It has been more than a year since the story of Oceanic Flight 815′s survivors came to an end, and I still find myself afloat in the vast sea of mediocre network television; lost and searching programing worth some kind of emotional attachment.
I have lived through some very iconic series finales: Seinfeld, Cheers, Quantum Leap, and Wings, just to name a few. Admittedly, I had emotional attachments to some of the characters but for the most part the void left after these series ended was actually the anxiety of losing one’s routine. “Well now that Seinfeld is over what am I gonna do on Thursday nights? I’m sure as hell not gonna watch Friends!”
LOST, however, is different. More than a year later I still long for something to fill the void it left by its absence. You see, Lost was special. In a world of time-shifted viewing it was the one program that I actually scheduled time for. My butt was planted firmly on the couch when the episodes aired. Yes, I used the DVR to skip a few commercial breaks, but I finished the episode at the same time as everybody else in my time zone. That way I could get on Facebook and drop spoilers for the ninnies that didn’t put the effort.
I still haven’t found a replacement series and I doubt that I ever will. Lost was the last of its breed. Honestly, I now wait for series to be released on DVD before I get involved. Watching programs when they air is now left to the pathetic individuals who’ve been suckered into reality TV; or as I like to call them, Baby Boomers.
Sadly, network TV stations are not in the business of making quality programming. They’re in the business of selling advertising. Reality TV programs incentivize viewers to watch live so they can either vote for their favorite contestant or avoid the realization that they’re pitiful enough to actually record Jersey Shores. By ensuring that viewers will watch live, networks can charge higher prices for advertising. Also, they save some capital by not having to hire writers and actors.
I apologize. I needed to vent. Let’s get back to the subject at hand.
Don’t get me wrong. I am glad that Lost ended. A story is only as good as its ending and Lost’s was wonderful. Though what I’m wondering is, why no spinoff? Yes, the story arc of Oceanic 815’s passengers is complete. None of those characters should be brought back. However, the most important character of Lost, The Island, has more stories to tell and many secrets yet to reveal.
I am not usually a fan of spinoffs. The networks pick some lame character (Frasier or Chachi) and puts them in new circumstances hoping to keeping viewership. But if there was ever a case for a spinoff, Lost is it.
I know full well I’ll never get my LOST spinoff, and in all actuality I might not be that happy if I did. I still enjoy spending my commute dreaming up new plot lines involving The Island anyway. Here is my latest:
During WWII a stray American fighter pilot crash lands on The Island. Not long after he crashes, The Island shifts time periods to the future. The pilot, slowly going insane because of The Island’s magnetic field and believing the world to still be at war, is shocked to find a Japanese family marooned with him; hilarity ensues.
Not the best plot, I know, but if you think about it, this spinoff has it all: Action, Sci-fi, some type of forbidden love, and it tackles the ever relevant topic of lingering stereotypes from the WWII era. Okay, I won’t try to convince you further. I would rather hear some of your ideas anyway.
Philip Chiappini has complex opinions of the most trivial of topics. Digital Marketing/Web Analyst by day and Blogger by night, Philip specializes in “calling it as he sees it.” Check out his blog here.
