"The End" Disc Ep 6x17-18

[tygh]

It is rather annoying that to not like the ending means we didn't get the message.

I got the message. I also got that, given the ending and flash sideways, the show was 3 seasons too long. We were fed lots of information that had nothing to do with the actual storyline even though we analyzed every bit of information looking for clues.

I have started watching the old episodes and it makes the finale seem even weaker.

Was it an entertaining show? YES. I enjoyed the ride. IMHO though, the writers built up the show's possibilities and then let us down.

[faradaddyo]

Jun 7, 2010 9:47:14 GMT -5 tygh said:

It is rather annoying that to not like the ending means we didn't get the message.

I got the message. I also got that, given the ending and flash sideways, the show was 3 seasons too long. We were fed lots of information that had nothing to do with the actual storyline even though we analyzed every bit of information looking for clues.

I have started watching the old episodes and it makes the finale seem even weaker.

Was it an entertaining show? YES. I enjoyed the ride. IMHO though, the writers built up the show's possibilities and then let us down.

Maybe throwing in so many mysteries was intentional, to try to juxtapose and accentuate the overall messages of love, acceptance, and forgiveness (among others). Is life about pushing a button? Is it about making lists of people? Or how about if we REALLY knew what the island was - would that truly bring closure?

The writers use the mysteries in a way to show that sometimes NOT knowing is actually better than knowing, in the cosmic sense. As it relates to the show, I think the real cool thing is that the unsolved mysteries can be debated (and celebrated) for many years to come. If we had ALL the answers, people would still be pissed with the ending (because the answers did not really "satisfy" them).

I think the writers hit it out of the park in The End. Never mind the pure entertainment value of it, but what other TV show has ever gone this deep into theology, philosophy, existentialism, meta-physics, quantum physics, ethics, etc? I found myself the day after the finale googling the different religions (Christianity, Judaism, Muslim, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism) to see about the basic tenets related to purgatory or the after-life.

With your re-watch of the series, allow ourself to expand your thinking about these broader morals, instead of nit-picking about inconsistencies or trying to analyze every minute of the show. I think it will make the show much more enjoyable for you, in the end.