The Haphazard Blog

Lost seems to be heading down a path where there are two realities. I think to tie all this back to when the series started, you had the struggle between Jack (the man of science, choice/free will) and Locke (the man of faith, destiny). Were the survivors destined to end up there or was it just an accident? Now we are seeing certain common elements between the two realities in addition to some people seeing glimpses of what is/was/did happen on the island despite not being there. It seems as if some things are destined to happen, but there is also some freedom around those things. So Hurley wins the lottery and meets Libby regardless of the reality. In one he is a psychiatric patient, gets the lottery numbers from another patient, believes he is cursed and crashes on the island. In the other, he isn’t cursed or crazy.

FlashForward seems to have a similar element going with their show. It was recently revealed that Dyson Frost has had many FlashFowards and he said in most, Demetri dies. The FBI agent already showed that the FlashForward was not an absolute when he committed suicide, but now it appears that what it actually is is a possibility. Some have higher likelihoods than others. Then there are characters who absolutely believe what they saw will come to fruition and others who believe that anything can be changed (and a whole spectrum in between).

Another show has some similarities to both of these as well, Fringe. They established there is another universe where the majority of things are the same, but there are differences between the universes.  So it makes you wonder if again, some things are simply destined with some minor allowances for free will.

You can probably tell I have a fascination with the free will vs. destiny discussion (long before I knew what existentialism was). It seems to have intrigued me my entire life. So I end up enjoying all of these shows and movies like The Matrix.

We’re right near the halfway mark for the final season of Lost and it seems like more mysteries have been added compared to how many have been solved. It makes me wonder if there is enough time to wrap up all the big mysteries.

I don’t think there will be an answer to the meaning of the numbers. They were used in so many contexts, they now just seem like numbers. Jacob’s numbering system for the candidates based on the placement of the lighthouse mirror? In a previous post I had wondered where was Kate. She had a number (51) assigned to her at the lighthouse. It doesn’t make much sense right now.

In the first couple of seasons, there were only flash backs. They seemed to show how many of the plane crash survivors had either unknowingly crossed paths or had some type of unknown relationship. Now in these alternate reality flashes, they seem to be running into each other and having their lives intersect. Does this mean they were destined to cross paths? Maybe the point is that some things are pre-destined, but how people get there allows for choice. It could explain why it’s hard to figure out if it is free will or destiny or who is good/evil between Jacob and not-Locke.

I thought the series would end with an explanation about why all those people were brought to the island and how they were connected. But I can’t make much sense of these new flashes. Some characters seem no different, while others seem to be living pretty different lives. What is the purpose of showing a what-if  Oceanic 815 landed? Does that mean both happened? Either could’ve happened? Is there an event that prevents it?

I thought I could kind of figure this whole thing out as it winds down, but I’m pretty much where I’ve been for the whole series. Just sitting back and waiting for answers. A couple more months and I guess we’ll have all of the answers we’re going to get.

Onto another show that just came back, FlashForward. ABC did a good job bringing this show back from a nearly 4-month hiatus. They had a special to recap what happened with the main characters and then aired a 2-hour episode. They gave us a lot of new information and filled in some blanks. We now know who suspect zero is, who (sort of) caused the blackout and the role of Lloyd in amplifying it. Oddly, neither Lloyd or Simon were asked about their captors. If any sketches were made, it would’ve been pretty simple to link Simon to his “uncle”.

With some of those questions answered, I think the next big thing is the events people saw when they blacked out and seeing how far Simon can get in figuring out who was behind the blackout and why they need him. It will be interesting to see if the flashes are destined or become self-fulfilling prophecies.

New and continuing shows are premiering on network TV now. There isn’t really much that is coming out that I feel like are worth watching. I gave some shows that seemed interesting a chance. I’ll include some of my thoughts. Before I do a couple general things I observed so far. ABC Studios (formerly Touchstone) has decided they want to promote more and it seems every show the produce (on ABC at least) start with “an ABC Studios production” to kick off the credits. My worst time slot is Thursday’s at 9 PM ET. FOX made it even worse by moving Fringe there.

Melrose Place (CW, Tuesdays at 9): I watched one episode. I never watched the original so I think that one aspect probably hurt. The show just didn’t seem all that interesting to me. Wow, someone was murdered. The characters weren’t interesting to me.  On a slight aside, Jessica Lucas is beautiful. She looked familiar, so I checked her filmography on IMDb and she was on CSI. She was the new CSI who just vanished. I thought she was better than the other girl they brought in last season (who they also wrote out).

Jessica Lucas, Melrose Place

The Beautiful Life (CW, Canceled): This was marginally better than Melrose Place. Although that doesn’t mean much since they canceled the show after the second episode. For anyone who was a fan, it’s really dead. They shut down the show during production. The CW will not be bringing it back later and if they do show the few episodes that were shot, there was no heads up so there won’t be any type of ending.

Community (NBC, Thursdays at 9:30): I’m giving this show a little bit more of a chance than I normally would. I bailed on The Office way too early and was horribly wrong on that show. So far, I’m not impressed.  Ken Jeong (the Spanish Teacher) is a MD in real life. He was practicing at Kaiser before getting into comedy/acting full time.

Bored to Death (HBO, Sundays at 9:30): This joke probably has been beaten to death, but the title is perfect:  viewers are bored to death watching this show. There’s “smart comedy” and then there is this. It reminds me of movies by Wes Anderson. His stuff is very (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Darjeeling Limited) hit or miss with people. So I’m not shocked that Jason Schawartzman is in this show. I thought Lucky Louie was way better than this and HBO killed it. Since all they care about are critics, this show will probably be back.

Accidentally On Purpose (CBS, Mondays at 8:30): I gave this show two episodes. It’s just not that funny. CBS made a mistake canceling The Class two years ago and Worst Week last year. Each was at least funny. The Class had superior characters as well.

the forgotten (ABC, Tuesdays at 10): The premise (solving unsolved murders of nameless victims) and characters weren’t interesting to me. The show just seemed to drag on. There wasn’t anything compelling about the “mystery”.

The Good Wife (CBS, Tuesdays at 10): The premise seems a bit lame (the wife of a cheating politician goes back to work), but I like legal dramas. The case was interesting. I’ll see if they continue to be. There’s some promise here if it doesn’t start to really lean on her back story and the cases all go back to her difficulties in having a crappy husband.

Mercy (NBC, Wednesdays at 8): I’m not watching this anymore. The characters stunk. It will likely draw comparisons to Hawthorne (on TNT). Hawthorne is a lot better.

Modern Family (ABC, Wednesdays at 9): This show is clever. It’s well done and uses the mockumentary style (The Office, Parks and Recreation) well. I think it will do well.

Cougar Town (ABC, Wednesdays at 9:30): I laughed. Nothing real special here besides that though. I found Modern Family to be superior.

Eastwick (ABC, Wednesdays at 10): This show will probably do pretty good for ABC, but it’s not all that appealing to me. I’ve never watched Charmed, but I imagine these shows would have similar audiences.

FlashForward (ABC, Thursdays at 9): I think this is my favorite new show so far. I enjoy these shows that have a more in depth story and a mystery (Lost, Fringe). Did anyone notice the Oceanic Air billboard? It said “Perfect Safety Record”.

Brothers (FOX, Fridays at 8): I think this show is a little better than Accidentally On Purpose. Unlike Friday Night Lights, the Actor in the wheelchair (Daryl Mitchell) is really paralyzed. (The actors on FNL, Scott Porter and Kevin Rankin do a good job, especially Kevin Rankin.) There are funny moments. I usually get bored with FOX sitcoms (except Arrested Development), so I’ll see how this one goes.

Trauma (NBC, Mondays at 9): Similar feelings as Mercy. The characters aren’t that good except maybe the helicopter paramedic. Again, a paramedic show on TNT (Saved) was done much better.

I think there are a few more new shows coming. I’ll recap them in a final grouping next month.