LOST: ASK MATT

Question: Nearly every week, someone in your column is complaining about
Lost. They're upset that we don't yet know what the numbers mean, or they
want to know why no one wants to get off the island anymore or something
else. Why haven't people realized by now that Lost isn't about the island,
or the hatch, or the numbers or any of that? It's about the people who are
on the island, or in the hatch or know the numbers. Why not just sit back
and enjoy the ride from week to week? - Tony

Matt Roush: That has been my point all along. One echoed by Brian K.: "I may
be in the minority, but I don't want to know much of anything that's truly
behind the island from Lost. At this point, I do not believe any full
explanation could satisfy me or the majority of the fans, even as much as
they think they want it. I remember when John Doe was canceled and the
creators decided to release info about where the story was going and where
John's abilities came from. Like many others, I thought to myself, 'Well,
glad it got taken off before that could happen.' Let me love the characters'
histories, given to us little by little. The mysterious island is just
gravy." Hear, hear.

Sandy writes in with a broader perspective: "I'm not the Lost fanatic you
are (although I do watch every new episode on broadcast TV), but for a long
time people have been claiming the show has jumped the shark and it's losing
viewers because of the slow and intricate plotting. Actually, the Nielsen
ratings don't indicate the true viewership for the show. It was one of the
first shows made available on iPods and now I hear the producers are
creating ancillary product for cell phones. I do think the show has great
potential to last for years because ABC wants all the revenue it can squeeze
from it!" Hey, whatever works.

And finally, Larry B. asks: "Do you think Lost is a critic-proof, perfect
show? I ask because it seems when anyone writes in with a criticism of the
show, whether small or large, you get very defensive in your response. Now,
to a large part I agree with you: I love Lost immensely and liken it to a
great, weird novel. There are very few episodes that I have disliked, and I
hope it lasts for a while. However, my only minor quibble is that not much
has happened over this season compared to last. Looking at the whole season,
we had the tailies join, some dust-ups with the Others, Henry and the hatch
and...? It also could use a little more group interaction among the main
cast - something we saw more of in Season 1. So, again, these are just the
tweaks I would make to a great program. Would you make any, or is it perfect
as is?"

Look, Lost isn't perfect. No show is. More episodes or opportunities for the
core cast to interact makes sense. It is weird when major characters,
especially those in such a tight geographic setting, just vanish for weeks
on end. But there are so many characters and stories to service here, not to
mention the show's production demands, that I get why that happens. And I
don't buy the argument that too little has happened this season. Adding the
new castaways (leading to that brilliant episode condensing their first days
into a single hour), the mystery surrounding Henry Gale, the disappearance
of Walt and then Michael, the hatch itself becoming a major character with
its own mysteries? That's plenty to dwell on for weeks if not months.

[Mr Roush simply doesn't get it, does he?]

Ronnie...

I'm still just amazed this show is such a huge hit, rather than a
cult thing which people are "fighting" to keep on the air.