"LOST" Season 4 discussion - spoilers

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Yea, what a....whiny person.  *Whaaaaa I got kicked off the show again whaaaaa*.  Sheesh. 

King

[Vartok]

Spoiler Alert:

Is that the end of the show now?  In a way I hope so.  The Island has disappeared, many are dead, Locke in a box, transporter is broken, and plot is crazy!  But please - no one go back to the island!  I wouldn't!  what good thing has happened there for most of the characters??

Vartok

[X]

I don't think he's whining at all. He gave a valid opinion on what he felt was a missed opportunity. I think that as an actor I would be a little upset if I suddenly got called back only for that to happen.

Then you have to look at the story. His character was pretty much assassinated during season two. He went from a man struggling to be a father and get his kid back and off the island to becoming a murderer.

A stupid murderer at that. One that for some reason tells his kid that he killed two people to get him off the island? Come on...

So he comes back to a story that we suddenly find him returning to the island, but Walt isn't there. We then find he told Walt and has been trying to off himself until he starts working for Ben for a way to die? Is it that hard to mend fences with your kid that you have to work for an enemy so that you can finally kill yourself?

It was an interesting storyline, but core parts of it was flawed and I'd be a little upset too if I was the actor that had to do it. He was also right about the end result playing into a common hollywood stereotype about a fatherless black kid and nothing of Walt's abilities seem to have deserved mention.

Walt gets brought back, but none of the things that made him interesting are even brought up. Over all, the Michael / Walt arc was so weak that it didn't need to be there at all.

Then again Lost is also the master of viral marketing and who knows if this whole interview isn't a red herring that makes us think that Michael is dead and gone.

Rico was right about "whites" dying and getting blown up, but I think some people might say that every minority except for three were killed on the island. I think that the actor shouldn't have said what he did, but there are fans that have noticed that the very diverse cast has lost over 70% of the minorities.

Again this isn't to start an argument, but to point out that the actor's comments could be considered justified to him if put in context. While there are more "main character" minorities than normal on the show, there have been far more of them killed off or moved from the show than their counterparts.

[jedijeff]

It was an interesting storyline, but core parts of it was flawed and I'd be a little upset too if I was the actor that had to do it. He was also right about the end result playing into a common hollywood stereotype about a fatherless black kid and nothing of Walt's abilities seem to have deserved mention.

Walt gets brought back, but none of the things that made him interesting are even brought up. Over all, the Michael / Walt arc was so weak that it didn't need to be there at all.

Then again Lost is also the master of viral marketing and who knows if this whole interview isn't a red herring that makes us think that Michael is dead and gone.

I am wondering if now that the Show in a sense has caught up to Walt's age again, if he will come into play more in the next few seasons. Given the amount of time that passed on the island compared to how much Walt had aged in real life, they were not really able to include him in the story. I am hoping and guessing that the producers and writers have not forgotten about Walt's abilities.

I also had the same thought as you well reading the article, that this might be a bit of a trick, and that the next season Michael will wash up on the beach alive and well. I guess time will tell on that.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

While there are more "main character" minorities than normal on the show, there have been far more of them killed off or moved from the show than their counterparts.

This is what gets me sick.  I have a whole rant on why this does, but I'd rather keep this on-topic. 

And as for your comments Just X, I'll agree with you, his character has always been weak and we cheered when he did finally leave the island.  Those two characters were never needed and only cause me grief when I watch the 1-3 seasons.  He goes from a bad, overprotective father, to a murderer who is stupid, to a guy who can't die.  I highly doubt he is dead because he'll come back somehow.  But I'll still sigh when he comes back because his character is overall weak and unneeded.  So is Walt.

King

[sheldor]

I think the cover is to also protect the Oceanic Six.  Keep in mind the world thinks most of the people sunk and are on that plane on the bottom of the ocean.  If Jack and the others started to say that was fake and make "noise" their lives would be in danger.

I also don't think Jin is dead.  The boat took a little while to completely blow up.  Plenty of time to jump in the water, maybe get to the Zodiac, etc.  I think more people survived than we think.

I hope so for Sun and the baby sake but 3 years is a long time with no word.   It was great to see "brotha" and Penny together - I wasn't expecting that and they way they were rescued was good - as long as everyone keeps quiet - not going to happen.  I figured it was Locke at the end since the end of last season.  Was that in Sydney ?  I don't feel right about liking Ben.  I still think he is in this for himself and is only using them.   Sayid finally opens up his can o'whoop ass !!  The delorean at the end - oh man - like a giant microwave oven.  I was originally not keen on season 4 but I was very happy with the last show.   Yeah - I'll be watching whenever it comes back.

[Geekyfanboy]

I heard that season five won't start until the beginning of 2009...

[Rico]

Just X - I respect and understand what you have to say.  But frankly, I still say actors are hired to do a job.  Generally they have no say at all in story or plot elements.  Whether you think the story is well done is one issue.  But frankly has nothing to do with any particular actor keeping their job or not.  It isn't their show.  And for an actor to speak out like this serves very little purpose.  Except to perhaps make people think twice about hiring him again.

[X]

Just X - I respect and understand what you have to say.  But frankly, I still say actors are hired to do a job.  Generally they have no say at all in story or plot elements.  Whether you think the story is well done is one issue.  But frankly has nothing to do with any particular actor keeping their job or not.  It isn't their show.  And for an actor to speak out like this serves very little purpose.  Except to perhaps make people think twice about hiring him again.

Rico, I totally agree that actors are hired to do a job, but I think them having an opinion on their job is a perfectly valid one. He did the job to completion and afterwards, he spoke out about how he didn't like the direction they took the character.

To me, this is like any other job that you do and don't like what happened while doing the job. You still get it done, you don't have to like what happened, but you also don't have to be quiet about it.

The funny thing is that he hasn't said anything that other won't be talking about. People are going to discuss the lackluster Michael return and his comments for a while. Personally, I think that was the point of the comments. Had he had any true ill will, he could have voice things before the season ended or said how things weren't what he expected.

This seems to be after the season finale, so the comments don't hurt the show in any way, but it does bring up another watercooler point to keep lost in the mind for a bit longer.

I know that some people would rather the actors just do their job, but I think that if we hire people to do job, we can always expect them to be people and someone who is upset about something will say that. He isn't the first or the last actor to get upset about a role and in my experience, I like to here way a person has to say about a show for good or ill.

When Blalock spoke out about the Trip/T'pol storyline, I was shocked at how she worded it, but she did have some good points. Unless the show is B5 where everything was done mainly by one person, other people will have voices on how they think the characters should act, what they should say, and their future, but it's the actors that have to do the job from show to show. While they don't write the words, over time, they can get a feel for what they thing their characters should be doing.

When they see something wrong, I like it when they speak out. If more people would have spoke out at the time, I don't think that the end of Enterprise would have been what it was. Most of the crew and many of the fans felt that Riker and Troi should not have been there, but they didn't speak up until after it aired. Many fans agree with them that it was out of place.

In the end I guess I am saying that I like it best when there is one person leading the story or when there are more than one person writing the story, the actors views should be considered because they just might know more than some per episode writer.

[Rico]

Not to continue this too much more.  There is a big difference though between him and your average Joe who is unhappy with something at work.  The average Joe isn't an actor on a popular TV series who will have his comments become part of the public record.  I just think he said some things he will come to regret.  And that's never a good thing for anyone.

[Geekyfanboy]

I agree with Rico 100% and I would like to add.. I didn't know who Harold Perrineau was before Lost. I think Lost made him a recognizable actor. Now when I see him on other things I say.. "oh there's Michael from Lost."

[X]

I can understand that. I've been a fan of his since Romeo + Juliet and enjoyed seeing him in the matrix movies. I was actually shocked when he took a network TV role, but I do understand where you both are coming from.


Oh! How did I forget his performance on OZ?

[sheldor]

I agree with Rico 100% and I would like to add.. I didn't know who Harold Perrineau was before Lost. I think Lost made him a recognizable actor. Now when I see him on other things I say.. "oh there's Michael from Lost."

I remember Michael from Matrix Reloaded/Revolutions, Locke from Alias and Charly from LOTR.  The other main actors were all new to me.

When Ben suckered him into shooting Libby and the other girl, I found it hard to think of him as a good guy anymore.  I know he did all this for Walt but he crossed the line more then once.

[Locutus]

Actors have a lot of input on their characters, and many times the character itself changes based upon the actor hired for the part. Such is the way with Lost, as Jack was supposed to be killed off in the first episode, but they liked the actor so much he stayed on the show and is now, well, who he is.

Knowing this, it is strange to think they could not have found a way to bring Micheal back and give him a compelling storyline. Knowing this, it is difficult to believe they could not have been more sensitive to the stereotype of a fatherless black boy, etc. And the way Perrineau said they called him and what they said, that they would not be continuing with Micheal, made it sound as if they made a decision not to keep him on the show, not that they finished his storyline. Or rather, they they abreviated his storyline to get rid of Perrineau.

It sounds like all of you, except JustX, are saying "You are a shell who does what people tells you for money. Shut up and dance, monkey." Actors are real people, all evidence to the contrary. They like and dislike things and have opinions. I can understand not wanting to listen to them on politics, but on acting? That's what they do! Believe me, the entire cast and crew has opinions on these shows, and many times it can influence the show itself. He really didn't burn any bridges, he merely stated he was unhappy with how they treated the character. If they need him back, they will ask him, but it sounded to me like they were done with him or felt it wasn't worth having him there.

On the other side, Perrineau might be a real pain to work with and they decided to let him go like this. It happens. So really no burned bridges there either - they could have shut him out.

Anyway, great episode, looking forward to next season,.

[Rico]

Locutus - it's one thing to listen to their advice on their characters and acting - it is quite another to have the actors direct the plot.  Yes, I am well aware that on some shows and in some cases this does happen.  But that is rare.  Typically they do the scripts as written for them.  Allowing those running the show to do their jobs.  These TV series have writers that are quite capable and I would guess have a set of goals in mind for the show.  From what I can see this is the direction they wanted to take the Michael character.  But Perrineau seems to be taking it personally.  Of course anyone wouldn't be happy with losing their job - especially on a hit TV show.  But that's Hollywood sometimes.  And again, on "LOST" no one is safe.