Delayed Reaction Post
As the final minutes edged ever closer, my heart was pounding and I was getting wibbly. The finale was shaping up nicely, I found myself not really caring about things unanswered. Then when the last LOST marque flashed the wonderful piano piece, I took a moment to drink it in then went, “Well, that was sorta a cop-out...”
After digesting it some more, I realized that I was very satisfied. I read somewhere that had 100 unanswered Lost mysteries. 80% of them were really stupid things that were majorly implied. Sure the characters didn't hold up a huge sign telling you the answer, but they were easily addressed. OR just stupid things like “Do you really need to know why? No.” If you are curious, you can see that list here: http://www.movieline.com/2010/05/rebutting-losts-questions.php?page=all Just, stupid things like “Why did Tom feel the need to wear a fake beard?” Really? Do we honestly care? I certainly don't. And most questions can be summed up to “The island is magical. After 6 seasons, why do you not understand this?”
I'm more concerned about why Sayid worked for Ben for those three years they were off the island. I didn't like that Hurley thought he was better staying at the mental institution for those years, but I guess there he was at peace and could talk to everyone in the series that had passed on. I bet if I watched the series again I could think of questions and later have them be answered, though sometimes not completely satisfying way. I think I may do this after I finish all the anime I borrowed from Jen.
I too wondered what the final images of the credits meant, and that was answered here: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/05/lost-exclusive-abc-sets-the-record-straight-about-the-series-finales-plane-crash-images.html
There was speculation that the writers had no idea what they were doing and just made things up while they went along. Apparently they knew the ending at season one (probably reasons why certain characters weren't inside the church, etc), it was just a matter of getting there. In that case, there most likely was some making up junk to get from point A to point B. Overall, I think it turned out well. Sure the time traveling was weird, but thanks to Man in Black harnessing the power of the island's core it was all possible. (at least that was explained, but even then, I'd be cool with mystical island protecting itself.)
So the island is magical. Why? Because there is a bright light in its center that Jacob had to protect. What was it exactly? Obviously it was the heart and source of the weird happenings. Need to get scientific? Maybe I'm naïve, but there's lots of things in fantasy writing that aren't always scientifically proven, but at the very least believable. Why did Jacob have to protect it? So horrible corrupt people couldn't have it. Hello, that light was able to heal Locke from his paralysis, Ben from a spinal tumor, Rose from her cancer.
But who would be a bad person? Was Charles Widmore a bad person? I suppose his history is probably the foggiest of all. He was part of a group of Others and was able to get off the island and his quest to get back to it took forever and Ben tried to convince us he was horrible. Yeah, Widmore did bad things, but so did Ben for that matter. After the episode of Jacob and Man in Black's origin, they both were pretty wicked and corrupt. Then I think about that as That's how life is. Everyone does good and bad things. Everyone is right and wrong. I find that to be a big principle of this series.
Why did the Man in Black not get a name? I always found him to be a representation of Satan and how he tempted our Losties. But after the origin episode, I'm like Wow, Jacob is pretty messed up, too! Sure I wonder why the lady that raised them killed their mother, but living with “it was the island's will,” is good enough. And then on that note, Jacob was kind of seen as a representation of God as he brought all of the Losties to the island to be tested and gave them their free will to decide if they wanted to succeed him and continue to protect the island. To give them the choice he never had. The series went were a lot of others don't; crap ton of religious symbolism, even some LDS. It was always Science/Logic Vs. Faith from the beginning.
Now lets talk about the sideways universe. The final season opens with scenes that look like blowing up the Dharma station in the 70's had succeeded and it was like they hadn't crash landed on the island. As Juliet stated before she keelled over in Sawyers arm (which flashbacks were wonderful for showing over and over again ;o;) “It worked.” Soooo as the viewer watches this season unfold, you believe her, but there's things that don't add up and leave you going, “The crap...” by the end of most episodes. Turns out, the sideways world is what our Losties had formed together to meet in the afterlife where they can all find each other after they had passed on.
I love how Jacob said that the candidates were all individuals that had nothing to return to; broken and lost. And not just that he said it, but it's definitely truth. All the flashbacks throughout the series display this. The sideways world had its flaws as well, but once they all met each other, all was happy and good and they could move on in peace. As Christian said, everyone in that world died before Jack and after Jack. In that world he was in denial of remembering his memories of his life, but of course Kate (still hate her) awakened him. Oh man, the scene with Juliet and Sawyer made me wibble. And OMG the Charlie and Claire, too! Eeeeee <3 I get happy thinking about it.
Anyway, it was obvious from the start that Jack would be the new Jacob. My dad a few episodes back was like “Hurley should be the new Jacob.” And lo and behold, Jack passed the torch to Hurley! That scene got me going ;; Especially when Hurley asked Ben to help him.
MIB's demise was semi-disappointing. But I guess once he became mortal he couldn't do much. But NINJA!JACK was pretty awesome XD
The series came full circle when Jack lied down with his dying breath with the dog laying next to him and ending on a close up of Jack's eye.
I adore this series. There were several moments of ridiculousness and frustration in the six years, but as I think about it as a whole, it was a story beautifully told and ended of friendship, love, found and lost lives. I laughed, I cried, I screamed; it was a great ride.
Can I recommend this series? Most definitely. It is sci-fi drama, so if that sort of thing isn't your cup of tea, then to each their own. I know people that quit cause it gets confusing. Yeah, you need to use your brain in this series. No mindless entertainment for you. The performances of all the actors is phenomenal and they get better as the series progresses. Characters that are loveable and some that you love to hate.
Speaking of which, my favorites are: Desmond, Hurley, Charlie, Daniel, Sawyer, Lapidus, Miles, Juliet, Locke, Sayid
Least favorites: Kate, Kate, Kate and Shannon.
In closing, have the ending of an ode I found and some links :)
No more island, no more Dharma, no more hatch or crazy mothers,
No more beaches, no more flashes, no more Jears or Others.
Lost we love you, and we’ll miss you - there will never be another.
But I’m glad to say that if we’ve learned anything, we’ll see you in another life, brothah.
http://www.docarzt.com/lost-news/a-finale-explanation-from-a-supposed-bad-robot-employee/
(Lovely article from an employee at Bad Robot)
http://www.theackattack.net/?p=1906
(Ode to Lost)
http://www.971zht.com/pages/sleaze.html?feed=104665&article=7153342
(Shirtless men of Lost)