[US/IRL] 6x17/18 - "The End" (2.5 Hour Series Finale) [** SPOILERS WITHIN **]

This episode was on my mind all morning, and it's only just sinking in enough for me to articulate my thoughts on it.

I have to admit to initially feeling underwhelmed; my first reaction to the 'purgatory' revelation (despite, thankfully, not being the version once predicted and famously refuted by the writers) was one of mild disdain. But the longer I've let it resonate in my mind, the more I think it was ultimately a fitting end.

Firstly, I'm just so so glad that everything that happened for six seasons on the island wasn't discredited by a 'it didn't happen' resolution (despite what a lot of people are saying, but I just can't wrap my head around that theory). They did crash, weird **** did happen, and each character's arc resolved in that timeline, whether it was Jack sacrificing himself, Hurley becoming the new protector or Sawyer and co getting off the island. These resolutions are what matter most; not a handful of unexplained mysteries. In fact, i'm delighted that the island retained its sense of mystery.

As for the episode itself: I had butterflies when Jack and Locke clashed on the rocks. It's been six seasons coming, and the symmetrical turnaround in their respective beliefs has just been masterful storytelling. A couple of reservations though:

- Ben's willingness to switch from good to bad hasn't sat right. I felt that it was a bad move in the last episode to have him 'move to the darkside' given his apparent redemption earlier in the season (particularly in the fantastic episode 'Dr. Linus'). Some might say this is Ben all over, further reflected in his refusal to enter the church at the end; but it was too inconsistent for such a short time period in my view (also, how did he get out from under the tree??)

- I felt that Desmond putting out the light/removing the statue/urn type thing from the water was too ambiguous. The characters seemed to be so sure as to what was actually happening, in a very unspoken way, leaving us very uninformed. This might seem contradictory to my point about the island retaining its mystery, but for something that was so pivotal to the endgame, I think we could have done with a clearer picture as to what was going on.

- I wasn't as moved by the 'awakenings' as most others seemed to have been. This is possibly because I was so sceptical about how they would reconcile the alternate timeline, so I hope this has more of an impact when I rewatch with the ending in mind. I was, however, thoroughly moved by the final scene - Vincent going to sleep next to a dying Jack was heartbreaking.

To wrap up an over-inflated post, I'm gonna miss the hell out of this show, the greatest of all time in my opinion. I'd ask those who did not enjoy The End to not let it retrospectively ruin your tenure as a LOST fanatic. I'd liken it to a holiday where the destination is not what you'd hoped for, but the journey there was amazing.

/box-set preordered.

I really liked where Locke said to jack after the operation that he hopes somewhon does for jack what jack did for him ie "letting go."

maybe theres a subtle message to a lot of the hardcore lost fans too!

whiteman19 wrote: »

no the island wasn't limbo/purgatory. the Flash-sideways was purgatory. christian said so.
look up lostpedia. i'm sure they've got the definitive answer (along with the rest of them )

No, that's an interpretation.

[-0-] wrote: »

10/10 - brilliant...thank you so much for the last 6 years. I'm so sad it's over.

That is the overwhelming feeling I am left with. I was looking forward to it ending and now I'm at a loss myself :pac: The only TV I have ever watched compulsively from beginning to end.:( I'll miss those characters.

kingcurls wrote: »

Desmond appears to be trapped now on the Island even though he has a life to return to with penny what does his future hold (although the suggestion that hurley can now change things to allow people to leave the Island may suggest that the boat at the end of the cliff soon had Desmond happily on it sailing back to his life)

I think it's safe to assume Desmond got back on his boat or got off some other way.

kingcurls wrote: »

Jack surviving the cave and waking up in the jungle near death, how did he survive this? im worried that he had become a different entity like the MIB did after he went tinto the heart of the Island (but the scene of him being happy seeing the plane leaving was enough to convince me he was the same old Jack.

The black smoke ended with Locke. It became mortal and was killed.

kingcurls wrote: »

There was a point in the cave where MIB suggested to Jack that he was indeed still John Locke, what was that all about, were they suggesting that Locke was evil and formed some sort of deal with the MIB, it was just a weird scene that didnt fit. (although Lockes presence in the final church scene suggests that he wasnt evil)

I remember that now. Going to watch it again tonight, but I remember thinking for a second.. maybe it IS still Locke...

kingcurls wrote: »

The complete absence of Michael and Walt was confusing, where were they in the final scene, if not Michael then at least Walt.

Michael wasn't ready to go yet. Walt probably got over his island experiences and had many more adventures. It could be that in order to have the 'final scene' each person has to create or want that resolution as Christian told Jack the people had created it themselves. I think Michael wasn't letting go of what he did on the island. He wasn't creating that opportunity for himself yet to progress. It was up to himself to want that. When he is ready I am sure he will progress to a FST and then to going into the light. That's why he wasn't in this FST but Ana Lucia was, IMO she had taken a step towards resolution so she was off the island.. but she hadn't gone far enough and wasn't 'ready yet' as Des said. I reckon Michael is still on the island because he hasn't progressed to FST yet. If that makes sense. He is torturing himself over Libby etc. He'll need to learn to let go.

kingcurls wrote: »

It just went to show me how much better lost was than any other show I have ever seen on TV and how shallow and cruddy other shows are like desperate housewives and glee....nothing will compare!

+1

kingcurls wrote: »

Nope not an interpretation this is what happened in the show it was clearly stated and yet so many people seemed to have missed it and as a result people are slating the finale saying it was terrible when they have a terrible understanding of what just happened. It can be frustrating imagine someone slating something you loved for a completely misheard or made up reason...then maybe you will understand

Ah jesus, look I'm not saying that it may not be the case, but it's still a f*cking interpretation. Implied? Maybe. Clearly stated? No.

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

If everyone on the plane died in the crash (most popular theory)...

That's not the most popular theory.

Absolutely loved it

Said in beginning they were all dead

Reminded me of a Mitch Ablom novel

Superb stuff we'll never see the likes of it again ever, ever, ever

Can't vote keeps saying I have done already!

The final episode of 'Lost' will be screened on RTÉ Two tonight.
The double episode was shown in the US last night and was simulcast on Sky One at 5am this morning.
It begins on RTÉ Two tonight at 9pm.
The documentary, 'Lost: The Final Journey', will be shown later on RTÉ Two at 12:20am.

seadnamac wrote: »

Ah jesus, look I'm not saying that it may not be the case, but it's still a f*cking interpretation. Implied? Maybe. Clearly stated? No.

Implied? yes throughout the whole episode

Clearly stated? Yes

The following is direct quotes from the episode:
Jack: "i dont understand, you died"
Christian: "yes i did"
Jack: "Then how are you here right now"
Christian: "*sigh* how are you here?"
Jack: "I died too"
......................
......................
Jack: "Are you real?"
Christian: "I hope so.....You're real, everything thats ever happened to you is real, those people in the church, they're all real"
Jack: "They're all dead?"
Christian:"Everyone dies son....some of them before you, some long after you"
Jack: "are they all here now"
Christian :"well there is no now...here"
.....................
.....................
Christian: "this is a place that you all made together so that you could find one another....the most important part of your life was the time that you spent with those people"

So if they all died in episode one...the most important time of jacks life was spent on a flight from sydney to the bottom of the ocean?




There you go can we stop arguing now? Island all real and flash sideways all purgatory...END OF STORY