Letting Go of LOST

I sat down to write this right after the finale, but I found that I couldn't. After a few days to process, I can definitely say that LOST had a very fitting and satisfying series finale. It was frustrating, interesting, provocative, infuriating, and touching, everything that LOST was.



For me, what I liked the most was the message in the finale: Just let it go. While it works as a message for the main characters (especially Jack), it's also a sly message to all the fans out there watching.

What was the Island? What was Dharma doing? Where did Jacob come from? Why was Walt special? Who were The Others? Every question you could have was answered with that simple message in the finale:

Let it go.



It's funny, coming from me, because I've been adamant that the only thing LOST had going for it was the plot. While some of the characters were interesting, they never really engaged me in a way to make me care (with the exception of Desmond). The problem was that everyone on that island was an asshole, and very few had redeeming features that made me want to root for them. But somehow during the finale that all changed.

As the finale progressed I cared less and less about the unanswered questions and more about these people finding their true happiness. It made me realize that in six seasons it was very rare to see the characters be happy and it was about time that there was a smile infection.



Story wise, I think everyone ended up where they should be. Katie finally looked beyond herself and reached out to save Claire. Claire will finally get to be the mother that she always wanted to be, but with a family that she sorely needed. Sawyer, well, Sawyer got out so he can star in a buddy cop show with Miles.



And In the end, Jack fulfilled his purpose, fixing the island by performing a hard reboot, and left Hurley and Ben in charge for years until they found a suitable replacement, like Jacob and his predecessors did. The island is still around being weird, but it's done with everyone we care about so it's time for us to leave too.

Like Christian Shepard said: It's time to let go.

Weekend Matinee: LOST

For better or worse, LOST wraps up it's six year run this weekend. Can it live up to the hype? Maybe. Will it hold all the answers to our questions? Probably not. Will it be the TV event of the Decade (2000-2010)?

Most definitely.

It may not the best show in the world, but it's certainly one of the most intriguing. I have a feeling that whatever happens during the finale will really polarize the fans. Not as bad as The Sopranos did, but something along the lines of what BSG did. Some people will be satisfied, most won't, but everyone will be talking about it.

So in an effort to catch you up to the phenomenon so you can at least watch the finale without being too confused, here's a recap of the first five seasons:



And then just remember that this season the gimmick is flash-sidewayses, where we see the Lost gang in a world where the plane didn't crash on the island. On that world, everyone's almost got the perfect life, but Desmond is about to fuck it up.

The morale: Never trust a scotsman, they're always out to fuck your shit up.

Here's hoping it's good times, and I'll let you all know what I think later in the week.

BONUS CLIP:

Just in case you don't hae a full eight minutes to catch up with Lost, here's the whole thing in about a minute... with cats:

My Crazy Controversial Lost Theory

Have you heard of this show, Lost? Buncha assholes get stuck on an island Gilligan-style with no means of escape? Been on the air for six years and has become somewhat of a cultural icon? Yeah, that's the one.



On a whim I jumped into Lost a few months ago prepared to take this crazy story head on, and found that I was quickly sucked in. That's not to say that I'm some kind of 'Lostie' or anything. Those people, while I'm sure strong in character, are a little nuts and overly obsessive. Good for them and their misguided tastes, I'm just into Lost for the plot.

Anyway, after such a large and concentrated dose of ABC's most popular drama, I came up with a some my own crazy theory about how the show will end.

Curious? Well good, otherwise you should probably stop reading (please don't stop reading)

SPOILERS ABOUND for those who haven't seen any of Season 6 yet!

In a nutshell: Jack Shephard is Jesus Christ



It becomes fairly obviously very quickly when watching Lost that one of the major overtones is one of faith and belief in a higher power. Throughout the majority of the series we watch John Locke and Jack Shephard square off ideologically as they try to save the survivors of Flight 815, with the former believing in the island while the latter strives for physical proof. So then why would Jack be the messiah and not Locke? Simply put, Jack has more in common with the Son of God than Locke ever did.

Here's how I see it: They both have issues with an absent father, who keeps affecting their life in mysterious and unseen ways (see Christian Shephard, AKA God) while they try to save their followers from danger (The Island, or the Roman Empire). I could even make the stretch that being a surgeon is akin to being a carpenter, in that they both involve construction, but I won't.

So for this to ultimately work out, the series will have to end with Jack making the big sacrifice, giving up his life, so that the others (not THE OTHERS, but you know, the other passengers) can finally get off that damned island.

Besides, Locke is more like Professor Xavier anyway.



Further, I think after Jesus-Jack sacrifices himself, he'll be resurrected as the new Jacob-figure for the island.

Everyone cool? Okay, so it was revealed at the end of Season five that Jacob had a buddy on the island (the internet has dubbed The Man in Black, but I totally want to make the easy Twilight reference and call him Edward) who seemed to be his opposite half. Further, it was revealed that the this Man in Black has recently taken the form of John Locke and had Jacob killed. Now, this BlackLocke isn't just some spirit in a meat suit, it's the only physical form that the former Man in Black can take.

Stick with me here: Jacob and the Man in Black are the same and can only take the physical form of one person, but need a dead body to do so. Right? And it's not like any body can be emulated, it has to be a specially chosen candidate which, according to episode 6.4, includes a certain spinal surgeon.

I want you to imagine this for the series finale: A tearful good-bye as Jack sacrifices himself for everyone's safe escape, a series of epilogues with our main cast and then, a shot of a beach where a lone man walks out of a cave and plops down on the sand. John Locke walks up behind him, saying something snarky, and then the reveal, it was Jack who was resurrected.



I'm sorry for ruining Lost's final moments for you, I just can't help myself.