Remember how just absolutely ridiculous LOST was? I mean ridiculous in a good way (clearly, because I'm talking about LOST, and to all you LOST naysayers out there, step. off. No one cares what you have to say.). Remember how you never really knew what was going on, but it didn't matter because it would string you along giving you hope of figuring out exactly what "the Island" was, but we never REALLY got a straight answer (which is completely cool because the ending couldn't have been more perfect. And you're an idiot if you thought the ending was horrible, because you obviously didn't understand, and don't fault the plot because of your own ignorance). Remember all those commercials this summer about how "The Event" wasn't a plane crash, or any of the other occurrences that weren't "The Event"? Remember how everyone was talking about how this show is definitely going to be the next LOST? (Give up now, there will never be another LOST). Well, you might as well forget about all of that now, and really just forget about this show, because it is:
A) Nothing like LOST even though it tries super hard to ALMOST mimic what LOST did. (I mean, they actually tried to start the series off with a plane crash, but TWIST it didn't, so even LESS exciting. And on top of that after the first segment of the episode the flash to the Title "The Event" appearing in a similar fashion as LOST did and THEN at the END of the episode the do it again! OH! And on top of that the whole plot is revealed through flashbacks ranging from 15 years to 7 days. But instead of giving character depth they just try fill in the blanks of what is happening in the "present". We get it, time is fun to mess with, but I don't care.)
B) I'm not sure if I could care less about the characters.
C) The pitiful story lines and acting do not help. I mean, one of the main characters (Who, I am pretty sure, they are trying to make into a Jack Shephard type character except they fail. like. epic fail. He is neither A) as good looking as Jack, not even close, nor is he as compelling of an actor, who happens to be John Ritter's son) is on a trip with his girlfriend (the hot one up above), about to propose, and he hears a man yelling for help. This caricature of a California hippie has a broken arm and his girlfriend has fallen off a cliff, so this guy who was about propose just jumps off the cliff and saves her, naturally. Then it cuts to the four of them sitting around a table drinking and instead of being extremely grateful, the girl who almost died just brushes it off like it was nothing but comical. (Now, I get that these two probably have something to do with a sinister plot to ruin this guy's life which we see happening later, but without any characters being compelling, I just can't care if he gets screwed.)
Apparently the writers have pointed out that there are going to be a lot of questions. (Clearly). But they also stated that viewers should just have faith because it will lead to something. It won't write the story so that in season 6 (I doubt this show will make it to season 2) you don't have questions about season 1 like LOST did. But that's what made LOST so great. There were so many arches and story lines that were left unanswered that it allowed the audience to draw their own conclusions and led to the mass forums discussing what must have happened. They also stated that the characters will pull you in from the first episode... not even close. So here are there two biggest problems:
1) They're trying to be like LOST but NOT be like LOST. I think that by answering questions too soon, the plot line will get too ridiculous too quickly and alienate (I swear. If this show is about aliens... I mean... we already saw what happened with V, and we definitely don't need a show that's a mix of Flashforward and V, two absolutely horrible shows.) the audience with an over-the-top plot (They want it to be 95 percent set in the real world and 5 percent not... this isn't going to turn out to be a very good ratio.) Its the difference between progression and evolution. LOST evolved, completely changing itself from the first to sixth season and constantly reinvented itself. This show seems to only move the plot forward with one goal in mind, What is the EVENT? instead of, "Why are these people on the island? How were these people connected? Why hasn't anyone found the island? Is there something strange going on? If so, what?" On top of all of these questions though we were given a completely different realistic plot - How are these people going to survive the day to day now that they're stranded? How will all of these characters interact? Who will take charge? And so on... And the supernatural stuff at the beginning of LOST (like Jack seeing his dead father who's body was on the plane that crashed) could be perceived as Jack being a little crazy after crashing on an island instead of just throwing us into a weird sci-fi world. Lost started out being relatively realistic (who hadn't imagined what would happen if a plane crash landed on an island?)and evolved into a supernatural phenomena that had everyone demanding to know what was happening. The Event basically dismisses the first part of this formula and and only took one half of it. No one makes a cake and adds only the dry ingredients.
2) Poor characters. We've got a president. Some criminal who most likely is a supernatural being of some sort who is locked up for some reason. A happy couple about to be engaged. A cop or spy or some government official who (god, i couldn't even take this character's plot line. Who chases a plane with their car and thinks that's going to work while not actually being THAT frustrated that he just missed his chance to stop a terrorist, oh yeah, there's a terrorist on the plane, way to play into the fear that reached its peak years ago.) And a few other random ones that don't matter because they're just not good. But pretty much none of these characters interact, so we're just pulled from person to person with very little time to get invested in any of them. If you're going to be showing flash backs anyway, you might as well jump to where these characters all finally meet and work from there instead of spreading the show too thin by trying to throw too much at the audience at one time. LOST threw a lot at its audience, but it did so in small bits easing you into new plot lines and twists. This show was just twist after lame twist.
Ultimately, I'll probably watch the next episode. Why would I do that after ranting about how horrible the show was? It was like a train wreck. You can't help but keep watching because it is THAT horrible. I also always try to give shows the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the first few episodes, but I do NOT have high hopes.
Oh. One final comment. The show actually ended with the line "I haven't told you everything." Really? Have you not told us everything? Wow. Great cliffhanger. Couldn't have figured that one out...
Also, having the ENTIRE story blocked out (the creators made a bible because they clearly knew the pilot wouldn't sell) doesn't leave room for allowing an audience to react and affect where the show goes, which characters test well, and what subplots they should pursue in more depth. A rigid story in an environment where everything is constantly changing does not make for a great show.
Okay, still not done. I'm assuming if you didn't like LOST you'll unfortunately LOVE this show. Its like LOST, but for the less intelligent audience.
Fennopian
The Event airs Mondays 9 PM EST
No comments:
Post a Comment