Comments on: Thoughts on the LOST Premiere AKA Why LOST Was the Best Show of the Last Decade http://jumpedthesnark.com/2010/02/03/thoughts-on-the-lost-premiere-aka-why-lost-was-the-best-show-of-the-last-decade/ A Visceral Thrill Ride Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:23:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: skeim01 http://jumpedthesnark.com/2010/02/03/thoughts-on-the-lost-premiere-aka-why-lost-was-the-best-show-of-the-last-decade/#comment-238 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:59:30 +0000 http://jumpedthesnark.com/?p=1429#comment-238 Thanks for the thoughtful (and extremely valid) comments, and most of all thanks for taking the time to read the post. I’ll admit, I am guilty of a bit of sensationalism and hyperbole. As I was writing it I was cognizant that I was making a few generalizations, and I did mean to caution that while Lost may have created more buzz and participated in “extra curriculars” to a greater degree than other series before for it has, there are indeed others series who previously marched upon similar ground. It’s no secret that this kind of “fandemonium” existed before Lost, and that much of Lost’s stories and characters take their cues from various other shows, films and texts; but I think my overall point is that Lost has synthesized all these elements in an epic, groundbreaking way. So am I giving the show too much credit? Yes, absolutely. But that’s just the effect is has on me.

Oh, and thanks reminding me about Dexter.

]]> By: jrcwoodward http://jumpedthesnark.com/2010/02/03/thoughts-on-the-lost-premiere-aka-why-lost-was-the-best-show-of-the-last-decade/#comment-236 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:10:27 +0000 http://jumpedthesnark.com/?p=1429#comment-236 While I love Lost and agree with you on a number of points, I do think you give the show a little too much credit. It’s certainly courted internet fandom in a way no other series has, but it certainly didn’t invent it. The earliest web-community I think could be called “vibrant” would be Buffy. While it never gained the breadth of Lost’s follow, it was also a pioneer in envelope pushing serialized television. That doesn’t really make it any better than Lost, my point is just that “firsties” is a very slippery claim.

I agree with you completely that Lost does more with story-structure than any other show, it’s what I find most fascinating about it. The best indicator of the show’s greatness is its ability to keep the audience hooked while defying what narratives are “supposed” to be.

Finally, the fact that Lost is on a network and not cable does make it’s accomplishments more impressive, but that shouldn’t cloud our impressions of those accomplishments. The Wire and Dexter may get an easier ride on cable, but a better show is a better show, regardless of where it airs.

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