View Poll Results: What did you think of the Lost Series Finale?
Loved It! Fantastic Way to End the show!
132
34.92%
Thought it was Good
111
29.37%
Meh, Thought it was so-so
64
16.93%
Hated it. Disappointing way to end such a great show
48
12.70%
Screw Lost, I'm selling by DVD's/BR's and will never look back!
23
6.08%
Voters: 378. You may not vote on this poll
Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
05-23-10, 11:56 PM
#676
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Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
All of the weird stuff that happened on the island happened and will never be explained.
In this season's alt timeline, everything seemed normal, but by this episode, the amount of WTF that was happening made it clear it wasn't real. People can't recover from spinal surgery in minutes. People don't see spiritual flashbacks from their time together in another reality. People don't learn English in a heartbeat. The "realness" of the alt timeline unraveled during this episode, culminating in the reunion at the church.
Christian told Jack that he had died. He told him that others died before, others died after, but they created this place to find each other again. I'm going to assume everyone had eventually died at this point (see Hurley and Ben's conversation indicating their time on the island as #1 and #2 was over). Christian SAID these things. So interpreting them as something else is contrary to what the writers, for once on this show, attempted to spell out for you.
It's brilliant, actually. They filled this episode (and season) with so much weirdness and then answered THAT question, which makes everyone go "oh, this all came together in the end!" and forget about the time travel, polar bears, light-that-turns-people-into-smoke, and everything else.
The fact is this season actually could have stood alone as its own show. Because they actually resolved what they established in the premiere. They just ignored the other 5 seasons.
In this season's alt timeline, everything seemed normal, but by this episode, the amount of WTF that was happening made it clear it wasn't real. People can't recover from spinal surgery in minutes. People don't see spiritual flashbacks from their time together in another reality. People don't learn English in a heartbeat. The "realness" of the alt timeline unraveled during this episode, culminating in the reunion at the church.
Christian told Jack that he had died. He told him that others died before, others died after, but they created this place to find each other again. I'm going to assume everyone had eventually died at this point (see Hurley and Ben's conversation indicating their time on the island as #1 and #2 was over). Christian SAID these things. So interpreting them as something else is contrary to what the writers, for once on this show, attempted to spell out for you.
It's brilliant, actually. They filled this episode (and season) with so much weirdness and then answered THAT question, which makes everyone go "oh, this all came together in the end!" and forget about the time travel, polar bears, light-that-turns-people-into-smoke, and everything else.
The fact is this season actually could have stood alone as its own show. Because they actually resolved what they established in the premiere. They just ignored the other 5 seasons.
05-23-10, 11:57 PM
#677
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Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
05-23-10, 11:57 PM
#678
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Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
You saying it doesn't make it so.
He isn't, impossible for anyoen to be sure.
I didn't see that, I thought it meant they all died during the original crash.
05-23-10, 11:58 PM
#679
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05-23-10, 11:58 PM
#680
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Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
There can be a place where crazy things happen and not be explained, it is fiction after all. It still doesn't work to me that the island is purgatory and then the alt universe is what? Another purgatory?
Yes the island could represent everyone's trials, I believe this as well, but what I disagree with is that because its a trial that it THEREFORE HAS to be purgatory.
Yes the island could represent everyone's trials, I believe this as well, but what I disagree with is that because its a trial that it THEREFORE HAS to be purgatory.
The island is a test, challenge, problem, something of that sort. It is something that has to be metaphysically overcome.
After it is overcome (by each individual, by the collective, whatever), the flash sideways universe with the Church is just a waiting room.
05-23-10, 11:58 PM
#681
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Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Locke's spinal injury get miraculously cured as soon as he arrived on the island? If the ALT timeline is purgatory and that's explained by all the impossible things happening including recovering from a spinal injury in minutes, how can you say that the island was real too? If a spinal injury can only be cured in purgatory aka the ALT timeline, wouldn't the island also be purgatory since his spinal injury was miraculously cured there too?
05-23-10, 11:59 PM
#682
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Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
Have to agree with Josh, Draven, et al. Seemed pretty clear to me that was the intent. I was kind of surprised to see people arguing differently, but I'm not here to say you can't have your opinions. However, if believing that the entire series was purgatory has ruined the entire show for you, I'd suggest re-watching the finale assuming that only the alt timeline or even solely the church was purgatory. I really think it would change how you feel.
It would be easier to say that the entire show was purgatory (to explain the events on the island), but in their reality, there existed an island with powers/properties that we can't explain or understand.
At the end, as the light enveloped the interior of the church, I was starting to cringe, hoping they wouldn't cut immediately to a loud commercial or that damn Bad Robot... The credits rolled, and scenes from the wreckage that started the whole series flashed, an homage to Season 1, as someone posted. I believe that is all that it was.
I do believe Hurley and Ben lived on the island, in reality, for many years after Jack died. Hurley could've died 100 years later, Ben could've lived for another 1,000, who knows, but upon death, they exist in the alt timeline simultaneously. In the alternate timeline, however, Ben was just beginning to reconcile with Rousseau and Danielle, so he chose to stay.
Just curious what the "entire series=purgatory" thinkers believe that the alt timeline represented?
As far as the religious symbolism, this is a pretty interesting Wiki entry that I found several weeks back when looking up info on Arlington Nat'l Cemetery...
Approved Headstone Symbols
It would be easier to say that the entire show was purgatory (to explain the events on the island), but in their reality, there existed an island with powers/properties that we can't explain or understand.
At the end, as the light enveloped the interior of the church, I was starting to cringe, hoping they wouldn't cut immediately to a loud commercial or that damn Bad Robot... The credits rolled, and scenes from the wreckage that started the whole series flashed, an homage to Season 1, as someone posted. I believe that is all that it was.
I do believe Hurley and Ben lived on the island, in reality, for many years after Jack died. Hurley could've died 100 years later, Ben could've lived for another 1,000, who knows, but upon death, they exist in the alt timeline simultaneously. In the alternate timeline, however, Ben was just beginning to reconcile with Rousseau and Danielle, so he chose to stay.
Just curious what the "entire series=purgatory" thinkers believe that the alt timeline represented?
As far as the religious symbolism, this is a pretty interesting Wiki entry that I found several weeks back when looking up info on Arlington Nat'l Cemetery...
Approved Headstone Symbols
05-23-10, 11:59 PM
#683
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05-24-10, 12:00 AM
#684
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
I think the word purgatory is holding a lot of people back here.
The island is a test, challenge, problem, something of that sort. It is something that has to be metaphysically overcome.
After it is overcome (by each individual, by the collective, whatever), the flash sideways universe with the Church is just a waiting room.
The island is a test, challenge, problem, something of that sort. It is something that has to be metaphysically overcome.
After it is overcome (by each individual, by the collective, whatever), the flash sideways universe with the Church is just a waiting room.
05-24-10, 12:00 AM
#685
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Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
The show flat out says at the end that the island world was real. Saying anything other than that is pretty much making stuff up to make yourself feel better about the show as a whole. I'm all for interpretation but there is virtually no room for it in this regard.
This episode sucked and really hurt the series as a whole for two reasons. The first is the on island stuff was lame, anti-climactic, and answered pretty much nothing. Second, because the whole purgatory/heavens waiting room thing, while somewhat moving, could have been tacked onto the end of any other show and the concept would be the same. It has nothing to do with Lost at all, it is just a way to do a happily ever after/reunion ending.
This episode sucked and really hurt the series as a whole for two reasons. The first is the on island stuff was lame, anti-climactic, and answered pretty much nothing. Second, because the whole purgatory/heavens waiting room thing, while somewhat moving, could have been tacked onto the end of any other show and the concept would be the same. It has nothing to do with Lost at all, it is just a way to do a happily ever after/reunion ending.
05-24-10, 12:01 AM
#686
DVD Talk Hero
05-24-10, 12:02 AM
#687
Moderator
Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
Why is it that the only people who are getting pissy in this thread are the "non purgatory" people?
If it's not purgatory then explain what it is then. Don't just say we're too stupid to understand it.
Ok...I admit it...I'm stupid. Please help me because to me it's OBVIOUS that the whole thing was purgatory. I know I'm stupid but please help me.
If the island was real then that means that polar bears on tropical islands, smoke monsters, time travel, mysterious energy sources and a bunch of other weird, wild stuff is also real.
Whether you're a believer or not, it seems much more plausible that all that happened in purgatory as it's easy to explain away. In purgatory anything can happen, including polar bears, smoke monsters, etc.
If it's not purgatory then explain what it is then. Don't just say we're too stupid to understand it.
Ok...I admit it...I'm stupid. Please help me because to me it's OBVIOUS that the whole thing was purgatory. I know I'm stupid but please help me.
If the island was real then that means that polar bears on tropical islands, smoke monsters, time travel, mysterious energy sources and a bunch of other weird, wild stuff is also real.
Whether you're a believer or not, it seems much more plausible that all that happened in purgatory as it's easy to explain away. In purgatory anything can happen, including polar bears, smoke monsters, etc.
Last edited by Giles; 05-24-10 at 12:06 AM.
05-24-10, 12:04 AM
#688
05-24-10, 12:05 AM
#689
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Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
Yeah, it's Jack's dead father who has no knowledge of any of this shit saying it. He'd be in a position to know. Right.
It also says that Jack's most important time was with these people, yet there are plenty of people there he really had no great contact with.
Putting stock in this bit of dialogue as the non-red herring of the whole series full of red herrings and worse is in and of itself an article of faith.
It also says that Jack's most important time was with these people, yet there are plenty of people there he really had no great contact with.
Putting stock in this bit of dialogue as the non-red herring of the whole series full of red herrings and worse is in and of itself an article of faith.
05-24-10, 12:05 AM
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Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
05-24-10, 12:08 AM
#691
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Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
Has anyone watched the Alternate Endings on Jimmy Kimmel Live? I DVR'd it and am starting it now. Not sure if I really want to watch all the interviews, etc. but I want to see the Alternate Endings if they're actually Alternate Endings.
05-24-10, 12:09 AM
#693
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Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
I think my issue with the show is thus...the argument will probably be made by many, including the people behind the show, that it's always been about the path of the characters that lead to the end of the show. The other mysteries didn't matter and were superficial. It was the journey that was important and thus what needed clarification at the end. My problem is that wasn't the show for me. In addition, it's not the device they used to promote, sell, and propel the show for 6 seasons. You can't focus countless campaigns on building mysteries and answering questions you've spent 5 years raising and then expect people to be ok with things going unanswered because quite simply "that was never the focus of the show".
05-24-10, 12:09 AM
#694
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Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
They're not. They're a Survivor gag with Probst, C&L insulting The Sopranos (a far ballsier and truer ending), and the Newhart ending. I guess Victoria Principal and Patrick Duffy weren't available.
05-24-10, 12:10 AM
#695
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
I think my issue with the show is thus...the argument will probably be made by many, including the people behind the show, that it's always been about the path of the characters that lead to the end of the show. The other mysteries didn't matter and were superficial. It was the journey that was important and thus what needed clarification at the end. My problem is that wasn't the show for me. In addition, it's not the device they used to promote, sell, and propel the show for 6 seasons. You can't focus countless campaigns on building mysteries and answering questions you've spent 5 years raising and then expect people to be ok with things going unanswered because quite simply "that was never the focus of the show".
05-24-10, 12:10 AM
#696
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Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
Yeah, it's Jack's dead father who has no knowledge of any of this shit saying it. He'd be in a position to know. Right.
It also says that Jack's most important time was with these people, yet there are plenty of people there he really had no great contact with.
Putting stock in this bit of dialogue as the non-red herring of the whole series full of red herrings and worse is in and of itself an article of faith.
It also says that Jack's most important time was with these people, yet there are plenty of people there he really had no great contact with.
Putting stock in this bit of dialogue as the non-red herring of the whole series full of red herrings and worse is in and of itself an article of faith.
05-24-10, 12:11 AM
#697
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
05-24-10, 12:11 AM
#698
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Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
I think my issue with the show is thus...the argument will probably be made by many, including the people behind the show, that it's always been about the path of the characters that lead to the end of the show. The other mysteries didn't matter and were superficial. It was the journey that was important and thus what needed clarification at the end. My problem is that wasn't the show for me. In addition, it's not the device they used to promote, sell, and propel the show for 6 seasons. You can't focus countless campaigns on building mysteries and answering questions you've spent 5 years raising and then expect people to be ok with things going unanswered because quite simply "that was never the focus of the show".
Beyond that, they did a shitty job resolving the character driven issues, like Ben and Charles, for instance.
Fucking hacks.
05-24-10, 12:12 AM
#699
Re: Lost -- 2 1/2 Hour Series Finale -- "The End Part 1 & 2" -- 05/23/10
05-24-10, 12:13 AM
#700
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