May

24

Is Lost As Good as Its Hype?

Posted by lostfan

May 24, 2008 |

Carlton Cuse put it best:

”Today, I’m experiencing elated exhaustion, the elation from both completion of the work but also the hopeful feeling that people are going to like this finale. It’s nerve-wracking because the bar is set so high, and if we don’t finish strong it’s sort of like the Patriots losing the Super Bowl: It sort of negates all that came before it, especially with an eight-month hiatus looming.”

That is what Cuse had to say after he finished editing the finale of Lost. (Incidentally, this quote is taken from a great interview over at Entertainment Weekly, check it out for some general (light) spoiler information).  Is the hype engine behind ABC’s Lost too big now?  Are the expectations too high?

Take this season for example.  I personally feel that season 4 has been pretty good.  I have been disappointed by a few episodes.  An episode like “Eggtown,” which didn’t float my boat, is probably still good television.  I am pretty sure that it kicks season 1 or season 2’s butt, but because my expectations were so high, I was let down. How far can the Lost production team push it before it all comes crashing down?

Back in the day, “Happy Days” was the bomb.  The show was the best thing since sliced bread.  As the hype grew, so did the story line ideas.  One day, the production team had the great idea to have Fonzy jump a shark on water skis.  That was the point that the show pushed it too far.  It became silly, and the suspension of disbelief became impossible.  Is Lost Jumping the Shark soon?

I am not alone in this question.  Lost.contentquake.com reader Carrey has asked the same questions about the show, and it would appear, from the EW.com article that Cuse is even concerned.  A good question here is, “how far is too far for a show that features the walking dead, a smoke monster, ghosts, time travel, and a boy with psychic abilities?” To be honest, I don’t know.  I cannot tell you why I can suspend disbelief on some ideas and not others.  I think it has to do with how “ordinary” the ideas are.

The mysteries in Lost have been anything but ordinary. But, if they start to go that way, audiences may start to yawn, and the ratings slide may continue.  If that happens, will the production team keep it simple, or try shock and awe?   As this season ends next week, we should get a feel the answer to that question.


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