Status: A few hoax sites
After getting the first season of Lost on dvd for christmas, I've become hooked on the show. Although I'm beginning to suspect that the writers of the show are simply going to introduce one mystery after another without ever offering an explanation for anything. But anyway, here are some hoax websites related to Lost:
Oceanic World Air (the airline that the Lost passengers were flying on),
Dharma Industries (the mysterious project that was being conducted on the island), and
The Hanso Foundation (The philanthropic foundation funding the Dharma Initiative. This page is part of an alternate reality game, as is the Dharma Industries site). If you know of any other Lost-related hoax sites, let me know.
And here's something that isn't a hoax, but is rather curious. If you type the mysterious numbers from Lost (4 8 15 16 23 42) into google maps, they correspond to the approximate
latitude and longitude of an island in the middle of the Pacific. My guess is that this probably isn't an accident.
Update: A few more hoax websites of Lost:
http://www.driveshaftband.com (the website of Charlie's band. Thanks to Nordan for this link.)
http://www.mrcluck.com or
http://www.mrclucks.com (websites of the fast-food restaurant that Hurley used to work in, before he won the lottery. As far as hoax websites go, these aren't very fully developed. The front page simply links to a podcast about the show.)
The island in the Pacific mentioned above is
Kosrae Island (Thanks to Eric Schucard and Tim for this info).
Comments
http://www.oceanic-air.com/
http://www.thehansofoundation.org/
Both have some things that are clues, and some things that are red herrings.
There are two more fan sites that relate to a season 2 flashback
http://www.mrclucks.com/
http://www.mrcluck.com/
Are you watching this season?
4 8 15 16 23 42 (copy/paste the numbers into google maps:
+4
Please - no-one tell me what's happening in season 2.
I think that the show "Lost" is the greatest hoax played on the public since the radio broadcast of War of the Worlds, though for a completely different reason.
It's a slightly-known phrase: "Tension Breeds Attention." (Used to guide people in selecting their opening lines as stand-up comedians.) Basically, while people are confused, they'll pay attention.
I believe the authors are just throwing out plot twist after plot twist, with no explanation in sight, and no explanation planned. They're going to ride this out until we're all tired of it, and the show is cancelled.
As I type this, I even think the title is a double-meaning: not only are the characters lost, but the viewers are "lost" (i.e. bewildered) as well.
fore
Here is a map, just so you can take a look:
I think you're right, and that is actually my usual argument to my friends who complain about not getting any answers.
I think I'm just bitter because this weeks episode was so bad with the whole baptism element. Seriously, I mean, did anyone notice that Michael is still missing and what about the whole army thing? It was just annoying how they set up for some amazing plot twists and it panned out to nothing. Maybe this week will be redeeming.
OK, fine, so we now know what's in the hatch. One mystery answered. But, the price of having that one mystery answered?
??? POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW ???
Numerous new mysteries: Where'd the guy go? What's the dharma project? What's with the weird splice in the video? What's the countdown? What would happen if they didn't enter the code? What's the significance of 108 minutes? Oh yeah, those lottery numbers are "back" - what's the deal with them again?
* SPOILER WARNING FOR THE PARANOID OVER *
I maintain my original statement: "They're going to ride this out until we're all tired of it, and the show is cancelled." Honestly, I hope I'm wrong.
Oh, and using literary devices, such as foreshadowing, in film and television? Very familiar with it, but we've gone way beyond foreshadowing. (And, foreshadowing is typically only used for one or two significant events, as a way to help the reader not feel sideswiped by a dramatic change. I wouldn't consider these mysteries to be foreshadowing (or even often foreshadowed)).
Oh, and quick answers? Not for me. I prefer entertainment that makes my brain work for meaning and understanding. You can drop the subtle insults now. I am patient. But, I'm beginning to believe that there are *no* answers here. Big difference.
Again, I hope I'm wrong.
On Dan's side (because I can't make a decision which side I am on) if you think back to when x-files was big, they started a million mysteries and really, the show only started to suck when they actually begain to solve them, because in the end, one's own imagination is no competition for what a tv producer can give you.
They have also admitted they probably won't be able to fully say what the "numbers" represent because it's really alot of things. Alot of people have already found many meanings within the numbers (I.E. coordinates, the flight number, how many survivors there were, etc.) so by the time it's all said and done anyway we might've already figured it out without the help of some dumbed down storyline.
The whole numbers thing entrances me. I don't think they need any more explanation. As dan says, they have slowly been giving us clues throughout the series so far, and I'm sure the coincidences will just keep getting bigger.
It's the button that is driving me crazy.
I still hated that last episode, but I think that may be the atheist in me speaking.
***SPOILERS***
(From SpoilerFix.com)
The Walt story will be resolved this season. In future flashbacks, we will get more answers about Jack's past. We will soon know why Hurley hasn't lost any weight. We will get more information about the hatch, what's behind the magnetic wall, what happens when we don't push the button.
**************
I'd say the end of this season is going to shut alot of people up, but more questions will undoubtedly be brought up and therefore people won't care and just complain about THOSE questions not being answered.
I don't think that the Lost writers know everything they're going to do. For instance, killing off Boone and Shannon. Killing off Boone I can understand, but with Shannon, they killed off their whole storyline. Why even introduce them if you're not going to do anything with them? Carlton Cuse said "'Deciding which character would be next to perish, however, proved relatively painless. After Boone's death in April, producers realized that "the story avenues for Shannon felt limited," Cuse explains.' That tells me that the Lost writers have not entirely planned everything out and that there could be more disappointing "endings" to the storylines like this one.
It really irritated me, because Boone and Shannon were two of my favorite characters. Oh well.
Sakano - They killed Shannon off because she had no storyline left. There's really nothing left for her role to play that isn't already being done by someone else. There really is no need for *another* same old front section survivor relationships, we already have enough of that. There is also absolutely no need for a prissy rich girl either since her brother was pretty pivotal to her character and he was off'd. I'd say it was a mistake to kill him off, but it was a damn good episode for character development.
Yes I realize that Shannon needed to die. But what I'm saying is the writer's didn't plan it out well. If they had...they would have foreseen the fact that Shannon's character would no longer have a use. Though I don't necessarily agree with the fact she was useless. She had a couple of loose ends that were never tied up. Why have Jack be the one operating on her dad if it never came up on the show, for instance? Why not have another doctor do it? It had nothing to do with the plot and it was random. It wasn't even a good red herring.
Also there's the fact that the only two main characters that have died so far have been Boone and Shannon. It was predictable. If they wanted to off Shannon, they shouldn't have made it so obvious WHY they were killing her off. (which was because they didn't know what to do with her.) If they had killed someone major in between them it would be a different story. Don't get me wrong though. I actually do like Lost...but Lost is hailed for being such an edgy show. Shouldn't they do something, you know, edgy? Maybe like killing off someone the viewers actually LIKE and would be upset about.
Secondly, I beg to differ on it being predictable. It was anyone's guess as to who was going to die up until a few episodes before hand, and not many people would've guessed that they would off the one remaining sibling out of the two that were on the island. It doesn't seem like the logical choice.
The only thing worse than Bible-thumpers are the people who over-react to proselytizing. How can you have a TV show with big metaphysical questions without having spirituality brought into it? its not likely an island of rational, hyperanalystical atheists. more like a cross section of America: 82% theists,5% atheist, and 13% 'dont know'. (reference: US Census, 2000).
secondly, just because YOU dont like unanswered questions doesnt mean the storyline is flawed. in fact, J.R.R. Tolkein often criticized C.S. Lewis for not letting some things simply be mysterious and unanswerable--like life. he claimed C.S. Lewis was overly concerned with direct allegory and not allowing mystery to be an ingredient in his books. isnt that what life is?
finally, i believe this show may have a reference point in the 4th, 5th, and 8th Steps of a 12 Step group. this metaphor fits very nicely and those who i know in 12 Step groups seem to have an 'Aha!' experience whn the theory is put to them. how so? seems like every one on the island is being led to do an inventory, understand the consequences of their actions, and then to own up to these 'wrongs', real or perceived--just like real life--to themselves, to God, and to another human being. so far, this interpretation has been working very well.
thats my take...thanks!
People are really freely slewing around some only moderately veiled snips. (I still like: "The most glaring flaw in Karen's theory is that she doesn't know what she's talking about.") But there's other good ones: "...if you any paid attention", "...only thing worse than Bible-thumpers..." My, my, brings me back to the good old days when I had enough energy to debate religion.
Interesting how the challenge of someone's interpretation of this show gets an emotional reaction similar to the challenge of someone's religious belief.
Now with that, I'm out of this kettle. 😊
(Oh, but one more thing: kipster, I've been playing with a theory similar to that, but apparently "purgatory" is not the answer, according to the powers that be, so I'm still playing...)
*Spoilers*
And I think the Purgatory theory would've worked if it were actually "the monster" who was killing people, not people killing other people. The monster could've been looked at as a Grim Reaper of sorts as we already saw that it can read peoples minds (ala the Eko episode) and it would judge people to determine their fate in going to heaven or hell. Not only that, it would've probably taken a more active role in hunting the people down. Not to mention there's a mysterious foundation that has ties to the island itself, and could possibly be responsible for all of the crazy crap the island as going on. I find it hard to believe a foundation could develop a pathway into purgatory.
Also, I have class Wed nights till 8pm (it shows at 8 in arizona) so I have to rush home and end up missing the first 10 min of every episode. Then I have to somehow manage to make myself dinner while watching it. I try to do that during commercials only but sometimes it is impossible. It's amazing how much goes on in 10 minutes of a tv show. I spend the next 30 minutes just trying to catch up with what I missed. I wish I had dvr or tivo.
where can i get bittorrents of the show? i have to be away from the TV and i just never bothered replacing my VCR when it bit the dust.
also, Razela, i wasnt posting a response soley about your comments, but on subsequent comments as they are a thread and i look at them as a continuing whole. threads are responded to--not just initial posts. note that others post that way here also.
it aint ALL about you, you know! 😊
thanks all
kip
kip
>You don't *need* an iPod to download and
>watch stuff on iTunes.
OK...want to complete that thought with a suggestion? how DOES one download and watch stuff LEGALLY?
kip
You're welcome.
thank you for the answer.
kip
Maybe they really are on the resort island of Kosrae in Micronesia, and in the last episode they finally decide to walk all around the island and discover the hotels. The "others" on the island turn out to be off-duty hotel staff playing a hoax on the Lost. Or maybe not. 😊 They would never use this ending (if it ever ends) so I'm including it here.
And Kipster, to download Lost from itunes, go to http://www.itunes.com and first download the application. You do not need an ipod to do any of this. Then when you open up the application, you go to the music store which will be listed at the left of the screen. From there you can buy music and many t.v. shows including lost. It's $1.99 per episode for the US itunes. They will charge your credit card and then download the episode directly. You can watch it on your computer through itunes or quicktime. It's legal and easy and the quality is pretty good, though definitely not as good as watching it on dvd or tv.
http://www.driveshaftband.com/