"LOST" Season 4 discussion - spoilers

[Rico]

It's funny, but even with the new questions I find the show more compelling and I can see an end in sight.  I really think it's all going to be a lot more complex than most people think.  JJ Abrams created a very complicated plot on the show "Alias" over the 5 seasons it was on.  He doesn't make simple shows.  You really have to pay attention.  Things from months or even previous seasons can come back and be important.

[Geekyfanboy]

Lost: More Episodes Expected This Season
Update: Season 4 will likely contain 13 episodes total.
by IGN Staff

February 12, 2008 - Update: As of Tuesday night, the Writers' strike is officially over. Original story follows.

One of the more discussed "what next?" shows as the writers' strike comes to an apparent end is Lost, which went into this season with a very specific plan to air the first of three 16-episode seasons that would complete the series in 2010. However, only eight of this season's 16 episodes were finished when the strike began, and questions have arisen as to what ABC would do in terms of completing the season as originally intended.

By most accounts, the good news is that there will indeed be more Lost this season beyond those eight episodes. As showrunners, and (we assume) staff writers return to work this week, Lost executive producer Damon Lindelof is quoted in Eonline saying "Indeed, it would appear that we are in the endgame of the strike. Personally, I couldn't be more psyched to be part of this union. Like any negotiation, some parts suck and some parts surpassed my wildest expectations for what we could accomplish, but most of all I'm left with a feeling of pride."

Lindelof goes on to say, "As for Lost (pending the actual lifting of the strike, which we vote for on Tuesday), a game plan should begin to manifest by the end of the week. All I can say is that Carlton [Cuse] and I and the rest of the writers have every intention of making sure you guys get more episodes this season beyond the eight already completed. How many and how they will be aired is a conversation we'll be having with our bosses, but as soon as we've got a plan, we'll tell the fans first."

TV Guide's Michael Ausiello meanwhile is reporting he hears that six additional episodes may be completed this season. If that ends up being the case, and the storyline meant for 16 episodes is fit into 14, fans will no doubt wonder if that means the two extra episodes originally planned for this season will cease to be, or be added to the next two years.

Update: The Hollywood Reporter has spoken to Lost executive producer Carlton Cuse, and say that the goal Cuse and Lindelof have set is to complete five more episodes this season, bringing the total to 13.

"We're going to have to hit the ground running, go from zero to 100 mph in a matter of days to make as many episodes as possible," Cuse tells the Reporter. As for turning a 16 episode season into a 13 episode season, Cuse notes "We will have to condense some stories."

Cuse also spoke to Variety, in which he said, "We're going to try to make as many as we can and do a good job of finishing out this season. We'll have to compress some of the storytelling we planned for this season, and that may not be a bad thing. Damon and I feel like we know how we can finish it off and still make it a really, really great story."

Variety reports that Cuse tells them that any unproduced episodes planned for this season (presumably three at this point) will be added to the final two seasons at some point, seemingly keeping the show on track to produce 48 episodes total over the course of its final three years.

[Rico]

On the episode from 2/14.  WOW!  More has happened and been shown I think in this new season than almost all of last year.  Sayid is just so darn cool.  And the flash forward stuff - OMG!  We are really learning a lot about where things are headed.  I was a bit surprised that they fell for the Hurley trick, but I guess he is the one they probably would trust the most.  And what about the time difference between off the island and on it?  I think you were right on that Jeff.  Really, really good episode.

[jedijeff]

Yes, that was another great episode. I felt they built up the Hurley tricking them pretty good, at least it fooled me, as they had showed him being at odds with Locke earlier, but he was probably the best choice to use as a decoy. The Sayid flash forward was really cool, and interested to find out more. I was shocked to see him working for Ben, and I guess he got tricked again with the Girl he was tracking. Ben does seem like an even more mysterious person, with all the ID's Sayid had found.
I thought time had something to play with the island, so glad to see that is starting to be revealed. Really looking forward to next weeks show, should be another good one.

[Geekyfanboy]

'Lost' Shifting Timeslots Again


By MICHAEL HINMAN
Source: TV Guide
Feb-14-2008

If "Lost" ever needed a great lead-in show on its schedule, it may finally have one thanks to ABC.

According to Michael Ausiello of TV Guide, the network is considering moving the final six episodes of "Lost" -- five of which are now in production -- to Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET beginning in April, where it will follow one of ABC's strongest performing shows, "Grey's Anatomy."

It's reportedly a part of a Thursday night package that will begin with "Ugly Betty" in the 8 p.m. timeslot that would give the network a chance to compete with CBS' lineup of "Survivor," "CSI" and "Without A Trace."

Even better, if the lineup works, it could be in use when "Lost" returns for Season 5 ... in the fall. Yes, according to Ausiello, it looks like "Lost" could return for its next season in the fall this coming year, instead of the planned spring launch that was supposed to make up the show's final seasons.

So what will be in those five new episodes that will soon begin filming in Hawaii for late spring? Ausiello caught up with executive producer Carlton Cuse to find out.

"We've found ourselves in a situation where we had eight episodes of story planned, and we're going to try to fit that into five hours of the show," said Cuse. "Even though it's going to be very hard to execute, we felt like any less would be doing a disservice to the story we had planned. We really want to give the fans the best possible experience and ending ... to Season 4."

Because of the strike, there will be a gap between the episodes already filmed and those yet to be filmed, possibly by as long as a month. But ABC is indicating it may hold the eighth episode of the season already filmed to air at the same time as the last five, creating a final six-episode arc leading into the next season.

"Lost" airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.

[jedijeff]

I was listening to the Official Lost Podcast today, there was a question about the Polar Bear in Tunisia, and they indicated the Orchid Station Video gives some clues into how the Polar Bear ended up there

[wraith1701]

OK, lost airs in about 30 minutes, and I'm strongly considering checking it out.  Problem is, I've only seen about 3 episodes of the series since it aired.  If I check it out, will it make any sense to me?  Or does the series depend on the viewer having a firm grasp of all of the backstory?

-E

[Geekyfanboy]

You will not understand a thing.... I'd pick up season one and start there.

[wraith1701]

I was afraid of that.

Thanks for the heads-up. :thumbsup

[jedijeff]

Was an alright episode, but probably my least favorite so far for the season. Really liked the scene between Ben and Miles, really making me want to find out more. Interesting as well that it seems there is a big coverup on what actual events happend on the island. At first I thought that Jack was lying on the stand for Kate, but after it sounded like it was a story that all surviving members are telling. Kind of guessed the reveal at the end as well, not really sure what to make of it.

[Blackride]

I really liked the episode. I do not however like the Lock stuff......

[jedijeff]

I really liked the episode. I do not however like the Lock stuff......

Locke almost seems to becoming Ben, Living in Bens house, keeping Ben locked in the basement, controlling all the other Losties, and telling them what and what not to do. His Character is becoming unlikeable.

[Geekyfanboy]

I still don't understand why the Oceanic six would leave everyone else on the Island and be telling the world this lie of what happen. I can't see these six making a deal to get off the Island.

[Rico]

I still don't understand why the Oceanic six would leave everyone else on the Island and be telling the world this lie of what happen. I can't see these six making a deal to get off the Island.

We don't know that's the case Kenny.  Maybe some of the rest are off the island.  The public only knows about the six of them.  Maybe they are lying to protect the rest.  It's hard to say right now.  There is a lot more to this show than just getting off the island.  I think the current time is going to catch up to the flash forward stuff at some point - maybe.  Keep in mind they have shown that time off the island moves much faster than when you are on the island.

Anyway, this week's episode did reveal another of the Oceanic 6.  Claire's baby, Aaron.  :)

[Geekyfanboy]

Anyway, this week's episode did reveal another of the Oceanic 6.  Claire's baby, Aaron.  :)

Do you really think he is one of the six... I don't think so... at least I would feel like it was a cheap if they did that.