Theologically, a Lost cause
Am I the only one who though that Lost came nowhere near delivering on its theological and philosophical pretensions? Did the character John Locke behave according to the writings of John Locke? Or did the creators of the show just drop his name to cultivate a little intellectual cachet?
People kept talking about faith, but it was faith in "the island" which, as nearly as I could tell was a metaphor for the island. The creators of the series used theological rhetoric and noodlings about the theory of relativity to paper over dead ends in their plot lines, and lurching inconsistencies in their narrative.
Don't get me wrong, I watched most of the series because I found it entertaining if overly contrived and unnecessarily elusive. But the idea that it was somehow engaging serious themes just didn't resonate with me. For me the show's attitude toward the texts whose bones it picked was captured in an interview with one of the actors who said that a scene in which the survivors launched a raft out onto the ocean reminded him of Homer taking off on his Odyssey.
Or maybe of me driving my Odyssey. Something about the Odyssey.
We seem to be in a minority in not appreciating the wonderfulness of the Lost finale. I had a hard time taking even the idea of theology in the show seriously. My own analysis, which is more from a storytelling point of view, can be read on my blog.
Posted by Lionel Deimel![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 24, 2010 6:23 PM
The last 5 minutes was 15 minutes too long, , , and no that's not a typo.
Posted by Susan Hedges![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 24, 2010 8:20 PM
I've rarely watched the show, I admit, so I probably shouldn't comment at all - but I found the whole "smoke monster" thing hilarious while checking out all the retrospective stuff during the past week.
The whole John Locke plotline sounded so bizarre and contrived that I couldn't take it at all seriously - he's dead, no he's alive! he's the smoke monster! - so
Posted by BSnyder![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 24, 2010 10:10 PM
I admit I almost never watched the show, so I probably shouldn't comment at all - but I have to say I got the very same feeling, Jim.
In any case, loved this post - esp. those last two sentences....
Posted by BSnyder![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 24, 2010 10:18 PM