What a great ride! LOST came to an end last night but my brain is still processing—which is exactly the kind of ending I wanted. In this way, it hasn’t actually ended. Because LOST has been so much more than just the series. It has fostered pockets of communities that allow viewers to participate at whatever depth they prefer.
All along we’ve yearned for answers—but not as spoilers. That would ruin the fun of trying to figure things out on our own. In an age when Hollywood output is so formulaic, that the writers could consistently outwit the audience at every turn is quite a feat. The sheer volume of blog entries and online discussions generated within the past 24 hours is testimony to the impact of the series. Certainly my musings would not be missed if I did not add my two cents but processing my thoughts at this time is cathartic. So, fair readers (I hope there are more than one of you out there), please grant me this indulgence.
I came to the series when the pilot was first rerun in May 2005. I was immediately hooked by the human stories and intricate plotting. It was like nothing I’d ever seen. As the storyline became more fantastic, it was the characters that kept me hooked.
I can only imagine the creative satisfaction Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse must be feeling. To be able to envision something and see it brought to fruition is always a kick, but to be given the freedom ABC afforded them to plot the series ending over the course of three seasons, ignoring every convention that normally shackles a program, fully recognizing that the increasing complexity would shed less engaged viewers, puts the weight of the show squarely on their shoulders.
I’ve trusted in the creators, even when there were lulls in the storyline or so-so episodes, because I knew that at the times when they hit their stride, nothing else compared to the unique vision of LOST. Along the way, this vision changed to accommodate the genius of Michael Emerson, who parlayed a planned three-episode appearance as Henry Gale/Ben Linus into a five season acting tour de force playing one of the most complex characters television has seen. And all the while, his machinations were somehow worked into the complex jigsaw puzzle that was LOST.
I went into the LOST finale eager for answers but hesitant for the series to come to an end. I didn’t expect that I would be disappointed because of the trust I have in the creative geniuses behind the show—and I wasn’t. I can’t say, at this point in my ruminations, that I totally “get” it. Was that the remnants of Oceanic 815 on the beach over the end credits or perhaps the Ajira flight? Were the flash sideways of Season 6 the after life?
The producers warned that not all questions would be answered but I would like to know how Walt was able to appear to Shannon the same way the visages of those who had passed appeared to the other “Losties”.
In one way, I envy those who have yet to discover LOST—those who have not yet taken the ride. They can readily plow through the episodes on DVD, Netflix and ABC.com. But they will have missed out on the larger experience of the series—the dialogue and speculation that occurs when mystery-riddled episodes are parsed out one a week, seasons are separated by as much as eight months, and an evolving media landscape simultaneously emerges to engage an audience like never before.
Tags: audience engagement, Carlton Cuse, creative satisfaction, Damon Lindelof, LOST finale, Oceanic 815, television
