LOST

I borrowed season 1 of ABC's LOST from Greg and Sarah Mac a few days ago. I polished off the 24th and final 1st season episode today. This says 2 things:
1) I've had nothing better to do with my days than sit around and watch four-year-old tv
2) The show is VERY addictive

Now, that is not to say the show does not have its flaws (both continuity and literary). And I'll share a few of my thoughts on those topics in a Jeff/Fukakai-reminiscent style. But the reality is, I very much enjoy the show and am eagerly awaiting the arrival of season 2 (and 3-4) to watch. I'm sure I'll be able to catch up before the 5th season premiere, TBD in early 2009. So don't expect a complete lambasting...

My thoughts, both positive and negative, randomly as they come to me:
-For being a series based on one of the most familiar concepts in pop culture (shipwrecked/crashed transport of person/people on a stranded island), the show is quite innovative and fresh. Creator/producer JJ Abrams uses several non-traditional techniques to set this show apart from what is typically seen on tv these days.
1. Cast--something on the order of 14 or so main characters appear in the first season. That's certainly more than most shows. And, for the most part, the ensemble's members are at least passable actors, if not good/very good. The standout to me is Terry O'Quinn (John Locke). Not only do I like him because I've seen him in real life (his brother, Tom Quinn, teaches theatre at my alma mater IWU), but he does a very nice job in slowly revealing the mystery of his character. Matthew Fox (Dr. Jack Shepherd) is ok. I read that originally, Shepherd was to appear only in the pilot, but ABC execs liked Fox so much, they insisted he remain in the show. And he is now the central protagonist. I also like Naveen Andrews (Sayid ?) and Josh Holloway (Sawyer). Evangeline Lilly (Kate) is cute and charismatic, both on show and in real life. The lower caliber actors are Harold Perrineau (Michael Dawson), Ian Somerholder (Boone) and Maggie Grace (Shannon). It's clear the latter two are on the show simply to be eye candy, though their storyline is also fresh for TV. I'm a little wishy washy on Dominic Monaghan (of LOTR fame). I'm not sure if it is him or just his character, Charlie, which has grown tiresome over the course of the season. I'm also fairly impressed with Daniel Dae Kim's ability to translate to the screen in a human way while speaking only Korean (often subtitled). And child actor Malcolm David Kelley is surprisingly passable as 12?-year old Walt. Jorge Garcia is pretty funny as the fat guy (Hugo/Hurley), and his storyline is pretty intriguing, but neither is extremely special.
2. Sci-fi/Supernatural element--It's not surprising that Abrams, who also was involved in some aspect with other borderline sci-fi pieces Alias, MI3, Armageddon, Cloverfield and the to-be released 2009 Star Trek movie, would want to incorporate a supernatural element. There are several actually. And for the most part, each is compelling. Of course, beside the requisite Christian themology and the technique of leaving the mysterious possible inhabitants of the island as "others" (even naming them that), the general encounter with the supernatural usually boils down to fate. That's ok.
3. Narrative structure--The structure of each episode is almost always basically the same: a cold opening, followed with the main story of the episode, which typically features one character's conflict on the island interspersed with a mirroring storyline from his/her previous, pre-flight life, plus peripheral action that moves the overall series arc. The show does not shy away from metaphor or foreshadowing. I appreciate a show that attempts a little deeper narrative arc than simple situational resolution in each episode, though there is no doubt at times the metaphor is obvious or even trite. It is TV after all, not Shakespeare (thankfully). And I've never found it unbearably so. For the most part, the stories are fresh, applicable in today's world, and mesh well with the overall arc. However, the basically unchanging format does get a bit wearing, but again, it is not unbearable. Again, the storyline I find most intriguing is Locke's. Rife with both metaphor and foreshadowing, as well as a nice mix between human drama and the supernatural.
4. Perhaps the most grating part of the series is that most of the interpersonal conflict could be avoided simply by people not being conversationally inept and most of the action drama avoided by simply making sure other people, including an 8-months pregnant girl, do not wander off alone into the jungle. Simple tasks, yet nearly each episode's main arc is driven by either one or both of those elements. The interpersonal conflict is made bearable by allowing yourself to interpret, as the writers wish, the lack of communication as a side effect of an individual's hubris or desire not to divulge much about their (mostly sordid) past. That's another point. It is totally unlikely that so many people with such incredible life conflicts would be gathered on one plane. But I guess that's fate.