'Lost': Hurry up already!

Even the extremely worthy concept of delayed gratification has its limits, already.

Every week, ABC's promotions department teases bits of "Lost" in commercials that make you think some of the island's many secrets are finally going to be revealed. And every week, viewers get duped.

Three seasons in, what viewers need is information, lots of it, and quick. Patience for the show's ever-spiraling enigma is rapidly wearing thin as evidenced in softening ratings.

While Wednesday's episode of "Lost" was probably one of the stronger hours, focused again on how Juliet, the most sympathetic of the Others, came to be trapped on the island,  the series' warying stall tactics remained in full force, leaking answers in drips and drabs.

Juliet it turns out was brought to the island to help cure pregnant women on the island, all of whom become afflicted with a fatal illness that kills them before they come to term.

Now, per Ben's wishes, she's infiltrated the plane crash survivor's beachside camp as Jack's new trustworthy pal.

Sayid, the spokesman for viewers it seems, pressed Juliet for the goods: "I want to know what you people are doing on this island. Why are you terrorizing us? Making lists, kidnapping children? I want to know everything."

Her non-answer: "If I told you everything I knew you'd kill me."

In an episode that aired a couple of months ago, the survivors thought to be kidnapped and killed by the Others in season one, reappeared very much alive. "We're observing," they told a stunned Jack, who was being held prisoner at the time.

But did Jack grill them with any real-world questions? Say "What happened to you?" "Where have you been all this time?" "Who are these Others?"

Of course not. Instead, Jack's classic "Lost" response was an angry "Get out of here!"

After the recent double whammy -- a pointless-in-every-way Nikki/Paulo episode and a Kate episode only slightly less pointless – getting into Juliet's head was a welcome relief. If only the remaining five episodes would speed the drama up. Last month's powerful Locke episode shouldn't be the exception, it should be the norm.

One other thing becomes crystal clear. "Lost" is in dire need of an end date, a deadline the show's writers can shoot for to bring things to a close. Otherwise it will be something like Oceanic Flight 815 – doomed for a crash landing.

(Photo courtesy ABC)

Comments

[evan]

I really can't believe how impatient everyone is. In case no one has figured it out, the show isnt about the mystery, the show is about human problems. The mystery factor provides a compelling metaphor for the characters own lostness and provides the show with a cohesive narative. The nikki and paulo episode was a brilliant example of this. Suck it up.

Other things wrong with focusing too much on solving mysteries:
-Episodes that merely tie up ends have much less repeat value. When I get the dvd set, I will be much more interested in watching nikki and paulo than the locke episode.
-Reality shows are shows where every episode is driven by getting closer to the end.
-Figuring it all out too soon doesn't make sense. So theyre supposed to spend 90 days in confusion and solve everything in 10?

[echo]

It's too late. They've teased the viewers too many times with non-answers, and they'll never regain the audience now. Lost is a victim of its writers' own hubris.

[Shannon]

You're the only person that feels that way. Of course it's about the mystery! The Nikki/Paulo episode was COMPLETELY useless! You're weird.

[Denise Martin]

Evan, The reason I've been a little more focused on the msyteries than I was in season one is because they've killed off most of the compelling characters (all the tailies, for one).

Personally, I have trouble with Sawyer, a poorly written "bad guy with a heart of gold," Kate, whose backstory has been retold so many times in the same way, and now even Jack, whose last two flashbacks have been so meaningless, it really feels like the writers don't know what to say about the guy. Then there's Charlie, who started interesteing but has nothing to do now, period, and Claire, who's been revealed...as Jack's sister! I care because...

They need to challenge their characters, that is give them something to do that challenges who they are. Not just tell us over and over again that gee, sawyer's just misunderstood, ain't he.

[RZ]

Part of what makes Lost such a great show is the mystery and suspense factor. People who are too impatient and want answers should turn their attentions to 24 or similar shows that don't make you wait more than a few weeks to answer mysteries. If you don't like the suspense, stop watching and more importantly stop griping!

[Charles Francis]

I am afraid that Lost's writers have so many balls up in the air that they are going to be forced to give us some lame ending. It will be like a dimwit telling you an intriguing joke but at the end can't remember the punchline.

[Steven]

Let the Lost writers unfold the mystery in their own way, already. The ratings are slipping a bit but it's an intricate story in its 3rd season, so it's not easy for new viewers to jump in. Sawyer is "poorly written"?! They've killed off the most compelling characters? Respectfully, couldn't disagree more. Enjoying the journey of Lost and yeah, I want to know why there are polar bears running around and where/when the island exists, but this is a show I hope is never rushed into changing its style midstream.

[Denise Martin]

Let me clarify: I don't hate the show. It's precisely because I loved the first season that I'm so frustrated now. RZ, feeling suspense is not the same as feeling bored. Episodes like the recent Hurley, Jack, Kate and Nikki/Paulo ones left me feeling bored. As I said, every episode needs to have the same forward momentum as the latest Locke one. First season had that moment. Maybe the producers DO have an end game, but it's not apparent to me. I feel like they're spinning their wheels a lot lately. But to each his own...

[Dale]

I said from the beginning that Lost was an all-question, no-answer cliffhanger generator and that the writers had no idea whatsoever where it was all going. Writers who have to come out in the media to say "no, really, it's all going somewhere, so please keep watching" have clearly lost control of themselves and their creation. My wife watches this stupid show and it drives me insane. I shudder to think what J.J. Abrams is going to do to my beloved Star Trek.

[Kevin]

I got sucked into Lost since the first season and its hard not to watch the lame season so far because i am hooked. i am also afraid that the writers are going to wrapped it up so quickly without revealing the answers that we are waiting for. I am getting tried of watching everybody's background over & over. The real meat is only shown 10 minuted out of the 60 minute episode. Is Jack's Dad alive in the island? There are so many mysteries that I can't even track of now. I wich someone can compile a list of mysteries just to recall my memory.

[Alex Sorokopud]

If you listen to the official Lost podcast you would know that the show is plotted out for 5 seasons (or was it 6, I forget). Some mysteries that were created in the first couple seasons have been resolved, others have been created to be resolved in the remaining seasons.

Half the fun of this show is to go to websites like http://lost.cubit.net/ that pick out things you may have missed, and unravel the mysteries together in the forum.

If you were to go back and re-watch season one and I think you would discover that a lot more things have been resolved than you think.

If everything was handed to you on a silver platter right away, what fun would that be?

[Robert]

This is why Alias was so frustrating after season 2, and why I stopped watching Lost after season 1.

[Rachel]

I'm with Evan. I enjoy the character-driven stories as much or more than the mystery. Some recent episodes (the Jack-in-Thailand flashback) have been lame, but I found Nikki and Paolo's story compelling. If they tell us everything now, there will be no more show. Also, I've noticed that the same people who complained about the lack of revelations are now complaining that they don't like the answers.

[Fred]

A comment to Alex Sorokopud, regarding half the fun being looking for clues online: that's true for some people, but some of us (speaking for myself) don't have the time or inclination. If LOST was a great show, instead of just a good one, it would exist on both levels: it would be satisfying as a standalone hourlong television show, and it would offer deeper mystery and meaning to those who choose to look for it.

A perfect example of what I mean (mentioned by Dale above, but in another context) is Star Trek -- every episode told a complete story, and yet most of them also contributed to the development of characters and the greater universe in which the story existed. The individual character-driven episodes (best example: "Data's Day" from ST-TNG) weren't considered annoying sidetracks.

Probably obvious by now, but I find myself in the camp of people who are losing patience with LOST.

[Michael]

What is killing Lost's ratings? How about this year's time slot. Ugh!

[Hermie T. Elf]

Have any of you whiners ever watched "The Prisoner," considered one of the "cult TV classics"? No, because everything would have to be spelled out for an easily-agitated American audience who wants answers all the time even though, in real life, we're lucky to get answers to 1/3 of the mysteries we encounter.

Have you ever suffered through "The X-Files"? Because if you did, you would know deep down that the show's fatal flaw was placing the end too far away from the beginning (and, arguably, not even knowing where that end should be). This is not the case with LOST. They will go five seasons. Things will end. Yes, perhaps they start some additional mysteries and plots so that a second-generation show can occur, but LOST as we know it will end in a little over two years from now.

The show's producers were right, in my mind. LOST never had any business being a top 3 show, because you can't please that many stupid and impatient Americans without having a dumbed-down show like "Dancing WIth the Stars."

[Zell]

the Nikki/Paolo episode was a very nice one-off episode ... the most useless episode award goes to the Hurley Finds A Volkswagon episode

[Justin Rydalch]

the most frustrating thing about LOST is that it is on at 10pm now on a wed night, which I find usually to late for me. 9pm was the perfect time because the show was over at 10 and I was in bed at 1015pm. Also the writers better start giving answers or they are going to lose another viewer(me) as I'm getting tired of the whole thing getting dragged on and on.

[Frinkler]

(1.) Nikki/Paulo was an attempt at a classic Twilight Zone episode. I thought it kinda worked.

(2.) More than the new time, the lack of reruns is what's killing the show, which I think they're realizing. I wanna watch it in HD, not little webisodes.

(3.) It's more than about time for us to know what the Others are up to, and start dealing with them on that basis. Let's have some real arguments over who's right and who's wrong.

(4.) Shame on the writers for pretty much just throwing away the Jack/Claire thing. It's a big deal.

[Jack Sawyer Hurley]

wow. i'm a dumb american because i can't stand Lost? when i read people telling me that half the fun is going to a website, i know that i'm right when deciding not to TiVo the show. "when i get the dvd set" you must have a lot of disposable income. good for you.

yes, i've seen the X-Files. and the "mystery" of X-Files went on too long and was ultimately unsatisfactory. lost was full of one too many back stories that i didn't care about a year ago. this year, "revelations" like how Locke lost the use of his legs, well, i just don't care. hey, i hear that the young guy they killed off a few years ago was gay. that's meaningless, useless information. glad they "revealed" that. who really cares?

Lost isn't suffering because it's not revealing things and it's not suffering from lazy american viewing habits. it's suffering because it stopped being entertaining. there are far too many viewing options. Lost is no longer on the list. it's almost as sad as what happened to Twin Peaks - such great promise that never panned out.

[Blue247]

I don't believe the writers are saving the best for last by stringing the audience along the way they have. Essentially Lost has lost it's edge. The reason why the first season of Lost was so successful was because of a man named Jeph Loeb. He wrote most of the first season of Lost, but most people who have heard of him know him for writing some of the best stories in both the Marvel and DC comics universe. Jeph Loeb bolted after the first season for another show. A little show called HEROES. And if you watch a few episodes of HEROES, you will truly see where the true writing talent from LOST went.

[james hong]

Americans and American media critics don't have any patience. Lost is fine the way it is not putting all the eggs on the table. The the less anwers the better.

[Patrick]

The seed idea of Lost?

I recently watched an expose on the cult leader Jim Jones and his group of followers known as People's Temple. In the end, they moved as far away from civilization as possible into a remote jungle in South America. I wondered what would happen if a plane crashed near Jones' fortified armed encampment. Just as there are Others who wish to leave Ben's little family, so too were there those who wished to leave Jim Jones'. Hmmm..

[Patrick]

I've tried to watch Heroes... Bleh! It's cliched predictable overly sentimental clumsy dialogue and situations annoyed me to no end. I even tried to watch it a second time but again found it to be nothing more than the X-Men meets Melrose Place. I'm sure teens love it.