How not to get 'Lost' catching up on what you might have missed
Given that we're less than a week away from the final season premiere in "Lost" history, it's a good time to take a final look back on everything we've discussed here on the blog since Jughead went boom. Many of you have been reading this blog on a weekly basis, and just as many I'm sure are just returning here in time to talk about the show now that it's back on the air.
In either case, with approximately 150 articles posted in the interim, it's a heady proposition to go back and re-read each and everyone. Although, by all means, do. It's a great way to spend a weekend. Forget such things as "friends," "family," "sunshine," and "sleep": You need to consume my entire output about "Lost" before Tuesday night. Sure, its word count exceeds the eight largest Stephen King books combined, but I'm sure you can do it.
What, you want some sort of handy guide to help you separate the wheat from the chaff? Look, I'm Mr. Wheat: no chaff here. But fine, if you'd like a helping hand in discerning what articles you should read, here's a cheat sheet for you. Tomorrow, I'll be giving you a one-stop shop for everything you need to know about Season 6, with handy links to every relevant gallery and series over the past few months. For today, I've arranged some of my favorite entries since last May into a series of categories. Enjoy!
Jacob and The Man in Black
The Man (in Black) with the Plan, Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
My epic take on The Man in Black's long con, from the beginning all the way through NotLocke
Gods once "Lost," perhaps now found
Why Jacob and The Man in Black needed the Island to be "born"
Cabin confusion, Parts 1 and 2
Everything you ever wanted to know about that mysterious cabin and more
The heir (un)apparent
Who is meant to inherit the Island from Jacob? The answer might surprise you...
Mythology
Sometimes a giant fertility statue is just a giant fertility statue
Title kinda says it all...
Richard Alpert's Death Wish, Parts 1 and 2
My two part take on Richard Alpert's ultimate goal
Weird science, Parts 1 and 2
All about the Island's fertility issues
Bird in a cage, Ben in a net
Just how did Ben end up in Danielle's trap?
The purpose of the flashes
How the time flashes fit in with notions of fate and free will
The Others
How The Others got "Lost" along the way
Tracing The Others' society from past to present
The (de)evolution of The Others' morality
Where did The Others get sidetracked?
Progression and regression for The Others
Two steps forward, one silent step back...
The Others and the lists
Wherefore all those slips of paper?
Mo' money, mo' problems for Charles Widmore
AKA, The Story of the Notorious B.E.N.
Following the leaders of The Others
Musing out loud if always having a leader has hindered, rather than helped, The Others
Time Reboot
New realities
Looking at ways in which alternative time lines might be explained in Season 6
Landing on a jet plane, Parts 1, 2, and 3
Let's assume we see Oceanic 815 land in L.A. Then what?
This Week is Death
Back in the day (OK, a few months ago, but still!) I spent an entire week looking at the cheerful topic of death in "Lost." Here are the four categories I looked at.
Most Moving
Most Satisfying
Most Hysterical
Most WTF
Music-Related Entries
Suggestions for a new "Lost" theme song
A few months back, ABC hosted a contest to write a new theme song for the show. I wrote three. I overachieve.
South by South Pacific: The Zap2it "Lost" Musical
I'm cheating here, since the first four acts were written during Act 5 itself. Oh well. It's my blog. I can cheat. Here is "Lost" as you've never seen or heard it before.
Act 1
Act 2
Act 3
Act 4
Act 5, Scene 1 and Scene 2
Articles I Like
'Nuff said, really. I'm just proud of these.
What does being a "Lost" fan mean?
Summary of the 2009 Comic-Con panel
"Lost" characters that could replace Paula Abdul on "American Idol"
How Bai Ling saved "Lost"
Will "Lost" stick the landing?
Making Walt and Des special again
Why I hate spoilers, Parts 1, 2, and 3
Hungry like the wolf
About that Spanish promo
My 2010 "Lost" resolutions
Coming tomorrow: your one-stop shop for everything you need to know heading into Season 6! In the meantime: have any favorites from those listed above? Tell me in the comments below!
Ryan invites you to join the hundreds already in Zap2It's Guide to Lost Facebook group.
Photo credit: ABC
That was really helpful, Ryan, and it just underscores what a great job you've done here. Thanks.
Wow! Or, as Vader said to Luke as he lept out of the carbon-freezing unit: "Impressive."
Methinks my Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening and probably Monday during lunch and then Monday evening will be spent at this blog. Yet another reason for my husband to say that I'm obsessed with this show.
Funny, but I don't see any mention of "Kate Week" in here - it's amazing how we can repress our memories of traumatic experiences!!
Seriously, though, that is one impressive body of work. Between reading these, participating in the chats, rewatching Seasons 1 & 5 and reading that little story called "The Dark Tower", I'm surprised I still have a wife, a house and a job at this point!
Haha, there's an Other JeffC now? We might be reaching maximum capacity for Jeff's on this blog!
Cheers, mate. And great name, btw ;)
It's sort of like the number of "Sean"s on Bruins Beat: you can never have enough. ("30 Rock", anyone?)
Not to get off-topic for a moment (well, actually yeah...), Mo Ryan at the Chicago Tribune just posted the transcript of a LONG (I mean, this puts your entries to shame, Mr. McGee!) interview with Damon and Carlton. No spoilers, but lots of thoughts on Season 6, and what they thought of a lot of other series finales.
Also, for a $50 donation to Haitian relief, you can get a really cool "Polar Beer" T-shirt!
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2010/01/lost-carlton-cuse-damon-lindelof-season-6-abc.html
I was going to say the same thing about "Kate Week" it's when we all agreed to avoid further trips to Negativetown (not to be confused with New Otherton).
def putting this particular in the 'fav' button to go back ketchup.
You're SO money Ryan!
@Andrei: Thanks for the link, I'll be including info about that in my post tonight as well!