LOST was a show I discovered when every single person in the world began talking about it around season 2 or 3. I was all, whatever. Then I started watching it on Netflix 1.0, when it was dvds-by-mail.
Then I became obsessed. The unanswered questions, the killing of that douche cop from "Heroes" in episode 1 by the smoke monster (making us think it was dinosaurs or something—with ground-pounding sounds, roars, and high-up shots of shaking tree-tops, without showing the thing—genius), the epic scale of events, the seemingly limitless treasure trove of secrets the Island had to offer (right up until the very last episode), and the story's dark tone, really grabbed me.
But, like any good artwork, LOST was never without its antipode. The whole time you're watching it, you're like, "OMG, this is stupid. WTF am I watching." The choices the characters make come completely out of left field, often feeling like pandering to an audience already used to a show with a likewise left-field, and thusly completely original, plot. I can see the writers going, "We've got to keep it wacky—it's the only way to keep people watching! Make that character start yelling for no reason! Make that character macho-punch the other one for words he said!"
Dramatic television seems to be bread and butter for host network ABC, and in early-2000s tv, the shmaltz and cheese was thrown at us high horse. Every. Single. Episode. I mean, Britney Spears was still popular back then. Think about that. That's where we were. Bieber was up-and-coming.
Why tf would Evangeline Lilly be trying to stop Dr. Jack from continuing CPR on a recently-dead dude? WHAT. THE. EVER. LOVING. FUCK. The drama had actually gotten to the point where it was preferable to Kate to stop trying to save this life, feel the feels, and do nothing. Why would you get in the way of a doctor trying to save a life, even if all hope seemed LOST? You're on a deserted (Hawaiian) island with no hope of rescue, and The Others are closing in!
Is every episode going to have this? Am I going to have to sit through another inane conversation about uninteresting relationship gall and watch these poor actors trying to spit out these ridiculous lines, in order to get to the meat of the story, the reason I'm watching this? Every episode's gonna have at least 50% bullshit? Every one?
Fine, whatever.
That's what watching LOST is like. You take lots of bad, in order to get lots of good. It gets you hooked, like black tar heroin.
I think TV's gotten a lot better since then, because every generation improves upon shortcomings of their elders, right? I think we're headed in good directions, as an entertainment-creating species. However, it's taking a long time. When I watch Hulu and get glimpses of network television, I see the same old tropes re-appearing.
Also, I see LOST's influence on almost everything that comes out now. To be a dark drama is easy these days—it sells. Look at Daredevil, and The Flash.
Nostalgia is hot too—look at the upcoming Twin Peaks and The X-Files continuations (that both have me super excited), the Wet Hot American Summer prequel (that kicked so much ass), and the new Muppets television show, just to name a few. I mention nostalgia because, mark my words, it won't be long before a LOST reboot comes knocking on our doors. I mean, which one of those actors would say no? Which one of them have been anything close to as famous as they were under Lindelof and Abrams' tutelage?
It'll happen within the next three years. A LOST continuation series. I have no sources. I'm just guessing—that it would be foolish to see all the press these reboots are getting and not try to cash in on it. Now's the time, if ever. Shit is blowing up, and as soon as enough people realize it, the nostalgia train will come grinding to a halt. Hell, if LOST doesn't reboot in three years or so, the social momentum for nostalgia-in-television might be lost.
Anyway, so something obviously sparked all this LOST interest in me, right?
Turns out that Cody's such a LOST nerd that he not only came up with answers to all of the LOST questions that hardcore LOST nerds could think up (or ≥108 of them), but he got approval from LOST co-creator Damon Lindelof, who directed, via his Twitter feed, those seeking LOST answers,
Okay, so look at this shit, it's all Cody-penned (codepended):
12 Musical Jokes About LOST
108 Answers to LOST's Supposedly Unanswered Questions
http://lostanswers.tumblr.com/
Then I became obsessed. The unanswered questions, the killing of that douche cop from "Heroes" in episode 1 by the smoke monster (making us think it was dinosaurs or something—with ground-pounding sounds, roars, and high-up shots of shaking tree-tops, without showing the thing—genius), the epic scale of events, the seemingly limitless treasure trove of secrets the Island had to offer (right up until the very last episode), and the story's dark tone, really grabbed me.
But, like any good artwork, LOST was never without its antipode. The whole time you're watching it, you're like, "OMG, this is stupid. WTF am I watching." The choices the characters make come completely out of left field, often feeling like pandering to an audience already used to a show with a likewise left-field, and thusly completely original, plot. I can see the writers going, "We've got to keep it wacky—it's the only way to keep people watching! Make that character start yelling for no reason! Make that character macho-punch the other one for words he said!"
Dramatic television seems to be bread and butter for host network ABC, and in early-2000s tv, the shmaltz and cheese was thrown at us high horse. Every. Single. Episode. I mean, Britney Spears was still popular back then. Think about that. That's where we were. Bieber was up-and-coming.
Why tf would Evangeline Lilly be trying to stop Dr. Jack from continuing CPR on a recently-dead dude? WHAT. THE. EVER. LOVING. FUCK. The drama had actually gotten to the point where it was preferable to Kate to stop trying to save this life, feel the feels, and do nothing. Why would you get in the way of a doctor trying to save a life, even if all hope seemed LOST? You're on a deserted (Hawaiian) island with no hope of rescue, and The Others are closing in!
Is every episode going to have this? Am I going to have to sit through another inane conversation about uninteresting relationship gall and watch these poor actors trying to spit out these ridiculous lines, in order to get to the meat of the story, the reason I'm watching this? Every episode's gonna have at least 50% bullshit? Every one?
Fine, whatever.
That's what watching LOST is like. You take lots of bad, in order to get lots of good. It gets you hooked, like black tar heroin.
I think TV's gotten a lot better since then, because every generation improves upon shortcomings of their elders, right? I think we're headed in good directions, as an entertainment-creating species. However, it's taking a long time. When I watch Hulu and get glimpses of network television, I see the same old tropes re-appearing.
Also, I see LOST's influence on almost everything that comes out now. To be a dark drama is easy these days—it sells. Look at Daredevil, and The Flash.
Nostalgia is hot too—look at the upcoming Twin Peaks and The X-Files continuations (that both have me super excited), the Wet Hot American Summer prequel (that kicked so much ass), and the new Muppets television show, just to name a few. I mention nostalgia because, mark my words, it won't be long before a LOST reboot comes knocking on our doors. I mean, which one of those actors would say no? Which one of them have been anything close to as famous as they were under Lindelof and Abrams' tutelage?
It'll happen within the next three years. A LOST continuation series. I have no sources. I'm just guessing—that it would be foolish to see all the press these reboots are getting and not try to cash in on it. Now's the time, if ever. Shit is blowing up, and as soon as enough people realize it, the nostalgia train will come grinding to a halt. Hell, if LOST doesn't reboot in three years or so, the social momentum for nostalgia-in-television might be lost.
Anyway, so something obviously sparked all this LOST interest in me, right?
WHY IS HE WRITING ABOUT A SHOW THAT ENDED MAY 23, 2010?
Perusing Cracked.com, which is becoming a weird, LOST-in-scope, entertainment institution of its own, I found several LOST articles penned by one Cody Johnston, head writer for Cracked Video. He's the bearded guy who isn't Michael Swaim.Turns out that Cody's such a LOST nerd that he not only came up with answers to all of the LOST questions that hardcore LOST nerds could think up (or ≥108 of them), but he got approval from LOST co-creator Damon Lindelof, who directed, via his Twitter feed, those seeking LOST answers,
Okay, so look at this shit, it's all Cody-penned (codepended):
12 Musical Jokes About LOST
108 Answers to LOST's Supposedly Unanswered Questions
http://lostanswers.tumblr.com/
He's Dr. Mister when he's answering LOST questions. I don't know.
