…that there’s actually some semblance of order to the chaos that is this Tumblr?
If you never visit my actual page and only see me through the feed, mightn’t know that! So, check out the categories below and go for an adventure through my neurosis, beliefs, rants, nerdy impulses and, of course, love.
Last night’s Emmys opening skit featuring the Glee cast, Tina Fey, Jon Hamm, and that girl from Vampire Diaries that used to be the pregnant cheerleader on Degrassi.
This may be the best show opener ever. And I’m not even a Glee fan.
(yay hurley!)
I love these “How It Should Have Ended”. Drunk Willy Wonka - so good. Also the Superman, Iron Man and LOTR (the first one I ever saw and still my favorite one “one of us might ‘ave died!”).
Even the LOST - love it as I do, you gotta be able to laugh at yourself and the things you love or else you’re holding them too dear. Lapidus!!
This is making the rounds, but in case you haven’t seen it yet, read on. Originally from here, but the full text is below.
Good stuff on here! I can finally throw in my two cents! I’ve had to bite my tongue for far too long. Also, hopefully I can answer some of John’s questions about Dharma and the “pointless breadcrumbs” that really, weren’t so pointless …First …
The Island:
It was real. Everything that happened on the island that we saw throughout the 6 seasons was real. Forget the final image of the plane crash, it was put in purposely to f*&k with people’s heads and show how far the show had come. They really crashed. They really survived. They really discovered Dharma and the Others. The Island keeps the balance of good and evil in the world. It always has and always will perform that role. And the Island will always need a “Protector”. Jacob wasn’t the first, Hurley won’t be the last. However, Jacob had to deal with a malevolent force (MIB) that his mother, nor Hurley had to deal with. He created the devil and had to find a way to kill him — even though the rules prevented him from actually doing so.
Thus began Jacob’s plan to bring candidates to the Island to do the one thing he couldn’t do. Kill the MIB. He had a huge list of candidates that spanned generations. Yet everytime he brought people there, the MIB corrupted them and caused them to kill one another. That was until Richard came along and helped Jacob understand that if he didn’t take a more active role, then his plan would never work.
Enter Dharma — which I’m not sure why John is having such a hard time grasping. Dharma, like the countless scores of people that were brought to the island before, were brought there by Jacob as part of his plan to kill the MIB. However, the MIB was aware of this plan and interferred by “corrupting” Ben. Making Ben believe he was doing the work of Jacob when in reality he was doing the work of the MIB. This carried over into all of Ben’s “off-island” activities. He was the leader. He spoke for Jacob as far as they were concerned. So the “Others” killed Dharma and later were actively trying to kill Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hurley and all the candidates because that’s what the MIB wanted. And what he couldn’t do for himself.
Dharma was originally brought in to be good. But was turned bad by MIB’s corruption and eventually destroyed by his pawn Ben. Now, was Dharma only brought there to help Jack and the other Canditates on their overall quest to kill Smokey? Or did Jacob have another list of Canidates from the Dharma group that we were never aware of? That’s a question that is purposley not answered because whatever answer the writers came up with would be worse than the one you come up with for yourself. Still … Dharma’s purpose is not “pointless” or even vague. Hell, it’s pretty blantent.
Still, despite his grand plan, Jacob wanted to give his “candidates” (our Lostaways) the one thing he, nor his brother, were ever afforded: free will. Hence him bringing a host of “candidates” through the decades and letting them “choose” which one would actually do the job in the end. Maybe he knew Jack would be the one to kill Flocke and that Hurley would be the protector in the end. Maybe he didn’t. But that was always the key question of the show: Fate vs Free-will. Science vs Faith. Personally I think Jacob knew from the beginning what was going to happen and that everyone played a part over 6 seasons in helping Jack get to the point where he needed to be to kill Smokey and make Hurley the protector — I know that’s how a lot of the writers viewed it. But again, they won’t answer that (nor should they) because that ruins the fun.
In the end, Jack got to do what he always wanted to do from the very first episode of the show: Save his fellow Lostaways. He got Kate and Sawyer off the island and he gave Hurley the purpose in life he’d always been missing. And, in Sideways world (which we’ll get to next) he in fact saved everyone by helping them all move on …
Now…
Sideways World:
Sideways world is where it gets really cool in terms of theology and metaphysical discussion (for me at least — because I love history/religion theories and loved all the talks in the writer’s room about it). Basically what the show is proposing is that we’re all linked to certain people during our lives. Call them soulmates (though it’s not exactly the best word). But these people we’re linked to are with us duing “the most important moments of our lives” as Christian said. These are the people we move through the universe with from lifetime to lifetime. It’s loosely based in Hinduisim with large doses of western religion thrown into the mix.
The conceit that the writers created, basing it off these religious philosophies, was that as a group, the Lostaways subconsciously created this “sideways” world where they exist in purgatory until they are “awakened” and find one another. Once they all find one another, they can then move on and move forward. In essence, this is the show’s concept of the afterlife. According to the show, everyone creates their own “Sideways” purgatory with their “soulmates” throughout their lives and exist there until they all move on together. That’s a beautiful notion. Even if you aren’t religious or even spirtual, the idea that we live AND die together is deeply profound and moving.
It’s a really cool and spirtual concept that fits the whole tone and subtext the show has had from the beginning. These people were SUPPOSED to be together on that plane. They were supposed to live through these events — not JUST because of Jacob. But because that’s what the universe or God (depending on how religious you wish to get) wanted to happen. The show was always about science vs faith — and it ultimately came down on the side of faith. It answered THE core question of the series. The one question that has been at the root of every island mystery, every character backstory, every plot twist. That, by itself, is quite an accomplishment.
How much you want to extrapolate from that is up to you as the viewer. Think about season 1 when we first found the Hatch. Everyone thought that’s THE answer! Whatever is down there is the answer! Then, as we discovered it was just one station of many. One link in a very long chain that kept revealing more, and more of a larger mosiac.
But the writer’s took it even further this season by contrasting this Sideways “purgatory” with the Island itself. Remember when Michael appeared to Hurley, he said he was not allowed to leave the Island. Just like the MIB. He wasn’t allowed into this sideways world and thus, was not afforded the opportunity to move on. Why? Because he had proven himself to be unworthy with his actions on the Island. He failed the test. The others, passed. They made it into Sideways world when they died — some before Jack, some years later. In Hurley’s case, maybe centuries later. They exist in this sideways world until they are “awakened” and they can only move on TOGETHER because they are linked. They are destined to be together for eternity. That was their destiny.
They were NOT linked to Anna Lucia, Daniel, Roussou, Alex, Miles, Lupidis, (and all the rest who weren’t in the chuch — basically everyone who wasn’t in season 1). Yet those people exist in Sideways world. Why? Well again, here’s where they leave it up to you to decide. The way I like to think about it, is that those people who were left behind in Sideways world have to find their own soulmates before they can wake up. It’s possible that those links aren’t people from the island but from their other life (Anna’s parnter, the guy she shot —- Roussou’s husband, etc etc).
A lot of people have been talking about Ben and why he didn’t go into the Church. And if you think of Sideways world in this way, then it gives you the answer to that very question. Ben can’t move on yet because he hasn’t connected with the people he needs to. It’s going to be his job to awaken Roussou, Alex, Anna Lucia (maybe), Ethan, Goodspeed, his father and the rest. He has to attone for his sins more than he did by being Hurley’s number two. He has to do what Hurley and Desmond did for our Lostaways with his own people. He has to help them connect. And he can only move on when all the links in his chain are ready to. Same can be said for Faraday, Charlotte, Whidmore, Hawkins etc. It’s really a neat, and cool concept. At least to me.
But, from a more “behind the scenes” note: the reason Ben’s not in the church, and the reason no one is in the church but for Season 1 people is because they wrote the ending to the show after writing the pilot. And never changed it. The writers always said (and many didn’t believe them) that they knew their ending from the very first episode. I applaud them for that. It’s pretty fantastic. Originally Ben was supposed to have a 3 episode arc and be done. But he became a big part of the show. They could have easily changed their ending and put him in the church — but instead they problem solved it. Gave him a BRILLIANT moment with Locke outside the church … and then that was it. I loved that. For those that wonder — the original ending started the moment Jack walked into the church and touches the casket to Jack closing his eyes as the other plane flies away. That was always JJ’s ending. And they kept it.
For me the ending of this show means a lot. Not only because I worked on it, but because as a writer it inspired me in a way the medium had never done before. I’ve been inspired to write by great films. Maybe too many to count. And there have been amazing TV shows that I’ve loved (X-Files, 24, Sopranos, countless 1/2 hour shows). But none did what LOST did for me. None showed me that you could take huge risks (writing a show about faith for network TV) and stick to your creative guns and STILL please the audience. I learned a lot from the show as a writer. I learned even more from being around the incredible writers, producers, PAs, interns and everyone else who slaved on the show for 6 years.
In the end, for me, LOST was a touchstone show that dealt with faith, the afterlife, and all these big, spirtual questions that most shows don’t touch. And to me, they never once waivered from their core story — even with all the sci-fi elements they mixed in. To walk that long and daunting of a creative tightrope and survive is simply astounding.
I love this. Brilliantly composed and written. If you want answers - here they are!
As for the spirituality, I find this idea quite nice…as a story. I’m always willing to buy into the world that’s been created for me within a work of fiction. In LOTR there’s a force that can inhabit a ring and a floating evil eye. There are good and bad wizards and elves who walk on top of snow and talk to trees. Hell, there are talking trees! That doesn’t offend my Christianity or make me roll my eyes. It works in this fictional world.
The weird thing about what the creators & writers of LOST did, though, is this : they took our very real world and locations and people and ideas and scientific rules and imposed their own mythology and spiritual cocktail onto it. So, in a way, it makes it a little more difficult to grasp. Especially considering that essentially they are saying that this undefined religious or spiritual idea about Sideways Purgatory is the way to heaven or a bright light or perfection or completion. This is not a world where Christianity and Islam and Hinduism (etc) don’t exist. In this world, they exist and they’re wrong. Or, given the many symbols in the church’s stained glass windows, they’re all somehow partially correct. Of course, most of those religions don’t consider any other religion to also be the way. All ways don’t lead to heaven.
Now, I’m getting a bit picky. I understand why they did this and I actually like that they did. I love this idea of ‘soulmates’ because I’ve felt this way. I’ve felt such strong connections with people who then left or I left or whatever and it just feels strange that you’re not going to live the rest of your life with this person close by. I crave these connections and am always hoping for that magic moment when I think “This is ‘the one’”. It’s something beyond being cool or funny or easy to be around. And it’s definitely not romantic. There’s something about this friend that goes beyond friendship that makes you never want to lose them. This is why I don’t have many friends. I only want friends to whom I feel this connected.
As a Christian, I believe that if they believe, then we will get to spend forever together. And I’m happy that a show of such brilliance and success brought faith into every day conversation for 6 years. (Suck it, Dawkins.) And I don’t mind the made-up spiritual idea, the light at the center of the island, the smoke monster. It’s all one fabulous, interesting, fictional ride and I enjoyed every second of it. Speaking of - I think I’ll watch that finale again.
No one cares.
It’s not something to feel proud about.
It doesn’t make you better than people who watched it. It just makes you someone who never saw it.
And those of us who did, didn’t waste six years of our lives. If we wasted anything, which we didn’t, it was 121 hours over six years. How much tv did you watch? Just as much or more, I’m sure.
So let us have this. There are few events in life that bring people together from all over the world and join them in discussion about life and destiny and selflessness and love. You don’t have to like it. You’re not less of a person and we’re not better than you. If the series finale taught us anything, “Let go”.
Besides, you’re only making yourself look like a spoiled kid who’s not getting enough attention.
| — | Even my lunchtime fortune cookie knows it’s LOST finale weekend. Is it Sunday yet? (via lostlunch) |
I love this paragraph from The Pop Culture Initiative’s article on LOST and Mystery. I think it’s so very true.
The best part about all these spoilers is that there’s this subconscious backlash going on when it comes to finding out TOO MUCH. I mean Facebook is about to be burned down with torches because the same people who tag pictures of themselves drunk on the toilet (I’m looking at you every girl ages 18-24 that has ever been on Facebook ever) are upset that their privacy is at risk. Really? What Privacy? If that was the case, people wouldn’t be on Facebook to begin with. The truth is that all of us are subconsciously scared of losing not our privacy, but our mystery. Whether people will admit it or not, most people only want to tell you the answer they want you to know. They want to maintain their mystery because it’s their most interesting aspect. So I ask you, reader who probably hates LOST for being so flighty with answers: How is this any different from LOST?
Stuck for all eternity on a metaphysically incomprehensible island?
Jump to 1:03. (via librarysciences and intweetion)
My barely-hidden inner nerd just squealed with delight.
CUSE: The answer to that question goes to the nature of the timeline of the island. We don’t want to say too much about it, but there are a couple Easter eggs embedded in [the Feb. 7 episode], one of which is an anagram that actually sheds some light on the skeletons and hints at a larger mythological mystery that will start to unfold later in the season.
LINDELOF: There were certain things we knew from the very beginning. Independent of ever knowing when the end was going to be, we knew what it was going to be, and we wanted to start setting it up as early as season 1, or else people would think that we were making it up as we were going along. So the skeletons are the living — or, I guess, slowly decomposing — proof of that. When all is said and done, people are going to point to the skeletons and say, ”That is proof that from the very beginning, they always knew that they were going to do this.”
via ew.com, 2007
