Best of the Small Screen, Dramas No. 9


Over the next 9 weeks I'll be taking a look at some of my favorite TV series, broken down into three groups (Limited Run Series, Comedies, and Dramas). In my post on March 1 I laid out the ground rules for these categories and this exploration, the biggest of which is no series that are currently airing. To read the whole thing, check out the post "Best of the Small Screen" from March 1.

Today I continue dramas with another polarizing choice.

LOST (2004-2010)
Number of Seasons/Episodes: 6/118
Network: ABC
Starring: Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Josh Holloway, Terry O'Quinn, Yunjin Kim, Michael Emmerson, Naveen Andrews, Daniel Dae Kim, Jorge Garcia, Dominic Monaghan, Henry Ian Cusick, and Elizabeth Mitchell
Creator: J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and Jeffrey Lieber
Favorite Season/Episodes: Season four, 1.01-1.02 "Pilot," 1.04 "Walkabout," 2.01 "Man of Science vs. Man of Faith," 2.03 "Orientation," 3.06 "I Do," 3.23-3.24 "Through the Looking Glass," 4.05 "The Constant"
About: Last week, when I talked about the requirements for this list, I emphasized the importance of seeing the completed series. In the case of last week's show, "Breaking Bad," the final seasons put it on the list for me. "LOST" is a show that illustrates the opposite point. If I would have been making a list of my favorite shows of all time after the first four seasons, "LOST" would probably easily have been in the top five. I loved the show a lot for quite a while. But then the final two seasons happened, and it soured me some on the show. I didn't feel the quality in the storytelling held up, and the ending was a major deflation. Much like with "How I Met Your Mother," the finale was so polarizing some forgot what the rest of the show meant to them. I was frustrated at the time, but I feel like time has helped give me some perspective on the show and it's place for me on this list. This show also illustrates another theme you'll see time and again, that I have certain showrunners who really appeal to me and have landed multiple series on these lists. Carlton Cuse, who was a long-time showrunner here, worked on "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.," which appeared earlier in this exploration. Both Damon Lindelof and J.J. Abrams will appears later on this list. They do work that appeals to me, and "LOST" is a big part of that. As far as favorite episodes, I was always a Jack (Matthew Fox) fan, naturally. The first three seasons are all great. I love the pilot, which established the world. Episode 1.04, "The Walkabout," showed how layered the narrative could be in revealing the backstory of John Locke. One of the themes I always loved in the series was the exploration of faith and reason, and the season two premier was a big piece of that. Other famous episodes make the list. 2.03 explored the weird world of the Island and the bunker, and 3.06 had a fascinating piece of backstory for Kate. Episode 4.05, "The Constant," was one of the most beautiful episodes for the series in what I consider to be the best season, season four. But, of course, a personal favorite for me is "Through the Looking Glass," which featured an incredibly emotional story but also the biggest reveal in the show's run, when we see Jack tell Kate (Lilly), "We have to go back." Love or hate the finale, "LOST" was a show that changed television, and deserves to be remembered for its cultural impact.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more