I can remember the first time I ever watched Lost. Now, before I say this, I’ll definitely be dating myself. But, bear with me! I was at my local entertainment store buying box sets of TV shows (because that was the cool thing to do back then). As usual, this store was running a promotion on used items: Buy 3, Get One Free. I was only planning to buy 3 box sets but obviously I needed that free one!
After looking for a while, I happened upon the first season of Lost. I had heard about the show and decided to give it a go!
When I finally got around to watching it; I was hooked. At that point, the show was coming up on its fifth season. I binge watched the first four seasons (each time I’d finish a one, I’d rush out to buy the next one).
I finally caught up to the live episodes and watched them each and every week.
Then, the series ended. I watched the final episode, and I had never been more disappointed in my entire life.
If you’ve never seen Lost, it’s a show chock-full of mystery, surprises, and OMG moments. In the beginning seasons, there were so many mysteries presented. They raised tons of questions, but not many answers.
As you watch, you look forward to the notion that one day, these mysteries will be solved. You’ll have your answers and all will be right with the world.
All is not right with my world.
I had read up on the show a while back, before the series ended and discovered that during the third season, ratings had dropped. I can remember what was going on in the world of TV during this time. Superhero and supernatural shows were taking the scene. While this was certainly a show of supernatural forces, it apparently wasn’t enough to keep people interested. Maybe it was because there were too many to keep up with.
The creators were told that they needed to wrap up the show. They said they could do it in 3 more seasons, giving Lost a total of 6.
Then came season 4. Do you know what happened in season 4? The writers’ strike. If you can remember, TV basically came to a screeching halt during that year. Many shows suffered, Lost being one of them. So, while the show was given these 3 additional season, they were cut short on one of them.
Lost was just a victim of circumstance.
I know the creators had to trim down lots of content to help wrap the show up all nice and pretty. I want to say they did a good job, because I have a lot of respect for people that can come up with such creative stories. (Truth be told, creative isn’t strong enough a word). But, I have to be honest, they seemed to do a half-ass job wrapping it up.
I know that there were so many more stories out there that they needed to introduce to piggyback off the stories they’d already begun. I know that they had more ideas for the characters. I know they had more ideas for the overall answers to what the hell was going on.
Unfortunately, we never get to see these answers.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Lost was and continues to be one of my most favorite TV shows ever. I’ve watched the series all the way through multiple times. I’ve introduced it to friends. It still is an amazing show.
It leaves you guessing, which was the whole point in the first place. The sad part is; it leaves you guessing forever.
