Monday, May 24, 2010

Daily Links, Lost Finale Day: Apologies


I was going to gather a ton of links today as I usually do on Mondays, but instead I watched the finale of Lost. My family and I are big fans.

That was a stupid thing to do.

The ending didn't simply suck the way Battlestar Galactica was merely mediocre. Rather, the ending was a complete and total betrayal of its audience, rendering the entire show meaningless. It pissed me off so much that I can't keep my focus on anything tonight.

So I'll do the links tomorrow.

Sorry.

PS: Yes, I could have written at least ten endings for that show, all better.
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10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't worry. All your favorite characters will come back in the shower, revealing that the ending was just a dream and then they can do it right.

Unknown said...

I stopped watching lost after partway through Season 2. Or was it the beginning of Season 3. Anyway, I occasionally saw bits and pieces of some of the later ones (but not the super-recent ones). It seems to me that the creators fell in love with themselves, and the simple idea of being out-there and weird and all that. Too much self-indulgence. There was so much potential in earlier seasons, particularly the second one. The spookiness of the numbers that kept popping up in Hugo's experiences and then the island...the horrible mess that would ensue if the computer was attended to...the doctor's, Hugo's, Kate's, etc. flashbacks. There really was so much. Often the problem was the creators gratuitously killed off the most intriguing characters, etc., and then made them appear again. Too much gratuity. I don't mean violence, I mean just too much self-indulgence and sentimentality (the soundtrack didn't help, although when the music got spooky, it worked).
I just hope that Dexter doesn't betray me/us/the viewers. Don't dumb down. If anything, piss off the shallower and more superficial viewers, but don't cop-out. Make it déja-vu, like Lost almost was in it s early best moments. Make Dexter as if I am sure I created that, and why aren't they crediting me. The best works do that! But don't make it perfect. The perfect balance between perfection and imperfection. With Dexter, I am never disappointed.

Unknown said...

Why do the terrorists watch South Park and not Lost? And no, I am not suggesting terrorists bomb the Lost producers. I am just saying that terrorists' viewing habits are really strange.

Ben Goren said...

Sorry. Being another fan of the show who has sat through every episode over the last six years for me the ending, whilst perhaps a little short and clumsy, was an excellent way to go. As some of the bloggers on the Guardian site said it wasn't about resolving questions as a PROCESS. It was above love and experiencing. I didn't care for the religious elements which were superfluous but I have come to love the characters and genuinely feel for them - my loyalties shifting over time. Watching Lost was an experience that brought me and a few friends very close together and, whilst often very frustrating, isn't life also? Sorry for the gushing nature of this reply but I feel happy and calm and satisfied. I'm sure there's a million holes to poke and a bucket load of unanswered questions as well as general theories about was the island real or purgatory but that's fine with me. Its done and I'll enjoy discussing any and every part with my friends. Sorry you feel a bit cheated. Can understand that though.

joanh said...

ohhh my sentiments exactly. i want to rant about the finale with its cheesy moments and lack of answers, but what can you do? ugh!

Anonymous said...
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Michael Turton said...

Ben -- what process? There was no process. That is what the ending revealed. To call it a "process" is exactly the same sort of twisted compensatory fantasy that a women beaten by her husband engages in when she says "but he loves me."

The island was never real, I think the actors said that on Sunday night on one of the talk shows.

Ben Goren said...

I guess what I meant by process was watching the characters relationships develop as they affected each other. Maybe I'm in denial not wishing to feel cheated by the ending but the remembering scenes choked me up and gave me the resolution my primitive cranium sought even if they were all dead. 2 interpretations:

1. They all died in the original crash and the island (including when some went back for 3 years was all purgatory). The final sideways reality in series six was after purgatory bringing those that had learned to love and atone for their mistakes back together.

2. They didn't die in the original crash but the island caught them and made them face their failures (some failing to do so and others meeting the challenge e.g. the ones in the church at the end)

Yes, it was messy but a large part of that was overreach by the writers and the impact of a writers strike half way through. Not anywhere as well done as Six Feet Under or even with the degree of accessibility of that masterpiece show but let's face it, I watched for the characters: Sawyer's and Hurley's lines were superb all the way through and the eye candy was very pleasing (Shannon, Juliette, Kate - something for everyone). I also really liked Sayid's character and Desmonds 'brother' became a much loved catchphrase. I guess above all, I loved it because I got to watch it all with a very good friend. It was an ordeal and very trying at times but hugely entertaining. Call me the beaten apologist but people looking for answers I think may have been watching for the wrong reasons. Ok ... rip away !

(Hey my word verification for this comment is chili - something going on here?) ;)

Michael Turton said...

Sorry, the island WAS real. The writers have clarified that.

Marc said...

Michael, I suggest migrating to another show that perhaps won't be as disappointing. How about Stargate: Universe? I never liked Stargate before, but this one is intriguing.

Or how about The United States of Tara--something completely different - a suburban Kansas mom with a multiple personality disorder - played by the luscious Toni Collette.