Well, something good came out of all of this.

I seem to recall (but can't substantiate) that the objection to what Fury said was "You can't talk about that in public!" as much as or more than "Liar!"

Actually, the objections I read were specifically "Liar!" and not the first thing. Still, despite what I said in my last post about not taking his comments seriously, I'm also not inclined to flat out call Fury a liar, either. Really, I suspect some disagreements over the definition of a "plan."

And just to be clear, when I'm saying I give them the beneifit of the doubt about having a "plan," I suspect their plan isn't much more than "What's going on on the island is blah."

Also, I still do not know to what, specifically, you are referring when you talk about other writers contradicting themselves in public.

That's not enough pay to be expecting a series worth of ideas from a writer, for that you get the pilot, the bible, meetings when they're wanted and criticisms addressed.

Yes, even in a magical happy land full of happiness, that's not much pay for quite a lot of work, and yes, I'd be disinclined to spend too much time on a show bible for that amount of cash.

I still do not know to what, specifically, you are referring when you talk about other writers contradicting themselves in public

The assertion that everything on the island could be explained by mundane means has completely been contradicted.

Symptomatic but not proof of the oh-shiny! school of worldbuiling--the numbers. They thought it was cool, dumped them everywhere, and have no explanation for their significance or power.

It irritates me, and would irritate me less if they'd just SHUT UP. Watching the show gives me enough suspicion about there not being much of a cohesive plan, but every second interview seems to add to that.

The assertion that everything on the island could be explained by mundane means has completely been contradicted.

I'm not sure who said that or where, but that smells like a red herring to me. Watching the show doesn't twig me the way it twigs you, as far as to how little of a plan they may or may not have, but I've never suspected or frankly wanted everything on the island to be explained by mundane means.

I kinda figured OMGWTFPOLARBEAR!, and the little hints that Walt did it, put the kibosh on that theory.

I've never suspected or frankly wanted everything on the island to be explained by mundane means.

Me neither. Which is why the writing team saying so bothered me.

Serial:

and have no explanation for their significance or power.

I've always felt like they do have an explanation, they're just not letting us in on it. Yes they use them too much sometimes, but I'm betting there's an explanation.

I would also like, at this point, to acknowledge the fact that all the Alias watchers are shaking their heads at my supposed naivete, but I've never watched that show, so I can't speak to that. And if we ever get proof that I'm just flat out wrong about all this, that's fine. You can all point and laugh later.

Which is why the writing team saying so bothered me.

I am curious about this now. I don't suppose you remember or can find a place on the web where they said this? Not that I'm doubting you, I'd just like to read it for myself.

I've always felt like they do have an explanation, they're just not letting us in on it. Yes they use them too much sometimes, but I'm betting there's an explanation.

They told both TV Guide and the NY Times there wasn't. Let me see if google will help me out...from Ausiello quotes Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse:

I think that [the] question [as to what the numbers mean] will never, ever be answered. I couldn't possibly imagine [how we would answer that question]. We will see more ramifications of the numbers and more usage of the numbers, but it boggles my mind when people ask me, "What do the numbers mean?"

I have no idea about the spoileryness of the statement--it's clear its truthiness could change at any time.

As for the other citation, it was early-mid season 1, and I couldn't begin to track it down now.

For what it's worth, I do remember that statement as well and thought at the time (before the numbers, but after we'd already seen Locke's miraculous healing and some odd stuff about Walt) that the show's spokesperson had to be wearing hip waders while making it.

IIRC, that statement pinged me something awful when they made it, and I said something about wishing they'd just pretend they had a plan rather than telling us they're just pulling shit out of their asses. I saw Matthew Fox on TDS the other day and he's all "there's a plan, there's a plan" but has no idea what it could possibly be, which may me thinks the Lost folk are starting realize that bragging about not having a plan is not going to get you invited out to parties.