An expressive surgeon, a conman, a girl constantly on the run, a formerly drugged-out rock star, a “dude” with a lot of money but not much luck and a “brothah” who can see the future. If you are a fan of ABC’s “Lost,” these are the characters you anxiously wait to greet each week. They are also the faces you missed seeing from Nov. 8 to Feb. 7.In past seasons fans have complained that the in-season reruns ruined the flow of the show.
According to CNN.com, the network tried an experiment. It split the current season in two, airing six episodes before an extended break and then resuming with 16 additional episodes.
The “extended break” lasted 13 weeks. While some may think that seems like enough of a drought to kill any show, most viewers are undeterred.
Senior communication major Mark Harris just recently began watching “Lost” and caught up through watching DVDs of the first two seasons.
“I first started watching because all of my friends were,” he said. “I really respected their opinions when it came to TV shows so I decided to try it out. I was hooked by the second episode.”
The show goes many different directions with its characters and story, which grab the attention of its avid fans.
“I love the intertwining plotlines and the connections between characters,” senior communication major Will Cooper said. “[I also like] how everything is a mystery and that nothing is obvious.”
The show’s writing, character development, suspense and mystery are all critically acclaimed, and it is qualities like these that spark rousing debates between friends.
Junior biological sciences major Casey Heflin has been watching since the third episode aired two and a half years ago.
“I love the show, but it’s not even ‘the show,’ it’s the talking about the show that makes it great,” she said.
However, not everything about the show is well received, especially the more recent material.
“It’s really hard to find something I don’t like,” Harris said. “The [Feb. 21] episode is probably the only really bad thing. I can explain away other negatives; they all seem to at least have purpose, but that episode was just plain bad.”
Many of the show’s original drawing points have changed or been put on hold, leaving fans wanting more.
“I really miss everyone being in one place and their stories being more intertwined,” Reflector critic Gabe Smith said.
Heflin’s concern is a bit more permanent than relocating characters.
“I hate that they kill people off when they haven’t answered questions that character has raised,” she said. “I also don’t like that they sort of abandon things that were more popular in the early seasons. I wish they’d play golf again!”
A popular complaint is the lack of answers.
“I know I said I like mystery, but gosh!” Cooper said.
Despite these negatives, Smith still has hope.
“The show keeps trying new things and going in new directions, but I never lose faith that it’s going somewhere even when some episodes aren’t as well-written as others,” he said.
But was the experiment of splitting the season a success? Or did it just kill the show’s momentum? Since the return from its hiatus “Lost’s” ratings have dropped even though efforts were made to shield it.
“ABC has worked hard to try to protect a show that helped turn the network’s fortunes around, moving it to 10 p.m. EST Wednesday this year to steer clear of Fox’s blockbuster ‘American Idol’ and CBS’s increasingly strong ‘Criminal Minds,'” according to CNN.com.
So why is no one watching anymore?
“No one can stand the wait or the suspense built week to week. Everyone wants immediate satisfaction,” MSU alumnus James Comans said. “They are either waiting to buy it on DVD and watch it all at once or are watching it online with limited or no commercial interruption.”
Smith corroborated this idea with the statement that the day after a “Lost” episode debuts on iTunes, it is No. 1 on the ratings charts. It also stays in the top 10 for a full week and is only replaced by the next episode.
So perhaps “Lost” is still popular, but not in a way that can be measured in the present. Even though the show has its pitfalls, fans seem to be sticking with it.
“I already own the first two seasons,” Heflin said. “I’ve devoted my time and want to see it to the end. I’m invested in the characters.”
Some fans will stick it out to the end regardless of the show’s quality.
“I want to find out stuff,” Cooper said. “Even if the episodes themselves are not good, I will watch to the end to solve the mystery.”
Maybe ratings aren’t the best judge of a show’s quality. Fans know of the show’s negative aspects but have faith that they will be rewarded for their patience. Whether it’s keeping up week to week, watching online or just waiting for the DVDs, “Lost” fans do not intend to abandon their show.