Your Voice: Is 48 Enough?
Submitted by Dan
After Season 3’s mind-blowing finale in which it was revealed that Jack and Kate had left the island, both Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse also revealed that Lost would continue for three more seasons and culminate with an "unanticipated and shocking finale." When I first read about this I was disappointed, but also strangely satisfied.
The disappointment came from knowing the show would eventually finish, but it was also comforting to see that the producers had the presence of mind to not let it become yet another cautionary tale of a show obtaining huge amounts of success in it’s first few seasons going on for too long, ala The X-Files.
As I continued reading, I came to the part where Cuse had talked about shortening the seasons from the average 22-24 episodes to 16, hence, the remaining three seasons would result in only 48 more episodes being produced. This is where the contentment faded and the disappointment returned.
Although I’m not one for spending too much time discussing and analyzing every single, little facet of Lost, I still love intricate storytelling, and yes, there have been certain angles the writers and producers have taken that I didn’t fully agree with, some avoidable, some not. This, however, is one angle I’ve so far had a little trouble grasping. I understand that not only the actors but all the people involved with creating the show have careers they wish to fulfill and don’t necessarily want to be tied down to one project for the rest of their lives, but I can’t let go of the feeling that 48 is just simply rushing it.
During Seasons 3 and 4 around 10 new characters, each as intriguing as the next, were introduced, and as we all know Lost is a very character driven show. With only 30 odd episodes remaining and not including our original castaways, is that enough time to complete the story arcs of Juliet, Daniel, Charlotte, Miles, Abaddon, Alpert, and of-course Mr Benjamin Linus, who to date has featured in only two centric episodes? Think about it like that and 30 doesn’t seem like very many at all, though to others it might seem like too many. I, however, can’t help but feel that with only this many episodes left certain elements of the story are in danger of being missed.
So the question remains: Will Lost turn out to be the opposite tale to that of The X-Files, and become an example of a show that bowed out too early, rather than too late?
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“So the question remains: Will Lost turn out to be the opposite tale to that of The X-Files, and become an example of a show that bowed out too early, rather than too late?”
No. It will be fine. I can guarantee if on the off chance the Lost team needs a few more episodes to finish the show, ABC will cough up the money and permit them to produce a few more, though I see the show being resolved.
This show resolved Michael’s disappearance in 1 episode and he was an original character. Juliet will be resolved in 1 episode
Dan, Charlotte and Miles will probably each get one episode dedicated to themselves and that is it. None of them are central characters so they can be killed off like Shannon or Libby without the need for their own death episode. How come you did not include Lapidus in this?
Season 5 will probably focus on the past, such as the Blackrock days and how Widmore, Abbadon, Hanso and Alpert all fit in. One episode of Blackrock flashbacks should do it as I assume these people all dealt with each other from the early days of the island. We are looking at conservatively 10 episodes to show Widmore, Abbadon, Hanso, Alpert, Charlotte, Miles, Dan, and Juliett’s backstory. That leaves us with 20 episodes over 2 seasons or 10 episodes a season to advance the story. That seems like more than enough to me, especially if people like Jin and Claire are dead.
Also, they have an entire year to make these things fit into a 16 episode season. It isn’t like they are operating on the 24 episode season schedule-> more free time for writing assuming no more writers, actors, crew strikes.
Comment by blutoschmooto — July 8, 2008 @ 11:11 am
I agree with blutoschmooto. While the idea of it ending is in itself disappointing, I believe they’ve given themselves enough time to wrap things up. During almost every episode of Lost, I reach a moment where so much has happened that I look at the clock and am amazed that there are still forty minutes left to the episode hour! They get so much accomplished in one episode, I’m sure they can use the time they have left to their fullest advantage.
Comment by slim — July 8, 2008 @ 11:41 am
Ending in Lost in 32 episodes is the best ever happened to a show before. The show will stop too early, but all main threads will be resolved. It will stop at his high-point.
You are talking about the shortened seasons, but this is mainly because the writers wanted only 2 more seasons, so 48 episodes in total. But ABC wants more profit, so they spread it out over 1 extra season. But we still get the 48 episodes the writers wanted.
Comment by Roberto — July 8, 2008 @ 11:56 am
Dan - I know where you are coming from. I too get a little disappointed to hear of short seasons. It’s mostly just because the show is the highlight of my Thursday, and I want as much as I can get! In fact, as I have done each summer now, I am watching past seasons every Thursday night. But, I think that there will be enough time to wrap everything up. Maybe not EVERYTHING, as I’m sure there will be a few things never totally explained, but enough that we will feel a sense of conclusion. I trust the writers 100% on that.
Comment by Kelly — July 8, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
The ending of this show is depressing despite there being 2 remaining seasons. I pray that the writers end this show with something so amazing they are forced to create a spin-off or movies or a mini-series to explore what they create. Similar to the 4 or 5 different Star Trek series, if this island is as amazing as it seems to be they could do Lost: the Dharma years and explore the life of Dharma folks during the experiments. Though it wouldn’t be the Lost we know and love, tell me you wouldn’t watch it?
Comment by blutoschmooto — July 8, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
its definatly not enough…as amazing as season 4 was, it definatly felt the most rushed, hectic and dare i say it…badly edited and rushed season so far…in the first 3 seasons the editing was spot on and it never once got noticable or in the way, however, in season 4, its noticeable in nearly every episode….very rushed, jerky, frenetic editing and quickly skipping between characters and scenes…they even put a ‘break’ in between jin getting blown up and sun crying for him-that was just wrong and odd:S
and look what they did with Michaels story arc…ruined it SEEMINGLY JUST to finish it off quicker…we were all expecting and wanting an intense meeting with Hurley etc-grr! so yeah…i think they should have done more episodes, but what can we do eh! seems they never listen to us loyal viewers when we saw we want more eko, rousseau, even danny pickett flashbacks lol
Comment by gra — July 8, 2008 @ 2:29 pm
I get your argument, but I’m not sure how you can be ‘disappointed’ with the amount of remaining shows. The fact is, you don’t know the story that still needs to be told. I’m going to have faith that D&C and company know what they’re doing (they’ve done a pretty good job so far, right?).
So this would be a perfectly valid argument once the show is over and you still feel this way, but we just don’t know the remainder of the story to know how long it will take to tell.
Comment by gatorclaw — July 8, 2008 @ 3:32 pm
Just to be nitpicky…there are actually 34 episodes of Lost left, not 32.
Okay, I’ll stop being pedantic now.
Comment by Lupe Lupe — July 8, 2008 @ 5:21 pm
If you look at the list of unsolved LOST mysteries (e.g. DarkUFO’s list on lostmysteries.blogspot.com) and compare them to the solved ones, it’s obvious that given the current problems raised/problems solved ratio on the show, the remaining episodes are going to either consist almost entirely of ‘wrapping up the plot’, or leave many (smaller) mysteries unanswered.
My bet is on option 2, which is fine, especially if a sort of ‘catch-all’ solution is offered that explains away most of the unsolved enigmas. Real LOSTies will still want to know why Sawyer’s criminal record is in French or where Jack’s other tattoos came from. But let’s face it, LOST would cease to be LOST if it neatly answered every question.
Comment by cronopio — July 9, 2008 @ 1:25 am
“I pray that the writers end this show with something so amazing they are forced to create a spin-off or movies or a mini-series to explore what they create. Similar to the 4 or 5 different Star Trek series, if this island is as amazing as it seems to be they could do Lost: the Dharma years and explore the life of Dharma folks during the experiments.”
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Look at the new Star Wars films. Deep Space 9. The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Flogging a dead horse is never a good idea. Lost should finish, and finish for good, leaving its mark in history as the finest television show ever written.
And I heard that the series were split from two (with 24 episodes each) to three (with 16 episodes each) because the cliffhangers worked out better that way. Although if it was ABC looking to get another series out of them, they may have just been saying that. Also season 4 seemed a bit rushed because it was being written and filmed on the fly thanks to the writers’ strike. I’m sure season 5, with more time to put into it, will be an improvement editing-wise.
Comment by DanX — July 9, 2008 @ 5:12 am
Although many people (me included) consider Deep Space Nine the best of the five Star Trek series, your point about sequel/prequel series being a mistake is still a very solid one. I would be very wary of a Lost spinoff, which I think would pale in comparison and, as with the Star Wars prequels, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Voyager and Enterprise, ultimately serve to dilute an amazing run. I have the same doubts about Caprica, the upcoming prequel to BSG.
Comment by Timbo — July 9, 2008 @ 8:11 am
I just hope they don’t add to much cheese to the final season’s like they did in season 2. Get to the grit and stop messing around. Playing games with viewers is tolerated for a while, but questions need to be answered before you turn off the viewers that have more than a 2 digit IQ.
Comment by INXS — July 9, 2008 @ 5:07 pm
I think Lost should have done 3 more seasons but with 24 episodes each bringing the total to 72 episodes
Comment by lost815 — July 10, 2008 @ 9:46 am
It is kind of scarey that there are only 34 hours of Lost left. (32 episodes with a 2 hour finale in each season, 17 hours per) I hope the series finale will be the best ever pleasing all us fans. When Lost is finished, I would love to see the whole series in order, beginning to end. As of right now, the first shot would be that of Emily Locke playing the record palyer listening to Buddy Holly. But I’m sure there will be some Black Rock and Dharma scenes that will take place before the 1950s.
what i would love to see in the next 2 seasons: a Rousseau flashback, the point of view of the whispers, Richard Alpert expalined, What is smokey, Juliet and her sister reunited, who is adan and eve, Desmond back fro both seasons, Penny Widmore a series regular, and a Christian and Jack reunion.
what would u guys like to see?
also, i was told before season 4 finale that we would see the pilot, seth norris, making an appearance, what happened?
thanks
heath(Lost revisited) http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/22047
Comment by heath from LOST REVISITED — July 10, 2008 @ 3:02 pm
I read somewhere that Mira Furlan, who plays Rousseau, wanted off the show, and that is why her character was killed. If this is true, (hope it’s not) then we may not get the Rousseau flashback we’ve all been waiting for. Of course, she could be portrayed by a younger actress who looks similar, seeing as it would flash back 16 years.
The whispers, I don”t think, need an explanation. They’re one of those mysteries that would help the show loose it’s enigmatic allure if it was explained in too much detail.
Richard Alpert and Adam & Eve HAVE to be explained. The Smoke Monster should be explained without too much of a CHEESY factor. (Not likely considering it IS a monster made out of SMOKE!)
I can’t wait to find out more about Dharma, the “Incident”, The Black Rock, how Ben became leader and gained knowledge of SO MUCH of the Island, and why the Others are so dedicated to the Island.
It doesn’t seem like 34 episodes are enough.
How much longer do we have? Seven months? Wayyy too long.
Comment by Uncle Beaver — July 10, 2008 @ 8:18 pm
I hope and pray they will not do a “spin-off” of LOST consisting of Dharma, new shows, new characters, maybe even a lame-ass movie.
If the producers did this… it would completely ruin the intrigue of this franchise and the show itself. I would never watch a spin off or branch of LOST. sorry to disagree with you, but it would be awful.
Comment by thedtrain — July 11, 2008 @ 10:26 am
Talking about not tying up all the story elements–I have one question that has always haunted me. That is, where did the bottle of McCutcheson (spell?) whiskey come from–the one that Hurley and Charlie stole from Sawyer to get Desmond drunk enough to talk about “seeing the future.” Anyone figure this out?
Comment by Rhonda — July 19, 2008 @ 11:18 am