It's a tribute to the power and awesomness of this show's Season One episodes that I continue to watch this show, disappointed week after week, month after month, hoping against hope that things will turn around.

I was hoping that Season Four would address some continuity and character concerns that cropped up in the previous two seasons and began to interfere with my enjoyment of this show. Instead the writers and producers have chosen to plow on ahead with the idiocy and it's wearing very thin.

Short term memory much? Charlie's dead, Claire and Hurley are pretty ok with it though, hm? Everyone Hurley gives a damn about has died in the last few months, he's not peeping about his curse or anything?

The Lostie split: They agreed to go seperate ways, Jack and Locke somewhat less than amicably. Now the two camps are at war and raiding each other? WTF? This transition in social dynamic is a full on fulcrum shift that was given zero on-screen time to explain it.

Locke's house: Locke's behavior is continually contradictory. Doesn't he believe it sacrilege to live in a house with electricity while on the island? His major shift in character and methodology and direction is so sudden and plays with neither sympathy nor plausibility.

The Others: Alpert the Immortal and all the other forest trodding, gun-toting, psychic mysteriosos (along with a few tailies) have vanished for the time being and so far nobody has expressed much concern that they might return for their leader? That they might still be up to their kidnapping, murdering, thief in the night ways? We were promised at the end of Season 2 that by the end of Season 3 we would understand the Others, sympathize with them, see them as part of the big picture. Well so far, I understand that they are a cult of brainwashed goonies who consider it righteous to attack, kidnap, terrorize, and murder people who intrude on their territory by dint of accidental plane crash. And that's all. Also, some of them are magic.

Ben: He's a master manipulator so the best he could come up with to stop Jack from phoning the boat was "don't do it, it's bad!". The remotest cooperation on his part would have gotten him everything he wanted. His constant antagonism of everyone is completely ridiculous unless we are to believe everything is going according to his master plan so far. Why did he need to have an elaborate kidnapping plot that involved several deaths just to have a man who hates him operate on his spine if he has millions of dollars and diplomatic passports and a submarine handy? MAKE SOME FRIGGIN' SENSE. On top of this, beyond a single nod to the concept two episodes ago, noone seems interested in drilling him, or Juliet, or Rousseau, or her daughter, for additional information about this MAGIC ISLAND WITH A MONSTER ON IT. Did anyone even think of turning Ben over to Sayid for an interrogation? I realize the writers need to keep some secrets back but everyone's complete lack of interest or curiosity about their environment is NONSENSICAL.

Rousseau and her daughter, reunited: Given zero screen time. Rousseau's story was a major hanging mystery from Season One. One might think she would have something to say about Locke and his zaniness, the others, Ben... anything. She's been relegated to redshirt status.

I want some friggin' answers: Hey it's all good to keep us viewers in the dark, but let me get in the mindset of an average "joe" lostie. I crashed on an island with a big scary monster in the jungle. I live in fear of mysterious smoke people who kill and kidnap us at night. Food is being dropped from the sky. There are underground facilities and tunnels everywhere. I have no curiosity about any of this. The people on our 'rescue' boat arrived with scientific equipment and guns and twitch and look guilty everytime we mention rescue. Let's go coconut bowling.

I have no reason to believe in these characters anymore... they have become ludicrous. The writers are clearly trying to take the show in new and interesting directions and their fear of giving away information has them botching the effort miserably... the mechanisms for smooth transition of tone and pace are absent.

Does anyone besides me have the sinking feeling that "the answers" we'll get three years from now will be something like: "the island is a magico mystical energy island of electromagical fluxion" and "the others are secret people who know its ancient secrets" and the monster is "a big smokey monster that can shapechange" and Jacob is "a ghost cabin manifestation of magical electromagnetic fluxion" and the numbers are "magic bad numbers"?

It was forgiveable when the show was in limbo but now that it's "the beginning of the end" I find myself tempted to tune out and check back in when someone tells me it's "the end" at last.

Jack and Locke's split was given little screen time, but the reason seemed clear enough to me. Jack wants to leave; Locke doesn't.

Locke didn't seem to have any trouble with the elec. and plumbing in the hatch. In fact he seemed really eager to get into that hatch.

"Ben: He's a master manipulator so the best he could come up with to stop Jack from phoning the boat was "don't do it, it's bad!". " - Exactly. We don't know what Ben's up to yet, but he's manipulating Jack and Locke just as well as he was when we thought his name was Henry.

And if I was the average Lostie, all I would be thinking about after all that's happened is that Jack was able to call a helpcoptor and get me OFF the island with the freaky smoke and the crazy underground bunker and the weird "other" people. I wouldn't give a lick about anything else.

Keep in mine that while a week goes by here in TVland, on Lost it's sometimes less than a day. And I choose to believe that everything will turn out just fine (for us, the veiwers, at least).

These characters have a little more to deal with at the moment than a dragged out filler scenes. Yes, Charlie just died; Rousseau & Alex rediscovered each other; the Others are out there somewhere, et.al. - BUT they just found out that this group is there from the freighter & some of them think that group is out to kill them - SO - are they supposed to stop & have this mother/daughter love-fest, cry for hours about Charlie & daydream about where the Others are? I don't think so. The IMMEDIATE concern is the Freightees and what harm they intend. There is time later for bonding, mourning, wondering later. (Not to mention, TPTB only have so many episodes to finish up the series - and are now short about 3 episodes in which to do it - I can forgive them for skipping the "fluff").

I agree with you, boylegd, I think you should drop the show. You obviously don't get the whole thing. If we got all the answers then there wouldn't be a show. I find the speculating the best part. As for grief and bonding, etc. who cares and what would it add. If you want everything to be 100% real, could happen, and a neat tie up each eppy, then you are definitely watching the wrong show!

These characters have a little more to deal with at the moment than a dragged out filler scenes. Yes, Charlie just died; Rousseau & Alex rediscovered each other; the Others are out there somewhere, et.al. - BUT they just found out that this group is there from the freighter & some of them think that group is out to kill them - SO - are they supposed to stop & have this mother/daughter love-fest, cry for hours about Charlie & daydream about where the Others are? I don't think so. The IMMEDIATE concern is the Freightees and what harm they intend. There is time later for bonding, mourning, wondering later. (Not to mention, TPTB only have so many episodes to finish up the series - and are now short about 3 episodes in which to do it - I can forgive them for skipping the "fluff").


right, except for the fact that they have put in a LOT of BS filler, what about the PATHETIC excuse for a conversation among Rose, Sun, and Claire when Sun says "I can't believe I am going to have my baby in a hospital!" Claire responds with a oh, why dont you just rub it in? And then ROSE of all people giving Claire a bit o' advice about thanking Charlie the proper way....WTF was that all about?
Sorry:) I am not taking this out on you - this scene just sticks out to me becuase I was totally embarassed as a promotor of the show that this was chosen as a scene this season! I do think they have jumped a little too far ahead of some of the story lines, especially when they have been written them in as major story lines in previous seasons (especially the monster/smoke - that was like one of the main story lines in S1)
I love the show to death, but sometimes, every so often, I just shake my head at them ......

I love this show, but I can't disagree with anything boylegd says. It would be great if this post could be circulated among the writers.

For me, all-powerful Ben and his pitiful jungle operating room are the biggest non-sequitur right now. The more Michael Emerson demonstrates his incredible acting skills, the weirder his character's story gets.

right, except for the fact that they have put in a LOT of BS filler, what about the PATHETIC excuse for a conversation among Rose, Sun, and Claire when Sun says "I can't believe I am going to have my baby in a hospital!" Claire responds with a oh, why dont you just rub it in? And then ROSE of all people giving Claire a bit o' advice about thanking Charlie the proper way....WTF was that all about?
Sorry:) I am not taking this out on you - this scene just sticks out to me becuase I was totally embarassed as a promotor of the show that this was chosen as a scene this season! I do think they have jumped a little too far ahead of some of the story lines, especially when they have been written them in as major story lines in previous seasons (especially the monster/smoke - that was like one of the main story lines in S1)
I love the show to death, but sometimes, every so often, I just shake my head at them ......

This confuses me. Did you not get that scene? Charlie's dead and everyone is anticipating his return. Claire was going to "take care of him", and it broke my heart (along with many others) knowing the fact that he's dead as they speak. It was great.

, what about the PATHETIC excuse for a conversation among Rose, Sun, and Claire



For one thing, that conversation happened BEFORE our Losties knew the Freighties were a potential threat - besides what Clerks said - it showed that since they thought they were going to be rescued they let their guard down & were relaxed, having some fun. It wasn't pathetic at all.

Isnt this the direction it was headed last season? Things are established, we are very aware of Hurleys curse, as are the losties and I am sure they are sick of hearing it. The camps are hardly at war, IMO. One group is staying the other is going, period.
Locke, since season 1, has been on the search for answers, and as we have seen in his life, a search for direction. He had it, now its gone and he is on his own again, flailing in the wind, just like his old life.
Who says the plane crash was accidental?
At any rate I think people are trying too hard to figure this out, instead of taking it for what it is.

Locke is an interesting fellow, half sage and half loser. That theme played well across seasons one and two. I feel Locke should maintain his status as an interesting character through some sense that he has an inner agenda and is frustrated at times in his attempt to progress with it.

Instead, he just sort of comes across as aimless and stupid.

"Duh, all I did was knife the rescue chopper person in the back and Jack is mad at me. Why is Jack mad at me? Jack needs to have more faith in knifing people in the back, the misunderstanding is clearly on him."

"Hey Ben, now that I have a gun at your head, what IS that smoke monster? Oh wait, I saw it already. I've looked in the eye of this island, I guess. Oh look, you're dissembling. Well, that's ok for now then, Ben."

"Ben, you're in a wheelchair and I'm not because you don't live in communion with the island like I do. But worry not, ten episodes hence I shall have forgotten I said this."

"Gee, Ben, now that I have you tied up and at my mercy, WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GET MY DAD FROM? Nah, forget it, I'm not that curious."

"Sure Sawyer, let's play backgammon. I'm sure you're not even remotely interested in asking me about the time a few weeks ago when I locked you in a room with the man you vowed to kill as a child."

Gnaaah. You want to believe in Locke because there's so much to work with there.... but a succession of mishandled scripts have turned his character into a simple plot device and the audience can't empathize with him for good or ill anymore.

This confuses me. Did you not get that scene? Charlie's dead and everyone is anticipating his return. Claire was going to "take care of him", and it broke my heart (along with many others) knowing the fact that he's dead as they speak. It was great.

Sorry to confuse you. Heartbreaking, yes. IMO, however - the writing of that conversation was horrible! It seemed to me that the actors were a little awkward in the scene also. As Randy Jackson would say, "I don't know dawg...I just wasn't feeling that one man...it wasn't your best performance.

Its not like I am picking on a little kid - I just think that scene sucked

The whole point of me writing this in the first place was in response to a point being brought up that there are a lot of questions that are still unanswered and with 3 less episodes this season - there looks to be many more.
Why put a scene like that one in when there are more pressing questions to use the time up with. Obviously, Claire and Hurley mourning the death of Charlie was not as important as this conversation? Are you kidding me?

BTW - are you guys like brothers of the writers or something? I didn't know my humble little opinion would be so upsetting.
100%
For one thing, that conversation happened BEFORE our Losties knew the Freighties were a potential threat - besides what Clerks said - it showed that since they thought they were going to be rescued they let their guard down & were relaxed, having some fun. It wasn't pathetic at all.

ok, um sorry to offend you? I have never gotten so much response and such a gang up, wtg. Thanks for the timeline though.

It is fine to know that you feel that way. I will stick with my feeling that it was POORLY written! I am so sorry! I feel it was a horrible injustice to their characters, like the writers didn't know what to put there. It is just a freakin opinion!

Gah, I feel like Simon Colwell.

right, except for the fact that they have put in a LOT of BS filler, what about the PATHETIC excuse for a conversation among Rose, Sun, and Claire when Sun says "I can't believe I am going to have my baby in a hospital!" Claire responds with a oh, why dont you just rub it in? And then ROSE of all people giving Claire a bit o' advice about thanking Charlie the proper way....WTF was that all about?
Sorry:) I am not taking this out on you - this scene just sticks out to me becuase I was totally embarassed as a promotor of the show that this was chosen as a scene this season! I do think they have jumped a little too far ahead of some of the story lines, especially when they have been written them in as major story lines in previous seasons (especially the monster/smoke - that was like one of the main story lines in S1)
I love the show to death, but sometimes, every so often, I just shake my head at them ......

But, the way I see it, little slice-of-life scenes are incredibly important to a show like LOST, because it's a reminder that these are ordinary human beings who've been thrust into extraordinary circumstances. I think those moments are vital to the show; without them, we simply wouldn't care about the characters as much because they wouldn't be as fleshed-out or three-dimensional.

And, also, regarding Rose's comment to Claire: Everyone got so icked out about that, but come on -- girlfriends have those kinds of conversations with each other. I still can't figure out why that bothered everybody the way it did.

ETA: I also can't agree with the OP. I think season four has, so far, been fantastic -- equal in every way, and better in some, than season one.