People seem as polarized as Jack and Locke (or Jacob and Smokey) when it comes to the season finale of LOST… and perhaps that’s appropriate. In this spoiler-laden video review, I’m happy to admit I fall on the satisfied side. From purgatory to redemption, the conclusion’s supernatural summation leaves as many questions as it does answers, but I don’t think Jack is the shepherd we should be expecting to spell out the truths of our real-life metanarrative that LOST so artistically dances with.
While most television these days seems to deal whodunits, court cases, “reality” or sleeping around, LOST examines life’s larger concepts. This undeniable imagery can be brought out in conversation, and six years of invested hope in these fictional characters can lead to dialogue that’s even more life-giving.
What did YOU think? Leave your comments. And for those odd ducks who think the show “didn’t answer anything” you might benefit from Lostpedia’s Mysteries Page, which will help educate you to the contrary. For instance, the Polar Bears. There are actually very few things in the “unsolved” category.
[…] you LOST the plot? May 27, 2010 — Albert James Harleman summarises some of the parallel motifs and themes found throughout the LOST series and how they […]
Thanks for the review. I enjoyed it as always. I also enjoyed the fact that there were many redeemable portions of the finale, and total story, great for conversation. For example, it was interesting to see that only one man (Desmond) had a nature that would allow him to overcome certain death for anyone else in order to remove the stone. Then, the enemy (Smokey Locke) thought that this sacrifice was in vain and that he had won, but discovered that this apparent doom which he helped to create is actually what brought his own demise [Locke helping Desmond to pull out the stone, bringing destruction, but also his own destruction by the hand of Jack]. Jack plays the other side of the Christ figure by destroying evil and sacrificing himself to restore light and life.
The end was also very reflective of the Universalism religion of our culture, which oddly enough denies all of the religions portrayed (such as in the stained glass collage: Muslim star and moon, Jewish star of David, Christian cross, Eastern wheel of samsara, Dualist Yin Yang, the Eastern Om, along with the various icons).
Overall it was an enjoyable series most of the time, and provides excellent points of discussion regarding true salvation, redemption, the nature of man, and the afterlife. It is quite sad that most writers are not willing to probe into these most important questions. Thanks again for your remarks. They are always appreciated and have been a great help in the Film and Theology nights that I have started with my youth and college groups. Prior to coming across this ministry on the MH site, I had not been exposed to this great use of media.
Justin
Wow, thanks for the additional thoughts and detail Justin, you just saved me a whole post! Great point on Desmond I hadn’t yet considered, and thanks for listing the major religions portrayed. Brings a tear to my eye and joy to my soul to see people watching thoughtfully as entertainment and I’ve heard conversations from the comic book store to the coffee shop about the show’s ending and expression of afterlife, praying it leads many to a fruitful connection with our Creator.
Dude, PURE AWESOMENESS!!! Your talents and gifting truly shine. You are a gift to so many. Thanks!!!
And just in case you needed to see one of the funniest “alternate endings”, this one had me rolling:
http://i.imgur.com/2OXLq.gif
James, great refreshing review! I’m glad you made a point to describe how Jack was merely a Christ “emulator” rather than a Christ figure. I’ve been trying to make the similar point in conversation and on my blog, but it doesn’t seem to be one that’s shared by most critics or fans of the finale. Glad to know I’ve got a kindred spirit out there!
[…] the 18th century John Locke (isn’t he from LOST?) proposed a model of the human mind in which ideas associate or resonate with one another in the […]
[…] to Ramble On with another post on the shows highlights after this season ends (as well as LOST, once it actually makes good on its promise and actually comes to a close in a few […]