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"The Lost puzzle"
FesterFan1 5947 desperate attention whore postings
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01-30-06, 04:49 PM (EST)
 
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"The Lost puzzle" |
I’ve thought about this “Lost” fatigue amongst us that seems to be prevalent during Season 2, and I’ve come to a conclusion about it. “Lost” is very much like a puzzle. If you aren’t the sort of person who enjoys a good puzzle…I mean really enjoys a good puzzle…you know, where you stay up until the wee hours putting the thing together, then you’ll likely get tired of it eventually…if you haven’t already. If you do find yourself bored with the show, it’s not a character flaw. Patience may be a virtue, but it’s not a requirement for what is, really, optional entertainment. There are plenty of shows that I’m told I should love that I just plain don’t like. I don’t think it makes me shallow or obtuse, it just means that I choose to entertain myself differently. Choosing to spend your Wednesday evenings a different way is a totally valid choice. All I’m trying to do is give the perspective of someone who isn’t the least bored with this show. To flesh this metaphor out some, think about how most people put puzzles together. The first thing that usually comes together is the border or frame. Generally, there is a feeling of achievement during this early part of a puzzle. Things take shape. You see how big the puzzle really is. You feel like you’re getting somewhere with it. Then it’s done, and you realize that you’ve only really just done the basic outline of the thing and there’s a whole lot left to finish. Season 1 was the “Lost” puzzle border. It established the universe of “Lost”. It introduced the principals and gave us a format as to how we would learn about them. It revealed that there is always much more beneath the surface, both in what we see and what we haven’t yet seen. We thought we were going somewhere and we’d understand the whole business by the middle of Season 2. That, as you all know by now, isn’t going to happen. We’ve gotten to the point where we’re starting to sort pieces to see where they fit…in general. We keep wanting to see the whole image, or at least some confirmation that the whole image is knowable in the relatively near future…y’know, like next week, perhaps? There were some really compelling storylines set up, and now we want some goldarn resolution. Pronto! However, there are just simply too many pieces to sift through before we can really put some sections of this puzzle together completely, or even completely enough that we can know definitively what it is. It doesn’t help when there are episodes like last week’s, where there wasn’t a whole lot of exposition on questions we already have. There was a lot of negative reaction to it, most of it understandable. Personally, I had a different take on it. To me, that episode was like a piece that you can’t place based on its characteristics alone. It still serves a purpose…you can’t finish the puzzle without it…but it isn’t immediately useful. You look at it and say “what the hell am I supposed to do with this piece?” And then you put it off to the side. When the puzzle becomes clearer and the time comes, you think back and say “oh yeah, that’s where that piece goes”. If that sort of exercise isn’t fun for you, then “Lost” will probably frustrate more than satisfy. You’ll probably go weeks at a time thinking that the show hasn’t delivered anything and walk away from it annoyed that you’ve invested all this time for nothing. I still have faith that the creators of the show know what they’re doing. Who knows, 4 seasons from now, I could be Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin to arrive only to be extremely disappointed, but I have faith. This show is likely to pattern what it’s like to put together a big puzzle. There will be times when there’s a flurry of pieces that all go together to complete a section. There will be times when there’s a piece that links two or more completed sections. However, there will be times when you just can’t see the connection with the piece we’ve been given for that week, or that the piece just begs a dozen more questions. I think, in the end, all will be revealed. I just hope that the final image isn't dogs playing poker.
 Fester
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michel 10812 desperate attention whore postings
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01-30-06, 07:17 PM (EST)
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2. "RE: This?" |
Good comparison Fester. I'd just point out that the numbers were too prevalent in season #1 to be just part of the frame. It seemed they would be the centerpiece. Now, nothing. It could be that if the interest goes down too much after more episodes like last week, they would have to rush the ending before being cancelled. I know that is still far off but things change quickly.
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skeetergirl87 136 desperate attention whore postings
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01-31-06, 04:10 PM (EST)
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6. "RE: The Lost puzzle" |
In Lost, Faith seems to be a big theme. Maybe as Lost viewers, we also need to have faith that in time all will be revealed. I really like all of the mysteries. If we knew everything, the program would either really suck or it would be over. I'm not ready for either one. I like the fact that there's more going on than meets the eye rather than have it be a totally predicatable show like most of the other stuff on TV.
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J I M B O 6839 desperate attention whore postings
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02-01-06, 03:54 PM (EST)
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7. "RE: The Lost puzzle" |
Wonderful analogy. Makes me view the last couple eps differently. You know how some puzzles have a ton of blue sky? Not much to go on. Not very interesting. But still necessary in the long run.
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Buggy 5089 desperate attention whore postings
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02-01-06, 07:48 PM (EST)
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9. "RE: The Lost puzzle" |
Wonderful!
That Fester is so smart, and exactly right in this case.
I haven't lost patience in the story at all yet. Though last weeks episodes wasn't one of my favorites, I still want to know ( need to know) what's next.
If the story unfolds slowly, that's okay for me, because I don't want a puzzle that is so quick and easy that it's dissapointing.
If they wrapped up the story too quickly, I think many of us would feel cheated.
I'm not the type that reads the end of a book first, in fact if I really love a story, I'll read it slowly and savor it. I think part of the problem is that people don't sit still and put together puzzles much anymore, it's unfamilier.
It's an instant gratification world now. People want everything instantly, even their entertainment. We aren't a patient society.
But I like puzzles, and strories that unfold slowly.
I'm still with it. Thanks Fester!
I love your perspective on things. 
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true 9689 desperate attention whore postings
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02-02-06, 10:50 AM (EST)
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10. "RE: The Lost puzzle" |
Ok, I'll admit it right now. I am not a puzzle person. In fact, I hate puzzles. Having said that, I'm afraid you're giving the creators and the network too much credit. Even though I hate puzzles, I am patient, and I love smart programming. However, I am wise enough to realize that patience and smart programming are two things that never turn out well on network tv.Shows that actually require the viewer to think are usually cancelled within weeks. Some of these shows that actually catch on, usually end up being strected beyond the original ideas and outlines due to network interference or an impatient viewing public. The network wants to milk all the hype and popularity NOW NOW NOW, and most times, that means the creators and writers are pressured into making the shows BIGGER, BETTER, FASTER. This never works. Long term plotlines are sped up to satisfy in the short term, and it alwasy fvcks up the long term vision of these shows. There is no way I believe that the creators of Lost had specific, long term, stories fleshed out before the show aired. So, there is A LOT of making stuff up on the fly in order to satisfy the demands placed on these instant hits.
Shows of the past, that started out slow and built up over a few seasons are things of the past. Unless a show is an instant hit, it gets cancelled. This is what is killing scripted TV, IMO. These instant hits can't possibly live up to the early hype, and they usually end up pulling all kinds of stupid stunts trying.
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true 9689 desperate attention whore postings
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02-02-06, 01:23 PM (EST)
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13. "RE: True is the Jack to my Locke" |
Oh no, don't get me wrong. I'll keep watching, I always do...lol. I love the show, and until 24 came back with a bang this season, I'd call it my favorite. Honestly, I hope the creators resist the pressure to deliver too soon. But, I won't be suprised if it ends up like Twin Peaks. 
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PackMan 1207 desperate attention whore postings
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02-02-06, 05:02 PM (EST)
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14. "RE: True is the Jack to my Locke" |
I agree with you. I think the story arcs are well planned. Some details have to be adjusted along the way, but they are sticking to the master plan. I'm more than wiling to be patient and see how it all unfolds.I think if the writers stick to their plan of 4-5 seasons, the show will be able to maintain it's stride. But if the execs get greedy and try to keep it going, it will get stale. Personally, I like how the show is being handled to this point, except for the constant breaks between new episodes. I think the clues are all being given, much like you compare to the pieces of a puzzle. I also think that there are many clues that may seem insignificant until you see the link later in the story. This is exactly why I will watch the Season 2 DVD when it comes out, to go back and see those clues revealed in a different context. I only worry that a key actor decides to leave before their character's story arc is intended to be completed. In that case, the writers may have to really scramble to perform a re-fit. This is related to the reason why I don't think Jack is as big a character in the overall answer to the big question about Lost. The writers originally planned to kill him off in the first episode, but the execs wanted to keep him around. I wonder where Jack really fits in this puzzle. 
If you don't have time to do it right the first time, when are you going to find time to do it again? - Anonymous
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Fishercat 4168 desperate attention whore postings
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02-03-06, 08:22 PM (EST)
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20. "RE: 24 vs Lost" |
I am kind of stunned that a lot of networks don't adopt the format that 24 has taken, at least for established shows. There are 52 weeks in a year, and even if you have 20-24 episodes in a season, that's half a year. You can show the new season from January to June, and if you want to get your money's worth and new fans, re-air them in order over July to December. That would certainly help first year and middle-tier (ratings), and struggling shows to gain the fanbase which has nothing better to watch and will now check out the critically acclaimed show or the one all their friends love.So many shows (good ones too) have been killed by 4 new episodes, 2 weeks off, a one week move to Friday, then back to Monday for 2 new episodes and 4 weeks off. At least for Season 3 and 4, they should have an idea of what their ratings will be for sweeps purposes. I can see the traditional schedule for big time shows with people who don't care or newer shows to test, but for shows like 24, they can afford not to.  Bob Factoid: The fishercat is the only creature known to have gone completely insane chasing its own tail.
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Tahj 4136 desperate attention whore postings
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02-03-06, 01:31 PM (EST)
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18. "RE: The Lost puzzle" |
Using the puzzle metaphor makes me think of the "X-Files." The major arc of the story took years to complete. What I loved about the show was that they were able to depart from the main story and still come up with extremely interesting and entertaining episodes in between, for the most part.Lost lacks this ability because they are limited in what they can do. I know it's like comparing apples and oranges, but when Lost sucks, it really sucks. The problem I have with the puzzle metaphor, although it is a good one, is that I don't have any choice in which part of the puzzle I get to focus on, or when I do and don't get to work on it. I wonder Fester, if someone told you that you could only work on the puzzle at certain times, with sometimes weeks inbetween, and that you can only focus on the particular part you're told to, would you still be interested in putting it together? Could you continue to work on Jimbo's blue sky, for example, indefinitely, with no idea when it would be completed or when you'd get to switch? I know I couldn't. I'm seriously beginning to think that I need to stop watching Lost now and wait for the DVDs. Having the whole puzzle in my hands with no restrictions is much more appealing to me. 
Moves courtesy of Syren
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true 9689 desperate attention whore postings
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02-09-06, 11:01 AM (EST)
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24. "Hey Fester!" |
Maybe you aren't giving the Lost creators too much credit, as I thought above. From this weeks TV guide interview with Josh Holloway-TVGYou actually filmed a different Sawyer episode that was supposed to air at the beginning of the season, but never did. What happened? JHThe show took a good stance there. ABC was trying to mandate the story somewhat. They wanted to capitalize on (Sawyer's popularity) for the opening of the season, but that's just not where the story was. The story needed to be about Mike and (the kidnapped) Walt. So after three days of filming, (producers) pulled it. I was hurt as an actor a little, but I understood. They got back in line with the integrity of the story, and that I have huge respect for. So, I was right that ABC would try to interfere with the storyline, but it looks like the Lost producers have enough clout right now to keep them back. I won't count them changing the story to keep the Jack character, since it was still new, but I'm sure they'll keep the pressure on as long as the show remains popular. The sad part, is I believe they'll get their way eventually, and doom the show before the true vision has a chance to play out. *sigh*
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