TV Show Of The Week #6: Lost

Mr E

Ah I remember the day I saw the pilot with fondness. Little did I realise what a roller coaster JJ Abrams and Co. had in store for us. After a pretty weak (but still much better than alot of other shows) Season 3, we were treated to a humdinger of a Season with #4. Lots of questions answered, even more asked, and the novelty of the Flash Forwards gives the writers an outlet for incredible creativity.

I look forward to 2 more great seasons of this show.

If they can wrap everything up with a nice little ribbon by the end of season 6, I'll be a happy guy. I have a feeling it'll be a hell of a ride.

So.... favourite episodes? Least favourite episodes? Best "holy shit" moment? How will/did Locke die? Is he really dead? Where is the island? Time travel WTF?

Time to get Lost....

Necronomicon

All I can say is I'm glad I didn't give this up during a pretty weak second season.

I was slow to catch onto Lost, the dvd box-set of Season 1 was out before I got into it, so that's how I watched it. I'm very happy I did so, had the whole thing watched in a week. Maybe that's why I didn't particularly like Season 2 - didn't have the patience to wait a week between episodes!

Season 3 was an improvement, but the bar has been raised substantially this season. The flash-forwards in place of the flash-backs have been a master stroke. The pace of the show seems faster, maybe because of the new 16-episode format (well, 14 this season because of the strike). Can't think of a single favourite episode off the top of my head, but certainly the biggest "WTF" moment for me was the twist in the Season 3 finale

when we are first introduced to the flash-forwards

. I really feel for anyone who had it spoiled for them, apparently it happened to quite a few people (and the same this season).

Love it or hate it, I don't think there's been a show in the last decade that has provoked so much debate and intrigue. Here's hoping that the remaining seasons live up to Season 4.

Mr E

Well to make up for the 14 episode season, the next 2 are going to be 17 each, so you aren't going to lose out.

Favourite Episode - I still have a soft spot for Season 2's Lockdown and Season 4's The Constant. The Constant was a seriously major "WTF" episode, but they pulled it off like it was an everyday thing that was happening to Desmond. The scene at the end with Penny was one of the single best scenes in the show's 4 years.

Basq

Phew... where do I start in declaring my undying love for this show?!

'Lost' was a show I was completely unaware of until probably the Christmas after it started airing in the US and I got copies of the show from a very "reputable source" (:eek:) and I watched the first 11 - 12 episodes of the season (as far as they had aired in the States) practically in a marathon session. And each episode just engrossed me even more than the previous one - but there was two episodes that really stuck in my mind from early season 1. That is the infamous 'Walkabout' (with one of the most magnificent revelations, in my mind, that I've witnessed on TV dramas in recent times) and also 'The Moth' (not a particularly great episode but one that really stuck with me).

In fact, the entire first season of 'Lost' is packed full of just fantastic episodes. And although some people felt cheated at the end of the first season, the season two opener more than made up for it with Mama Cass and an introduction to a new character named Desmond. And while season 2 definitely took a slight dive compared to a practically perfect (in my mind) first season, it was still very much must-see viewing. And I will admit now that I had to look up how the 2nd season ended, I'm not sure if it was that the end of the season wasn't particularly memorable or if it's because I hadn't watched it in so long. But season 2 had a large amount of filler, it still had remarkable episodes like 'Lockdown' and of course we had the introduction of the great Michael Emerson (who quickly became a fan favourite.. and one of my favourite characters in the show).

Season 3 had probably just as much filler.. but we were removed from the surroundings of The Hatch for the season (which a lot of people saw as a bit of a sorepoint in the second season). And some un-necessary characters took up valuable time along the way (Nikki & Paolo) but while the season largely started quite poorly (and fans quickly grew weary of the show), those who stayed watching got THAT fantastic revelation at the end of season 3 (ye all know what I mean) and I think 'Lost' has gained back a lot of respect from the naysayers with this little plot device.

Especially in how much it was utilised in the most recent season with it being carefully used to mislead, question and trick the viewers. And it really was probably the best decision Damon and Carlton chose to make as season 4 was, no doubt, the best season since season 1 and long may it continue (well, we know when it'll end now.) Even people who had no interest in 'Lost' told me that they've seen some of this season and it definitely doesn't have the appearance of a show 4 years in.. it's better than ever!

It's worth mentioning that when I saw the show had filler, it had a good few episodes along the way which never really added much to the ongoing storyline and just didn't do it for me - but 'Lost' more than made up for those episodes in that when we got a worthwhile episode, they were, more often than not, magnificient.

Some of my favourite episodes - two of which Dave has just mentioned - are:

• 'The Constant' - a Desmond and Penny centric episode with something a little different. And really warmed to Daniel Faraday in this episode also. Fantastic, heart-wrenching and innovative.
• 'Lockdown' - the Hatch goes nuts and we get an image which sends the message boards into OVERLOAD! Fantastic performance from both Michael Emerson & Terry O Quinn in this one
• 'Through The Looking Glass' - season 3's finale is probably the finest of all the season finales for many reasons - we lose some major characters, we get a stunning revelation in which I was left literally mouth wide-open and it's action packed from start to finish.
• 'All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues' - gone for some early season 1 but there's 2 reasons this episode is great. 1) it has William Mapother as Ethan who was just brillant and 2) it has the excellent scene with Jack and Kate finding Charlie hanging from a tree. Jack tries his hardest to resuccitate Charlie and he gives in, then Michael Giacchino's familiar death theme fades in and it was an amazing scene (when you see it for the first time). In fact, for those who forget it:
  
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwKTFeD0ZFY

Just 4 episodes I love but there really is so many more. I really don't think there is many people who haven't seen an episode of the show.. and if you have, you've probably already made your mind up if you like or not. But if you're unsure, do go back and give it another shot because I do think you are missing out.

Mr E

Great post... thanks for that!

Sherifu

The pilot for Lost blew me away.

Seasons 1 and 4 were excellent.

Seasons 2 and 3 were kind of mixed. Frustrating at times.

I'm happy enough I stuck with it and now there's an end in sight it should get better.

It's a show that does some things very well, character relationships and layered stories.

Some of they mysteries weren't handled that great, why don't the characters talk to each other? Sometimes it's annoying.

I loved the pilot, season 1&3 finales and the stand alone episode with Paulo and Nikki.

Two of the best moments ever for me were Sawyer telling Jack what his father had told him and the Hurley van incident.

Locke was my favourite character in the early seasons but now I prefer Ben, he still has a lot to reveal.

Roll on the next season.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

Sinfonia

Season 3 was already airing by the time I got into Lost, and after I saw 'Further Instructions' I decided to immediately turn back to Season 1 and watch the whole way through. And I'm so glad I did. I Love this show, and I loved it even more after I discovered all the internet hoo-ha about it - Lostpedia in particular, which showed me just how deep the show is, and how deep the writing goes, all of the references, connections, etc. etc.
IMO, Lost is more than just a TV show - I don't think I'd enjoy it as much if I didn't 'study' it so to speak...

Each season stands alone well imo, as well as being part of the bigger picture.
Season 2 seems to be unpopular with some people, but I really loved it. Season 1 made me fan, and I loved it, but season 2 turned it into an obsession for me. Season 3 gets the most badmouthing, and to be fair, of the four so far, it deserves it. I honestly thought it was a great season, but the amount of filler let it down. If season 3 had been 16 concentrated episodes, I think it would be much more popular.

The show really makes me think (although as I've said somewhere on the Lost forum before), not as much anymore, as in the previous seasons it was the lack of answers that made me think, and now that answers are coming, it leaves less for the imagination. Also, the solidified sci-fi direction of the show makes it less fun to guess for me, as the answers at this stage could be ANYTHING, whereas it was more interesting to imagine factual explanations for everything imo.

My favourite show evar anyway

Mr.Nice Guy

I've loved all the seasons. Season 1 set a very high standard and some are of the view they failed to live up to it in subsequent seasons, but I think there have only been a few poor episodes and some really terrific ones since then. The music in the show is top notch as well.

The development of the characters is brillaintly done in Lost and there's not many shows which has me caring for the main characters the way Lost does. When a main character dies or is on the brink of dying it really grips you. The scene in which Anna-Lucia and Libby were killed by Michael was just jaw-dropping stuff at the time. :eek:

I think a lot of the critics of the show are people who desperately want to know what the heck is going on but I'm someone who enjoys the mysterious element of the programme so I'm fine with questions being posed (although I do want there to be more answers).

As far as my favourite scenes go, the one from the first season involving Michael, Sawyer and Jin leaving on the raft was one of the best TV scenes I've ever seen. No words were necessary at all in that scene...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeatX6Pagf0

I also loved the scene from Walkabout touched on by basquille which was just superb...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcEeNLsy4UU

So Lost is easily one of my top 5 favourite shows.

Basq

Thanks Mr Nice Guy for linking to that fantastic scene from 'Walkabout'.. it's been ages since I saw it but it's still as powerful as I remember.

As far as Top 5's go, 'Lost' is probably in the Top 3 for me.

Sinfonia

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

As far as my favourite scenes go, the one from the first season involving Michael, Sawyer and Jin leaving on the raft was one of the best TV scenes I've ever seen. No words were necessary at all in that scene...


I also loved the scene from Walkabout touched on by basquille which was just superb...

Couldn't agree more, my two favourite pieces of music from the show too.
Not my manliest moment admitting this, but Vincent in the water in the raft scene makes me well up every time.