Hatrack River Forum: Lost: first tv series w/ single coherent story?

This is topic Lost: first tv series w/ single coherent story? in forum Discussions About Orson Scott Card at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by polemic (Member # 7672) on :

From the most recent Uncle Orson column:

quote:
It’s especially valuable to have those DVDs of the first season of Lost. Because, more than any other series in the history of television, this one is building a single coherent story.

Hmm...I think Babylon 5 would have to take the title of first series with a continuous unfolding story, as it was essentially a very long, complex novel played out over a five-year span. Or at least the American first; I'm told the British have been doing long-arc shows for years. And yes, it is nice to have these shows on DVD [Smile]

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

I'm sure B5 was not the first series with a story arc. However, OSC does not say Lost is the first one either. He says "more than any other series in the history of television," which is not the same.

Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :

I've only seen a few episodes of Lost and one episode of Babylon 5, so I can't speak to the arcs in those specific shows. But notice that Card said 'more than any other series', not 'the first series'. There have been plenty of shows w/long arcs. The second season of Angel is a good example.

Edit: I write too slowly.

Posted by Occasional (Member # 5860) on :

I only want to say one thing: LOST IS TERRIBLE!!

It isn't coherent. It is stupid, boring, and pretentious. At least Alias, another show I can't stand, has a hot chick and flashy filming.

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

<-- huge B5 fan

I have to admit that the first season of B5 didn't have a very cohesive single story.

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

Oh, and I really enjoy both Lost and Alias. [Razz]

Posted by Blackthorne (Member # 8295) on :

I have only seen glimpses of both shows. For television, I prefer shows by Joss Whedon and (for comedic purposes) Seinfeld. The few episodes of Lost that I happened to catch were definitely interesting, however.

Posted by RunningBear (Member # 8477) on :

Lost, if you watch enough shows has a very interesting plot formed, and it catches your attention in different ways. like the polar bear! WHY! WHY! WHY! I understand it has something to do with the comic book but whats the deal with the kid! WWWHHHHHHYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!
This is one out of a very select amount of shows I can watch without getting sickened by the idiocy (i.e. mainstream commercialism which appeals to horny overexposed consumers!)

Posted by CRash (Member # 7754) on :

What I like about Lost is its unpredictability. I don't like shows where I can guess the ending of the episode two minutes in. I also like the way the Lost storyline incorporates the background of the characters. I think it will work very well for an ongoing series, as viewers learn more about the characters not only from how they behave in the present drama on the island, but from how they acted in the past.

Posted by archon (Member # 8008) on :

I love Lost, but having watched the entire first season in high definition, I refuse to take the step down in audio and visual quality to DVDs. Gimme next-gen DVDs already, please.

Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :

Not to turn this into a Lost plot discussion thread, I think "the kid" is somehow causing things he focuses on to manifest- the polar bear, the bird from his book (in the Australia flashback), being able to throw the knife into the tree accurately, his uncanny luck in backgammon.

Stephen King made mention of the original "The Fugitive" with regard to a series that actually seemed to be an ongoing story making progress to a conclusion (the acquittal of Richard Kimball and the capture of the one-armed man.) I've only seen bits and pieces of the series, so while I like the idea, I can't vouch.

I really, _really_ hope Lost is working from a single coherent story. If it turns out they're making it up as they go and they don't know why things are going on, either, it's going to be a big disappointment. It's strange to think that the success of the show depends on it having an END to work towards.

I think Twin Peaks lost its audience when said audience realized they were putting an enormous amount of effort into keeping up with a plotline its creators weren't taking seriously.

Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :

I think the only issue with Lost is going to be them not wanting to finish the story if the rating keep bringing it back for more seasons. Even if it lasts 7 or 10 years, the powers that be will probably think that if they get these people off the island then there is no chance whatsoever for more money to be made.

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

quote:
I really, _really_ hope Lost is working from a single coherent story. If it turns out they're making it up as they go and they don't know why things are going on, either, it's going to be a big disappointment.

I'd bet money that they don't have a single coherent story. I'll bet it's more like Alias -- they're making it up as they go. Heck, they didn't even know that Locke used to

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be in a wheelchair until the episode where they showed that.

Posted by CRash (Member # 7754) on :

(spoilers)

Wrong---the wheelchair was featured as a prop in an earlier episode. The writers do have at least the backstory of main characters planned out. I'm willing to bet that since the success of the first season, they're doing quality work plotting out the storylines.

Posted by Somnium (Member # 8482) on :

So many of the actors and characters in babylon five were just plain annoying. The story was pretty good, but jease, I just wanted to shoot the guy who was the head of security. I can't remember the others [Razz]

Posted by dcabrera35 (Member # 8574) on :

I have this thing with Lost... I've predicted a terrible disappointing ending, that seems to be coming true with every episode.

Posted by Mr_Megalomaniac (Member # 7695) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sterling:

I really, _really_ hope Lost is working from a single coherent story. If it turns out they're making it up as they go and they don't know why things are going on, either, it's going to be a big disappointment. It's strange to think that the success of the show depends on it having an END to work towards.

I completely agree with you. I love the show for its weirdness, but sometimes I feel like some of the stuff they're making up as they go along, because just how insane it is.

Spoiler Example: from two episodes ago

Like the guy in the quarintine that Jack had met previously. That seemed to come out of nowhere and just be a twist for twist's sake. If they had the flashback where the two met many episodes ago then that would have been awsome, but it was from the same episode which worries me.

minor Spoiler from last episode

I'm really not sure what to make out of this one, but the shark that had the brand under its tail was weird, but cool. To me this is something that could lead up to something far down the road. I just hope they already know what it's for.

Posted by Leverandon (Member # 8672) on :

Actually...I think that its entirely possible and likely that they will leave the island at some point. One of the writers (I'm not sure if it was JJ or Damon) hinted this when he said "the show is called Lost, not Island for a reason." Or something like that...