What is Lost?

[Triskelion]

Any good?

I learned a long time ago to trust my impressions from previews. But I've not seen anything about Lost, since I live in bizarro world (Shanghai). I hear it's good, but - is it SF or some kind of Hollywood fantasy pseudo SF crap? My impression is soap.

Any good science fiction I've missed in the last few years?

 

[Neroon]

Best to let the denizens of the "Lost" forum explain it. The show is a sci-fi series alright, but early on when the forum was created, the show's genre was very hard to pin down - hence the grouping under the GTVM forum.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I would definitely say give it a try. It has many scifi elements. I won't list them all because it would give up a lot of the show's secrets (though I'm sure others will be here shortly to ruin it for you ). It's the type of show you definitely want to avoid spoilers on. I would not call it soap-like at all. There is a lot of focus on the development of the characters, but in a deep and meaningful way, not in a relationship-of-the-week type of way. When you begin the series it may not seem very scifi at first, but don't worry, it gets there. Lost is like a beautiful flower blossoming slowly throughout the seasons...every episode adds another layer as you get closer and closer to discovering what lies at the center.

Oh how poetic of me!

 

[OmahaStar]

What is lost? That which has not yet been found.

 

[DeafPoet]

I would definitely say give it a try. It has many scifi elements. I won't list them all because it would give up a lot of the show's secrets (though I'm sure others will be here shortly to ruin it for you ). It's the type of show you definitely want to avoid spoilers on. I would not call it soap-like at all. There is a lot of focus on the development of the characters, but in a deep and meaningful way, not in a relationship-of-the-week type of way. When you begin the series it may not seem very scifi at first, but don't worry, it gets there. Lost is like a beautiful flowering blossoming slowly throughout the seasons...every episode adds another layer as you get closer and closer to discovering what lies at the center.

Oh how poetic of me!

That about sums it up. And eloquently I might add!

Lost has sci-fi trappings right from the start but it wasn't until an episode in this past fourth season (which is one of the best hours of TV I've ever seen) that I think you could really nail it down and say unequivocally that this is a sci-fi show.

But really, it's so good that it defies such superficial categorizations. There really is nothing like it out there. Give it a few episodes into the first season (although I was hooked form the first five minutes of the pilot) and you probaly won't care where it fits as far as genres go.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Lost is terrific, one of the best shows ever.

It helps if

1) the characters grab you from the start
2) you are patient
3) you have a high degree of tolerance for ambiguity
4) you love sci fi, especially really wacked out sci fi
5) you are very patient
6) you like pointless love triangles or at least they don't make you want to throw your TV out the window
7) you have a high degree of tolerance for Jackface

Or simply ask yourself: Does the world fill you with wonder?

 

[spinnerlys]

Maybe this can help: Trailer for the first series/season for channel 4.

 

[The Evil Dead]

If Lost ends up having a satisfying conclusion it will go down in history as one of the greatest stories ever told.

The only weak link is the second season, it really goes nowhere, adding little to the overall story and had far too many red herrings but everything else is just great. But bare with it, season 3 gets the ball rolling again in a big way. The show has a definite end date, the season finale of season six will be the end of the story and ever since that date was etched in stone the series has had a real feeling of forward momentum, it is going somewhere.

Do yourself a favor, check out the show, catch up and learn how the story ends with the rest of us.

 

[DeafPoet]

^

While I agree that there's lots of stuff happening in Season 2 that doesn't do anything for the story over all, having gone back and watched it a couple times since it aired I think there's some pretty fantastic episodes in there.

Springing immediately to mind are 'Man of Science, Man of Faith', 'Orientation', 'The 23rd Psalm' and 'Live Together, Die Alone' just off the top of my head.

Granted, three of those four have more to do with the mythology than many other S2 episodes, but even for the rest, if you focus on the characters and don't preoccupy yourself with the mythology S2 actually has some pretty good stuff.

 

[Starbreaker]

I've said this before... but Lost is my anti-drug. It's my crack.

 

[The Evil Dead]

^

While I agree that there's lots of stuff happening in Season 2 that doesn't do anything for the story over all, having gone back and watched it a couple times since it aired I think there's some pretty fantastic episodes in there.

Springing immediately to mind are 'Man of Science, Man of Faith', 'Orientation', 'The 23rd Psalm' and 'Live Together, Die Alone' just off the top of my head.

Granted, three of those four have more to do with the mythology than many other S2 episodes, but even for the rest, if you focus on the characters and don't preoccupy yourself with the mythology S2 actually has some pretty good stuff.

Don't get me wrong, they are still episodes of my favorite series. The final 6 or so in particular are really great, no show ends a season like Lost. But I feel you could've gone from the season finale of season 1 to the season opener of 3 with only 6 or 8 episodes bridging the gap, not a meandering 24 episodes or so. I do enjoy season 2 more now retroactively because I enjoy the characters on the show so much.

Spoiler: Lost Season Two, Don't Click If you're New to the Show

My biggest gripe is the Tailies. A hell of a lot of season 2 revolved around these characters, something that I intially thought was a great concept, more survivors - awesome! The fact that only one Tailie is still on the show, a recurring character at that, speaks volumes about what a misstep a lot of things done in season 2 were. Just my two cents of course. But Ana-Lucia, Eko, didn't really add a helluva lot to the overall mythos. There's still time, maybe that will change.

Lost is like a really great cut of streak, but season 2 is the fat.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

While I agree that there's lots of stuff happening in Season 2 that doesn't do anything for the story over all, having gone back and watched it a couple times since it aired I think there's some pretty fantastic episodes in there.

The stuff with "the button" was inventive, compelling and just plain fun. I really can't think of any extended bad stretch - early S3 comes closest.

 

[Gertch]

the show's genre was very hard to pin down - hence the grouping under the GTVM forum.

Guys, where are we?

 

[Borg451]

If Lost ends up having a satisfying conclusion it will go down in history as one of the greatest stories ever told.

The only weak link is the second season, it really goes nowhere, adding little to the overall story and had far too many red herrings but everything else is just great. But bare with it, season 3 gets the ball rolling again in a big way. The show has a definite end date, the season finale of season six will be the end of the story and ever since that date was etched in stone the series has had a real feeling of forward momentum, it is going somewhere.

Do yourself a favor, check out the show, catch up and learn how the story ends with the rest of us.

what are you swan about? the second season was the best one.. WTF!

 

[DeafPoet]

If Lost ends up having a satisfying conclusion it will go down in history as one of the greatest stories ever told.

The only weak link is the second season, it really goes nowhere, adding little to the overall story and had far too many red herrings but everything else is just great. But bare with it, season 3 gets the ball rolling again in a big way. The show has a definite end date, the season finale of season six will be the end of the story and ever since that date was etched in stone the series has had a real feeling of forward momentum, it is going somewhere.

Do yourself a favor, check out the show, catch up and learn how the story ends with the rest of us.

what are you swan about? the second season was the best one.. WTF!

Well that's a judgment call, obviously; but I'd wager you'd find yourself in the minority on that one.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

Yes LOST is sci-fi, the people who made it have FLAT OUT said it is, they just initially cloaked/hid it because of networks and audiences bias against sci-fi.

 

[Lindley]

Spoiler: Lost Season Two, Don't Click If you're New to the Show

The fact that only one Tailie is still on the show, a recurring character at that, speaks volumes about what a misstep a lot of things done in season 2 were.

Spoiler: more

I'm pretty sure Cindy (the flight attendant) is still hanging out with the Others. She popped up briefly when Kate and Sawyer were being held captive.

 

[Starbreaker]

Well, they got both of those actors on a one year contract, and neither one renewed was what I have read everywhere.

 

[Lindley]

Unfortunately, no one can simply be told what Lost is.

You have to see it for yourself.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

7) you have a high degree of tolerance for Jackface

Quoted Fo' Teh Troof.