Support NeoGAF

[Memles]

I really don't see the problem with the flashbacks...in fact, I think without the show has absolutely no depth and nothing to ground the show in reality. While it does great action and adventure, it can't JUST be that. The flashbacks provide much needed grounding of the island stuff.

I honestly have no problem with them 'stalling' for time. I think, actually, that it makes the show more interesting, and makes me think about the characters as real people.

The show never quite made it to the fantastic precedent of the Pilot, but it never had a chance. That pilot was full of action, adventure, plane crashes, polar bears, and insane French transmissions.

The season would never be able to do that, it simply would not work. The pilot started off very quickly, but it had to slow down, and to be honest with you I like that.

 

[Crag Dweller]

I just finished watching the season finale. Mighty addicting in box set form. I don't know how you guys survived having to wait for new episodes to come out.

 

[ManaByte]

For the last year all I heard was how great Lost was. Well after watching the first season on DVD, it is good, but it is not the best show on television. Battlestar Galactica is by far.

 

[Mairu]

I love Lost and while I missed it on TV will definately be watching season 2 when it airs. I thought the flashbacks were fantastic and added a whole new element to the show. I enjoyed seeing each person's lives and events play it because it made the characters so much more realistic to me. While I may be wanting them to reveal exactly what's going on here and there, I don't see the flashbacks as filler because they're just as interesting as everything that happens on the island.

 

[Crazymoogle]

For the last year all I heard was how great Lost was. Well after watching the first season on DVD, it is good, but it is not the best show on television. Battlestar Galactica is by far.

*thumbs up*

Although I like Lost a hell of a lot (probably even moreso than your impression), the writing of Galactica is just too damn good not to call it the best show on TV.

 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

I suppose I should clarify that I'm not totally against the use of flashbacks in Lost and I agree that they are a necessity in fleshing out the characters and their motives. However I am against the constant use of them. IMO, not every single epsiode has to have a freakin' flashback. Sure it may be interesting to have a couple of shows here and there to have 'em but when you have 22 or 23 episodes back to back that are all structured the same exact way, it gets extremely tiresome.

It'll be interesting to see if the writers continue to construct the show in same fashion in season 2 and if they do, it'll be even more interesting to see what the fans reaction will be.

 

[CajoleJuice]

I just watched the pilot, and I think I'm just not going to sleep tonight and watch as much as possible, and finish all the episodes by next Wednesday, so I'm ready for the Season 2 premiere. If the rest of the season is anywhere near that good, I'll be a happy man.

And Kate is hot.

 

[Jill Sandwich]

I think the flashbacks will eventually build up to THE revelation of the series.

 

[Teddman]

I completely, 100% disagree with you. Didn't they start doing the flashbacks on the second episode?

I think you missed my point. It's not that the flashbacks weren't there from the beginning. At first the flashbacks were important to establishing character, and even later in the season, certain episodes had flashback portions that were interesting. But the ratio of flashback-to-island material seemed to increase as the series went on.

The problem was that you'd have a huge revelation like the metal door in the ground, then things would completely stall with flashbacks that were much less interesting than the story on the island. And the second or third time they devoted a flashback episode to Charlie or Lilly's character, it started to get old... Some of them were long-winded and not particularly compelling, and they tended to cover the same ground twice. That whole segment with Lilly's pre-island love interest for example, expendable pap in my opinion. And I am damn tired of hearing about Charlie's band and his problems with the brother.

The season finale was full of unnecessary flashbacks to pad it out to two hours, they even indulged in some slo-mo montages of the characters on the plane that really didn't do anything to further the story, but made for plenty more commerical break opportunities. That's what I'm talking about.

 

[AirBrian]

I'm sure eveyone's seen this, but just in case for some of us late-comers...

http://www.oceanic-air.com/home.htm

Click on "Find" to get to the seating chart. There's some pretty cool stuff there.

After the seating chart loads, click on 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42 to see a Season Two teaser. Also, check out seat 42F after clicking on the flashing "Economy Class" under the chart.

For some reason Shannon suddenly started giving me a raging boner after the episode where

Spoiler

she starts having asthma attacks and they torture Sawyer

. True story.

This man speaks the truth.

Shannon > *

 

[Black Deatha]

I'm sure eveyone's seen this, but just in case for some of us late-comers...

http://www.oceanic-air.com/home.htm

Click on "Find" to get to the seating chart. There's some pretty cool stuff there.

After the seating chart loads, click on 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42 to see a Season Two teaser. Also, check out seat 42F after clicking on the flashing "Economy Class" under the chart.

This man speaks the truth.

Shannon > *

Intresting though the stupid thing doesnt seem to want to actualy load for me.

To those asking about the bonus disc, I dont know if it's the same as the Best Buuy one, as I got mine from Future Shop, but it just includs an episode long feature called Lost: The Journy, which is narriated by Brian Cox, it's the most pointless thing I have ever seen, it's just a recap of every episode of the season up untill the episode where

Spoiler

Boone dies

. I mean, I like Brian Cox, but I just couldent understand the point of this feature. There was a couple other mini features on the disc as well as a season 2 teaser, though now I am wondering is it the same one on this website? Because the one on the bonus disc shows a whole lot of absolutaly nothing.

What's with all the Lost flashback hate? It so fleshes out the cherecters and there stories, I especaly though Hurleys was good, it was funny, and it totaly added a weird elliment to the story with the numbers that seem to originate on the island.

And fianaly the Shannon love, and yeah, vuluranable Shannon in need of help, she was so hot there!

~Black Deatha

 

[Great King Bowser]

I'd have hit Shannon until her sinuses cleared in fairness.

 

[chamberk]

The Brian Cox-narrated extra was a placeholder show that they used to tide people over during breaks between episodes. After the Numbers episode, there were about 3-4 weeks without shows - it was awful, especially given the ending of that one. =P

I'm going to have some friends over on Monday night and we'll start watching the DVDs. It should be fun.

edit: and what are you guys talking about, Claire is clearly the hottest.

 

[ManaByte]

edit: and what are you guys talking about, Claire is clearly the hottest.

QFT.

They have a 1600x1200 wallpaper of Claire over on the official site

 

[mrkapawutzis]

To those asking about the bonus disc, I dont know if it's the same as the Best Buuy one, as I got mine from Future Shop, but it just includs an episode long feature called Lost: The Journy, which is narriated by Brian Cox, it's the most pointless thing I have ever seen, it's just a recap of every episode of the season up untill the episode where

Spoiler

Boone dies

. I mean, I like Brian Cox, but I just couldent understand the point of this feature. There was a couple other mini features on the disc as well as a season 2 teaser, though now I am wondering is it the same one on this website? Because the one on the bonus disc shows a whole lot of absolutaly nothing.

Yeah that seems to be the same one as the Best Buy disc. Anybody know what's in the Companion Book?

 

[homerhendrix]

The only problem with the show is Sawyer, someone needs to kill this Kid Rock wannabe. I know the character is one you're supposed to dislike, but I dislike the guy outside of the character. Really bugs me anytime he's on camera.

 

[Black Deatha]

The Brian Cox-narrated extra was a placeholder show that they used to tide people over during breaks between episodes. After the Numbers episode, there were about 3-4 weeks without shows - it was awful, especially given the ending of that one. =P

Ah I see, still though, It just seemed really cheesy, I mean, I like Brian Cox, but the constant rethorical questions he asked were redicioulas, I was expecting next... "What if you crashed on the island, did everything you have just seen and were in the exact same position, WHAT WOULD YOU FUCKING DO?"

The only problem with the show is Sawyer, someone needs to kill this Kid Rock wannabe. I know the character is one you're supposed to dislike, but I dislike the guy outside of the character. Really bugs me anytime he's on camera.

Really? I find kinda like Sawyer, I mean, he's a prick, but he's got a good side to him.

~Black Deatha

 

[chamberk]

Sawyer's one of my favorite characters, definitely. He acts like such a badass but then he'll do something completely decent and ruin his whole image.

 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

What's with all the Lost flashback hate? It so fleshes out the cherecters and there stories, I especaly though Hurleys was good, it was funny, and it totaly added a weird elliment to the story with the numbers that seem to originate on the island.

I've got no problem with fleshing out the characters with a flashback. I've got a problem when every fricken episode has one. Honestly, did we really need that one featuring John having difficulty writing his wedding vowes? What was the correlation between John's wedding and Boone's death? It was total padding.

 

[Memles]

I've got no problem with fleshing out the characters with a flashback. I've got a problem when every fricken episode has one. Honestly, did we really need that one featuring John having difficulty writing his wedding vowes? What was the correlation between John's wedding and Boone's death? It was total padding.

First, his name is Jack.

Second, that episode is provided a depth to the character, especially in regards to his quasi-relationship with Kate and his relationship with his father. Would the world have ended had we not seen it? No. That said, I think it worked well in providing a bit more depth to a character that seems to spend all of this time saving others.

In order for the show to have anything close to reasonable pacing, the backstories are necessary.

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

I've got no problem with fleshing out the characters with a flashback. I've got a problem when every fricken episode has one. Honestly, did we really need that one featuring John having difficulty writing his wedding vowes? What was the correlation between John's wedding and Boone's death? It was total padding.

Yeah, I'm starting to agree with this. I'm fine with flashbacks, it's all well and good, but when they have flashbacks for pratically every episode then it really slows things down to a crawl, which can be pain since what's happening on the island can be loads more interesting but they cut to a flashback. At least space them out more between episodes.

If season 2 is going to be like this, then this is going to get old fast, cause season 1 had the reason to set-up such and if they couldn't even use 1000+ minutes to flesh out characters enough so it isn't heavily reliant in season 2 then they have problems.

 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

First, his name is Jack.

Second, that episode is provided a depth to the character, especially in regards to his quasi-relationship with Kate and his relationship with his father. Would the world have ended had we not seen it? No. That said, I think it worked well in providing a bit more depth to a character that seems to spend all of this time saving others.

In order for the show to have anything close to reasonable pacing, the backstories are necessary.

Jack..my mistake.

Anyway, I'm not arguing that the characters' don't need to be fleshed out and have their backstories shown. You just don't need to have a flashback in every episode to do it. It's sloppy storytelling and way too predictable. What would be wrong with just one episode devoted to the island? Why can't we learn about the characters by having them interacting with the others instead of being pulled out every 10 minutes with a flashback? You can add depth to these people without being so overly formulatic.

 

[Quadrophenic]

I've got no problem with fleshing out the characters with a flashback. I've got a problem when every fricken episode has one. Honestly, did we really need that one featuring John having difficulty writing his wedding vowes? What was the correlation between John's wedding and Boone's death? It was total padding.

Its been a while since I saw that episode, but I am pretty sure the point of the flashback was to further show that Jack has a problem with getting to attached to his patients and has difficulty letting them go...see also the US (?) Marshall in episode 2 or 3.


edit: yeah, I kinda agree, I would like them to lay off the flashbacks a bit. They didnt really bother me on the first viewing of the show though.

 

[Lord Error]

Supposed to dislike Sawyer? To me, he's probably the most likable character on the show.

I also thought the flashbacks worked great so far. Some of them were really interesting, and they are all showing the more normal, human side of those people, as opposed to their survivor side, on the island.

 

[mrkapawutzis]

There is a small teaser, with some hints what'll happen in S2.

Where exactly in the box set is this?

 

[ManaByte]

Supposed to dislike Sawyer? To me, he's probably the most likable character on the show.

I also thought the flashbacks worked great so far. Some of them were really interesting, and they are all showing the more normal, human side of those people, as opposed to their survivor side, on the island.

I think Sayid is the most interesting character by far.

Where exactly in the box set is this?

Disc one.

 

[Dan]

If season 2 is going to be like this, then this is going to get old fast, cause season 1 had the reason to set-up such and if they couldn't even use 1000+ minutes to flesh out characters enough so it isn't heavily reliant in season 2 then they have problems.

That's why they have new characters!

 

[mrklaw]

Lost is TV crack. Downloaded it after watching episodes 1&2 on TV. Started watching 2-3 episodes a night. Wife loved it too. As soon as I saw the DVD set I bought it.

The flashbacks aren't filler, they are one of the mainstays of the show. Its about people, why they came to be on that plane, what connects them. in a way, thats what I liked about Twin peaks. By the time they found the killer, I couldn't care less. I wanted more log lady, more 'yello', more coop. But nobody else did, and it died. Because of that I'm concerned about season 2. What drove us through watching it was to see what happened. I'm worried that drive won't be there if its an ongoing saga. hopefully the execs won't keep it going too long, but the temptation must be there if the ratings are. Its a difficult balance to strike.

 

[mrklaw]

Yeah, I'm starting to agree with this. I'm fine with flashbacks, it's all well and good, but when they have flashbacks for pratically every episode then it really slows things down to a crawl, which can be pain since what's happening on the island can be loads more interesting but they cut to a flashback. At least space them out more between episodes.

If season 2 is going to be like this, then this is going to get old fast, cause season 1 had the reason to set-up such and if they couldn't even use 1000+ minutes to flesh out characters enough so it isn't heavily reliant in season 2 then they have problems.

responses like these are what makes me concerned about the longevity of the series.

The flashbacks aren't there to pad it out, there are a key part of the program. The 'reveals' - the hatch, the plane, etc - are all carefully timed. they deliberately showed you the hatch then ignored it for a couple of episodes. They are playing with your mind.

Its called writing.

Why can't we learn about the characters by having them interacting with the others instead of being pulled out every 10 minutes with a flashback? You can add depth to these people without being so overly formulatic.

because we learn about the characters without the other characters learning about them. It gives us insight that the people on the island don't have. The characters on the island don't actually know much about each other. Even knowing what Kate is - they don't know what she did. They don't know the motives. They are making judgements based on very little - just like you or I do in every day life. But we know more, so we respond emotionally when people look upon Kate judgementally.



People just want stuff delivered on a plate these days.

 

[eLGee]

Rumor has it that during season 2, we'll be seeing flashbacks from stuff that happened on the island during season 1, but we never got to see. Example (huge spoilers):

Spoiler

Hurley is a former mental patient, and he's been on meds ever since. We see him run out of meds on the island in a flashback, around when "Numbers" took place.