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Made in Southampton

By Made in Southampton,
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Made in Southampton

Made in Southampton

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Ive just watched the last episode of lost, and I've got to say I'm confused. Everything I thought to be true has just been turned upside down.

 

What a complete mind ****.

 

I'm not sure if I'm happy with the ending or what. I think what I'm really after is for someone to come on here and give me a straight forward explanation to what has just happened cos I need to sleep tonight, and at this rate I think I might be up all night trying to make sense of it.

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Matthew Le God

Matthew Le God

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This is "apparently" by one of the writers of the show.

 

First ...

The Island:

 

It was real. Everything that happened on the island that we saw throughout the 6 seasons was real. Forget the final image of the plane crash, it was put in purposely to f*&k with people's heads and show how far the show had come. They really crashed. They really survived. They really discovered Dharma and the Others. The Island keeps the balance of good and evil in the world. It always has and always will perform that role. And the Island will always need a "Protector". Jacob wasn't the first, Hurley won't be the last. However, Jacob had to deal with a malevolent force (MIB) that his mother, nor Hurley had to deal with. He created the devil and had to find a way to kill him -- even though the rules prevented him from actually doing so.

 

Thus began Jacob's plan to bring candidates to the Island to do the one thing he couldn't do. Kill the MIB. He had a huge list of candidates that spanned generations. Yet everytime he brought people there, the MIB corrupted them and caused them to kill one another. That was until Richard came along and helped Jacob understand that if he didn't take a more active role, then his plan would never work.

 

Enter Dharma -- Dharma, like the countless scores of people that were brought to the island before, were brought there by Jacob as part of his plan to kill the MIB. However, the MIB was aware of this plan and interferred by "corrupting" Ben. Making Ben believe he was doing the work of Jacob when in reality he was doing the work of the MIB. This carried over into all of Ben's "off-island" activities. He was the leader. He spoke for Jacob as far as they were concerned. So the "Others" killed Dharma and later were actively trying to kill Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hurley and all the candidates because that's what the MIB wanted. And what he couldn't do for himself.

 

Dharma was originally brought in to be good. But was turned bad by MIB's corruption and eventually destroyed by his pawn Ben. Now, was Dharma only brought there to help Jack and the other Canditates on their overall quest to kill Smokey? Or did Jacob have another list of Canidates from the Dharma group that we were never aware of? That's a question that is purposley not answered because whatever answer the writers came up with would be worse than the one you come up with for yourself. Still ... Dharma's purpose is not "pointless" or even vague. Hell, it's pretty blantent.

 

Still, despite his grand plan, Jacob wanted to give his "candidates" (our Lostaways) the one thing he, nor his brother, were ever afforded: free will. Hence him bringing a host of "candidates" through the decades and letting them "choose" which one would actually do the job in the end. Maybe he knew Jack would be the one to kill Flocke and that Hurley would be the protector in the end. Maybe he didn't. But that was always the key question of the show: Fate vs Free-will. Science vs Faith. Personally I think Jacob knew from the beginning what was going to happen and that everyone played a part over 6 seasons in helping Jack get to the point where he needed to be to kill Smokey and make Hurley the protector -- I know that's how a lot of the writers viewed it. But again, they won't answer that (nor should they) because that ruins the fun.

 

In the end, Jack got to do what he always wanted to do from the very first episode of the show: Save his fellow Lostaways. He got Kate and Sawyer off the island and he gave Hurley the purpose in life he'd always been missing. And, in Sideways world (which we'll get to next) he in fact saved everyone by helping them all move on ...

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Matthew Le God

Matthew Le God

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Second part...

 

Now...

 

Sideways World:

 

Sideways world is where it gets really cool in terms of theology and metaphysical discussion (for me at least -- because I love history/religion theories and loved all the talks in the writer's room about it). Basically what the show is proposing is that we're all linked to certain people during our lives. Call them soulmates (though it's not exactly the best word). But these people we're linked to are with us duing "the most important moments of our lives" as Christian said. These are the people we move through the universe with from lifetime to lifetime. It's loosely based in Hinduisim with large doses of western religion thrown into the mix.

 

The conceit that the writers created, basing it off these religious philosophies, was that as a group, the Lostaways subconsciously created this "sideways" world where they exist in purgatory until they are "awakened" and find one another. Once they all find one another, they can then move on and move forward. In essence, this is the show's concept of the afterlife. According to the show, everyone creates their own "Sideways" purgatory with their "soulmates" throughout their lives and exist there until they all move on together. That's a beautiful notion. Even if you aren't religious or even spirtual, the idea that we live AND die together is deeply profound and moving.

 

It's a really cool and spirtual concept that fits the whole tone and subtext the show has had from the beginning. These people were SUPPOSED to be together on that plane. They were supposed to live through these events -- not JUST because of Jacob. But because that's what the universe or God (depending on how religious you wish to get) wanted to happen. The show was always about science vs faith -- and it ultimately came down on the side of faith. It answered THE core question of the series. The one question that has been at the root of every island mystery, every character backstory, every plot twist. That, by itself, is quite an accomplishment.

 

How much you want to extrapolate from that is up to you as the viewer. Think about season 1 when we first found the Hatch. Everyone thought that's THE answer! Whatever is down there is the answer! Then, as we discovered it was just one station of many. One link in a very long chain that kept revealing more, and more of a larger mosiac.

 

But the writer's took it even further this season by contrasting this Sideways "purgatory" with the Island itself. Remember when Michael appeared to Hurley, he said he was not allowed to leave the Island. Just like the MIB. He wasn't allowed into this sideways world and thus, was not afforded the opportunity to move on. Why? Because he had proven himself to be unworthy with his actions on the Island. He failed the test. The others, passed. They made it into Sideways world when they died -- some before Jack, some years later. In Hurley's case, maybe centuries later. They exist in this sideways world until they are "awakened" and they can only move on TOGETHER because they are linked. They are destined to be together for eternity. That was their destiny.

 

They were NOT linked to Anna Lucia, Daniel, Roussou, Alex, Miles, Lupidis, (and all the rest who weren't in the chuch -- basically everyone who wasn't in season 1). Yet those people exist in Sideways world. Why? Well again, here's where they leave it up to you to decide. The way I like to think about it, is that those people who were left behind in Sideways world have to find their own soulmates before they can wake up. It's possible that those links aren't people from the island but from their other life (Anna's parnter, the guy she shot --- Roussou's husband, etc etc).

 

A lot of people have been talking about Ben and why he didn't go into the Church. And if you think of Sideways world in this way, then it gives you the answer to that very question. Ben can't move on yet because he hasn't connected with the people he needs to. It's going to be his job to awaken Roussou, Alex, Anna Lucia (maybe), Ethan, Goodspeed, his father and the rest. He has to attone for his sins more than he did by being Hurley's number two. He has to do what Hurley and Desmond did for our Lostaways with his own people. He has to help them connect. And he can only move on when all the links in his chain are ready to. Same can be said for Faraday, Charlotte, Whidmore, Hawkins etc. It's really a neat, and cool concept. At least to me.

 

But, from a more "behind the scenes" note: the reason Ben's not in the church, and the reason no one is in the church but for Season 1 people is because they wrote the ending to the show after writing the pilot. And never changed it. The writers always said (and many didn't believe them) that they knew their ending from the very first episode. I applaud them for that. It's pretty fantastic. Originally Ben was supposed to have a 3 episode arc and be done. But he became a big part of the show. They could have easily changed their ending and put him in the church -- but instead they problem solved it. Gave him a BRILLIANT moment with Locke outside the church ... and then that was it. I loved that. For those that wonder -- the original ending started the moment Jack walked into the church and touches the casket to Jack closing his eyes as the other plane flies away. That was always JJ's ending. And they kept it.

 

For me the ending of this show means a lot. Not only because I worked on it, but because as a writer it inspired me in a way the medium had never done before. I've been inspired to write by great films. Maybe too many to count. And there have been amazing TV shows that I've loved (X-Files, 24, Sopranos, countless 1/2 hour shows). But none did what LOST did for me. None showed me that you could take huge risks (writing a show about faith for network TV) and stick to your creative guns and STILL please the audience. I learned a lot from the show as a writer. I learned even more from being around the incredible writers, producers, PAs, interns and everyone else who slaved on the show for 6 years.

 

In the end, for me, LOST was a touchstone show that dealt with faith, the afterlife, and all these big, spirtual questions that most shows don't touch. And to me, they never once waivered from their core story -- even with all the sci-fi elements they mixed in. To walk that long and daunting of a creative tightrope and survive is simply astounding.

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Made in Southampton

Made in Southampton

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The link below is from a guy called SeanieB on YouTube, you may or may not of heard of him, he's been around for a long time doing recaps of episodes via his video blog.

 

He's helped me understand some of the more confusing parts of Lost and has picked up on alot of the secrets and explained them well. The link is for a recap of Episode 16 so not the final one which he is currently working on.

 

 

Subscibe to him, I'm waiting for him to ease my pain.

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SuperMikey

SuperMikey

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I stil don't get it, can someone please just spell it out, thanks.

 

Ok.

 

Basically...

 

  • Everything that happened through Series 1 - 5 actually happened.
  • Presumably they all died in the big explosion at the end of Series 5
  • So at the start of Series 6, mostly every character was dead.
  • The Island took the form of purgatory for each character that died.
  • Each character had to resolve their own personal conflicts with people, and settle their scores involving past experiences etc.
  • When they'd settled their scores, they could move on from purgatory and be at peace (hence the church scene at the end).
  • Ben was not allowed in the church as he had not settled any of his scores, and had that to look forward to so he could move on.

The situation with Locke is this...

  • He died when he died, the 'reanimated' Locke was in fact the Smoke Monster possessing his body in order to usurp the Protector and gain control of the island.
  • This is why nobody could kill him except the Protector.

The situation with Richard and Jacob was this...

  • Jacob was always fighting with Richard to gain control of the island.
  • As Jacob died and Richard left the island, the island needed to find two newbies to fill the gaps left.
  • Jacob's role was taken by Locke, who was reanimated for the purpose.
  • Richard's role was taken by Hurley.

And Ben?

  • Ben was always Jacob's #2, he will never get the power that he desires and will have to help Locke begrudgingly.
  • However, if he can settle his scores in purgatory (unlikely), he too can move on like the rest of the original cast.

Not sure if that's right (most of it is probably wrong), but that was my interpretation anyway.

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norwaysaint

norwaysaint

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Ok.

 

Basically...

 

  • Everything that happened through Series 1 - 5 actually happened.
  • Presumably they all died in the big explosion at the end of Series 5 No
  • So at the start of Series 6, mostly every character was dead.Only in the bits off of the island
  • The Island took the form of purgatory for each character that died. No it didn't
  • Each character had to resolve their own personal conflicts with people, and settle their scores involving past experiences etc.
  • When they'd settled their scores, they could move on from purgatory and be at peace (hence the church scene at the end).
  • Ben was not allowed in the church as he had not settled any of his scores, and had that to look forward to so he could move on.

The situation with Locke is this...

  • He died when he died, the 'reanimated' Locke was in fact the Smoke Monster possessing his body in order to usurp the Protector and gain control of the island. His body wasn't possessed. The man in black could take the form of any dead person on the island.
  • This is why nobody could kill him except the Protector. Jacob couldn't kill him either, he was only vulnerable when the power was "switched off".

The situation with Richard and Jacob was this...

  • Jacob was always fighting with Richard to gain control of the island. No, Richard was Jacob's assistant, that was always pretty clear.
  • As Jacob died and Richard left the island, the island needed to find two newbies to fill the gaps left.
  • Jacob's role was taken by Locke, who was reanimated for the purpose. Locke didn't take anyone's role, he was killed by Ben off the island ages ago. Jack temporarily took over Jacob's role, but then passed it on to Hurley, this was made very clear.
  • Richard's role was taken by Hurley. Richard's role was taken by Ben, that's why Hurley asked him if he could stay on and help him.

And Ben?

  • Ben was always Jacob's #2, he will never get the power that he desires and will have to help Locke begrudgingly. No, ben thought he was helping Jacob, but was actually being manipulated by the man in black.
  • However, if he can settle his scores in purgatory (unlikely), he too can move on like the rest of the original cast. He went on to purgatory like the rest of them, but we don't know when they all got there, Christian said some came before Jack, some came a long time after. Purgatory was the alternative timeline off the island. He didn't go with them because he was never a part of that group who came together.

Not sure if that's right (most of it is probably wrong), but that was my interpretation anyway.

 

That's nearly all wrong! I can't believe you understood so little of it, especially as most of it is explained quite clearly earlier in this thread. Some of it was explained pretty broadly too.

 

I found the Christian stuff a bit heavy handed. Jack dying so that everyone could live, with his father being called "Christian Shepherd".

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