Post by Dragavan on Jan 28, 2006 1:36:49 GMT -5
Be warned...
This rant might be a little snarky and have some subdued anger just below the surface. My roommates have been arguing with me about Lost (not the events of the show, but the show itself) and it has me a little on edge at the moment as I write this. If you are easily offended or don't care to read about my grumblings, please stop reading and don't hold this against me... Other wise, you have been warned.
Oh... and it's long... sorry about that.
---
First off let me say that I love Lost and everything about it. I think it is not only one of the best things On TV right now, but it's more than just a show and that makes it even better. Lost is the one thing I enjoy most in the world right now (well, if you don't count things we don't talk about in polite company). I spend several hours a day listening to Lost podcasts at work, reading Lost forums (also often at work), and even watching more Lost. Some seem to think I am obsessed with it.
Secondly, let me explain what I think Lost is. I don't think it is just a TV show. I think it's an interactive game of sorts. A mystery we get to play along with. You need knowledge beyond that given in the show to understand everything. Knowledge of religion, world events, history, literature, etc. are all required to get the clues on the show. Plus, they now don't just show us clues on the show, but through the podcast and several Offical web pages. Who knows what eslse they will come up with in the future.
At first I only saw these other things as fun addition items that really never told you more than what the show gave us. This has changed more and more as the month go on towards being obvious that they wanted to show us more through the web. Perhaps even to the point of needing the web to solve some of the mysteries before the reveal. With the scene of Mr. Zeke Friendly the Seabilly quoting something from the web on the show being the most recent obvious example.
Much like some of the strange web based games of recent years, the first most notable of which was linked to the movie AI (then came the whole Halo 2 mystery one before the actual game's release). They build these amazing plots where you have to seek out clues and follow links between all these "fake" pages set in the world of these games. Lost is doing the same thing, only in conjunction with the TV show that has to be entertaining in its own right, while the mystery game is growing.
To fully understand and enjoy the show you have to do more than watch the show. If you don't you will miss many of the clues and several things that may seem empty or meaningless on the show will never be understood. You can still like the show, as many do, but you won't see the full brilliance of it.
Now, all that being said, let me get to my beef.
---
What started this whole thing was a conversation with my roommates about the latest two shows. About what happened and what we learned about the mysteries. They complained about how the meeting with the "others" seemed pointless and proved nothing, since we already knew there were other people on the island. They didn't get any of the subtle things learned though the meeting and especially didn't get the reference to the Hando quote.
I brought up the things we learned, especially the Alex reference and the Hanso quote. They got upset about the Hanso quote because it was not something they learned from the show and it made the scene have so much more meaning. They then went on to say how stupid that was of the show to not include everything in the show, because making you have to go to the net, jump through hoops, listen to podcasts, and actually work at gaining knowledge should not be part of a TV show.
That's when I lost it... Well, not really lost it, but started to give up on trying to get them to understand the brilliance of the show. It seemed the more I explained that this was more than just a show the more it made them angry. They felt they should have been told on the show that they would have to do all this extra work to get the most out of it, but to me that would be taking half the fun out of it. It's the journey that makes it fun. If they told you where to go and what to do it would cheapen it.
It finally got to the point where I had to say "Look, I don't want to talk about it any more because we are never going to see eye to eye on this." and leave the room.
It's thinking like this that seems to be where a lot of movie studios and television networks have their brains. They cancel or never produce shows that they see as "too smart" for the general public and put out the same brainless crap over and over. Like my roommates, they don't want to make a show that takes "too much work" to get the most out of it because it will alienate too much of their audience.
Who is their audience, the stupid and lazy? Is this really what we should be striving for in our entertainment? Something to further numb and dull our brains, as we sit and watch meaningless action filled pap? Don't get me wrong here, I LOVE a good action scene, but I would like to see it be something that furthers a deeper story or plot. Action can be spectacular and make you think at the same time.
I am also more accepting of this "Turn your brain off and enjoy" attitude when it comes to movies. You sit there for an hour and a half or two and unwind while watching the pretty colors, but then you return to the world. It's like a nap for the brain, once and a while. TV seems to be nothing but a nap for the brain for the most part and it's sickening.
Lost is one of the few shows out there that has a deeper and better written story that actually makes you think. It still has Humor, Action, Drama, and the rest, but none of it is simple, repetitive, or brainless. Battlestar Galactia, 24, Arrested Development, and small handful of others also make you think one way or another while entertaining you, but these are the minority.
My roommates suddenly taking this stance really upset and angered me. They are very intelligent people (although very lazy as well) who have jobs that tax their brains every day. They create complex things, have some rather complex hobbies, and know how to think through mysteries and problems very well. One is a high end programmer that does interface and database designs for major companies' intranets (like Hormel and several cell phone companies) and the other maps the genomes of mice for scientific research. One is a role-player who designs and edits adventures and campaign settings for the RPGA and the other is a music love and former DJ who makes his own complex electronic music mixes.
They have also both been very involved a lot of time consuming on-line activities, from nearly every MMORPG in existence (at one time or another) to web designing for friends, gaming clans, and fun. They chat nearly constant in games, IRC, MSN, and forums. I have watches them spend hours doing research on topics relating to their hobbies or even on whims. They both are extremely alert and intelligent people. So this sudden attitude about Lost took me really off guard.
I almost feel sorry for them. They are missing out on something greater than some sitcom or brainless episodic action/drama. They don't see what we all see in the show and refuse to give it a real try because it's "stupid" to have to. How can people like this ever truly enjoy anything as more than a temporary break for their brain?
It's yet another thing that is making me really lose hope for the fate of humanity. All "we" want any more (as a whole) are the quick fixes and easy out. We are sheep, wanting to be led and told what to think and do. Caring is rare. Common courtesy is rare. True respect is rare. Love of your fellow man is rare. And now even wanting to think is rare.
I am glad there are at least some out there that seem to get it. At least part of it. People who see the value in putting in the extra to get the most out of something brilliant. People who think and love thinking. People who truly "get" what Lost is and revel in it. People like a lot you.
Now if you read this long I thank you. You are most likely the kind of people I am talking about. Either that or people who love to stir up trouble and can't wait to slam me for something I said. Either way, enjoy... The floor is yours.
This rant might be a little snarky and have some subdued anger just below the surface. My roommates have been arguing with me about Lost (not the events of the show, but the show itself) and it has me a little on edge at the moment as I write this. If you are easily offended or don't care to read about my grumblings, please stop reading and don't hold this against me... Other wise, you have been warned.
Oh... and it's long... sorry about that.
---
First off let me say that I love Lost and everything about it. I think it is not only one of the best things On TV right now, but it's more than just a show and that makes it even better. Lost is the one thing I enjoy most in the world right now (well, if you don't count things we don't talk about in polite company). I spend several hours a day listening to Lost podcasts at work, reading Lost forums (also often at work), and even watching more Lost. Some seem to think I am obsessed with it.
Secondly, let me explain what I think Lost is. I don't think it is just a TV show. I think it's an interactive game of sorts. A mystery we get to play along with. You need knowledge beyond that given in the show to understand everything. Knowledge of religion, world events, history, literature, etc. are all required to get the clues on the show. Plus, they now don't just show us clues on the show, but through the podcast and several Offical web pages. Who knows what eslse they will come up with in the future.
At first I only saw these other things as fun addition items that really never told you more than what the show gave us. This has changed more and more as the month go on towards being obvious that they wanted to show us more through the web. Perhaps even to the point of needing the web to solve some of the mysteries before the reveal. With the scene of Mr. Zeke Friendly the Seabilly quoting something from the web on the show being the most recent obvious example.
Much like some of the strange web based games of recent years, the first most notable of which was linked to the movie AI (then came the whole Halo 2 mystery one before the actual game's release). They build these amazing plots where you have to seek out clues and follow links between all these "fake" pages set in the world of these games. Lost is doing the same thing, only in conjunction with the TV show that has to be entertaining in its own right, while the mystery game is growing.
To fully understand and enjoy the show you have to do more than watch the show. If you don't you will miss many of the clues and several things that may seem empty or meaningless on the show will never be understood. You can still like the show, as many do, but you won't see the full brilliance of it.
Now, all that being said, let me get to my beef.
---
What started this whole thing was a conversation with my roommates about the latest two shows. About what happened and what we learned about the mysteries. They complained about how the meeting with the "others" seemed pointless and proved nothing, since we already knew there were other people on the island. They didn't get any of the subtle things learned though the meeting and especially didn't get the reference to the Hando quote.
I brought up the things we learned, especially the Alex reference and the Hanso quote. They got upset about the Hanso quote because it was not something they learned from the show and it made the scene have so much more meaning. They then went on to say how stupid that was of the show to not include everything in the show, because making you have to go to the net, jump through hoops, listen to podcasts, and actually work at gaining knowledge should not be part of a TV show.
That's when I lost it... Well, not really lost it, but started to give up on trying to get them to understand the brilliance of the show. It seemed the more I explained that this was more than just a show the more it made them angry. They felt they should have been told on the show that they would have to do all this extra work to get the most out of it, but to me that would be taking half the fun out of it. It's the journey that makes it fun. If they told you where to go and what to do it would cheapen it.
It finally got to the point where I had to say "Look, I don't want to talk about it any more because we are never going to see eye to eye on this." and leave the room.
It's thinking like this that seems to be where a lot of movie studios and television networks have their brains. They cancel or never produce shows that they see as "too smart" for the general public and put out the same brainless crap over and over. Like my roommates, they don't want to make a show that takes "too much work" to get the most out of it because it will alienate too much of their audience.
Who is their audience, the stupid and lazy? Is this really what we should be striving for in our entertainment? Something to further numb and dull our brains, as we sit and watch meaningless action filled pap? Don't get me wrong here, I LOVE a good action scene, but I would like to see it be something that furthers a deeper story or plot. Action can be spectacular and make you think at the same time.
I am also more accepting of this "Turn your brain off and enjoy" attitude when it comes to movies. You sit there for an hour and a half or two and unwind while watching the pretty colors, but then you return to the world. It's like a nap for the brain, once and a while. TV seems to be nothing but a nap for the brain for the most part and it's sickening.
Lost is one of the few shows out there that has a deeper and better written story that actually makes you think. It still has Humor, Action, Drama, and the rest, but none of it is simple, repetitive, or brainless. Battlestar Galactia, 24, Arrested Development, and small handful of others also make you think one way or another while entertaining you, but these are the minority.
My roommates suddenly taking this stance really upset and angered me. They are very intelligent people (although very lazy as well) who have jobs that tax their brains every day. They create complex things, have some rather complex hobbies, and know how to think through mysteries and problems very well. One is a high end programmer that does interface and database designs for major companies' intranets (like Hormel and several cell phone companies) and the other maps the genomes of mice for scientific research. One is a role-player who designs and edits adventures and campaign settings for the RPGA and the other is a music love and former DJ who makes his own complex electronic music mixes.
They have also both been very involved a lot of time consuming on-line activities, from nearly every MMORPG in existence (at one time or another) to web designing for friends, gaming clans, and fun. They chat nearly constant in games, IRC, MSN, and forums. I have watches them spend hours doing research on topics relating to their hobbies or even on whims. They both are extremely alert and intelligent people. So this sudden attitude about Lost took me really off guard.
I almost feel sorry for them. They are missing out on something greater than some sitcom or brainless episodic action/drama. They don't see what we all see in the show and refuse to give it a real try because it's "stupid" to have to. How can people like this ever truly enjoy anything as more than a temporary break for their brain?
It's yet another thing that is making me really lose hope for the fate of humanity. All "we" want any more (as a whole) are the quick fixes and easy out. We are sheep, wanting to be led and told what to think and do. Caring is rare. Common courtesy is rare. True respect is rare. Love of your fellow man is rare. And now even wanting to think is rare.
I am glad there are at least some out there that seem to get it. At least part of it. People who see the value in putting in the extra to get the most out of something brilliant. People who think and love thinking. People who truly "get" what Lost is and revel in it. People like a lot you.
Now if you read this long I thank you. You are most likely the kind of people I am talking about. Either that or people who love to stir up trouble and can't wait to slam me for something I said. Either way, enjoy... The floor is yours.
