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Apr. 23rd, 2006 12:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
novin_haI must admit that the ease with which I fell in love with the series astonished me. I'd like to name one of the reasons why I like it so much and why I think it is so successful.
Underneath - my thoughts on the subject, spoilers up to 1x16
I don't think that's a novel concept (although I have not read any essays about the series) but for me, the main theme of the series is redemption/second chance. That is a really good thing - as much as I enjoy shows that do not really have a main theme, episodes of which carry different ones, tied by protagonists' only, I have once heard that all the greatest masterpieces of literature may be summarised in a couple of sentences, because of this central subject - all the rest is just the plot. So could be Lost.
I'd like to say this is hardly new for a TV series, to focus on second chances/redemption - take that series about a man receiving a 'tomorrow newspaper', Touched by an Angel or that one about angels letting people go back in their life and influence their own selves to make a different choice. I am sure there are many more in that vain. Films on the subject? Family Man would be the obvious first thought, but really, their name is legion.
I think anyone can notice that each and every character is either faulty of some very, very bad life choice they deeply regret, or has a personal issue he would probably not deal with if it hadn't been for the island.
In some instances it is obvious - have a look at Sawyer. He killed an innocent man, misguided in his belief he would exorcise the demon of his childhood. The Island offers him a new beginning - but he feels unworthy of taking it. He hates himself and wants everyone else to hate him - yet he needs to be understood. He is an inner conflict on legs, which I think makes him such a fascinating character.
The other hardly surprising instance is Charlie - he had been a junkie, he had betrayed a woman he was in love with, he had stolen and generally messed up his life so badly, that hadn't it been for the crash, he would probably die quite soon. He makes up for his mistakes, or at least attempts to - he has to prove himself as a warrior, a guardian, a keeper really - someone dependable and brave enough to fight his own demons and win.
Jack is more complicated - the guilt he carries because of seeing himself as cause of his father's death, together with perceiving himself through the father's eyes (or rather, the way he thinks his father saw him) is a burden he has to deal with. He is given an awful lot of trust by most of the fellow Lost characters and he suddenly must 'have what it takes', in order not to let down them as well as himself.
Kate is still a bit of a mystery to me and I am sure I'd read her dreadfully wrong if I were to analyse her now, so I'll let her off the hook.
Boone - Locke showed him that he has a huge issue with his feelings towards his 'sister'. Yet, I do not really think that he needs to let go - I rather believe he needs to learn to deal with them. The night they had spent together messed him up even further, and if it weren't for the island, would he have to face the music? I do not think he would. He would proceed to do what she old him to do - pretend nothing happened, and the consequences would hardly be good.
Sayid (you did not think I would forget about him, did you?) - at first, he gives the impression of having faced his problems. He is peaceful (kind of ;) and generally his behaviour is commendable - and then he tortures Sawyer to get information out of him. Perhaps if it weren't for the extreme conditions of the Island, he would never have done anything like this - moreover, he would be a good person. But for me, his problem would still be there, unsolved. On the island, he is forced to help people who are now experiencing similar regrets to his. He says to Charlie "You're not alone, so don't pretend to be," but indeed, it's advice he himself needs.
Finally, Locke - is given a shot at what he had always wanted - he becomes a needed, respected member of society, he can walk, he can hunt, he does in real life what he had been doing in his dreams. Moreover, he becomes the guide for other characters in their exploration of the second chances and redemption opportunities they are offered. This is a truly fascinating part of the show. His uncanny intuition would make him a freak in 'real world' - on the Island, it makes him a prophet.
Hm... is there a good essay on the subject of supernatural in Lost that you could recommend to me? That would deal with Walt, Claire's baby and Locke?
Sorry for spamming, my dear Lost-uninterested f-listers ;)
Underneath - my thoughts on the subject, spoilers up to 1x16
I don't think that's a novel concept (although I have not read any essays about the series) but for me, the main theme of the series is redemption/second chance. That is a really good thing - as much as I enjoy shows that do not really have a main theme, episodes of which carry different ones, tied by protagonists' only, I have once heard that all the greatest masterpieces of literature may be summarised in a couple of sentences, because of this central subject - all the rest is just the plot. So could be Lost.
I'd like to say this is hardly new for a TV series, to focus on second chances/redemption - take that series about a man receiving a 'tomorrow newspaper', Touched by an Angel or that one about angels letting people go back in their life and influence their own selves to make a different choice. I am sure there are many more in that vain. Films on the subject? Family Man would be the obvious first thought, but really, their name is legion.
I think anyone can notice that each and every character is either faulty of some very, very bad life choice they deeply regret, or has a personal issue he would probably not deal with if it hadn't been for the island.
In some instances it is obvious - have a look at Sawyer. He killed an innocent man, misguided in his belief he would exorcise the demon of his childhood. The Island offers him a new beginning - but he feels unworthy of taking it. He hates himself and wants everyone else to hate him - yet he needs to be understood. He is an inner conflict on legs, which I think makes him such a fascinating character.
The other hardly surprising instance is Charlie - he had been a junkie, he had betrayed a woman he was in love with, he had stolen and generally messed up his life so badly, that hadn't it been for the crash, he would probably die quite soon. He makes up for his mistakes, or at least attempts to - he has to prove himself as a warrior, a guardian, a keeper really - someone dependable and brave enough to fight his own demons and win.
Jack is more complicated - the guilt he carries because of seeing himself as cause of his father's death, together with perceiving himself through the father's eyes (or rather, the way he thinks his father saw him) is a burden he has to deal with. He is given an awful lot of trust by most of the fellow Lost characters and he suddenly must 'have what it takes', in order not to let down them as well as himself.
Kate is still a bit of a mystery to me and I am sure I'd read her dreadfully wrong if I were to analyse her now, so I'll let her off the hook.
Boone - Locke showed him that he has a huge issue with his feelings towards his 'sister'. Yet, I do not really think that he needs to let go - I rather believe he needs to learn to deal with them. The night they had spent together messed him up even further, and if it weren't for the island, would he have to face the music? I do not think he would. He would proceed to do what she old him to do - pretend nothing happened, and the consequences would hardly be good.
Sayid (you did not think I would forget about him, did you?) - at first, he gives the impression of having faced his problems. He is peaceful (kind of ;) and generally his behaviour is commendable - and then he tortures Sawyer to get information out of him. Perhaps if it weren't for the extreme conditions of the Island, he would never have done anything like this - moreover, he would be a good person. But for me, his problem would still be there, unsolved. On the island, he is forced to help people who are now experiencing similar regrets to his. He says to Charlie "You're not alone, so don't pretend to be," but indeed, it's advice he himself needs.
Finally, Locke - is given a shot at what he had always wanted - he becomes a needed, respected member of society, he can walk, he can hunt, he does in real life what he had been doing in his dreams. Moreover, he becomes the guide for other characters in their exploration of the second chances and redemption opportunities they are offered. This is a truly fascinating part of the show. His uncanny intuition would make him a freak in 'real world' - on the Island, it makes him a prophet.
Hm... is there a good essay on the subject of supernatural in Lost that you could recommend to me? That would deal with Walt, Claire's baby and Locke?
Sorry for spamming, my dear Lost-uninterested f-listers ;)
