Do most people you know need help understanding?

[Mitty]

For instance, at work. I regularly talk to colleagues about Lost, and several of them watch it. Because I'm a week ahead of them via nefarious means (Australia is currently only a week behind the US), they ask me about things and what I might know. But more often than not, I'm having to remind people about important stuff from the past that might relate to current plot lines. For instance Sawyer, and his daughter, things like that etc. Most of them have forgotten all about that, so if and when it comes up again they may have forgotten completely.

I know the show can be enjoyed on an ad hoc basis to some degree (eg watching the Constant. My Partner who never watches, watched that with me, and told me it was the first Lost Ep he had truly enjoyed). But more often than not unless you've watched from the beginning and have basically lived the show like most of us in the forum, you probably won't have any idea at all what's happening.

Have the producers shot themselves in the foot to some degree by making the show so serialised? Would a more Trek style Episodic style make it more popular?

So my final question is... we're a fairly intelligent bunch around here. Do you need to have a fair level of intelligence to "get" Lost?

 

[auntiehill]

I think it helps to have a better-than-average memory. My hubby, whose memory is not the best, needs constant reminding--like the references to "The Black Rock" that appeared in "The Constant." He had no idea.

I was laughing when I saw the Geronimo Jackson poster in teen-Locke's school locker. Hubby had no idea what I was talking about---even after I reminded him.

 

[Hermiod]

Most people I know don't have the ability to remember details or pretty much anything that isn't handed to them on a plate in dialogue.

I struggle a little bit sometimes but I usually watch the episode on my computer and pause to look things up every so often.

 

[Spot's Meow]

No, I'm usually the one needing reminding. I understand the episode perfectly well when I watch it, but a week or two later I can't really remember the details. I actually have no idea what you guys are talking about when you mention Sawyer's daughter or Geronimo Jackson. I have seen every episode (and the first two seasons twice) but I just can't remember that kind of stuff. I've always had a bad memory when it comes to TV shows and movies.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Tragically, I don't know anyone in real life who watches Lost. Some did, but gave up.

Have the producers shot themselves in the foot to some degree by making the show so serialised? Would a more Trek style Episodic style make it more popular?

It might be more popular, but it certainly wouldn't be as unique, or as impressive (serialized storytelling being far more difficult than episodic, yet they're managing to pull it off well so far). The show gets enough viewers to get it to the end of its natural lifespan, and that's all the ratings really matter for, anyway.

And if it had been episodic and less unique, it wouldn't have had the loyal following its gained. It might have had bigger initial numbers and then crashed and burned, as so many mediocre, nothing-special shows always do. The fact that Lost is unique on TV is why it can hang onto its core audience. There's nothing to replace it with.

 

[startrekwatcher]

So my final question is... we're a fairly intelligent bunch around here. Do you need to have a fair level of intelligence to "get" Lost?

Lost and to some degree Heroes are two of the most complicated shows I've ever watched. When I watch an episode, I watch it at least twice that night. I actually keep notes so I keep everything straight--a list of all the unanswered questions/mysteries, a chart showing who knows who, who knows what versus what the audience knows, and in my home office I've got two white marker boards that I update like a Big Puzzle to help me go over carefully any clues because these writers are so damn subtle you can easily have something go right past you. It also helps because you see the Big Picture and can put things in order since often times an individual episode feels like a collection of puzzle pieces. It helps me absorb all the myriad of connections that exist among the characters and the plot threads. You've also got flashbacks that jump back and forth, flash forwards that are out of order. It isn't a very linear show in that you aren't constantly going forward but jumping all around. Also unlike most shows that cued a viewer into something as important to draw their attention to it, Lost doesn't. The writers sort of leave it up to you to integrate all this stuff into its own massive narrative and put it in order.

I can only imagine that a casual viewer would either be overwhelmed or lost in keeping track of everything. And they certainly won't be able to truly appreciate it the way obsessive do. I mean with most traditional arc-based series the arcs were designed to last a season and the elements specific to it were limited to that season and then the next season you'd have another arc altogether. That way everything happens relatively speaking in such a contracted period of time that things are fresh in your mind. But Lost and Heroes are extremely interconnected. You don't have the days of an ensemble cast broken down into groups assigned to their own parallel storyline like with DS9, Dallas etc. Threads can be mentioned once on Lost in season one and put aside for so long you forget about them since literally years go by before they are even brought up again.

This show and Heroes has always struck me as designed for the obsessive nitpicking detail-oriented overanalyzing internet fan.

 

[Starbreaker]

I have to remind people about stuff all the time. My friend who claims to be a big fan probably won't remember who Jacob is by Thursday.

 

[Gertch]

With the help of you all I get to remind people and clue them in to plot points they missed but we caught. Then other friends have given me great ideas and I have shared them here.

One of my best friends has started watching from the beginning and has started reminding me of events I've forgotten. What's funny is his 'roommate' can't stand the show so he has to save all his discussion for when he gets to work. Hehe.

But it's fun to bounce ideas around everyone at work. It's almost as fun as with you all.

 

[that1guy]

I would definitely say that you need an above-average memory to get all that's going on, especially in really detail heavy episodes. (see The Constant) I think for people who have a hard time remembering things, it's much MUCH easier to follow along if you can watch them on DVD so you can see without interuption and all in a row. It keeps the continuity going and keeps it fresh on your mind.

That's how my wife and I got into Lost. We broke down one day and bought season 1 and watched it all the way through in one weekend. We were addicted and bought seasons 2 and 3 when it came out and pretty much watched the whole show in the span of a month. Now we're pretty much the resident Lost experts in our group of friends. It really helped us catch things. (Like the picture on the monk's desk when Desmond is leaving the monastary)

Long story short, you need a good memory and yes I do find myself explaining things to others quite a bit.

 

[Mr Light]

I think you have to be moderately intelligent to comprehend the show. The average idiot isn't going to follow any of it except for the love triangles and the bad guys being the ones who killed the good guys.

 

[Geck]

^ Your average idiot would be my mother. Every week I have to call her on Friday and spend 15 minutes answering her questions about who was who and why they were doing what they were doing...as best as I can at least. She says she still enjoys the show, but it gives her a headache and she's on the verge of losing interest and giving up. She keeps watching though since she's invested 4 years in it and wants to see the payoff.

My ex used to love it as much as I do and we'd spend a while talking about it after every episode too, but that was less explaining and more theorizing.

 

[Jono]

Most of my friends have given up on Lost, which is surprising as it took me 4 weeks after the first ep to watch it and then another 2 to watch the second, so I was slow to get into it and now I'm the only one still going so I don't try to explain it to them.

I do sometimes watch it with my brother who watches it now and again and often asks me during the episode who this is and what/why are they doing what they are doing. Funny thing is half the questions he asks are ones I can't answer because Lost likes to not give answers for so many things.

 

[Maab of the Ten Tribes]

Most people i know want all the answers handed to them on a silver platter without thinking about any of the stories (past or present). I keep telling them if we had all of the answers the damn show would be over. I dont think most people "like the ride" to get to the end. I, myself, am loving it.

 

[Starbreaker]

Someone once asked me what the smoke monster was. I told them I didn't know so he said he would go look it up online.

 

[that1guy]

Someone once asked me what the smoke monster was. I told them I didn't know so he said he would go look it up online.

Ugh! That kind of stuff infuriates me.