There’s so much to say about the series finale of this show, and the main thing is that the last episode ever doesn’t actually provide answers to more than a couple mysteries, but that doesn’t make it any less worthwhile to have watched the whole entire show. This two-and-a-half-hour closer is nothing much more than a cool super-sized installment for most of its runtime, and it’s only the last fifteen or so minutes that call into question whether this is a valid resolution for the show. Seeing all of the characters suddenly remember all of their experiences from the island was a wonderfully effective device, and bringing back old faces like Charlie and Shannon was definitely welcome.
What I don’t quite buy as much is the explanation of what the whole flash-sideways universe was. I’m also not certain I fully comprehend it, but that’s another story. Giving Jack the chance to ask someone who wouldn’t lie to him exactly what everything means is something that this show could really have used at the end of every episode, and I’m just not terribly impressed with the answer. There are so many things that don’t seem relevant but were given so much emphasis during the show’s run, including the eternal battle between Jacob and the Man in Black. While it was cool to see Jack and Locke launch at each other atop the rocks, the bad guy went down way too easily and everything was suddenly completely okay. Regarding the post-death reunion at the funeral home, it would seem that only a strong romantic connection serves to bring them back together, therefore excusing the absence of characters like Walt, Michael, Ana-Lucia, and the man who was sitting outside but refused to come in, Ben.
While I don’t necessarily approve of the resolution, I’d like to think that the show meant more than this, and that re-watching the whole thing wouldn’t negate the importance of what happened on the island and seeing everyone in their sideways form actually being happy (relatively). There are so many unanswered questions, but in order to preserve the intriguing factor of this show, maybe they couldn’t be resolved and there has to be some permanent mystery that will exist for years to come as people who have never seen the show dive in for the first time. This is one series where going back and re-watching the entire thing won’t shed any more light on anything since it appears that there were just fantastical elements at work on the island, but the events there did actually transpire, and it’s this new universe introduced in season six that exists more as a purgatory, which many suspected the island was supposed to serve as early on in the show’s run.
This last season was a blast, even if it had a few weak episodes. It certainly wasn’t as good as season one or season five, but watching it each week was a thrill. I’m not sure excitement translates to quality here, but that’s no matter. Finding out about the mythology of the island was interesting, and I think this is where the secret of “Lost” comes in – knowing too much makes it less intriguing. When there’s still some mystery, it’s infinitely more engaging, and while it may be endlessly frustrating, that’s what this show has always been about since its very beginning. Sure, things became considerably more complex as time went on, but I loved the experience of watching season four, five, and six even if some of the episodes proved to be disappointing. “Lost” is the ultimate serialized show, and like any great series, it’s bound not to live up to its potential some of the time.
In summation, I’m not really sure what to make of the finale, but as I go over it in my mind again and again, I think that the last few minutes aren’t so important, and the key takeaway should be what Christian said, that the time spent with these people was the most significant of all of their lives. Technically speaking, I’ve spent more time with these characters than they did with each other, since my entanglement with “Lost” dates back to December 2005, and less time than that (give or take) has actually transpired in the show’s universe. I’m happy to have made that commitment even if the resolution doesn’t leave me satisfied, and I suspect a number of fans are as well. Please share your thoughts on the finale in the comments, and browse through my individual episode reviews of this and past seasons. It’s been a pleasure watching and reviewing this show. Stay tuned for some sort of retrospective on “Lost” coming next week.
Series finale grade (minus last ten minutes): B+
Series finale grade (plus last ten minutes): B-
Season grade: B/B+
Season MVP: Terry O’Quinn
Series grade: B+
Series MVP: Michael Emerson
Best season: Season 5
Best episode: “Through the Looking Glass”
Thursday, May 27, 2010
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7 comments:
Hi Abe!
I've been anxiously awaiting your finale review.
I think the biggest disagreement I have with your view on it is that you don't think going back will shed more light on the mysteries. I've had this argument with many of my LOST viewing team, many who shared sentiments similar to yours about the finale. Many of the questions people say aren't answered the show does a pretty good job of giving clues about along the way, be it the polar bear, Jughead detonating or the Dharma supply drop, there are plenty of clues dropped along the way to come up with sound theories for all of them. Except who was shooting at Sawyer and Juliet on that damn outrigger in Season 5.
I think a lot of people are disappointed that the man of science, man of faith argument came down so heavily on faith in the end. You say things like Jacob vs Smokey are not really relevant, but it is the perfect relationship to address and toy with one of the key conflicts of the show. I read your review of 'Across the Sea' which i understand you didn't love, but i think the big takeaway from that episode is that even Jacob didn't know what it was he was protecting, but he had the faith to protect it anyway. I think it requires just as much faith from the viewer to piece it together, and is far from perfect, but certainly poetic.
I admit, for the first 120 hours of the show the name Christian Shepherd set off no bells in my mind hinting towards the ending. But for me, it worked. Maybe its the idea that those important to each of us will always be with us. it really parallels the feelings I had watching the finale. I'm seeing these characters for the last time, but I know that the time I spent with them is some of the most meaningful television I have ever watched, and in that way our relationship will carry on.
Overall, I loved it. All the atheists i know hated it, and everybody else I know feels like they weren't satisfied. I think the most important thing is that we are not finished talking about LOST. not by a longshot.
Also, in your most recent Office review, Jordan's speech from scrubs was in the 1st season finale. 2nd season finale was when Cox punched Kelso in the face for hassling Elliot. I'm sorry, but I'm as big a Scrub Lover as I am a LOSTie, and I have to defend them both to the bitter end.
Be Well Abe!
Although there is no timeline in the sideways world, I had assumed Walt wasn't there because he hadn't died yet.
Still, everything leading up to the final scene was a waste (including every episode in season 6). There was no need for a sideways world. I don't care if I got answers or not; this season created a story that wasn't necessary and lost the focus on what happens in the past, present, or future of the characters we know.
first off, james is a nerd. even though i love him for it.
second, i am in the group of those unsatisfied with the finale - this may stem from the fact that i don't comprehend it fully. I want to watch it again to see if it makes more sense (although I'm fairly certain it won't help too much)
third, i miss you! i hope your graduation was fantastic :) now you are a grown up!! can't wait to see you soon
I loved the finale. Yes, it didn't answer many questions that fans had, but what made it work for me was that it was a satisfying conclusion to all the characters, and this is why we all stuck to Lost. Because of these characters, and it was great to see them together. Even outside the flash-sideways universe, I loved seeing JAck's final moments and the fact that the show ended with him closing his eyes (when the show began with him opening his eyes) as well as Jack offering the job to Hurley, and then Hurley giving the job to Ben (I loved the conclusion of Ben's character arch, and I think he's my favorite character in the entire show).
Also, since Lost didn't answer a lot of question, now the viewers can answer those questions by themselves and that makes this show magical. We can all come up with our own conclusions on what we saw, and isn't that what great art is all about? Experiencing it yourself, without being spoonfed by the author? There are several meanings to this story, and it's up to us to figure them out, and that's one of the reasons why this show will stick with me forever (even though I saw the whole show in only six months as opposed to six years).
Abe!
I will start off by saying that if it was not the case that this past episode was the series finale I would have immensely enjoyed it, without qualification, but since it was the series finale, it left me disappointed in two ways.
Philosophically, the whole sideways world=purgatory idea does not sit well with me. First, what does it even mean? Is the alternate-universe the purgatory or is the purgatory some new place that everyone is moving on to. If it is the former, then why call it a purgatory? Why not just call it a second chance at life for people who proved that they deserve it. It is a place that they created with the H-bomb. Somehow the sideways characters become conscious of the memories and experiences of their island counterparts. Does it make sense? At first glance, not really, but it certainly makes more sense than a purgatory. Unfortunately, the fact the Christian is alive seems to severely undermine this possibility. If, however, the purgatory is really some new place that the Losties must move on to, then it what sense did the characters create this place? Perhaps even more importantly, what was the point of the alternate-universe then? Just to remember their "former" lives? I heard Matthew Fox make this interpretation. That the memory allows one to move on and that this was the point of the alternate-universe. I cannot quite put my finger on it but this notion is just disconcerting to me.
I was also quite disappointed how the story surrounding the island, which had become so important during Season Six, became a moot point in a matter of minutes. Granted, Lost is primarily about the characters and as far as the characters are concerned, the finale was quite perfect but Lost was also telling a story. The writers seemingly decided that at the cusp of the climax and conclusion of the story they would skip to the epilogue. <................I guess there is a minor Harry Potter spoiler here............................> If J.K. Rowling skipped the final act of the story and simply jumped to the epilogue, there would have been uproar and rightfully so. I always felt that you cannot ever sacrifice characters for the sake of the plot and the writers clearly held that doctrine quite dearly. Still, the plot must be whole.
Okay, so I think that the finale was actually really well-done, except for the last few minutes with the encounter with Christian and Jack. I thought that became incredibly corny, and while I understand that's often how series finales are done, it seemed very UN-LOST-esque.
I totally agree with you (and I think we talked about this the other day) that in giving more answers, it takes away from the excitement. The essence of LOST is the mere fact that there are so many questions, so many unknowns...and so it should be expected that whatever answers are given, are going to let down some people, disappoint others, etc. The excitement of "what could this mean" or "why did this happen" is, I think, what's most exciting about LOST.
That is all (for now) :)
Thanks everyone for offering your thoughts! Agreed on almost all counts, but I'll try to address everyone.
James, I don't think that answers won't be supplied; I just have a hard time believing that everything was set from day one. From the end of season three, maybe, but otherwise, it's as if the ending makes everything not important. I'd still love to go back and watch everything.
Josh, as I thought about it more and more, my conclusion was that anyone in the church at the end had to have a romantic connection, and those who weren't there didn't.
Maddie, it would certainly be fun to watch again and we should do that sometimes.
Richter Scale, you have a great point - I just would have liked a bit more resolution about some of the ongoing mysteries.
Hal, you're completely right, and philosophically speaking, this was a huge disappointment.
Jen, I do think that the time for answers would have been in the finale, and the approach seemed to be that there was only one question really worth answering, and no one was actually asking it.
Check back on Wednesday for a list of the Top 12 Lost Episodes!
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