I was all psyched out for the season premiere of Lost and it was pretty neat...we saw what was in the hatch, we're still terrified of what happened to the folks on the raft. It's pretty gripping!
Then I watched the next week's episode. It was to the first episode like Ender's Shadow was to Ender's Game. A retelling from a different point of view. This works in a 300 page novel, but on a suspense TV show, I'm annoyed by it. Is it because I'm one of those 'plot' people? Do I tune in with the expectation of knowing MORE about where they're going?
Yes. I'm flawed that way.
Then, they moved it to the 9pm slot. I get up at 5am every morning, so staying up past 10pm because I had to watch a TV show just wasn't in the cards. We started recording them...I stopped watching.
How sad. Am I alone in my fizzling feelings of attachment to this show? It's on right now behind me. I haven't seen the last two episodes, but I don't even care. I felt like the writers didn't care enough about their audience to move us along. Cliffhanger after cliffhanger got really irritating. Not to mention obnoxious characters getting more screen time, like....Michael.
Anyway, this is pointless, but it's something I just noticed. Of course now you all get to hear about it.
[ January 19, 2006, 01:58 PM: Message edited by: Narnia ]
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
Oh, Narnia. You are not alone. Xavier and I were just saying the same thing after tonight's episode. We're sick of getting ourselves all psyched up and rearranging our schedules just to watch a show where NOTHING HAPPENS.
And yeah, Michael is one of the most obnoxious characters on television and it's gotten worse in the two episodes you've missed.
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
What do you mean by move to the 9PM slot? I'm sort of confused. For me, it was originally on at 9PM (till 10), but with the start of this season (and even the last few reruns of last season) it was shifted forward an hour to 8PM (till 9). Now that would be 9PM Eastern, but that means originally you guys had it at 10PM Eastern. Or was the time different when the series first started airing? I didn't start watching till the first airing of the season finale, so my experience is only based from there.
Posted by Fitz (Member # 4803) on :
I'm still enjoying it, though not with the same intensity as I did last season. I don't think the problem is that the writers aren't answering previously raised questions, but that they're presenting too much information without real answers, and that the information they're giving us is just raising more questions. I don't mind the lack of immediate resolution, as long as they don't convolute the story by piling on the strangeness.
I have to say, though, that the last two episodes have restored my faith a bit. It seems like they might finally be getting back to the solid storytelling of last season. The show is much better when it's character driven, with weirdness in the background. Sure, the fantastical elements are great, but I think we've seen that when they overshadow everything else, the show's charm is diminished.
It's still my favorite show on TV right now.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
pfresh, we in the pacific time zone get everything LATER. We almost never get original broadcasts just because we're so far behind eastern time. I don't know how they work it, but the networks on the west coast must just decide when they want to show stuff because they really can do it whenever they want to. (It actualy broadcasts at 5 or 6 pm our time, but they don't show it until primetime.) So last year we had Lost at 8 and this year they've moved it to 9pm.
Valentine, why do I hate Michael so much? That scene on the raft in the second episode made me want to claw out my eyeballs, he was so obnoxious!
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
Ah, well then you people in the Pacific time zone are getting shafted more or less. That's rather unfortunate. As for Lost, I'm kind of with Fitz on this. They are giving us a lot of information but not too many real answers. Still as long as they get around to a resolution at some point (and don't get too convoluted), then I'm okay with it. I'll keep watching it regardless, I mean what else am I going to watch on a Wednesday night.
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
quote:The show is much better when it's character driven, with weirdness in the background.
I agree, which is why I stopped watching it a couple of weeks ago. I might watch the second season later, but there are so many other things competing for my time that if I'm not very keen on it there's no point in watching.
Posted by Wendybird (Member # 84) on :
I was a little disappointed in the first few episodes but I enjoyed last nights episode. It seemed like they gave us a little more back story and less island wierdness-- so more character story and less spooky stuff. I agree that if they don't continue focusing on the characters the show will not have a long run because the characters are why we tune in.
The trailer last night hinted that someone dies soon.... it better not be a character I already care about. Let it be one of the newer ones. I'm still not over Boon Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
Narnia, you hate Michael because he has failed as a parent in every way one can. He's bailed on his son at a crippling time and here on the island he is constantly endangering his son's life, the other passengers', as well as his own. For example, his screaming. They have asked him nicely (and not so nicely) to knock it off. The others are going to come running.
He just doesn't have any "parenting smarts."
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
Wendy, not only have the episodes hinted that, but the writers have flat out said that a main character will die this season. The actors are really stressing. (Source: Entertainment Weekly)
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
I also hate Michael because he's a man-_itch. (If you say 'man-witch', it sounds funny. ) He's constantly whining, blaming, yelling, criticizing, and frankly, I don't think he's a good enough actor to pull that off all the time and convince me that the writers didn't just put him in to be antagonizing. Cause that's really all he is.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I think Michael is trying pretty hard. He gave up his son because he realized that keeping him would mean destroying what could be a better life for him. It was an act of love.
And he is trying to bond with his son and protect him on the island. He ran off looking for him because he refused to just leave him on the other side of a strange island with crazy people.
And yeah, last week's episode seemed like a LOT of dead weight, though I liked the flashbacks they finally got back into. There are still a lot of unanswered questions that I need answers to before I stop watching.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
The change to 9pm is what hurt my viewing enjoyment. I have to get to bed by 9:30 in order to get up at 4:30am.
Posted by PUNJABEE (Member # 7359) on :
I think the character that needs to die is that GUY Michelle Rodriquez. HE is a horrible actOR.
Because it's a MAN. Just like Jennifer Garner is a MAN.
Posted by Wendybird (Member # 84) on :
Hmm, I thought it was fairly obvious what Jennifer Garner is, unless there are some major medical breakthroughs that haven't been blared on the news yet
I am really wondering which character dies. The trailer makes it seem that it is Sawyer but that seems like too easy. They wouldn't tell us that in the trailer would they? Although I guess trying to guess what "they" will do is silly isn't it?
Posted by akhockey (Member # 8394) on :
*Dwight K. Schrute Style* Question: What the *hell* was the smoke? If they don't have a reasonable explanation for that, I'm going to hunt down the writers and stop them from ruining my life any more....other than that it was a cool episode, Mr. Eko is a BEAST!
Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
Oooh! Don't tell me season 2 isn't as good! We bought season 1 on DVD and *loved* it.
space opera
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I also have lost interest. I'll watch it when it comes out on DVD, but it hasn't delivered the goods enough for me to arrange my schedule around it.
Posted by ctm (Member # 6525) on :
I'd really started to lose interest, too, but I was able to watch this episode and thought it was pretty good.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
This last Mr. Eko episode was one of the better ones of late, IMO.
-Bok
Posted by boogashaga (Member # 8881) on :
Whatever the "smoke" is, I think that it has the ability to look into a chracter's interior (soul?) and determine things. Last night, it was if it was "judging" Mr. Ecko, don't you think? Did it do the same to Locke?
By the way, there was no mechanical sound this week at it's apperance, even though there were the explosions. Also, even though it was, what, ranch dressing, that Locke let Michael practise on, should they really be shooting up their food stores? Now if it had been Italian dressing, that would have been OK.
Posted by Silent E (Member # 8840) on :
I agree that this week's episode (Eko!!!) was one of the best. I loved every minute of it. I don't really understand all the people who are losing interest. I didn't start watching until at least 2/3 of the way through the first season. It grabbed me, and I still am just as interested as ever.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
**SPOILERS for anyone who cares...
Lost is still my favorite but this season has been frustrating. I agree that this last epi was better than what has been offered lately. When Mr. Eko was introduced, I liked him and the more I learn, the more of him I like (even though I don't necessarily like all that he does). I thought he was going to stop talking again after he found his brother.
What about that darn Charlie and his stash?
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
quote:Originally posted by boogashaga: Whatever the "smoke" is, I think that it has the ability to look into a chracter's interior (soul?) and determine things. Last night, it was if it was "judging" Mr. Ecko, don't you think? Did it do the same to Locke?
That "smoke" looked like a cloud of nanites to me. Acted like one, too, particularly with the electrical flash that went on inside of it at one point. And I suspect that they're being controlled.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
I think maybe Charlie figures that if they get rescued, he can sell the stuff and make enough to get a good start. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was specifically for the purpose of being able to provide for Aaron. He seems very committed to the kid.
Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
Personally, I like Charlie's own explanation that he gave to Clare (as she was kicking him out) that it just makes him feel safe. "I'm doing fine now, but what if someday I really need it. Better to have a hoard that I never use than need it someday and not have it."
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
Lost lost me. During the first season, I couldn't wait to see it. My wife and I recorded it (since I work at night) and then would watch it on Fridays.
Then, well, the second season came around and I started watching just as before. And then I missed an episode and somehow, just kind of lost the drive to keep up with it. Basically, it was after they found the second group of survivors that I lost it. I just really didn't like the leader of the second group much and short of the one lady's husband that was alive in the second group, they didn't do a thing for me.
I figured I would miss the show more than I do, but honestly, I guess that I just got tired of all the information, the expanding cast and no resolution of anything.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Word.
I haven't watched one episode since I started this thread...way back. Posted by Shanna (Member # 7900) on :
Lost is starting to lose me too. I actually misssed the last fifteen minutes of Wednesday's show because I fell asleep. Now, I was very tired, but Lost should have woken me up.
I don't like the new island-group either. Ana Lucia is so annoying. I miss Hurley and Charlie and Sawyer and Claire and Locke. I like them as characters. The dynamic has changed and I'm not happy.
Its also begun to set in that it'll probably be years before the secrets are revealed. When I think about the season finale I don't think about closure, but about nagging cliffhangers. I'm less excited about the show knowing that I'm not gonna get any payoff anytime soon.
This will probably be a show I'll watch on dvd when I have a long weekened.
Posted by David Bowles (Member # 1021) on :
Well, I still love the show and find it very engaging. Go figure.
Posted by CRash (Member # 7754) on :
Spoilers, if you're worried about that...
I really liked Eko's episode, and how they tied it to the mysterious plane in the forest.
quote:We're sick of getting ourselves all psyched up and rearranging our schedules just to watch a show where NOTHING HAPPENS.
There was a recent article in our local paper where there was an interview with the writers and creators of Lost. They said something like, (please note that this is not an actual quote--I'm taking it from memory)
quote:There will always be mysteries on Lost because it's a TV series. Some viewers won't like that--mostly the two-hour movie types, who want everything wrapped up. But Lost doesn't work that way, we're in for the long haul, we want it to last as many seasons as we can and to hold the mystery there.
That said, I do still think that they can at least reveal more than they are doing now. I think they're too afraid of giving too much that they actually aren't giving enough as of late, and as a result some of us viewers are getting fed up with it. I guess I can understand their situation, though.
I agree that this season has not been as entertaining at the last. I think the problem has been the focus. Season one, we were meeting all of these interesting people, and seeing their complicated relationships forming. But season two comes and suddenly the plot is at the wheel--and as many weird stuff as the writers can cram into each episode.
It's like they've gotten carried away with their ability to do ANYTHING that they want with the series. I mean, anything. A cloud of black smoke mutilating people? A series of numbers that has to be typed every 108 minutes? People who mysteriously live in the jungle and drag teddy bears after them? Sure, why not!
What Lost needs to do is become the character study it began as. Eko's episode was a throwback to season one that was more "Lost" than most of the episodes lately. That's what needs to happen, IMO.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Did anyone watch last night? Sawyer's nicknames crack me up, "Mr Clean" "Gene" (I can't think of the others right now...funny though)
Interesting how Jack and his wife's marriage ended up. I wondered about that. Sad.
I thought it was another good episode. Anyone else out there watching/caring?
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Jack forming an army. Man.
Yeah, I'm still hooked.
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
For a good laugh click "Read my baby book" and see the newest entries at the bottom.
Funny the kid was born only 11 days after the show premiered.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Ya, the army with Anna and not Sayid (who was a soldier)? Seemed a weird thing to me! Well, the whole idea of a war seemed weird. Jack is losing it a little IMO.
Posted by Stray (Member # 4056) on :
Yeah, I think Jack's kinda losing it; I don't really like him anymore.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
I never really liked Jack. He has a stick up his rear that makes him very difficult to like.
Notice that the only person Sawyer doesn't call by a nickname is Michael? I know "Mike" is a nickname, but I mean like "Freckles" and such.
I still think the 108 minutes is the orbit of the Oersted satellite, and that the black cloud is made up of nanites. And that they're being controlled by a different group of Others than the ones Jack and Co. met last night. Others that include Ethen and Goodwin and probably Desmond.
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Why is it that the others were picking off survivors of the tail section, but not the ones in the front section, with the exception of Walt? I mean, three days in, and the TS were being attacked. Why did the others wait 46 days to take Walt? They obviously knew enough about them, they obviously had the ability to (I mean, Ethan snuck into camp and killed one of them with out anyone being able to do anything).
Why are the others 'allowing' them to live on the island?
What exactly happened to the survivors from the french womans ship? I know she said they got sick, so she shot them... but... what kind of sick? No one else has gotten sick.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Unless Michael is sick (holding friends at gun point). And now Jack with his irrationality. Locke has always seemed to be teetering on the insanity side to me. Just a thought.
I didn't get that whole "allowing" them to live on the island either.
Didn't Michael seem to think that he knew something more about the computer too when he locked Locke and Jack in that vault? He said something like, "it's not what you think it is". Obviously he got some information about where the others are since he went north instead of east.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
They don't know that you can communicate with it. Or rather, he doesn't know that Locke and Eko are aware of this functionality.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
*hides head in shame*
OK! I watched last night's episode! And I liked it!
Posted by peterh (Member # 5208) on :
It's ok Narnia. As long as your not mad about your Lost interest thread being derailed into a Lost discussion thread.
I am still hooked.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
starLisa, I got the impression that it was more that that. I guess the training film made a big deal about the computer not being used for any other purpose other than to enter in the code. So you probably are right.
Narnia, do you know anyone who can get you a copy of last week? It was good too (assuming you didn't see it).
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
ok sweetbaboo. You ruined my other secret: I watched the encore of last week's episode too. Two full hours of Lost when I was supposed to be uninterested. Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
*giggles* Welcome back.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
Well, there were more reveals in those two episodes than there've been since the first ep of the season.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
That must be why I liked them. I'm also glad that Kate is being distanced from Jack. I think I would like her a whole lot better if she wasn't always panting after him. Now that he's incredibly pissed at her, maybe she'll take a break from that.
I'm also really starting to love Sawyer. It's taken me a while, but he's been great in the episodes of this season that I've seen.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
I want to know who died and appointed Jack king.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
quote:Originally posted by Narnia: I also hate Michael because he's a man-_itch. (If you say 'man-witch', it sounds funny. ) He's constantly whining, blaming, yelling, criticizing, and frankly, I don't think he's a good enough actor to pull that off all the time and convince me that the writers didn't just put him in to be antagonizing. Cause that's really all he is.
I just had to say that after watching the first episodes of this season, Ron said, "Wow. My estimation of Sawyer's personal strength of character has really gone up."
"Because he dug that bullet out with his bare hand?"
"No, because he didn't shoot Michael. Or, you know, smack him a lot."
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
Jack is king because everyone just started coming to him with their problems.
That and he's hot.
Pix
Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
I don't see how the 108 minutes could be the orbit of a satellite.
Say the satellite comes around every 108 minutes. The problem is that the code can be entered in up to 4 minutes before 108 minutes is up, and then the clock immediately restarts.
So say the first time you push the button, its when the satellite passes directly overhead.
So the first time, its: (satellite orbit, when button is pressed) 0,0 Then right when the beeping starts, you hit it again. So: 108,104 then so on... 216,208 324,312 432,416 540,520 648,624 756,728 864,732
And so on, until when you push enter no longer has anything to do with when the satellite is passing overhead.
On average you probably don't lose 4 minutes every time, but every single time you enter the numbers you are losing time, and that buttons been being pressed for years and years it looks like.
Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
quote:Originally posted by starLisa: I want to know who died and appointed Jack king.
"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."
In Jack's case the writers seem to be going for the first option. Especially considering his father's reprimand last episode about crossing the line (how it's okay for some people, but not for Jack). The writers figure Jack is a special guy just because of who he is. His dad can even see it through his drunken stupor. Why can't you Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
Good point, Xavier
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
eh hem ... That quote about greatness, from Shakespeare, is commonly misused ... its actually in a letter written to a servant to inflate his ego and egg him on to do something rash and stupid. Still a good quote, but I have made it habit to correct people when they use it thinking that someone important said it and actually meant it.
Posted by Fyfe (Member # 937) on :
Of course then you must make the difficult judgment call about whether they are mistaken in their impressions about the quotation or simply want to express something that has already been excellently well expressed by a great writer and find it expedient to use his words...
Jen
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
Of course, but I find that more often then not even those who know its from Shakespeare don't know the context. But as you said, even this generally doesn't make much of a difference. I just see it as an interesting anecdote, not necessarily anything to fret over. Unless, of course, you're a quote Nazi
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Hello, Pot? This is Kettle...
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
hehe. Back on topic, I only saw half of Lost last night. It made me sad, but suprisingly I was able to survive. And I so called the whole army thing. Though he definately should've talked to Sahid. He needs more of a Republican Guard (thats what it was called, right?) than a police force.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Sayid is still deeply mourning Shannon.
I don't think he's quite up to training an army right now.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
It might be just the thing to take his mind off his mourning?
Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
Merkwürdigeliebe-
I've seen Twelfth Night (movie and onstage) and knew the context. I just thought the quote was fitting. Speaking of quoting Shakespeare out of context, my favorite is "To thy own self be true..." It's almost comedic in Hamlet, this self-important father pawning off a stock of tired cliches as advice. But it's often quoted like the wisdom of the ancients. Anyway, I'll stop with my derailment now.
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
You're right, it was fitting, especially considering Jack is a fictional character. The writers can make him be whoever they want him to be, so the quote can easily apply to him, regardless of context. In my personal opinion, that particular quote rarely applies to anyone in real life, but in fiction at least the concept tends to be the basis for many great characters (slight pun intended). And yes, I really like Jack as a character. He's definately necessary, even if he is a bit ... off sometimes. But he is vital to the overall flow of the story (not the specific plots, but to the general storyline of people being stuck on an island. IMO at least)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)