I’m currently on episode twelve from Season 2 which, I’m reliably informed, is a great time to take a “break” from serious-viewing and sort of half-watch. Based on what I’m seeing, yeah, this is a good time to sit down and capture my thoughts from season one and half of season two. (If you don’t remember what happens in that episode, or up to that point and want to see what I’m talking about, click here). Of course, the reason I didn’t write earlier is because writing took some very precious Lost time although it is my fault that I had to attend to two things thus effectively slowing me down by approximately five episodes. At least my eyebrows look fabulous.
Since I couldn’t have my laptop underfoot the entire time I was watching, I started keeping notes on a little notepad. And reviewing it now, there’s an interesting pattern going on here. At first I wrote all sorts of silly little observations:
- Dude, Locke’s dad looks super creepy and not just because he is but also because he looks like John McCain and mostly I just want him away from me. He’s the epitome of creepy old man.
- Dude, that is one fucking impressive boat raft.
- Dude, that guy who Sayed visits in Sydney, is he Scottish? Is that a bad accent or did he learn to speak english in Scotland? No, seriously. Go back and watch that episode.
- Walt is totally like that scary kid from the Twilight Zone film. Have you ever seen the Twilight Zone movie? I saw it when I was 7 for the first time and I haven’t been the same since.
- SMOKE MONSTER.
But then my notes take a turn for both the frustrated and the analytical.
A couple of my friends are actively angry at me for going through with this and the most common complaint among those anti-Lost come from those who have seen it and argue that the show always leave you with more questions than answers. Is the show purposefully cloying?
First, I mean how the hell did you guys do it? Wait in between episodes? The best part about watching it all at once is that I don’t have to wait a month or two months or six months to see the next episode. As one friend pointed out, every episode ends with more questions than answers. They really actively make sure to hand you a couple crumbs but never show you the cake. What happens with watching in very fast rapid succession is that you tend to notice how small the crumbs are.
One of the things I’ve been writing on my little notepad is a list entitled “Why Do They Seem So Unconcerned About ” and as you can see from my additions there’s always something new that they add
- Where Ethan comes from
- Monster (edited to add “smoke”)
- Rousseau
- the Others
- Pressing the button
- Desmond (and all things Desmond related like what are those vials he ran off with? where the fuck did he go?)
- THE FUCKING OTHERS
Coupled with the fact that no one is shown discussing these issues (whether they do or not), I think one of the most frustrating parts of the show is how you quickly identify points where people choose not to communicate and how it just fucks shit up. I think all of you know what I’m talking about. When you’re screaming at the TV for someone to just say something already, goddamnit, so that they’ll put the gun down, or forget that whole idea of running off after that idiot that ran off or jesus whatever else. And yeah yeah yeah we’ve got their back story and understand their trust issues but let me remind you that WE’RE ALL SHIPWRECKED ON A FUCKING ISLAND. I am just astonished that no one ever feels the need to run up to the others and say OMGYOUWILLNOTBELIEVEWHATJUSTHAPPENEDWHATDOYOUTHINKITMEANS.
The Boy said that this is a common complaint among Lost fans and I guess the reason why we keep coming back: not necessarily hoping we, the viewers, discover the answers that we seek but that the survivors at least try to ask the questions. I’m sure we all like to believe it probably has a lot to do with the nature of their time on and reason for being on the island. Of course, I’m only 1/6 of the way through the entire show so what do I know. But at this point I see nothing to indicate that this is going anywhere. And yet I’ll keep pressing the stupid button. Just in case.
