Will ‘Lost’ lose the plot?
Five episodes into the fourth series - and heading towards a mid-season crescendo foisted on it by the writers’ strike - Lost has hit the accelerator. Compared, anyway, to the glacial speed at which it has previously teased out the overarching plot.
Monday’s episode (from RTÉ2 viewers’ perspectives), The Constant featured further confirmation that there’s a big time-travel element involved. I could go into the details of plot links, twists, connections, red herrings, and all that, but it would be at the severe risk of losing whatever non-Lost-watching reader has already got this far in the post.
Lost is not a programme you pick up five episodes into the fourth series. It’s not something that you suddenly decide you’ll sit down to watch, presuming you’ll pick it up along the way.
It has, according to its makers, six series in total, and following its slow reveal of the last season especially, it has finally decided to deliver some answers. Which is where its problems may begin.
While The Constant offered plenty of new clues and a couple of answers, it also came pretty close to being a Star Trek episode. Until now, Lost has survived by being many things - a supernatural mystery, a Lord of the Flies adventure, a horror, a murder thriller, a what-the-hell-will-happen next fun fest. But this episode it was sci-fi. And sci-fi is not to everyone’s taste.
Those who have been sticking with Lost, of course, are unlikely to give up now. Not after all this time. But as it moves towards some sort of revelation - we hope - it faces the problems faced by some of its evolutionary cousins. Twin Peaks bored viewers in its second series. The X-Files was always at its best when it withheld information, and quickly leaked ratings because - among other reasons - it coughed up answers that were far more ridiculous than the questions.
Meanwhile, Heroes contrasted the frustration of Lost by wrapping a hell of a lot of stuff up by the end of the first season.
Lost is still brilliant at times. It has become increasingly playful, throwing in glimpses of the future to replace the flashbacks, while finally moving off the island - even if it is only to a boat offshore. And it is getting somewhere, even if plot holes and loose ends abound.
But its biggest trick will be in keeping the audience happy as it reveals whatever secrets it has. And you don’t need to be “unstuck in time” to predict that viewer disappointment remains the most likely outcome.
Twin Peaks bored viewers in its second series
The f**k? It may have confused those who thought they were watching a law and order murder mystery but those of us hooked on the supernatural elements of Bob, Wyndam Earle and the race to the black lodge witnessed the greatest show in the history of television ( until season 4 of the wire came along and rendered all other shows as noise).
Comment by Q | March 4, 2008 at 8:53 amThe folks from Sky’s brilliant ‘LOST Initiative’ podcast reckoned Monday’s episode was the best yet, and they came up with a lot of clever elaborations on the latest revelations from various unresolved issues going way back to series one.
Comment by colly_browy | March 4, 2008 at 10:58 amI don’t think viewer disappointment is that likely. They’ve actually explained quite a lot by now, even if they’ve also left a lot of loose ends.
But everyone I know is completely psyched about the new series.
Sure there are times where you get frustrated. I remember in Series 3 thinking “if Locke plays this computer chess game and lets the hostage escape as a result I’m never watching this again” but you just go with it for the huge bombastic twists.
If anything though, it’s been better since it started giving answers.
Comment by Ronan | March 4, 2008 at 11:01 amQ - To be fair, even though it had some fine moments, it eventually meandered so much that the viewers just drifted away. It is vital watching, though, for any student of David Lynch’s work.
Colly & Ronan - I’m not saying it’s poor (although a colleague here this morning was complaining that it is), only that its facing it’s biggest challenge, and I have my doubts that it can live up to the expectations. This week’s episode had lots of revelations in it (Black Rock log, time shifts, and all that) but I still have a sense that, when it’s all said and done, it might sned up all Wizard of Oz on us, with a little man behind a curtain revealing that he’s not as exciting as he’s pretending. Again, I’m a big fan of Lost, but every week I watch it I feel one step closer to being disappointed.
Comment by Shane | March 4, 2008 at 11:08 amThe problem is that no matter what answer the writers give, they won’t be able to please everyone.
Personally I find the questions and theories more interesting than the answers anyway, especially since with the internet you get to discuss your ideas with a much wider group of people. As you pointed out it was much more fun to watch the x-files in it’s first two-three seasons before they started giving away the answers (thankfully the upcoming movie avoids the major conspiracy plot and focuses on a one off story line)
I hope they don’t end up explaining every little thing but rather leave a bunch of loose ends for us to ponder over
Comment by Mark | March 4, 2008 at 11:13 amMark - You’re reminding me that I got a real kick out of the final episode of The Sopranos, which left viewers guessing what the hell had just happened. THAT was an ending.
Comment by Shane | March 4, 2008 at 11:15 amActually a part of me hopes the series ends with Hurely waking up in the shower (or when the 815 lands in L.A.) and realises it was all a dream. That would geniunly make me happy.
Or as someone suggested to me back in series one have them rip off the simpsons and have them all rescued off of the island by, oh….lets say Moe
Comment by Mark | March 4, 2008 at 11:19 amLast night’s episode leaves me even more convinced that it’s veering towards Donnie Darko territory with tangent universes. Hold your breath for the guy in the bunny suit. In saying that I actually enjoyed it for its mushy melodrama, but as I’ve said of Lost before:
Comment by Green Ink | March 4, 2008 at 12:14 pmNever has a show’s major weakness been so succinctly summed up in it’s own name.
Shane-I also thought that the Sopranos ending was great
Green Ink-I think the show’s writers ruled out tangent universes in their latest podcast
Comment by Mark | March 4, 2008 at 12:57 pmI think when you listen to the executive producers Carlton Cuse or Damon Lindelof speak, or read interviews with them you realise how hardcore they are. The final scene at the end of series 3 is about as excited i’ve got over a TV show, and i thought Charlie’s death was well excuted.
I’m pretty satiSfied we’re in safe hands.
Comment by colly_browy | March 4, 2008 at 1:51 pmSeason 3, after a brutal start, built up to an excellent crescendo alright. Also, as I never cared for Charlie, his demise was a bonus.
I’m just glad that they’ve gotten rid of those annoying Lucozade folks bookending each ad break by speaking their brains.
Comment by Brock Landers | March 4, 2008 at 2:09 pmBrock - I’ve been watching it on Sky One, where the 118 ads are genuinely funny.
Comment by Shane | March 4, 2008 at 2:13 pmI had to stop watching once it veered into the ridiculous. I think it was the episode that a black gas killed Mr. Ecko. That was enough for me. Deus ex machinas are generally seen as cliches and should be avoided but this show built its whole plot around them, which was what really annoyed me.
Comment by leaveitout | March 4, 2008 at 2:24 pmplot schmot, it’s all about the characters.
Comment by Rosie | March 4, 2008 at 3:08 pmShane- It’s probably remiss of us not to remind folks that other energy drinks and directory services are available.
Comment by Brock Landers | March 4, 2008 at 3:10 pmI found the previous episode with Sayid in Berlin to be better than the most recent one. Technically moving consciousness might not be considered time travel by some (Shirley McLaine after all would regard it as natural though she made sure her past self was finished before moving on)and I’m sure we’re going to get quantum entanglement references in the next while.
And isn’t Daniel Faraday simply channelling Brad Pitt’s character from Twelve Monkeys?
Personally, I watched the X-files for the sly references to Mulder’s porn addiction and Scully’s promiscuity.
Comment by Dan Sullivan | March 4, 2008 at 3:33 pmAre those lads still stuck on that island?
Comment by Jim Carroll | March 4, 2008 at 4:01 pmComing soon: the Craggy Island crossover.
Comment by Green Ink | March 4, 2008 at 6:18 pmAre you watching Season 2 of Heroes Shane? Being a good non-pirate I’m watching on C6. Have to say the criticisms you referred to a while back were a little harsh. Despite the appalling Irish accents.
Comment by dealga | March 4, 2008 at 7:13 pmDealga - I haven’t watched it yet, as Channel 6 is buried down my satellite channels and I seldom download anything as I’ve no time to watch them anyway. I’ll catch it later on, but I’m glad to hear you think it’s better than the earlier feedback, which - if I’m correct - came from the show’s writers.
Comment by Shane | March 4, 2008 at 7:42 pmDealga - I have to say that I found the first half of season 2 quite slow and a bit boring. Claire in particular has just become annoying.
The second half of the season is a lot better and I’m feeling hopeful for season 3 - Villains
Comment by Mark | March 5, 2008 at 11:13 am