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A cynical idealist; To Read Me Is to Know Me (Mostly)
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Member Since: 2/2007Last Seen: 11/22/2009

Review – Lost Season 1

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I count one season of a tv show as one movie. Therefore, this is movie #3: Season 1 – Lost in the Newsvine Movie Challenge.

Movie #1 – Oswald's Ghost

Movie #2 – Devil's Playground

This show is pretty inventive and the writing is, with some exceptions, clever. I've heard great things about this series and I see now that much of the praise by friends and critics was well deserved.
I've been using some of my time, during this writer's strike, to try out shows I'd heard good things about which I'd eschewed in favor of reading books.

First I watched House from the first season to the most recent (and then interviewed a popular recapper of the show, Polite Dissent) then I did the same with Heroes, this time interviewing Newsvine's recapper of Heroes, Vacelts.

Once I get all caught up on Lost I plan to interview Steve Watts, Newsvine's recapper of the shows. I warned him of that here when I announced: It's Official - Catching Up With "Lost" Will Be My Next TV Project

But with the new season beginning on Thursday I don't think I'll be caught up in time for that. Meanwhile, for those who are caught up Steve's been doing prediction contests for the show's new season.

Some of the characters on Lost interest me more than others. I find Locke and Hurley interesting, for example, but can Charlie be any more boring and clichéd?

I like how each episode – usually – starts with a close-up of a character's eye(s) but if they do another scene where a person falls down in the forest and the camera spins around to demonstrate the character's lost and confused I'm going to scream!

Still, I think I'm hooked on this series and as long as I can keep getting the programs for free from the library I'll keep watching the episodes.

It took me one month to watch season 1 and I started on season 2 last night. I could probably watch these in half the time if I didn't read the recaps at Television Without Pity for each episode but I love their snarky summaries and analysis of each episode.

One of my favorites was this, from Television Without Pity on episode two:

"Anyways, Charlie notes that what killed the pilot was much bigger than a bear. Kate realizes that the bear, in fact, is a polar bear. This is the exact moment that this damn show got its claws into me."

Now as I move on to season 2 I look forward to seeing what happens next. But what I'm really looking forward to is getting to season 3 which is when Steve started his recaps here.

I'll leave you with one final thought: There is another advantage to watching tv series my way, i.e. via dvds a year or two behind everyone else, and it's not just the skipping of commercials. No, the best part is the dvd extras. In the case of Lost's first season those extras include commentaries on about three of the episodes plus features ranging from making of key episodes to explanations on how they built some characters around certain actors when they showed up at the auditions. The best part, though, is the blooper real and the deleted scenes.

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3.8
{"commentId":1413855,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Question: I knew we have Newsviners now recapping Lost (Steve), American Idol (Dr. Know and Vacelts, Heroes (Vacelts). Is someone here recapping House? If not I'll start recapping it tonite as the new season begins.

{"commentId":1413855,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:33 PM EST
{"commentId":1414099,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

Be my guest. I like watching House and am looking forward to your recaps.

{"commentId":1414099,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"vacelts"}
  • 2 votes
#1.1 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:41 PM EST
{"commentId":1414123,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Uh oh, now I'm going to have to make it, you know, comprehensible.

{"commentId":1414123,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
  • 2 votes
#1.2 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:48 PM EST
{"commentId":1414137,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

I guess that means no vicadin pills for you tonight while you watch

{"commentId":1414137,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"vacelts"}
  • 2 votes
#1.3 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:51 PM EST
{"commentId":1414238,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Note to self: Lock up resident's medications after administering them

I'll stick with my own meds

{"commentId":1414238,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
  • 2 votes
#1.4 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:17 PM EST
{"commentId":1414508,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

Let's hope you don't treat your residents like House treats his patients.

{"commentId":1414508,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"vacelts"}
  • 2 votes
#1.5 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:15 PM EST
{"commentId":1416948,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

I've watched House with my main resident and he says, "I don't EVER want House to be my doctor."

{"commentId":1416948,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
  • 2 votes
#1.6 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:36 AM EST
{"commentId":1418184,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

He might be a real son of a *&&^%, but he's got a pretty good record overall.

{"commentId":1418184,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"vacelts"}
  • 2 votes
#1.7 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:12 PM EST
{"commentId":1418281,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Well, I'm reminded of an exchange from Lost I saw last nite.
Hugo/Hurley says to Jack,essentially, what's that thing where a patient feels better after talking to a doctor
Jack: Besdside manor?
Hugo: Yeah,well, yours sucks

{"commentId":1418281,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
  • 2 votes
#1.8 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:36 PM EST
{"commentId":1418413,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
{"commentId":1418413,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"vacelts"}
  • 2 votes
#1.9 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 3:11 PM EST
{"commentId":1420385,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

I hope you are happy with yourself! I got reamed for calling the episode of House the season premier! This is the last time I take what you assign at face value!

{"commentId":1420385,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}
  • 1 vote
#1.10 - Thu Jan 31, 2008 2:27 AM EST
{"commentId":1421815,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Dr Know I'm emailing you an apology.

Vacelts, I'll take that test later. First I need to write my own house review.

{"commentId":1421815,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
  • 1 vote
#1.11 - Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:06 PM EST
Reply
{"commentId":1413911,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

I will do House.

One of my favorite sayings - eschew obfuscation.

{"commentId":1413911,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#2 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:49 PM EST
{"commentId":1414036,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

I may do House too. Do you watch Lost, Dr. Know?

{"commentId":1414036,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
  • 2 votes
#2.1 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:25 PM EST
{"commentId":1415839,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

I used to but it got too strange for me.

{"commentId":1415839,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}
  • 2 votes
#2.2 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:40 PM EST
{"commentId":1417399,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

OK, Dr. Know's review of House is up.

Mine will be up around Friday - I need to do some job related stuff first. I jotted down notes as I watched this which I'll turn into a full review after I watch it again
because I want to get some details and dialogue just right.

Three things I jotted down:
1) The main character is played by a lady who used to play Donna on The West Wing, which was one of my favorite shows for its first few seasons before Aaron Sorkin left.

As they alluded to her sex life I heard myself singing the Richie Valens song, "Oh, Donna!'

2) I gotta say this whole series premise where they break into patents homes has always been a bit tenous but having them grab a computer goes a bit too far in the plausibility, at least for me. I know it's fiction but still…

3) Epiphany Sorbet did a great article once about House being one of the most prominent athiests so I thought of her when I heard a comment that sounded like:

"Don't pin this on Christ. He's got enough nails in him." Now THERE is a line you won't often hear on tv.

Overall this was one of the weaker shows but the bit at the end - which I won't reveal (that'd be too much of a spoiler) was hilarious and cute and the Secret Santa mischief was classic goofy House.

{"commentId":1417399,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
    #2.3 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:22 AM EST
    Reply
    {"commentId":1414130,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

    I think the first season of Lost was my favorite. You'll have to let us know how you think Season 2 compares.

    {"commentId":1414130,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"vacelts"}
    • 2 votes
    Reply#3 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:49 PM EST
    {"commentId":1414142,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}

    I agree, season 1 was my favorite so far, with the "dynamite incident" being one of my favorite moments in television of the past few years.

    {"commentId":1414142,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"deatienza"}
    • 3 votes
    #3.1 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:52 PM EST
    {"commentId":1414196,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

    Poor Arzt, we barely knew you.

    {"commentId":1414196,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"vacelts"}
    • 2 votes
    #3.2 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:06 PM EST
    {"commentId":1414243,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

    That was a great scene because I didn't see that one coming. He didn't even wear a red shirt!

    {"commentId":1414243,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
    • 1 vote
    #3.3 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:18 PM EST
    Reply
    {"commentId":1414410,"authorDomain":"stevencwatts"}
    I count one season of a tv show as one movie. Therefore, this is movie #3: Season 1 – Lost in the Newsvine Movie Challenge.

    You'd think it would count as a few movies. 24 episodes x 45 minutes each = about 18 hours. That's, what, 8-10 movies? Don't shortchange yourself.

    Some of the characters on Lost interest me more than others. I find Locke and Hurley interesting, for example, but can Charlie be any more boring and clichéd?

    Everyone loves Hurley and Locke. I use the episode "Walkabout" as my proof of concept to get people to watch the show. "No seriously, watch the first four episodes, that's just one disc. If you aren't sold by the end of Walkabout, then the show isn't for you." Walkabout is by far my favorite episode of all time.

    Charlie gets more interesting... slightly. You'll have to see how his character develops through the next few seasons.

    "Anyways, Charlie notes that what killed the pilot was much bigger than a bear. Kate realizes that the bear, in fact, is a polar bear. This is the exact moment that this damn show got its claws into me."

    I know this is a quote from Tom, but I would argue that it was the Smoke Monster (aka Cerberus) that got the pilot, not the polar bear. Chances are that's been verified somewhere or other.

    {"commentId":1414410,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"stevencwatts"}
    • 3 votes
    Reply#4 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:51 PM EST
    {"commentId":1416967,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

    When I did the movie challenge last year one person said it was cheating to use tv series at all. So one season equals one movie was my compromise. But you're right it's more like four especially if you're like me and watch all the commentary tracks.

    The best dvd extra was an interview with all the cast members and, separately, Jimmy Kimmel (who I usually can't stand) visiting the set. He and Sawyer recreate the famous first big kiss with Kate... sort of.

    I just seeded a New York Times story today about the new episodes of Lost.

    {"commentId":1416967,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
      #4.1 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:39 AM EST
      Reply
      {"commentId":1417465,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

      Here's an example of something cool I would not have noticed without reading these recaps from Television Without Pity. This is from the second episode of the second season:

      He says he's going for the pontoon. Underwater-cam, and we see the shark glide by. And yep, there's a Dharma logo on its tail. You have to freeze-frame it, otherwise you'll miss it. That's the kind of touch I like from this show. You'll find it if you're looking for it (but it doesn't really matter if you miss it), and it'll add something to your enjoyment, a reward for close watching. "Don't be an idiot," says Michael. Yeah, no kidding. The island already has plenty of those. Before he goes, Sawyer hands over his gun and tells Michael that if he sees that "toothy son-of-a-@!$%#" to aim and squeeze.

      This speaks well of a series, this amount of continuity and getting details just right.

      {"commentId":1417465,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
      • 1 vote
      Reply#5 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:40 AM EST
      {"commentId":1418288,"authorDomain":"tcervo"}

      One of the downfalls of missing Season 1 in real-time was the brilliant viral marketing the network did around the show. Just a few examples, from memory:

      * They put up an official looking Oceanic Air website, complete with a post on the site about the tragedy of Flight 815. There were a ton of easter eggs on that site, including a seating chart with a bunch of hidden clips and clues if you clicked around. The network didn't advertise the Oceanic Air site, didn't link to it on the official Lost website...nothing. They left it up to clever viewers to find, then spread the work via the interwebs.

      * They did a similar thing with an "official" Dharma website. That site changed drastically over time, especially in Season 2. They had a ton of clues and easter eggs that kept the Lost message boards and fan sites talking/debating/theorizing/arguing for months.

      * It was fun trying to catch all the little easter eggs in each episode (like the Dharma logo on the shark's tail,) or having things make sense later. There were quite a few "coincidences" in each episode if you look carefully. Many characters that are in the background of a scene and seem at the time to be extras actually come into play later on. (Pay particular attention any time they show a TV on in the background during flashbacks...)

      {"commentId":1418288,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"tcervo"}
      • 2 votes
      #5.1 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:39 PM EST
      {"commentId":1418349,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
      (Pay particular attention any time they show a TV on in the background during flashbacks...)

      Yeah, TWOP pointed out that when Jin beats up a guy his daughter's watching a tv on which Hurley is on.

      {"commentId":1418349,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
      • 1 vote
      #5.2 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:51 PM EST
      {"commentId":1418365,"authorDomain":"tcervo"}

      Here's the Oceanic site...They changed the message posted on the site.

      {"commentId":1418365,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"tcervo"}
      • 1 vote
      #5.3 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:55 PM EST
      {"commentId":1427747,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

      Thanks for the link. I just seeded a Washington Post story commenting on how often Lost has been recapped, which is sort of a surreal thing to read when watching an average of one show a day (and at least one recap per show)

      {"commentId":1427747,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
        #5.4 - Fri Feb 1, 2008 11:36 PM EST
        {"commentId":4964864,"authorDomain":"superman2001"}

        One of the downfalls of missing Season 1 in real-time was the brilliant viral marketing the network did around the show.

        You're right. For instance, with the Dharma shark, since I hadn't seen any of the viral marketing or been taking note of it, I didn't recognize what it was. I thought the shark was a robot or something.

        {"commentId":4964864,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"superman2001"}
        • 1 vote
        #5.5 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:13 PM EST
        {"commentId":4979607,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

        i'm just glad they didnt jump the shark.

        {"commentId":4979607,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
        • 1 vote
        #5.6 - Sat Jan 24, 2009 1:26 PM EST
        Reply
        {"commentId":2585227,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

        Has anyone else noticed the guy who plays Sawyer showing off his bod in some new commerical for god knows what?

        Meanwhile I seeded here a good profile of the creator of lost

        and it looks like Michelle Rodriguez is briefly returning to the series.

        {"commentId":2585227,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
          Reply#6 - Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:01 PM EDT
          {"commentId":4670067,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

          I'm starting to watch season 4 via dvd from netflix. I'll be watching them as well as reading Television without Pitys' recaps and the articles here by Steve.

          {"commentId":4670067,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
            Reply#7 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 12:15 PM EST
            {"commentId":4958245,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

            and on that note.. OK I'm watching "There's No Place Like Home" (Part 1) this morning

            I WILL be caught up by the next episode. If I continue to average an episode a day and watch the new episode (I tapped it) - yes I can.

            Meanwhile I interviewed Steve about his recaps and you can find those in the lost-in-the-vines group

            {"commentId":4958245,"threadId":"210640","contentId":"1263646","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
              #7.1 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:31 AM EST
              Reply
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