Your Voice: The Big Change in Lost’s Storytelling
Submitted by Clay Swartz
lostiethesnowman.blogspot.com
For Lost’s first three seasons, viewers were treated to some of the most brilliant character development in television history. We were tickled with storylines about a fugitive murderer, a ruthless con-man, an adulterous, heroic doctor, an Iraqi torture-terrorist, a paralyzed, depressed and gullible outdoorsmen, the unluckiest millionaire on the planet, and a one-hit wonder, addict rock star — just to name a few.
All of these storylines were weaved, like some immense, digital tapestry, with intricate character connections and beautiful real-life difficulties. Like no other show, Lost has exemplified stories that captured real human qualities, emotions and drama.
And I think that aspect of Lost is now history — so to speak.
It is now becoming obvious, after seeing the first eight episodes of Season 4, that Lost’s traditional flashback storytelling style is now dead. There should be no more Lostie-flashbacks. Watching another Sawyer con-man or sad Claire tell-all episode would only hinder the direction that Lost has chosen to take, and the writers know this.
When Lost so sneakily unleashed its flashforwards on us in such a powerful way in season 3, the show, in effect, decided to go all-out toward the end of the series. The writers, more specifically Damon and Carlton, told us that we’re heading full-steam toward the show’s biggest reveals.
With this, I think that any flash story we see from here on out will only serve to advance the story. In other words, there will be no more draggy backstories. If there is something to know about a character’s past, we should already know it or will learn it through a form of story that doesn’t involve a character-centric flashback episode.
That said, I think there will be certain flashbacks still told. These flashbacks will exist because they will advance the plot in some central way. Like in "Meet Kevin Johnson", it wasn’t at all a traditional flashback story, but it did take place in the past. However, the flash gave us answers that moved us toward the series finale.
Also, I believe that any on-island flashbacks will still exist. Meaning that any upcoming Ben episodes will be welcomed. I think Lost will undoubtedly tell about Ben’s past, but again, this isn’t a traditional flashback.
Other exceptions to the flashback rule:
1. Any Others - Richard, as an example, would merit a flashback as to advance Lost’s plot with reveals about the island.
2. Characters with unseen stories - Danielle, Widmore, and Penny would be great examples of people that merit flashbacks. Any of these character’s backstories would advance the plot.
3. Desmond - His time-traveling flashes are always welcome, as they constantly advance the show’s mythology.
4. Freighter folk - These characters will need to be explored further, as their collective backgrounds should serve to answer many of the island’s central mysteries.
What do you think? Will we ever see a traditional Lost flashback story again?
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"Your Voice" is a new TTS series in which Tail Section fans submit their articles, theories or reviews to be published on The Tail Section for all their fellow fans to read. Have you spent far too much time pondering the origins of the DHARMA Initiative? Have you alienated your co-workers by rambling about Daniel Faraday’s wacky time anomaly experiment? If so, we want to hear from you. Send your own Lost theories, reviews, or general thoughts to Editor(at)TheTailSection.com. Please keep all submissions between 300 and 1,000 words. We will read through all submissions and contact you if we publish your entry. You will also receive byline credit on our site.
I think a flash back of the island itself would be incredible, or maybe just a flashback of “smokie”, the black smoke. It would be interesting to see things through its eyes. What its purpose is, what it looks for and so on. Or even the dog would be fun too.
Comment by Dave C — April 1, 2008 @ 11:25 am
I think you’re right for the most part. However, we may see those on-island flashbacks from our favourite Losties still. Think Michael’s flashback about where he went/Others camp in Season 2, Claire’s flashback with Ethan and the medical station also in season 2… I love these episodes because they tie everything together.
I expected a Locke on-island flashback detailing what happened to him in the season 3 finale after Ben shot him and he saw Walt. Also, maybe explaining what he was doing in the season 4 opener with Jacob’s cabin.
So I think we will see mostly flashforwards and flashbacks from Ben, others, more from freighter folk (?!), and even some on-island flashbacks from the Losties.
Comment by Sinner — April 1, 2008 @ 11:41 am
Yes, this is something I’ve noticed and thought about. I don’t really mind it since I am anxiously awaiting the ‘big reveal’. On the other hand, I can see how some who were hooked by the dramatic story-telling of the characters and their relationships but are now bored or maybe just overwhelmed by the “crazy scifi” stuff. Then again, I think it’s a really good balance since they got us so emotionally invested in the characters and not just interested in the craziness of the island. Dang, they’re good.
Comment by AnotherOther — April 1, 2008 @ 11:53 am
Dave C, you rock!!! I would love to see flask backs like those. But I would REALLY like to see t a flashback of the Balck Rock and the original Hanso. More about the Dharma folks would be cool too!
Comment by ender — April 1, 2008 @ 12:41 pm
I would absolutely love an entire episode dedicated to the Black Rock. Or even further back like the original natives of the island and how they inhabited it. An entire episode completely outside of our main characters but that delves into the history of the island would be cool and I think enhance the mythology.
Comment by Tony Mc. — April 1, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
Darlton said in the Season 2 DVD extras that there would be a Flashback of Eko’s Jesus stick, when it was a branch and even back to when it was an acorn. These are the types of Flashbacks diehard fans want to see!!
Comment by Don't poke we with that, Brutha!! — April 1, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
Darlton said in the Season 2 DVD extras that there would be a Flashback of Eko’s Jesus stick, when it was a branch and even back to when it was an acorn. These are the types of Flashbacks diehard fans want to see!!
Comment by Don't poke we with that, Brutha!! — April 1, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
I agree Sinner.
I too think that we will see on-island flashbacks from Losties, and I am excited to see them.
Thanks for the support of the article guys.
Comment by lostie the snowman — April 1, 2008 @ 5:37 pm
I think that we will still get a flashback from Hurley. Possibly the one with the collapsing deck and that one might also have a reveal on libby so they could combine those two themes to make a great flashback episode. But as a lost fan i am actually kind of glad that there are no more of those boring flashbacks… not by any means did i mean boring i love every second of lost but they just arn’t quiet as energetic… sometimes i will find my self watching one of those episodes during the flashback and thinking i can’t wait until this gets back to the island.
Comment by lost815 — April 1, 2008 @ 7:25 pm
I hear ya, lost815. The one that really sticks out to me is Shannon’s fb’s. I used to hunger for the island stuff, and when they would go to fb’s I would go nutty. I have rewatched every episode 2-3 times, and find myself feeling disengaged by the fb’s overall.
The flash forwards though, whoa!
Comment by NotFBFanEither — April 2, 2008 @ 5:25 am
we’ve already had a survivor flashback this season, but it was not a usual one. we saw jin going through struggles to get a panda bear. this was used, however, to mislead you into beleiving he was still alive (at least off the island) until the end of the episode. i do agree that it will happen much less, but i still think they’ll happen. we still haven’t gotten a rose or bernard flashback i’m pretty sure, and rose’s having cancer might be somthing they’ll want to delve into. what i would like is a back story that explains the four toed statue. or one that explains why richard is perpetually 35 years old (approximately). and a jacob meet n greet with a backstory would ROCK!!!!
Comment by dan — April 2, 2008 @ 8:29 am
I think what Ur gettin at is that the OLD flashbacks kinda dragged and seem dull now compared with the modern ones. especially because most of your exceptions hinge on the need for the flashback to advance the story.
what’s funny is, going back to Season 1 after watching Seasons 2-3? I thought those flashbacks really dragged. but knowing what we now know from Seasons 3-4 and going back? those early stories are chock full of good stuff!!! easter eggs you can’t have noticed before (dependent on current story/mythology), hints of character development, and more.
it’s beginning to be super obvious that, aside from many details and minor deviations, the writers knew what they were doing and had a plan from the very beginning, like they said. and they’re doing a great job at course correcting…
Comment by SpinPapi — April 2, 2008 @ 9:54 am
Yeah Dan! What an episode it would be with a Jacob meet and greatt complete with flashback. I too think that in addition to a black rock flashback, one of the Statue would be equally fantastic!!!
Comment by ender — April 2, 2008 @ 10:00 am
I think Damon & Carlton have said that as soon as they agreed with the network on when to end the series, it freed them from using the same old tired flashback formula, and gave them a launching point on how to progress with the rest of the series. This is an idea they may have had for some time but couldn’t use until they knew a time frame for the remaining seasons. Some of the flashbacks (like the one about Jack’s tattoos)did start to get stale, so these flash forwards came at the perfect time.
Comment by Uncle Beaver — April 2, 2008 @ 11:36 am
I sincerely hope there is an episode that is dedicated to how the Black Rock got there and I hope they get away from the normal form for it. One episode that takes place 150 years prior with no flashforwards would be cool. Unless of course Jacob is part of that, then they would have to do flashforwards.
Comment by Blutoshmooto — April 2, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
Lost815:
I don’t think there will be another Hurley episode this season. He already had his episode in this (shortened) season. I do think that stuff (you mentioned) will be addressed, just later on.
Dan:
They did have a Rose-Bernard flash-back story already - I think it was in Season 2. Since they are recurring characters I am sure that’s all they get.
Here is my concern:
When I saw the finale for Season 3 I was amazed. The flash-forward was great storytelling. And incorporating it in doses this season would have been cool - we, as the audience, would always be wondering where we were in the timeline. The problem is, now everyting feels sort-of rushed.
Like we are in a race to get somewhere. They spent 3 years on character development, and now they are trying to compact this huge mystery and create a mythology in 3 years. It isn’t very balanced. It’s kind-of like Star Wars: the first 3 movies span a millenia and tell a long story - the last 3 prequels cram a lot of mythology into a few short years, and the story suffers.
Lost Wars?
Comment by LostinTranslation — April 2, 2008 @ 9:00 pm
Yeah I would greatly like to see those flashbacks but I know another depressing Claire one won’t work. I believe that Claire isn’t used enough. Afterall she is the only mother to give birth on the island. She has much pontential. I thought that Claire would get all depressed about charlie, find the ring that he left for aaron and become angered that he’s not here anymore. She should be given some of the action. She could start seeing Christian on the island since he is her father, revealing the bond between Jack and herself.
Claire is a watchable character and should be used alot more!
Comment by Doylu — April 3, 2008 @ 9:27 am
Clay,
You hit it right on the head! In response to many folks frustrated reaction to the show’s direction, I’ve often said they were going through mourning over the fact that the writers had actually decided how they were going to address all the dangling mysteries. The animistic theories about the island as an agent of moral redemption were discarded for an intangible sci-fi angle. In my opinion there arent many foundational aspects of the show left worth revealing or arent rendered irrelevant due to the decision to drop most realty-based elements from the story-telling style. Another thing is that the writers have chosen to make lost a ‘tragedy’ in the classic Aristotelean sense in that each major character is experiensing a “reversal” (peripeteia)or fall based on a “mistake” (hamartia). I beleive that mistake is the very idea that the island has anything to do with their personal redemption. By following what they thought was the right thing to do, each 815 passenger made the mistake of not seeing what the island truly was and their lives become miserable. As a result, the characters will cease to be driven by their individual dramas and become lead by the forces around them. They will come to the recognition of thier mistake and find out what the island was for, however, if the stucture of tragedy follows, this recognition will not be redemptive overall, and the end result will be something piteous and fearful to watch. Let’s see…
Comment by BiggsDarklighter — April 4, 2008 @ 1:32 am
Lost became garbage and food for geeks. There is no story and no line to follow, except for these who has no life of their own and like to chew on this puke.
Nobody gives the damn about the “big misterieous device, whose mistery is compared to how gid this pile of crap really is”. For those with lower IQ I referred to “Dude, where is my car?” and the Lost.
Really, really disappointing.
Comment by Bolt — April 4, 2008 @ 9:50 am