I like this funny show on Sky1 (UK's ABC). They discuss key things... I don't agree with every little thing they say but they're the best of all of the commentary (other podcasters, etc.) that I've heard.
The Lost Initiative: The Incident
Part 2
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
More LOST Talk
So much to say! Kevin Mc... yes, it is hard not to ramble. Not that I considered your post rambling, but it's hard not to go on and on when you're trying to rationalize things. Ha. Yes, I realized that it was weird that there were essentially two Locke bodies... the real one and the "Esau" one. Is the Esau one an illusion? I was bummed because I was excited that they explained what was up with Christian walking around, talking to people, and why he was missing in the coffin in season one. If he doesn't need to inhabit the bodies, why was Christian's body missing then? Strange. You sound like a skeptic. My boyfriend is very angry, and doesn't believe that they ever planned for this story arc. The whole tired "writing it as they go along! Red herring!" complaint. He also didn't want this to be about Gods, or God vs. Devil.
The writers have said that they have a general shell of a plot, but have had some difficulty executing it because of time constraints or lack of. I believe them, but I definitely do not enjoy some episodes as much as others or think that they are relevant as others. They've definitely disappointed me in terms of a tight narrative. Too much excess, too much filler. (i.e. love triangles). It is hard when you want more mythology and they're giving you drama within the characters at present (or vice versa!).
When it comes to mystery, everybody seems to be dissatisfied. I am okay with leaving things out in the open, I'm okay with smashing my expectations, etc. I consider that good story telling! They make everybody expect or desire a certain outcome and they smash it to bits. Good film makers will do that. People get mad because they're used to being told stories a certain way, and they want the same relaxed bliss-out way of viewing that they've always had. Lost changes things and makes you think and confuses you; causes you to interpret things on your own... BUT It does seem sloppy or unintended at times, so it's hard to defend them.
Jacob has been referenced and super mysterious since season 3. So he was there, we just knew jack shit about him. I share the same thoughts about it being too late though. If they are close to the top of the island's mythology you think we would have started the specifics of their story MUCH earlier. Even just tidbits.
Like I said, it's hard to defend the writers when it truly does seem written as they go along. All I can say is "oh well," not the most polished story but I'm obviously sticking with it. (Only 17 hours to go after all, haha). Just don't expect everything to be explicitly explained. Sometimes they were intended to be that way, the writers told all they felt was needed to be told. OR sometimes they're sloppy, untalented, or things like a writer's strike comes along and messes things up.
I think of LOST like a sibling when you were younger. You make fun of them and criticize them all the time, but when somebody else from the oustide does it... boy do you get pissed off! They don't know your sister like you do so they can't talk shit. Plus, you love your sister deep down, and you don't like it when people are mean. (Not based on actual events). That was my little rant about people who watched the show and then approach you with their grand solution to the series after they gave up watching it three years ago...
About God vs. Devil business... There have been biblical allusions throughout the series, science vs. faith, black and white. Total references to these types of things (way better recorded on lostpedia.com)... so you can't avoid this type of ending or grand scheme. Jacob and Esau... good, bad... maybe. It will be much better to talk about it once the series is over! Who the heck knows what is going to happen next season.
I was going to go into more specifics about the finale and the Richard Alpert business... but what do you know, I wore myself out rambling.
P.S. Listen to the last podcast of the season, Michael Emerson interview.
The writers have said that they have a general shell of a plot, but have had some difficulty executing it because of time constraints or lack of. I believe them, but I definitely do not enjoy some episodes as much as others or think that they are relevant as others. They've definitely disappointed me in terms of a tight narrative. Too much excess, too much filler. (i.e. love triangles). It is hard when you want more mythology and they're giving you drama within the characters at present (or vice versa!).
When it comes to mystery, everybody seems to be dissatisfied. I am okay with leaving things out in the open, I'm okay with smashing my expectations, etc. I consider that good story telling! They make everybody expect or desire a certain outcome and they smash it to bits. Good film makers will do that. People get mad because they're used to being told stories a certain way, and they want the same relaxed bliss-out way of viewing that they've always had. Lost changes things and makes you think and confuses you; causes you to interpret things on your own... BUT It does seem sloppy or unintended at times, so it's hard to defend them.
Jacob has been referenced and super mysterious since season 3. So he was there, we just knew jack shit about him. I share the same thoughts about it being too late though. If they are close to the top of the island's mythology you think we would have started the specifics of their story MUCH earlier. Even just tidbits.
Like I said, it's hard to defend the writers when it truly does seem written as they go along. All I can say is "oh well," not the most polished story but I'm obviously sticking with it. (Only 17 hours to go after all, haha). Just don't expect everything to be explicitly explained. Sometimes they were intended to be that way, the writers told all they felt was needed to be told. OR sometimes they're sloppy, untalented, or things like a writer's strike comes along and messes things up.
I think of LOST like a sibling when you were younger. You make fun of them and criticize them all the time, but when somebody else from the oustide does it... boy do you get pissed off! They don't know your sister like you do so they can't talk shit. Plus, you love your sister deep down, and you don't like it when people are mean. (Not based on actual events). That was my little rant about people who watched the show and then approach you with their grand solution to the series after they gave up watching it three years ago...
About God vs. Devil business... There have been biblical allusions throughout the series, science vs. faith, black and white. Total references to these types of things (way better recorded on lostpedia.com)... so you can't avoid this type of ending or grand scheme. Jacob and Esau... good, bad... maybe. It will be much better to talk about it once the series is over! Who the heck knows what is going to happen next season.
I was going to go into more specifics about the finale and the Richard Alpert business... but what do you know, I wore myself out rambling.
P.S. Listen to the last podcast of the season, Michael Emerson interview.
Pentagon Leaders and the President...
...Had briefings like these distributed to them on a regular basis.
Upset but not surprised. Maybe why I haven't seen as much of this making the rounds (internet, tv maybe) as I would hope.
Kooky stuff.
Upset but not surprised. Maybe why I haven't seen as much of this making the rounds (internet, tv maybe) as I would hope.
Kooky stuff.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
LOST Season Five Finale
After this finale I am realizing how sad I am that we are getting ever-so-close to the series end. There are only seventeen more hours of LOST. It is bittersweet, for Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse need to have an ending. They were fighting with ABC to let them have an ending, a timetable, so that they could tell a concrete story. I wish it was given to them sooner (finally happened between Seasons 3 & 4 I believe), but I am going to miss the mystery and anticipation. And the reveal.
First reactions immediately following the finale were good, although I complained a little bit that I didn't learn as much as I thought I would. I was expecting to see more dealing with the Black Rock and Richard Alpert. It seemed empty, as if we didn't see everybody enough. But as more time goes by, I am realizing that we actually learned a hell of a lot in "The Incident." So much it scares me!
Most important thing I want to get out of the way before rambling is that we got to know Jacob. We've heard his name a lot, and we know that he is the big cheese, but we didn't even know whether he was a spirit, the island, or a human being. Still don't, but at least we have a body to attach the name to. We don't have a name for the gentleman he was talking to in the beginning, all we know that it was a hell of a long time ago (statue in place, Black Rock offshore). This man wants to kill Jacob but can't, and is forever trying to find a loophole to do so. Why? I don't know, he seems to not want Jacob to bring people to the island. Their conversation:
LOND MAN: I take it you're here 'cause of the ship.
Immediate revelations:
First reactions immediately following the finale were good, although I complained a little bit that I didn't learn as much as I thought I would. I was expecting to see more dealing with the Black Rock and Richard Alpert. It seemed empty, as if we didn't see everybody enough. But as more time goes by, I am realizing that we actually learned a hell of a lot in "The Incident." So much it scares me!
Most important thing I want to get out of the way before rambling is that we got to know Jacob. We've heard his name a lot, and we know that he is the big cheese, but we didn't even know whether he was a spirit, the island, or a human being. Still don't, but at least we have a body to attach the name to. We don't have a name for the gentleman he was talking to in the beginning, all we know that it was a hell of a long time ago (statue in place, Black Rock offshore). This man wants to kill Jacob but can't, and is forever trying to find a loophole to do so. Why? I don't know, he seems to not want Jacob to bring people to the island. Their conversation:
LOND MAN: I take it you're here 'cause of the ship.
GRAY-HAIRED MAN: I am. How did they find the Island?
BLOND MAN: You'll have to ask 'em when they get here.
GRAY-HAIRED MAN: I don't have to ask. You brought them here. Still trying to prove me wrong, aren't you?
BLOND MAN: You are wrong.
GRAY-HAIRED MAN: Am I? They come. They fight. They destroy. They corrupt. It always ends the same.
BLOND MAN: It only ends once. Anything that happens before that is just progress.
I'm not going to begin to theorize about this scene, but I know what people are saying about the "gray-haired man." During the finale studious people immediately identified Esau, Jacob's brother in the Book of Genesis. They were fraternal twins. Brings up a book published in 2006 and referenced to in LOST alternate reality games called "The Bad Twin." I don't remember the whole story of that book, I'm pretty sure the shows' writers have at least mentioned it a few times. People talked about it when it came out finding it interesting for LOST plot and themes but I never wanted to read it, not thinking it was canon enough. I might read it now (especially when I have to wait EIGHT months until Season Six starts). Click the links and read about Esau, see if you see anything relevant or possibly relevant to LOST.Immediate revelations:
- Christian Shephard was possibly "Esau." I always assumed he was Jacob or an entity representing Jacob, and good. This is a cool revelation because, if you remember, Jack went through the cargo on the ship and couldn't find his father's body in Season One, episode five entitled, "White Rabbit." Mystery solved? Does Esau need bodies to get around?
- Jacob's cabin was probably Esau's cabin. The ash ring around the cabin was a barrier, but for what? I immediately think about a prison, as if Jacob had imprisoned Esau in it. But then how did he get Christian's body, if Hurley didn't break the ash ring until Season 4? (I heard someone else say he is the one who ruined it, I'll have to rewatch though). Maybe this is why the Dharma Initiative and Richard's group had an agreement to bury the dead. To prevent Esau from inhabiting them? Was he the one who said, "Help Me" to Locke?
Sunday, May 10, 2009
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