22 February 2007
COURSE CORRECTION
If you haven't watched Sunday's episode of Lost yet then best not to read on...
With Heroes finally debuting in the UK last week (albeit on the Sci-Fi) channel, it was apposite that Sunday's episode of Lost managed to significantly freshen up that series' rather, by now bedraggled story arc. Being one of the seemingly few stragglers in the UK who still maintain a relationship with the series since it moved to Sky, it felt a little like payback time.
In a nutshell Desmond, the mad Scottish bloke who's been running around the island for the last three series, was seen in flashback in 1996 going through the usual torturous Lost "relationship"-type back story. However, what transpired was that it wasn't actually a flashback at all, but rather Desmond (and by extension the whole cast) have been travelling back in time to re-experience key events in their lives - only now Desmond has developed an awareness of this (in fact his time on the island, ie. the fictional present for us, is being experienced "back in time" by his perception). As such it would appear that all those flashback moments are actually taking place in the characters' present personal time lines. Or maybe. As is the way with Lost none of this was made too explicit.
But there was a really great "What the??" moment in this episode when Desmond (back in 1996 and in a terribly realised London complete with American spelling of words on bill posters) wandered into a jewellers to buy his fiance an engagement ring. Having struggled with some semblance of a notion that he'd lived these moments before, Des was confronted by a jeweller who after first offering him a ring, then proclaimed "No, you're not supposed to take it", and went on to reveal that Desmond's destiny was to end up on the island. Apparently it doesn't matter how much he tries to fight against it, time has a way of "course correcting".
Then just to keep things ticking along nicely, the episode ended with Desmond telling Charlie (he's the Lord Of The Rings chappy, remember?) that he has foreseen that Charlie will die. What's more apparently Desmond's random behaviour over the last few eps (such as erecting a seemingly meaningless pole to catch a lightning bolt) have all been attempts to try and save Charlie's life.
Apparently, all of this stuff is an appetizer for a major plot revelation that is come later in this third series, and will (supposedly) totally change our perception of what the series is actually about. Oh and the programme makers intend to reveal some time soon just how many eps Lost will run for.
With Heroes finally debuting in the UK last week (albeit on the Sci-Fi) channel, it was apposite that Sunday's episode of Lost managed to significantly freshen up that series' rather, by now bedraggled story arc. Being one of the seemingly few stragglers in the UK who still maintain a relationship with the series since it moved to Sky, it felt a little like payback time.
In a nutshell Desmond, the mad Scottish bloke who's been running around the island for the last three series, was seen in flashback in 1996 going through the usual torturous Lost "relationship"-type back story. However, what transpired was that it wasn't actually a flashback at all, but rather Desmond (and by extension the whole cast) have been travelling back in time to re-experience key events in their lives - only now Desmond has developed an awareness of this (in fact his time on the island, ie. the fictional present for us, is being experienced "back in time" by his perception). As such it would appear that all those flashback moments are actually taking place in the characters' present personal time lines. Or maybe. As is the way with Lost none of this was made too explicit.
But there was a really great "What the??" moment in this episode when Desmond (back in 1996 and in a terribly realised London complete with American spelling of words on bill posters) wandered into a jewellers to buy his fiance an engagement ring. Having struggled with some semblance of a notion that he'd lived these moments before, Des was confronted by a jeweller who after first offering him a ring, then proclaimed "No, you're not supposed to take it", and went on to reveal that Desmond's destiny was to end up on the island. Apparently it doesn't matter how much he tries to fight against it, time has a way of "course correcting".
Then just to keep things ticking along nicely, the episode ended with Desmond telling Charlie (he's the Lord Of The Rings chappy, remember?) that he has foreseen that Charlie will die. What's more apparently Desmond's random behaviour over the last few eps (such as erecting a seemingly meaningless pole to catch a lightning bolt) have all been attempts to try and save Charlie's life.
Apparently, all of this stuff is an appetizer for a major plot revelation that is come later in this third series, and will (supposedly) totally change our perception of what the series is actually about. Oh and the programme makers intend to reveal some time soon just how many eps Lost will run for.
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Only Desmond travelled back in time. The other flashbacks - including his previous flashback and any future flashbacks of his - are just flashbacks, according to the exec producers on the latest official Lost podcast.
Rubbish London though, wasn't it? Although there was a shot of Sonya Walger that did look like it had been shot on the South Bank, even if County Hall mysteriously disappeared in the next shot.
Rubbish London though, wasn't it? Although there was a shot of Sonya Walger that did look like it had been shot on the South Bank, even if County Hall mysteriously disappeared in the next shot.
The Wikipedia article for Lost Season 3 begins with the disclaimer: "This article or section contains a plot summary that may be overly long, confusing, or ambiguous."
Says it all really. I'm really glad I didn't invest time in this, it seems so strung out and over complicated. Why can't writers bring stories to a proper end any more?
Says it all really. I'm really glad I didn't invest time in this, it seems so strung out and over complicated. Why can't writers bring stories to a proper end any more?
As a Lost fan (and I'm not a proper "fan" of many TV shows) I'm a tad concerned that the series will just run and run without any real closure, repeating the mantra of "build mystery, expose mystery, create new mystery, etc." ad infinitum. Although it's addictive to be handed mysteries and to then have them explained after many episodes, it's still a cheap trick.
The "lucid flashback" was pretty novel, I suppose. But it felt pretty predictable.
The "lucid flashback" was pretty novel, I suppose. But it felt pretty predictable.
A recent IGN interview suggests that the makers are pretty intent on giving Lost a satisfying ending, and not dragging it out too long. It's an interesting interview:
http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/755/755527p1.html
That scene in the jewellers strongly reminded me of the Oracle from The Matrix.
http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/755/755527p1.html
That scene in the jewellers strongly reminded me of the Oracle from The Matrix.
# posted by 
: 1:42 AM
: 1:42 AM
Well I didn't like seeing Jim Robinson dying from that heart attack in "Neighbours" - surely the most traumatic soap death ever. Anyway, I am heartened by the news that "Lost" does have a definite ending planned. I do still watch it, and am slightly ashamed to be taken in by the endless carrots being dangled.
I have to say that I think Lost is one of those shows that work on many levels. Fans (folk who watch each episode more than once) will get a lot out of it by noticing hints, clues, "easter eggs" that they missed first time around. But more casual viewers shouldn't get too distracted by them. As the producers said on the SkyOne, red button doc recently, the characters are essentially archetypes that can be related to by anybody, whether they're familiar with the intricacies or not.
Compared to another great genre show, Battlestar Galactica, which is pretty inaccessable to anyone but regular viewers, Lost is great escapism and tells some great stories.
Compared to another great genre show, Battlestar Galactica, which is pretty inaccessable to anyone but regular viewers, Lost is great escapism and tells some great stories.
That's what I like about Lost: at first glance it's all about the mysteries and the conspiracies and the grand plot, but closer inspection shows that it's all about the characters. The flashbacks are inspired, especially because they help break up the monotony of being on a island.
Just saw the latest episode on Sky: wow! What an ending!
Just saw the latest episode on Sky: wow! What an ending!
I still haven't seen any Lost - my mother-in-law is after the latest season on DVD and I don't even know what the lastest season is. For someone who professes to love genre TV I'm woefully behind on what seems to be one of the defining series of the past few years.
Saying that, last night's episode of Heroes, 'Company Man', had me making more reactionary facial expressions at the TV since BBCs Ghostwatch. It was so well put together, so well acted and filled with not only tantalising questions but answers too, something that 'arc' concept series don't normally do in single episode. A very satisfying and thrilling hour of TV. Only spoilt by the Channel 7 news ad halfway through for their investigation into household kitchen hygiene, titled 'Serving Up Sickness'. I thought last weeks 'Lettuce Warn You', about the dangers of prepackaged salad's was bad enough but they just keep on going with the badness.
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Saying that, last night's episode of Heroes, 'Company Man', had me making more reactionary facial expressions at the TV since BBCs Ghostwatch. It was so well put together, so well acted and filled with not only tantalising questions but answers too, something that 'arc' concept series don't normally do in single episode. A very satisfying and thrilling hour of TV. Only spoilt by the Channel 7 news ad halfway through for their investigation into household kitchen hygiene, titled 'Serving Up Sickness'. I thought last weeks 'Lettuce Warn You', about the dangers of prepackaged salad's was bad enough but they just keep on going with the badness.
# posted by : 3:16 PM
: 3:16 PM<< Home