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*SPOILER ALERT*
After five frustrating months of serious withdrawal symptoms (well, for me, anyway) the return of the smash-hit TV series seems closer than ever…
Did you find yourself screaming at the television set when the abrupt ending to season five of LOST finally hit the UK screens? Were you left desperately craving answers to the crazy, confusing twists and turns? If so, get ready for another eighteen episodes of pure brilliance. OK, I know that we have until early next year to wait, but you can’t blame me for getting excited already. LOST is back with its sensational sixth (and sadly, final) season, and it looks set to exceed our expectations yet again. Firstly, for those of you who aren’t cult followers of the show, an update of the story so far is needed. Even if you’ve never tuned into one episode, most of you will be familiar with the general plot - the survivors of a fatal plane crash, lost on a mysterious island...which is much more complicated than it first seems.
After first being broadcast in the United States on September 22nd 2004 (the true fans will know the significance of this date), LOST has become a worldwide success. The last five seasons have seen many enthralling storylines - the mystery of the hatch being one of the most unforgettable. Discovered by four of the main characters at the end of the first season, the puzzling hole in the ground contained a lot more secrets than they could ever have expected. The strangest feature had to be the crazy computer, where a set of numbers had to be entered every 108 minutes to stop the world from ending.
But was this really true? Or were we, and the characters, simply being fooled? That’s just part of the reason why LOST is so enjoyable - viewers can be hooked on an exciting storyline for many weeks, only to be left at the end with no clearer solution to the mystery than at the start. This is what keeps us all glued to our TV screens!
We were left at the end of the last season in exactly the same position. After many complicated flashbacks and even flashforwards to follow, the show’s key characters ended up actually living in the past, forming a part of the 1970s ‘DHARMA Initiative’ team. Who could ever forget that final scene, with Juliet’s dramatically exploding a hydrogen bomb? This was quite a cliffhanger - has Juliet managed to kill off many of our favourite characters? Or is this what was needed to bring our survivors back to the present? Yes, those talented people at ABC really do know how to confuse us.
Of course, this method of such complicated storytelling has been heavily criticised. Many people claim to have watched a few episodes when the show first began, only to become too confused with the plot after missing just one. However, I have to argue with this. The complicated storylines, twists and turns are what keep the fans watching week after week! Without this, wouldn’t the show simply be another dreary American drama?
So…what can we expect from the upcoming sixth season? Well, sadly, the producers have kept most of their plans a complete mystery. Unless we kidnap J. J. Abrams now and force him to reveal all, the best we can do is speculate. With season six being the last ever season of LOST, I have to hope that many of the island's mysteries will finally be revealed. Will we ever find out just what the black smoke-monster actually does? And why does Christian Shephard keep reappearing everywhere?
Basically, whether you’ve watched the show before or not, I expect you all to be watching with enthusiasm this time round! Yes, season six is going to be packed with superb surprises and little mysteries just like the previous five seasons, all contributing to what will hopefully be an astonishing conclusion. This is definitely not one to miss!
Ten top tips for surviving without LOST
Here’s how I’ll be coping until next year…
1. Watch previous episodes continuously until your eyes start to hurt.
2. Start slipping little quotes from the show into everyday conversation (but only with fellow fans of the show - others just wouldn't understand).
3. Buy the season five box set - released two weeks ago!
4. Host your very own LOST party - complete with grubby, second-hand clothing, fit for any island survivor.
5. Catch a plane to Hawaii and visit the famous island. OK, a little far-fetched, but you can easily recreate the beach scene in your kitchen, bedroom etc.
6. Cover every inch of your wallpaper with pictures, newspaper cut-outs - anything.
7. Start having your own 'flashbacks'- just make sure that nobody else is around, otherwise you risk looking like an idiot.
8. Visit lostpedia.com - a Wikipedia-type website dedicated to all things LOST!
9. Spread the good news - try convincing your flatmates just how brilliant the show really is.
10. Actually, forget all of that. Just don't leave the house! January isn't too far away, and at least you won't get distracted.
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