Lost Season 6 (spoilers)

[Noah]

Fans slam Lost finale as 'worst ever'

Livid fans of Lost, who have spent the last six years following the show's

complicated plot twists, have slammed the program's finale, calling it the worst in TV history.

WARNING: Spoiler alert — do not keep reading if you don't want to know what happens

The final episode of Lost, watched by 13.5 million people in the US on Sunday and airing in Australia on Wednesday night, revealed the show's characters were dead after all and had not in fact survived the Oceanic flight 815 plane crash.

The Pacific island the characters were marooned on was actually a "tropical limbo" where the castaways were forced to work out their issues and accept their fate before moving onto the next phase of their existence.

Dozens of messages posted on ABC Television's official Lost website — which invited viewers to comment on their favourite part of the finale — revealed the sense of frustration.

"There was no favourite part of the finale. It sucks. We've been had. SO PISSED," one person posted.

"What a PATHETIC ending this crap was!!!" said another. "Too many things did not match up and nothing was explained about the island. It was by far the worst final episode to a series I've ever seen and am quite pissed off for wasting so much of my time and interest hoping for a decent denouement."

Another poster said, "Horrible! What a let down... six years of my life for one of the biggest let downs!"

Other fans were less critical, even while acknowledging that several plot points remained unresolved.

"I loved it. It was very emotionally satisfying and that was enough," said one poster. "I still have some questions, but don't we all?"

While fans were sharply divided, critics were broadly supportive of the finale, saying the fact that so many questions were unresolved was in keeping with the show's tendency to bemuse during its six-year run.

"Thrillingly, cleverly, and in a manner that tapped into the simple, profound truths of great American works like Our Town, the show spelled out for viewers what it has been saying all along," USA Today's reviewer enthused. "Lost is about life and death, faith and science, spirit and flesh, and has always stressed that the title refers to the characters' souls, not their location," the paper added.

National Public Radio reviewer Linda Holmes said the show had "Died as it lived, by offering effective character studies out of murky logistics. Many people hated it instantly, there is no question," she wrote. "It was always going to be so. But whatever unanswered questions remain about statues and symbols and food drops, those last couple of hours treated the characters very, very well."

Entertainment Weekly meanwhile said the finale was "pretty delightful, full of reunions that were both emotional and funny."

A reviewer on Gawker.com website was unimpressed however.v"Once upon a time, there was a television show about a bunch of people on an island," wrote Max Read. "For six years it was one of the most fascinating things on TV. And then it ended, in the worst way possible. Lost ended tonight, and with it the hopes and dreams of millions of people who thought it might finally get good again."

Just saw that and thought I'd post it, for discussion's sake

[Ananas]

What outstanding journalism.

1) Get the ending completely wrong ... check.

2) Take three negative comments on a fan board as validation for a headline declaring that the fanbase hated the show ... check.

3) Desperately use a writer from a gossip blog still beating the carcass of Defamer (the actual Defamer writers are now running Movieline) to find critical opinion siding with your own ... check.

[Benji]

You could argue that Walt, who was on the island for 44 days and then lived an entire life beyond it, doesn't have the same connection to the survivors. Then you consider that his father is stuck on the island atoning for his sins and it's easy to understand why Walt doesn't remember his connection to the island so fondly.

Oh I understand that totally, I wasn't saying to have him in the church happy with everyone else, an appearance with Locke much like the appearances of people like Alex and Ana-Lucia, where they're not ready to move on yet was what I was after.

[HeartlineTwist]

That article is pretty ridiculous.

According to this link, the MIB's name was Samuel in the script.

Good stuff on here! I can finally throw in my two cents! I've had to bite my tongue for far too long. Also, hopefully I can answer some of John's questions about Dharma and the "pointless breadcrumbs" that really, weren't so pointless ...

First ...

The Island:

It was real. Everything that happened on the island that we saw throughout the 6 seasons was real. Forget the final image of the plane crash, it was put in purposely to f*&k with people's heads and show how far the show had come. They really crashed. They really survived. They really discovered Dharma and the Others. The Island keeps the balance of good and evil in the world. It always has and always will perform that role. And the Island will always need a "Protector". Jacob wasn't the first, Hurley won't be the last. However, Jacob had to deal with a malevolent force (MIB) that his mother, nor Hurley had to deal with. He created the devil and had to find a way to kill him -- even though the rules prevented him from actually doing so.

Thus began Jacob's plan to bring candidates to the Island to do the one thing he couldn't do. Kill the MIB. He had a huge list of candidates that spanned generations. Yet everytime he brought people there, the MIB corrupted them and caused them to kill one another. That was until Richard came along and helped Jacob understand that if he didn't take a more active role, then his plan would never work.

Enter Dharma -- which I'm not sure why John is having such a hard time grasping. Dharma, like the countless scores of people that were brought to the island before, were brought there by Jacob as part of his plan to kill the MIB. However, the MIB was aware of this plan and interferred by "corrupting" Ben. Making Ben believe he was doing the work of Jacob when in reality he was doing the work of the MIB. This carried over into all of Ben's "off-island" activities. He was the leader. He spoke for Jacob as far as they were concerned. So the "Others" killed Dharma and later were actively trying to kill Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hurley and all the candidates because that's what the MIB wanted. And what he couldn't do for himself.

Dharma was originally brought in to be good. But was turned bad by MIB's corruption and eventually destroyed by his pawn Ben. Now, was Dharma only brought there to help Jack and the other Canditates on their overall quest to kill Smokey? Or did Jacob have another list of Canidates from the Dharma group that we were never aware of? That's a question that is purposley not answered because whatever answer the writers came up with would be worse than the one you come up with for yourself. Still ... Dharma's purpose is not "pointless" or even vague. Hell, it's pretty blantent.

Still, despite his grand plan, Jacob wanted to give his "candidates" (our Lostaways) the one thing he, nor his brother, were ever afforded: free will. Hence him bringing a host of "candidates" through the decades and letting them "choose" which one would actually do the job in the end. Maybe he knew Jack would be the one to kill Flocke and that Hurley would be the protector in the end. Maybe he didn't. But that was always the key question of the show: Fate vs Free-will. Science vs Faith. Personally I think Jacob knew from the beginning what was going to happen and that everyone played a part over 6 seasons in helping Jack get to the point where he needed to be to kill Smokey and make Hurley the protector -- I know that's how a lot of the writers viewed it. But again, they won't answer that (nor should they) because that ruins the fun.

In the end, Jack got to do what he always wanted to do from the very first episode of the show: Save his fellow Lostaways. He got Kate and Sawyer off the island and he gave Hurley the purpose in life he'd always been missing. And, in Sideways world (which we'll get to next) he in fact saved everyone by helping them all move on ...

Now...

Sideways World:

Sideways world is where it gets really cool in terms of theology and metaphysical discussion (for me at least -- because I love history/religion theories and loved all the talks in the writer's room about it). Basically what the show is proposing is that we're all linked to certain people during our lives. Call them soulmates (though it's not exactly the best word). But these people we're linked to are with us duing "the most important moments of our lives" as Christian said. These are the people we move through the universe with from lifetime to lifetime. It's loosely based in Hinduisim with large doses of western religion thrown into the mix.

The conceit that the writers created, basing it off these religious philosophies, was that as a group, the Lostaways subconsciously created this "sideways" world where they exist in purgatory until they are "awakened" and find one another. Once they all find one another, they can then move on and move forward. In essence, this is the show's concept of the afterlife. According to the show, everyone creates their own "Sideways" purgatory with their "soulmates" throughout their lives and exist there until they all move on together. That's a beautiful notion. Even if you aren't religious or even spirtual, the idea that we live AND die together is deeply profound and moving.

It's a really cool and spirtual concept that fits the whole tone and subtext the show has had from the beginning. These people were SUPPOSED to be together on that plane. They were supposed to live through these events -- not JUST because of Jacob. But because that's what the universe or God (depending on how religious you wish to get) wanted to happen. The show was always about science vs faith -- and it ultimately came down on the side of faith. It answered THE core question of the series. The one question that has been at the root of every island mystery, every character backstory, every plot twist. That, by itself, is quite an accomplishment.

How much you want to extrapolate from that is up to you as the viewer. Think about season 1 when we first found the Hatch. Everyone thought that's THE answer! Whatever is down there is the answer! Then, as we discovered it was just one station of many. One link in a very long chain that kept revealing more, and more of a larger mosiac.

But the writer's took it even further this season by contrasting this Sideways "purgatory" with the Island itself. Remember when Michael appeared to Hurley, he said he was not allowed to leave the Island. Just like the MIB. He wasn't allowed into this sideways world and thus, was not afforded the opportunity to move on. Why? Because he had proven himself to be unworthy with his actions on the Island. He failed the test. The others, passed. They made it into Sideways world when they died -- some before Jack, some years later. In Hurley's case, maybe centuries later. They exist in this sideways world until they are "awakened" and they can only move on TOGETHER because they are linked. They are destined to be together for eternity. That was their destiny.

They were NOT linked to Anna Lucia, Daniel, Roussou, Alex, Miles, Lupidis, (and all the rest who weren't in the chuch -- basically everyone who wasn't in season 1). Yet those people exist in Sideways world. Why? Well again, here's where they leave it up to you to decide. The way I like to think about it, is that those people who were left behind in Sideways world have to find their own soulmates before they can wake up. It's possible that those links aren't people from the island but from their other life (Anna's parnter, the guy she shot --- Roussou's husband, etc etc).

A lot of people have been talking about Ben and why he didn't go into the Church. And if you think of Sideways world in this way, then it gives you the answer to that very question. Ben can't move on yet because he hasn't connected with the people he needs to. It's going to be his job to awaken Roussou, Alex, Anna Lucia (maybe), Ethan, Goodspeed, his father and the rest. He has to attone for his sins more than he did by being Hurley's number two. He has to do what Hurley and Desmond did for our Lostaways with his own people. He has to help them connect. And he can only move on when all the links in his chain are ready to. Same can be said for Faraday, Charlotte, Whidmore, Hawkins etc. It's really a neat, and cool concept. At least to me.

But, from a more "behind the scenes" note: the reason Ben's not in the church, and the reason no one is in the church but for Season 1 people is because they wrote the ending to the show after writing the pilot. And never changed it. The writers always said (and many didn't believe them) that they knew their ending from the very first episode. I applaud them for that. It's pretty fantastic. Originally Ben was supposed to have a 3 episode arc and be done. But he became a big part of the show. They could have easily changed their ending and put him in the church -- but instead they problem solved it. Gave him a BRILLIANT moment with Locke outside the church ... and then that was it. I loved that. For those that wonder -- the original ending started the moment Jack walked into the church and touches the casket to Jack closing his eyes as the other plane flies away. That was always JJ's ending. And they kept it.

For me the ending of this show means a lot. Not only because I worked on it, but because as a writer it inspired me in a way the medium had never done before. I've been inspired to write by great films. Maybe too many to count. And there have been amazing TV shows that I've loved (X-Files, 24, Sopranos, countless 1/2 hour shows). But none did what LOST did for me. None showed me that you could take huge risks (writing a show about faith for network TV) and stick to your creative guns and STILL please the audience. I learned a lot from the show as a writer. I learned even more from being around the incredible writers, producers, PAs, interns and everyone else who slaved on the show for 6 years.

In the end, for me, LOST was a touchstone show that dealt with faith, the afterlife, and all these big, spirtual questions that most shows don't touch. And to me, they never once waivered from their core story -- even with all the sci-fi elements they mixed in. To walk that long and daunting of a creative tightrope and survive is simply astounding.

Source: http://lostmediamentions.blogspot.com/2010/05/someone-from-bad-robots-take-on-finale.html

The important thing I take from that is the discussion of the ending being the ending that JJ Abrams had written (started when Jack touches the coffin, ended when he closes his eyes on the island), which explains why Ben wasn't in the church and why there were mostly Season 1 Losties in there.

[TKz]

I really enjoyed reading that, very nice to see it all put into perspective.

Though I'm disappointed to learn that the Hydrogen Bomb explosion was for nothing. I always assumed it played a part in creating the alternate timeline. I mean, Juliet said "It worked" didn't she?

[Benji]

She was also close to deaths door and your life flashes before your eyes as you die, perhaps she was seeing the other universe to some degree.

This is why I love LOST even more, we can now make all these theories and complete the story in our own minds to make our own satisfactory conclusions - LOST has always been a heavily fan driven show and I imagine it's going to be long after The End has aired.

[Ruki]

I thought it was a good ending....then I read this thread, and I felt it was a GREAT ending.

[Fitzy]

But, from a more "behind the scenes" note: the reason Ben's not in the church, and the reason no one is in the church but for Season 1 people is because they wrote the ending to the show after writing the pilot. And never changed it. The writers always said (and many didn't believe them) that they knew their ending from the very first episode. I applaud them for that. It's pretty fantastic. Originally Ben was supposed to have a 3 episode arc and be done. But he became a big part of the show. They could have easily changed their ending and put him in the church -- but instead they problem solved it. Gave him a BRILLIANT moment with Locke outside the church ... and then that was it. I loved that. For those that wonder -- the original ending started the moment Jack walked into the church and touches the casket to Jack closing his eyes as the other plane flies away. That was always JJ's ending. And they kept it.

How does this explain Daniel, Charlotte, Juliet, Libby, and Penny being in the church?

[zero]

But, from a more "behind the scenes" note: the reason Ben's not in the church, and the reason no one is in the church but for Season 1 people is because they wrote the ending to the show after writing the pilot. And never changed it. The writers always said (and many didn't believe them) that they knew their ending from the very first episode. I applaud them for that. It's pretty fantastic. Originally Ben was supposed to have a 3 episode arc and be done. But he became a big part of the show. They could have easily changed their ending and put him in the church -- but instead they problem solved it. Gave him a BRILLIANT moment with Locke outside the church ... and then that was it. I loved that. For those that wonder -- the original ending started the moment Jack walked into the church and touches the casket to Jack closing his eyes as the other plane flies away. That was always JJ's ending. And they kept it.

How does this explain Daniel, Charlotte, Juliet, Libby, and Penny being in the church?

Well, it says that only Ben was intended to be a short-term character (which is true), it doesn't say that Daniel, Charlotte, Juliet, Libby and Penny weren't in the writers' plans from day one. Were Daniel and Charlotte in the church though?

I'm sure that's complete bullshit though. I believe that Jack's eye closing was always intended to be the final shot, and I'll even buy that the church and heading into the "afterlife" was always the planned ending, but I don't buy that Ben was kept out of the church because he was never in the long-term plan.

[SeanDMan]

Daniel definitely wasn't. Eloise wouldn't allow it.

[TheSqauredCircleMessiah]

According to BuddyTV.com, these are who were in the church

In the final scene in the church when everyone is ready to move on from the afterlife, all of the characters are settled into romantic pairings except Boone and Locke, who had a teacher-student relationship. The other final pairings ready to move on are: Sayid and Shannon, Charlie and Claire, Sawyer and Juliet, Rose and Bernard, Jack and Kate, Hurley and Libby, Desmond and Penny and Jin and Sun.

So no Daniel, Charlotte, or Miles. And if you remember, Desmond told Ms. Hawking that she wasn't taking Daniel with him.

[SeanDMan]

Also:

2.5 hours. 2.5 hours to answer:

What is the island?

What is the smoke monster?

What is Jacob/Jacob's Mom?

Why could Jacob leave the island, but MIB can't?

What happened between Widmore & Ben?

Where's Vincent the dog?

What the hell is up with the foot statue?

What exactly was the point of The Others?

What exactly was the Dharma Initiative trying to do?

What is the point of the parallel universe?

What is Desmond doing?

Why does Smokey want to get off the island?

What happens if he does?

Who finished MIB's wheel and how does it work?

What about Eloise, what's her deal?

Where are Rose & Bernard?

What are the "rules" and why do they exist?

What made island women infertile? Why?

Who's the mother of Jack's son?

Where is Christian's body in both universes?

Why was Walt so important, but suddenly wasn't?

You could sit down JJ Abrams, Carlton Cuse, Damon Lindelof and Jeffrey Lieber in front of a camera for 2.5 hours and they wouldn't have enough time to explain a quarter of the lingering questions surrounding this show.

This annoyed me.

[TheSqauredCircleMessiah]

A good third of those were actually answered. Plus, JJ Abrams & Jeffrey Lieber had nothing to do with LOST during the actual run of the series and all Lieber contributed was "Castaway meets Twilight Zone....and go!"

[Pesci]

Exams over, time to watch Lost from start to finish!

This is gonna be awesome.

[TGC]

Also:

2.5 hours. 2.5 hours to answer:

What is the island?

What is the smoke monster?

What is Jacob/Jacob's Mom?

Why could Jacob leave the island, but MIB can't?

What happened between Widmore & Ben?

Where's Vincent the dog?

What the hell is up with the foot statue?

What exactly was the point of The Others?

What exactly was the Dharma Initiative trying to do?

What is the point of the parallel universe?

What is Desmond doing?

Why does Smokey want to get off the island?

What happens if he does?

Who finished MIB's wheel and how does it work?

What about Eloise, what's her deal?

Where are Rose & Bernard?

What are the "rules" and why do they exist?

What made island women infertile? Why?

Who's the mother of Jack's son?

Where is Christian's body in both universes?

Why was Walt so important, but suddenly wasn't?

You could sit down JJ Abrams, Carlton Cuse, Damon Lindelof and Jeffrey Lieber in front of a camera for 2.5 hours and they wouldn't have enough time to explain a quarter of the lingering questions surrounding this show.

This annoyed me.

And almost every single one of those was answered this year. Not all mind you, but most.

[Walker]

There are a few things that I don't think have been explained yet:

What is the Island? Is it connected to the purgatory depicted in this final season? Where did it come from?

What are the numbers? Why are significant, magical and keep turning up?

What is the Dharma Initiative? How did they find the Island and what were they trying to do?

Who were the Others? How did they get there? What was their role?

Why were women infertile on the Island?

However, I DO NOT want these to be explained in full. I think the Lost creators and writers know that they are doing by not explaining them. Those questions, and others, will be debated and mulled over for a very long time and that suits me fine.

[TCO]

What is the Dharma Initiative? How did they find the Island and what were they trying to do?

Who were the Others? How did they get there? What was their role?

Enter Dharma -- which I'm not sure why John is having such a hard time grasping. Dharma, like the countless scores of people that were brought to the island before, were brought there by Jacob as part of his plan to kill the MIB. However, the MIB was aware of this plan and interferred by "corrupting" Ben. Making Ben believe he was doing the work of Jacob when in reality he was doing the work of the MIB. This carried over into all of Ben's "off-island" activities. He was the leader. He spoke for Jacob as far as they were concerned. So the "Others" killed Dharma and later were actively trying to kill Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hurley and all the candidates because that's what the MIB wanted. And what he couldn't do for himself.

Those two questions were answered by the writer in the post a few up from yours.

[Fitzy]

I thought for sure I saw Daniel and Charlotte but I guess not. Either way, Libby and Penny were still not season one characters, so that is still not correct.

[TGC]

nevermind.

SAY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fitzy]

nevermind.

SAY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was re-typing it! Check again.