Lost Virgin: no spoilers

[Butters]

I have seen no Lost at all, but I'm aware of it and it sounds like something I might buy on mass and watch over a few sittings with booze.

What stops me investing my time and money in to such new, to me, series, is things like the BSG finale, which for me blew chunks, though I recognise some liked it.

My question is: does the final resolution to the series split the fan base and raise questions of storyteller etiquette? Without spoilers, is it a disappointment or a triumph? Is it worth the hype or should I wait until its given away free with a sunday newspaper?

No spoilers, just a vibe, good or bad?

 

[Spot's Meow]

Well the series hasn't finished yet, so we can't really answer your question entirely. There is one season left to go. The show is known for its surprises, unexpected developments, and great season cliffhangers, so we really don't even know what the last season is going to be about either.

I can say that the first season was very much loved, everyone enjoyed the second and third seasons but some felt they were a little slow in plot development at times, and the fourth and fifth seasons were amazing. I think all of us fans of the show expect the last season to be really awesome. It could totally suck and be extremely disappointing, but the show has really great writers and seems to be working toward a specific ending so I have faith that it will be good.

I honestly have no idea how the series will end, I can't even begin to imagine. That seems silly with only one season left, but if you watch the show you'll understand.

 

[Starbreaker]

The last season is gonna be awesome!

 

[DonIago]

Thus far I've had no problems with pacing aside from the first few episodes of the 3rd season. Ironically that's when I first got into the show (caught up on seasons 1 & 2 during a mid-season hiatus), so I guess you could say I survived my hazing ritual.

Based on how this past season ended, 2010 can't come fast enough.

 

[Hober Mallow]

I have seen no Lost at all, but I'm aware of it and it sounds like something I might buy on mass and watch over a few sittings with booze.

Butters, let me tell you my story. I didn't want to watch Lost. At all. My girlfriend kept bugging me to pick up DVDs at Hollywood video so she could catch the show from the beginning during the hiatus between season 4 and 5. I couldn't find the first episode on DVD, but I didn't bother looking that hard.

Then the reruns began on the Sci-Fi Channel. They began by airing four episodes every Monday night. My girl wanted me to watch it with her. I decided I'd read, cook, listen to music, or twiddle my thumbs while she watched her silly show. I missed the first couple episodes. I caught bits and pieces of the next few episodes. The next few episodes after that I caught myself listening to. Occasionally my girl would yell, "Oh my God!" and I'd come running in going, "What?! What?!"

By the end of season one reruns I found myself sitting with her when the show was on. By the end of season two I dropped all pretense of being disinterested.

Then season three started. After a couple weeks the Sci-Fi Channel screwed with the schedule and showed a James Bond movie instead. I immediately ran to Best Buy and bought the season three DVDs. We watched the entire season in about two sittings. Then I had to buy season four. This time I wanted to pace the show so it would last longer, only one episode a night. We managed only two sittings for that one, too. Then we were ready for the new season on ABC.

F*ck me if that show is not addicting. I didn't want to watch it in the first place. I'm now about to rebuy the entire series on blu-ray. The show isn't over yet, but even if it jumps the shark next season, the first five seasons are some of the most entertaining, imaginitive stories I've ever seen on television. I went from not giving a sh*t about the show to it being right up there in my top favorites of all time with Star Trek and Twilight Zone. The show surprises you every episode and leaves you wanting more. When you think you know what's going on, you don't. How they've managed to keep that up for five seasons, I don't know, but that's an achievement in itself.

So it's really up to you whether or not you want to invest in this show. But if you do, I promise you will be hopelessly addicted. Do what I did, catch the show on DVD or blu-ray now so you'll be ready for the final season coming up. Season's one through four are out now, but season five should be coming soon. Of course, don't take anyone's word for it. Just buy the first season, or start by renting the first few episodes. By the end of that first season, you're going to be addicted.

In conclusion, the show is just like crack.

 

[Butters]

Thanks for the replies. I honestly thought the series had concluded. That was the impression Sky One gave with its promos and trailers.

I probably will take the plunge when it does finish, but in the meantime I just keep avoiding the spoilers.

Regards

 

[Mr Light]

LOST is my favorite show on the air by a mile but it does require close watching and patience. They often take like a year to explain something. They string things out. But I still love it dearly. If you like mystery and action and sci-fi/fantasy twists you should like it.

 

[CaptainWacky]

Just watch it.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

My question is: does the final resolution to the series split the fan base and raise questions of storyteller etiquette? Without spoilers, is it a disappointment or a triumph? Is it worth the hype or should I wait until its given away free with a sunday newspaper?

I watched BSG too, and long before the finale, I had come to the conclusion that the writers had written themselves into a corner from which there was no graceful exit. And the ending, indeed, confirmed my suspicions - it was about as good as they could do, under the circumstances, but it was basically just one long exercise in shoehorning a long-since-botched story into some kind of reasonable ending.

So if you also had your doubts about BSG, it might hearten you to know that I'm not nearly as down on Lost at this point in the story (going into the final season). I think the writers have left themselves plenty of room to deliver a powerful and satisfying but unpredictable ending.

I honestly have no idea how the series will end, I can't even begin to imagine. That seems silly with only one season left, but if you watch the show you'll understand.

I could predict the sorts of things that are likely to happen in or by the finale, but if none of the things I predict come to pass, I wouldn't be at all surprised. There really isn't anything they "have to" do, in order not to have a botched ending, and that's a credit to their writing that they've left the possibilities so open.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Just watch it.

I agree with this advice. Take the plunge and watch from "Pilot" onwards. You'll find it a very rewarding and frustrating, if cathartic, experience.

 

[Starbreaker]

Have you started? You should be finished by now!