ABC moves 'Lost' out of 'Idol's' way

[xmanii]

I honestly no longer understand anyone's complaints about this show. If stuff's not happening in Lost, I have to wonder what shows DO have things happening. In six weeks, Lost has had more happen than in most shows' entire seasons.

I also wonder how many people watched the first season or two not on TV, but on DVD, and thus able to watch it all at once. That's how I did, and this waiting is killing me.

 

[Ranger REG]

Please, feel free to voice your opinions of a show. But if you feel a need to be down on people, take it elsewhere...

I have no negative opinion of the show. This season may not be as good as the previous seasons but nothing terrible about it, other than come next year, Idol will turn many mainstreams away from Lost. Period.

 

[Capellan]

I know why people say things don't happen on Lost. It's because for all the activity, there's no sense of progress.

Sure, "things do happen" on the show. There'd pretty much have to be 44 minutes of test pattern for them not to. But do any of these things mean anything? Is there a purpose to them, beyond perpetuating the show?

For my tastes, Lost is full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. It's become a stultifyingly boring show to watch because of it. I'm sure that's a frustration alot of other people are expressing when they complain that "nothing happens".

If you're enjoying Lost, then the show still works for you, and that's cool. Me, I'm going to go watch a DVD instead. I have plenty of the damn things to catch up on

 

[TogaMario]

With my new job, I'll be working through Lost on Wednesday nights even at 10pm. I'll have to buy them off iTunes the day after and watch them. My wife, however, will most likely watch them the night they air, and brag until my download finishes. I enjoy the character stories more than anything, with an occasional full-scale-plot cookie. I have to admit, though, I think the Kate back story dipped a little low ... didn't care for the Locke one that much, either ... but maybe they hired new (and mediocre) writers to help out on the most central characters. At any rate, I always look forward to the next episode. It's still working for me

 

[ShinHakkaider]

I couldn't have said it any better myself.

I've seen the complaint that "nothing happens" or the plot is "going nowhere" posted a lot. I wonder if those people who make such complaints really mean to say that they don't like rich character development and intricate story arcs that develop slowly over several episodes. Certainly it's a fair opinion; I agree it's not everyone's cup of tea. But if that is the case why do they watch the show to begin with? What else were they expecting from the show? After all, it's no secret that it's a serial drama with plots driven by character interactions that develop slowly over several episodes.

THE WIRE is a show that has rich character development and intricate plotting on a level that is amazing to watch. It is also a serial drama with plots driven by character interactions that develop slowly over several episodes. In fact THE WIRE has fewer episodes with which to develop a massive cast of characters (more than Lost) and sometimes serpentine plotting. Genre doesnt really matter in this case, the point is that the plot(s) actually go somewhere and are resolved while developing new plots to set up for the next season. It goes to the capability of the writers and the producers of the show to keep things moving forward, not introducing new elements that seem to come out of left field without any real attempt at explanation.

I've been watching LOST since season one an have been a strong proponent of the show until this season. After that last psuedo-cliffhanger, I've dropped the show becasue I'm tired of being strung along with a plot that's progressing at the pace of a snail moving uphil on a cold winters day.

I'm not saying LOST is a BAD show. For people who dont mind galacial pacing it's probably great and Kate is cute to look at but for me, I'm done.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

I know why people say things don't happen on Lost. It's because for all the activity, there's no sense of progress.

Sure, "things do happen" on the show. There'd pretty much have to be 44 minutes of test pattern for them not to. But do any of these things mean anything? Is there a purpose to them, beyond perpetuating the show?

For my tastes, Lost is full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. It's become a stultifyingly boring show to watch because of it. I'm sure that's a frustration alot of other people are expressing when they complain that "nothing happens".

Aaaaaaand yeah, what he said.

 

[dravot]

Aaaaaaand yeah, what he said.

I've been a strong supporter and faithful viewer of Lost since the first season, but other shows are doing it better, to the point where Lost is starting to lose me too.

The better shows (IMO) include Dexter, Day Break, Heroes (especially this one), and to a lesser extent, Jericho. I want to include BSG in this, but the mysteries in BSG are almost irrelevant to the regular storyline, and I don't feel penalized when I don't learn more.

I think that part of the problem is that the flashbacks, while interesting are interfering with the advancement of the plot on the island, and unravelling some of the mysteries of the place.

 

[Arnwyn]

But if that is the case why do they watch the show to begin with? What else were they expecting from the show?

To get answers to the actual interesting things about the show/island.

If people want a soap about character development and "character interactions", they don't need an island with funky black smoke and four-toed statues to do it.

 

[IcedEarth81]

Day Break, Heroes (especially this one), and to a lesser extent, Jericho.

All of those shows are in their first season. You didn't see these same complaints that you see now about Lost during it's first season either. Everyone liked it because it had this great character interaction and had all these mysteries with stuff happening. Now people are getting frustrated by the lack of answers, which is fine, but using shows in their first season as an example of "doing it better" is misleading. We'll see where Jericho and Heroes are in a couple of years - my bet is they'll slow down much like Lost did. This isn't to excuse Lost, they still have to provide some answers soon, but rather this is to say the comparison shouldn't be made.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Sure, "things do happen" on the show. There'd pretty much have to be 44 minutes of test pattern for them not to. But do any of these things mean anything? Is there a purpose to them, beyond perpetuating the show?

After two and a half seasons, we know (or almost know) who the Others are and what they're about. That's something people have wanted to know about since the moment Ethan showed up in season one. How does "answering a question we've been asking for two years" not count as something meaningful?

And again, what shows are people watching where the show's advancement serves a goal other than "hey, kids, tune in next week?" Hell, "Heroes" ends with "To Be Continued" every week.

This complaint about "Lost" really boils down to a complaint about serialized drama. If you want a done in a single episode show, that's the majority of television. We don't need any other shows turned into them.