LOST -the iconic TV series- Legacy, etc (1 Viewer)

[guidomerkinsrules]

There's also a better, increased chance that if a show like or similar to Lost was on Apple TV or HBO/Showtime, sure, it may not have as many episodes per season, there aren't as many characters, but the writers, co-producers are made to tell perhaps a better, congruent, down-to-earth sci-fi/fantasy series that has a more finite beginning, middle, and end like Breaking Bad, the Americans, and the Wire did so well and told so efficiently.

You familiar with M. Night Shamalyan's series, Servant, that is debuting its fourth-and-final season next week? Thats a series that has some similar plot analogies, comparisons to Lost, but its more trimmed-down, and its plot, and cast and characters and themes aren't too, top-heavy. Thats probably the kind of show Lost would be or be turned into today. Either that or Lost wouldve been cancelled, after 2-3 seasons, or just one season, like 1899 just was.

Honestly, as good as Lost was, I think Dark was far better and told a more compelling, complex, multi-nuanced characters, and themes over a shorter period of time in just three seasons by Lost six seasons.

On balance I consider the baroque storytelling of Lost to be a feature not a bug
Wild swings are not always a bad thing in storytelling

 

[Optimus Prime]

Season one of Lost was one of the best seasons of any TV show ever

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Season one of Lost was one of the best seasons of any TV show ever

This was another ‘complaint’ I heard a bunch (not saying you’re making the argument)
The argument that s2 didn’t quite match the magic is s1 (which is debatable)
But if s2 is still 3x better than almost everything else on tv, why does it matter if it’s 90% of s1?

 

[Mamba]

My 15 year old and 13 year old are watching the show right now and are in the middle of season 3.

 

[Wisco Steve]

It's pretty interesting to look at the mostly divergent success path since the show, as far as the writers/producers v the cast. Certainly hasn't been all hits for the main writers, but they carry a ton of clout still (imo)...while the cast, outside of Evangeline Lilly, has been pretty spotty--though that is probably judging too heavily for commercial standouts...

 

[bigdaddysaints]

yea, one my favorites all time.
people complain about the ending. but I had zero problem with it. the show never was gonna fully explain the island. the story was just about the people on it and their story. it went on many years before they got there and continued many years after them.
I would love to see a sequel to Hurleys story and how he "kept" the island once becoming the protector.
Hurley and Sawyer were my two favorite characters. But Ben did steal the show once he came along..

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

It's pretty interesting to look at the mostly divergent success path since the show, as far as the writers/producers v the cast. Certainly hasn't been all hits for the main writers, but they carry a ton of clout still (imo)...while the cast, outside of Evangeline Lilly, has been pretty spotty--though that is probably judging too heavily for commercial standouts...

I think Lindlehof learned valuable lessons and is now one of the surefire show runners (The Leftovers is an all time great show)
Most of the actors were character actors who kept doing that
Seemingly people just didn’t like working with Matthew Fox so he flamed then faded
‘Sawyer’ is the only one who really surprised me - not sure why he didn’t make it bigger

 

[Optimus Prime]

This was another ‘complaint’ I heard a bunch (not saying you’re making the argument)
The argument that s2 didn’t quite match the magic is s1 (which is debatable)
But if s2 is still 3x better than almost everything else on tv, why does it matter if it’s 90% of s1?

We've discussed this before
=======================

This one sort of counts and sort of doesn't

LOST

Season 1 is one the best TV seasons of any show I've ever seen. I was hooked from the first few minutes of the premiere.

To this day when I see a show that is flashback heavy I say/think "Everyone wants to be LOST"

The later seasons weren't as good - There were certainly some standout episodes and moments and characters (I did love Benjamin Linus' character)

But it wasn't as good.

It got to the point where it felt like they were just making it up as they went along and the writers/producers didn't have a plan and had no idea where it was going

I stopped after season 4. I had season 5 and 6 on DVD but they sat on the shelf, still in the shrinkwrap

That's why it counts - I most definitely gave up on Lost.

Then cue the pandemic. And here is where is sort of doesn't count.

I watched the whole series.

Season one was just as good as I remembered

Other than a small handful of moments and plot points I didn't remember much from seasons 2-4, so it was mostly like watching it for the first time and my opinion was the same as it was then

Then came seasons 5 and 6 (still in their shrinkwrap). UGH

The whole time travel, Jacob, Locke/Man in Black and the sideways reality (Sawyer is a cop now?)

Yeah, it wasn't good to say the least

i am going to mostly defend Lost (and GoT a tiny bit) and then will contradict myself in the next post -
AS A SEASON - s1 was (and remains) unparalleled BUT, there are moments/episodes in 2-4 that were much better than 1
but even then, i'll cede the premise that subsequent seasons were not as good as 1 - but it was still the best show on at that time. by a wide margin
like if s1 was 11/10 and s 2-4 are 9/10 or even 8.5/10, it's still the best show on
and had s1 not existed and it just starts with s 3 or 4 those seasons would be seen as best show ever
in a way it's like SP's Saints - 2009 will be seen as best season ever for obvious reasons but 2011 is probably the better team and had 2009 not happened 2011 would be the most mythic team of all time and not a frustrating disappointment

(the tiny defense of GoT is that until the final season it was still 'better than most' and watchable/enjoyable because of that - and then final season is like 5.5/10 and messes up the whole comparison)

years ago I remember an album review (i don't remember the artist or the album) but basically said (paraphrasing)

"This artist's last album was one of the best albums I've ever heard. The follow up was excellent but nowhere close to my top 10 albums of all time, but it'll probably be one of my top 10 albums of the year. Which somehow still makes it feel disappointing"

That's feels like a perfect description of Lost's second season

 

[Wisco Steve]

I think Lindlehof learned valuable lessons and is now one of the surefire show runners (The Leftovers is an all time great show)
Most of the actors were character actors who kept doing that
Seemingly people just didn’t like working with Matthew Fox so he flamed then faded
‘Sawyer’ is the only one who really surprised me - not sure why he didn’t make it bigger

Yeah I think If I had to rank my favorite semi recent shows:
1) The Leftovers
2) LOST
3) Station Eleven
4) 12 Monkeys

I am feeling good about The Last of Us making a solid run at the above.

I also remember Josh Hollaway (Sawyer) doing some decent stuff, but more network adjacent Sci-Fi stuff...an aliens show that was pretty watchable.

 

[hockey2112]

Not only was the show great, especially in its earlier seasons and excluding its shaky ending, but it also provided to much fodder for theorizing and discussion. I spent hours theorizing with my friends who watched it. Good times.

I also have fond memories of downloading the Divx of the season 2 premier via DC++ using shaky hotel "high speed internet" while still evacuated in Houston for Katrina! And man, that Season 2 intro was perfect. Where the heck are we? What's up with this song? Who is this dude? OMG we are in the freaking

See more

hatch!

!

 

[Wisco Steve]

Heck yeah...I only watched the series once thru, but I still remember the last few episodes of S1 into first few of S2 was unbelievably riveting...great point about the fun with all the theories etc!

 

[UptownSaintsFan]

Yeah I think If I had to rank my favorite semi recent shows:
1) The Leftovers
2) LOST
3) Station Eleven
4) 12 Monkeys

I am feeling good about The Last of Us making a solid run at the above.

I also remember Josh Hollaway (Sawyer) doing some decent stuff, but more network adjacent Sci-Fi stuff...an aliens show that was pretty watchable.

More people need to watch the Leftovers. AND Halt and Catch Fire.

Also loved Station Eleven (highly highly recommend the book as well.)

I watched about a season of 12 monkeys. That ended up being really good?

 

[Wisco Steve]

More people need to watch the Leftovers. AND Halt and Catch Fire.

Also loved Station Eleven (highly highly recommend the book as well.)

I watched about a season of 12 monkeys. That ended up being really good?

Agreed on all, and yes 12 Monkeys was a wild show that simply got better and better every single season until the end. Some of it was budget increases because it had such solid reviews, etc...but really the whole cast and writing just upped it consistently. Just was a shame that SyFy Net hardly promoted it.

 

[boutrous]

My greatest all time TV moment is still Desmond's phone call to Penny.

The first 4 seasons of LOST are still some of the best TV ever made. I felt it slipped a little in Season 5 and most of Season 6. I actually enjoyed the island ending, but not the afterlife ending. I wish more mysteries would have gotten wrapped up or at least wrapped up a little neater. In the end, the show was about who you are enjoying your time with and not about coming to complete conclusions, which was satisfying in it's own way.

 

[bigdaddysaints]