May 26, 2010
May 24, 2010
The End
Welcome to the final edition of The "Lost" Diary.Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called The Pledge. The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course... it probably isn't. The second act is called The Turn. The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret ... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call The Prestige." -- Cutter, "The Prestige"
Fair or not, I believe "Lost" will be judged forever based on tonight's finale. "Lost" has been a great show, sure -- it's told some stories, had some great characters, and produced some of the greatest WTF moments in TV history. But, at least for me, it is at its core … a mystery. Mysteries present question and, hopefully, answers.
I don't expect, think or even want "Lost" to answer all my questions in the finale. But sometimes a magic trick is only as good as its reveal. It's time for "Lost" to deliver its prestige.
Let's roll ...
9:00 -- "How long am I going to have to do this job?" -- Jack. Only for about 2.5 more hours. And we're off!
May 23, 2010
Getting ready ...
May 19, 2010
What They Died For
Welcome back to another edition of The "Lost" Diary.As we get close to the end, I've been thinking a lot about what I've always said is the difference between "The Wire" and "The Sopranos -- confidence vs. arrogance. For "Lost" to -- in its second to last episode -- do an entire hour without any of its many characters appearing in the episode … well, to quote Alec Baldwin, takes brass balls. Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse are either the most masterful storytellers of our time … or giant a-holes. I'm not sure if there is an in between.
Either way, this is the last episode before the finale. Time flies. Let's roll …
9:00 -- During the "Previously on Lost" segment -- where they show Jin and Sun dying -- I was hoping ABC would edit in a line from either one of them about their soon-to-be orphaned child. Nope, didn't happen.
May 12, 2010
Across the Sea
Welcome back to another edition of The "Lost" Diary.
My work week is Fri-Mon (odd, I know) so Tuesday's are my first day off. This work week was particularly draining, so I spent most of Tuesday asleep. I felt awful, I had no energy at all -- I canceled "Lost" watching plans, and at one point contemplated just going to sleep for good and watching it Wednesday morning. I didn't want to half-ass watching "Lost."
I decided to start watching and see how I felt. Once I realized the random woman in the ocean was pregnant -- and quickly figured out she was about to birth Jacob and the MIB -- well, it was like I had been given a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart like that scene in "Pulp Fiction." Now, I am ready.
For all you "Lost" Diary newbies, here's how it goes: I gather with a group of friends watching "Lost," writing what happens on the show as it happens, and throwing in my two cents along the way. Flying solo tonight. Let's roll ...
9:00 -- If I wasn't confused enough by the random pregnant woman who washed ashore, now have I have Allison Janney -- easily one of my five favorite actresses -- helping her out. Can't "Lost" ever start off simple?
9:01 -- "The same way you got here … by accident" -- C.J. Cregg
My work week is Fri-Mon (odd, I know) so Tuesday's are my first day off. This work week was particularly draining, so I spent most of Tuesday asleep. I felt awful, I had no energy at all -- I canceled "Lost" watching plans, and at one point contemplated just going to sleep for good and watching it Wednesday morning. I didn't want to half-ass watching "Lost."
I decided to start watching and see how I felt. Once I realized the random woman in the ocean was pregnant -- and quickly figured out she was about to birth Jacob and the MIB -- well, it was like I had been given a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart like that scene in "Pulp Fiction." Now, I am ready.
For all you "Lost" Diary newbies, here's how it goes: I gather with a group of friends watching "Lost," writing what happens on the show as it happens, and throwing in my two cents along the way. Flying solo tonight. Let's roll ...
9:00 -- If I wasn't confused enough by the random pregnant woman who washed ashore, now have I have Allison Janney -- easily one of my five favorite actresses -- helping her out. Can't "Lost" ever start off simple?
9:01 -- "The same way you got here … by accident" -- C.J. Cregg
May 04, 2010
The Candidate
Welcome back to another edition of The "Lost" Diary.I IMed my old college roommate Chris on Tuesday morning to ask what he was thinking going into "Lost" tonight. "I need at least one death," he told me. I responded, "Yeah, it's been awhile … it's hard to be 'Lost' w/o killing off a few people. This isn't '30 Rock.'" Haven't had any major RIPs in a while. Are we due for one? (Ed.'s note: Yes, this was an actual conversation and yes, this was written before the episode).
For all you "Lost" Diary newbies, here's how it goes: I gather with a group of friends watching "Lost," writing what happens on the show as it happens, and throwing in my two cents along the way. I am over at Ari's place for a Lakers/"Lost" double feature. Lakers did their job, now it's time for "Lost." Let's roll ...
9:00 -- On the DVR, the first three seconds of "Lost" were the end of "Dancing With the Stars." It was the worst three seconds of "Lost" ever.
9:01 -- "I think you're a candidate." -- Jack
April 21, 2010
The Last Recruit
Welcome back to another edition of The "Lost" Diary.Lately, I have been having a difficult time writing this intro paragraph (sometimes I have even skipped it all together). Then today, a friend who doesn't watch "Lost" asked me, "Hey, how has this season been? I've heard mixed things." I struggled to answer him. I wouldn't say I have been disappointed by this final season, but how many truly great episodes have we had? Maybe two? The rest I have felt very ambivalent about. Maybe that's why I can't think of a topic to lead the Diary off with each week.
For all you "Lost" Diary newbies, here's how it goes: I gather with a group of friends watching "Lost," writing what happens on the show as it happens, and throwing in my two cents along the way. Tonight I am watching "Lost" with my co-worker Molly and her weekly crew. I have been warned about excessive pausing and needless chatter. Should be interesting. Let's roll ...
