Partly because I don't think that the creators and writers even had all the information, because I don't think they knew what they were doing for a good 4 seasons.

I think it was only 3 seasons. I think they had the last three seasons pretty worked out when they made the deal for the ending, like the fact that they wouldn't need Emilie de Ravin for the fifth season since she was going to be off with Smokey at the end of four, irrelevant during the time-traveling adventures, and then back crazy. The last three seasons have been building. I don't think we got enough payoff or even necessarily the right payoff, but we got one I can live with. I think it would have been impossible for them to get it Right at this point since there were so many unanswered questions.

I think it was only 3 seasons.

I can't even remember what happened in season 4. Was that when the flashforwards started? Like, Sayid working for Ben as his personal assassin, and so on?

Yes! It's my favorite season because of the narrative hijinks. They kept spoiling us for the end of the season so that it wasn't WHAT would happen, but HOW. It was neat.

It's my favorite season because of the narrative hijinks.

And possibly the only season in which Ben was NOT beaten up (or recovering from same) for more time than he WAS beaten up (or covered with bruises, etc.).

It's my favorite season because of the narrative hijinks.

Mine's five - the time-travel/character development combination was fantastic. But season four was grand too!

The two-hour retrospective was fun to watch. There was a hilarious Ben-getting-beat-up montage, after which Michael Emerson proclaimed him the most-beaten-up character on television.

Mine's five - the time-travel/character development combination was fantastic. But season four was grand too!

I love time travel hijinks, so five was great as well, but I think four wowed me so much in a "Holy crap, this is amazing in comparison to the last couple seasons" way, so it had that edge.

Plus, it had Hurley throwing a Hot Pocket at Ben.

The two-hour retrospective was fun to watch.

Was it more than just a catch-up on past seasons? I'll get hold of it, if so.

No, that's all it was. But it had little gushing bits from the actors and amusing bits from Cuse/Lindelof, and it was just a really nice way to go into the finale, remembering all the reasons we loved the show.

There was a hilarious Ben-getting-beat-up montage, after which Michael Emerson proclaimed him the most-beaten-up character on television.

Bwah! This is very possibly true.

No, that's all it was. But it had little gushing bits from the actors and amusing bits from Cuse/Lindelof, and it was just a really nice way to go into the finale, remembering all the reasons we loved the show.

It helped me to remember why I ever considered myself a fan. It was nice. But. If I need a puff-piece clip show to explain what the hell I've been watching all along...while it may be a nice recap...then I have to think that it's bad television.

Sort of like when I watch a movie I don't like but then am turned around by the 'making of' doc...then does that mean the movie failed on some level. I tend to think so.