An open note to the writers of ‘Lost’
Congratulations on your return to the small screen tonight. It’s been a while, and I know many have been awaiting your return. However, a cautionary note:
In my job here at ComicMix, I spend a lot of time talking pop culture with a number of comics professionals. I recently found myself in a discussion with a writer about Lost, and he said, quote, "I used to follow the show, but they just had too many dangling plot threads and unresolved story elements– I stopped watching."
Guys, when Chris Claremont says your series has too many dangling plotlines, you have a problem.
I mean, add a few super powers, and… hmm. Add superpowers to a convoluted plotline… didn’t I just get something about that? Why, yes I did:
Consider yourselves warned.
(Incidentally, Chris Claremont has a newly redesigned web site and blog, although he’s still working out the bugs of the migration and some of the redirects are still touchy. Go over and take a look, show him some love.)
Claremont had to have been speaking sarcastically. That's a real case of the pot calling the kettle black. I gave up on the X-Men when he was writing it because nothing was ever resolved. I haven't looked back since. On the other hand Lost's mysteries promise resolution. Twenty or so years later can the same be said for the X-Men?
No, he was serious. You can imagine my reaction. I did ask if I could quote him, knowing the implications, and he said "Sure."He then launched into a litany of items– he'd just caught an episode or two on SciFi, and was flummoxed. Not only at plot direction, but character motivations. I'm trying to see if I can force him to do recaps, but I think I'd need Alex's chair from A Clockwork Orange to do it.And the kettle is "cookware of color".Hey, Chris has been off X-Men for 18 years. I suspect a few things would be resolved by now if he'd kept writing.
Well, the season premiere was great. There were a number of surprises and the action was high. This looks like a good season.
Chris is entitled to his opinion of course, but I find Lost to be the best show ever aired on network TV. It has strong characterization, action, an intriguing plot line and, unlike multiple cross-over storylines so prevalent in comics, it's confined to one original airing a week! And with Lost ending next season, it's episodes are strong, not meandering like comics. Thankfully, ratings are high and my experience has been that the buzzword is prevalent with everyone I meet.