Why One Once-Loyal Fan Won’t be Watching Lost Anymore
For me, it was a cold day in January when I decided that Lost had absolutely jumped the shark. Some people have believed this to be true long before, and some may believe it later. Some might never waiver in their faithfulness to the show. For me, I think I might just be done watching the series entirely. And that? That’s kinda sad. The show had such promise in the beginning. You better believe that Gilligan would be jealous.
For those who don’t know what I mean by the show having ‘jumped the shark’ – let’s do a little education for you. We’re nice that way. Well, I am – I don’t know about other people. And come to think of it, I’m probably not always nice without fail… Er… Anyway! What does jumping the shark mean? Well, we’re talking in metaphors when we say it. I will refer you to Wikipedia so you can see how this originated with Fonzie in Happy Days literally jumping a shark (don’t worry, there is a picture).
For Lost, I’m not sure when the show died for me – but I know that it has lost the unique and fascinating allure it once had. And while you can say, ‘that’s life’ – that never has to be what happens on TV. TV is the magical world of make-believe where we suspend, and sometimes outright deny, reality! But in the case of Lost, maybe they’re just too deep in their special style of denial.
One possible reason that fans, like me, feel so tired of this show could be the sheer number of deaths on the show. And this is especially because there’s been so many deaths of major, beloved characters. We all understood the emotional impact needed in the story or plot when it came to the deaths of Boone, Shannon, Mr. Eko, Michael, Naomi, Libby, Karl, Ana Lucia… (need I go on?) so you can excuse them in the long run. Or at least in theory you do – I personally really got miffed when they took the very pretty Ian Somerhalder off my TV. But the death of Charlie? THE DEATH OF DEAR CHARLIE PACE? You’ve certainly got to be kidding me. They killed the show a bit when they killed Charlie.
Charlie’s death scene might be the saddest TV death I’ve ever seen. And the worst part? It hasn’t been honored properly. Yes, I am prepared to acknowledge fully that there was an episode where the characters grieved and yadda yadda. But you forget something. The pivotal reason Charlie was giving his life in that way was because Desmond said this would lead to Claire getting on a helicopter with her baby. Anyone remember this? Well, maybe it’ll still happen with all of this time travel ’stuff’ (aka: confusing!plot devices), but I doubt it. It seems Claire is going to be discovered as dead. Not Penny’s boat, indeed!
Speaking of time travel…the show gave away its’ single biggest secret. Everything after learning this unraveled mystery has seemed to fall flat – kerplunk! After the episode The Constant nothing has been as major or as interesting. That should have been the last episode of the series (with a few tweaks, of course). It wasn’t even the cliffhanger for the season, though! Maybe it was sweeps? Either way, it didn’t help the show. It peaked way too soon.
There is one other main concept that makes the show less appealing. To state it plainly, the show is confusing. After this many years it’s no longer any fun to point out ‘coincidences’ on the show. There is no emotional payoff for me when we hear Libby mentioned, or see an old character. I’m too busy just trying to keep everything straight!
I’m admittedly not someone who is as lost (no pun intended here, really) with this show as I’ve read and heard some other people are. I feel bad for fans who are left sitting in front of their TVs with blank stares as they try to adjust to a new set of rules and beliefs for every episode. Again I say, it’s frustrating! What was once fun to speculate about (“…are they in purgatory or is it a dream…”) is now annoying (“…okay, so they’re off the island but they’re going back…and Locke, which apparently isn’t his name, is dead, but soon he won’t be…”). Can you tell me it didn’t drive you crazy just to read that sentence?
It’s irksome beyond belief to have stayed watching and enjoying a show for years, and then to give up on it. But I don’t know what else I can do to keep my limited, precious sanity. I just don’t think Lost is a safe bet in the category of ‘Good TV’ anymore.
Fonzie jumps the shark.
But, okay. If you’re still ready for the ride, plenty of people will be with you. TVGuide.com listed their best moment of last week as a moment on Lost, and the producers of Lost have invited heroic pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger to the set.
Additional notes: I don’t think Heroes has done any better than Lost. Any comments that are written soley to be rude will be deleted. If you would like to civilily state your pov, that, however, is welcome. I understand a lot of you don’t agree with me. And that’s fine!
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About the Author: Your above-average sweet, smart, and snarky Girl Friday. Impeccable taste. Analytical. Liberal. Friend to animals. Always found in cute shoes. Check the Sofachip 'About' page for more (classified!) info.
kerstin | Jan 29, 2009 | Reply
I have never watched Lost and never had ANY interest in watching it. My main exposure to it is from my coworkers, who seem to be of the “never waivering in their fanaticism for Lost” variety. All their chatter about the new season just makes it seem so insane that I have even less than no desire to watch.
But I am laughing hysterically at the picture of Fonzie jumping the shark. I can now be happy for the rest of the day.
Brittany | Jan 29, 2009 | Reply
I stopped watching Lost a while back because it became too much work to watch it! But I think one of the biggest mysteries has yet to really be explained: why Hurley hasn’t lost any weight.
Alison | Jan 29, 2009 | Reply
Tossed it in after they killed off Ana Lucia. The show was already mid-jumping-of sharks by then. How many deaths and no answers? People are only patient for so long. The longer the ‘mystery’ went on the more it appeared they didn’t have one tiny clue about what they were doing. I *might* have been persuaded to hang in a little longer but the ultimate turn off was giving the audience an oh-so-predictable love triangle. Not *everyone* gave a flying f*ck about Jack and Kate. I certainly didn’t. I’m so so so so glad I bailed when I did. /bitter ;p
Jessica Rae | Jan 29, 2009 | Reply
I can’t believe people are so excited about the new season. Siiiigh.
Holly | Jan 30, 2009 | Reply
Sorry, I think you’re wrong in every way. I love this show, have been with it from the beginning, and will never abandon it. For those who get confused, well, I’m sorry you don’t feel like actually turning your brain on and engaging in critical thinking but some of us like a challenge. Go watch reality TV if you’re so bothered by shows that actually have something going on.
Jessica Rae | Jan 30, 2009 | Reply
I hate reality TV and it’s ridiculous to assume that if I don’t like Lost I don’t like critical thinking or ‘engaging my brain’. I like plenty of other shows with story arcs to follow. Lost is difficult to follow and if it was more interesting, I’d bother following it. But it simply isn’t to me.
Jake A. | Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Why do people who do not like a show always have to waste their time telling everyone else? I am not simply refering to Lost either, as people do it all the time. But since it is the topic, you said it, Lost is not for everyone, and if you don’t watch it, or have stopped watching it, what is the purpose of sharing that information, espeically with people who do? Obviously people who continue to watch it, do it for a reason and most likely enjoy it. Are you deliberately trying to start an arguement or debate? Didn’t you ever learn, if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
mastershake | Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I agree with Jessica Rae, but definitely not about Charlie Pace. I didn’t like him as a hobbit, and I didn’t like him as the annoying Charlie Pace. If anything I always regarded him as a peripheral character. One thing that pissed me off is when Kate moved in with Jack. Totally unreal. Anyone could see he was wound up too tight. You could’ve stuck a piece of charcoal up his butt and pull out a diamond in a week. That’s how uptight he is. Now Sawyer was believable because everyone knows that women always are more attracted to the bad boys. But, back to why I agree with Jessica Rae. Season 5 is super slow, and it just seems like they are really trying too milk the success of this series, at the cost of dragging out any kind of resolution. I think we deserve more answers than we are getting. It’s just too much to keep up with now. They could have done what “Heroes did” and resolved it and started another “Book” or “Chapter” if you will. They are making a big mistake and overestimating viewer loyalty. C’mon guy’s, Fonzie already came and went, and already took his ski’s off. It’s time for Lost 2 or Lost:The Evolution or anything but this crap your giving us now.
Jake A. | Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Lost 2 or Lost Evolution??? This is a joke right. You can’t possibly be serious. Lost is not Heroes, Heroes is not Lost. I can’t even comment further on such a ridiculous suggestion. Also, have you seen how bad Heroes has become?
There is one more season of Lost after the current season is over. How would the season work if we know all the answers? Not to mention there has ONLY been 3 episodes so far, 3. We have got numerous answers in those 3 episodes already. I am sure there is more to come.
jack | Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
wow
lost is a great show
if u were a real fan of the show, u would finish watching the series before claiming it isn’t “good tv anymore”
Shawny | Feb 4, 2009 | Reply
Tell me, Master Shake, where is the lack of answers in the first three shows of season 5? As far as my count goes, it is something like this: (spoiler alert)
*When the island moved, it traveled in both time and space
*Faraday and the people on his boat moved when the island moved
*Richard Alpert was visiting Locke in “Cabin Fever” because Locke told him to, he was not time traveling.
*Richard Alpert does not age (although that was already pretty obvious)
*Charles Widmore was on the island.
*The two people Sun blames for Jins death are Ben and her father
*Dr Marvin Candle is important in the Dharma Initiative, he is not just the guy who does the orientation films
*The Arrow was a station with the purpose of developing defensive strategies to deal with the hostiles
and on and on and on and on. Just because you have more questions does not mean you aren’t getting any answers.
b626 | Feb 4, 2009 | Reply
Only watch if they have promos for Sawyer getting laid.
Jason | Feb 5, 2009 | Reply
For me, Lost is a break away from the same old TV garbage that gets pumped out every year. The stupid sitcoms and the cheesy medical and cop shows (If there is one more cop show made on TV I’m gonna die).
Lost is definitely a high commitment show and you probably need to buy the DVD’s or watch it on ABC.com several different times to get different layers of meaning, etc…
The beauty of Lost was that it moved away from the boring “episodic” formula that we have become so accustomed to with TV, but in my opinion has dried out into dust.
Lost isn’t for the faint of heart, and it definitely isn’t for people who just want to sit in one episode and not try to grasp the bigger picture. But, the benefits of such an awesomely complex story, with deep characterization, and great layering are ten fold.
The cost of having a good story is being able to kill off beloved characters whether the viewer or reader likes it or not. We have the ridiculous notion that everything ALWAYS has to happen good in the end, but in true story sometimes characters have to die.
Lost can be frustrating, but what I have always enjoyed is the many different characters and how they interact. You don’t get to see something like that on TV much.
I think when everything is said and done and the show is over most people will look back and really love the whole of the work. I think its just frustrating because there is still more story to tell and impatience is creeping ever so slightly.
In hindsight, I think Lost will go down as a classic.
Gretchen | Feb 6, 2009 | Reply
I wanted to watch LOST when it started, but I had a class that night or something so I never got around to it. And while I will probably watch it when the whole thing is finished, I’m glad I didn’t start because all I hear everyone from my friends is how they’re “so annoyed with it.” Not exactly a major selling point.
Anja | Feb 6, 2009 | Reply
I think that you are partially right! I still am a die-hard LOST Fan, but I kinda grew impatient during season 4, which I find to be boring, compared to prior seasons.
I am still watching and season 5 seems a good start to reconciliate me a bit
But, I liked your article – I like to read critical stuff about LOST – not every fan is crazy about it up to a point where he doesn’t accept any criticm at all.
Simone | Feb 6, 2009 | Reply
I find it sad that many true Lost followers immediately argue that anybody who can’t follow Lost must be retarded and should go back to watching reality TV.
Yes, Lost does require you to use your brain but at the same time, Lost is a show where you can’t miss an episode. If you do, you will be lost indeed. And someone who missed an entire season or more won’t be able to understand what’s going on. It just pisses me off to read comments like that.
Anyway, what I really wanted to say is, you’ve made it so far and I think you should wait it out and enjoy the last 2 seasons. I was very disappointed after last season’s finale when the whole “let’s move the island and bring Locke back to life” stuff happened because I always liked Lost for its smart combination of fiction and scientific possibility.
But then I took a break, stopped discussing the show with other people and true Lost fanatics, and now I am really enjoying the 5th season. They have begun to give us some missing pieces of the puzzle and slowly (albeit very slowly) things begin to make sense. This feels so satisfying that I’m willing to give the producers a chance to finish their story.
Will I regret it at some point? Maybe, I will. But for now, I sit back and relax, I don’t worry about any references to other characters or episodes I missed, and I feel pretty awesome whenever I remember something and when I can indeed connect individual pieces of the plot myself. And about the time travel stuff? Well, there are more things between heaven and earth than are dreamed of in our philosophy. For now, I’ll ignore all the sharks and enjoy the rest of this show.
Pashitos | Feb 9, 2009 | Reply
I stopped watching Lost after the first episode of Season 2, when the heroes entered the vault and found the guy living there, putting some numbers into computer every 108 minutes. That was such a huge change from everything shown in the Season 1 and seemed so far-fetched that I decided to stop.
I watched the show in 2004-2005, but most of my friends started watching it much-much later. Not so long ago, they started talking about events of the seasons I didn’t watch. At some point I even got interested in returning to watching the show. Finally, I watched through a couple of episodes of Season 2 and decided to stop again. This time for good. The show really went bad.
I re-watched Season 1 several times though, it is very good and original. The show should have ended there or should have continued to follow the same direction.
Taylor Blue | Feb 10, 2009 | Reply
I fell asleep last night watching it because I used way too many brain cells to try to figure it out…it isn’t fun to watch anymore. I might have to take notes next time.
Time Traveler | Feb 13, 2009 | Reply
To truly appreciate this show, all episodes should be watched twice. The second time preferably the repeats with the comments popping up on the bottom of the screen. They point out stuff you may have missed and you pick up on so many of the little things that weren’t exactly noticeable the first time.
For instance, the episode that just passed “This place is Death”. Those who didn’t watch it a second time missed a few minor things that really show how much thought is put into these plots. Did anyone figure out what the music box was that Jin found on the beach? Remember Season 1 when Rousseau (The french lady) held Sayid captive. That is the music box that she asked Sayid to fix which belonged to the man she shoots on the beach (who is the father of the baby she will give birth to).
As far as the people who were loyal fans and now think the show is losing it’s appeal…those people are just confused. I understand why some people may be confused with all the time shifting going on, but that is even more reason to watch the episode again, so you understand whats going on. Not to just give up on a show you once loved.
chrissy | Feb 23, 2009 | Reply
i think lost is the best show ever it is compicated, yes but you get the hang of it. Most things don’t confuse me. And somethings are going to confuse you. There is a reason for that. Most things get answered later on in the seasons. Watch it for long enough and maybe you will see that. You can’t say a show is bad if you havent watched enough. :p
TJR | Feb 24, 2009 | Reply
I completely disagree with you about Charlie’s death. IMO, he was the most annoying character on TV, and his death was way to drawn out and melodramatic.
Clifford | Mar 8, 2009 | Reply
I watch lost but what I find annoying is I feel they make it up as they go without any thought. There is no set in stone rule book that answers questions they bring up, it’s just one large mixing pot of ideas (wacky ideas at that) that they might or might not answer for the fan. If fans get to close to the story line just change it, so that people out there can’t guess what’s coming, like I think the island is Atlantis. Problem I have with lost is that it will get cancelled way before they answer all the questions they brought up. and I think they blew the time travelling story. We know nothing of the islands history they should have had stories in the jumps not jump every few minutes. We have all seen the large foot statue, they jump and see the whole statute then jump away, no exploring, nothing. They could have explained so much in the jumps but only opened more questions. Is it true they are quitting after the 6th season? Hope so and hope they answer stuff. Most shows get cancelled leaving the fan holding the bag wondering what happened. There are only a few shows that tied it off for the fan. Buffy, Angel didn’t they end the show going into a fight. M*A*S*H great the war ended, Babylon 5 etc I can’t wait to see if BSG ties it up or leaves us hanging for future (maybe) movies. Hollywood doesn’t care about the fan they just care about the bottom dollar. I think every tv show should have a 2hr movie priced into the show that if they are cancelled it can be written shot and hopefully give fans some closure.
Time Traveler | Mar 9, 2009 | Reply
I agree and disagree with Clifford’s comments:
The writers already said that they plan on giving the fans the ending they deserve. They said they are ending the show at the end of Season 6 because they dont want to water down the story, which so far they haven’t. I agree that the statue should have been explored more and the time shifting should have been longer between each shift. I disagree where you say the show is made up as it goes along and there is no thought put into it. If you watch any of the bonus DVDs in the Season 1 to Season 4 box sets, you will see how much thought goes into each season. The show will never be canceled. It has a huge fan base. If you include DRV/Tivo viewings and internet viewings from the website, Lost is the second most watched show in terms of viewers. Sadly ratings are not currently calculated like that and do not include those. There is 1 1/2 Seasons left in which the writers say all questions will be answered. Have some patients folks.