I think the time issues were with Sawyer. How could he shoot off his flare and knock out Sayid. And, later Locke suggested that it was possible for Sawyer to do it with a cigarette. Devious.

Actually, I think we do, you just have to read into it a bit. In the end, it was for the good of everyone. If Locke wouldn't have stopped him, Sayid would have found where the transmission was coming. Once he knows where the transmission is, he'll be bringing a group of people with him. Most likely Jack, Kate, Boone, etc, etc. It would have lead them all to the French lady. We know she keeps the area she stays in booby trapped. And there's nothing like taking a group of people into a booby trapped area...
Even if they did survive the traps and get out like Sayid did, then they would have to go through the forest, and then who is to say Sayid would be the only one hearing voices? One person hearing voices...that's his problem to deal with alone. A group of people hearing voices? There would most likely be a big state of hysteria, which can be contagious. That's just what they need, the group with all the 'leaders' on the island coming back in a state of hysteria. That wouldn't cause everyone on the island to freak out...

So Locke, knowing everything he knows, has two options:
A) Knock Sayid out and destroy the radio, or
B) Risk losing lives and having everyone on the island breaking out in hysteria and panic.

A was the best choice. Yeah, he destroyed a means of communication...for the moment. Hell, Sayid can build another radio. It would just take him some time and a lot of frustration...a better cost than the alternative.

Me thinks you're trying to hard to find weaknesses with the show.

I think there's one other bigger parallel here between the back and current stories. In both Sayid is being persuaded to do some he doesn't want to do (convince his friend to go along with the bombing/kill Locke) for the woman he cares about (whatever the Iraqi chick's name is/Shannon). He then goes along with what others want (convinces his friend/thinks about killing Locke), and finds a way out of both (gives his friend time to run/hears Locke out in trying to find the truth). Both wind up going against what he wants (his friend commiting suicide/Shannon holding Locke up at gun point), and he does what he feels is right (buries his friend/saves Locke's life) only to miss out on a chance with the woman he cares about (the Iraqi chick/Shannon). To me, it made sense to have Sayid's backstory with this episode, as the two paralleled each other nicely.

Sayeed should NOT have blown his chance to get into Shannon's panties!

Puddy always before bald headed strangers, sheesh i kept telling him that !

This, coming from an apologist for the show! I'm not sure I've read a more convoluted response for this show when the easier, more obvious explanation is that Abrams & Co. are more interested in having a "Twin Peaks" or "X-files" kind of show than in telling a good cohesive story. As I've posted before, I was there for both "Twin Peaks" and "X-files" and I am not willing to be strung along like these previous shows did for as long as "Lost" in on the air. I'm giving it until the end of the season, but the previews I see don't seem to me to be very promising in terms of any real questions being answered like what's with the numbers? or what is the hatch? -- not even what's in the hatch, just what is it...

(and for anyone that plans on posting "oh, you people that want all the answers at once...." or "if they gave you all the answers, there wouldn't be a show!", save it and name ONE important, story driving question that's been answered in the 22 episodes of this show -- just one....)

What is the French transmission, and who recorded it?

Interesting. I disagree with a point you make, and suddenly I'm some wild and crazy apologist of the show. Nice. And instead of looking at the argument I make and telling where you disagree, you just call it "convoluted". And really, I do think the argument I made was logical and made sense. But that probably explains why you don't reasonably argue against.

And you speak like you're the only one who has ever watched the X-files...
IMO, Lost feels like it has much more direction than the X-Files did. They may be writing it as they go along, but I think they know where the final desitination of the show lies at.

Important story driving questions that have been answered:
To repeat BwG: Where's the french transimission, and who recorded it
Who was it that knocked out Sayid and destroyed the equipment?
Why was there a Polar Bear there?
Why was Ethan after Claire's baby? (The last two haven't been completely answered, but some could argue they've been partially answered)

Those are only a few. I can understand if you don't like the show, that's fine. I couldn't care less about that. But you keep pointing to weaknesses of the show which I just don't think are there. That's where we disagree, and that's what I'm arguing against.

I don't think the last two questions have been answered, but maybe I missed it.

Yeah, there's no way in which the show has even partially answered those last two questions, there are hints at answers, but the rest is pure fan speculation and creator quotes (not the show). However, everything else black and gold has said is true and certainly there have been answers to those very important story questions (primarily the french woman). Also the first season of a show is good time to do all the introductions if it appears the story has staying power. The first season is like the exposition of a novel and we have the answers to how everyone got on the flight. Those are some pretty big questions. We also know part of the reason why a federal martial was after Kate.

Considering Laura's killer was revealed in the middle of the second season, (about 20 or so episodes into the show's run) the Twin Peaks comparisons are really flawed.
And seriously, why is everyone so impatient with demanding answers.
It's *season 1*, not 4 or so......people need to appreciate a slow build....


-Paul Jacobi-

America.

Land of *Instant* gratification.

I remember when I was crucified for saying Locke hit Sayid.

It was sooooooooo obvious.

B&G4E, you still owe me comic updates...!

Partially answered was the wrong wording...I should have said they've given some insight into it (Michael and the Polar Bear, the psychic saying Claire's baby is evil). They haven't given the answers, but they've given enough insight so that you know they have an answer.

And Darkest, I have finals this week, then I'm done. I hope to have those updates to you by a week from Friday or Saturday. I haven't read any in the past few weeks, so even I don't know what's going on.

Same with X-Files. They didn't seriously get into the conspiracy until the last few episodes of season one, basically getting the ball rolling in season 2. So they laid down the questions/mysteries during season 2 and then started giving you slivers of clues & answers in season 3. So I don't think that is a fair analogy either.

Gotta agree though, instant gratification. Sad. Methinks some have never read a decent book or book series where most of the book/ book 1 is groundwork for the rest of what is to come.

They don't have to answer a single thing for me the rest of the season. It has been a great and entertaining ride. The character development is stellar, as well as the cast that was chosen. There is some great chemistry going on there. Even at the most basic, human survival, without all the supernatural stuff is very intriguing. I am enjoying every minute, answers or not. It is a well crafted show. There is more to it than simple questions and answers.

I wonder if some of this instant gratification comes from this being a DVD site and most people probably being more movie fans that TV fans and used to things wrapping up quickly? Just a thought.

Anyway, I don't mind much, but it does get a little irritating when there are sooo many questions and that they not only aren't answered but just not even mentioned for a few episodes. But still, it's the best show on TV so that's a minor nit pick for me.

I called you an apologist (not "wild and crazy", btw) for the show and your scenario convoluted because you wrote a four episode arc for the characters that really went off into some stretched territories and places -- I mean, read what you wrote again -- there are A LOT of assumptions being made that would probably not happen -- you've got people dying in booby traps and/or getting hysterical because they're hearing voices in the jungle. Considering what the characters have already been through, I don't see Jack or Kate or Boone just falling apart out there in the jungle (although maybe Boone would have been killed by a booby trap -- same result, different route). When I read it, it just felt like you were trying to jam puzzle pieces in where they didn't really belong, that's all. I certainly didn't mean to insult you as it seems you think I did because I didn't pick apart your argument point by point and just summed it up by calling it "convoluted". Just because you think that your argument was logical and made sense doesn't give you the right to (however veiled) attack my intelligence or logic or good sense.

I didn't mean to imply that I thought I was the only one that watched the X-Files. I wanted it to be clear that I wasn't just being impatient for "Lost" to throw me some answers, I was beginning to feel as though I was re-experiencing "X-files" or "Twin Peaks" again; the slow build-up.... building....building....BUILDING.... then a bullshit answer(s)! "Twin Peaks", although a good show at the time, had NO IDEA where it was going when it started. I'm sure that NO ONE (including Lynch) had any idea who killed Laura Palmer in the first episode. I'm not even getting into the BS that turned out to be the "X-files".... ALL I'M SAYING is that "Lost" is starting to vaguely feel like these previous two (to me) unsatisfying shows.

To the questions that HAVE been answered:
Where's the french transimission, and who recorded it
Who was it that knocked out Sayid and destroyed the equipment? What have the answers to these questions done to further the story along? What have they done to change the characters' destinies? IMHO, nothing. We know now that there's a loony French woman in the jungle and Sayid doesn't trust Locke. The last two questions have certainly not been answered and I don't feel like, will be, this season.

I guess, really, what it comes to for me is that I'm starting to not care about this show and maybe should stop posting in these "Lost" threads. I like the discussion, but I'm starting to think that opinions like mine appear as threadcraps to others because this show is so universally (it seems) LOVED here. So, probably back to lurking the "Lost" threads....

It's not that I thought you were trying to be insulting, it just seemed as if the only counter to my argument was "you're an apologist and you're argument is convoluted," instead of pointing out where you disagreed. That and perhaps I misread the tone of your post. It's a message board, it happens.

As far as my argument goes, keep in mind those two options are what Locke believes will happen, that doesn't mean they will (although his dream about Boone and the plane suggest otherwise). Why do I think he believed this? Because of the answer he gave Sayid and the way he gave the answer. And the expression Sayid had after hearing his explanation made me believe he bought into it (that, and also after hearing this, Sayid believed Locke was their "best chance of surviving on the island").

How do those two quetions develop the story? Well, yeah, we know there's a crazy french woman on the island, but we also know it might be connected to some sort of disease and that this might have something to do with Ethan.
And I think the friction between Sayid and Locke will turn out to be huge. Not only has Locke lost the faith of everyone on the island, but now he has the on interrogator breathing down his neck. And with Sayid now demanding to see the hatch, that could change things as well (depending on who he tells about, who he doesn't tell, etc). Also, Locke is constantly trying to win back Sayid's trust. If he is successful at doing this, it could have major consequences overall. If not, then the tension between those two will continue to rise until it hits reaches a peak.

Hopefully, you won't stop posting. I think your comments about the show have generated some interesting discussion on here.

ot -

Do not fail me again...

There's a New Avengers/Fantastic Four comic book just for soldiers overseas. They're giving them out for free over here. The story actually kicks ass. It's neat. I'll pick one up for you.

Hey DP, who wrote/drew it?