The Critics are Wrong
1 year, 9 months ago by AndreasRead more: Article, Random Thoughts
With the return of Lost, a lot of TV critics and columnists are writing articles about the show. Some like Lost, some don’t. What surprises me the most about these critics is that - 1. they still want more answers and - 2. the authors write like if they were the global representative of all Lost fans.
Unanswered questions
To address the first part about Lost needing to answer more questions and mysteries, any fan of the show knows that questions are being answered and the producers have promised to answer even more questions.
Writing that Lost needs to answer more questions has become the standard formula for getting your article published in the papers, but honestly, if you want to earn not only your paycheck but also some respect from those of us who actually watch the show, maybe it’s a good idea to actually know what you are writing about.
My name is Legion
To address the second issue with critics assuming that they speak for all of us when they write things like “Lost fans have gotten tired of the show”, they seem to be forgetting that Lost is still one of the most popular shows on television. When you have more viewers than the population of several European countries (and let’s not forget, Lost is very popular in the entire world, not just in the states) I don’t really think it’s justified to complain about a lack of viewer interest.
The fact is that Lost is very popular, but I don’t think anyone really thought that Lost would be THE cool show forever. At the moment Heroes gets all the free champagne and VIP-passes, but like with anything else, fame doesn’t last forever. Next year another show will be new and amazing but Heroes, like Lost, will still be a great show.
When viewers understood that Lost was more than your everyday beach drama, those who didn’t like the Sci-Fi stopped watching and ratings fell.
With the complexity of Lost, it’s natural that the storyline can’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Sure, it is a character drama, but it’s a character drama revolving around a very complex Sci-Fi story with mysterious scientists and smoke monsters. I love Lost, but if some of my friends don’t like the show, I don’t mind. I don’t enjoy everything they like and that’s just fine.
I think Victor Balta of HeraldNet sums it up quite well:
The challenge for “Lost” is to maintain the balance between character stories and mythology that has worked so well for the first two seasons. It’s difficult because “Lost” is not a niche science-fiction show, nor is it a prime-time soap that is all about backstabbing and love triangles.
It’s both, and when it gets too heavy on mythology, the character-loving folks get angry; and when it gets too heavy on the characters’ stories, the sci-fi crowd gets angry.
Neither side should worry too much. When it’s all done, assuming the show isn’t pushed any longer than the producers would like, “Lost” will have a place among history’s best and most influential TV shows.
Now we all just have to give it the time and opportunity to get there.
Are the critics wrong or are they right? What do you think?
Comment 1, posted 1 year, 9 months ago - Quote and reply
I agree, the critics are wrong. Some of my friends are like me and love Lost and others could care less, they are busy watching Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives. Some people don’t care for that sort of thing and shows such as Lost as well as Heroes are for us.
Comment 2, posted 1 year, 9 months ago - Quote and reply
I agree with you. There are many wrong critics. It’s same in Turkey. There are some authors writing articles as they’re the spokesman of all lost fans. It’s hard to understand them but in general all the wrong critics have been written by the authors who can’t understand the main idea and get the point.
Comment 3, posted 1 year, 9 months ago - Quote and reply
I agree with your assessment. I do not think Lost was meant to ever be the big show it has become. I also don’t think that most thought it would be a Sci-Fi show either. It’s a bit much for some, and I think we are seeing the true numbers this show is supposed to sustain.
I think the issues LOST has are sort of 2-fold. First you have a night on ABC where the only thing that is good is LOST. Everything that was good has been cancelled. Now LOST will be preceeded by either comedy shows or game shows. And the constant fear of American Idol is to it’s detriment. FOX and CBS own wednesday nights. ABC needs to just own this fact and not get rid of shows that could eventually lead to a decent following. They think they are avoiding the Death Star by moving to 10? Ha! House just took in all of the audience after AI. There may be another Death Star to battle! And they just moved Lost to 10pm. What’s next? A different night?
We keep hearing that all of these decisions being made are because the fans asked for them. Things like “more romance and action” and “no repeats”. These are not what the LOST fan has asked for. These are devices to stop the bleed off of the casual fan. If you take a look, Desperate Housewives went for 10 episodes straight and I don’t think it ran any reruns this season. Not sure what happened last season with all of ABC’s shows doing tiny runs with lots of repeats, but that didn’t happen this year. So was this “arc” necessary? FOr me, while I enjoyed the shows, it threw off the writing a bit. So the show suffered a bit unneccessarily.
I think the producers and the writers of the show are doing a fine job. ANd they do answer some questions as they see fit. It may not be exactly what I want or where I want it to go, but it is their story to tell. And its still compelling story telling. I think when all is said and done, LOST will be revered and will be discussed and dissected for years to come. ABC needs to Stop catering to the casual and respect the loyal fans it does have and let Damon and Carlton take Lost where it needs to go creatively.
Comment 4, posted 1 year, 9 months ago - Quote and reply
Nicely written downthehatch, I couldn’t agree more.
Comment 5, posted 1 year, 9 months ago - Quote and reply
It really irritates me when people complain about Lost not answering enough questions. I like answers just as much as the next guy, but it’s often the case that the process of finding answers is more gratifying than the answers themselves. Mystery, curiosity, tension, frustration, impatience–after you get all the answers, all those things are gone.
Personally, my favorite part of Lost comes at the end of really great episodes, when the writers pull the rug out from under you, and you sit there thinking, “What the hell is going on?” That’s what keeps me coming back week after week. I’ll take a little mystery over a paint-by-numbers explanation any day.
Comment 6, posted 1 year, 9 months ago - Quote and reply
I’m perfectly happy with the way Lost is progressing right now, and perfectly happy with the show. The producers are doing the way they want it done, and whether they want to reveal answers right now or not is fine by me. Let them get on with it, it’s their show.
Comment 7, posted 1 year, 9 months ago - Quote and reply
Yeah, LOST is going fine. I think the whole point is that there are questions. And whenever they answer some, more come up. Its what the shows about. Not knowing whats going on and trying to figure it out - its called LOST. As far as I can tell its getting more viewers as it goes and they’re more excited about it right now than before. When I first started watching not many people I know watched it, now so many people I know have gotten addicted. (some from me, some not) But its true that its just formulaic generic critique writing to get published.
Comment 8, posted 1 year, 9 months ago - Quote and reply
I’ll be the first to disagree. The critics (the ones who are who are scorned en masse in this post) represent me fairly well. They also represent most of the people I know who love the show. [Insert witty, pre-emptive comment about herd mentality and meme transmission among friends.]
That said, the explanation is a bit simplistic. It’s not that I bemoan the lack of answers; the process of slow understanding is absolutely delicous. It’s a question of *rate of information exchange*. Lost has the ability to answer questions in almost perfect balance with new questions raised. I consider it absurd to think that the rate of give-and-take (answer some questions, create some questions) is occuring at the absolutely optimum pace. It seems to have slowed (qualitatively) in the recent season.
As a thought experiment, consider your friend who has missed one or two episodes. Consider how long it would take you to bring your friend up to speed in earlier seasons compared to current season. I’ve thought on this topic and I conclude that it would’ve taken longer in previous seasons, due primarily to the *rate* that questions are being opened and closed.
(begin snark)
The rate of information exchange is likewise hindered by the lack of direct questioning. Ego and sullen looks are no substitute for a friendly, “Since I can’t leave, will you please just tell me where we are?” (end snark)
Comment 9, posted 1 year, 9 months ago - Quote and reply
I agree with bandicot, i think that the plot slowed down significantly, although it’s still a good show, i think if they speed it up a little bit it won’t hurt, at least one major event per episode, it seems like they’ve been dragging the show a little bit, but still a good show, can’t wait for tomorrow.
Comment 10, posted 1 year, 9 months ago - Quote and reply
downthehatch-
I think LOST will become the proton torpedo down the exhaust port, if you know what I mean. :)
I love LOST. I will stick with it until the bitter end (read: the Zombie Season).
Comment 11, posted 1 year, 9 months ago - Quote and reply
Today the same kind of articles keep showing up - “Has ‘Lost’ lost its buzz?” and so on.
I find it a bit funny that they are actually creating buzz by writing that Lost has “lost it”.
Regarding this post, I’m glad to see an opposing view from Bandicot. I have to agree that it might be easier to bring a friend up to speed if he or she has missed a few episodes in season 3 than in season 2, but if we consider bringing a new viewer up to speed I think we would have an enormous task on our hands independently on if we are in season 2 or 3.
Anyway, I’ve really enjoyed the first 6 episodes of season 3. In my mind they have been some of the best episodes of Lost ever. Certainly more exciting than the tailsection episodes in season 2.
Comment 12, posted 1 year, 9 months ago - Quote and reply
I agree with Andreas post, except the “Certainly more exciting than the tailsection episodes in season 2″ line.
I really enjoyed the first 2 seasons, and yes, more then the first 6 s03 episodes. But I think due to the sceduling (season break -> 6 episode -> another break) people easily complain about the less answers etc..
At home my family also watched all eps of lost and they love it. Then we get another break, and they say it’s too fake… things that can’t happen. So then they love prison break.
Now this happens to me too sometimes, but I know there are more episodes coming, and answers will be revealed over time, and everybody will love it again.
It’s just very easy to talk crap about a show when a few people don’t like the amount of answers they are getting from the makers. Just let them tell their story.
Comment 13, posted 1 year, 9 months ago - Quote and reply
Your family think Lost has things that appear fake but they like Prison Break? Haha =)
I just find that funny because I stopped watching Prison Break because the things that happen on that show fit in way to much with what the protagonists need to happen, it feels fake.
Comment 14, posted 1 year, 9 months ago - Quote and reply
I also feel that the rate of questions/answers is the biggest issue with the show at the moment.
I love LOST, I will watch it religiously until the end, but at this point I feel as though the show is being pushed down under the weight of all the questions it has raised, especially questions from the first season. In the first season they were introducing new mysteries on an almost weekly basis, and while several have been “answered,” a large amount haven’t been, and they are in a state of limbo…leaving fans to wonder if the writers have just given up on these mysteries, or if they hope that by prolonging them long enough, viewers will eventually forget about them. (Everything involving Claire and her backstory is just one major thing that has been bothering me. They alluded to the fact that the psychic was just lying, but then the throw his crazy daughter into the mix and we’re left to think, maybe he WASN’T lying. Also, the Jack’s Dad/Australian woman story is slightly tied into that whole mix…just stewing in a pot of unexplained mysteries.)
I’m sure we will get more answers in the next 16 weeks, but I worry that they too will be buried under a sea of new questions.
Anyway, it’s not so much a negative thing as much as it’s me just wanting more. I can’t wait for Wednesday night.
Comment 15, posted 1 year, 9 months ago - Quote and reply
While I agree the answers are painfully slow in coming and it seems there are some things the writers have totally forgotten about (are we going to find out more about the Black Rock?,and, What about the radio tower the French Woman seems to have modified for her signal?), I’m certainly not going to stop watching the show! :-))
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