Spoiler Alert: If you haven't seen last night's lost finale you may want to avoid this post.Last night was the big night. The night when six years of questions were finally supposed to be answered. Now, less than 24 hours after the conclusion of LOST (the biggest event of the decade according to ABC), many fans are up in arms that they didn't get enough answers. However, I'm not one of the pissed off Losties. I'm as pleased as can be. After the finale, I realized I didn't need answers. I never watched LOST for the mystery and science, I watched it because I loved the characters. And that's where LOST's finale succeeded - it was about the characters and not the fantasy.
Shows that rely heavily on mythology (like LOST, Battlestar Galatica, or even Alias) only succeed because, at their core, they're character studies. LOST wasn't about an island with supernatural powers, it was a story about a group of flawed strangers trying to survive together. My favorite episodes of LOST weren't episodes where they explored the fantastical nature of the island, but when we learned more about the castaways. Sure the polar bear, the disappearing island, and the time travel were interesting, but they don't make a show. LOST's best moments were the moments when we truly felt and understood the lives of these characters: when Michael shot Libby and Ana Lucia, when Sun thought Jin died, or when Sawyer and Juliet passionately reunited in the finale.
Contrast those moments with some of LOST's worst: the recent episode which gave us answers to Jacob and the Man in Black (not even Allison Janney could save that snoozer) or when Michael returned and we learned the origin of the islands whispers, and you'll too discover that there was little satisfaction in uncovering LOST's mysteries.
LOST's answers were always disappointments. That wasn't a bad thing either. The beauty of LOST was that each audience member could reach their own conclusion about the islands various mysteries. The concept of "choose your own adventure" theories, made for a more captive and invested fan base.
The only reason anyone is debating the finale is because of the rabid fan base. However, without a stellar cast of characters that fan base wouldn't exist. We kept getting LOST week after week because we cared about the outcome of Jack, Kate, Sun, and Sawyer. And now that we've reached the end, we should all be thankful for the wonderful ride.
Shows that rely heavily on mythology (like LOST, Battlestar Galatica, or even Alias) only succeed because, at their core, they're character studies. LOST wasn't about an island with supernatural powers, it was a story about a group of flawed strangers trying to survive together. My favorite episodes of LOST weren't episodes where they explored the fantastical nature of the island, but when we learned more about the castaways. Sure the polar bear, the disappearing island, and the time travel were interesting, but they don't make a show. LOST's best moments were the moments when we truly felt and understood the lives of these characters: when Michael shot Libby and Ana Lucia, when Sun thought Jin died, or when Sawyer and Juliet passionately reunited in the finale.
Contrast those moments with some of LOST's worst: the recent episode which gave us answers to Jacob and the Man in Black (not even Allison Janney could save that snoozer) or when Michael returned and we learned the origin of the islands whispers, and you'll too discover that there was little satisfaction in uncovering LOST's mysteries.
LOST's answers were always disappointments. That wasn't a bad thing either. The beauty of LOST was that each audience member could reach their own conclusion about the islands various mysteries. The concept of "choose your own adventure" theories, made for a more captive and invested fan base.
The only reason anyone is debating the finale is because of the rabid fan base. However, without a stellar cast of characters that fan base wouldn't exist. We kept getting LOST week after week because we cared about the outcome of Jack, Kate, Sun, and Sawyer. And now that we've reached the end, we should all be thankful for the wonderful ride.
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