I've been thinking that the current style of the show just isn't gelling like it used to. I believe it's time to change the formula that worked well in season 1 but hasn't been working all that great since Season 2 (where we got our first "filler" episode with Michael IMO). I think that if the producers were to make the Flashbacks less frequent and flip it so that we got just island episodes interspersed with the occasional Flashback episode for a new character or where the Flashback ties directly to the episode and/or answers something the audience is wondering about, would give more relevence and weight to the episode.

I am starting to think this would "fix" Lost...not that it is broken, but even the hardcore have angst regarding certain aspects of Lost. I really think it would fix the following...
Giving the other actors more screen time that they have been complaining about for a while now. It would have certainly helped introducing Paulo and Nikki instead of just throwing them in the mix.

There are too many stories that the producers said they don't have time to cover. Let's face it, it is ONE of the falicies of Lost. They have written themselves into a few corners. This would allow them to revisit some things or people. Fans sometimes get the feeling that the producers are "forgetting" about the polar bears or the smoke monster or the Black Rock....or my favorite...the Transmission Tower.

It would allow for better explainations. Um did anyone see Syied and Co come back and detail what happened on the boat? Has anyone talked about the light that we saw during the finale? Certianly this would give more time to actually show or answer things we have on our minds. More explaination should have been forthcoming about the Hatch's implosion.

I know that this is the model they have gone with and it would not be easy to implement. Here's a way...Episode One Season 4 is all Island. FOlks would consider it special and welcoming. Episode 2 would be the same way. 2 Eps back to back with only Island action...how cool would that be? Then Eps 3 could be a flashback...a relevent one. We'd pay more attention to the flashbacks and they would be more "special".

I Love Lost and consider it to be one of the best things TV has ever offered, so this is not a post to complain. Just a thought.

Thoughts?

I get what you're saying but I think it would change the show in a way the writers don't want it to change. And while there are fans that would like this change I think there's a lot of other fans out there who wouldn't. The flashbacks anwser a lot as well. Like why Eko needed to buid the church or why jack is as intense as he is. It does get old but I just wouldn't like the show without it. I don't think Lost is broken at all, the fans biggest complaints are they want anwsers and they don't like how the show is going from Season 1. Me-I think Lost is just fine.

It would completely change the way the show works. It was just a thought I had. I love the show, but get frustrated in afterthought. Like how Syied and co are back yet they don't show them telling the rest about things like "hey we killed one of them, and oh they took our boat too." I know it could be overkill to show something that should be assummed. ANd time is short. To me they NEVER show the losties talking about stuff amongst themselves which would *** a realness to their actuall situation. At least establish that they DO talk to each other. We know they do, but they also keep secrets as well...and that is what most people who watch the show are thinking...that no one ever talks to each other. They do, we just don't see that.

Maybe trying a few non flashback episode to get the answers out there or to get a point across. One of these could have closed the what happened to the hatch and the white light and the consequences of destroying it..unless that is coming at some point, but it doesn't seem like it. Flashbacks take a lot of time out of the central story. The church could have easily been explained by Eko himself in a little monologue that he's famous for. They chose to keep it a mystery like a lot of things on the show.

I have been thinking of the flashbacks this time around...and while GREAT GREAT stories, I think there could have been Juliets or Paulo and Nikki...equally compelling and would add to the present story. While I don't think they could have done it differently as you "have " to do Jack, Kate and Sawyer. You "have" to do the Boat crew. and you "have" to do someone from the losties. Eko had to be done as he was being killed. They could have not done Sawyers nor Lockes, though that one progressed his character...the episode did, but not neccesarily the flashback. Eko could have died by the hands of the Polar Bear...er claws and teeth of the Polar Bear :) But seriously, he would not have survived that. There, you killed off your character and the flashback wasn't about who you killed..shake it up a little.

Anyway, I want it known I DO love this show. I defend it constantly and do not understand why people turn off from it or say it's jumped the shark...from hardcore fans of the show. To me these have been some of the finest they have done. Maybe I just think the flashback gets a little tired. Even though they are great stories, I wish they would push the current plot along too.

There are several threads here at the Fuselage discussing flashbacks, who likes them and who does not. Personally I think they are a part of the show, and will continue into the next season. I think its part of the way they are telling the story and removing them at this point changes that. Considering the number of characters on the show, I dont know how else they would convey who they were before the island. I just dont see them going anywhere..

Well, for what it's worth, I'm with you Apollo. I wouldn't like to see the flashbacks totally eliminated, but it seems like they are sometimes forced or irrelevant at this point.

The FBs are always about one of the charachters who are central to that episode but with the way the show focuses on a small portion of the overall cast, and can not give FBs on some of them because of it's revelation factor they can become redundant. Jack always has issues with his father and ex-wife. Okay, point taken. Either expand on who he is and where he has been, or don't waste 25% of the show on it. Same with Kate. Fugitive who hurts those close to her and is always on the run. Right-on, got it.

Locke's FBs have been more varied. They revolve around him being a tragic person who trusts but is taken advantage of, but they have all shown a different side of his personality. Same with Sawyer. Those are the big four. Sayid, Desmond, and Hurley seem to have pasts that put them in line with happenings on the island and I'm looking forward to seeing more.

All I'm saying is that a few episodes without FBs couldn't hurt. Ending them totally would be a mistake as they can add a lot to the show but the arbitrary FBs, in my opinion, take away more than they contribute.

I think the flashbacks have outlived their usefullness and have now become a huge drag on the show. It's time to get rid of them.

I agree that the character flashbacks are starting to get old. I think we get the point that Sawyer is a con man, Kate is running from the man (why she married a cop is beyond me. Another flashback or two could tie this up) and so on. The only character flashback I want to see is how Locke lost his abiltiy to walk. I think these characters can be fleshed out too much. Lets move past the Losties and move onto the island and the Dharma project.

I don't think that the flashbacks should be eliminated. They just need to be changed to show different aspects of the character's pasts that really HAVEN'T been shown yet. That would keep the flashbacks compelling.

:hissy:Flashbacks must stay!!!! ALWAYS! :hammer:

The problem with the flashbacks is ...if your going more action based, like they are doing, it just kills all the tension to have a flashback.

We end up with episodes where we have no idea what other characters are doing

They really do get boring after a while

I believe that the flashbacks, when not integral to the storyline in the present, should be curbed. They are most definately a drag on the show--and we all know it!
Moreover, if they retain this narrative format there is no way--I promise you--that they (the producers/writers) will be able to satisfactorily answer the ever-increasing list of questions that continue to dangle.
But, honestly, I don't think they care anymore.

Forgive me, it's late and I'm tired....Has every episode of Lost had flashbacks in them? I want to say yes but I'm not completely sure...

Thanks ahead of time!


Nevermind...I found my answer. Every episode except for the Other 48 Days.

The only flashback I am interested in seeing at this point is how Locke ended up in the wheelchair.

This week's was SO pointless...it covered no new ground at all. What else can be covered at this point? The last Sawyer one was boring and Jack's was a trainwreck...Locke's was same situation wew have already seen but a different day and place.

The flashbacks really need to cover some part of the story that has been talked about but not explained...they really need another "A HA!" moment and not more of the same thing over and over.

The flashbacks really need to cover some part of the story that has been talked about but not explained...they really need another "A HA!" moment and not more of the same thing over and over.
I do very much agree. The answer isn't to kill the flashbacks but to make them interesting and cover new ground for each character. Sadly in this season, it hasn't happened much. :undecide:

Yes, very redundant. They should limit the flashback to ten minutes an episode. Half the shows this season are essentially repeats. Something already covered is just filler. They've got to give us more or the show will be cancelled by ABC, because of losing viewers. Look at the "didn't like it" thread for episode 6.