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[Drealmcc0y]

Why did Jacob keep bringing humans to the island? Why on earth would MIB be killing them all the time if they were his only hope at escape?

Jacob brought people to the island for 3 reasons.

A replacement. He chose people like himself who were flawed, because they needed the island as much it needed them.

To finish off the MiB and

To prove his brother wrong that humans wernt all corruptable. Jacob didnt help them because he wanted them to help themselves, because otherwise what would be the point?

Well MiB devised an early plan to kill Jacob with Richard, but it was a shitty attempt and he had to come up with a much longer con(Locke)

He also killed them because they were candidates which also chain him to the island.

 

[Drealmcc0y]

Also guys I found the answer to every mystery invloving Walt about a week ago.

Literally every mystery involving Walt, ive finally come to a conclusion that makes sense to me, if anybody is interested.

 

[Erigu]

There always need to be a protector of the island. Its not just MiB they protect it from.
Why do you think Hurley is protector with no MiB?

I'm not sure, actually...
If the protectors of the island are so goddamn powerful they can make up their own rules, why don't they just make it a rule you can't fuck with the Heart of the Island (which is apparently magically hidden from intruders anyway)?
In fact, if they're so goddamn powerful they get to choose who reaches the island and how (and they can do that just by giving you a candy bar or a pen months, years in advance, too: they're that good), how come they have to deal with a bunch of overly curious pesky humans at all? And how come they can't find a better way to deal with them than freaking mass murder?

Its like Mother says [...]

Ah, so you think that's the issue? The fire at the Heart of the Island? Popping the cork would extinguish it and send everybody to hell or whatever?

Why did you even mention the Man in Black being free at all, then?
Could it be because the threat wasn't ever clearly defined?

'Cause right here, you're arguing that the issue is with that cork, as said in Across the Sea... And "alrighty", but it didn't look like the characters were concerned about that, even after that episode:

In the next episode, Widmore negotiates the safety of his daughter, which would imply he believes the Man in Black himself is the threat. He was briefed by Jacob, and yet didn't know what the actual stakes were?
Same thing for Ilana, who was saying the issue was with the Man in Black escaping (right before she died of "we don't know what to do with this character anymore").

And then, even the main protagonists (who you'd think would finally know what the stakes are and why the island needs protecting, at that point, considering it's the series finale, they just had a chat with Jacob, and one of them took over the mantle of protector of the island) don't seem so clear about that...
They try to dissuade Jack from going and fixing the island, as if letting it self-destruct was a viable option...
And they hurry to a plane, hoping they will be able to take off before the island sinks to the bottom of the ocean, as if that would save them... If anything, I'd actually warn against boarding a crashed airliner that was quickly fixed up with duct tape.


Anyway, you apparently think you know what was up with all that, and that's cool and all, but it doesn't look like the characters did, and I suspect the writers didn't either.

Jacob brought people to the island for 3 reasons.
A replacement. He chose people like himself who were flawed, because they needed the island as much it needed them.
To finish off the MiB and
To prove his brother wrong that humans wernt all corruptable.

Not in that order, I hope. Not that proving his brother right before killing him would do much good either...

So there would just the replacement thingy and dealing with his brother, and he really didn't need to bring all those people over the years just for that.

Also guys I found the answer to every mystery invloving Walt about a week ago.

Really? Cool.
Why did he warn Shannon against pushing the button, then?
(I'll just skip over him being some kind of soaked wet, backwards-speaking ghost in that scene)

 

[Drealmcc0y]

I'm not sure, actually...
If the protectors of the island are so goddamn powerful they can make up their own rules, why don't they just make it a rule you can't fuck with the Heart of the Island (which is apparently magically hidden from intruders anyway)?
In fact, if they're so goddamn powerful they get to choose who reaches the island and how (and they can do that just by giving you a candy bar or a pen months, years in advance, too: they're that good), how come they have to deal with a bunch of overly curious pesky humans at all? And how come they can't find a better way to deal with them than freaking mass murder?

Well, who says they as powerful as all that, they have limit on their powers i suppose.

I mean Jacob is a mere mortal.

 

[Erigu]

Well, who says they as powerful as all that, they have limit on their powers i suppose.

And "suppose" is pretty much all we can do, indeed, since the show/the writers didn't bother with that at all.
Yup, go ahead and introduce a whole bunch of characters with god-like abilities in your stories, writers! It's not like you have to be somewhat careful about that shit afterwards or anything, really.

I mean Jacob is a mere mortal.

Mere mortals don't live for centuries.

 

[Catalix]

Also guys I found the answer to every mystery invloving Walt about a week ago.

Literally every mystery involving Walt, ive finally come to a conclusion that makes sense to me, if anybody is interested.

Yes, please.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

I'm game for a universal theory of Walt.

 

[Drealmcc0y]

Ah, so you think that's the issue? The fire at the Heart of the Island? Popping the cork would extinguish it and send everybody to hell or whatever?

Why did you even mention the Man in Black being free at all, then?
Could it be because the threat wasn't ever clearly defined?

'Cause right here, you're arguing that the issue is with that cork, as said in Across the Sea... And "alrighty", but it didn't look like the characters were concerned about that, even after that episode:

In the next episode, Widmore negotiates the safety of his daughter, which would imply he believes the Man in Black himself is the threat. He was briefed by Jacob, and yet didn't know what the actual stakes were?
Same thing for Ilana, who was saying the issue was with the Man in Black escaping (right before she died of "we don't know what to do with this character anymore").

And then, even the main protagonists (who you'd think would finally know what the stakes are and why the island needs protecting, at that point, considering it's the series finale, they just had a chat with Jacob, and one of them took over the mantle of protector of the island) don't seem so clear about that...
They try to dissuade Jack from going and fixing the island, as if letting it self-destruct was a viable option...
And they hurry to a plane, hoping they will be able to take off before the island sinks to the bottom of the ocean, as if that would save them. If anything, I'd actually warn against boarding a crashed airlines that was quickly fixed up with duct tape.


Anyway, you apparently think you know what was up with all that, and that's cool and all, but it doesn't look like the characters did, and I suspect the writers didn't either.

Well as MiB was part of the darkness the island keeps at bay, him being free and the world ending and going to hell goes hand in hand.

Jacob probably told Widmore next to nothing, just enough to get Widmore to bring Desmond to the island and that he was the fail safe, the last ditch effort to finish off the MiB.

Widmore didnt know all that much, he was just greedy and wanted the island for himself.

Kate was the only one who tries to persuade Jack and leave the island to sink.

Kate doesnt care about any of that, she never has. She never was interested in the mysteries. She cared about Jack and wanted him to come with her. She didnt realise the consequences.

The characters didnt know about the real consequences.

Not even Jack i think. I dont think Jack wanted to know either.

Jack: This is why im here, this is what im supposed to do

Jacob: Is that a question jack?

Jack: No

Im pretty sure that Jack knew he was going to die. He felt this was his purpse and destiny.

 

[Deleted member 12837]

While you're talking for him with this interesting interpretation of his post, could you tell me what the problem is exactly, then? I also asked you earlier (twice), but didn't get an answer...

I can't speak for him, but personally I find your posting style annoying, your attitude smug and pretentious, and as of my last post, I've recently discovered that most of the things you focus on in your debates about and criticisms of Lost don't interest me at all and aren't worth having a discussion about.

That's why I said "I'm not sure I have much more to discuss with you". No reason for me to get involved going forward in debates over these details that you find incredibly important, when I don't.

You can't just ignore all that as if those were completely mundane details, sorry. Why all those efforts to hide that map and make it both hard to see and decipher?

They aren't mundane. I enjoyed the scene, and if it hadn't been on the blast door painted with that paint, that scene doesn't happen (they'd have to find the map on a piece of paper in a drawer or something instead). That's as far as I feel compelled to go when delving into the significance of the specific details. Remember, we fundamentally disagree on the importance of said details.

I mean, sure: when you're fine with that, I don't quite see what you wouldn't be fine with, plot-wise... Enjoy your Lost box-set!

I'm not fine with a lot of things about Lost (you've even brought some of my grievances up, including the bit you just mentioned about Smokey wanting to exterminate everyone on earth, but I don't agree that they're comparable to the blast door stuff as far as importance. To me, they don't bother me and aren't worth mentioning or talking about. You consider them equally important. I get it now.

I don't own the box set.

Out of curiosity, why don't you spend any time in the Metal Gear thread complaining about its problems that you've just mentioned it has? Why focus exclusively on Lost? You've already admitted you know it won't make a difference as far as the future of sci-fi television writing.

Also guys I found the answer to every mystery invloving Walt about a week ago.

Literally every mystery involving Walt, ive finally come to a conclusion that makes sense to me, if anybody is interested.

Walt is one of the few aspects of the show I haven't been able to reach a satisfying conclusion about. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

 

[Drealmcc0y]

WALTER LYYOD

Right as said in the show "Everything I answer will simply lead to more questions"

BUT

I can explain his importance and all those wierd instances involving him.

Right, so this theory involves the epilogue. It gave the piece I need to figure out what his destiny was.

Some people are special. There is no reason why they are, they just are. Some can speak to the dead, some are psyhic etc.

Now Walt was both psyhic and had the ability to "appear in places that he shouldnt" as said in season 2 episode 21.

Ms Klugh(one of the others) asked Michael this because they were very curious about Walt.

Infact the others are very curious about anybody who is special. Because to be special means you are naturally connected to the island and it also means you are naturally selected as the protector of the island.

I dont means Jacobs candidates, i mean natural candidates as desmanded by the island. You are the true deserver of king of the island. I believe Locke is one of these special people too, after all, you cant predict the weather at a box company

Its like what Ben said to Juliet in one of the mobisodes between season 3 and 4.

Mobisode is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyoL_Ng7Vl4

Juliet: You were the one who wanted him here

Ben: Jacob is the one who wanted him here, hes important, hes.... special

Right enogh about what it meant about Walt importance and specialness. Lets talk about those wierd occurences in early season 2 and season 3 finale.

He appeared to both Shannon and Locke, when he should never have been there.

Thats because it wasnt Walt at all, it was the MIB, and now im going to explain how.

You're probably asking "how? MiB can only appear as the dead"

True, but this is a rare exception. But before i go into that lets talk about MiB.

MiB is special too. This is why Mother took special interest of him over Jacob.

Like Walt he knew things that he shouldnt:

e.g 1 Walt: Dont open that thing Mr Locke... just dont open it!!

e.g 2 Jacob: How do you know to play?

MiB: I just know

AND not only did they share this same gift, they shared one other gift together.

They appeared in places they shouldnt.

How many times did MiB, appear and dissapear at will? He had the same ability as Walt.

In terms of specialness, they were one and the same and THIS is how MiB could appear as Walt.

OK, one last thing. What was MiB doing with Shannon and Locke.

MiB spoke to Shannon saying "Dont push the button. Button bad" because the button is like the cork. He wants the button to not be pushed so he can be free.

he indirectly leads a candidate(Shannon) to her death and him appearing as Walt to Locke is his way of manipulating him. He didnt want the people to come to the island and kill everyone and once again Jacob would not be able to be killed.

Phew

 

[Drealmcc0y]

Also the reason MiB didnt become protector of the island, even though he was the natural candidate is because "Theres always a choice"

Unless you're timetravelling of course then its whatever happened, happened.

 

[XNarte]

Here's an Ebert quote from an essay on 2001: A Space Odyssey that sums up how i feel Lost's mysteries are:

"Q. What's that big black monolith?
A. It's a big black monolith.

Q. Where did it come from?
A. From somewhere else.

Q. Who put it there?
A. Intelligent beings since it has right angles and nature doesn't make right angles on its own.

Q. How many monoliths are there?
A. One for every time Kubrick needs one in his film.

Now it would seem that these are obvious observations. But audiences don't like simple answers, I guess; they want the monolith to "stand" for something. Well, it does. It stands for a monolith without an explanation. It's the fact that man can't explain it that makes it interesting."

That's how I feel about Lost's bigger mysteries. You can give them simple, open answers that lead to discussion long after the show is over with.

I watched Fellowship of the Ring again the other day and realized how many things in Tolkein's world happen just because that is how things happen in that story's world, like the One Ring having a mind of its own. They don't explain how it has that power, it's just one of its powers.

With Lost, I bought into this universe's mythology and just watched how it affected the characters, and I happened to love it. I don't care "how" the smoke monster is a manifestation of darkness under the island, it just is.

 

[Deleted member 12837]

Here's an Ebert quote from an essay on 2001: A Space Odyssey that sums up how i feel Lost's mysteries are:

"Q. What's that big black monolith?
A. It's a big black monolith.

Q. Where did it come from?
A. From somewhere else.

Q. Who put it there?
A. Intelligent beings since it has right angles and nature doesn't make right angles on its own.

Q. How many monoliths are there?
A. One for every time Kubrick needs one in his film.

Now it would seem that these are obvious observations. But audiences don't like simple answers, I guess; they want the monolith to "stand" for something. Well, it does. It stands for a monolith without an explanation. It's the fact that man can't explain it that makes it interesting."

That's how I feel about Lost's bigger mysteries. You can give them simple, open answers that lead to discussion long after the show is over with.

I watched Fellowship of the Ring again the other day and realized how many things in Tolkein's world happen just because that is how things happen in that story's world, like the One Ring having a mind of its own. They don't explain how it has that power, it's just one of its powers.

With Lost, I bought into this universe's mythology and just watched how it affected the characters, and I happened to love it. I don't care "how" the smoke monster is a manifestation of darkness under the island, it just is.

Sums up some of my general feelings about Lost and storytelling in general. It doesn't always have to be that way for every element, but it's OK if series have a few "black monoliths". Nice find with the Ebert quote.

 

[Drealmcc0y]

Cmon ender, dont tell me you're going to ignore my comment.

 

[Deleted member 12837]

Cmon ender, dont tell me you're going to ignore my comment.

I'm at work and don't have time to dive into it too much, but I'll read it through more thoroughly later and let you know what I think.

 

[Drealmcc0y]

I'm at work and don't have time to dive into it too much, but I'll read it through more thoroughly later and let you know what I think.

Thanks

 

[XNarte]

Sums up some of my general feelings about Lost and storytelling in general. It doesn't always have to be that way for every element, but it's OK if series have a few "black monoliths". Nice find with the Ebert quote.

Yeah there are still a few instances where they went too vague.

 

[Drealmcc0y]

Yeah there are still a few instances where they went too vague.

Well thats up to the individual.

Ive seen people on here post that they think that the writers answered too much.

 

[Fuu]

and a badly told story and make a good story seem bad (like The Last Airbender).

Wait what

I think he means the movie.

 

[XNarte]

Well thats up to the individual.

Ive seen people on here post that they think that the writers answered too much.

My friend who I'm currently rewatching the series with with has never seen it before and we just got to "Because You Left", and at the end of the Season 4 finale he says to me "You know, i can't believe that I heard complaints about things getting answered because I think that they have answered enough already and if they answer too much you lose what makes it interesting to watch."

I thought that was cool to hear his take on it like that.

 

[Drealmcc0y]

My friend who I'm currently rewatching the series with with has never seen it before and we just got to "Because You Left", and at the end of the Season 4 finale he says to me "You know, i can't believe that I heard complaints about things getting answered because I think that they have answered enough already and if they answer too much you lose what makes it interesting to watch."

I thought that was cool to hear his take on it like that.

I like your friend.

 

[Erigu]

Well as MiB was part of the darkness the island keeps at bay, him being free and the world ending and going to hell goes hand in hand.

If you say so. Seems to me the Man in Black became a mere mortal when that cork was popped, so he himself wasn't a threat to the world anymore, but alright.

Jacob probably told Widmore next to nothing, just enough to get Widmore to bring Desmond to the island and that he was the fail safe, the last ditch effort to finish off the MiB.

You'd think he'd at least tell Widmore what good Desmond fucking with the Heart of the Island would do, and warn him about the potential ill effects (a slight END OF DAYS if you don't quickly put that cork back). Or it would be quite the shitty plan, really. A great deal more "fail" than "safe".

(and again, I just have to wonder why Jacob would keep critical details from people at all, at that point... seems to me like preventing the end of the world should really take precedence over everything else, but oh well)

Widmore didnt know all that much, he was just greedy and wanted the island for himself.

Yeah? Maybe. The show never really bothered to let us know what the deal really was with that guy (the actor portraying him said he had no idea either, in the end).
And did he really see "the error of his ways" (whatever they might have been exactly)?
Who the fuck cares, Ben just shot him. Problem solved. The Lost way.

Kate was the only one who tries to persuade Jack and leave the island to sink.

What I'm saying is that at no point was it pointed out that it wasn't a viable option anyway. Same thing for the plane, which wouldn't have been a solution at all, in your scenario.

The characters didnt know about the real consequences.

Yeah, nobody really knew much of anything, it seems. So I'm not sure how you do, but that's cool.

Not even Jack i think. I dont think Jack wanted to know either.

Despite his newly appointed task? Okay.
Guess he would have turned out to be as good at that shit as he had been as leader of the mute red shirts. Or as the showrunners at their job.

I can't speak for him, but personally I find your posting style annoying, your attitude smug and pretentious

Alright. Doesn't seem like that was what he was talking about though.

and as of my last post, I've recently discovered that most of the things you focus on in your debates about and criticisms of Lost don't interest me at all and aren't worth having a discussion about.

Guess we'll have to agree to disagree about that...

No reason for me to get involved going forward in debates over these details that you find incredibly important, when I don't.

I don't find all those details necessarily incredibly important, but it all matters at least to some extent, yes, and Lost is just bloated with such issues. And some of them are pretty damn important (like the stakes of the endgame, as discussed above).

I'm not fine with a lot of things about Lost (you've even brought some of my grievances up, including the bit you just mentioned about Smokey wanting to exterminate everyone on earth, but I don't agree that they're comparable to the blast door stuff as far as importance. To me, they don't bother me and aren't worth mentioning or talking about. You consider them equally important.

I never argued they were equally important.

I don't own the box set.

When I was saying "when you're fine with that [...]", I was talking in general, not referring to you specifically (you're not the one who replied "why not?", for one thing). Sorry if that wasn't clear.

Out of curiosity, why don't you spend any time in the Metal Gear thread complaining about its problems that you've just mentioned it has?

Oh, I did, on other forums. I did.
I'm still relatively new to NeoGAF, and a bit intimidated by the gaming section. Seems like a minefield, sometimes.

Now Walt was both psyhic and had the ability to "appear in places that he shouldnt" as said in season 2 episode 21.

Also, birds.

to be special means you are naturally connected to the island and it also means you are naturally selected as the protector of the island.
I dont means Jacobs candidates, i mean natural candidates as desmanded by the island. You are the true deserver of king of the island.

Well, that's new. But then again, when something doesn't seem to fit anywhere, guess you just have to go ahead and buy some new furniture.

He appeared to both Shannon and Locke, when he should never have been there.
Thats because it wasnt Walt at all, it was the MIB, and now im going to explain how.
You're probably asking "how? MiB can only appear as the dead"
True, but this is a rare exception.

Seems like every other case is an exception, on Lost. It's almost as if there weren't actually any rules!

Like Walt he knew things that he shouldnt

True dat, about Walt:

LOCKE: You don't seem surprised to see me.
WALT: I've been having dreams about you. You were on the Island, wearing a suit, and there are people all around you. They wanted to hurt you, John.

Walt actually has prophetic dreams about things that never happen. No mere psychic.
(not that I'd know what a mere psychic is exactly, on Lost... Claire's was fake? yes? no? just some weird guy? I dunno)

Walt: Dont open that thing Mr Locke... just dont open it!!

Yeah, what was that about? Think it would have been better to let Desmond rot there?

MiB spoke to Shannon saying "Dont push the button. Button bad" because the button is like the cork. He wants the button to not be pushed so he can be free.

And he said it backwards because he's just not very good at this "escape" thing.
Besides, it's the only thing he could do to try and keep them from pushing that button, right? I know I couldn't think of anything else, if I were an invincible Smoke Monster...

he indirectly leads a candidate(Shannon) to her death

Yeah? Not sure how he could anticipate Ana Lucia would shoot her, but "well done", I guess.

him appearing as Walt to Locke is his way of manipulating him.

So was him appearing as Christian, incidentally. Why switch? Why not?

He didnt want the people to come to the island and kill everyone and once again Jacob would not be able to be killed.

Hey, that would have taken care of all the candidates. Sounds like (yet another) valid plan, actually.
He would just need to have someone kill Jacob before that, which really shouldn't be all that difficult, considering his abilities (sure wasn't a problem convincing Richard).
(if Jacob couldn't simply be killed with some booby trap, that is... and considering what the Man in Black's great plan for getting rid of the Candidates ended up being, that might just work!)

audiences don't like simple answers, I guess

When those "answers" completely fail to explain the characters' actions / motivations or the stakes, I'd say audiences are somewhat justified in not liking them...

 

[Drealmcc0y]

Fuck My Life

I had a response for most of those, but hell if im gonna respond to it.

Why can you just write like a normal person too.

 

[Blader]

My friend who I'm currently rewatching the series with with has never seen it before and we just got to "Because You Left", and at the end of the Season 4 finale he says to me "You know, i can't believe that I heard complaints about things getting answered because I think that they have answered enough already and if they answer too much you lose what makes it interesting to watch."

I thought that was cool to hear his take on it like that.

The vast majority of questions raised in the show were answered in some way, shape, or form over the six years. It's probably more obvious to someone watching the whole thing uninterrupted than having weeks and months break up the episodes, where answers and plot points are liable to be forgotten.

 

[Figboy79]

I agree that there are quite a few questions about the nature of the island/events answered throughout the series as a whole. They didn't just wait until Season 6 to answer every single question ever presented in the show.

There were a lot of questions answered during the latter seasons, such as 4 and 5. The BIG questions were kept until Season 6, sure, but a lot of little mysteries were answered, or gave us enough information that we could deduce the answers for ourselves.

As I said in a previous post, I didn't watch Lost from the start, so I didn't have long gaps between episodes/seasons, where I was given a lot of time to speculate and formulate theories of my own, and get wrapped up in the minute details.

Since I was able to watch seasons 1-5 uninterrupted, I guess I didn't get swept up by certain details that may have consumed other people, such as why there were signs of many ancient civilizations scattered across the island (my deduction was simply that there had been various cultures coming to the island over it's existence, and they lived and died out on the island; and that was, and still is, a good enough reason for me).

Explanations like the whispering voices fell in line with what I had always suspected. I mean, what ELSE were they going to be? It's not my fault some folks expected this mind-blowing revelation like, "Oh snap, the whispers were the voices of the main cast from the future, trying to warn the present day cast! MIND BLOWN!!!"

I watched Lost for sure because it was intriguing, but it was the characters that kept bringing me back episode after episode. I loved the mysteries of the show, and there are still plenty of things to speculate about concerning the show's storylines, and yes, there are inconsistencies and contradictions, but doesn't real world science have the same inconsistencies and contradictions? I'm not going to fault Lost for suffering from some issues that even our real world suffers from.

Not everything needs to be explained, and having the curtain lifted to reveal a little old man behind it isn't nearly as fun or exciting as piecing together your own conclusions.

It's like a Team Ico video game. They give you just enough info for the game to have poignancy, but they leave just enough shrouded in mystery to keep you speculating for ages to come. The original Silent Hill games did the same thing.

Hell, did Twin Peaks explain every single little out of the ordinary occurrence by series end? No, but the broad strokes; the major points, were addressed, and the rest was left for us to have fun debating about.

TL;DR: Lost was a fantastic experience for me, especially being someone who had no interest in the show whatsoever. I didn't get wrapped up in the minutia, and instead just got lost (pun sort of not intended) in the experience and story being told.

I got out of television for a long time, because I felt that there was nothing compelling to watch anymore. Lost reminded me how excellent of a medium television can be, and how it can even surpass film in terms of being able to tell a strong narrative and develop characters that you can empathize with or despise.

 

[Salmonax]

My friend who I'm currently rewatching the series with with has never seen it before and we just got to "Because You Left", and at the end of the Season 4 finale he says to me "You know, i can't believe that I heard complaints about things getting answered because I think that they have answered enough already and if they answer too much you lose what makes it interesting to watch."

I thought that was cool to hear his take on it like that.

Your friend sounds like a smart man. Be sure to tell him that when he gets back from the bathroom.

I feel Lost suffered when the writers/producers caved to pressure to reveal big answers. And that's likely in no small part because there were no answers planned to many of the big questions, so they had to spitball and accept them in the relatively compressed pre-production periods before the later seasons.

I wish they'd left more stuff like the pre-Midichlorian Force, to borrow from Lindelof's own analogy. I firmly believe the fun of Lost was in not knowing, and the stumble was in catering to the fans who didn't get that.

 

[XNarte]

Your friend sounds like a smart man. Be sure to tell him that when he gets back from the bathroom.

Okay, Rose. I read that and was like, why does that sound familiar? Ha ha.

But I agree, and that is why I continue to enjoy talking about LOST even though it is over. Most of the gripes I had with the show I have worked out in my head, and though I can still acknowledge them as minor flaws, LOST is the only piece of entertainment that I have ever taken the time to work out those flaws I originally had with it in my head.

 

[Catalix]

The vast majority of questions raised in the show were answered in some way, shape, or form over the six years. It's probably more obvious to someone watching the whole thing uninterrupted than having weeks and months break up the episodes, where answers and plot points are liable to be forgotten.

I think watching the show for the first time uninterrupted on dvd/netflix would've had the opposite effect for me. I have terrible short term memory, so I'd likely gloss over pertinent info and foreshadowing along the way. Getting a chance to marinate and theorize on each episode became a fun weekly ritual that helped things stick in my brain more. Otherwise, I think stuff like obvious clues in S2 about Claire and Jack being siblings, or Cooper being the real Sawyer might have faded into the background due to information overload.

But I definitely would've had a huge "Ohh shhhh-" moment if I went back and re-watched those same episodes. So I guess either way, I would have eventually gotten to appreciate those clever bits of writing.

I got out of television for a long time, because I felt that there was nothing compelling to watch anymore. Lost reminded me how excellent of a medium television can be, and how it can even surpass film in terms of being able to tell a strong narrative and develop characters that you can empathize with or despise.

Movies hardly do anything for me these days. Television provides that long form storytelling that helps get me invested.

 

[Figboy79]

I agree.

For the longest time, books and video games were my only sources of entertainment, because I felt that movies weren't worth the high ticket prices to waste my time seeing, and television was in a creative funk.

Thankfully, the past 10 years has given me some rather excellent television, and books and video games have consistently entertained me for ages.

Movies still blow 99% of the time, and I pretty much just only see big brainless blockbusters, because at least they give me reason to stare at a gigantic screen in HD and 3D for 2 hours. Even so, I'm a primarily TV and book and gamer dude these days (although Harry Potter 7pt 2 looks AMAZING).

 

[Solo]

You are watching the wrong movies. Holy shit.

 

[WillyFive]

Wait what

Have you seen that movie? The writing is atrocious.

I would argue "storytelling" actually encompasses things such as plot and characterization...

I say storytelling is telling a story (as in not the story itself, but how it is told). Plot and characterization are obviously part of the story.

For example, based on how the storytelling goes, something unexpected coming up would be either a twist, or a plot hole.

 

[dead souls]

You are watching the wrong movies. Holy shit.

Indeed.

Sometimes posts on GAF just baffle me. I don't see how someone could not find plenty of great films to watch, especially if they have a sizable gap in their viewing history.

 

[Figboy79]

I watch plenty of movies, but I rarely find any that I think are worth ponying up $50 to see in the theater.

I'm not a fan of paying to see dramas or even comedies in the theater. I'm paying for me, my wife, and any popcorn and drinks we may want to get if we haven't eaten before hand.

I'm picky when it comes to what I watch in the theater, and in general.

I've found Hollywood to be pretentious and up it's own ass for a long time now, celebrating otherwise mediocre films as something extraordinary, simply because the bar for quality has dropped so substantially in the past few decades, due to egos, poor writing, and a crop of "current gen" actors that are shadows of the greats and not even passable as what we'd call "talent."

I've found television to be more interesting than film these days. *shrugs* It's just how I feel. With shows like Lost, Sons of Anarchy, Mad Men, Survivors, Sherlock Holmes, Pillars of the Earth, Spartacus, Battlestar Galactica, I can't say I've missed film that much, and I save a crap ton of money on movie tickets that way.

Sure, there are good films still being produced, but they are incredibly few and far between. Good television is also few, but for me, I think there's a much more solid and consistent stream of quality television these days than movies.

 

[big ander]

I think there's been a considerable increase in the quality of television and I now love some shows just as much as my favorite movies.

But $50 for two to go to the movies? How much popcorn are you buying?!

 

[WillyFive]

I think there's been a considerable increase in the quality of television and I now love some shows just as much as my favorite movies.

But $50 for two to go to the movies? How much popcorn are you buying?!

Yeah, $50 is a stretch, unless it's some excessive 3D + IMAX + Smell-orama + 4D + Caviar + Time Travel theater.

 

[Figboy79]

The problem is that some movies at the theater near us are only in 3D, so that's somewhere around $15.50 each ticket, so $31 just for admission. Non-3D movies are still about $12-$12.50 per ticket.

If we want popcorn and a soda, that usually runs us about an additional $10-$13, because a popcorn and soda are between $6-$7 each. We usually pass on the candy, because those prices are even more of an insult.

We live in Los Angeles, and some of these ticket and concession prices are crazy.

The average trip for me and my wife to go to the movies at the least $40.

It wasn't much of an exaggeration on my part. It really is costly to go to the movies for us, which is why I've become very picky in what I see in the theater. Most of the time we wait for a video release and Netflix it.

I still like movies, of course, but I just don't see as many in the theater as I used to when I had more disposable income and was pretty much only paying for myself.

 

[TheDanger]

IMHO LOST is the most epic show ever created, I also liked the ending it was something special. For example it would have been horrible with the "everything was just a dream thing".

This solution would have killed any rewatch of the show and this way I can rewatch as often as I want. It's my second rewatch now and I'm not bored at all. I also love the music of LOST. Michael Giacchino is a genius. Best TV show soundtrack ever composed.

 

[Drealmcc0y]

I post a long explanation of Walt and 3 people say they're interested but nobody ends up giving a fuck.

Dont say I dont contribute shit

 

[Arment]

After a couple years of nagging I'm getting my grandmother to watch Lost with me.

Went over to her place and we watched the Pilot 1/2 and Tabula Rasa.

Her main problem with the show, one I hope she'll get over for obvious reasons, are the flashbacks. She likes the island parts so much she hates it when they leave it to tell the back story.

For me it's pretty great, my first re-watch since the finale and I'm feeling that Lost magic again.

 

[Erigu]

I post a long explanation of Walt and 3 people say they're interested but nobody ends up giving a fuck.

I replied, didn't I?

 

[Drealmcc0y]

I replied, didn't I?

You make it really fucking hard to reply too.

Why cant you just reply in a normal manner.

 

[Erigu]

You make it really fucking hard to reply too.

Well, I guess "your attempt at an explanation really isn't so hot" would have been clearer, but I thought it'd be better to address each point. Shows what I know.

 

[strafer]

Speaking of Lost...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5wOHIi7xCU

That has to be one of the most emotional songs I have ever heard, it sums up everything about Lost.

I can listen to it all day.

 

[HeySeuss]

I post a long explanation of Walt and 3 people say they're interested but nobody ends up giving a fuck.

Dont say I dont contribute shit

Why? Because fuck Walt, that's why.

And the dude that replied to you does come off as a bit of an ass, but he made it easy for you to counter his points by laying them out in a quasi bullet point way.

 

[Drealmcc0y]

Why? Because fuck Walt, that's why.

And the dude that replied to you does come off as a bit of an ass, but he made it easy for you to counter his points by laying them out in a quasi bullet point way.

Yeah when you look at it from the outside, but when you have to quote it, it becomes fucking frustrating

Also disgaree about fuck Walt, he was an important part of the show.

He deserves to be understood.

 

[Erigu]

disgaree about fuck Walt, he was an important part of the show.
He deserves to be understood.

As with many, many things on the show, there never was anything to understand.

Just take the first thing I mentioned:
Kid appeared soaking wet to Shannon and told her that the button was bad. Backwards.
It was never going to make sense.

 

[Catalix]

I post a long explanation of Walt and 3 people say they're interested but nobody ends up giving a fuck.

Well I pretty much agreed with your interpretation of how "special" people generally function in the LOST universe, why the Others were interested in "special" people like Walt, and why/how MiB directly lead Shannon to her death. However, when you tried to make the connection between Walt and MiB, you kinda lost me.

I agree, they were both clearly "special" in ways that made them ideal candidates for the role of Island Protector (or whatever), but I don't see how it logically relates to MiB being able to take the form of Walt himself (since MiB only has ever appeared as dead people). It just seems like you came up with an overly forced loophole to explain away the writers' continuity fuck up. The way I see it, MiB could appear as Walt... just because. It's simply weird shit for the sake of weird shit, no rhyme or reason to it.

On the subject, I actually see more connections between Jacob and Walt's abilities, than MiB. Jacob clearly had precognitive visions. He also could magically draw people toward the Island, much like Walt subconsciously drew birds toward himself.

Dont say I dont contribute shit

?
who would even say otherwise?

 

[Drealmcc0y]

As with many, many things on the show, there never was anything to understand.

Just take the first thing I mentioned:
Kid appeared soaking wet to Shannon and told her that the button was bad. Backwards.
It was never going to make sense.

Well I just made sense of it.

Why did he speak backwards?

Because its a fucking tv show

 

[killer_clank]

Speaking of Lost...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5wOHIi7xCU

That has to be one of the most emotional songs I have ever heard, it sums up everything about Lost.

I can listen to it all day.

Man, first time I've heard this in like a year.

SO.FUCKING.GOOD.

Reminded me about how much I miss this show though :'(

 

[Drealmcc0y]

It just seems like you came up with an overly forced loophole to explain away the writers' continuity fuck up. The way I see it, MiB could appear as Walt... just because. It's simply weird shit for the sake of weird shit, no rhyme or reason to it.

Maybe they fucked up, maybe they didnt.

But im gonna give them the benefit of the doubt because there have been plot points in the past that I thought were mistakes but then I looked at it in a different way and it came together.

So while, its a forced loophole, it still comes together as far as im concenred with info we have from the show.

On the subject, I actually see more connections between Jacob and Walt's abilities, than MiB. Jacob clearly had precognitive visions. He also could magically draw people toward the Island, much like Walt subconsciously drew birds toward himself.

Interesting.

Although I believe Jacob knew about things from the future because of the lighthouse. It was powered by the source after all, probably had some power of things involving time.

who would even say otherwise?

a few people