FOUND

So, at the risk of doing three posts in a row related to LOST, the time has come for my farewell to the greatest show in TV history.

Ever since I watched my first episode ever, and I went in one hour from hating to pitying and empathizing with Saywer, I knew this was something special.  I've been gushing about this show for years of course, and we all knew the end had to come at some point (in many ways it's a good thing it did--some things are better with a definite ending, and one that didn't take TOO long to reach).  A lot of people were worried that it would end unsatisfactorily, and wouldn't address most of the big questions it presented.  After watching (and subsequently rewatching) the amazing two-and-a-half hour finale, I am absolutely and completely satisfied.  There may be a few trivial questions that weren't answered directly, but I think if people really think about it and recall some of the implications of previous seasons, we can infer the answers.  A lot of people were confused or annoyed by the finale because they didn't, you know, explain where the food drop came from or what happened to Walt, but those people completely missed the point, which is actually kind of sad.  Some people even gave up on it, but you know, this is a pretty smart show and actually required more than the usual amount of thought and dedication required by TV.  If you're more of the Gilmore Girls or CSI set where relatively trivial conflicts are resolved in a period of 42 minutes, this might not be your cup of tea.  The ending brought it full circle to season 1 and it meant so much more in the end than even I expected.  (And I also refer those still confused to this link and this link.)

So yes, prone though I may be to jumping to superlatives, I still think it's the best show that ever has been or ever will be on TV.  Besides reaching heights of production quality and cinematic value most shows can only dream of, LOST focused on depth and complexity of character development through excellent casting and superb acting, and was able to balance the mythology of the island with its true intent-developing this cast of characters and their relationships.  This is more than anything a character(s) piece, and the core characters have been handled expertly since season 1, episode 1.  There are few shows that can present and handle such a seemingly daunting number of characters, but LOST's unique and innovative methods of storytelling have done just that, and expertly.  From every season's gripping premiere to every season's explosive finale, I have been captivated nearly from the start.

Besides this level of technical achievement, LOST has done wonders in the department of theme and message.  The title of the show in itself in a metaphor, and how these struggling, imperfectly human characters have found themselves and each other actually can teach us a lot about ourselves, our relationship with others, and even our relationship with the Divine.  LOST has never shied away from religious themes and references, and the powerful reveal in the final scene was nothing short of incredible.  (I recommend those still confused to rewatch the conversation between Jack and Christian before Jack enters the church.  It's very important.)  I often watched this show with my jaw dropping intermittently to the floor, but that final scene bent my brain in so many ways until it finally settled and resolved into a strange sort of peace that I have never experienced in front of primetime TV.  It was written carefully enough to be fairly universal to differing religious ideologies, but the general tilt seemed to favor the religious majority, and it was beautiful.

By the way, I have decided to appoint myself the authority on "unsolved" LOST mysteries.  If there's something you still don't understand, come to me and I will give you the answer.  In the event that I don't know, I will find out for you.  The answers are there.

This is the show that introduced me to J.J. Abrams's work, and I really think that I might have to seek out some of his other endeavors.  This report all may seem a little dramatic, but that's how I roll with this show.  Good thing, as The Wife reminded me, they are still sitting safely on my shelf, and their lasting power, I'm confident, will prove strong.  Nothing can touch it!  If I am found required to eat these words one day, I'll actually have to confess myself pretty excited.  If there's a show that means more to me than LOST one day, I will be truly astounded.  It would have to be pretty freakin' amazing.

Jack, you are my hero!  And now, those who were LOST for six years are FOUND.