Totally agree, Strega. Lost is a simple premise: people are lost on an island. You make shit up around that to make a series.

Anybody saying they know exactly where they are going that is fucking lying. Simple as that. They can't say they have the complete 5 year arc planned out, because the network might not agree, actors might leave and all manner of other issues.

Some people really don't understand the concept of breaking stories and writing. It *IS* about making shit up. And if people can't understand that, they need to get a clue and not write retarded blog entries.

I really don't understand what's remotely offensive in what Fury said.

Well, I think the idea is if you setup a show around a specific mystery, you have to at least have idea of what the answer is, if only for the sake of consitancy. And if you want people to be involved in that mystery and care about its solution, you have to give them the impression that there actually is an answer. Otherwise, the mystery is meaningless and you should base your show around something else.

The early years of the X-Files felt internally consistent to the mystery and it was believable that the truth was indeed out there. They'd throw the occaisional monkey wrench into the works, but it still felt like each episode brought you closer to figuring it out.

Then, about halfway through its run, cracks started to show and as time went on it became more and more obvious that Carter was just throwing shit at the wall and seeing what stuck. And the fans who'd invested themselves into this show and into figuring out what was going on rightfully felt betrayed.

I really don't understand what's remotely offensive in what Fury said.

A lot of people have a strong aversion to the truth.

Don't get me wrong - I think you have to reassure your audience you know where you are going with things. And that, I suspect, is why people are outraged at Fury. He's suggesting they don't know where they are going with aspects, which is likely the actual truth.

As Allyson once put it (I think it was Allyson?), Lost is a train wreck hurtling towards the side of a mountain. But enjoy the ride whilst it's interesting.

Wasnt me, but thanks for thinking of me.

Hee. I was convinced you said that. Who said that? Gah. I apologise for attibuting that post you, Allyson, in all seriousness since you didn't make it.

Then, about halfway through its run, cracks started to show and as time went on it became more and more obvious that Carter was just throwing shit at the wall and seeing what stuck. And the fans who'd invested themselves into this show and into figuring out what was going on rightfully felt betrayed.

This. I'm following Strega's advice. Maybe I'll find out what the deal is that way.

Ah, the bitterness of the Ex-Phile. I know it well.

And yeah, if that's what Fury said, I'm not really getting the outrage, except that Abrams has apparently sold the show to the public as one where he does have a plan. And Fury basically said the emperor ain't got nothin' on.

So, whatever. I may cancel my season pass to LOST and just switch over to VM, anyway.

Magical numbers as longitude and latitude.

Now, a question- there was the mystery logo on the *stuffed* polar bear? When I read about the logo on the polar bear the other day, upthread, I read it that it was on the live, deadly polar bear.

Hm? I don't think there was a logo, on either the stuffed polar bear or the real polar bear. There was a logo on the shark, and someone asked if there had also been one on the polar bear, but I don't think anyone answered in the affirmative.

I too am an Ex-Phile, and have learned my lessons well. I don't expect anything from Lost in terms of plot consistency. Okay, that's not entirely true. If the island turns out to be in central L.A. surrounded by a Magical Force Field Of Magical Invisibility, for example, I will cry foul. But I pretty much assume there is no master plan, and thus am not invested in finding out what it is.