I'm totally watching for the acting--with Ian Somerhalter finally reduced to mostly-silent Flashback Guy, there isn't really a weak link in the cast (even Maggie Grace; it's like he was some kind of emotive vampire who drained away all her acting ability, and now that he's mostly gone she's not only visibly non-sucky but actually interesting). The various mysteries of the island don't make a lot of sense and I don't expect them to; but the actors all work together beautifully and draw interesting things from one another, and that's more than enough to satisfy me.

Okay, the unexpected blinding pretty of chiseled-cheekboned and rumple-haired Daniel Dae Kim on the raft was a nice bonus, too.

But, really, it's the actors. The first two I always think of are O'Quinn and Andrews, and how they have a sort of James Marsters effect; they're so present, so intellectually alive and so focused on the other actor that whoever they're in a scene with rises to the occasion and becomes more connected and present and yes.

But then I think of Sun and Jin saying goodbye, hesitantly touching each other after so long apart, and her choked "But who will keep you safe?" And the way Michael keeps stealing glances at Walt unawares, just watching him lost in quiet play or Vincent or fast asleep, trying to puzzle him out.

The moment when Sawyer decided to tell Jack about meeting his father. Jack coming very quietly and totally unglued at the story.

Charlie looking at the heroin-loaded Blessed Virgin with horror and lust. Shannon staggering in the sand with the suitcase full of Boone's clothes and nearly snapping Sayid's head off.

Kate giving Jack a wry "You may be hot, but right now you are SO FUCKING POMPOUS, and also WRONG. But still hot" look. Hurley resentfully swallowing the bitch ticket agent's bitchery because she has the power to deny him his mom's birthday. Claire. Rousseau. The irritating whiny science teacher.

It'd certainly be even better if the big arc held together and all the mysteries made any kind of sense, but even so it's not bad. It didn't bug me that the finale was two hours of not that much happening, because it was two hours spent with reasonably interesting people played by a good tight ensemble of very smart actors.

totally hugs JZ

The first two I always think of are O'Quinn and Andrews, and how they have a sort of James Marsters effect

I honestly think that TO'Q looks like Marsters will in another 10-15 years. It's something about his eyes and his mouth.

I seem to be the only one who has noticed this, though, and yet it hits me every single time Locke has screentime.

basks in P-C huggery

Based on pictures from decades ago, I think Marsters is going to end up looking a lot like Ian McKellen as he gets older. Which isn't exactly a tragedy, and is vastly preferrable to the Carrot Top lookalikedom implied by his own photos from decades ago.

ita and JZ have nicely summed up why I watch and why I liked the finale.

I adore DDK, Kim, Andrews and Garcia, but I am Terry O'Quinn's bitch. He holds me absolutely captive every single time he's on screen.

I am Terry O'Quinn's bitch. He holds me absolutely captive every single time he's on screen.

Me, too. You keep trying to steal all my seekrit TV boyfriends! (Because aren't you misguidedly trying to steal Mythbusters' Adam from me, too?)

Terry O'Quinn is mine, I tell you! All mine!!

I'm not the Adam-stealer. I don't have cable and have never seen Mythbusters. Though, it sounds like I need to!

Right now, my seekrit boyfriends are TO'Q and Barack Obama.

Oh, I probably need to add Victor Garber to my seekrit boyfriend list. SpyDaddy is the bestest.

The Oceanic-air site has an easter egg which is apparently a page (Pink Sheet) from the finale script (although the events on the page never aired). I have no idea what I was doing when I found it. SPOILER It refers to Charlie being chased by Lostilla, which is described as a huge thing that is part mechanical. There is a handwritten comment on the side that it is or is like a mapinguari, which is desribed here as:

The deep Amazon jungle of Brazil provides the backdrop for tales of the Mapinguari, a large nocturnal animal with a frightful screaming cry. Locals describe the Mapinguari as about two meters in height when standing on its hind legs. It is covered in red hair and emits a foul odor. Its feet are turned backwards and its claws are capable of ripping apart the palm trees upon which it feeds.

Spoiler done