Lindelof/Cuse - "Can't answer questions 'cos we've run out of time"

DeepBlue

http://www.rte.ie/aertel/304-01.html



Screenshot included as presumably the aertel page changes content every so often.

Given all the filler episodes on this show the "we've run out of time" excuse sounds really pathetic.

blue_steel

+1
This really annoys me. They've had an end date for 3 and a half seasons. The only possible reason for not answering questions is because there are no answers. Very disappointing.
The characters don’t care who built the statue or what the numbers mean or how the Black Rock ended up in the middle of the jungle. You could argue that all they really care about is why they are on the island and I have a feeling that’s all that will be answered. 100 hundred odd questions and 1 answer

Sad Professor

They said this quite a while ago. I'm pretty sure they are talking about very minor questions that only the most obsessed fans have. Either that or stuff that was never actually a question to begin with. We already know who built the statue - ancient Egyptians. They can't give us an whole history of the island.

Mostly they are just covering themselves. There's people out there who think how the shark got it's Dharma tattoo is of enormous importance. People who want know about the island, monster, numbers, etc have nothing to worry about. Unless they want a scientific and spoon-fed explanation for everything.

Despite what they say, I reckon it's the small character-related questions that won't be answered. I've a ****-load about Ben for example, which I'm pretty sure won't be resolved.

But look - if something *significant* isn't answered then I agree, "we didn't have enough time" is no excuse.

cooker3

Yeah but can't they just class what is significant as what they end up answering?

leggo

I'll flip this one around:

What would people rather? An unnecessary and crappy extra season that manages to cover all of the 'little questions', but ruins the show's legacy, or a great final season that leaves you wanting more?

And plus, I'd be fairly confident that they'll find some way of delving into the nitpicky questions for the fanboys. Be it through podcasts, a Lost tell-all book, DVD extras etc.

ToTheSea:

leggo wrote: »

I'll flip this one around:

What would people rather? An unnecessary and crappy extra season that manages to cover all of the 'little questions', but ruins the show's legacy, or a great final season that leaves you wanting more?

And plus, I'd be fairly confident that they'll find some way of delving into the nitpicky questions for the fanboys. Be it through podcasts, a Lost tell-all book, DVD extras etc.

I think I'd want another season, but then after I'd look back and wish they never made it. When a show is this you want more. I'm greedy, dont blame me. Glad their stopping it though and not ruining it.
I think im talking sh1te:D

Sad Professor

Lostpedia has a pretty good page of solved, unsolved, and partially solved mysteries.

http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Portal:Mysterious

I think it's pretty easy to separate the significant from the insignificant ones.

Does anyone actually remember Charlotte Malkin?
The Hurley Bird?
The glass eye?
Sayid's cat?

None of these matter. But the writers are regularly assaulted by such questions on the podcast. Where as I think we can all agree though that the whispers, for example, are a pretty significant mystery and we'll all be pissed if they aren't answered.

Quotes, such as the one used by Aertel, are taken out of context and imply that the writers are going to cop out and leave major stuff hanging.

Dempsey

Yea, answering every question would devalue the show tbh but there are other things that need to be answered.

I'm fairly annoyed that they probably wont go about explaining why Libby was in the mental institute, why she gave Desmond a boat. They were suppose to explain most of that but they changed their mind because of the writers strike and the actress not interested in coming back.

It will be fairly bad if its a few central plots and things that they've made look important that are left unfinished

jimbling

Dempsey wrote: »

I'm fairly annoyed that they probably wont go about explaining why Libby was in the mental institute, why she gave Desmond a boat. They were suppose to explain most of that but they changed their mind because of the writers strike and the actress not interested in coming back.

I thought I read in one of the other threads that they have said that they will be telling libbys story this season??

blue_steel

Sad Professor wrote: »

We already know who built the statue - ancient Egyptians.

When did we find that out? You can speculate that because the island moves through time and space and Tarawat is an Egypian god that at some point in history Egypians came to the island or the island came to them but thats a theory not an answer.
I have no interest in minutia like glass eyes and Kates horse but there are at least 20 game breaking questions that need to be answered or at least strongly pointed towards.

Dempsey

jimbling wrote: »

I thought I read in one of the other threads that they have said that they will be telling libbys story this season??

Its not confirmed what exactly she'll be doing this season when she does actually make an appearance. Her story was penciled in for explaining in season 3 AFAIK, alot of people will be struggling to remember her flashback/back story at this stage.

blue_steel

Originally Posted by Sad Professor I've a ****-load about Ben for example, which I'm pretty sure won't be resolved

My problem with Ben is that the vast majority of the contradictions in his character and the mystery in his motivations were introduced after the end date was set so the only reason I can see for it is deliberate obfuscation. At this stage the best explanation for his behavior is simply that he's psychotic.
One example I can guarantee will not be answered is what he was hiding in the air vent when he was sharing the motel room with Jack at the start of last season. Why show that and then never resolve it :rolleyes:

Kiith

I'd rather some things dont get answered, then being given a Lord of the Rings ending that just goes on and on and on and on and on...

Sad Professor

Kiith wrote: »

I'd rather some things dont get answered, then being given a Lord of the Rings ending that just goes on and on and on and on and on...

And even LOTR had a very extensive appendix. And Tolkien spent the remainder of his life filling the various gaps in that story in published and unpublished works.

blue_steel wrote: »

When did we find that out? You can speculate that because the island moves through time and space and Tarawat is an Egypian god that at some point in history Egypians came to the island or the island came to them but thats a theory not an answer.

But a pretty logical one you have to admit.

I understand why people think the question is important and I'd like to see more on it too. But (like Tolkien) the writers have to draw the line somewhere. The show is about a group of plane crash survivors. Along the way we found out about the island's previous inhabitants and there was a lot of them.

Before the survivors there was the French team, before them there was Dharma, before them there was the Others (whose story I'm presuming we will get this season). Before the Others there was...? This could go on forever.

The statue and other things are evidence that the island has been around a long time and during that time people have been drawn to it. But unless Jacob and MIB turn out to be Egyptians, then we've never met an ancient inhabitant on the show, we just found their artefacts. Therefore who they were (as interesting as it might be) really lies outside the main narrative of the show imo.

NukaCola

ToTheSea: wrote: »

Glad their stopping it though and not ruining it.

Hmmmm....i reserve judgement on that until the very end, not a fan of season 6 thus far.

NukaCola

blue_steel wrote: »

One example I can guarantee will not be answered is what he was hiding in the air vent when he was sharing the motel room with Jack at the start of last season. Why show that and then never resolve it :rolleyes:

Lazy writing IMO. Lost is known for its wtf moments. The writers throw them in and then your hooked.

And now they are saying they have run out of time to answer these questions they themselves posed?

Meanwhile we are watching Locke at work....again, Kate on the run.....again, Jack having daddy issues....again. Claire pregnant......again.

Annoyed = Me :mad:

Jay Ru

MAJOR COP OUT

uggy

As long as it only tiny unimportant things, I wouldn't mind.

Bear in mind that since the start they said it would only be 5 seasons (6 due to the writers strike), they knew how much time they had. So in that respect, at least, poor writing. But I'll reserve judgement untill the end.

catho_monster

I'd be happy if damon and carlton just did a podcast where they said, the bird had to do with this, the ## had to do with ##, and this is why this happened.
i don't need fancy smancy filming or extended seasons, but for the love of all that is good in the world, don't leave us hanging.
i could totally see a dedicated comic-con session specifically for this purpose once the series is over.
i can hope and pray, right?

Max Power1

going old school with the information sources i see!

jarvisob

Well a load of individual episodes over the 6 series are written by people who aren't Carlton and Damon. Chances are questions thrown up in these episodes are never going to be answered , not even by the two main writers.
If you've a specific question check on lostpedia as to who wrote the episode of it's orign and you'll get a good idea as to whether you'll ever get it answered........ kinda sucks alright

Sad Professor

jarvisob wrote: »

Well a load of individual episodes over the 6 series are written by people who aren't Carlton and Damon. Chances are questions thrown up in these episodes are never going to be answered , not even by the two main writers.
If you've a specific question check on lostpedia as to who wrote the episode of it's orign and you'll get a good idea as to whether you'll ever get it answered........ kinda sucks alright

In television the credited writer is usually just the person who put pen to paper. The writers break down each episode as a group under the guidance of the head writer (Damon in this case). Then one or two of the writers are sent off to write a draft of the teleplay. The head writer decides if it is up to snuff and may make a few final changes/revisions before it is sent to shoot. Sometimes they might even completely re-write it without taking credit - that's their job. So while every episode is a collaboration, the head writer/producer is really the main creative force behind a tv show.

Mr. Incognito

I think we'll have to reserve judgement until the series is over to make an informed approach.

cooker3

blue_steel wrote: »

One example I can guarantee will not be answered is what he was hiding in the air vent when he was sharing the motel room with Jack at the start of last season. Why show that and then never resolve it :rolleyes:

I would put on good money that will get answered.

Sad Professor

Somewhat sensationalist Washington Post article about this matter here:

Many of the questions posed during the run of "Lost" that have been keeping you up at night are never going to be answered on the show but will instead be tossed on the compost heap like an old turnip, because, the writers say, they have run out of time.

And here's Damon's response to it on Twitter:

DamonLindelof
This is me blithely informing y'all that we have no intention of tossing any turnips. Don't believe everything you read.

tipperaryboy

its terrible that questions will never be answered.:(

Mr. K

As long as the main questions are answered, it's all good. A satisfying ending is the most important thing!

blue_steel

cooker3 wrote: »

I would put on good money that will get answered.

This is an example. It may well be answered but there are dozens of similar scenes that won't. No matter how much we love the show we have to be intelligent enough to say this constitutes lazy writing.

cooker3

blue_steel wrote: »

This is an example. It may well be answered but there are dozens of similar scenes that won't. No matter how much we love the show we have to be intelligent enough to say this constitutes lazy writing.

As was said above it depends what you regard as a question.

Someone posted in another thread about how we need to find out more about the baseball Dogen had. No, we do not. We have heard enough about that. It never has to be mentioned again... but he would disagree and say what about this and so on. Every form of fiction has questions that don't get fully explained as it just becomes an infinite regression. It then becomes a matter of what you regard as important and to what level of detail.

For me, I would say I would use a generic rule of if a mystery ended a episode at a cliffhanger, then it should be answered. If a main cast member has an obvious missing part of the their story then it should be answered. That's not perfect by any means, but I think as a rough rule it works ok.

me-skywalker

blue_steel wrote: »

This is an example. It may well be answered but there are dozens of similar scenes that won't. No matter how much we love the show we have to be intelligent enough to say this constitutes lazy writing.

that was a lazy example

DonkeyStyle \o/

Well, just as long as they find the magic box. :pac:

blue_steel

cooker3 wrote: »

As was said above it depends what you regard as a question.

Someone posted in another thread about how we need to find out more about the baseball Dogen had. No, we do not. We have heard enough about that. It never has to be mentioned again... but he would disagree and say what about this and so on. Every form of fiction has questions that don't get fully explained as it just becomes an infinite regression. It then becomes a matter of what you regard as important and to what level of detail.

For me, I would say I would use a generic rule of if a mystery ended a episode at a cliffhanger, then it should be answered. If a main cast member has an obvious missing part of the their story then it should be answered. That's not perfect by any means, but I think as a rough rule it works ok.

Who would care about Dogen's baseball?
And if you want every episode ending explained then prepare to be disappointed. Walt sending a message to Michael on the hatch computer anyone?

Dempsey

blue_steel wrote: »

Only an idiot would care about Dogen's baseball.
And if you want every episode ending explained then prepare to be disappointed. Walt sending a message to Michael on the hatch computer anyone?

He was sending the messages from the "The Door" station :pac:

Sad Professor

blue_steel wrote: »

Walt sending a message to Michael on the hatch computer anyone?

I didn't particularly care for the explanation, but this was explained - in "Exposé" of all episodes.

According to that episode, on day 49, Ben and Juliet were in the Pearl hatch watching the survivors:

JULIET: Why are we doing this? Shephard will never agree to do the surgery.
BEN: No, I can convince him to do it.
JULIET: How?
BEN: Same way I get anybody to do anything. I find out what he's emotionally invested in, and I exploit it.
JULIET: So, what? We just grab all three of them, Ford and Austen too?
BEN: No they need to come to us.
JULIET: And how do we make that happen?
BEN: Michael, of course.
JULIET: Are we done here? This place gives me the creeps.

Then on day 50, Michael gets the message from "Walt" on the hatch computer.

Ben's plan is incredibly convoluted, but it does explain Walt's message.

blue_steel

Sad Professor wrote: »

I didn't particularly care for the explanation, but this was explained - in "Exposé" of all episodes.

According to that episode, on day 49, Ben and Juliet were in the Pearl hatch watching the survivors:



Then on day 50, Michael gets the message from "Walt" on the hatch computer.

Ben's plan is incredibly convoluted, but it does explain Walt's message.

Fair enough, forgot that

sprinkles

blue_steel wrote: »

Who would care about Dogen's baseball?
And if you want every episode ending explained then prepare to be disappointed. Walt sending a message to Michael on the hatch computer anyone?

Dogen's baseball was explained. It reminded him of his kid who he collected from Baseball the day he crashed his car resulting in his kids death.

Dempsey

sprinkles wrote: »

Dogen's baseball was explained. It reminded him of his kid who he collected from Baseball the day he crashed his car resulting in his kids death.

Thats not enough, I want to know what shop he bought the damn thing in! I want receipts!! :pac:

MR NINE

Anyone any guesses as to why Abbadon was trying to convince Locke to go on a walkabout? Seeing as he turned out to just be working for Widmore, how could he possibly know it would lead him to the island?

blue_steel

MR NINE wrote: »

Anyone any guesses as to why Abbadon was trying to convince Locke to go on a walkabout? Seeing as he turned out to just be working for Widmore, how could he possibly know it would lead him to the island?

I reckon Widmore will end up on MIBs side in the final conflict and it'll be explained that way.

blue_steel

cooker3 wrote: »

I would put on good money that will get answered.

After the final Ben-centric episode are you still so confident this'll be answered?

Sad Professor

Re: Ben's box

He probably had Jin's ring and the gun he planned to kill Penny with in it. He wasn't going to leave them around for Jack to see. They probably meant to reveal this in "Dead is Dead" but forgot. Or maybe it got cut out. It hardly matters at this stage. Why Ben decided to wipe out Dharma is what I really wanted answered and it's not looking like it will.

kowloon

Anyone remember when we all thought Lost was super smart and everything would wrap up and be addressed in a single unified answer that would be so clever it would blow our tiny little minds?

cooker3

blue_steel wrote: »

After the final Ben-centric episode are you still so confident this'll be answered?

Yep as it will be revealed in Alperts backstory!
This is my theory. The item is Magnus Hanso's journal as seen in the Find815 arg. Alpert was on the black rock so Ben will know it will be of interest to him.

I'm still still sticking with it!

blue_steel

cooker3 wrote: »

Yep as it will be revealed in Alperts backstory!
This is my theory. The item is Magnus Hanso's journal as seen in the Find815 arg. Alpert was on the black rock so Ben will know it will be of interest to him.

I'm still still sticking with it!

That would be cool but didn't we see Widmore buy the journal in a Desmond episode?

cooker3

Ah crap. I thought that was an painting.
Hmmmn well Ben could have stolen it I guess...