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I am finally breaking my silence when it comes to the last episode of LOST, called “The End.” I wanted to wait for a week, sit and think about the final moments. Watch it again and read other people’s thoughts on the ending. I found myself really bothered by people’s negative remarks towards the ending, but I will get to that later.
I liked the ending and after rewatching it, discussing it and thinking it over. I would have to say, “I loved it and thought it was beautiful.” I enjoyed the story, the redemptive theme that story created, and the fact that community and love were key elements of the end game. I may not agree with the theory of the afterlife/ purgatory but it is their story and I am merely reader of it. (I believe LOST was a different type of TV show compared to a CSI, Glee and even shows like Mad Men).
LOST had good characters, mysteries and even theological topics. As a viewer we began the journey with Characters absolutely clueless to where they were and what had happened to them. Throughout the entire series, we learned about the mysteries of the Island and how these characters began to have community with one another. We connected to the show because we connected to the characters and not the mysteries. If we took the characters out of the story of LOST and allowed the mysteries to control everything, we all would have stopped watching in Season 2-maybe even Season 1.
In the finale episode, we get the conclusion to these stories. I loved how some characters died, some stayed on the island and others left. The more I thought about the sideways world, it was striking and amazing how this television show could grab your attention by using six years of character development to make these 20 second “awaking moments” so real. LOST has always been about the characters.
We felt connected to the characters and felt their sadness when someone had died or found joy with a simple phone call between two lovers. We felt sympathy when the great villain of the show asks the question, “Who will have me?” and then grace is shown when his enemy responds with “I will.” We felt joy for each character as they awaken with their loved ones next to them. LOST wanted us to feel life and to know that community and love are key in this world.
As for the mysteries, Yes, I do feel like I did not get all the answers I wanted. However, the characters in the show did not get all the answers. The writers of the show treated its audience like it’s characters. We learned what was going on as the characters learned what was going on. That structure of the story
is what made LOST a great television show. It allowed us to feel part of the journey on the island and gave us the same opportunities to have the conversations that characters had on the show. We ended the show with the same amount of information as the characters on the show had. So I am satisfied with how they ended with all the mysteries of the Island. Figuring out all mythical and unexplainable things of the show is just like life. Sometimes there are no answers.
You may disagree with me. I am fine with that. However, I am not fine with how people have verbally destroyed the final episode. I have read people’s remarks about the ending saying, “ That was terrible”, “Absolute Rubbish”, “Boo LOST” and many more. I am shocked with these responses because they are so harsh and destructive towards the art of story telling. These comments are claiming that there was no beauty within the episode and that nothing in the finale impacted them. I find this extremely hard to believe.
My friends are people who are in love with being in and part of community and who delve into conversations around the creation of art. Beauty and our souls are the inspiration of art. Living intentionally together and sharing our lives with one another is community. How can we say such critical things towards someone trying to promote these ideas? How can we call ourselves artists and use such words to harsh words to describe someone else’s art? Is this life giving? I believe we are called to find beauty within art and be able to discuss the themes in a positive way. Not to use such insensitive language. Maybe this is a lesson that I have learned over the years about being critical of other people’s art and trying to be more aware of my words.
Like I said earlier, I do not agree with the theology of the ending of LOST but I found it beautiful and the delivery of the concept of the end. I left the episode sad but complete with the story. I am okay with not knowing every mystery of the show. The authors treated us like the characters and allowed us to know as much as the characters knew in the story. They gave clues, like puzzle pieces, for us to go back, put the bits together and discuss the outcome of these mysteries.
These are my thoughts on “The End” of LOST. I thought the episode was awesome. The music was emotionally effective in the story line and the acting was probably the best I have seen in LOST. I cannot listen to the song called “There’s No Place Like Home” from Season 4 soundtrack without seeing the image Jack next to Vincent. I choke up thinking about it. I am sad that is done. I am happy to see it all, to finish the novel and say, “this was a damn good read.”
ps.... Thank You writers for making me like Kate's character at the end.
