After tonight's episode, I'm not sure what is going on anymore. All logic is out the window and anything that has any semblance of intelligence is gone. I'm talking about the Locke and his father storyline. I waited two weeks, giving the writers the benefit of the doubt for not giving us an answer last week by wasting our time with the Paolo and Nikki joke. And this week, what do we get? Nothing. Not even an honorable mention as to what might have happened to Locke's father. Generally, if there are cliffhangers in other shows (ahem, Fox's Prison Break and House (shameless plug)) they usually are resolved in the first five minutes of the show and then we move on to the new material. Not in Lost. No way. Should we get any sense of logic in this show it would be on the odd occasion (perhaps when the moon turns blue or when the unicorns roam about the flowery fields of Scotland). What's more is the fact that I'm a loyal viewer. I'm not fed up with the show. But please Lost Writers, stop insulting my intelligence by making it seem that you know how things are going to work out by prolonging dead plots when you can't even present a simple conclusion to a simple cliffhanger. Now, if you haven't figured out why Lost IS Lost I'll say it in plain English without being indirect as I have been. Lost writers, write stories that are at least logical without insulting the viewer's intelligence by not giving answers to questions that are brought up. Right now there are so many plot holes, missing links, unanswered questions, relationships gone awry and feeble character flashbacks that trying to resolve them all will take a very large shovel and a big pile of...well...you get the picture. The golden rule of writing is to always bring something to a new chapter while resolving something old. Basics. Get back to them.

I am thinking the writers are using "real time" and we need to see what is going on at the same time with the Losties - and then we need to see the Others leave and then we get back to Locke and his dad -
Think foxes 24

i think thats why lost is lost, because its lost. Its not all supposed to make sense, its like a game. You have to put certain things together and soonerr or later youll get the answer. Like juliet said about ben in this epi, "Ben likes to play mind games". That seems to be what the others are doing and So are the writers are doing, playing mindgames with us.
Now it may not seem to make sense and they might seem to be leaving us in the dark about things, but thats the whole point, cuz in the end result itll make perfect sense.Everything is adding up one by one, instead just revealing everything in each episode, the show would have been over the second season if they did that.
Its a big mindgame and sooner or later well find out who what when and why.

when we found the hatch (piece of metal at the time) in season 1, how many episodes did it take till we found out what it was??? Once we found out what it was, how long till we found out what was inside??? Lost has had a tendency to put large reveals off to gain the anticipation. TPTB have told us we wont be getting the story for a while, its just how the story goes. Its Lost, what do you expect?

Yeah, but Fox's 24 has consistently been a good show.

Good stories have conflict and tension. Writers maintain interest by keeping subplots unresolved.

What's more is the fact that I'm a loyal viewer. I'm not fed up with the show. But please Lost Writers, stop insulting my intelligence by making it seem that you know how things are going to work out by prolonging dead plots when you can't even present a simple conclusion to a simple cliffhanger.

**MOD edited** For myself, I find that the many subplots and unresolved loose ends add to the enjoyment and uniqueness of the show. **MOD edited**

I enjoy the build up and delayed gratification that the BIG story lines have had. It makes it that much more rewarding when we do find out the big answers.

How long did it take us to find out how Locke ended up in the wheelchair, yet when we did, how cool was it to finally see it. I know I was sitting on the edge of the couch with my jaw on the floor. I don't think I would have had that same reaction if we had see that in his second flashback in the first season.

I've been on board with this show now since that first episode way back when and I've learned that TPTB are very talented story tellers and I trust the ride that they're taking us on.

If Lost wrapped things up tidily for me, I'd stop watching. We saw a nice tease as to the fallout of what happened with Locke, we just have to wait a while before that thread is picked up again. The loyal and intelligent viewer will have that thought in the back of the mind for a few weeks, and when the payoff comes, it will be that much sweeter.

Good stories have conflict and tension. Writers maintain interest by keeping subplots unresolved.
Up to a certain limit. Ive forgotten 90% of the unresolved things after a couple of weeks. Theres no tension at all. I didn't even care if Lost came back when it went on hiatus and that's weird because its a good show.

I feel I watch it despite the writers lack of continuity, not because of it.

I was just discussing with my sister tonight about the fact that a lot of people are frustrated. But I have to say that, no matter how confusing things get, this is the only show I can remember watching that is constantly making us think and discuss. Just that fact alone makes me not get frustrated with the show! I love that there's always intelligent talks going on, even if they are found to be incorrect or totally off the wall!

I enjoy the build up and delayed gratification that the BIG story lines have had. It makes it that much more rewarding when we do find out the big answers. Until we get to the end and then we will have an Xfiles situation where the writers cannot possibly come up with a finish that was worthy of all the delay and unanswered questions.

I also used to talk to friends about what was going to happen the following week, now we dont even bother because we know it wont be addressed anyway.

Its like South Parks Cartmans mum cliffhanger when they showed Terrence and Philip instead, only the Lost writers have kept it going for 3 seasons.

An interesting viewpoint. But I have different feelings about the issues raised. To me, the dangling plot lines and unanswered questions are not an insult to my intelligence; rather, they require intelligence. To understand Lost, one has to hold all these things in memory and figure out what questions are being raised. What are the possibilities, the theories? WIth these in mind, what part of the possibilities or theories can be discounted? I think it takes an active mind to fully appreciate Lost.

Just earlier today--oddly enough--I was thinking how the serials of yesteryear had the cliffhanger ending, and tidied it up in the first few minutes of the following episode. I thought that Lost, with its well established way of putting a scene or an event, only to come back to explain it--perhaps only a little more--was an interesting writing technique. In fact, it's one of the main reasons I love Lost.

The one thing that intrigues me, given the fact that Lost episodes tend to raise more questions than provide answers, is how will this show end. How will they provide answers to all the dangling questions? Will the last half of the last season be laden with answers? Will they somehow answer the bulk of the questions in the final show? Should be interesting.

Until we get to the end and then we will have an Xfiles situation where the writers cannot possibly come up with a finish that was worthy of all the delay and unanswered questions.

I agree that it was totally lame of the X-files to end the way it did. It was a shame too, that show started out so amazingly.

With Lost though, I have to have faith that TPTB an endgame, otherwise, why bother watching? I'd be better off to cut my losses and write off the last 2.5 years I've spent agonizing over theories and counting down the days until new episodes. I'm not ready to do that just yet.

I believe the best is yet to come! :)

To sum this thread up, here are the major points that are being made by those who feel Lost is Lost:

1. The Lost writers don't know how to write.
2. Lost ought to be more like all the other TV shows out there.
3. Intelligent people like TV shows that are written like all the other ones out there.
4. TV shows that have many subplots are written poorly.
5. TV shows that have unresolved loose ends that take weeks before being resolved are poorly written.
6. They feel like they could do a better job of writing Lost than the writers do.

So, is this right so far? Have I missed anything? Just trying to get it straight as to what you folks are complaining about...Youve missed just about everything, Im surprised you can follow Lost if you cannot interpret the posts above.

Getting answers is not black and white, we dont want everything tied up each week and everything goes back to how it was.

We dont want to watch week after week and get no answers at all.

We want some answers, we like the long storylines but get no answers at all, just give us some and we will be happy and stop promising that we will get something answered and failing to deliver.

Locke did say he was sorry to Kate and then vanished in to lostville with the others (i assume). was he wearing a germ warfare mask too

Just in case anyone is curious about when we'll next see Anthony Cooper, He's not showing up again until episode 19, "The Brig," four weeks from now.

Cardie

Yeah, but like someone stated earlier, Lost is the only show I keep thinking about long after it's over, and its the only one where I go on line and discuss and read all sorts of theories from the most intellectual to the most way far out there stuff....I can assure you that I have never raced online before to chat about any other show.

Serial shows have been using the suspensefull build ups since back in the radio days.

After tonight's episode, I'm not sure what is going on anymore. All logic is out the window and anything that has any semblance of intelligence is gone. I'm talking about the Locke and his father storyline. I waited two weeks, giving the writers the benefit of the doubt for not giving us an answer last week by wasting our time with the Paolo and Nikki joke. And this week, what do we get? Nothing. Not even an honorable mention as to what might have happened to Locke's father. Generally, if there are cliffhangers in other shows (ahem, Fox's Prison Break and House (shameless plug)) they usually are resolved in the first five minutes of the show and then we move on to the new material. Not in Lost. No way. Should we get any sense of logic in this show it would be on the odd occasion (perhaps when the moon turns blue or when the unicorns roam about the flowery fields of Scotland). What's more is the fact that I'm a loyal viewer. I'm not fed up with the show. But please Lost Writers, stop insulting my intelligence by making it seem that you know how things are going to work out by prolonging dead plots when you can't even present a simple conclusion to a simple cliffhanger. Now, if you haven't figured out why Lost IS Lost I'll say it in plain English without being indirect as I have been. Lost writers, write stories that are at least logical without insulting the viewer's intelligence by not giving answers to questions that are brought up. Right now there are so many plot holes, missing links, unanswered questions, relationships gone awry and feeble character flashbacks that trying to resolve them all will take a very large shovel and a big pile of...well...you get the picture. The golden rule of writing is to always bring something to a new chapter while resolving something old. Basics. Get back to them.

Good literature, which goes hand in hand with good story telling, does not resolve an issue within the first few paragraphs. Look at Faulkner, you can read any of his books without knowing what is really going on until the end. Shows like Prison break and house are flashy shows for average people. Lost is a complex story for people that prefer depth and complexity to nursery rhymes and reality TV. **MOD edited**

Youve missed just about everything, Im surprised you can follow Lost if you cannot interpret the posts above.

Getting answers is not black and white, we dont want everything tied up each week and everything goes back to how it was.

We dont want to watch week after week and get no answers at all.

We want some answers, we like the long storylines but get no answers at all, just give us some and we will be happy and stop promising that we will get something answered and failing to deliver.

We are getting answers in case you missed it. We may not be getting the answers YOU want but there are definitly answers being given. Which answers do you want? whats the black smoke? whats the island? who are the others? who is dharma? Look its a series meaning that they have to have enough content to fill up the series and keep it logical and realistic. Do you read the last page of a book first to get all the answers before ya read the whole story? Ya just have to sit back and enjoy the ride or just quit watchin if ya hate it soo much and theres soo many unanswered plot holes. Just remember if lost were a book right now we're at what i assume to be the halfway point we'll get answers ya just gotta let them unfold naturally.

If we were to get all of the answers now then why would any of us continue to watch the show??? :confused: Isn't one of the main premises trying to figure it all out? I don't understand people complaining about a television show that they continue to watch. They reeled us in season one and I, for one, am still hooked. All of the questions are going to be answered... on the writers terms.

I watch Lost for the journey, not the destination. :smile:

As long as the story stays interesting and the characters interact well, I'll keep watching. I don't need big reveals all the time. The faster the answers come, the faster the show will be over.

Well, at least now we know why Kate's mother just kept yelling "Help! Help!" when she saw Kate in the hospital in "Born to Run" from Season 1.

Is 2 years too long to wait for an answer to one of these little questions? I think it is pushing it to expect the audience to wait patiently for so long for answers to these "what the hell was that about" scenes.

These little things happen often in "Lost" and they just keep piling up.

Eventually people will just get fed up with them.

I watch Lost for the journey, not the destination. :smile:

As long as the story stays interesting and the characters interact well, I'll keep watching. I don't need big reveals all the time. The faster the answers come, the faster the show will be over.


This is an interesting point...I feel like I have different tastes than a lot of Lost fans...I almost lost interest in season 2 because it felt like the character interactions and events were getting bogged down...

now a lot of people are getting fed up with season 3 and I think the show is doing some of it's best writing (with a few exceptions along the way)...sure it's not giving answers, but I'm finding it far more interesting and entertaining than Season 2.

Overall this second half of the 3rd season is much more enjoyable, complex and better written than the first half. Character interactions are getting better and better. And some key characters like Locke and Jack are getting even more multidimensional, with so much layers of personality and complexity that is impossible not to find them intriguing.

Lost is not lost. The authors do know what they are doing. The thing is that some people just don't have the pacience that it takes to watch something like Lost. Actually I think it's very odd that Lost is still a sucess... extremely good and complex series like this one generally are underrated.

If TPTB does initially plan to have Lost be around 5 seasons / 100 episodes, we are right in the middle of the whole series. I'm OK with plot points not explained for episodes, even seasons, as long as they are resolved at the end.

Prison Break? Gimme a break! That's a one season show stretching beyond 2 now. Season 2 should have been called Prison Break: The Fugitive. If Lost is to follow that model, the Losties would have been rescued by now, all mysteries resolved, and Season 3 could have focused instead on how their lives were affected by their experience on the island, with perhaps flashbacks to the lives on the island.

Actually, I thought tonight's episode did a great job of weaving together a lot of plot lines. We found out about what happened to Cassidy after Sawyer. Sawyer and Kate's background's came together. Sawyer killed a boar, which was his nemisis earlier in the series and a huge metaphor for him having conquered some of his issues with his dad. Kate relived trying to rescue someone who didn't want to be rescued (Jack=Kate's mother) and this time found the courage to say she was sorry. We found out more about Smokey - that the monster who pulls up trees and whistles is the same as Smokey. Kate and Juliet, rivals for Jack's affection, came head to head. I'm sure I could list a ton more things. If you think Lost is Lost, it's because YOU are Lost. It's all coming together, and it's very well done. JMO.

Sabrina from TV Guide's blog sums it up best.

"Seriously, I'm about to get black smoky on the ***** of you people and your "advancement" complaints. If the story moved as fast as you want it to, we'd have a TV-movie on our hands."

Plus, I find it pretty gratifying to come up with my own theories or read about other people's theories. Lost has inspired me to do a surprising amount of research and reading I wouldn't have done otherwise. Like nanotechnology, magnetism, sonic weapons, philosophers, greek mythology, etc etc. I think some of the best stories leave you with a few possible explanations and you sometimes have to use your head to draw your own conclusions.

Plus this show has such a large ensemble cast compared to the other shows mentioned in this thread.

Then theres the time factor with each season roughly taking up a month of "island time" events are going to unfold at a slower pace than a show like PB where it can pick and choose where to start up and finish.

Lost is marathon. Not a sprint. If this episode had dealt with the Locke thing you could guarantee that someone would be on here moaning that they hadn't touched on the other characters at all,etc

We found out more about Smokey - that the monster who pulls up trees and whistles is the same as Smokey

That was pretty definitively established in "The 23d Psalm!"

Much of season 2 and the mini-season at the beginning of 3 were badly written, pure and simple. Not because of the pace of the revelations (although that was part of it) but because the characters behaved in illogical ways as pawns of the story. That's because Lost in some ways was just as much a one-season show as Prison Break. But it looked like the network might want to prolong it indefinitely and the writers kept treading water for fear of passing their big milestones too quickly. The flashback structure and conviction that the island is about death also led them to bring in new characters for the express purpose of writing a flashback or two for them and then killing them off.

Because it now looks like the network isn't demanding an open-ended commitment to churn out new Lost in the wake of declining ratings, we are now getting a return to real story-telling because tptb can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Cardie

We are getting answers in case you missed it. We may not be getting the answers YOU want but there are definitly answers being given. Which answers do you want? whats the black smoke? whats the island? who are the others? who is dharma? Look its a series meaning that they have to have enough content to fill up the series and keep it logical and realistic. Do you read the last page of a book first to get all the answers before ya read the whole story? Ya just have to sit back and enjoy the ride or just quit watchin if ya hate it soo much and theres soo many unanswered plot holes. Just remember if lost were a book right now we're at what i assume to be the halfway point we'll get answers ya just gotta let them unfold naturally.
No, the big answers may have to be left for the end. I understand that. But they are treating us like idiots with the Locke cliffhanger and then showing Locke as if nothing had happened.

You cant use the correct timeline excuse for this one either.

Thats just one example and there are dozens of others. Obviously people agree with me because a big percentage have just switched off.

No, the big answers may have to be left for the end. I understand that. But they are treating us like idiots with the Locke cliffhanger and then showing Locke as if nothing had happened.

Actually, if you go back and re-watch the scene where Locke says good-bye to Kate, you'll notice a fresh bandage on his right hand. My guess is our Mr. Locke has been giving old Mr Cooper a good thrashing since we last saw him.

I imagine the downfall came after the success of the first series. I've got this image in my mine of TPTB being called up to the network offices and having it explained to them that it's no longer about the story. Forget the fans. It's now about advertising and the merchandise. Point and case, look to the right hand side of the screen. I even saw that they were trying to sell a framed picture of the wall art in the hatch.

Now where did I put my Locke action figure?

I think I finally get it... Lost is a long con. :D

Lost isn't Lost! It's just frustrating when we have to wait to see the storylines that are the most interesting. Like Locke's and Desmond's in my opinion anyway! Don't get me wrong, I love everyone on the show and enjoy seeing everyone, but just get a little irritated like many do, when they show LOCKE'S FATHER on the island and then make us wait to see what the heck is going on!!!!!!!

After tonight's episode, I'm not sure what is going on anymore. All logic is out the window and anything that has any semblance of intelligence is gone. ...... The golden rule of writing is to always bring something to a new chapter while resolving something old. Basics. Get back to them.I think the reason why I enjoy LOST is because it is not like every other show on TV. It challenges you and gives you many things to think about which do not have an immediate payoff. Most TV shows are far to linear in their approach to storytelling and writing. I can figure out the plot for most episodes of most shows in a few minutes which is extrememly boring. LOST is much more like the X-Files or Twin Peaks in that you have to put things together and everything is not handed to you on a silver platter. The formula that most shows work off of treats the viewers as if they were idiots (See Law & Order). The foreshadowing in LOST is subtle, where most shows hit you smack in the face with a frying pan to tell you what is coming next. M. Night's movies (his early ones) were so good because you really had to think to see what was coming next. Thats what LOST is for me now.

After tonight's episode, I'm not sure what is going on anymore. All logic is out the window and anything that has any semblance of intelligence is gone. I'm talking about the Locke and his father storyline. I waited two weeks, giving the writers the benefit of the doubt for not giving us an answer last week by wasting our time with the Paolo and Nikki joke. And this week, what do we get? Nothing. Not even an honorable mention as to what might have happened to Locke's father. Generally, if there are cliffhangers in other shows (ahem, Fox's Prison Break and House (shameless plug)) they usually are resolved in the first five minutes of the show and then we move on to the new material. Not in Lost. No way. Should we get any sense of logic in this show it would be on the odd occasion (perhaps when the moon turns blue or when the unicorns roam about the flowery fields of Scotland). What's more is the fact that I'm a loyal viewer. I'm not fed up with the show. But please Lost Writers, stop insulting my intelligence by making it seem that you know how things are going to work out by prolonging dead plots when you can't even present a simple conclusion to a simple cliffhanger. Now, if you haven't figured out why Lost IS Lost I'll say it in plain English without being indirect as I have been. Lost writers, write stories that are at least logical without insulting the viewer's intelligence by not giving answers to questions that are brought up. Right now there are so many plot holes, missing links, unanswered questions, relationships gone awry and feeble character flashbacks that trying to resolve them all will take a very large shovel and a big pile of...well...you get the picture. The golden rule of writing is to always bring something to a new chapter while resolving something old. Basics. Get back to them.

You want everything wrapped up in a nice little bow for you, go watch Law & Order or CSI. They'll give you your cliff hanger AND the "resolve" in the same show, so you doint even have to wait a week.

What makes LOST unique (like it or not), is that it breaks free from the cookie cutter TV drama that fills the airwaves. Don't get me wrong, I'm as big a fan of House and Prison Break as anyone...but I watch LOST to get a completely different experience. I am resigned to the fact that there will be no immediate gratification from one episode to the next...and that's OK. I think its fun.

No, the big answers may have to be left for the end. I understand that. But they are treating us like idiots with the Locke cliffhanger and then showing Locke as if nothing had happened. You cant use the correct timeline excuse for this one either. Thats just one example and there are dozens of others. Obviously people agree with me because a big percentage have just switched off.

While I would agree to a certain extent that Lost appeared somewhat lost of late, I also think that from the start this show has not been written or laid out like any other show. It is unique. There are some viewers who feel like we are being treated like idiots and we're not given answers, reasons, etc -- and there are some viewers who absolutely think the creative team are genius for how things are presented because they believe there are hidden answers everywhere and spend time exploring every nook and cranny to find the answers. Of course there's lots of opinions on this and everyone sees it differently. There is no way that everyone is going to be happy. I like certain types of episodes that other viewers hate.

This show isn't going to be loved by everyone all the time. I thought the Hurley in the Partridge Family bus episode was probably the worst waste of my hour ever. It (to me) was pointless, stupid, senseless, {add more negative adjectives here}.. but I know several people (mostly younger folks;) ) that loved this episode and thought it was OMG so awesome!11! There are several storylines that simply don't make sense to me.. they don't add up.. they just don't work (the whole Henry/Benry/Ben the leader) story.. yet others find it to be perfectly sensible.

As far as the Locke/Cooper story - Lost has never been a show to gift wrap and give out answers in a normal manner. Although I would have liked to have known what happened I figured we weren't going to find out so soon.. that would be the normal thing to expect. So I fully expected that either we won't see Locke for a long time, or if we did there'd be no reference at all to what happened. When he had a black eye and his hand wrapped.. it was at least an acknowledgement that something happened.. but more than that - it was a clue that something had happened. Trying to put 2 and 2 together, many people would think... hmnn.. We saw that he saw cooper in the room, gagged and bound on a chair..
next we see him with a black eye and bandaged hand... this being indication that something more happened that went beyond locke just saying.. Dad... so we were shown point blank - something more happened. When will we find out? Who knows.. but the point is that this time things didn't just go ahead as though it didn't happen.

Unfortunately for us, ultimately it will be the ratings that will dictate Lost's storylines and pace. However, for the present, it is bad writing.

Unfortunately for us, ultimately it will be the ratings that will dictate Lost's storylines and pace. However, for the present, it is bad writing.

... in your opinion... :rolleyes:

The last few episodes have been great, how can you say it's bad writing? This show has went places that no other show has dreamed of. We're getting answers, maybe you just don't want to see them?
What have we learned in season 3... compared to season 1 where all we saw was hunting and digging up a hatch?

Hey all...

Great comments from everyone. Personally, I think Lost is right on track. Why? It's one of the few shows out there that is not focusing solely on: doctors, lawyers, crime scene technicians or police officers.

I hate CSI. I hate Without a Trace. I hate Law and Order. I hate American Idol. I used to like 24, but now that they do the same thing every season, I couldn't care less about it.

Lost is something that is actually DIFFERENT.

And I disagree that we haven't gotten any answers.

We know what was in the hatch from Season One. We know how Boone's plane arrived on the island. We know what brought Oceanic Flight 851 down. We know where the Others live. We finally learned whether Ben (aka Henry Gale) was an Other or a parachutist. We know (partially) what happened when Claire was taken by Ethan. We know how Locke ended up in the wheelchair. We know why Ben wanted to take Jack, Kate, Sawyer and Hurley. We know what happened to Ruisseau's daughter (although I'm sure we'll learn much more about that). We know what Kate did to get the Feds after her.

Everyone complains about not knowing these things until the writers reveal them. What happens them from the complainers? Hardly an acknowledgement. They just start complaining about not knowing the next mystery.

(BTW, the producers have even told us about some MAJOR revelations they are going to get to in the next few episodes. Wanna know about them? Go to the SPOILER section.)

Lost -- at least for me -- is not about the action. It's about learning who these characters are and watching them bounce off each other. Everything else is icing on the cake.

One of my eigth grade students today said, "Lost is retarded!" When I asked if anyone saw the show last night. He wasn't being disrespectful, he just doesn't get it. This is from a student who relishes in cop car crash shows, JackA$$, and tossing bouncy balls out of the school bus.

Whenever I see people bashing LOST for not giving up the answers fast enough, like Every Other Show Out There, I think of this particular student.

Lost requires a level of awareness. You have to remember things to enjoy the experience. It's a lot like reading a great series of books, which is why I feel some are bashing it. Most people watch tv and want the quick resolution of a CSI Miami or Two and Half Men.

An earlier poster did a great job of highlighting the many pay offs we had to wait for. I don't mind waiting. I just wish others had more patience. But then a lot more people would probably just enjoy tossing bouncy balls out of buses.

I must admit: a few weeks ago, I had the same feelings as the original poster. It’s my nature that I have to get to the bottom of things…always looking for spoilers or even reading the last pages of a novel to find out who dun nit (I’m a true Scorpio in that sense!)

Then I decided that I would either stop watching the show or stop complaining and just enjoy Lost for what it is…which 95% of the time is good writing. Obviously I didn’t stop watching the show—and I have to say that since I decided to stop being pissed about the lack of answers, and just enjoy each episode, I LOVE LOST AGAIN!

when we found the hatch (piece of metal at the time) in season 1, how many episodes did it take till we found out what it was??? Once we found out what it was, how long till we found out what was inside??? Lost has had a tendency to put large reveals off to gain the anticipation. TPTB have told us we wont be getting the story for a while, its just how the story goes. Its Lost, what do you expect?

I understand that, but there is one storyline in which the writers made the mistake of utilizing this ploy . . . Sawyer and Charlie's con job and the "assault" on Sun. The whole ploy of "The Long Con" was finally revealed in last week's episode. The problem is that it should have first been revealed in Season 2's "The Whole Truth",when Ana-Lucia and Sayid found that gun on Charlie, during their trek to the other side of the island. Hasn't anyone ever wondered why those two didn't bother to question Charlie where he had received the gun? Come to think of it, Jack didn't question Ana-Lucia, when she handed over the gun to him, in "S.O.S.".

No, the big answers may have to be left for the end. I understand that. But they are treating us like idiots with the Locke cliffhanger and then showing Locke as if nothing had happened.

You cant use the correct timeline excuse for this one either.

Thats just one example and there are dozens of others. Obviously people agree with me because a big percentage have just switched off.


Wrong.


What u dont understand is that we are in the middle of a Locke episode now, episode 19 most likely.

And in the middle of that episode Locke goes to talk to Kate, and so we see him in the Kate episode.

But the Locke episode will start right where we left him, outside the door to his father, that cliffhanger WILL be picked up, and we will also see him talking to Kate again, but this time from his point of view, and we'll probably see who it was standing outside.

And if u dont get that, then im sorry u dont get Lost, because this is how they do their thing.

So in other words, Yeah, it IS a timeline thing.


-Exodus

Wrong.


What u dont understand is that we are in the middle of a Locke episode now, episode 19 most likely.

And in the middle of that episode Locke goes to talk to Kate, and so we see him in the Kate episode.

But the Locke episode will start right where we left him, outside the door to his father, that cliffhanger WILL be picked up, and we will also see him talking to Kate again, but this time from his point of view, and we'll probably see who it was standing outside.

And if u dont get that, then im sorry u dont get Lost, because this is how they do their thing.

So in other words, Yeah, it IS a timeline thing.


-Exodus


Well put...in fact, perfectly put. This should put an end to the discussion.

Yeah, but Fox's 24 has consistently been a good show.

Guess you stopped watching after season 5, cuz season 6 is turning out into a 1 hour sitcom...a bad 1 hour sitcom.

Wow, I thought this was a GREAT episode. I loved the Cassidy/Kate story. We learned that Kate was the one who talked Cassidy into getting Sawyer arrested. That was funny. We learned that smoky has some substance. We learned thatJuliet has some combat training. We learned that the Others did not create smoky. We learned why kate's mom acted the way she did in the hospital. We learned that Jack can be a cold son-of-a-biatch when he wants to be. We learned that the others have someplace else to go.

All in all, I thought the entire episdoe was compelling as hell. If you really ahte the show that much, give it up.

i think that the LOST writing is NOT what is making this show seem so bad to some viewers...it is simply how the suits are MAKING the editors tell the story.

i had the pleasure of talking to Caleb Schultz from Post Production at the Lost Weekend party. i specifically asked about the differences between what is written and what is shown on the tv. it is vastly different. the writers are telling the story that they want to tell. the directors are shooting that story. the editors/post production put it together as directed and THEN it is sent to a room full of 30 or so people...who take notes and send back WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE in the eppy. then Post Production re edits the story, changes the direction per those notes and send this to Damon & Carlton. they watch the edited version of THEIR STORY and have to decide what to fight for. sometimes they win sometimes they dont.

the bad writing and/or writers is not really the reason that we aren't seeing the story that should be told. it is the suits at ABC that is mucking with this show and making it so much less than it can be. i just wish that we could actually see the story that the writers really want to tell instead of being yanked around by the suits. dont get me wrong, i still enjoy LOST but the creative potential is being stifled which frustrates me.

I don't think Lost is Lost. Sure, we don't get all the answers we want every week. This isn't Heroes, where at the end of the first season that storyline is done and over with. This entire story has to stretched over all these seasons, and I think they're doing a good job with it.

The show is exciting (most of the time), the characters are interesting, and the mysteries are mind-boggling. But if we answer them all at once, then we'll have no show left.

Be patient. I'm sure the storyline with Locke's father will be resolved by the end of the season (or, we'll at least have some more info about it).

I see a lot of people comparing this series to "a good book." But I think the problem with this analogy is that Lost should not be likened to a book, but rather a series of books. I'm sorry, but one of the great things about a great book is that it can suck you into a compelling storyline, and you end up staying up all night reading 1000 pages at once. You can't compare Lost to a book because it's storytelling in a completely and opposing medium. By nature, you only have a few minutes per week and a few hours per season. The comparison is null.

If you have to compare this series with a book, it would best be likened to the entire Harry Potter series, wherein each season of Lost represents one Harry Potter book. Ideally, Lost should have set itself up with a few long term, series long mysteries that continued to develop from season to season, and meanwhile set up season long storylines and mysteries that start and end within each singular season. Unfortunately, Lost is either not doing this at all or just very bad at it. Because instead we get these sporadic, spontaneous "mysteries" in the middle of a season that then go unmentioned for episodes and episodes (and episodes) with no foreseeable resolution in sight.

I think Lost is Lost, in a way. If you're enjoying the ride, that's great. But I also don't think that to "enjoy" this "ride" you need to have any assumed level of "intelligence." I consider myself intelligent. I see what "TPTB" are doing. When I say things like "that doesn't make sense," I don't mean that it doesn't "make sense" TO ME, but rather relative to the story we have seen "develop" since Season 1.

Once again, I have to say that the flashback device is what is holding this show back. It's difficult for me to consider this because I also think that the flashbacks are part of what makes this show stand out. However, it's gotten to the point where the flashbacks have become more of a hindrance, effectively taking us out of the story being told in order to beat us over the head with cliches we've heard 50 times before (KATE RUNS!!!! JACK IS A LEADER!!!! DADDY ISSUES!!!).

I think a TON of people watched seasons 1 & 2 on DVD, where they could view as many episodes as they wanted in a row. Many of the Lost fans that I know were clued in via DVD, and the Lost Experience over the summer only helped garner lots of new fans. So in reality, season 3 is the first season quite a few people are ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING ON A WEEKLY BASIS. Of course this is going to make it seem as though the journey is taking a lot longer....

No, the big answers may have to be left for the end. I understand that. But they are treating us like idiots with the Locke cliffhanger and then showing Locke as if nothing had happened.
Locke acting as if nothing has happened was a part of the episode. Kate asked "Did they brainwash you?!" in regards to Locke's attitude, confirming that Locke being 'calm' was supposed to be a strange thing and is significant.

Also, American Idol gains viewers every week. Maybe I should tune in? It must be an intellectual, enthralling show!

Be patient. I'm sure the storyline with Locke's father will be resolved by the end of the season (or, we'll at least have some more info about it).


Its Going to be revisited in the May 2nd episode according to Damon and Carlton.

Yeah, but Fox's 24 has consistently been a good show.

Matter of opinion. Season 1 for me is a TV classic, season 2 and 3 enjoyable, season 4 dreadful past the initial 4 episodes,almost the same for the following season, only I think I haven't seen something quite as horrible in contrived as 24's season 5 in a long time. I gave season 6 a chance but then gave up after episode 5 or 6. I simply didn't enjoy it anymore - now THERE'S a make up as you go writing style - and not one that works particularly well.

At least I still enjoy everything Lost throws at me and don't beg for answers before the question is asked completely. (no offense intended to you - just my thoughts on the consensus of the disgruntled fans)

If they revealed Locke's reaction to his father's presence too soon, then there would be no tension where we don't know whether Locke is genuinely with the Others or not. They're obviously leaving this ambiguous for a good reason (such as, Locke has always been an archetypal character and his motives and actions bear on the entire theme of the show) and delaying the reveal so it has a reverse impact. We don't know what the hell Locke is up to, and I'm sure they want it that way. Resolving the cliffhanger the next week is an easy out for writers who don't trust their audiences.

Rock on, Lost...but man, if Locke goes all Mephistophelean on us, I'm gonna be totally destroyed. I'm just sayin'.

In my opinion Lost was successful because they seamlessly integrated two compelling themes - the mystery of the island and the character development. Now these themes seem to be out of sync with one another and they also each seem to be lacking in some respect. The flashbacks/character development angle is repetitive and becoming contrived - yes, we get that Locke keeps getting screwed over by people in his life, Kate has to run and has unresolved mother issues, Jack is a tormented leader etc. etc. etc. As for the mysteries, they are still compelling and obviously most of them will not and should not be resolved immediately, but even if one doesn't know what the answers are, there are so many weird things being thrown at us that it is hard to intuitively follow what is going on: smokey, Locke's dad appearing out of nowhere, how the others know everything about the losties, Desmond's time travel, the Dharma initiative, the pirate ship that was found in the middle of the island a few seasons ago, the numbers. Are these all connected? Maybe, but many viewers are starting to fear that it could be just as likely that many are not - and this randomness to the story would be a huge letdown.

As an example, I had found the whole "numbers" subplot really fascinating, but the fact that they have not really touched upon that aspect again (along with things I have read in blogs etc) suggest that it was a short-term plot device that will not have relevance for the bigger mysteries of the show. What if that applies to many of the things we have seen this season?

Yeah, but Fox's 24 has consistently been a good show.

Have you watched it this year?

As an example, I had found the whole "numbers" subplot really fascinating, but the fact that they have not really touched upon that aspect again (along with things I have read in blogs etc) suggest that it was a short-term plot device that will not have relevance for the bigger mysteries of the show.

The Numbers are the basis of all the Dharma Initiative work (as seen on The Lost Experience), so I guess they're one of the most relevant aspects of the show ;)

After tonight's episode, I'm not sure what is going on anymore. All logic is out the window and anything that has any semblance of intelligence is gone. I'm talking about the Locke and his father storyline. I waited two weeks, giving the writers the benefit of the doubt for not giving us an answer last week by wasting our time with the Paolo and Nikki joke. And this week, what do we get? Nothing. Not even an honorable mention as to what might have happened to Locke's father. Generally, if there are cliffhangers in other shows (ahem, Fox's Prison Break and House (shameless plug)) they usually are resolved in the first five minutes of the show and then we move on to the new material. Not in Lost. No way. Should we get any sense of logic in this show it would be on the odd occasion (perhaps when the moon turns blue or when the unicorns roam about the flowery fields of Scotland). What's more is the fact that I'm a loyal viewer. I'm not fed up with the show. But please Lost Writers, stop insulting my intelligence by making it seem that you know how things are going to work out by prolonging dead plots when you can't even present a simple conclusion to a simple cliffhanger. Now, if you haven't figured out why Lost IS Lost I'll say it in plain English without being indirect as I have been. Lost writers, write stories that are at least logical without insulting the viewer's intelligence by not giving answers to questions that are brought up. Right now there are so many plot holes, missing links, unanswered questions, relationships gone awry and feeble character flashbacks that trying to resolve them all will take a very large shovel and a big pile of...well...you get the picture. The golden rule of writing is to always bring something to a new chapter while resolving something old. Basics. Get back to them.TPTB have said in a few interviews that it's going to be 5 weeks from when we last saw Locke's father tied up before we see him again. Like the poster after your first post said, I agree that they are going with real time. We have to be patient as a lot of things are happening with the Others and our Losties. We'll find out when it fits the storyline.

I think Lost is Lost, in a way. If you're enjoying the ride, that's great. But I also don't think that to "enjoy" this "ride" you need to have any assumed level of "intelligence." I consider myself intelligent. I see what "TPTB" are doing. When I say things like "that doesn't make sense," I don't mean that it doesn't "make sense" TO ME, but rather relative to the story we have seen "develop" since Season 1.

This is exactly what I was getting at. Just downright simple story logic. Someone else had mentioned how Smokey couldn't cross the invisible barrier Juliet had erected. Well, why couldn't it go over it like the other Losties had done when trying to get into the compound (it can glide, and it could jet upwards, and it is smoke). And there are dozens of other plot points that just don't make any sense from a story logic point of view. Here's another: The key to the cuffs in Juliet's pocket. Kate should have killed her right there, on the spot. What happens? Juliet is going back to camp with them. And another thing: The Other's camp is abandoned. Get the other Losties to the Other's camp. It's fortified with a fence. No. Let's go back to our own camp instead.

As for the poster who had mentioned that if anyone doesn't like the show they should stop watching it. Well then, there wouldn't be anyone left. And then where would Lost be? I'm being facetious, of course. But just because I LOVE this show doesn't mean it should take advantage of my senses only to present me with solid resolutions three times a year (November, February and May ratings sweeps). OK. So it went on hiatus. It wasn't an improvement.

Nonetheless, I'm thankful that it's not only me who feels the direction of Lost has changed drastically this season. I'll keep watching to the chagrin of the naysayer…hoping that some resolve will come of this.

Yeah, but Fox's 24 has consistently been a good show.

You have to be joking, right? I have been a fan since the beginning of that show. It has never been consistantly good. It's had it moments of brilliance and thrills as well as mind numbingly stupid moments. It has seriously gone down hill. Talk about plot holes and simply bad plot. How many times does Jack have to save the US against a nuclear threat in which someone in the govt is plotting something evil while the office antics at CTU are akin to High School.

Every week someone starts a thread like this. Every week its essentially the same reasons why Lost is "lost"--the stories don't get resolved quickly enough. They keep you hanging for weeks (How dare they!).

The simple fact is Lost IS what it IS. The style of writing is a stylistic CHOICE, its not bad writing, its a new and unique style. The hanging story lines, and the unresolved questions is part of the concept. If you don't like that, then you don't like Lost, so I suggest you just quit watching. I'm not saying that to be rude, I'm saying that because if you expect the entire structure of the show to change after 3 seasons, you're only setting yourself up for disappointment.

Well, I, for one, have resolved to ingore this type of thread from now on. I'm tired of reading the same debate week after week. It would be one thing if there was ever anything new that came up, but really, its the same thread every week. Please feel free to join me in this boycott of sorts.

I do agree with the poster who said that the people who always complain about a lack of answers never seem to say anything when answers are finally given. Case in point: during the mini-season when we found out Ben had a tumor, everyone was barking about the inconsistency since Rose's cancer was cured and Locke was healed by the Island. When that topic was brought up by Locke himself in TMFT, it should have been very clear that there was a REASON for that so-called "inconsistency" and in fact it was not an inconsistency at all... the writers have a plan for that.

Charlie and Sawyer were outed for what they did in season 2. An explanation was given for what happened to Desmond when he turned the key. We know who Patchy is. The answers come eventually, but if the complainers acknowledged that, they would have nothing left to complain about.

In my opinion Lost was successful because they seamlessly integrated two compelling themes - the mystery of the island and the character development. Now these themes seem to be out of sync with one another and they also each seem to be lacking in some respect. The flashbacks/character development angle is repetitive and becoming contrived

This I do agree with. There are exceptions to this, where even though the flashbacks are essentially giving us info we already have (TMFT, i.e.), their dramatic impact is enough to make them worth it. But for the most part, they are starting to look like a time-killing device. Not good.

I do agree with the poster who said that the people who always complain about a lack of answers never seem to say anything when answers are finally given. Case in point: during the mini-season when we found out Ben had a tumor, everyone was barking about the inconsistency since Rose's cancer was cured and Locke was healed by the Island. When that topic was brought up by Locke himself in TMFT, it should have been very clear that there was a REASON for that so-called "inconsistency" and in fact it was not an inconsistency at all... the writers have a plan for that.

Charlie and Sawyer were outed for what they did in season 2. An explanation was given for what happened to Desmond when he turned the key. We know who Patchy is. The answers come eventually, but if the complainers acknowledged that, they would have nothing left to complain about.
I just want to say that it's a bit more difficult to have a conversation about how something was finally answered. What I mean is that it's simple to just vent and talk about how something doesn't make sense and then flesh out those ideas into how things could be different or what you'd like to see. Whereas, with the Charlie revealing the faked kidnapping plot to Sun, while I was happy to see it come to light, I had nothing more to say about it. I didn't feel the need to start a thread saying, "Wow!!! Thank God that was finally brought up!" That would be a boring thread with 3 replies. See what I mean? So it's not that I don't appreciate when things ARE answered, it's just that sometimes it's just easier to leave it at that.

Just downright simple story logic. Someone else had mentioned how Smokey couldn't cross the invisible barrier Juliet had erected. Well, why couldn't it go over it like the other Losties had done when trying to get into the compound (it can glide, and it could jet upwards, and it is smoke). And there are dozens of other plot points that just don't make any sense from a story logic point of view. Here's another: The key to the cuffs in Juliet's pocket. Kate should have killed her right there, on the spot. What happens? Juliet is going back to camp with them. And another thing: The Other's camp is abandoned. Get the other Losties to the Other's camp. It's fortified with a fence. No. Let's go back to our own camp instead.

I find logic like this truly irritating. Just b/c someone can't see the logic in something that happened on screen doesn't mean it's illogical. Someone else may have seen these things very differently than you did.

The smoke monster not going over the fence was a HUGE reveal to me and provided a big answer to mystery surrounding Smokey. I think TPTB were telling us that Smokey is NOT AI, it NOT capable of learning, it is NOT able to reason. Many of us assumed it can do things it clearly cannot. In another thread concerning Smokey, I likened it to an EKG or polygraph machine. Both can do some pretty advanced things, things that humans cannot do, but they still cannot learn or reason.

I have to disagree with your assessment of the Kate/Juliet situation. I do not think Kate "should" have killed Juliet. Maybe killing Juliet makes sense to you, but not to me. What good will it have done to kill Juliet? What should Kate kill her with? The whole point of last night's epi was to show that Kate is learning from her mistakes, that she's not always right and that someone people don't want to be saved. Killing Juliet will have completely negated the point of Kate's flashbacks and moving her forward as a character.

As far as the Other's town goes, how do you know that Jack won't try to convince them to move there? Even though Jack is a leader, he knows very well that he can't make people do something they don't want to do. He may get back to the beach and try to convince people to move into the Other's village, but they may not want to. Remember the whole caves/beach thing? Jack knows from experience that these people are ultimately going to decide on their own where they want to live. And I can definitely see why some of these people wouldn't want to move to Other village. They don't trust the Others, they may think they'll be spied on at the Other's village, they may fear that the homes are rigged with explosives like the Flame was, they may be concerned about the Others coming back to ambush them.

Lost is an exercise in delayed graitfication and deductive reasoning. Just like the Smokey thing: I thought that was a huge reveal and a way of TPTB of giving us answers without spoon-feeding it to us. Smokey not going over the fence wasn't a plothole, it was deliberate to show that Smokey lacks the reasoning abilities to problem solve and make the decision to go over the fence. Sure TPTB could've just had Juliet say that, but then that wouldn't be Lost.

Ya know, I have no problem with people who post on here just how much Lost sucks. They're entitled to their opinions. However, I find it annoying when people say that Lost sucks, but what they really mean is that Lost isn't going the way I think it *should* go. Just b/c something isn't going the way you think it should, doesn't make it bad tv. I think in order to enjoy this show, one must submit to it, let go of the expectations and shoulds, and let it unfold in front of you. Take it for what it is, not what you think it should be.

I find logic like this truly irritating. Just b/c someone can't see the logic in something that happened on screen doesn't mean it's illogical. Someone else may have seen these things very differently than you did.


I dunno, I completely aggree with him...I think he's being very logical.
100%
The smoke monster not going over the fence was a HUGE reveal to me and provided a big answer to mystery surrounding Smokey. I think TPTB were telling us that Smokey is NOT AI, it NOT capable of learning, it is NOT able to reason. Many of us assumed it can do things it clearly cannot. In another thread concerning Smokey, I likened it to an EKG or polygraph machine. Both can do some pretty advanced things, things that humans cannot do, but they still cannot learn or reason.



Methinks you give the writers far too much credit...I thought it just made for a neat visual and they just completely ignored what was established earlier...the writers do that all the time.
100%
Lost is an exercise in delayed graitfication and deductive reasoning...

Ok...but that doesn't sounds like a good selling point.

I find logic like this truly irritating. Just b/c someone can't see the logic in something that happened on screen doesn't mean it's illogical. Someone else may have seen these things very differently than you did.

I actually agree with this completely. As soon as I read the post that you answered, I came up with almost the same answers in my head that you posted.

Not understanding why something is happening or because it doesn't seem logical to you doesn't mean its wrong or illogical. There could be an endless number of reasons why smokey behaved the way he did. Also, who says that Jack won't bring everyone else back to othersville, but then again, doing so could place them into one big trap. So when something doesn't happen that you think should does not make lost "lost".

Everyone has their own idea of how they want things to play out, including the creators of the show. Unfortunately (or fortunately) their idea of the show is the only one that truly matters.

I thought it just made for a neat visual and they just completely ignored what was established earlier...the writers do that all the time.

I have to ask: what exactly was established earlier that was ignored this time around?

Every week someone starts a thread like this. Every week its essentially the same reasons why Lost is "lost"--the stories don't get resolved quickly enough. They keep you hanging for weeks (How dare they!).

The simple fact is Lost IS what it IS. The style of writing is a stylistic CHOICE, its not bad writing, its a new and unique style. The hanging story lines, and the unresolved questions is part of the concept. If you don't like that, then you don't like Lost, so I suggest you just quit watching. I'm not saying that to be rude, I'm saying that because if you expect the entire structure of the show to change after 3 seasons, you're only setting yourself up for disappointment.

Well, I, for one, have resolved to ingore this type of thread from now on. I'm tired of reading the same debate week after week. It would be one thing if there was ever anything new that came up, but really, its the same thread every week. Please feel free to join me in this boycott of sorts.


I deliberately quote your whole message because I agree with you 100%. I swear it's the last time I ever visit such a thread.

Rick

No, the big answers may have to be left for the end. I understand that. But they are treating us like idiots with the Locke cliffhanger and then showing Locke as if nothing had happened.

I happen to disagree completely with your statement. Actually I believe that the authors overestimate the intelligence of most of Lost fans by expecting that they'll think that this deconstructed narrative they're using is cool.


Actually, if you go back and re-watch the scene where Locke says good-bye to Kate, you'll notice a fresh bandage on his right hand. My guess is our Mr. Locke has been giving old Mr Cooper a good thrashing since we last saw him.

Actually, the way he disprovingly looks at Kate when he says that the Others told him what she did to her dad is an indication that he did nothing to his own dad. Actually I believe that he's forgiven him.

Yeah, I have to say that at this point TPTB have me convinced: they know where they're going with this. I wish I knew what else to tell you.

Look, we've seen several strong episodes in a row. Doesn't that suggest to you that they're taking us someplace?

I don't know if TPTB can really please everyone here, and they shouldn't try. Let's say we learned why Kate's mom yelled help after seeing her withn a few episodes. Then we'd have no more Kate backstory for like almost an entire season, and everyone would be complainig "But what about Kate? What's her story?" But it'd have been like, "Sorry, we gave you the answers you wanted. What more do you want?" Either you get everyone's story nicely strung out throughout the show, or you lose track of certain characters. I don't think you can have both.

Think about the mysteries as a positive sign: as long as they pile up faster than they're solved, then we're not halfway there yet, and there's that much more show to go. Or something like that.

Matter of opinion. Season 1 for me is a TV classic, season 2 and 3 enjoyable, season 4 dreadful past the initial 4 episodes,almost the same for the following season, only I think I haven't seen something quite as horrible in contrived as 24's season 5 in a long time. I gave season 6 a chance but then gave up after episode 5 or 6. I simply didn't enjoy it anymore - now THERE'S a make up as you go writing style - and not one that works particularly well.

Are you kidding? Almost everyone I talked to and critics think that S5 of 24 was the best 24 season. I mean comeon it had great sequences like the airport sequence and an amazing twist which most people did not see coming. I agree with you about Season 4 toward the end of that season it got downright ridiculous. Habib Marwan looked like a superhuman the way he would always escape whenever CTU had him cornered, one threat after another, how many contingency plans did the guy have.:rolleyes:

attention happy posters, the 24 talk stops now. while you may think it has bearing on LOST it really does not. brief mentions for comparison maybe but this in depth discussion is not appropriate. this is the step prior to the mods deleting posts and handing out warnings. thank you.

when we found the hatch (piece of metal at the time) in season 1, how many episodes did it take till we found out what it was??? Once we found out what it was, how long till we found out what was inside??? Lost has had a tendency to put large reveals off to gain the anticipation. TPTB have told us we wont be getting the story for a while, its just how the story goes. Its Lost, what do you expect?

This is known as non-linear storytelling. Nothing wrong with that.

But there's a difference between writing for mystery and intrigue (e.g. you want to find out whodunnit on the last page, not the first), and making up any old horse manure to stretch a story out (your publishing contract says 3 books of 1000 pages each, but your story is really only worth 1 600-page novel), sacrificing all credibility in the process.

Wrong.


What u dont understand is that we are in the middle of a Locke episode now, episode 19 most likely.

And in the middle of that episode Locke goes to talk to Kate, and so we see him in the Kate episode.

But the Locke episode will start right where we left him, outside the door to his father, that cliffhanger WILL be picked up, and we will also see him talking to Kate again, but this time from his point of view, and we'll probably see who it was standing outside.

And if u dont get that, then im sorry u dont get Lost, because this is how they do their thing.

So in other words, Yeah, it IS a timeline thing.


-Exodus

Baileysdad: While setting my prediction into spoilermarkings is flattering, im NOT a writer for ABC, im totally making that up.

-Exodus

Every week someone starts a thread like this. Every week its essentially the same reasons why Lost is "lost"--the stories don't get resolved quickly enough. They keep you hanging for weeks (How dare they!).

The simple fact is Lost IS what it IS. The style of writing is a stylistic CHOICE, its not bad writing, its a new and unique style. The hanging story lines, and the unresolved questions is part of the concept. If you don't like that, then you don't like Lost, so I suggest you just quit watching. I'm not saying that to be rude, I'm saying that because if you expect the entire structure of the show to change after 3 seasons, you're only setting yourself up for disappointment.

Well, I, for one, have resolved to ingore this type of thread from now on. I'm tired of reading the same debate week after week. It would be one thing if there was ever anything new that came up, but really, its the same thread every week. Please feel free to join me in this boycott of sorts.


I'm with you, even though I really don't post much. I used to get worked up over this type of thing, but, if I keep that up, my aorta's gonna be about as weak as Dick Cheney's, so I gots to take it easy.

There's no need to feed the trolls. Let the haters hate. The very same people, week after week, continually post in the "Didn't Love It" thread and rate the show a "1" or whatever, every time.

They're still watching.

But there's a difference between writing for mystery and intrigue (e.g. you want to find out whodunnit on the last page, not the first), and making up any old horse manure to stretch a story out (your publishing contract says 3 books of 1000 pages each, but your story is really only worth 1 600-page novel), sacrificing all credibility in the process. I'm in complete 100% agreement with you there. It's interesting though. I don't believe I've ever seen a show much like Lost that can carry a dead story strategy for such a long time until it is completely useless to the point that the audience couldn't care less about it. I'm refering to the flashbacks and the needless waste of space they are currently providing in their present form.