Get Lost

Moose and I tore through Lost's first season at a torrent pace unrivaled in any corner of the US and A.  Being late, or last as the case may be, to catch on to a worthwhile pop culture phenomenon isn't a common occurrence for me.  I'm usually at least somewhere between the first and second wave or a vocal dissenter.  With Lost, however, our reluctance ended up paying off.  Having taken 3 to 4 years to even watch an episode, we afforded ourselves the luxury of watching Lost unfold uninterrupted by commercials and on our own time.  In this day and age, these perks cannot be overestimated.  As I have mentioned previously, however, the show is not without flaws.  Perhaps it's biggest achievement is the way it overcomes them and is somehow a very likable, watchable network television drama.    

The show somehow manages to overcome a cast comprised of characters I'm compelled to hate for various reasons, yet inexplicably find myself liking and rooting for.   Charlie's band was painfully lame.  It's difficult to take his character seriously, as is intended, armed with the memory of Driveshaft's hit single, "You All Everybody".  Never mind the fact that we're supposed to imagine a world where Driveshaft wouldn't get punted off the stage at your average middle school battle of the bands, but we're also supposed to believe that a band with a popularity built on this song  could have a tortured but talented, drug addled songwriter and bass player?!  It took me at least a couple of episodes to reach a point where I could watch and listen to Charlie without laughing and singing that goddamn song.   

Sayid's character is somehow likable even though he indiscriminately gazes tenderly upon his counterparts like he is but moments away from that momentous first kiss. Doesn't matter if he's torturing Sawyer, being tortured by that butt-pig French broad, or actually moments away from a first kiss with Shannon, he's simultaneously doing whatever it is he's doing AND honing the art of seduction.  

Fortunately for me, this show has much more going for it than against it.  Allegory, countless questions begging answers, blood, polar bears, guns, monsters (perhaps), crazy French broads, tropical location, etc,   Jack and Locke were both Christ-like savior figures right off the bat.  As the season wore on, however, it became apparent that each man was a potential savior in modes that will eventually be at odds.  Although viscerally I like both characters- Jack, a man of science and reason, and Locke, a man of faith- I've also enjoyed the way, at least up until this point, Jack's goodness and ethics exceed Locke's in terms of overall merit.  There is something strange about this island; something that defies convention could take these two characters, as they relate to one another, to some interesting places.         

Will Jack and Kate ever become romantically involved?  I sure hope so.  Cause then I'll be able to stop rooting for it like some chick in the waning moments before her period.  It's just like a hot chick too, for some incomprehensible reason to be drawn to an asshole like Sawyer.  I know, I know, their characters have similarly ambivalent pasts to such a degree that they identify with one another. But give me a break.  Good guy, hot chick.  It's supposed to happen. The fact that it hasn't, however, is interesting.

Okay, since I'm getting tired I'm going to wrap this up with some questions begging for answers in season 2:

How does Locke know so much crazy shit?        

Will Charlie relapse?  

Can someone please kill Shannon?

What's in that hatch?

Why are there polar bears on a tropical island?

There are other people, aren't there?  

What almost pulled Locke into the ground?  

When will Jack's character flaws reveal themselves?  

Will Jin, Mike, and Sawyer find Walt?  Will they escape?

Who were those bastards that took Walt?  Some of the "Others"?             

What makes Walt "special"?

What's Claire's deal for real?

What's the deal with those numbers?

How come no one has come across a snake?  St. Patrick?

Where are all the bugs?

Under these circumstances, wouldn't people start pairing off if for no other reason than to blow off some steam?        

And finally, though not a question, Hurley's annoying.  He says "dude" way too much.  And not in a funny way like that dude at a football game in those beer commercials.