Do we expect too much? (not a theory but relevant none-the-less)
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By jax
- Do we expect too much? (not a theory but relevant none-the-less)
- Created: Mar 28, 2008
- Last updated: Aug 14, 2008
- After episode: 3.22: Through The Looking Glass
- Status: Current
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does it matter if we didn’t see a rainbow or Charlie has a new haircut after death?
— jax
There’s no doubt that Lost is the most intriguing, spellbinding and sometimes deliciously confusing TV programme this generation has seen, and I personally feel privileged to be one of the people watching it for the first time and seeing it unfold. Generations to come will get repeats….its a cult phenomena….but we get to see it first.
But do we expect too much? Are we doing ourselves the viewers, and the writers any favours by being so observant and nit-picky?
A few examples….
I read a theory recently commenting that there are no rainbows. Well no there are not but is it really a clue or did they just not film any?
Charlies drowning had some artistic license and wasn’t 100% technically accurate…..does it matter?
It worries me that as a mono-thought clique, the fans and theorists, we are expecting way too much from this show and that may lead to disappointment once the show reaches its final conclusion at the end.
Perhaps every minuet detail wont stand up to such close scrutiny. Perhaps there are some imaginary questions that will never be answered because they were never posed….just supposed by an audience who relish in picking apart every tiny detail and forget that behind this awesome show, there are people who - while doing an amazing, incredible job - are only human and cant possibly account for everything.
I guess my point is, sometimes you need to step back and take in the whole vista instead of getting caught up in the tiny details. The bigger picture is about the atmosphere, the character development, the story telling, the journey we are taking with these characters. Yes the biggest draw to this show is the mystery solving, the brilliant community that has built up around the theories, but does it matter if we didn’t see a rainbow or Charlie has a new haircut after death?
I hope I got my point across without pissing anyone off, its just an observation I think might be worth baring in mind the next time you watch the same scene again and again because you thought you saw someone wink ;)
Jax,
I hear what your saying. I think because we are made to wait so much in between seasons, and then breaks on top mid season, coupled with the fact that there are still so many questions yet be answered that the Lost team themselves are responsible for the way we have become as an audience and as fans because they drip feed us answers really slowly, so we search for anything that might give us a clue!
I agree mate. Look at the bigger picture. The thing is, the writers leave “easter eggs” in the show and this only creates debate. So i blame the writers, they can hold themselves responsible for a) Creating a brilliant TV show and b) Creating so many questions that will leave some or many, un-answered.
I agree — people need to understand what is consequential and what is not.
From your examples — they have not seen a rainbow, but no one has said anything about rainbows either. I don’t think I have seen a rainbow in more than a year and would not find it strange if I did not see one for another year (of course, I work in an office in a city, so there are far fewer opportunities). Also, filming a rainbow (unless created artificially) can be tough.
Similarly, another poster said we had not seen the sun or the moon and that was significant. The observation was incorrect, but even if it was correct, the absence of the sun and moon is something that the characters would have noticed and we would have been told. Assuming there is no sun or moon on the island without being told there is no sun or moon is taking things way too far.
Finally, I urge everyone to remember Occam’s razor — which is paraphrased: “All other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best.”
That means you should make as few assumptions as is necessary to reach a conclusion. If 90% of your theory comes from your imagination and there is little or no diret evidence to support your theory in the show itself, back off and consider your theory again.
b) Creating so many questions that will leave some or many, un-answered.
that will totally suck big time
b) Creating so many questions that will leave some or many, un-answered.
I agree 100%. Its fun to try and find all the little details, but we might be dissappointed in the end. We have to remember that this is only a primetime show and while it contains alot of info and clues, it still has to be followed by the average viewer who is not able to pick up on the little hints.
LOL! I also read the “Rainbow” theory and thought the same mate …
No disrespect to the poster of that theory, but I think there are bigger questions which need answering. However, I have come to terms with the fact that when we get the answers we crave (if?) then I will be a bit disappointed which will be my own stoopid fault for building up my expectations way too far!
Although if it all turns out to be Hurleys dream then I’m going postal on Abrahms, Cuse and Lindeloff!!!
Jax, nice post. And you might be right, but I think the creators openly invite their show for scrutiny. They created a Blast Door Map they knew would have to be viewed online, cleaned up and translated for the Lost fans to get all they could from it. And they delight in giving the fans that level, I think. They encourage it.
The moral is: Don’t invite a wolf round to dinner on the promise of steak and feed it only lettuce.
Thanks for the comments….im pleased im not the only one who thinks this….I am among equals it seems lol :)
Im feeling very squishy today, I luv ya all :)
Great post jax. It’s kind of funny that a post like this came up, as a buddy and I were talking about this very subject a couple of weeks ago. haha. I have to agree that by the time LOST is over, many of us will be utterly disappointed. I have a strong feeling that the reaction to the finale will be akin to that of The Sopranos. Some will see the brilliance in the ending (which I believe will answer many questions, but also leave us with many to contemplate), while most will get hungup on not having full closure.
Conspiracies aside, what LOST ultimately comes down to is to show us that in life there are few lines that are are truly defined, in that most things fall into a ‘gray zone’. In LOST, we’ve yet to find a character that we can say is necessarily ‘good’ or ‘bad’ beyond a doubt. Every character so far as shown us both a ‘light’ side and a ‘dark’ side. Even the peace loving, world saving DHARMA’s managed to blur the line. I believe that the writers have done this to help us, the viewer, think outside the box and to not define things in life as one or the other, but both
Again, great post jax! +10