedishHeat]

1) Did Kate have a number?

3) Who was the boy?
...I think it was Aaron!

I didn't see Kate's name on the walls, nor Charlie's, Claire's, etc. Quite a few survivors weren't on the walls. That must mean something. But the fact that Kate wasn't on there is pretty significant

I think it really is a toss-up whether it's Jacob or Aaron. Aaron should still be in LA with Claire's mom. It's probably Jacob.

 

[Maglor]

...But the fact that Kate wasn't on there is pretty significant

Right, because all the people (4.8.15.16.23.42) were people that Jacob had visited/touched. He visited Kate but she wasn't on the ceiling list.

Were all the numbers represented?

I think it really is a toss-up whether it's Jacob or Aaron. Aaron should still be in LA with Claire's mom. It's probably Jacob.

The main reason I think it's Aaron is the casting. He just really looked like he could be Clair's son.

Seems like the writers have made comments about the importance of Aaron, and I wondered if anything would come of it... if that was him in the jungle somehow... well that would be significant!

Not sure how it works in terms of logistics though. As you say he should be in LA with his grandma, but it's not always that simple on LOST!!!

 

[plasmid303]

No theories from me. I just wanted to say how much I liked Ben's words at Locke's burial. What a great scene!

 

[beeshaw]

No theories from me. I just wanted to say how much I liked Ben's words at Locke's burial. What a great scene!

AND great acting. We've really gotten lucky between the mostly stellar writing, a fantastic ensemble, and that score... my god.

 

[Maglor]

No theories from me. I just wanted to say how much I liked Ben's words at Locke's burial. What a great scene!

That was really cool. Ben is my favorite character.

The "weirdest funeral" line by Le Petis[?] was funny, but I would have liked to revel in the moment a little longer before the comedy beat.

All in all a great scene though!

 

[EVILFACE]

Yea Kate was not shown with a number and she was touched.

The boy could be Jacob reborn ala Spock!

 

[Lookin4Precious]

just read this over at aicn.... kinda love the thinking behind this theory:

Assuming that 1) It's all about the choices individuals make, and MiB and Jacob can only influence them and 2) that MiB is some kind of Demon. He hates humans, wants to kill them. Jacob has the job of keeping locked away, on a deserted island, so he won't hurt anyone. Jacob is tired of this situation but cannot leave unless being replaced by a good candidate. So he goes outside the island, influences people into making choices bringing them to the island. Once on the Island he watches them go through some "tests" to see if they are worthy or capable enough for that job (or if they make the right choices?), crossing the names that are gone until there is one left. Now when MiB says that "there is nothing to protect" about the island, he lies. The island is there to hold him prisoner and should NOT be found, because that would give him so many opportunities to escape. So Ben wasn't lying when he said that if Widmore found the island, they were all going to die. It would litterally be the end of the world if MiB left the island, hence why the gang protecting Jacob call themselves "the good guys".

Assuming that MiB would only be allowed to leave if Jacob set him free : Since the rule states that you cannot kill the candidates - that's what the boy said - on the island, then one of them had to die outside AND COME BACK, therefore provinding the loophole for MiB. The loophole is : MiB arranges to have Jacob killed (again influencing the choice made), has someone replacing Jacob (like Sawyer) and that new Jacob willingly sets MiB free.

But then is Ben on MiB side? He did kill Locke, he did insist that Locke had to be on that plane, he did unleash Smoke Monster when his daughter got killed, he did round up the people "on Jacob's list"...