Lost Progress

I finished watching season one of that show everyone else watched six years ago. The one with the deserted island, and the cryptic numbers.

There are lots of things I like about it, and lots of things I’m unsure of. I can’t say with any authority whether there’s anything about it I don’t like. I’m willing to put a considerable amount of faith in the series, based on what I’ve seen. There have been a few gotchas, but the plot is good to you just as often as it jerks you around. I appreciate that.

As an example, I really liked the way Jin developed as a character throughout the season. Jin is not the person you think he is, and he’s also not the person you think you think he is. The way he’s painted from controlling chauvinistic husband, to cold-blooded murderer, to bastard ex-husband with wounded pride, and eventually to loving husband who would wage war on an ocean for the sake of his wife… it was a really great experience. Jin “changes” a lot, but the viewer isn’t at all manipulated in order to make that change happen. Because, see, he doesn’t really change. Each new thing you learn about Jin builds upon the things you already knew. Jin was always Jin — you-the-viewer just hadn’t been privy to all the information.

And this is a character who doesn’t speak English.

So I could gripe about the little plot elements that didn’t resonate with me, but any writer that can construct a character like Jin over the course of 20-ish episodes deserves a bit of faith on my part. I’m happy to give it.

Season two starts this Friday. Will I get to learn what’s in the hatch? Oh my god I hope so.