LOST

about six years ago, i was sitting in my high school's library [DMCI] reading a MAD magazine, the issue was lampooning a tv show that had just started out. the premise was described as a group of people surviving a plane crash on a deserted island, while also encountering polar bears, smoke monsters, and another faction on the island known as "the others". immediately i fell in love.

unfortunately, i had already missed most of the first season, and because the internet wasn't what it is today, i was unable to catch up. i would frequently check the dvd section of different stores to see if this "lost" tv show had finally been released, but i would have to wait about six or seven months before it was. the day i saw it sitting in wal-mart [don't shop there], i picked it up and watched it within a week. i would have to wait another year to watch season two. by this point, i was able to start watching season three week by week.

i watched the season three finale with a group of friends who had never watched an episode previously. all three were hooked by the end of the two hour long finale.

tonight, i watched the series finale with one of those friends. it was definitely a bittersweet experience to watch the last episode, in the sense that it was good to know that the producers had a definite ending planned, but knowing that nothing new would ever be made with the same writers and actors.

so, as annoying as most of the characters had become, as frustrating as the constant lack of answers and the raising of new questions was, as unrealistic as the dialogue was between characters, as familiar as the score would become between scenes... i somehow look past all that and have become captivated by the multi-layered characters, the interweaving storylines, the mystery of the unknown, the philosophical references...
i have really appreciated two themes that have been cropped up in the series: the idea that every person has a purpose in life and importance of the people around you. very inspiring.

overall, i would say Lost is a worthy investment of one's time. as i've pointed out, it is not without it's imperfections, but it is a well-crafted, original piece of work that dips into a wide variety of genres. if ever you find yourself wanting to escape into something deep, check out LOST and tell me what you think.

KSherman