First of all, Dr. McPhearson, would you consider changing this thread's title to something like "Lost Summer Thread" or "Josh Holloway/Lost Summer Thread"?

ABC's FYC site has gone live (link) and the two episodes that they have screening for Lost available free to anyone in the world are "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" and "LaFleur". Last year, they had "The Beginning of the End" and "The Constant"; the latter was the official series submission and the former later appeared in one of the tapes. What should they submit this year and what do you think they will submit?

As the main submission has always been written by Damon Lindelof, my guess is that this year's is "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham", not that it matters with the new system.

Last year, the three tapes included all five of the episodes written by Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, plus one by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. It will be impossible for them to submit all six of their episodes this year, as "LaFleur" is on the website. One tape should be "Because You Left"/"LaFleur", which focuses on how time travel affected Sawyer. Another should be "The Incident (Parts 1 & 2)", as finales are usually a good idea, except in the first season when they had a plethora of submission-worthy episodes. The other tape should be "316"/"The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" or "He's Our You"/"Whatever Happened, Happened". The second pair features decent flashbacks and characterization, but is a bit boring. The first is a bit more epic (most definitely on the Emmy checklist) and written by Lindelof and Cuse (so they will likely submit it), but has some polarizing plot directions, e.g. the return to the island and resurrection. I liked "Namaste" and "Follow the Leader", but those were momentum-building and not character-driven episodes.

I watched "Through the Looking Glass (Part 1)" yesterday and it was amazing: it had great directing, acting, cinematography, music and most importantly, great writing. One of my problems with the show lately was the flaming arrow attack. While a flaming arrow attack is cool, you have to keep in mind that it killed some twenty people. Sure, it is funny how Frogurt was talking about fire and then got shot; at the same time, it is disgusting that so many had their lives taken (and nobody cared). It really detracts from episodes like "Through the Looking Glass" where Jack is leading a huge group to the radio tower and you look at the crowd and realize that most of them are dead. The only people who made it to the radio tower and are still alive as of "The Incident" are Jack, Kate, Rose, Sun, Ben and Aaron. In that episode, there were thirty-nine Oceanic survivors on the island (not counting the tailies assimilated into the Others), plus Desmond, Aaron, Juliet, Naomi, Rousseau, Alex and Karl living with the group and Michael and Walt off-island. Of those, Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hurley, Sayid, Sun, Jin, Rose and Bernard are still alive on-island, Claire is in limbo, Desmond, Walt and Aaron are alive off-island and everyone else is dead. Those were not the only apects from that episode lessened by this season. The episode starts off with Jack going to commit suicide. He is extremely sad and depressed, crying when he reads Locke's obituary. Two seasons later, why was he heavily depressed? Because he was occasionally seeing his dead father and had broken up with Kate. Why did he tear up and decide to commit suicide? Because he saw Locke two weeks earlier and had a five-minute argument with him. What? My other new problem was Jacob. In "Through the Looking Glass", Ben and Richard talk about Jacob, as if he is the semi-invisible guy in the cabin who Richard has not seen in a very long time and Ben knows more about. Sure, there is misdirection and manipulation in Lost, but I am counting this as one of those cases where the writers had a cool idea and then decided to scrap it, rewrite its meaning in later episodes, borderline messing with continuity.

Terry O'Quinn wasn't submitted for Emmy nomination? What?! Well, maybe this is good for Josh Holloway! Two LOST actors in one category is more likely than the three I was predicting befoer.

Emerson and Holloway for BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR!

I was also predicting three nominations for Lost in the supporting actor, then Terry O'Quinn did not submit himself and Naveen Andrews did not submit a picture, so I am now down to just one.

I'm not sure why people are so surprised that O'Quinn was left off the list. He stated pretty clearly that he thinks that actors should only win one Emmy per role. I was more surprised that he WAS submitted last year. Although a nom for Holloway would make me really REALLY happy, I just don't see it happening. He just doesn't seem to be on Emmy voters' radar and Lost is not the hot Emmy commodity it was season one when Naveen Andrews broke through. I hope that I'm wrong, though. He was the best actor on the show this season by far. I love Emerson, but Holloway totally owned Season 5, and if the Emmy voters were paying attention, they would give him the nomination!

xoxo
Jacob

How'd you find out about Andrews not sending a picture? That's interesting. But honestly, I didn't think Andrews really did anything special this season. There wasn't really an episode that screamed Emmy for him, nothing in the way of "The Economist," that is.

As said before, I'm rooting for Holloway and Emerson in Best Supporting Actor. As for Supporting Actress, I don't think Yunjin Kim and Rebecca Mader will make it. The only reason I would give Elizabeth Mitchell a chance is because of her last scene with Holloway in the finale. Sometimes it seems that a character's death scene works in their favor with the voting committees. On the same token, though, I think the women will all be snubbed again.

Hope Sterling Beaumon can sneak in to Guest Actor. It would be great just to see the kid sitting doe-eyed as they call him name (unless they've stopped announcing Guest winners during the ceremony). Alan Dale and Lance Reddick, on the other hand, not so much.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. McPhearson:
How'd you find out about Andrews not sending a picture?

You have seen the ballot, right? Scroll to Andrews and you will see "no picture submitted" in place of a headshot.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. McPhearson:
The only reason I would give Elizabeth Mitchell a chance is because of her last scene with Holloway in the finale.

Mitchell also did not submit a picture, so it is pretty safe to completely discount her, as she has never made the Emmy nomination shortlist.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. McPhearson:
Hope Sterling Beaumon can sneak in to Guest Actor ... Alan Dale and Lance Reddick, on the other hand, not so much.

What is with Alan Dale submitting "Because You Left"? He was only in one scene and only had four lines!

G'Day,
recently finished the season of lost. SPOILERS BELOW:

This was a really strong season, it took the show in a new direction and provided nice character development. That being said I didn't quite find it as moving, exciting or as great as season 4.

The final episode was quite a ride though. The flashbacks with Jacob were all amazing. The action at the swan was also exciting. Locke and Ben's trip to Jacob was really interesting as well. The twists were jaw droppers but I questin as to what that means for next season.

My biggest problem is that John Locke is dead. Since the begining John Locke has been the heart of the show. It was his sense of adventure, wonder, excitiment, mystery and fulfillment that in essence summed up what Lost is all about. When they locked him in the hatch in season 2 the series suffered and when he came out the show went back to near its best. Without him I don't know if I can stay excited about this show. Seeing this man who had a terrible life live out his ultimate adventure was such a joy to watch.

Also I find it hard to belive how keen everyone was to blow up the island. Really who's life was better off before the crash?
-Kate was arrested and headed for life's jail sentance
-Sawyer was is a quest to kill the man who killed his parents (which his time on the island he was able to accomplish)
-Hurley couldn't do a thing without terrible consequences
-Jack seemed to have little purpose or meaningful relationships after the death of his father and betrayal from his wife
-Sun and Jin's relationship was in tatters

But still the incident was a strong episode.

If Lost is nominated they should submit:

TAPE A: 316 / The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham
TAPE B: LaFleur / Namastae
TAPE C: The Incident

And actually they are pretty strong cobos and are not too confusing. Good enough to win? I think other series would need to make mistakes, but possibly.

Well, undoubtedly Sayid's life was better off before the crash. Heck, he was off to LA where he could possibly have been reunited with Nadia. Sun and Jin were escaping her father. Sun had decided to stick with Jin and try to make a go of it. Maybe they would have had a shot of making it work once they were removed from her father's influence? Right now they are 3 decades apart from each other, which I would call a worse situation. (And neither seems very safe in their respective times, to tell the truth.) And I'll say Jack's life was better before the crash. I think his life on the island and during the O6 period was flat out awful. It may have been more meaningful, but in an awful kind of way. I would take a bitter divorce over what Jack has endured since the 815 crash any day.

I am not sure Sawyer finally being able to kill a man is the most positive aspect of his Island stay, but I think his life is improved. Hurley is definitely more free now. Kate's not in jail.

So, I'll call it a draw on the characters still alive, but with a strong case to be made for resetting the timeline. (If you don't count the Freighter characters, who I believe collectively tip the scales towards pre-crash being better. I mean, Faraday and Charlotte are dead.)

Of course, a lot of people are now dead. Or, undead?.. Claire? Locke? I think if you take into account Jack's desire to see all those people alive again, the thought of blowing a hole in the timeline and starting over becomes very enticing. (Not that I think they can actually do this.)

I agree that it is pretty crazy that Locke is dead. I am still having trouble with that. I mean, Locke is DEAD? That's it? His story just ends there? Suicidal and murdered by Ben? That can't be it, can it? I mean, the reveal of the fake Locke was super cool and all, but REALLY?? I hope Lindelof and Cuse address this at Comic Con next month.

I think this season LOST was a fabulously executed sci-fi show. It dropped a lot of character stories for the sake of some truly mind-bending sci-fi storytelling. I think it was very exciting, tense and dramatic. Whew, the plotting this season was incredible. I wouldn't mind at all seeing it Emmy nominated. It would be a nice statement for the Emmys to make, honoring a season that is so overtly sci-fi.

I don't think it is strong enough to win. I think this season's strengths (wonderfully crazy sci-fi and tight plotting extending over multiple episodes) don't really play well on a tape system at the Emmys. (Plus, I just get a feeling that LOST will have a better chance next year for its final season.) The whole season may just be too crazy to really connect for Emmy voters. I personally loved it. (Though, I would still probably cast my vote for something like Breaking Bad.)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LadyHathor25,

**SPOILER WARNING**

Let me first say that, in response to the questions about why everyone would want to blow up the Swan construction site, the women characters are poorly written. Why do I say that? Well, number one, because it's true. And number two, because you'll realize that Lindelof and Cuse gave both Kate and Juliet ridiculous reasons for changing their minds on a dime. To be so sternly against something, and then to change their entire argument because "you looked at her" is phony and cheap. I understand that all of the 1977 Losties had to go along with the plan for the sake of the plot, but it was still a really bad writer's trick.

Jack's reasons were also pretty muddled. Wait. So he wants to blow up the Swan for Kate? Doesn't he realize that, without the plane crashing, Kate goes to jail and he never meets her? Is his idea of a dream date setting of an H-Bomb? Couldn't he just offer to take her out for a long walk on the beach? See the Statue, maybe?

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the finale. More than anything, I thought that there were strokes of genius throughout. First of all, the Incident that we first heard about in Season Two... that was caused by our Losties? How'd have guessed that? Genius. Time travelling never felt so good. Secondly, that foot that we've seen since Season Two was Jacob's house? He was in front of our faces the entire time? Again, genius. Third, Ben was not as "chosen" as he once thought? Wow. Gut punch him while you're at it, Jacob.

I am, however, really really anxious about John Locke. Like both of you guys (or girls) said before me, he was the heart and soul of the show. His fulfillment was the audience's reward. And now he's dead, nothing more than a vessel for some old Egyptian enemy? Really?! Let's pray that that is not the end of Locke! That would be utterly tragic, considering that he has been such a maturing, fundamental character of the show. Not to mention that his banter with Ben was so classic, and really kept me hooked on the show, particularly during the otherwise dragging and muddled bits. On the flip side, however, playing Jacob's enemy now definitely poses a fun challenge for Terry O'Quinn, don't you think?

Noble, I like your tape choice, but I would change it just slightly:

TAPE A: 316 / The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham
TAPE B: LaFleur / The Variable
TAPE C: The Incident

Aside from The Incident, I actually think that The Variable was the best written episode of this entire season. Watching as Daniel Faraday is literally spending his entire life being groomed to eventually die on the Island was compelling and tragic; it was executed almost perfectly, though I still think heading into the Hostile camp gun a-blazin' was a bad idea.

I agree that the tape system is not meant for a show like LOST, where every episode must be watched to get the full effect. However, I do think that a sample like the five episodes I just listed could be enough to get the show a nomination for Drama. It's one of the best shows on TV right now, and certainly the most original. I don't think it will win, but it will definitely put up a fight.

FYC:

Best Supporting Actor - Josh Holloway, Michael Emerson
Best Writing for a Drama Series - The Variable, The Incident
Best Directing for a Drama Series - Jack Bender, The Incident
Best Drama Series - LOST, The Incident or Jeremy Bentham

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. McPhearson:
**SPOILER WARNING**

Let me first say that, in response to the questions about why everyone would want to blow up the Swan construction site, the women characters are poorly written. Why do I say that? Well, number one, because it's true. And number two, because you'll realize that Lindelof and Cuse gave both Kate and Juliet ridiculous reasons for changing their minds on a dime. To be so sternly against something, and then to change their entire argument because "you looked at her" is phony and cheap. I understand that all of the 1977 Losties had to go along with the plan for the sake of the plot, but it was still a really bad writer's trick.

Jack's reasons were also pretty muddled. Wait. So he wants to blow up the Swan for Kate? Doesn't he realize that, without the plane crashing, Kate goes to jail and he never meets her? Is his idea of a dream date setting of an H-Bomb? Couldn't he just offer to take her out for a long walk on the beach? See the Statue, maybe?

Yeah, the scenes where Jack/Kate/Sawyer/Juliet were talking about their reasoning for wanting/not wanting to blow up the Swan were ridiculous. Everyone is doing everything because of Kate? Seriously? Since when was Kate this compelling a character? LOL.

What really drove me crazy was that I think there *were* valid, not stupid, motivations for everyone's actions here. Jack and Kate even talked about theirs during "Follow The Leader". Jack quite reasonably articulated in that episode that their lives have sucked since they crashed and they could potentially bring everyone back to life who has since died (after just watching Faraday get gunned down by his own mother). Kate reasonably objected that her life hasn't been quite that bad. (Even though I thought that was incredibly selfish, but whatever.) Also, I think Juliet realized that her cozy situation there was over. I mean, what's the alternative? Go on the run? On the Island? Wave the white flag to The Hostiles?

Ugh, but instead everyone acts because of Kate. Freaking ridiculous. Completely ridiculous dialogue in an otherwise great episode. I fast forwarded through the scene when I rewatched it.

Anyway, for sure playing this Jacob Enemy should be fun for Terry O'Quinn. Heck, I thought it was fun to watch in the finale. Still, Locke's story feels horribly incomplete.

Oh, and I agree about some of the plot reveals in the finale. So cool that Jacob actually lives in the foot of that statue! For a while I thought the LOST-ies were going to cause the Purge, and that would be LOST's flashy time travel development. But, when I realized they were stuck in 1977, years before The Purge, I switched to thinking it was the fabled Incident that they were going to cause. Very cool to see that play out.

Really, I think LOST's work with time travel this season has been beyond excellent. This "whatever happened, happened" concept is just a brilliant idea for the sake of storytelling. Brilliant to watch our 815 survivors actually play a role in past Island lore. That sequence of events of young Ben freeing Sayid, only to have Sayid shoot him, Jack refusing to help him, which led to Kate, Sawyer and Juliet conspiring to turn Ben over to the Others was spectacular. That is my favorite time travel play LOST made this year. Talk about "never saw that coming".

As this season wound down I found myself feeling more and more impressed with the plotting on this show. We have come a long way from the meandering feel of Seasons 2-early Season 3. I am now a bit in awe of the way they have slowly unfolded the story on this show. Each season has felt different than the last. Every season seems to open the show up a bit more, make it feel a bit more epic in scope. They have continued to make it mysterious, even while giving us boatloads of information. The last two seasons have had such intricate plotting. They have to balance different groups of characters in different locations and in different times. Weave all these various story threads over multiple episodes, heck over multiple *seasons*. Whew, I think the plotting on this show is flat out amazing.

And I love that I still don't really know what this show is about. It is almost over, and I am still trying to figure that out. I tried to get someone into LOST last month. They asked me, "What's it about?" Um... Excellent question. LOL. Saying it is about people who survive a plane crash doesn't feel quite right anymore, eh?

Wow, I can't wait for next season. Watching this show has been an incredible experience. I have never seen anything like it on television. Anyway, enough rambling.

Yes, I will go with Dr. McPhearson's tape choices.

1. 316/The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham
2. LeFleur/The Variable
3. The Incident

I think those are at least competitive tapes. They show what LOST has really been about this season. Thematically compliment each other very well. Mainly I just want to see LOST nominated this season. Theoretically, the judging panels were actually hurting its chances at nomination. Perhaps off a popular ballot it has a better chance of getting nominated?

I agree, LadyHathor. The motivations for each character taking part in the Incident could have been completely validated; heck, just saying "we could save all those people who died" over and over would have seemed like a good enough reason for me. If they were fighting to bring Boone, Charlie, Arzt, and the rest of the dead survivors (irony intended) back, that would be compelling enough. Or, at least, it would have been better than centering it on that overwrought love-square that was going on. Just nip that in the butt, Lindelof, please.

I would love to see the popular vote radically change the nominees. In a system like this, if shows like "Breaking Bad," "LOST," and "Battlestar Galactica" are nominated, I think they should keep the system. If the nominees all turn out to be the same ol' same ol' again, then I'll be more than a little upset.

Oh, and I meant to mention Jeremy Davies. I think he should be considered for Supporting Actor as well. His work in "The Variable" was borderline nomination material. Unfortunately, because he hasn't been with the show as long as Emerson and Holloway, I think that a popular vote (where the voters actually have to know your name) might hurt him. However, with Emmy's insistence to nomination "movie people," his work in Saving Private Ryan and the like could boost him a tad. On the opposite end of the spectrum, though, its been a good year for dramatic actors, so he's got a heck of a fight if he hopes to make the top six.

G'Day,
you are probably right LadyHathor25 about quite a few of the castaways having had a better life without the crash, esp. Jack who has had a pretty lpusy time (and he's always been a grass is always greener type of Guy). Although Kate, Hurley and Sawyer I think had more going for them on the island. And while I'd agree Sawyer killing Lock's dad was not his greatest achivement. It was what he was fully consumed by before the crash and it wasn't until he killed him that he was able to move on to find true happiness elsewhere. I would have thought that making sure he got to have his moment on the brig would have been of the upmost importance to him.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. McPhearson:
I am, however, really really anxious about John Locke. Like both of you guys (or girls) said before me, he was the heart and soul of the show. His fulfillment was the audience's reward. And now he's dead, nothing more than a vessel for some old Egyptian enemy? Really?! Let's pray that that is not the end of Locke! That would be utterly tragic, considering that he has been such a maturing, fundamental character of the show. Not to mention that his banter with Ben was so classic, and really kept me hooked on the show, particularly during the otherwise dragging and muddled bits. On the flip side, however, playing Jacob's enemy now definitely poses a fun challenge for Terry O'Quinn, don't you think?

Don't worry I'll be praying Dr. McPhearson. To me it looks unlikley but I am prepared to forgive any contrived plot point from the writers to have John Locke back to life. Oh, it's not a raw deal for O'Quinn who now gets to play a new character (thus being able to submit himself for the emmys?) and I'm sure he will be in the show to the final episode.

quote:

Noble, I like your tape choice, but I would change it just slightly:

TAPE A: 316 / The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham
TAPE B: LaFleur / The Variable
TAPE C: The Incident

Aside from The Incident, I actually think that The Variable was the best written episode of this entire season. Watching as Daniel Faraday is literally spending his entire life being groomed to eventually die on the Island was compelling and tragic; it was executed almost perfectly, though I still think heading into the Hostile camp gun a-blazin' was a bad idea.

I do think that "Namaste" is my weakest episode. And agree they have stronger in Dead is Dead, Follow the Leader and probably the Variable (although I would need to see it again). However I think it pairs the best with LeFleur and they follow on so it wont be as confusing, thus making a stronger tape.

quote:

Originally posted by LadyHathor25:
This "whatever happened, happened" concept is just a brilliant idea for the sake of storytelling. Brilliant to watch our 815 survivors actually play a role in past Island lore.

I completly agree and think this is what the season's best asset. Lost really showed Heroes how to use time travel without completly sckrewing up the shows continuity. Although if the island has exploded I guess that changes a little. I never quite bought the Variable theory and loved the observation in the final that "maybe the best thing we can do is do nothing".

Yeah, Noble. I hope that my differing with you on episode submissions was not insulting; you made some good picks. I just don't remember "Namaste" being that great. For that matter, I wasn't the biggest "316" fan either. I would most certainly put "The Variable" in your "Namaste" slot. If I were to replace "316," it would be with "Dead is Dead" or "Follow the Leader" (the main reason I would choose the latter is because he had one of the best ending lines I've seen in the series).

BEN: Then why aer we going to Jacob?

LOCKE: So I can kill him.

I sat staring at the screen for several moments, before I bursted out laughing at how incredible the dialogue they keep giving Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn. Those two play off each other so well.

^Seriously. I loved the ending to that episode. I too sat starting at the screen for a bit. So did my roommate. I think we must have had the exact same expressions on our faces as did Michael Emerson in that scene. We, too, both started laughing. I think I said "That was awesome." Yeah, terrific ending. Great dialogue. Great performances from O'Quinn and Emerson. Great mind bending twist. I was thinking "Whoa, what the heck is going on?!"

Oh my, I truly love Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson in scenes together. I am so glad they brought Emerson onto this show. To think Terry O'Quinn spent season 2 with Locke sitting in the hatch pushing a button. Ugh. Emerson coming on to this show is the best thing that could have happened for O'Quinn.

I am very interested to see what the dynamic between their characters will be next year.

I am also hoping LOST gives Michael Emerson a competitive Emmy tape next year. I don't think he can win this year. I truly want him to win an Emmy for this role.

And to bring this back to Josh Holloway, Jeff Jensen over at EW has a piece up about Holloway and his Emmy chances:

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatc...-holloway-who-h.html

quote:

Originally posted by LadyHathor25:
^Seriously. I loved the ending to that episode. I too sat starting at the screen for a bit. So did my roommate. I think we must have had the exact same expressions on our faces as did Michael Emerson in that scene. We, too, both started laughing. I think I said "That was awesome." Yeah, terrific ending. Great dialogue. Great performances from O'Quinn and Emerson. Great mind bending twist. I was thinking "Whoa, what the heck is going on?!"

Oh my, I truly love Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson in scenes together. I am so glad they brought Emerson onto this show. To think Terry O'Quinn spent season 2 with Locke sitting in the hatch pushing a button. Ugh. Emerson coming on to this show is the best thing that could have happened for O'Quinn.

I am very interested to see what the dynamic between their characters will be next year.

I am also hoping LOST gives Michael Emerson a competitive Emmy tape next year. I don't think he can win this year. I truly want him to win an Emmy for this role.

I actually hope that people don't look at Emerson's tape for the sole source of reasons to vote for him (that is, if he is nominated, which I'm sure he will be). Yes, Ben has been incredible all throughout the series, and I kind of wish that character had won last year for his phenomenal "The Shape of Things to Come." However, while "Dead is Dead" had some interesting scenes (like Ben getting metaphorically backhanded by Ghost Alex), nothing shouted EMMY to me right off the bat. I'm actually thinking, though, that they may submit "The Incident" for Emerson, since he has that entire 'why him?' monologue with Jacob and Locke in the vicinity. I really think Emerson deserves an Emmy for this character, and since there really isn't a frontrunner for Supporting Actor Drama at the moment, I say why the heck not this year?

Thanks, LadyHathor, for that link. I'm watching Part 1 of the interview right now, and I forget how humble and charming Holloway is. I always thought that his character was one-note for the majority of the series, but his final scene with Juliet being literally pulled away from him sold me. Even if there are people who don't think this guy deserves recognition, they should know he would still be eternally grateful for it.

The article mentions that there will be five nominees for supporting actor. It never ceases to amaze me that I know more than just about any professional journalist with regard to Lost, Nielsen ratings and award shows.

I hope that Emerson gets another "The Shape of Things to Come" in season 6, so that he can win the Emmy. As for this season, I am unsure of what his best bet is. "The Incident" has stronger material, but that is only a fifteen minute tape, whereas "Dead is Dead" is a thirty-five minute submission.

I have already mentioned above in this thread what I think the tape submissions should be. I think that "Because You Left" is the best choice to pair with "LaFleur", although "Namaste" is also quite good. Both episodes are quite plot-driven when compared to the average Lost episode and lack blindingly clear central characters. The difference is that the premiere has Sawyer there for the audience to sympathize with ("Everyone I care about just blew up on your damn boat. I know what I can't change."), while "Namaste" just seems like the show catching up to itself.

You have suggested "The Variable" as the best episode to pair with "LaFleur". I had a lot of problems with this season and quite a few were exemplified in the show's hundredth. First of all, there is a huge problem with the very concept of the variable. The whole point of time travel on Lost is that it is non-paradoxical. It may be self-fulfilling, but it is rarely paradoxical. Why would Faraday suddenly dismiss his fantastic "whatever happened, happened" theory, in favour of a completely nonsensical "variable" theory? Faraday is a genius physicist and there is no way that he did not think his explosive plan through. He also seemed much the same in 1977 as he did in 2004, so I do not think that his general sanity is an issue. Other issues that I had with "The Variable" dealt with the numerous continuity errors/cop-outs that surfaced in the fifth season that the writers had managed to avoid for four years prior. Given that Eloise was pregnant with Faraday in 1977, that means that Faraday was only nineteen years old and already an Oxford professor when Desmond visited him in the flashbacks of "The Constant". And why does Faraday have an American accent if both of his parents are British? "The Variable" also took us full circle to the scene in which we almost first met Faraday when he was crying as he watched the new report on the recovery of Flight 815. And the reason that he was crying was because... he did not know. (There was also bad hair and costume consistency in that scene: screenshot #1 and a few seconds later.) Finally, Faraday marches into the Others' camp, hoping to retrieve the hydrogen bomb... by holding Richard at gunpoint... and counting down to the moment that he has threatened to shoot him. Bravo, a flawless plan and execution. Plus, we also got the most random television firefight that I have ever seen in the middle of the episode. And then add Desmond to the mix. Wait, why was Henry Ian Cusick a series regular this year? He only appeared in seven of the seventeen episodes this season and had more than five lines in only two of them. It made sense to show that he had a son and a happy life with Penny and for him to have a confrontation with Ben because that is something that has been aluded to since "The Shape of Things to Come", but his role beyond that this season was unnecessary and ultimately useless. Faraday approached him while time travelling through a loophole (how convenient) for Desmond to tell Eloise that Faraday and the others left behind were in danger. So Desmond found Eloise and told her that Faraday was in danger and nothing became of that. And that is why "The Variable" should not be sent to the Emmys. Despite all of this, there was enough excitement and intrigue in "The Variable" for me to rank it above five other episodes this season.

quote:

Originally posted by thedemonhog:
The article mentions that there will be five nominees for supporting actor. It never ceases to amaze me that I know more than just about any professional journalist with regard to Lost, Nielsen ratings and award shows.

I hope that Emerson gets another "The Shape of Things to Come" in season 6, so that he can win the Emmy. As for this season, I am unsure of what his best bet is. "The Incident" has stronger material, but that is only a fifteen minute tape, whereas "Dead is Dead" is a thirty-five minute submission.

I have already mentioned above in this thread what I think the tape submissions should be. I think that "Because You Left" is the best choice to pair with "LaFleur", although "Namaste" is also quite good. Both episodes are quite plot-driven when compared to the average Lost episode and lack blindingly clear central characters. The difference is that the premiere has Sawyer there for the audience to sympathize with ("Everyone I care about just blew up on your damn boat. I know what I can't change."), while "Namaste" just seems like the show catching up to itself.

You have suggested "The Variable" as the best episode to pair with "LaFleur". I had a lot of problems with this season and quite a few were exemplified in the show's hundredth. First of all, there is a huge problem with the very concept of the variable. The whole point of time travel on Lost is that it is non-paradoxical. It may be self-fulfilling, but it is rarely paradoxical. Why would Faraday suddenly dismiss his fantastic "whatever happened, happened" theory, in favour of a completely nonsensical "variable" theory? Faraday is a genius physicist and there is no way that he did not think his explosive plan through. He also seemed much the same in 1977 as he did in 2004, so I do not think that his general sanity is an issue. Other issues that I had with "The Variable" dealt with the numerous continuity errors/cop-outs that surfaced in the fifth season that the writers had managed to avoid for four years prior. Given that Eloise was pregnant with Faraday in 1977, that means that Faraday was only nineteen years old and already an Oxford professor when Desmond visited him in the flashbacks of "The Constant". And why does Faraday have an American accent if both of his parents are British? "The Variable" also took us full circle to the scene in which we almost first met Faraday when he was crying as he watched the new report on the recovery of Flight 815. And the reason that he was crying was because... he did not know. (There was also bad hair and costume consistency in that scene: screenshot #1 and a few seconds later.) Finally, Faraday marches into the Others' camp, hoping to retrieve the hydrogen bomb... by holding Richard at gunpoint... and counting down to the moment that he has threatened to shoot him. Bravo, a flawless plan and execution. Plus, we also got the most random television firefight that I have ever seen in the middle of the episode. And then add Desmond to the mix. Wait, why was Henry Ian Cusick a series regular this year? He only appeared in seven of the seventeen episodes this season and had more than five lines in only two of them. It made sense to show that he had a son and a happy life with Penny and for him to have a confrontation with Ben because that is something that has been aluded to since "The Shape of Things to Come", but his role beyond that this season was unnecessary and ultimately useless. Faraday approached him while time travelling through a loophole (how convenient) for Desmond to tell Eloise that Faraday and the others left behind were in danger. So Desmond found Eloise and told her that Faraday was in danger and nothing became of that. And that is why "The Variable" should not be sent to the Emmys. Despite all of this, there was enough excitement and intrigue in "The Variable" for me to rank it above five other episodes this season.

You've compiled a darn good case against "The Variable," that's for sure. I still think, though, the the entire Eloise-sent-her-son-to-die factor was utterly tragic, and I overlooked many of the technical goofs in that episode, instead completely intrigued by Faraday's development as the series' main physicist.

As for why he thought of The Variable out of nowhere, I was actually thinking the episode was going to show a flashback in which Faraday speaks with DeGroots, the main scientist in Ann Arbor's DHARMA lab. I thought that, if anything, maybe a seperate party convinced Faraday of the variable theory. Maybe the writers will still explore this. Who the heck knows?

It's still one of my favorite episodes this season. I think your choice for "Because You Left" was an inspired one, though. Not a big fan of "Namaste" as I said before.

I think "Namaste" was a great transition episode. But, it was just that: A transition episode. I think it was interesting, plot-wise. But, I am not sure if there is enough there for it to really grab voters. Especially ones who haven't seen the show.

"Because You Left" is an interesting idea. I just wonder if it might be MORE confusing than "The Variable"? That is a pretty plot-heavy episode. I did like it. However, I think "The Variable" has a stronger emotional story.

I don't know... I just think the technical problems with "The Variable" can be overlooked because of the strong emotional story. I am just not sure "Because You Left" or "Namaste" have that kind of emotional grounding behind them.

Though, I, too, have no idea why Faraday would suddenly think this "Variable" theory is right. I think "Whatever Happened, Happened" was proven correct time and time again on this show this season. Then again, I have no idea what will happen after that scene with the bomb exploding in the season finale. Perhaps Faraday was right after all. I always kind of thought that Eloise was pushing Faraday so hard because she was hoping that he COULD find a way to change everything.

Anyway, I'll forgive Jeff Jensen for not knowing how many Emmy nominees there are. Emmys aren't really what he writes about. I doubt there are more than a few staff members at EW who know the rule was changed this year. Perhaps Mike Ausiello needs to drop Jensen a line on this subject. In any case, more press for Holloway can't hurt at this time of year. Especially from a source as high profile as EW.

I really liked Jensen's video interview with Josh Holloway. Holloway seems like such a nice guy. I loved the character arc for Sawyer this year. I have read before that both he and Elizabeth Mitchell were nervous about having to sell the Sawyer/Juliet relationship in such a short time. However, I think they both did a SUPERB job. I thought that relationship was instantly credible. I thought it was wonderful to see Sawyer as a more mature character this season. What a wonderful surprise it would be for Holloway to break through with a nomination.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LadyHathor25,

G'Day,
thedemonhog I agree with you quite a bit on the Variable and I never got behind the variable theory either. It didn't really make sense and I loved the "Whatever happened happened theory". I also never really got behind the Faraday character - he served a good purpose plot wise but I never cared for him - and was a little peeved to see so much of the 100th episode focused on him when so many of the original players were absent. Alot of your other nitpicks are valid but arn't reasons not to submit the episode as voters wont have as intimate knowledge of the series and characters. But I wouldn't pick it either.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. McPhearson:
Yeah, Noble. I hope that my differing with you on episode submissions was not insulting; you made some good picks. I just don't remember "Namaste" being that great. For that matter, I wasn't the biggest "316" fan either. I would most certainly put "The Variable" in your "Namaste" slot. If I were to replace "316," it would be with "Dead is Dead" or "Follow the Leader" (the main reason I would choose the latter is because he had one of the best ending lines I've seen in the series).

BEN: Then why aer we going to Jacob?

LOCKE: So I can kill him.

Yeah great final moment for Follow the leader and I took no insult from your different perspective. This forum would be pretty boring if we all agreed on everything.

quote:

I really think Emerson deserves an Emmy for this character, and since there really isn't a frontrunner for Supporting Actor Drama at the moment, I say why the heck not this year?

I'm also divided on Emerson's best tape conventional wisdom says Dead is Dead. I think he could win this year as his tape is strong and he is a little overdue. However he is vulnerable if a really strong contender emerges. Shantner for the first time dosn't have a strong tape. Not sure about Slattery, Kartheiser or Hurt. Andrews has nothing. Clemenson and I'm guessing Mahoney (given the nature of the show) have something special if nominated.