Jennifer Buckendorff writes an interesting piece in the Seattle Times comparing Lost to interactive television, or something like a video game.
Unlike traditionally passive television shows, which expect viewers to zone out in a couch-potato haze, “Lost,” which returns with new episodes Wednesday night, has embedded clues throughout. It’s these recurring tidbits — and the patterns they form — that make “Lost” the first show to resemble a video game…
The show likes to play with its audience, inverting our preconceptions. The seemingly fragile and vulnerable young woman, Kate, happens to have a history of violent crime. The knowledgeable and soft-spoken Arab gentleman, Sayid, actually was a ruthless interrogator in the Iraqi Republican Guard. Both also are considered heroes on the show…
While discussing the joy of figuring things out — something that Locke in particular is good at — they’re literally putting something together. In this case, they’re assembling rough-hewn pieces of wood to make a baby crib.
This is what happens when we’re exposed to too much crappy television and movies. We tend to forget things. Everything Buckendorff mentions in the piece isn’t akin to a video game.
It’s called “good writing.”
Surprised?
Oh and props to the Ozawas at The Transmission, a locally produced podcast, for getting heavy play in this story.
Seattle Times: Fans play TV series “Lost” like an interactive video game
