from Boing Boing.
In New York magazine, Adam Sternbergh’s piece about the decline of Lost captures my sentiments exactly. The show is getting worse and worse because the creators are forbidden from ever solving the central mystery in order to keep it running for as many seasons as possible. So when some smaller mystery does get explained, it never helps explain what’s really going on.
There is, however, a simple solution: Change the format, or at least reimagine it. When it so-called arc shows, we need something between a mini-series and an open-ended run. We need the TV equivalent of a novella: the limited-run show. Series driven by a central mystery (Twin Peaks, The X-Files) peter out precisely because they have indefinite life spans. The writers are forced to serve up red herrings until the shows choke on their own plot twists. (Whereas 24 works because it’s more cliff-hanger than puzzle—though Jack Bauer is surely the unluckiest man alive.)
Link to full NY Mag article
Who’s to say these smaller mysteries are not part of the overall story arc?
I don’t know; it does feel like some parts lately are stretching as opposed to story building. I’ve always said that I don’t think they could really do more than 3 or 4 seasons, but I think that with a well written story it could go that long without sucking.
The problem is that the creative team can’t predetermine the length of the show; that’s in ABC’s hands. The producers have talked before about quitting if they feel that the story isn’t meant to go on and ABC wants to force it, but I don’t think that was ever the real danger - it’s much more likely to die before that would ever get close to happening.
I can imagine it must be extremely difficult to produce a show like this without having an end date, and I hope that ABC will recognize this (especially in light of the slipping ratings) and set a cut off date. This would allow the writers to write a much better story, I would think.
I do think there are bits right now that I’m not really too interested in, but I can’t say for certain that they’re stretching at this point - they may just be writing a story that I don’t enjoy every piece of, but am still satisfied with overall. I think this season will be a big test of that, as far as my perception is concerned.
With the ratings the way they are now (still pretty decent), I can’t see ABC agreeing to end it at 3, but I really hope they could agree to ending it at 4; I think it would make for a lot better episodes.
I’ve always said that I’d much rather see them wrap it up without stretching and then (if they want to “continue”) do a relaunch of a whole new show (new cast, title, setting) with the same creative team and basic storytelling techniques, with a mystery behind it, etc.
My husband was saying the same thing to me. He was like “how long can they really make this?” Not too much longer - I will agree. It’s a great show but all great things must come to an end. I don’t really care about watching anyone but Jack, Kate, and Sawyer because they’re in the new setting with new problems and I want to see what happens. Echo getting dragged off by a polar bear and Locke & Charlier going to find him is the same kind of thing that happened in season 1 & 2. The smoke thingy, granted, is new but come one…
I will be honest and say I do not want to see them get off of the island. They have made a ‘family’ there and are surviving nicely… most of them are better off now. Charlie’s not on drugs, Clarie got to keep her baby, John can walk, ect ect… so I want it to end with them staying there.
Lost is a complete waste of time and has been for a long time. The writers took advantage of the initial season and in reality no more information has been revealed about the plot line of the show since the very first episode. How in the world can we be expected to put up with a show that has no plot? A plot includes resolution of some sort, which we have not seen for the entire run of the show.
Heroes is starting the same way. I hope they learn soon that a show with no plot is doomed to failure.
Jay
Lost episode 7 - Not in Portland
Brainwashing Scene with Karl strapped to the chair in Room 23.
Seperated with surround sound and played backwards you can hear a creepy woman saying “Only fools are enslaved by time and space”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZmAz86uHq4