Figured I’d take a minute to pontificate on Lost. I’ll avoid spoilers here, in case any of you are behind on the season. DKC and I have been watching each week, and I’ve really been pleased with the season. One of the things I think stands out particularly with this series is that, while people talk about all the mysteries and plot twists of the story, the writers recognize that what really engages people are the characters. If you have characters that people can relate to and care about, then your plot is going to work itself out (as long as your characters remain true, and you’ve picked a conflict that’s interesting). On the other hand, if you have a fascinating plot, but awful characters, then people will soon move on to better material.
In other words, if Lost put the characters second to the plot, it wouldn’t be the show it is. This week’s episode is an excellent example. Fans have been foaming at the mouth for an explanation on the history that the episode covered, but when we finally got it, it was conveyed through a personal story. Character came first, and because of that, it meant much more than if it had just been a “this happened, then this happened, then this happened” sort of thing.
Lost is an excellent reminder to writers about the importance of character.