'Lost': A focus on character
As discussed yesterday, the final season of "Lost" should feature a welcome return to character-based storytelling. Furthering said theory are words from Darlton themselves, who promise a "Season 1"-type feel to the final season.
And speaking of character, Zap2it has launched an exhaustive, and I do mean exhaustive, series of polls asking you for your favorite characters from the past decade of television. My colleagues here have posted the first polls today, and will be posting new ones on a weekly basis throughout the summer. I'm sure some of your favorite "Lost" characters will appear on these polls over the next few months. So be sure to visit those sites early and often to cast your vote!
Rather than add another poll to the already extensive list, I'll ask you plain and simple: favorite all-time "Lost" character, and why? Despite the misgivings listed yesterday, it's hard for me to choose anyone but Ben. Not only did his initial appearance jumpstart the show at a critical time in Season 2, but Michael Emerson's portrayal has yielded one of the most compelling, complex, and mesmerizing characters in any show, of any era, in any genre.
But that's just my take: what's yours?
Ryan invites you to join the hundreds already in Zap2It's Guide to Lost Facebook group.
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Even though I'm a huge Sayid fan, I have to go with Sawyer.
The one-liners, character development, the hilarity, and the fact that Josh Holloway is one of the most underrated actors on TV all help.
Most of all though, I like that amidst all the craziness on the show, he plays the "audience" more often than not. He feels most like one of us, especially the last few seasons.
Hands together...head down...a little huzzah for one of my favorite characters. Why? Because while he was much anticipated, his time on the show was short and bittersweet. Punctuated by a flaming arrow through his chest, he'll go down as one of my all-time favs. Oh and butt-slide-stay-in-the-cabin! guy was pretty sweet too.
Favorite is such a relative term. My favorite in terms of who I just root for every time he/she is on screen because I know at some point he will prevail...it is Jack. My favorite in terms of who bring excitement and awe to the plot...Desmond. My favorite in terms of who makes my jaw drop just when I didn't think he could do it again....Ben. My favorite in terms of character growth and shirtlessness....Sawyer.
But I think in the context of the mystery of Lost and the idea of letting faith take it's course and allowing it to lead us where it leads us...then my favorite character who is the total embodiment of what Lost is all about...Locke.
I know a lot of people don't like Locke. But Locke is a multi-leveled character...just like the show. Just when you think you have it (or Locke) figured out, there is another level introduced that makes you think again. For me, I feel like I went through this journey with Locke, emotionally. At first I was confident that I knew what was going on with the island and that it wouldn't steer me wrong (more like the writers wouldn't steer me wrong.) But then something happens that makes me second guess myself and my thought process. But ultimately I don't lose faith. Until I get so turned around and so lost with all that has happened, I don't know what to do and where to turn and I lose my faith for a bit. All I want to know is what this all means (just like Locke wanting to know what this all means for him and his destiny and what his place in the world is.)
So I know I cheated by picking multiple favorites....sorry!
Yep, Sawyer all the way. Great character interaction, I love his sarcastic wit, and I think he's turned into a well developed Character. Sayid would be another choice, yet I feel they let him down last season.. making him into a zombie killer for Ben.
Desmond, Desmond, Desmond.
Closely followed by Sawyer, Sayid, and Locke.
God, so unfair to make us choose. I'll have to say Ben also.
Locke WOULD have been my #1, but I have to consider all the times the character was backed into a corner by the writers. There's just been too many creative missteps along the way (Hatch, anyone?), culminating in his sad, pathetic death in LA. Even though the entity that got Jacob killed is technically still Locke, albeit a different version of him, it's just not the same as the wide-eyed jungle wanderer I got hooked on in Season 1.
Ben, on the other hand, has been nothing but consistent for 4 seasons. It says something about the character, and especially the actor who plays him, that what started as a bit role evolved into perhaps the most compelling character on "Lost" and one of the greatest television characters ever.
If Locke/New Locke blows my mind in Season 6, I might consider changing it back but for now - Ben.
I have to go with Juliet. Number one, she's the hottest thing on this show. I'll go ahead and get that out of th way early.
Other reasons are: She always seems to say the right thing at the right time and in the most awesome voice tone possible. Case in point: On the beach, when Karl had just paddled up to warn the Losties that the Others were coming, and he pointed to Juliet and said, "She's one of them". Juliet calmly says, "I already told them. But, THANKS!" There are two many other lines to remember or list here.
Also, her heartbreaking storyline. All she wanted to do was fix broken wombs, probably because of Rachael. And, she did it! She fixed Rachael. And then? She gets carted off to parts-unknown, based on lies. before she can even see little Julian and THEN never gets to go home again. Very very sad. One of my greatest hopes for season 6 is to see her returned to her sister. I doubt that's going to happen, but a guy can dream, right?
If you had asked me last year who was most important to the show, I would have said Ben, hands down. However, S5 significantly undercut his standing, to the point that we're asking if he was played by MiB as much as Locke was. As much as I hate to say it, the significance arrow seems to be swinging back towards Jack. If they can do his CCC (Cabin Christian Confrontation) right, he might just be THE key to the whole show!
Oh wait, you didn't ask "most significant"; you asked for my favorite. Here's a hint... DUDE!!!
Hurley is the character that grounds the show, that makes even the most mind-bending twists seem relatable. Without him, even though the plot wouldn't change too much, the "watchability" of the show would dramatically suffer. Think about your favorite "moments" from each sseason...I'll bet an inordinate number of them involve Mr. Reyes!!
Oh and the Greatest Presence, but Never Seen Character:
Mrs. Butterworth
Just ONE all-time favorite LOST Character?!? Impossible!
My top four would be: Locke, Sawyer, Hurley and Ben....for all of the reasons already listed above.