Sawyer and Kate took off to the Hydra Island, and Jack led the other two back to the heart of the Island to make things right. While Jack was quite obviously bleeding to death -- a knife to the ribs will do that to you -- he decided to head on down into the cavern. It wasn't easy, though. Hurley desperately wanted Jack to stay, and begged him to. Instead, Jack made him the new protector of the Island, stating that it was meant to be Hurley and that his job was simply to fix the catastrophe. After performing a water-drinking ceremony with Hurley (and a tearful farewell which is possibly the greatest scene of the series), Jack descended into the cavern, where he found Desmond shaken up and regretful, but alive. Jack then single-handedly replaced the stone back in its spot, and collapsed to the ground, laughing in relief as the water rushed back down. Jack found himself surrounded by golden light.
Back at the Ajira plane, Frank, Richard, and Miles fixed the plane with many things, including duct tape (Miles' strong believe in the power of duct tape was one of the best lines of the episode), and soon prepared for liftoff. Though briefly hindered by their having to convince Claire to accompany them, Sawyer and Kate showed up just in time for Frank to lift them off the Island. And, perhaps for the first time ever, an Island escape has not ended in a crash or explosion. They soared away into the blue sky, and all was well.
For them, at least. Hurley and Ben were meanwhile mourning Jack's death. Hurley, finally assuming responsibility of his new job, offered Ben the position of second-in-command, which Ben gratefully accepted. I can't help but be reminded of the scene from "Cabin Fever" when Hurley and Ben shared an Apollo bar. The two's peaceful coexistence with each other had been hinted at throughout the series, and here it became legitimate.
Before I get to the final scene of the series, I'm going to cover the flash-sideways timeline, which we discovered was more of a flash-way-forward, or more simply, an AfterFlash. The characters began to remember their time in the Island timeline, and it was so well done. Resolution occurred between characters we had thought long gone. Charlie and Claire were reunited after the birth of Aaron. Sayid and Shannon embraced each other for the first time since her death in "Abandoned." Jin and Sun realized they could speak English and were happy together with the help of Juliet, an OBGYN who was also David's mom. Locke regained the use of his legs with the help of Jack's surgical skills and then forgave Ben for murdering him, and Sawyer and Juliet finally reunited and the origin of the "We could go Dutch" line was revealed.
Things seemed like the two timelines were going to merge, until Hurley and Ben exchanged knowledge of their future, which we had not seen on the show. That's when we knew that things were not what they seemed. Not in the least bit.
And, finally, Jack was convinced of the Island reality by -- Christian Shephard? Sure enough, the coffin was found but it was empty. Christian was alive and well, and he and his son embraced each other in a way that they likely never had. Christian explained to Jack, gently, that they were all dead, and that all the survivors who had gathered at the funeral home were dead as well, having all died at some point in the future. As Christian urged Jack to lead the group to "move on" to the mysterious next, the survivors hugged and celebrated with each other. Christian then flung open the church doors, enveloping the room in a bright light, while on the Island, Jack staggered back to the bamboo, past the old ragged shoe which we saw back in "Pilot, Part 1," and then he laid down in the grass, dying. A friendly bark from Vincent greeted him, and Vincent stretched out beside him as Jack looked up at the sky, saw the Ajira plane flying overhead, closed his eye for the last time, and died, leaving us with the black L O S T.
I have never seen a better episode of television. The episode offered happy endings to nearly every character without pandering too much, and it also killed off Jack in a way that had been much-predicted but still managed to retain a sense of real storytelling power. The episode also proved to be really funny, with Hurley's early Star Wars-referencing lines being hilarious, along with Miles' duct tape comment and Jack's dry claim that his method of killing MIB would be a "surprise."
The only thing that really leaves me wanting about this episode was the explanation of the flash-sideways/AfterFlash timeline. Some things were explained, sure, and there was also that wonderful clearing up of the fact that the timeline was not caused by the Jughead detonation. But Christian's claim that the survivors "created it" was a little strange. How could they have created a metaphysical place? Is it a sort of collective consciousness place? Is the Island responsible? And why does David exist? This is the ending that we're supposed to be speculating about for years to come, and I have to say, it did leave plenty of food for thought. It certainly gave all our characters a happy ending, and for that, I'm grateful, because their survival didn't detract from their stories.
I promised I wouldn't give a letter grade for this episode, since it was such a tour du force, and I stick to my word. However, at this point, I'm not disappointed at all with the LOST finale, and I look forward to debating it with you all in the future.
Stay tuned to TVOvermind for more exclusive LOST content, including a giveaway of six signed copies of the LOST Encyclopedia, and a top secret project to be unveiled very, very soon. In the meantime, share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
It was a fitting end. I'm glad I was there for it.
ALL the time lines, flash-forwards, flash-backs,flash-sideways, were "created" by the dead of Oceanic Flight 815. The island never existed! if you see the beginning of this season when jack is in the plane after the plane hits turbulence- Rose says to him "just let go" …so Jack is already dead!
Nah, I think the flashsideways/afterflash makes you realize that it wasn't parallel to the real time line. The afterflash is void of time and space, so everyone there were dead, just they didn't die at the same time as Jack. I have a feeling a lot of people are thinking that the whole Island never existed thing is plausible, but I don't think so.
Dude wtf are you watching? not the same thing as me ill tell ya that much. That was sooooooo horrible and didn't make sense what so ever. They all met after they died sooo why did they even need to meet? And what about walt and michael and all the people who got off were they resurected? Not even jesus did that. Terrible sooo Terrible i want the last six years out of my life back. Thanks
Enjoyed reading your recap. I agree, it was the best hours of television I've ever seen. Would you mind doing a point-by-point analysis on why the island time line actually happened? I'm tired of debating with people tonight.
First I think I was an excellent finale. What I think it was like Matt Fox said on Jimmy Kimmel, Its the in between. The plane did crash on the Island and everyone that was on the island was dead, and when it start to jump in to the past and the future and jump in to side world and such, They had started to come to terms with their deaths . Jack was basically living a dead life he had not reconciled his death and the other would die later. Cause if you look Jack died in the exact spot he was found in the pilot, when the other took off in the plane you would probably assume the plane crashed because, Claire, Sawyer, Kate and everyone the the plane except the pilot was in the church with Jack, so the pilot survived. Hurley and Ben are like the keepers of the in between, helping those who end up on the island to move on.
Everything was real with the exception of the sideways timeline. Only in the sideways were they all dead, that is where they went when they died on the island timeline. It was made clear long ago that they are not dead. Christian also said that everyone in the church died at some point, and were coming together to move on. It seems to be a way to tie up the stories of the people we love. This season we were given one story line of what was going on on the island, and in the sideways timeline we were given a second story, the story of what happens after the island (when everyone dies).
For about fifteen minute I didn't know what to think. I love the episode and I always had a hunch it would end with Jack's eye closing, but I was just so shocked by what came out of that Christian and Jack convo. As someone who argued thoroughly against the "sideways equals afterlife," I essentially got the end I said I would hate if it happened. I wanted to be angry, but then I calmed down, and my atheist sci fi brain started to try and figure a way to approach what had happened. Ultimately I believe the end is more open to interpretation than what people are making it out to be by flat out labeling it "purgatory." I think it was indeed and alternate universe created by "the incident." It makes sense with how island Desmond was able to see it when he was zapped by the electro magnet. Because it was not the original course of time the universe tried to correct itself, first by all seemingly coincidental the meet ups, and then more precisely with Desmond's help. Ultimately though, the only way to truly correct the course of time is for our Losties to acknowledge that in the life they were ment to have, they died. It's hard to interpret the white light, and the full scope of what it means to "move on" in the scientific sense, but it doesn't really matter, the end fit no matter how you look at it. One thing I keep in mind is that the church they went to was the one with the lamp post station aka another pocket of energy. Darlton didn't give us a single answer in the finale but instead they gave us a massive new lens to view so many of the other mysteries. How do the whispers relate? How does Hurley's ability to see and speak to the dead relate? How does the "heart of the island" relate? Mother did say the the light was "life, death, and rebirth." If the heart of the island is and electromagnetic pocket and we know that those properties have lead to not only time travel, but a smoke monster that can take on the forms of the dead, than does everything relate? I think yes, but I dont quite know how. I'm truly glad Lost has left me with this.
I watched every episode of Lost and was captivated from the beginning. I was one of the lucky who witnessed at Comic Con in San Diego the dharma initiative invaded and were recruiting. I was cheering along the entire finale saying this is going to be a proper send off to these fantastic characters leaving all the unanswered questions to our imagination and then the last five minutes ruined it. I'm almost glad producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse did this because I had every intent on wasting time on re-watching the series. I don’t care whether they died on the Oceanic Flight 815, or on the island, or in a parallel universe, It was all meaningless. This is great because as I suspected long ago we were being strung along and very little would be given for us to connect the dots of the questions that were created and now I don't have to look for continuity errors that were everywhere!I really did enjoy the show over the last six seasons and the innovative ways the writers used to move the plot forward, the range of emotions they were able to get out of each episode, and how deep each of the characters they created were. I knew back when they added time travel through the donkey wheel, flash forwards, flash sideways, purgatory, teleporting, special powers, immortality, cave of light etc… that the writers were just throwing more gasoline on the fire of captivation that they created. Answers to the mysteries that tugged to the sci-fi geek in me that were constants in the first couple of seasons like the Others and their motivations, genesis and purpose of the Dharma Initiative, Islands ability to heal, Walt, etc… were long forgotten and the writers were not going to be able to tie in all the tangents and parallel universes they created. After the disappointing “Across the Sea” episode in which the candid answers came without reason the fate of this show was sealed for me. “You can not kill each other because I made it so”, or the donkey wheel of time explanation of “he’s special” obviously the list goes on. I did enjoy the six seasons of turbulence, I just wish they would have had some foresight and crafted something clever to bind together the wonderful suspenseful emotional mysteries they created. Instead I feel like a fire hydrant and a pair of old dogs marked their territory on my face with a nice warm wet one. I just wish they would have flushed me down the glowing toilet.My hats off to you gents, I was entertained. Thanks for the ride.
The ending of LOST finally brought closure on what the vast minority of intelligent TV viewers were saying for years. The show's hackneyed plot devices were enough to make anyone with a background in media raise an eyebrow, but I'm sure somehow they will live on as being LOST cornerstones despite having existed for years before (Twilight Zone? Ray Bradbury?). It's a series of nonsense that is loosely tied together that will satisfy all fans, because after 6 years of being yanked around, you'll settle for any shit they throw at you to justify the 121 hours of life you've all wasted.So, what can I say. This comment will be lost in your circle-jerk, all pretending you completely understand the finale by summarizing "oh, it's open for interpretation. That's how riveting a show it is." My hat is off to you, Abrams.
I think that the alternative universe was purgatory, but even if it was a blink of an eye (it wasnt)… but who cares? Why does that matter? I watched the show because of the island timeline, not the most recent side-ways flash timeline.They didn't explain the mysteries. While strange coincidences like Ecko and Walt's stuff or the guy who was both in the hatch with Desmond and in the military with Sayid were slightly more minor (still needed to be explained though), they failed to explain WHAT the island was and WHAT the light was. What were they protecting? Why? Why couldn't MIB leave the island? What would happen? We have about 70% of the story, but not the beginning or anything to actually tie the story together. Who came before Jacob's mom? Who founded the Island? What was Widmore's purpose? Why did he even come back? The story is not even close to being complete because of it. And because of it, it ruined the show.So they are all dead in the flash-sidways. Who cares? The more I think of it, the more I am going to say that they made it up as they went along. The message was that they were all lost people who found each other to make their lives become meaningful… Which doesn't matter to the story that I had been watching for 6 years.If in fact they were dead the entire time, then the show is even worse than I'm giving credit for. I'm saying that this episode was SO bad that it ruined the best show currently on tv, as well as being the worst series finale of all-time. If they were dead, then the show was just a complete waste of time (as is it was a waste… debating all of those things to not have any of them answered).
I think that the alternative universe was purgatory, but even if it was a blink of an eye (it wasnt)… but who cares? Why does that matter? I watched the show because of the island timeline, not the most recent side-ways flash timeline.They didn't explain the mysteries. While strange coincidences like Ecko and Walt's stuff or the guy who was both in the hatch with Desmond and in the military with Sayid were slightly more minor (still needed to be explained though), they failed to explain WHAT the island was and WHAT the light was. What were they protecting? Why? Why couldn't MIB leave the island? What would happen? We have about 70% of the story, but not the beginning or anything to actually tie the story together. Who came before Jacob's mom? Who founded the Island? What was Widmore's purpose? Why did he even come back? The story is not even close to being complete because of it. And because of it, it ruined the show.So they are all dead in the flash-sidways. Who cares? The more I think of it, the more I am going to say that they made it up as they went along. The message was that they were all lost people who found each other to make their lives become meaningful… Which doesn't matter to the story that I had been watching for 6 years.
Bascially the show has always been a commentary on the two major apposing views of universal truth in western philosophy since Aristole and loosely based the influence Milton's Paradise Lost on western thinking.The island and the sidwways timeline are both purgatory. Whether the characters in Lost were alive or dead is irrelivent. In Gnostic Christianity (Jack=Gnostic Jesus) the only thing that is real is the soul. Our 'body' and what we percieve as the world around us (purgatory) is a state which provides us experience on the path to enlightment (heaven). Each of our paths are different and each of us are at different stages, but we all have the same end goal.John Locke the philosopher tried to blow up the idea of purgatory, just as the Lost character Locke wanted to blow up the island. Locke, argued against the idea of purgatory. As a rationaist, he believed there is only the physical universe and it follows a predetermined set of laws. The soul simply transfers bodies after death, and never transcends to anything other than this physcial world. In contrast, in gnostic christianity, only the soul is real. Our only purpose for being to try to achieve enlightenment and become like God (This is why the group on Lost was called Dharma. It means goal, or path). The world, our body, ect is not real. It is a collection of experiences (a path) designed to help us achieve universal truth. Enlightenment is the original goal of major religions. (as shown when a transcended Jack is in the church and the stain glass window behind him is made up to symbols from Islam, Judiasm, Christianity, Buddism, Toaism, ect.)Those who have yet to be illuminated stay on the path and repeat the experience again and again until they are ready. As Jack (aka Jesus) has achieved nirvana/ultimate truth, he is not on the plane with the others when it explodes and repeats the cycle.While I only watched the last few episodes of Lost, its pretty clear that the writers had a pretty tight plan all along where they were taking this show. The metaphors are pretty tight and there literary references are undeniable. They covered just about every important philisophical
No. The island existed. Christian himself said it "The best time of your life was when you were together". So they were alive when the whole island stuff happened.
This review is typical of the average Lost fan's coping mechanism with what happened last night, and what has been happening this whole season. It's almost as if Sam has brought his drunken hot girlfriend to a company party, and as soon as she starts embarrassing herself in front of his friends and blowing chunks all over the dancefloor, he gets angry at those who laugh or pass judgment and says "YOU DON'T KNOW HER LIKE I DO"! It's sad.It's sad because I respect Sam. I've been reading your cleverly written reviews for months, and I appreciate your insight and commentary. However, with regard to last night's episode, you took the easy way out. I have seen countless Lost fans in denial about the nonsense we saw last night, and each explanation shares a common thread in ignorance. What is most obsurd is that if you and everyone else who left feeling somehow impressed from last night's finale "flashedback" to your 2005 selves, none of you would have embraced an idea for an ending like this. And that's my point. Lost became popular for a reason. I know that reason, and so do all of you. And all of you know it can't be explained. You just felt it when you saw the pilot. That feeling has largely disappeared, except for a few brilliant moments over the past couple of years where I swore I thought I would be proven wrong. I wasn't watching it for the feeling anymore, I was watching it because I was trying to get that feeling back. But while I may have thought I saw my dead friend moving around outside my window, it's people like Sam who sit at that window all day, denying their friend ever passed away. Making excuses for why he isn't there, and telling whoever will listen that his friend is coming back soon. Last night's episode was awful. Lost was never character driven; stop drinking the kool aid. Lost was and always will be a PLOT driven show. There are people who will say, "You don't have to have all the answers", but I think most of us wouldn't have cared if all our questions weren't answered. We just wanted a proper conclusion to the story we have been following. When the writers and Lost fanboys say that the show will continue to be debated for years, it's almost a smack to the face. All we have been doing is debating! The reason for that is because, hello!, we can't provide explanations! So naturally, when the time comes, explanations from the source are expected!Last night's finale was a classic case of talented writers overcomplicating a situation. I felt like the 1200 page novel I just read finished at page 1100, and I can see the torn edges of the last 100 pages that have been ripped out. I, as a fan, didn't enjoy much of last night. I'm sorry for you if you don't agree.
[...] TV Overmind [...]
It's funny how those who didn't like it, not only tell us that, but how silly we are to have liked it ourselves, and/or we are drinking the Kool-Aid. Such a pathetic viewing, like a 5yr old tot not getting their way. So you didn't like it, that is fine, we all have our freedom of expression. But the audacity to tell others how they should have viewed it? Sad and I am sad you viewed your Lost experience negatively. At least I didn't waste my time, like I did watching that wretch job called Fringe
Mmmh, sorry but after 6 Seasons of Lost i am really disappointed in the ending. If you are not religious, it just doesn´t work because they are all just dead. Sure thats closure but who wants that kind of closure. I also disagree that the show was only about the characters. It was always about characters and mysteries…from my view there was no real closure for the characters and no answers to any questions.
Okay first of all, Sam thank you for your review. I have read so many negative reviews for the series finale. And finally I read yours which is easily the best review I've read to date. I couldn't agree with you more about how amazing this finale was. Everything just fit with how they ended the show. The acting was superb! There will never be another television show with this much talent that LOST brings. Matthew Fox is the best television actor I've ever watched. His ability to convey his emotions through a single look is chilling. People that think that LOST isn't about the characters is mentally unstable. You obviously haven't been watching the same show we have grown to love in the past 6 years. From the very beginning LOST has shown us that these core characters have all been intertwined with each other. The flash backs showing each character being connected to one or the other in some way is pivitol to LOST's foundation as a show. The SLU(Safe Landing Universe) or Dream World as I have been hearing was in my opinion executed excellent in the end. It's not purgatory by any means but the bonds that Jack, Locke, Sawyer, Kate, Juliet, Sayid ect… formed created a place that was for them to remember each other and what they went through together. And that when they all had passed they would all move on together. Flipping brilliant writing by Carlton and Damon. Everything about this finale was perfect in my eyes. Those of you that are hating on the ending. Really think about LOST and what it's been about since season one. The characters!!!!! Watch all the flash backs and how they are all connected in ways they didn't even realize. It's beautiful. One last note… They were alive on the Island. Christian said that everything they went through was real. And that there is no "now" They're all just "there" to move on together. I'm open to any and all debates about this.
Well-summed, Sam. This was an epic episode whose conclusion was outstanding. I am baffled by those who feel "disappointed." Might I suggest they try writing a complex and intricate screenplay that attracts millions of viewers on a regular basis. True art leaves itself open for interpretation. To answer all of the mysteries surrounding the island would have been a grave mistake. Let the miserable and close-minded masses sulk. It can be assumed that these unfortunates rarely see the good in anything that does not suit their narrow-minded take on life in general. To them, it's all about the quick resolution. It is likely they read magazines as opposed to novels and tune in regularly to reality TV and sports to get a quick fix. This journey has been spectacular and I thank all of those involved for keeping me entertained for 6 years. So long…
Im totally in the camp that this was one of the best pieces of television ever. I LOVED the final and couldn't be happier. Better than just about any movie made in the last decade- YES that good!
Daniel,You miss the obvious. Numberous characters on Lost are associated with a real life western philosopher or Biblical figures. Lock, Jacob, Hugo…heck even the name 'Lost' is a clear reference to Milton. The writers of the show obviously had a plan from the very begining to make the show a commentary on Milton's Lost Paradise. They just ran into a few seasons where they were requirred to stretch things out. As a result, we got all these wierd side stories…most of which were subtle references to western philosophies influence on current thinking. The final script was almost guaranteed to play out like the last 50 pages of Chaucer's Canteberry Tales (miniplots within the subtext of an overall philisophical debate about the human understanding)At its core, the show mirrors the debate throughout history concerning different interpertations of the story of the fall of man, our capacity to grasp what is true, and that we all are at different stages of enlightenment. The fact that people don't understand it all makes the ending even more appropriate. I'm not sure the ending could have been much smarter. They'll be talking about Lost in college philosophy classes years from now.
I would have liked this comment had you not called Fringe a "wretch job." It's my favorite series on TV now that LOST is gone. But I suppose a Fringe discussion is neither here nor there…
While I appreciate your respect (or former respect), I can't say I appreciate you making extrapolations about my character through my opinion on the finale. I wouldn't say I took the "easy way out." Enjoying something isn't taking the easy way out, though I could see how it seems that way. And the entire denial comment is subjective, honestly, and while LOST may have "died" to you, it certainly didn't for me, and my continued enjoyment of the series is not a character defect. Please don't make these things personal– there's no need for the fan community that worked so hard to unite to suddenly divide over feelings about the finale.I can understand your qualms, though, but they simply weren't an issue for me.
Quite interesting. I'd like to see your take on the entire series once you've gone back and watched it.
Insults aren't necessary. Just because you didn't like it doesn't mean that we are idiotic for liking it.
I'll do a follow-up article later this week.
What is real and what is not is what the entire show is about. From Jack's (aka Jesus) transendental perspective only the scene in the church (his experience after enlightenment) was real. Anyone and anything that happened on the island were experiences who's purpose was to get Jack to the church (symbol for universal truth). There is no life, no death, only the enlightened soul is real.From Locke's perspective (John Locke's rationalist philosophy) everything was real. For him only what he could experience directly can be taken as certain. He achieved enlightenment in the side reality at the hospital (where he was healed by a healer) and then entered the church. This alternate path allowed him to do what he could not do on the the alternate experience of the island, that is come to grips that there is a intellect/soulful side to rational thought. (Locke morphed his philosophy in later writting to accept the idea that there is more to truth than what we can directly experience)The finale wasn't meant to play out like the Sixth Sense where nobody knew they were dead. Lost went smarter than that. Nothing is real and everything is real and our true purpose is to see how much of it we can hope to understand.
[...] 100 | TV Overmind | Sam McPherson “The End” is the best episode of television I believe I’ve ever seen. Best series finale? Most… [...]
If Lost was never a character driven show, then why was nearly half of it flashbacks that gave us zero insight to the workings of the Island or the mysteries behind the magic? It's not a show about a magic island, it's a show about people on a magic island. Besides, they explained most of what I needed to know, and anything else I still wonder about is relatively minor.
Did you watch the entire show? The person in the end was not the character John Locke. While he took his body, it was not him. The actual John Locke from the other seasons believed in the complete opposite.If you watched the Jimmy Kimmel thing, you would have seen the character who played Ben say that he was originally only supposed to be in a 3 episode arc. Clearly they did not plan out everything from the start.While they didn't necessarily have to explain everything, there is one question from the first episode of the first season that they had to go into. Charlie: "Guys…Where are we?" What is the island? Any answer is just a theory… They had to explain itAnd if you had watched the two hour summary before the show, the writers talked about why they named the characters, and it clearly was not meant to be the key to the show.
A fan community that worked so hard to unite? What does that even mean?In terms of the finale, Daniel is correct. They billed this season as the time that all of our questions were going to be answered. And I'm ok without knowing every little detail, but there are major things that they left out. Why focus half of the season on what happens to the people when they land in purgatory? The one episode about Jacob as a kid was good, but the show will always remain incomplete. While we understand the meaning of their friendships, we will never understand the island. A complete series finale should have done both. (or it the main mysteries could have been told by Jacob to the 4 of them at the campfire at the end of the second to last episode)
The flashbacks gave us insight as to who each character was so that we knew each person on the island. Once they were complete, we knew what we needed to as each person made their mark on the island. Do you find it satisfying to only know the completion of the characters? The conclusion was fine in the show, and I liked it, but because they left out such major explanations in the plot, the show is like reading a 1000 page book with pages 850-900 missing. I got the ending. I just did't get the explanations.Jack didn't necessarily need to find out what the light did exactly, but the viewer did.
Its not that it is funny…I'm personally frustrated that people can call this series complete when it clearly is not. What was the island? How can you find this to be a complete series without knowing that? Why were there all of these story plots (like the guy who was in the hatch with desmond and the army over sayid) whithout explaining them?
Michael,To your point, the philosopher John Locke changed his philosophy later in life. Inititally he argued exclusively for rationalism. The only things that we can know as certain are things which we experience through direct sensation. This is in direct conflict with other Transcendentalist philosophers of his day (why Locke tried to blow up island – Jack's (the transcendentaist's) set of experience to achieve enlightenment. Later in life John Locke changed this philosophy to include the idea that the intellect can coexist with the physical and there is much beyond on means of understanding. This is why on Lost when they showed his reality (the hospital) he reached enlightenment.Both are the same Locke. However, the Locke on the island is just on of many characters who are necessary for Jack to reach enlightenment (this is the early Locke). The Locke in the hospital is the Locke who needs the set of experiences that allow him to reach enlightenment (Locke later in life). Both are Locke, both had free will, and their different choices determine different outcomes.
Michael,The show is called 'Lost' for a reason. It's about Milton's 'Paradise Lost'. Paradise Lost is a 17th century commentary on the story of Adam and Eve and what this story originally meant. Its about mankind's ability to truely understand what is real.I did see the pre-show. Both writters made if very clear they have a very deep education in literature and philosophy.
To Sam McPherson: The best episode in TV history? You obliously haven't watched Babylon 5. It has THE best scripts of all TV-series. Hands down. And when it all takes place within coherent 5 years full of drama that is all connected (and I mean truly connected!), that is what TV should be about. If you don't care about sci-fi, then you will miss the best arc of TV history so far.As for emotional TV-episodes, Desperate Housewives has provided as good or at least almost as good endings as the Lost final.
Worst series ending ever. Im glad I watched the first 5 seasons on DVD in 1 month, and I don't feel so bad, but I still want my month back. And the 2.5 hours of commercials and crap. The last 10 mins looked and felt like a cast party, and was so cheesey and gave us, the viewer nothing but "make up your own conclusions". This review is terrible too. Sam McPherson is never to be trusted again.
Ok, writing the screenplays is one thing, but that has NOTHING to do with how bad this episode was and how terrible season 6 was in general.
Wow, not even close. We got the backstory so we would know the mark the island made on them. This isn't like missing 90% of a book, this is more like watching the original Star Wars trilogy and hating the movie because you're not sure how the Force works yet. They wrapped up the saga; Jack comes full circle, and Hurley and Ben take over protecting the island, and we know of it's importance. The motifs and themes are fully explained, and so much more.
Grapes,the island is meant to be purgatory, but not the traditional sense (a place the soul waits after death until its ready to go to heaven).The island, and all side realities are purgatory in the gnostic sense. Everything we experience through our physical senses is purgatory.The island and all the sidestories are all experienced by each character, but at different times and different stages of their spiritual development. In effect, your soul (or intellect) is the only thing that is real and everything around you was put in place to help you achieve spritual understanding. Me writing this for example, makes me a role player in your current purgetory. You reading it, makes you a role player in mine. If you notice, only Jack entered the church via the island, Others entered the church from their own alternate reality and everyone named after a philosopher was in the church. All were enlightened, but all got there in different ways.I'm pretty sure Hurley Hugo is Victor Hugo. I'd suspect his ability to speak to the dead is the same metaphor the bible uses when it says Jesus raised people from the dead. Both men's teachings have had huge influence on modern thinking about religon, sprirituality, and civil liberty.If you aren't seeking spiritual growth, you are a soul without purpose…. in effect, dead. If you can start living an examined life, you are 'resurrected'The smoke monster is ignorance, sin, whatever you want to call it. It can't survive in the light.The light is universal truth. It is the "death" of ignorance, "life" to the soul and a rebirth of being perfect like God.
missing pages 50-100 would not be missing 90% of the book….While the star wars analogy is an interesting one, its not quite the same. The force was a power…one was chosen to have it. It was explained enough.WHAT was Hurley protecting? If Jack left to live happily ever after with Kate (while he was alive), WHAT would have happened? You say he had faith in the island… fine. I say that the writers didn't explain enough. The plot of star wars was about protecting the force, then yes, they would have to explain more about it.It would have been ok if the viewer had learned plot details that the characters themselves didnt. We knew the jacob backstory when they didnt. And Jack, if you liked that, still could have done it for faith. But, the explanation of "we didnt need to know because thats not what the show was about" is crazy.
To the author (if that's what we are calling you) who wrote this article, the entire sideways flash WAS in fact a death-fest FYI. Also, the show was 50 percent plot driven and 50 percent character driven. That being said, it is necessary to tie up both the plot of the story and the character relationships presented over the six years. The "death-fest" or purgatory land was a perfect way to tie up the character relationships. But how can you leave the plot hanging? We do not fully appreciate the story if we are not let in on the most important secrets (What is the island? What are they protecting? Why is protecting still needed after "MIB" dies?).To those who say that lost has always been a mystery, and it always will be, I say BS. Demand more from your writers. To me, the unsatisfying explanations of the main timeline, the one we have been closely following for 6 years, is lame and shows either laziness or confusion on the writer's part. Anyone who says this ending was satisfying, I say, did you even watch the show?? If you did, there is NO way you could have walked away satisfied unless you really did not stop to question any of the information that was presented. And as an educated viewer, you should be questioning everything just like we all have done every episode for the last six years.Disappointing. Disappointing. Disappointing.
I just want to say I totally enjoy reading your view of the show Rob. This whole spiritual and philosophical take on the show actually helps to explain it at a whole new level. We've always been looking at the show in a very sci fi way, and I know there are philosophical references, but I don't have that knowledge to look at the show at that angle. But I think Lost took a spiritual approach this season, and it's really interesting to hear explanations like yours.
Michael: The light is divine truth. Jack did find out what it was. As did Desmond (David Hume) and Locke does after he changes philsophies (John Locke, the philosopher's early work was written under an alias. The two Lockes on Lost are the same person). The entire script has a similar framework to Chaucer's Canteberry tales.
The island was one set of experiences, specifically for Jack to achieve enlightenment. This is a show about our ability to find divine truth, as debated by western philosophers since Aristole. Over 10 major characters are named after a western philospher.) Some are transcendentalists, some rationalists, some existentialists. All have different takes on the same question "What can we really know about our purpose". Ultimately every character on the show who lives an examined existance makes it to the church (enlightenment). Hurley (who is meant to represent Victor Hugo) is protecting the idea of free thought. In the end, the writer's are saying, "which philosophy is correct does not matter. All are correct and none are correct, we will never know for certain. The fact that the intellect is engaged in these conversations keeps the individual on the path to enlightenment. The examined life is the only life worth living
Ron, shut up! You are so full of crap it is ASTOUNDING! And then after all your crap, you say this:"While I only watched the last few episodes of Lost, its pretty clear that the writers had a pretty tight plan all along where they were taking this show. "MY GOD! Are you serious?! Shut up already! You haven't even seen it you poser! You fake! You BS talker. I can't believe no one called you out for it, oh wait, yes I can, no one wanted to read paragraphs of BS, unfortunately I did. And to you Sam McPherson, you praise Rob's word, despite him admitting he hasn't seen the show (only the last few eps), yet you acknowledge this fact and go on to say "interesting" (a BS talk he did based on 3-4 eps). You lost ALL credibility! I hope you don't take yourself seriously again."The episode answered so many questions"Dear GOD! Are you serious?! Say you liked the crapfest all you want and that you didn't need answers, but saying "answered so many questions" is just a pure lie! If you haven't noticed, that is the nr1 reason most Lost "haters" are naming for their disdain of the show. Again, you just have no credibility. I am beginning to doubt that even you watch the show. Let me end with this. Sam, your review is very bad (not your actual writing). Seriously. This is not a me vs you, someone who didn't liked the finale vs someone who did. No. This is based on the things I have brought up here; you call something the greatest finale (obviously you haven't followed a lot of tvshows – besides there are without a doubt better finales, and this is even shows I haven't watched, but most importantly – there is no greatest, just "one of the greatest", once you have realized and understood this, then you know what you are talking about), you cheer someone on who hasn't seen this show, you know this, yet you cheer him on (and so many more, but I'll leave at that, and quite frankly, that should be enough to make one think)… C'mon! Open your mind!
Said it was the best I've ever seen – not the best in TV history. You're right, I haven't seen Babylon 5.
I didn't "praise Rob's word." I said it was an interesting opinion, and that I'd like to see what he thought after watching the series. If that makes me lose credibility in your eyes, then your opinion is quite fickle and I can't say I'm very devastated. I called it the greatest finale that I'd ever seen (which you could have gathered if you'd used context clues). I'm not insinuating that it's better than the M*A*S*H finale or anything like that, but that's because I haven't seen them. I thought it was better than the Sopranos finale (which I watched), and was a nose ahead of Six Feet Under. It's opinion, and if stating my thoughts makes me lose credibility to you, that's okay. But I wasn't going to post something that I didn't think.
I don't understand how you can say " you obliously haven't watched Babylon 5. It has THE best scripts of all TV-series." The word best is subjective and it is dependent on how we experience and interpret things. Just enjoy Babylon 5 as your favorite. Sam was just saying it was the best for him.
I don't understand how you can say " you obliously haven't watched Babylon 5. It has THE best scripts of all TV-series." The word best is subjective and it is dependent on how we experience and interpret things. Just enjoy Babylon 5 as your favorite. Sam was just saying it was the best for him.
Sam, I am curious if you have read other reviews about the show? And what did you think of them? What are the problems "some fans" have with the show (overall, s6 only, the finale only)?
I think you can look around the comments section on this article to see plenty of negativity of "some fans." I have indeed read other reviews, and for the most part, I found them quite thoughtful. Most of them were quite positive toward the finale. http://features.metacritic.com/features/2010/lo…..
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