L O S T Finale (Part 1)

I couldn't possibly sum my thoughts into a post now, so I won't even try. I would like to say that Lost's finale was definitely the best of any show I have watched. It isn't every show that gets to end exactly how it wants to, and it certainly isn't every show that has an end planned from Day 1. The show always seemed to be about Jack from the beginning (it was his eye, and he had the most flashbacks I'm pretty sure), so it was really nice seeing this episode be about him. He started off the hero, and even though he was a bit shaky in the middle, he pulled through. He was the man that so firmly believed in free will. That topic needs its own post, but Jack believed in destiny by the end. He says it was what he was meant to do. All along, Jack is the one meant to save the island, and presumably life as we know it.

Some people I watched the finale with didn't understand the end. I think they missed a key part though. A lot of people couldn't believe some people died, but Christian said "Everyone dies eventually." Everyone in the church did die at some point. One theme very present in this season was the notion of "moving on." Jack and Locke discuss this in great detail. It always seems to be Locke and Jack debating life's greatest questions, doesn't it? Locke was the one that believed whole-heartedly in fate. Locke and Jack fought over leadership, over button pushing, over...well, everything. How fitting that they both saved each other during the flash-sideways. Jack had to move on after his father died. Locke had to do the same. Ben didn't join the gang because he hadn't let go yet (although, since as Christian said, time doesn't matter, why did Ben have to wait?).

Another question was about Vincent. He typically plays the MacGuffin, as he's the reason many characters enter the jungle. Sometimes I think Vincent shows up during important moments. When Charlie is trying to build the church, Vinny has the statue. This could be completely wrong though, and would require some more investigation.

Another question, was the outcomes of each of the cast. I've heard people say that everyone died on the plane crash. I really don't think that is it though. The only people in the room that weren't on the plane were Penny, Lapedus, Miles, etc. Christian said some died before Jack, and some long after. None of those people would have died before Jack if he died in the crash. Therefore, everyone lived their lives. Locke died when Ben murdered him. Jack died in the bamboo forest. Shannon was shot. Jin and Sun died on the sub. And Hurley and Ben lived the rest of their days on the island, with the two of them in charge.

From the very beginning, I expected the show to be about fate versus free will, and I mostly expected the setting to be purgatory. After the time travel, I didn't think so anymore. Seeing an afterlife, and a church, actually threw a curve ball at me.

I've also never been so moved at a television show (or movie, so far as I can recall). When the cast re-met each other, and saw flashbacks, I had seen every single part of the flashback. I knew exactly what was going to happen. But still, it was so moving. The writers and the actors could not have been more excellent. It was especially moving considering it was the last episode. I just couldn't help but get the feeling that everything works out for the best in the end.

All in all though, could you really ask for more from a finale? There were questions unanswered, sure, but just think about all the other shows that will have no finale. Lost has been about the mystery since the beginning. It's the type of show that makes you ask your own questions, and seek your own answers. In that respect, the show succeeded. As Jacob said, every person brought to the island was flawed. Criminals, drug addicts, alcoholics, family issues, you name it. In the end though, each character ultimately salvaged who they were, and turned to the light. I am severely going to miss Lost. It was an amazing six years. Nothing will quite be able to fill this void for a while, but the show was so perfect that nothing really ever could.