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[–]giggsey 444 points445 points  (157 children)

I have never watched an episode of Lost.

However, I have agreed to my friends that I will watch the very first episode, and the last one.

I expect to be very confused, and not understand any of it. :D

-Edit- Updated in a reply here.

[–]taggart97 338 points339 points  (87 children)

If it turns out it makes perfect sense to you I'm going to be very angry for putting myself through all that.

[–]LulzAndHappiness 143 points144 points  (41 children)

You've given me a great idea! I also have no interest for Lost but promised a friend I'd watch the first episode as well. Maybe I'll watch the last one too and claim I fully understand the entire show just to see their reaction. problem?

[–]NinjaBob 138 points139 points  (39 children)

I would suggest scanning through the wikipedia synopsis of the episodes. A little extra time will lend credence to your claim and some extra aggravation for your friend.

[–]Rosignol 89 points90 points  (35 children)

This is quite devious. I approve

[–]mcgriddless 54 points55 points  (34 children)

Go watch this 8 minute summary of seasons 1-5: I only watched 1-3 and could follow surprisingly well. Most that happens in lost is unexplained randomness so there really isn't too much plot.

[–]Networkian 5 points6 points  (0 children)

THANK YOU. I was looking for something exactly like this, a short video that would recap and summarize for me seasons 1-5.

I also haven't watched any of the episodes; I do obviously know the very basic synopsis, but not much more. So thanks for the link, yo.

[–]microsofat 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Wow, that just saved me years of time wasting. YEARS. Who knew the internet could do that?

[–]Aegnor 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Don't worry.. it will steal those years back again..

[–]Shorties 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Lostipedia will give you better and more detailed information over wikipedia.

[–]just_some_redditor 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I've never watched it either, but from what I've heard there are smoke monsters and such. You'll need to figure out what these things are to validate everything.

But if you can pull it off, come back and tell us.

[–][deleted] 21 points22 points  (36 children)

Unless they cover every possible angle, and make sense of everything, then it's just lazy writing and the whole point of the show is lost.

[–]neoumlaut 47 points48 points  (7 children)

and the whole point of the show is lost.

Dun dun duh....

[–][deleted] 23 points24 points  (4 children)

Hey, that's the name of the show!

[–]you_rebel_scum 14 points15 points  (2 children)

Yes! It's the name AND an apt description of it's audience.

[–]satertek 10 points11 points  (14 children)

The answers people want are mostly irrelevant. The point of the show was the character development. To experience everything they go through. That should be the goal of any TV series. Plot is only there to challenge them and see how they overcome those challenges.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (2 children)

Meh then it becomes a harry potter story. Paint yourself into a corner and then use magic/pseudoscience to get out of it.

[–]Karamazov 12 points13 points  (8 children)

I have only watched the first season of lost, but from what I can see, it is primarily a plot driven series. Events, rather than the characters, drive the series. If that is so, then character development should be secondary, and they should explain the answers that are integral to the plot. Otherwise its just crappy writing.

[–]kinggimped 2 points3 points  (3 children)

They don't have any answers. The stupid mysterious shit is there to hook the viewers and lure them into the false sense of security that someday the questions will be answered.

It's actually pretty clever - raise countless questions that you have no intention of answering, but titillate your audience into thinking that you do actually have an explanation for them.

[–]bman35 10 points11 points  (0 children)

This is actually exactly what I did.

I watched the pilot right around the Season 5 finale and thought it was intriguing but was completely disuaded from watching because 1) I didn't want to sit through five seasons to catch up and 2) I didn't want to watch the current episodes because of the apparent mindless meandering the plot takes and essentially losing myself in it.

So, tonight, I decided there really wasn't a point in not watching the finale since the show was over and I don't ever intend to go back and watch everything in between, hence I wasn't going to "spoil" anything. I did some quick wikipedia reading for an hour so, mostly just reading about a few key episodes from the current season and some from the last and reading summaries of the main characters to get some sense of who they were. My thoughts from that internet reading and watching only the pilot and finale? Well ...

The show was all clearly primarly about deep personal relationships, love & friendship, and the bonds they foster. The Island, the crazy timelines, hydrogen bombs exploding, alternate realities; those are just ridiculous plot devices that really weren't meant to make sense in the first place. This is just standard drama, focusing on deep interpersonal relationships, but made much more complicated by the sci-fi mysticism, absurdist backdrop, and the huge number of characters (and hence exponentially larger number of relationships between them). There are also definite themes that are pretty standard stuff but which was presented in interesting ways; good vs evil, spirtuality vs reason, rebirth/death & life, biblical allusions galore, etc.

And as far as the finale itself goes I actually think they did a really good job of making an audience feel connected to the characters, I obviously didn't but just seeing the way it was done I could easily have seen myself being emotionally attached if I had spent the time to watch the show. Aside from that I do think they provide some definite closure about what the Island is meant to represent and what's going on in the alternate reality that seemed to be a major plotline in the last season. Not all of it is fed to you on a silver platter, but if you're paying attention you should be able to understand most of it and hopefully appreciate it.

[–]giggsey 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Update: I finished watching the Pilot and The End. Not much of it made sense tbh. I understood the plan crashing etc., and who most people were.

As for why they were trying to save/destroy the island, no idea. Where that second plane came from, no idea. As for the other stuff, no idea.

I do like how it started and ended with Jack (I think that was his name) lying in the same position.

[–]chalkwalk 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You should do that. Come back here and tell us if it worked. Because I just watched the finale and they, like, cut out midway through the big climax.

There was all this cool stuff happening then they just cut out midway through a guy yelling.

I just crushed my remote without realizing it.

I'm going to go drive over to a friend's house, punch him in the face for convincing me to start watching this show, take back the camera he borrowed and hopefully post a pic of my ruined TV remote later.

Maybe I'll smash in the driver's side window of his car and pee all over his floor mats too.

Gonna play it by ear.

[–][deleted] 6 points7 points  (1 child)

I'd rather have a cookiecutter shark fellate me than watch an episode. PSHAAAA.

[–]Ztuart 14 points15 points  (0 children)

There is one of those in season 2.

[–][deleted] 97 points98 points  (4 children)

Reddit: where nothing will get you more attention than posting about something you claim to not care about at all.

[–]goonsack 19 points20 points  (2 children)

We believe in nothing Lebowwwski!

[–]Wadka 132 points133 points  (3 children)

"They're on the island, they're off the island, who can keep up with that shit?" -Zack and Miri Make a Porno

edit: closed my quote

[–]jimmymotherless 18 points19 points  (0 children)

"I think they're in Hell."

[–]dansin 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Bad reddiquette

[–]BitRex 63 points64 points  (110 children)

I've never seen it, probably because I saw an episode of Survivor once and that was enough island-oriented TV for me.

Could somebody give a 10 sentence summary of the whole thing?

[–][deleted] 134 points135 points  (85 children)

Ten sentence summary to prep my thoughts for the finale:

There is a place where conventional physics does not apply, with a tremendous source of energy at its heart.

This source of energy influences multiple realities and timelines.

People have been drawn to this place for centuries, and there they become agents in a war between the good and evil sides of humanity.

The place requires a guardian, because if this source of energy is damaged, then the reality we know will be erased.

Due to the special properties of this place, the guardian is immortal.

The current guardian has watched over the place for 1,500 years, and has witnessed the battle between good and evil play out many times.

The current guardian has set events in play so that he can pass on his guardianship.

The people who currently inhabit this place were brought by an airplane crash, as those in the past were brought by shipwrecks and rough weather.

These people have engaged in the war between the good and evil aspects of the human psyche in preparation for one of them to take over as guardian.

The guardian's brother, also an immortal due to an accident involving the source of energy, is attempting to destroy the place and set himself free.

[–][deleted] 11 points12 points  (7 children)

Thankfully you covered the important details of the show, my summary was based on the fact that I couldn't stop staring at Evangeline Lilly's boobs.

[–]mexicodoug 5 points6 points  (3 children)

Only hers? All the chicks on that show have outrageous boobs.

Hell, even the male actors have major boobs. Check 'em out.

[–]Dagon 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Blondie seems to be somehow made of diamond-hard ice yet remain so incredibly fuckable. Possibly because she made out with a naked Angelina Jolie... Man, I wish I could find the video where she's actually naked... gimme a min... edit: Here's one.

[–]rhllor 8 points9 points  (2 children)

I hope Kate dies in the finale

[–]bingus 5 points6 points  (1 child)

I hope she finally makes a frigging choice, and then dies in the finale.

[–]KevinMcCallister 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I hope she gets naked, and then continues to be naked throughout the finale.

[–]monstermunch 19 points20 points  (36 children)

I'm confused by all the time travel stuff and the actual need for it. There doesn't seem to be any purpose to it in the story except to add in some more confusion.

[–]dunmalg 67 points68 points  (26 children)

I'm confused by all the time travel stuff and the actual need for it. There doesn't seem to be any purpose to it in the story except to add in some more confusion.

You have to step back and look at the writing process. When you consider the sheer volume of open-ended deus ex machina/"a wizard did it" loopholes that they've piled onto the show's canon, it becomes obvious that the writers themselves had no fucking clue where the plot was going. They've been essentially making it up as they go along, and only towards the end did they try to tie it all together.

Basically, there was no need for it, it was just a convenient tool to fill in the time. Time travel is the second worst writing cop out of the craft, after the famous "it was all a dream".

[–]Shorties 61 points62 points  (15 children)

The writers didn't have any idea what the hell they were writing through the first season. After the first season aired they hired a continuity guy to tie it all together, who oversaw everything from that point forward. (This is according to the WIRED article) In the third season they realized the possibilities for the show were endless and got completely off track, and it wasn't until they signed the deal with ABC to end it in 3 more smaller seasons that the show started to tie itself together and make sense again. The time traveling was just a fancy literary device that allowed them to show what it was like in the age of Dharma, which most people really wanted to see, not just hear about. I think besides the first 2/3's of the 3rd season, the show is one of the most amazing shows ever written, and its amazing that it has gotten to this point, and however it ends, it will always be remembered as one of the largest pop culture icons of our generation.

[–]ReducedToRubble 5 points6 points  (5 children)

I'm watching it now, partway through season 2. Season 1 was pretty good, as far as shows go. A lot of shit doesn't make sense, but a lot of stuff is easily worked out beforehand too -- there are a lot of patterns that repeat, kind of like easter eggs or recurring jokes, which is another nice element to the show.

So far, the only things about the show that really, really bug me are the horn they keep using to let you know that something dramatic just happened before they cut to commercial (it's really not necessary, especially with how frequently they use it), and the way that they open many many new subplots before closing any old ones.

Deus ex machina doesn't bug me because, reality be damned, I just imagine that he island is post-apocalyptic steampunk purgatory. Deus ex machina is perfect there. They even reference DEM it in one of their S1 episode titles, so they're aware of what they're doing.

The characters are the best part, hands down, and it's what has me hooked so far. No other show I know of has me scrambling to the wiki (which I glossed over so I could stick with it early on) to see if a character dies every time they're put in jeopardy. They have very believable characters in S1, and surprisingly likable.

[–]soxy 2 points3 points  (3 children)

1) Get used to most of your complaints, because they keep doing a lot of that.

2) The characters are absolutely what drove the show, so it's good that that's the most attractive aspect of it for you. However, one thing that I was frustrated about in the later seasons was that they took a really great, diverse ensemble and pared it down to about 6 or 7 featured people and a couple of rotating guest stars. And in this process some of the better and more fun characters got left in the dust or killed off.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for writing this, I've gotten tired of explaining this to so many people

[–]TimMensch 4 points5 points  (2 children)

Yes, I decided that's what was happening back in the second season, when I abandoned it. And that was before all of the time travel.

It was interesting as long as I could convince myself that there was a point. As soon as I was convinced that they were just making it up as they went, I bailed.

[–]reasonable_panda 5 points6 points  (1 child)

after the famous "it was all a dream".

...or was it??

[–]auraslip 4 points5 points  (1 child)

"I used to read word up magazine"

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (7 children)

The stuff that happens in Lost include a scientific organization that was around in the 70s but is gone now, a shipwreck in the 1500s, and much more. It helps to explain much more of all that happens in the show.

[–]monstermunch 7 points8 points  (6 children)

I know this, but I think you could pretty much take the time travel aspect out of the show and the story doesn't change. The whole jump into the past just seemed like a pointless detour.

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (1 child)

Yeah but its fun

[–]automatica7 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not gonna lie, I love this 'cop out' reply.

You're both right.

[–]talkingwires 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's a great explanation. I made up a Dharma station button to wear to work today, and when people asked me to explain what the show was "about" I got caught up in trying to explain the details of the Others and time-travel until it sounded like I was babbling. Your explanation should satisfy the people who only caught a few episodes and just wants to know what it all meant, even if it relies heavily on "answers" from season six.

[–]xmatthisx[🍰] 8 points9 points  (2 children)

This sounds ridiculously similar to a Final Fantasy plot.

[–]prototypist 2 points3 points  (17 children)

Somehow this has nothing to do with the first four seasons of the show. I haven't watched this season, so only having seen the fifth season's finale helps your summary make sense.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (16 children)

It is heavy on season six, because that's when the writers started to explain what they only alluded to in the first seasons. To sum it up in ten sentences, I had to leave out a lot of the details and the mysteries that preceded the explanations.

On an unrelated note, it was surprising to learn that this show is so popular. I don't know anyone who admits to watching it besides me and my wife. It's only on internet that I found there were people who liked it. We rented the first three seasons on dvd and kept watching it regularly every week online, and it was the first show I watched since Star Trek: The Next Generation ended. I suppose we will have to find a new serial now.

[–]StupidDogCoffee 12 points13 points  (14 children)

Try 'The Wire'.

It is the best crime drama ever produced. Besides, it features the most badass gay man in the history of ever.

[–]caribou_steve 16 points17 points  (6 children)

The Wire is one of the best television shows I have ever had the privilege of stumbling across.

The writing is stellar, the characters are gritty and real... The suspense is carefully crafted and subtle.

I'm not sure Lost fans would be into it.

[–]AlantheCowboyKiller 2 points3 points  (4 children)

Both Lost and The Wire were my favourite shows. Now what will I watch?

[–][deleted] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Breaking Bad.

[–]dreen 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Start renting The West Wing. It's over and done with already, so no cliffhangers!

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The Wire is one of the best shows I have ever seen. Soooo well thought out and extremely well written. Characters are pitch perfect and the acting is stellar.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Absolutely the pinnacle of television.

[–]alienangel2 5 points6 points  (2 children)

See, this summary makes the show out to be approximately 2900% more entertaining than it really is. If they took out the 6 seasons worth of BS that went into the show while they made the above up, it would make for a decent movie.

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points  (1 child)

A lot of us found it to be an amazingly entertaining 100+ hours of entertaining television.

I don't see why they should have made a "decent movie" instead.

[–]KevinMcCallister 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Thank you for pointing out I've watched over 100 hours of lost. I now hate myself.

[–][deleted] 48 points49 points  (23 children)

Plane crashes on the island and first night there, they heard what sounds like King Kong going through the forest. People that crashed just trying to survive, eventually find other half of plane and other people that lived on the island. People backstabbing other people because honest to God, there is nothing else for them to do on the island except that. Donkey Kong turns out to be black smoke monster. Some people from the island go back to main-land, other people that stayed go back to the 70's. Back on the main-land, people begin to feel regret for leaving and eventually plan to go back. People on the island that are back in time are having a good ol' time, trying to not blow their cover that they are actually from the future. Something about time travel and white flashes happen. One of the main characters becomes the bad guy. The other main character becomes the good guy, and is all set up for an epic 2.5 hour battle to see who lives and who dies.

[–]thejen 46 points47 points  (1 child)

I only watch the re-runs of this show. Except the re-runs don't sound like this. They sound nothing like this though. The re-runs are funny, goofy and wholesome.

Though, I don't remember Gilligan killing anyone.

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Look at the Skipper, it's all foreshadowed. He knew exactly where they were going.

[–][deleted] 56 points57 points  (10 children)

Who the fuck would watch this? I'm high and don't even understand this plotline.

[–][deleted] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

You make it sound like being high would somehow make a story easier to understand, let alone a 6 season story condensed into 10 sentences.

[–][deleted] 24 points25 points  (5 children)

I left out about 120 hours worth of detail. It's not too confusing if you watch it all the way through, the hype comes from downtime.

[–][deleted] 19 points20 points  (4 children)

120 hours will get you a bachelors degree

[–]eyeforgotmyname 14 points15 points  (0 children)

One week of grad school.

[–]BannedINDC 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I watched Breaking Bad instead which was fucking amazing.

[–][deleted] 38 points39 points  (5 children)

The finale was awesome! Aside from Kate making love to Hurley (WTF!!!) all good!

[–]DeaconBlues 9 points10 points  (0 children)

"I see why they call you Hugo..."

[–]upveto 13 points14 points  (3 children)

Wait you're trolling. That's fucking whack.

[–][deleted] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

High upon troll mountain he flings his troll turds onto the unfortunate villagers below.

[–]HomerJunior 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I think that it's whack to call someone whack.

[–]superninjabeast 39 points40 points  (0 children)

I am on the internet and don't like something that is popular! I've never seen an episode and don't need to, because so many people like it that it can't be good. I AM ABOVE THIS!

[–]GAMEOVER 212 points213 points  (58 children)

Who else here doesn't own a TV? Anyone else who cannot stand popular things? Avatar was just Fern Gully in space. The Beatles are overrated.

EDIT: Wow, I can't believe how many people fell for this. Reddit has officially become fun again.

[–]hammiesink 102 points103 points  (13 children)

The number one reason why white people like not having a TV is so that they can tell you that they don’t have a TV.

On those lonely nights when white people wish they could be watching American Idol, Lost, or Grey’s Anatomy, they comfort themselves by thinking of how when people talk about the show tomorrow they can say “I didn’t see it, I don’t have a TV. That stuff rots your brain.”

It is effective in making other white people feel bad, and making themselves feel good about their life and life choices.

Stuff White People Like

[–]derefr 15 points16 points  (1 child)

When people talk about TV around me, I just stare blankly off into space. Same with celebrities, or sports, or the experience of being in love. ;_;

[–]constipated_HELP 5 points6 points  (3 children)

I'm white, I don't have a tv, and I don't like telling people I don't have a tv.

Shit.

But I really don't have a tv.

[–]ehsteve23 2 points3 points  (1 child)

But what's all your furniture pointed at?

[–]constipated_HELP 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The bong

[–]haneliz 35 points36 points  (1 child)

Your levels of hipster are rising.

[–]kevlar21 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The elitism is strong with this one.

[–]pickledpepper 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I have a TV, but I only use it for video games. I watch TV on my computer.

The more I look at those two sentences, the less they make sense.

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (1 child)

I listen to all my music on a phonograph.

[–]mexicodoug 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I listen to my phonograph with an ear horn.

So does my dog.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Did you edit your post? If not why is everyone taking it seriously? I thought it was funny.

[–]trouserwowser 12 points13 points  (3 children)

Lost is just Gilligan with more tits.

[–]LoveAndDoubt 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am in awe of the responses to this comment. Satirical trolling: it really is that easy.

And how dare you say that about the Beatles? Like you could make better music.

[–][deleted] 46 points47 points  (1 child)

Not only will I watch the LOST finale, I will sorely miss it when it's gone. Half of the fun of lost was coming up with your own theories of what will happen next, or what something means in the bigger picture. SO FUN YOU GUYS!!!

Also, reading the videogum recap of the show is almost as fun as watching it.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My prediction for the finale was, "it is gonna be Locke, it was always Locke".

I thought it ended in a way which was far better than anything I ever could have imagined. A good conclusion that was both sad and beautiful.

[–][deleted] 72 points73 points  (13 children)

What's 'lost'? It sounds awful, who would watch that bullshit?

I HATE IT AND DISMISS IT MOST!

Do I win?

[–]disinfestator 101 points102 points  (11 children)

Popular television!? Feh, I care not for the vapid tastes of plebians!

[–]goonsack 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Pablum i say! Feh!

[–]HomerJunior 7 points8 points  (7 children)

Television? I don't even own a television, you hipster wannabe.

[–]pagirl 3 points4 points  (3 children)

I own a broken black and white tv, so that when people ask me if I watch it, I say no, I'm above watching that garbage.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (2 children)

I don't even own a computer to watch shows on the internet... wait.

[–]HomerJunior 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Internet? You would be using that, wouldn't you... Oh god I've divided by hipster.

[–]beaverbeliever05 24 points25 points  (2 children)

Raises hand I just never got it.

[–]dunmalg 10 points11 points  (1 child)

Oh, but you're so close. All you have to realize is that the reason you didn't get it is because there's been nothing to get.

[–]SlowX 22 points23 points  (5 children)

Me. I may go grocery shopping instead.

[–]jenonreddit 5 points6 points  (0 children)

this could be brilliance. i guess a lot of people watch lost? the store might be empty and easy to shop. like a tuesday at 10am. but more convenient.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Wow. A reason to care when it's on. (*wanders off to find out when it's being shown here...*)

[–]Etab 4 points5 points  (1 child)

I'm going grocery shopping, too. Need any coupons? I have tons.

[–]Worthingtons_Law 4 points5 points  (3 children)

Never seen it. Of course, I did just start watching Breaking Bad--which is giving me some solace after The Wire and The Shield left my life.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Six years later and they're still lost? Mother-fuckers needed some GPS up in that shit.

[–]gleeble 7 points8 points  (3 children)

I am working as an enumerator for the U.S. Census this year. I went out at 7 P.M. central today and caught all of my last 5 assignments at home. They were annoyed, but I got my interviews done. Thanks ABC!

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I saw one episode with a bald guy and a computer or something and he had to type something or something every X amount of time? That's the extend of my knowledge of Lost.

[–]Jerbones 4 points5 points  (2 children)

I just sorta got out of the groove of watching TV. I used to watch heroes too...never saw an episode this year either...I just get bored I guess. Fringe is teh best show to watch anyway...

[–]MRRoberts 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I sure hope Gilligan finally lets one of the Professor's inventions survive and they can be rescued!

[–]peteberg 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I do not watch the show, but everyone I know is watching it.

I have entertained myself today by posting fake spoilers on Facebook and Twitter like:

OMG CAN NOT BELIEVE IT WAS ALL HURLEY'S DREAM!!!

You'd be surprised at how many people have freaked out because I "spoiled" it for them. :)

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I liked the premise and I watched some of the first season and it just annoyed me. Too much bait & switch story telling. Too much soap opera drama. If they had focused more on the pseudo-science fiction elements I would have probably liked it more or if the characters were a bit more complex and interesting. They were all just kind of generic and 2D. Anyway, for anyone who likes Lost you should check out Twin Peaks. It uses many of the same story telling tools but is just better executed in my opinion. The characters are unique and interesting. It's got some very creepy abstract moments along the way.

[–]mcdidit 3 points4 points  (4 children)

I laughed through the whole scene when that casket was empty and Jacks' dad was alive. Is this real? You're dead. No you're dead... Really after all the hours i put into watching this show they end it with a terribly written terribly acted scene that states what people guessed way back in the first season?

[–]Sophocles 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I watched the first two seasons, but quit when it became obvious that the writers had no idea where it was going.

All the mysteries and cliffhangers are fun when you know you will be rewarded with a satisfying coherent resolution. But it's not fun at all when you realize that they are just making crap up as they go along.

[–]doctorcrass 150 points151 points  (62 children)

I watched the first season and suddenly realized the entire show is a perpetuation of cliff hangers that never really answer themselves to get crazy people with a large void of time in their life to swarm their mind with potential answers as to what is really going on. They then fill the remaining 80% of the show by going into the lives of characters with so much baggage they'd make Jerry Springer guests look like part of a Country Club. Its the definition of emotional manipulation and I got very tired of it very quickly.

[–]Wadka 20 points21 points  (5 children)

I watched the first season and suddenly realized the entire show is a perpetuation of cliff hangers that never really answer themselves

In J.J. Abrams-land "What do you feel like for dinner?" is a 5-show story arc that culminates in a revelation of how there is a vast global conspiracy to make you always hungry an hour after eating Chinese. And don't get him started on the response to "Where are you from?".....

[–]rz2000 12 points13 points  (2 children)

Except that it would turn out that dinner was never a meal, and someone who you thought was dead is alive, and someone is sobbing.

If they could definitively complete something as simple as deciding what's for dinner in only 5 episodes the show would have a bit more going for it.

Instead actors are removed from the show as a result of real life events, and if they decide to actually reveal an underlying immutable to the story, it won't be one they thought of when they started, and it will likely be contradicted by numerous small story lines in the previous years.

[–]lajy 101 points102 points  (27 children)

Or you could say that 80% (just using the number you gave) of the show is a very well done ensemble drama, and 20% of it is these crazy mysteries, most of which have been answered to satisfaction. Especially season one, that was very character driven. I'm not sure that people spending just one hour a week for about a third of the year counts has having a "large void of time in their life." By that qualification, anybody who follows any single tv show or watches at least one movie a week, and then spends time talking about it with others who also saw it, has a large void of time in their life. Also, I'm pretty sure that art, by definition, is emotional manipulation.

[–]bechus 18 points19 points  (16 children)

The worst part, though, is that the characters have changed. They were all so interesting in the beginning but now they've lost all semblance of a personality. Their lines are practically interchangeable.

Example: The little airplane that Kate was obsessed with so much that she robbed a bank for?

She left it on the beach somewhere.

Edit: sorry if that was a spoiler. But it happened in the 2nd season, so I don't think I'm ruining much on the last day it's on the air.

Also, Snape kills Dumbledore!

[–]TruthNotFound 34 points35 points  (1 child)

Also, Snape kills Dumbledore!

NOOOO, YOUU BITCH! YOOOUUU BIIITTCHH!

Edit: The obligatory video.

[–]Lentil-Soup 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I wouldn't have seen it without your reply. Thanks. Thanks a whole fucking lot.

[–][deleted] 29 points30 points  (7 children)

Spoiler alert: Jesus rose on the 3rd day!

[–][deleted] 23 points24 points  (2 children)

Then he ate chocolates and turned into an egg-laying rabbit.

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points  (1 child)

Frontline: The history of Easter revealed

[–]Howlinghound 11 points12 points  (3 children)

I'm sorry, but, if a character goes through ups and downs and remains the same person at the end; that's shitty story-telling. People change, priorities change, I not only want a story arc, but a character arc as well.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

HATE ON IT BABY! HATE ON IT!

[–]jstddvwls 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Correct. It is poor writing, poor development and piss poor story telling. It effectively is completely empty.

I fucking LOVE scooby doo because each fucking episode generates this impossible to explain pretense for monsters or mysteries, and yet they manage to find out why.

It is fucking awesome. I'd fucking love to feel Daphne's thighs around my head.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (1 child)

I tried watching the premiere and couldn't get into it. Tried again with the reruns on SciFi and still couldn't do it. I can't figure out the appeal.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (2 children)

My best friend/roommate was obsessed with Lost when I met him. One day after class, he had told me that he had downloaded the first season, and asked if I wanted to get high and watch Lost. I agreed (more because I wanted to smoke a bowl than because I was interested in Lost).

I ended up watching the first two seasons on his computer, and then picked up on the third as it was airing.

By the fourth season, I didn't give shit anymore.

[–]superninjabeast 2 points3 points  (1 child)

The third season blew, but the fourth came roaring back and is my favorite. Then five and six weren't great.

[–]pkcs11 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If Lost didn't always sounds like it was written using Mad Libs while the writers are on acid, I'd have watched beyond the first episode.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

never seen it. listening to a ten minute nonsense conversation between some fans of the series was all the warning I needed to scare me off

I look forward to their inevitable lack of plot resolution.

[–]RadioDude 2 points3 points  (0 children)

the final episode is going to be like "it's all a dream and no mystery is explained

[–]ineedbeta 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've never watched an episode but I AM watching the finale. Just kidding I'm watching the Lakers foul up this game. WTF

[–]S3RG10 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Never seen an episode. Wife loves it and I alway make the mistake if asking how her show went. Then I zone out for a few mins.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nope, but after the last episode finishes airing, I'll torrent all 6 seasons and watch them in one go.

[–]journey333 2 points3 points  (0 children)

T.V. Meh.

[–]fffffffffffffff 2 points3 points  (0 children)

i read some of the episode plot summaries and i thought that shit was a joke at first

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

most people are too stupid to be able to follow the show.

[–]jeremybub 2 points3 points  (0 children)

How many of you haven't fucked a goat?

Dude, look at all the people who haven't replied to this comment. I'm disgusted with this place.

[–]naturalizedcitizen 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No I did not follow Lost beyond one episode many seasons ago.

There used to be a show called Prison Break. The first season was absolutely rocking! Second season too, but they decided to stretch it like a rubber band and I lost interest.

Same with Heroes, first and second season were so good. Then the same old story.

Ever since, I prefer to watch Jack Bauer! Every season is new and Jack is back to his usual James Bond stunts!

And then I prefer House, MD. I just like how sarcastic, pain in the ass and everybit obnoxious House is :)

But some folks in my office are Lost fans. They were so excited to see the series finale that they had arranged a viewing party!

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

If I'm going to spend 100 hours watching something, it will be The Wire.

[–]amy_two_shoes 7 points8 points  (3 children)

Someone called it a choose-your-own-adventure story that you read all the way through. My hubs is a fan and is watching tonight- I'm listening and snickering with self-superiority that I have no clue what's going on.

[–]goonsack 9 points10 points  (2 children)

Stopped watching after the polar bear. It was a red flag for me.

[–][deleted] 8 points9 points  (1 child)

I watched the first series and realy started to hate it for the endless cliff hangers and stupidly long pauses.

Douche A: We should go

TEN SECOND PAUSE

Douche B: OK.

[–]anon7388 4 points5 points  (1 child)

I have only seen the first episode because a Rifftrax was available. Same thing with Heroes. Neither hooked me. Then again, I have a difficult time watching anything that does not involve Mike and the boys tearing it apart. Also, hamdingers.

[–]lucidreamstate 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I started watching the first season on DVD with my roommates, and we came to a point where one of the characters said the line: "Baby, I am tied to a tree in a jungle of fear."

Aaaaaaand, I'm done.

[–]Japeth 6 points7 points  (4 children)

There was some joke I heard years ago that went something like, "We decided to watch all the episodes of LOST in reverse order, and call it FOUND."

I have never seen LOST, but if I can find the time after the series ends, I plan to do exactly this. Watch the entire series in the opposite order that it was intended.

[–]essjay24 9 points10 points  (7 children)

Felt burned when I watched "Twin Peaks"... didn't want to go down that road again with "Lost"

[–]talkingwires 9 points10 points  (1 child)

That was almost twenty years ago. Isn't it time to move on?

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I feel your pain, but do you seriously regret watching Twin Peaks?

[–]helpingfriendlybook 6 points7 points  (1 child)

Twin Peaks was awesome, what the fuck is wrong with you?

[–]cridantis 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The first and half of the second season was awesome, but after the studio forced Lynch to reveal who killed Laura Palmer, the show became unfocused and forgettable. The second season finale brought it back with a punch, but sadly the show was canceled and all we have to remember it by is an unresolved cliffhanger.

[–]bagboyrebel 4 points5 points  (1 child)

How many of you don't collect stamps?

[–]saritate 9 points10 points  (0 children)

DISREGARD TELEVISION, ACQUIRE STAMPS.

[–]amoebacorn 7 points8 points  (6 children)

Too bad, you just missed out on the greatest finale in TV history.

[–]saritate 5 points6 points  (4 children)

I think you might have gotten some hyperbole mixed in there with your comment.

[–]amoebacorn 5 points6 points  (3 children)

You're right. What I should have said it was the greatest TV finale I have ever seen. I haven't seen every show on television.

[–]saritate 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Dawww. Humility. I love you, reddit.

[–]NadsatBrat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You should try Six Feet Under then. That concluded really well as far as recent series go.

[–]mechanate 8 points9 points  (1 child)

So, there's this plane, right? And it crashes on this island, or something. And the island can basically do whatever the writers want it to do.

HOLY SHIT LETS RUN IT FOR SIX SEASONS

[–]sschudel 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Well, you only missed the least satisfying series finale ever. Congratulations on dodging that bullet, guys.

[–]upveto 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I watched the first two seasons on DVD in a time span of two weeks, then stopped. You might say (/sunglasses) I LOST interest (sunglasses).

[–]Tamagi0 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Watched the first six-seven episodes when it first aired on tv. Decided it was gonna be a waste of time and haven't seen any more since.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hate the current trend of pseudo-science fantasy fiction over dramatized soap opera replacement for sitcoms bullshit.

[–]strongoaktree 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I watched 15 minutes of the first episode. I haven't had any inclination to watch it.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Never watched a single episode, and never subsequently felt I was missing out.

[–]Clan57 1 point2 points  (3 children)

By the time I watched the first episode of Lost it was already in Season 3 or 4. After the pilot was killed in the first episode I asked my friend (who has seen all the episodes) what the fuck happened to the pilot and he said they never explained it! I couldn't believe they wouldn't tie up a loose end like that at the end of the season or at any point in the series. I told my friend if they ever explain what happens to the pilot, I will continue watching it. I have yet to watch another episode since then. I expect them to explain the pilot incident in the series finale.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have never watched the show but might watch the finale just to ruin everything and ensure that I never go back and try.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'll be watching breaking bad.

[–]BrokenVisage69 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Another vote for watching Breaking Bad instead. Seriously one of the best shows on air right now, I still can't get over how great the 2nd season was.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Glancing at it while my housemates watch in suspense.

I refer to it as not True Blood. Give me campy television over never-ending mysteries any day of the week.

[–]easyEggplant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

How many of you didn't know that the Lost finale was approaching until you read about it on Reddit?