"Further Instructions," Further Criticisms

So yeah. "LOST."

Last night was the third of SIX episodes in the first pod-pack. I'm still leaning toward loving this set-up: Major networks taking up the HBO/Showtime-like format of smaller packets of NEW episodes, making every new episode a MAJOR EVENT and more of a MUST-SEE, miss it and you'll lose it. Of course I'm not sure how ADVERTISERS feel about it since even a commercial during a RERUN of a hit show has got to be great. We'll see of course. If this does work for viewers (hard-core and non-core) and advertisers then we could see a whole upheaval of the season-system and (GOD FORBID) see hit shows air new episodes during the summer. So yea!

BUT, I've heard a strange amount of complaints about "LOST" in the past few weeks. Not enough answers, not enough decent reasons, etc. All questions having the feeling of "you little teasing high-school whore!" I don't disagree with all that. I just happen to like some of it, is all.

Last night's episode was GREAT in a number of areas:

-Boone's sadistic appearance in Locke's hallucination, enjoying (and thereby allowing the audience to enjoy) the torture of putting Locke in the wheelchair, making him climb an escalator, and not being able to talk (You'll talk once you have something worth saying!!! Yah BAS-TAH-D!!!).

-Boone's scary looking torn-up face at the end of the hallucination.

-Ian Somerhalder's performance in general. He kicked ass. If only the writer's had let up Boone from under Locke's thumb for long enough.

-Desmond pretty. Desmond very pretty. Me like. Me like a lot.

-Mike and Jan. Brady-much Carlton and Elizabeth?

-Hurley. First guy cast, first guy every season to speak some common sense.

-Production and editing of the hallucination sequence, including the few frames of BEAR! (who driving car? Bear driving car? HOW CAN THAT BE!) "CSI: Miami" should take note: Look at dramatic editing techniques being used FOR A REASON besides masturbatory making-lab-work-look-interesting-and-causing-seizures-in-viewers.

-I'm a Hunter, I'm a Farmer. In general, the sight of Happy Locke and the constant reminders that Happy Locke has been under attack so many times.


But the episode left me empty!!! There were so many unfilled sublYmonal signals. Of my complaints:

-The entire ENDING!!! What the hell?

This is how it REALLY should've ended:

Flashback section ends showing Locke not shooting the kid. As Enchanted Eko tells Locke to rescue J+K+S, we go back to flashback section with Locke looking at the kid through the gun sight. Locke's torn. We see him struggling with his conscious. Should he go to all lengths to protect his "family?" HIS dad went to an extreme length to protect himself (conning your own kid to use him as an organ bank!) so why shouldn't Locke do everything within his power to protect the peace and happiness he's finally found???

Enchanted Eko talks over these scenes finally telling Locke that "You're a hunter." As we hear this, we see the kid walking away through the trees and Locke seems to get up the nerve to shoot him. Locke yells at the kid to stop again. The kid stops and as he turns, pulls a gun and shoots Locke... this being the event that paralyzes him.

That, or Locke ACTUALLY shoots the kid as we hear Eko saying "You're a hunter."

Either would've been really cool and actually been a resolution for the episode instead of it ending on a whisper. Yes, it changes the relationship between Locke and the island, but why should we go BACKWARD to have first season Locke? And gee... it WOULD'VE FELT LIKE PLOT PROGRESSION!!! You know why the hallucination was cool? It was new. It was explaining action that was happening and that will happen instead of flashback crap. Yes, flashback stuff can be cool but folks... we're kinda getting tired of it.

Other things, CHARLIE needs to be hit in the head. Annoying. Really annoying. And we don't get any explanation about Charlie's weird behavior in the season finale? And everyone seems pretty damn calm despite the violet blender incident and the FRAKIN' HATCH IMPLODING!!!????

More stuff annoyed me but I'll leave things there for now. That as well as mentioning that Criminal Minds is gonna/IS beating "LOST" in the ratings. Mandy-Frakin'-Patinkin.

That and Drew Goddard kicks ass.