18/31
Abrams’ Lost almost had a completely different cast
Plot
Survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island. J.J. See which stars didn’t make it onto one of the most popular TV shows of all time. The character of Sawyer was originally supposed to be an older, dapper, suit-wearing city swindler from Buffalo, New York. But when Josh Holloway forgot his lines at his audition and ended up kicking a chair and cursing loudly in frustration, the writers liked his style and decided to write Sawyer as more of a Southern, darker drifter. Jin and Sun are married and share the last name “Kwon,” which becomes a major plot point in the final season. However, when Koreans get married, the wife never takes her husband’s last name.
Then along came Lost
In Korea, it’s not even legal to marry someone with the same last name, except in rare circumstances. [repeated line] Desmond Hume: See you in another life, brother. The strange opening credits were designed by J.J. Abrams on his laptop in black and white as a homage to The Twilight Zone. Edited into Lost: The Journey (2005). With so many high-quality shows recently ending or being canceled (Friends, Frasier, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel), and the decline in quality of so many others (The West Wing, Smallville), not to mention the glaring increase in overhyped and tasteless “reality” programming, I had almost written off television as an entertainment medium. I seriously considered ditching my TV and cable subscription for a computer screen and broadband Internet connection.
Now I’m hooked
I missed the first few episodes, but caught up via BitTorrent. There are a few things I like about this show, but here’s a short list: 1) The writing is brilliant, intelligent, layered. There are so many mysteries here, and for every answer we get, more questions arise. 2) Rich, complex characters. Just when you think you have a character nailed down, you learn something new about them that is often surprising, even shocking. I enjoy watching the different relationships emerge and develop. 3) Strong performances.
Mira Furlan, Victoria Hamel)
This is an extraordinary cast, mostly amateur actors with a few newcomers, and they all do the kind of work that makes them stars. There are even some episodes with recognizable, talented actors (e.g. 4) Mysterious and compelling setting. Of the four major plot elements you learned in school—plot, character, theme, and setting—the latter is often the poor, neglected cousin. Not here. The island is dangerous, beautiful, terrifying, and undeniably intriguing. It’s like a character in its own right.
I’m grateful that this show is a hit
Part of the fun of this show is discovering the island’s secrets. 5) Thematic depth. This isn’t just a soap opera on a desert island. There are rich metaphors and themes to explore here, such as the challenges of morality; the nature of community and civilization; our relationship with nature/environment; and spirituality and even mysticism. Too often lately, I’ve committed to watching a good show early on (“Wonderfalls” is the latest and much-lamented example), only to have a nervous network cancel it prematurely. I hope Lost has a long and successful run—if its creators, cast, and crew maintain their current level of quality, I’m sure they will.
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