Lindelof: Ending will prompt more questions

leggo

Darlton should just keep their mouths shut and let people judge it for themselves. Comments like this only open them up to wind anxious fans up. I guarantee if they weren't giving us a running commentary along the way we'd just sit tight and hope they resolve it sufficiently.

Yitzhak Rabin

blue_steel wrote: »

Why did the Monster not attack Locke at first, then later drag him into a hole?

I would say that this (just your first example) is a massive question because it goes to the heart of the problems Lost has ran into this season. It highlights the ever growing list of contradictions in character motivation and plot development.
What we have subsequently learned about MIB shows his actions in earlier episodes to be inexplicable imo.

Thats exactly how I feel. To me its so evidently clear that they had no idea what the monster was back then. I mean MiB clearly acts and thinks like a human, however the moster, was exactly that, an unthinking maniacal monster. It seemed to just be some sort of deranged creature/entity/robot. It seemed like it had no motivations back then. Now we're ask to suspend reality and believe that it was a powerful man/or at least spirit of a man, who just wanted to get off the island, and the best way he came up with was the most convoluted and ridiculous plan I have ever heard of. Convice Locke that he needed to stay on the island, and kill people who tried to get them off(Naomi) and destroy things that could get them off(the sub), then convince him he needs to leave, in the hope that he would die, and that someone else would be convinced to bring the body back, so he could take it over, and convince Ben to kill Jacob, so he could then lead or kill temple people to the plane, and fight widmore in the process, and end up with jack at the bottom of a banyan tree...

Now perhaps the writers will have a savage four episodes that completely puts me back in my box, and makes complete sense of the most complicated plan ever conceived...but based on their track record of creating mysteries basically for the sake of being mysterious, then I doubt it

/rant

One thing I always thought, that if MiB is a black smoke monster. Then perhaps Jacob is a white smoke monster. Maybe the first encounter that locke had with smokie was actually Jacob(hence why Locke said it was a bright light, and that he looked into the eye of the island and it was beautiful.) That would be kind of interesting, and at least go some way to showing that the writers at least knew smokie would have a nemesis back in S1.

me-skywalker

But the phrase... 'Security system' kept getting thrown about too much for them to understand it so they left it open to futher development later on.

qz

leggo wrote: »

Darlton should just keep their mouths shut and let people judge it for themselves. Comments like this only open them up to wind anxious fans up. I guarantee if they weren't giving us a running commentary along the way we'd just sit tight and hope they resolve it sufficiently.

Doubtful, people would be getting freaked that they weren't giving answers :rolleyes:

blue_steel

qz wrote: »

Doubtful, people would be getting freaked that they weren't giving answers :rolleyes:

People want answers in the show not in interviews with the writers.

cooker3

Mysteries >>> answers. That's the fundamental problem. They shouldn't explain everything as it that would be horrible but I'd imagine there is stuff which I feel deserves an explanation that will not get it. Just have to see how much.

syklops

Lindelof should not be giving a running commentary on the show. And he definitely should not have to make some things clearer via interviews. Thats a precedent right there. In another thread I listed a few things that I wanted explained, and a poster replied saying "Oh lindelof/Darlton clarified that in a recent interview". Thats very bad writing if he has to do that. If a movie director had to explain some aspect of plot for a film it would be an epic fail.

As for the various mysteries, there are a few things which have been completely forgotten about. Like the button. Did 'pressing the button' actually do something or was it just a dharma test? What exactly did it do? How did that situation come about?

Other mysteries like the numbers cropping up all the time I can live with. Some mysteries will never be explained, and I can understand that. I dont know how the warp drive works in Star Trek, but despite it being used in every episode, I dont need to know.

Star Lord

syklops wrote: »

As for the various mysteries, there are a few things which have been completely forgotten about. Like the button. Did 'pressing the button' actually do something or was it just a dharma test? What exactly did it do? How did that situation come about?

Wasn't that all answered sufficiently when they DIDN'T press the button at the end of season 2?

jimbling

syklops wrote: »

If a movie director had to explain some aspect of plot for a film it would be an epic fail.

That's just not true at all.

And lost is a different kettle of fish anyway. Part and parcel of lost is the web/nerd aspect. I'm sorry, but if you're a casual watcher of lost and take no interest in finding out more by reading a bit about it then you will miss a hell of a lot.

For example, there are thousands of little nuances in the show. Nods in this episode that point to something in an episode 3 seasons ago. Or little mini mysteries that most people don't notice.
If I didn't read episode threads there would be stuff I miss in every single episode.


Now, I'm not talking about things like Walt that made up a major part of the series. I mean, I'm still hoping that he'll appear in the finale or something (even though my head tells me it's not happening).

So, don't get me wrong... I want the major stuff dealt with in show. But I have no problem if the writers explain, via interview/podcast, why Ben's list in season 2 differs from the Candidate lists in season 6.... or what the Hurley bird was about... or that the "Help me" was MiB and not Jacob (which I assume)... or majority of the little questions that people seem preoccupied with.
If they tried to answer all these little things the show would be absolutely woeful. It would just be full of ****e seasons like we had for the "answers" to the whispers.

My fear is that they don't give us any information after the show at all. I like the idea that we'll be left thinking...hmm, I wonder. But some of the questions must be answered in some form, at some time.

Dempsey

The only surprise is that people were expecting everything to be answered. Revealing mysteries wont satisfy the audience at all imo and I want an ending to Lost that makes the endings to previous season seem predictable.

Why did Desmond tell Charlie he saw a vision of Claire and Aaron getting on a helicopter that could only come true if he died?

If Desmond interfere's with his vision then the future changes. He prevented Charlie's death in the Jungle so the "butterfly effect" of his vision then became defunct. That was explained by Desmond in that episode.

Psychedelic

One thing that annoys me is that there probably aren't any answers to some of the mysteries i.e. the writers don't even know themselves. I could accept not knowing some things if I thought the writers actually knew themselves but just weren't revealing the answers to us.

Teddy Daniels

I really want the numbers explained.
I want to know what the button does.
I really want to know about walt, did he just age too fast or was he never really a big deal?

me-skywalker

My mate jsut start watching it for the 1st time gonna try get it finished before the finale and you should hear all his questions.... its great having someone like that haha..

His first text to me was 'WTF is up with Walt?'

Its interesting having someone just starting to watch it for the first time as their questions will get me thinking about it more now too.

syklops

DamoElDiablo wrote: »

Wasn't that all answered sufficiently when they DIDN'T press the button at the end of season 2?

Not sufficiently no. They didn't press the button so the hatch imploded. Why? What did typing in the numbers do? What caused the ex/implosion? What did the hieroglyphics that appeared on the clock thing all mean? Why did Desmond survive the explosion and his clothes didnt?

Until the above questions are answered, and others too i would not call it sufficiently answered.

That's just not true at all.

Care to elaborate?

And lost is a different kettle of fish anyway. Part and parcel of lost is the web/nerd aspect. I'm sorry, but if you're a casual watcher of lost and take no interest in finding out more by reading a bit about it then you will miss a hell of a lot.

If thats directed at me then its misplaced. I would not call myself a casual watcher. Infact between seasons 1 and 4 I was an avid watcher. I hung out in lost threads and I read theories and took part in discussion and it was fun. But reading other peoples theories and creating my own is one thing but there comes a time when you want the answer to be revealed, and revealed in the story not by the director telling it in an interview.

So, don't get me wrong... I want the major stuff dealt with in show. But I have no problem if the writers explain, via interview/podcast, why Ben's list in season 2 differs from the Candidate lists in season 6.... or what the Hurley bird was about... or that the "Help me" was MiB and not Jacob (which I assume)... or majority of the little questions that people seem preoccupied with.
If they tried to answer all these little things the show would be absolutely woeful. It would just be full of ****e seasons like we had for the "answers" to the whispers.

They dont need to answer everything, and to be honest I think the whispers didnt need to be answered. But ask 100 lost fans what they want explained and the majority would say the numbers. What is the deal with the numbers. Why do they keep cropping up?

As for Walt, it seems pretty clear to me that in Season 2 they had no idea there would be a season 6. They didnt consider the possibility that when walt was 14 in Season 1, he would be 20 in the Season finale, so they conveniently scrapped his storyline.

I'm a little like John when he found out(or thought he found out) that pushing the button did nothing, because I am sticking with lost simply because I dont want to believe that I spent 4 years doing something that won't deliver. John got his explosion. I hope I get mine.

jimbling

syklops wrote: »

Not sufficiently no. They didn't press the button so the hatch imploded. Why? What did typing in the numbers do? What caused the ex/implosion? What did the hieroglyphics that appeared on the clock thing all mean? Why did Desmond survive the explosion and his clothes didnt?

Until the above questions are answered, and others too i would not call it sufficiently answered.

If you expected to get further clarification on any of those sort of questions (ones pretty much already answered, and they are...I'm not going to get into details though) you were sadly mistaken. If you found the answers unsatisfactory then you'll continue to do so.

syklops wrote: »

Care to elaborate?

Sure, there are loads of good movies that require further clarification after a viewer has watched it... in fact, I love a movie that makes me go straight to the internet to find out more about it.

syklops wrote: »

If thats directed at me then its misplaced. I would not call myself a casual watcher. Infact between seasons 1 and 4 I was an avid watcher. I hung out in lost threads and I read theories and took part in discussion and it was fun. But reading other peoples theories and creating my own is one thing but there comes a time when you want the answer to be revealed, and revealed in the story not by the director telling it in an interview.

I don't think it is misplaced at all. Your point is that everything should be answered in the show, you dont want the writers having to explain anything after the series. Well what I'm saying is that is completely impossible. Lost is ridiculously convoluted with tons and tons of loose ends..... and it will end that way too.
I know there will be loads of things unanswered or not dealt with. I would hope that these things will get some sort of clarification after the show. I understand there will always be some mystery and that's to be expected.

syklops wrote: »

They dont need to answer everything, and to be honest I think the whispers didnt need to be answered.

Okay, I'm confused. You don't think everything needs to be answered, but you think that it's unacceptable that a writer has to clarify anything outside the show? So you're just happy that some questions go unanswered in the show, as long as you don't get further clarification from the writers?

Oh, and you don't think the whispers needed to be answered, but you do think the hieroglyphics on the timer for the button should be answered?

syklops wrote: »

But ask 100 lost fans what they want explained and the majority would say the numbers. What is the deal with the numbers. Why do they keep cropping up?

Yes, the numbers are absolutely vital. One of the biggest things in the show. And they have come up very often this season so I'm still hopeful that something will be explained in the show. If not, I'm hopeful we might get further clarification after the show.

Edit: By the way, your question. Why do they keep cropping up?
Well, we kind of know that already dont we? They're the final 6 candidates.... That's why they keep coming up. The question really is How do they keep cropping up?
And that can pretty easily be written off by them being pre-destined, or time travel or some such.
I'm not sure it's going to be much more than that, which will be disappointing all right.

syklops wrote: »

As for Walt, it seems pretty clear to me that in Season 2 they had no idea there would be a season 6. They didnt consider the possibility that when walt was 14 in Season 1, he would be 20 in the Season finale, so they conveniently scrapped his storyline.

Of course they didn't know if there would be a season 6..... that's how television works. It's all about the ratings.

I agree with you that it's pretty bad that they just completely ignored Walt in all this though. I mean, he did appear in the show last year, so you never know....maybe he'll turn up in the two hour finale... I wont hold my breath though



I'm tired, and maybe I've picked you up wrong. If you were only talking about the bigger mysteries then fair enough, I agree. But you did go on about the button in fairness, that's no longer a big mystery...there may be a few small niggling questions, but that could be said for every single mystery in the show.

syklops

jimbling wrote: »

If you expected to get further clarification on any of those sort of questions (ones pretty much already answered, and they are...I'm not going to get into details though) you were sadly mistaken. If you found the answers unsatisfactory then you'll continue to do so.

So tough is what your saying.

Sure, there are loads of good movies that require further clarification after a viewer has watched it... in fact, I love a movie that makes me go straight to the internet to find out more about it.

There are plenty of movies I go to IMDB or somewhere to find more info on or to discuss. I cant think of any which I needed to get a clarification from the director or producer about aspects of the plot. Maybe I am missing something. Whats the movie you liked which you went in search of further clarification for?

I don't think it is misplaced at all. Your point is that everything should be answered in the show, you dont want the writers having to explain anything after the series. Well what I'm saying is that is completely impossible. Lost is ridiculously convoluted with tons and tons of loose ends..... and it will end that way too.
I know there will be loads of things unanswered or not dealt with. I would hope that these things will get some sort of clarification after the show. I understand there will always be some mystery and that's to be expected.

I never said everything should be answered in the show. Mysteries exist in many of the things I watch. I used the analogy of warp drive in Star trek earlier in the thread. No one ever explains exactly how it works, though there are some theories, but despite the fact that it is used regularly, it does not need to be explained.

Lost is ridiculously convoluted with tons and tons of loose ends

I dont mind a convoluted story, but its sheer amount of loose ends I have a problem with, and I dont think I am the only one.

Okay, I'm confused. You don't think everything needs to be answered, but you think that it's unacceptable that a writer has to clarify anything outside the show? So you're just happy that some questions go unanswered in the show, as long as you don't get further clarification from the writers?

Yes I do think its unacceptable that a writer has to clarify something outside of the show. The writer is meant to be a story teller. And the show should end when the story is finished. Am I happy that some questions go unanswered as long as the writers dont give me clarification? What a stupid thing to ask. Do I sound happy?

Oh, and you don't think the whispers needed to be answered, but you do think the hieroglyphics on the timer for the button should be answered?

Well I am sorry, but on an island where there are ghosts, a monster, people with psychic visions, people who can time travel, people who can talk to the dead, and people who never age, I dont think the whispering needed to be at the top of the list of things to be explained. With all the other strange goings on on the island you might expecting some spooky whispers coming from the jungle.

Yes, the numbers are absolutely vital. One of the biggest things in the show. And they have come up very often this season so I'm still hopeful that something will be explained in the show. If not, I'm hopeful we might get further clarification after the show.

Nice to see we agree on something.

I'm tired, and maybe I've picked you up wrong. If you were only talking about the bigger mysteries then fair enough, I agree. But you did go on about the button in fairness, that's no longer a big mystery...there may be a few small niggling questions, but that could be said for every single mystery in the show.

I wouldnt say I went on about the button. I asked 3 questions. As for whether the mystery of the hatch, the button and the hieroglyphics is sufficiently explained, well I suppose thats a matter of opinion.

Star Lord

syklops wrote: »

Not sufficiently no. They didn't press the button so the hatch imploded. Why? What did typing in the numbers do? What caused the ex/implosion? What did the hieroglyphics that appeared on the clock thing all mean? Why did Desmond survive the explosion and his clothes didnt?

Typing in the numbers vented/discharged some of the electromagnetism that was building up before they reached dangerous levels.

Not entering the numbers caused it to reach and exceed that point, thus the hatch imploded because it was built using lots of metal which was pulled in to the centre of the magnetic anomoly (sp?)

The hieroglyphics I'm not certain about other than they were a warning, probably to get the numbers entered promptly.

How Desmond ended up naked in the jungle is anyone's guess, I don't think we'll ever know for certain, but I'm ok with not knowing.

syklops

DamoElDiablo wrote: »

Typing in the numbers vented/discharged some of the electromagnetism that was building up before they reached dangerous levels.

How?

Thats what I mean about not sufficiently explained.

jimbling

DamoElDiablo wrote: »

Typing in the numbers vented/discharged some of the electromagnetism that was building up before they reached dangerous levels.

syklops wrote: »

How?

Thats what I mean about not sufficiently explained.

Skylops, I dont know what to say, you're clearly insane

syklops wrote: »

I never said everything should be answered in the show. Mysteries exist in many of the things I watch. I used the analogy of warp drive in Star trek earlier in the thread. No one ever explains exactly how it works, though there are some theories, but despite the fact that it is used regularly, it does not need to be explained.

How is it the workings of the warp drive is no problem and accepted, but the venting of a build up of electromagnetism by a button a major mystery?

that seems very contradictory to me, they're both very similar in context. Just something you accept about the show.

syklops

Maybe I am insane, but is it not human nature to ask why things are?

How is it the workings of the warp drive is no problem and accepted, but the venting of a build up of electromagnetism by a button a major mystery?

that seems very contradictory to me, they're both very similar in context. Just something you accept about the show.

Well for a start Star Trek is set 500 years into the future. So it is connceivable that they would have knowledge and technology beyond our comprehension.

The flip side of that is the hatch button et al was built in the 1970s, so I think I would(or could) be able to understand how it works.

Dempsey

syklops wrote: »

Maybe I am insane, but is it not human nature to ask why things are?



Well for a start Star Trek is set 500 years into the future. So it is connceivable that they would have knowledge and technology beyond our comprehension.

The flip side of that is the hatch button et al was built in the 1970s, so I think I would(or could) be able to understand how it works.

Star Wars was set in the past, along time before 1970 and had knowledge and technology beyond our comprehension...:pac:

Handsome Bob

All that matters to me is that we get some closure on the alt timeline AND that Jacob's and MIB's purposes are clearly outlined. I'm confident that I'll get a satisfying explanation in regards to both.

onlyrocknroll

Hey first post here, sorry to those above who said that they hate the running commentary from Darlton, but here was a little clarification on the podcast about would be explained and what wouldn't.

Some of the rules concerning who can kill who will be made clear, ie Ben and Widmore, MIB and the candidates etc, but the full list of rules won't be. I think the words they used were something like "no character will sit down and explain all the rules governing the island" but "the rules relevant to the narrative we're telling" will be made clear.

As a fan I can live with that.

It's the little ones that would annoy me if they weren't explained, the glass eye, the Hurley Bird etc. were clearly set up for an explanation, it would be cop out to ignore them now.

Sad Professor

Can I just point out that failing to press the button is NOT what caused the hatch to implode. Desmond turning the failsafe key caused the implosion, which also sealed the electromagnetic leak. Had he not done so the likely result would have been global apocalypse. Presumedly something similar happened when Juliet hit the bomb.

So there was always 3 options regarding the button:

1) Press the button - discharge the build-up, the world is saved.
2) Don't press the button - the electromagnetism builds up, eventually causing global apocalypse
3) Turn the fail-safe key, destroying the entire facility and sealing the leak permanently. This was probably risky though and Dharma couldn't have been sure it would work, so it was kept as a fall back.

Star Lord

Sad Professor wrote: »

Can I just point out that failing to press the button is NOT what caused the hatch to implode. Desmond turning the failsafe key caused the implosion, which also sealed the electromagnetic leak.

Oops, had thought I had included that as part of my explaination...