The A-Team Blog

Once Was LOST: Reflections (Part 3)

Roger Overton — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:30:36 +0000

*If you have not watched the final episode of LOST and don’t want to know how it ends, do not continue reading*

Overall, I believe LOST’s narrative narrowly survives the weaknesses of its unsolved mysteries. We are left with nagging questions, even after the bonus epilogue found on the season 6 DVD. But the most important questions have been answered, and the great climatic struggles of the narrative have been resolved.

Beyond mystery, another criticism of the show has been its theology. There are two moments that seem to demonstrate either ignorance or thoughtlessness on the part of the writers. In Season 2, Episode 12 “Fire + Water”, Mr. Eko claims that Jesus was baptized for his sins, and that baptizing Claire and Aaron will protect them. Both claims are plainly contrary to Christian teaching. I think the best way to explain this is that Mr. Eko never received formal theological training. He does seem to have memorized quite a bit of scripture, but there’s no indication that he has a robust understanding of its teaching.

The second can’t be explained via the plot, and is solely the responsibility of the writers. Even if we accept that LOST has its own unique spiritual worldview (there’s a light in every man that’s sourced to the island, the island is purgatory for bad people, not-so-bad people move on to some vague after life), the stain glass window in the final episode “The End” is rather repugnant. The church appears to be a Christian church (especially considering the painting of Thomas in the sanctuary and Christian stained glass windows), yet in this odd room is a stained glass window featuring symbols from Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism. The obvious message here in the afterlife is that all of these religions have led to the same outcome.

The problem is that each of these religions have serious differences at their very core. Saying they’re all true is much like saying every color of the rainbow is actually blue. If you take away their contradictory claims, you take away the claims that make them the religions that they are. For example, if Jesus is not the only way for salvation as Christianity claims, then Christianity is wrong. You cannot take away that claim and still have Christianity. Even in LOST’s unique worldview, that stained glass window is either utterly illogical, and disrespectful to the religions that are represented, or the symbols have absolutely no meaning and don’t refer to the religions we associate them with.

That said, there are very redeeming moments in LOST revolving around faith and religion. A few months ago I heard a gal say that watching LOST motivated her to return to church. LOST raised many of life’s biggest questions and never shied away from wrestling with them.

There isn’t much else for me to say at this point. LOST has become my all-time favorite show. I’ve met many of the cast and crew, collected plenty of memorabilia, attended some fun events, become friends with other devoted fans, and spent considerable time reflecting on and discussing the intricacies of the show. LOST is a great story, and every good story reminds us that we are part of a grand story that encompasses all of history.

Once Was LOST: Reflections (Part 2)

Roger Overton — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:30:16 +0000

*If you have not watched the final episode of LOST and don’t want to know how it ends, do not continue reading*

“The mystery box… stays closed.” The LOST island had mystery boxes everywhere, and the island itself was a mystery box. Some of these boxes were torn open and examined, such as Dharma. Others were left much like J.J. Abrams’s box: tightly sealed with a big question mark. Obviously, these question marks were a large part of what LOST was, and the writers made it clear all along. Some boxes would not be opened; some questions would remain unanswered.

There are many good reasons to leave some questions unanswered. Whether or not there’s a good reason all of our remaining question marks is worthy of some consideration. In my estimation, the unanswered questions fall generally into three categories.

1) Unfulfilled setups. For example: Viewers generally accepted that some people had special abilities. Hurley talked to dead people, Miles heard dead peoples’ final thoughts, and Desmond was resistant to electromagnetism. For the most part, these were accepted without much question. But Walt was also special, and his special abilities were deemed especially important. Just what makes Walt special is only hinted at, so we can only guess that he had some sort of ability to summon things (such as birds and polar bears) and appear in places he shouldn’t be. The Others seemed to think that Walt’s abilities were worth kidnapping and attempted murder. That was a rather large setup leading to high expectations regarding the nature and importance of Walt’s abilities. But after leaving the island in season 3, we’re left with a rather nagging underdeveloped mystery.

Of the remaining mysteries of LOST, I believe this is the most populated and the least important category. Many of the questions that can be placed here are interesting, pique our curiosity and fuel our speculation. And that’s how mystery in a quality narrative should function. Some, such as Walt, really should have been paid-off to some degree.

2) Inconsistencies. For example: The Man in Black’s primary goal for some 2,000 years is to leave the island. For whatever reason, he appears to be stuck there as long as Jacob and the candidates are alive. However, he seems to have appeared off-island as Christian Shepherd on the freighter and in Jack’s hospital lobby. Maybe we can write off the freighter appearance because it was really close to the island, but what about the hospital room? Maybe it was actually the ghost of Jack’s father? I think there’s a decent case to be made either way.

The point is that there are some questions that raise inconsistencies in the narrative of LOST. While fewer of the remaining mysteries fall into this category, these are more troubling. A narrative structure can only survive a limited amount of inconsistencies before it collapses. I don’t believe LOST’s narrative collapsed, but suffer some damaging blows from these lingering questions.

3) Foundational mysteries. For example: We are expected to believe that the most powerful and important thing in the show is the light at the heart of the island. It’s ultimately why everyone was brought to the island and, in a round about way, what so many died for so it could be protected. The crazy mother said that there’s a bit of this light in every man and they all want more. Furthermore, if it’s destroyed at the island, it goes out everywhere. Whoever installed the light must have been very sophisticated, and it must have required a group of people to construct. With all the power and resources the constructors had, apparently they couldn’t protect the light themselves. Some how protection of this all important light was left in the hands of crazy mother. Without any explanation, this is the sort of thing that’s foundational to the show’s narrative, yet really hard to buy.

This sort of problem is the most damaging to the narrative. If the foundation of a narrative is weakened by too many of these sort of mysteries, it cannot bear the weight of the narrative. Thankfully, there is not much in LOST’s narrative that fits this category.

Once was LOST: Reflections (Part 1)

Roger Overton — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:30:31 +0000

If you have not watched the final episode of LOST and don’t want to know how it ends, do not continue reading*

Having been an outspoken fan of LOST for the last few years, a good number of folks have asked me how I felt about the finale. My response has been that I feel great about the finale. The problem is that the more I think about it, the more nagging questions come to mind. It was an emotionally satisfying ending, but not intellectually satisfying.

Before I explain my reaction, I should note that I still believe LOST is the most daring, compelling, beautiful, and interesting show that has ever aired on television. It appealed to a wide spectrum of genres and interests, including drama, romance, science-fiction, comedy, religion, and mythology. The narrative, story-telling, acting, score and production were top-notch across the board (with the exception of a few cheap CGI scenes). No amount of disappointment in particular elements of the final episode changes my belief that there isn’t another show that can match the caliber of LOST.

Reaction to the final episode seems to be split right down the middle: many people were satisfied with how the character’s stories were resolved, while many were dissatisfied with the lack of resolution of many of LOST’s mysteries. Misguided expectations were partially to blame: some people expected every mystery to be resolved and lambasted the writers and ABC for not providing the desired answers. Folks, we live in a flawed world and everything we encounter is flawed to some degree. Those who expected the finale to wrap everything in a nice tight box were doomed for disappointment before the episode started.

On the flipside, viewer’s expectations for answers were partially motivated by advertising for the show. Official promos and teasers repeatedly promised that this final season would reveal all the important answers we’ve longed desired. So, I think the blame for false expectations goes both ways.

From the very first episode mystery played an integral role in the developing narrative. It was one of many plot devices used to hook viewer’s interest. What was that “monster” that made strange noises in the jungle and knocked down trees? How was Locke miraculously heeled after being paralyzed? How did polar bears end up on a tropical island?

The importance of mystery relied heavily on J.J. Abrams’s “Mystery Box.” If you haven’t seen Abrams’s brief lecture on this, check out the video below. In the next post I’ll further explore mystery and why my satisfaction is mixed with some of the ways LOST utilized it.

Distant Shores

Roger Overton — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:27:26 +0000

This is the first poem I’m written in a few years. It’s not very sophisticated, but I think it works. “On Distant Shores” is a phrase that teases my imagination. It conjures in my mind thoughts of Aslan’s Country in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. What lies beyond that shoreline? One day we shall see.

My heart yet years for distant shores

Where pain and sorrow stain no more

Since my youth and from days of old

I’ve heard hopes excitedly told

Of sprawling vast mansion and streets of gold

Of countless fishing holes and treasures without mold

But I have longed for more than these

Something worth the journey on these troubled seas

For beyond the shores a kingdom lies

Filled with pure light and bluest skies

A king there reigns with proven might

He has conquered sin and made all wrongs right

He has healed the broken and given sight

And become for all people a wellspring of light

One day I’ll face that inevitable hour

And in death I’ll flee to that strong tower

At that grand moment I’ll see His face

My savior, brother and author of my race

More than gold or rest it’s Him I seek

He is true treasure and strength for the weak

Eternal communion with my dearest friend

Makes all trials meaningful and worth it in the end

So onward I sail to the evermore

Each day closer to those distant shores

Over sin and temptations make my soul soar

Until the shores of heaven be distant no more.

Book Review: The Gospel According to LOST by Chris Seay

Roger Overton — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:45:07 +0000

From the very first episode LOST was a complex show. Amongst its many layers of story telling were themes related to religion such as faith, destiny, spirituality and sin. One of the great things about the show is that it did not shy away from these topics, but voiced opposing viewpoints directly through skillfully written dialogue. LOST provided ample material to speculate about these themes and The Gospel According to LOST by Chris Seay begins to do just that.

The simplest way to summarize the book is that it explores the spiritual themes of LOST. It does so in the same way LOST does: through it’s characters. Twelve of its seventeen chapters are character specific. The other five chapters provide background and set-up the topics that follow them. Most of the material simply explores critical plot points throughout the characters’ lives. However, there are some more interesting points of exegesis. For example, the chapter on Eko looks at the various Bible verses inscribed on Eko’s stick and considers what they might mean for the plot of the show.

I have two criticisms of the book. The first is that it was published before the final season aired. Probably the best explanation for this is that the book is far more likely to be successful while the show is running than after it ends. But the premature timetable necessarily limits how far the author can go in his reflections. The other problem I have is with the title, The Gospel According to LOST. LOST’s “gospel” was never really elucidated, and my guess is that the title turns away readers who would otherwise find the book insightful. It sounds like one of the hokey religious books that reads religion into everything. Seay does a good job of avoiding that sort of hazard.

The Gospel According to LOST is a worthwhile read for any fan. If you care about the characters and the nuances of LOST’s narrative, this book will definitely interest you. Chris Seay is a pastor, and he doesn’t shy away from being pastoral, but he also doesn’t try to shove anything down anyone’s throats. This book is a great way to delve a little deeper into the many complexities that constitute LOST.

Th’ Inevitable Hour

Roger Overton — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:27:52 +0000

Many of you are likely well aware of former coach John Wooden, who passed away just over a week ago. Wooden’s favorite poem was “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” by Thomas Gray. After hearing this referenced a few times I made a point of looking it up. It’s certainly worth a read. Here’s an excerpt:

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow’r,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e’er gave,
Awaits alike th’ inevitable hour.
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

Nor you, ye proud, impute to these the fault,
If Mem’ry o’er their tomb no trophies raise,
Where thro’ the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault
The pealing anthem swells the note of praise.

Can storied urn or animated bust
Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath?
Can Honour’s voice provoke the silent dust,
Or Flatt’ry soothe the dull cold ear of Death?

Read the entire poem here.

Why Did John Piper Invite Rick Warren To Speak At DGC 2010?

David N — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 06:59:33 +0000

A lot of people (especially Reformed folk) have been asking this question. Here is John Piper’s 12-minute answer:

For the record, I’m all for Warren speaking at the DG Conference. Why? Just think about it for a second: When else would Rick Warren be guaranteed to hear R. C. Sproul and Al Mohler (not to mention Thabiti Anyabwile and Piper himself) speak? Sitting under the teaching of so many excellent Reformed pastors and theologians can only be a good influence on Pastor Warren.

T4G 2010: Ordinary Pastors

David N — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 05:49:19 +0000

C. J. is always a delight to listen to, and this message is no different. This also might be the most important message of the whole conference, since most of us are right now sitting under the teaching of an “ordinary” pastor.

T4G 2010 — Session 9 — C.J. Mahaney from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

T4G 2010: Did the Early Fathers Know the Gospel?

David N — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 21:06:05 +0000

Now there’s a provocative question! But it is certainly a question that needs to be asked. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox apologists like to tell the story this way: The consensus of the Early Church Fathers agrees completely with later Roman/Eastern theology and disagrees fundamentally with Protestant theology. Unfortunately, most Protestants are totally unfamiliar with the Fathers, and so they tend to accept this story without question and either convert out of Protestantism, or reject the Early Church Fathers wholesale. Both responses are a mistake, because the original Catholic/Orthodox claim is unfounded. In this excellent message, Dr. Duncan helps Protestants to put the Fathers in proper perspective, and guides us as to how we ought to study and use them today.

T4G 2010 — Session 7 — Ligon Duncan from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

T4G 2010: Did Jesus Preach Paul’s Gospel?

David N — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 07:53:59 +0000

T4G 2010 — Session 6 — John Piper from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.