With the lack of a powerful ending in the End, and the lack of peer acclaim at the Emmys, the cast of LOST seem to have their careers fade away quicker than a normal series. As an ensemble cast, it would appear supporting television guest shots and supporting roles in B movies seems to be the norm. From the net, a cast update:
Adewale Akinnuoye Agbaje (Mr Eko): He was in "Faster" (also featuring Maggie Grace, Shannon).
Sam Anderson (Bernard): Guest starred on an NCIS episode and has a small role in a movie called "Water for Elephants."
Naveen Andrews (Sayid): ????
L Scott Caldwell (Rose): An episode of Grey’s Anatomy; theater work.
Nestor Carbonell (Richard): Guest in episodes of PSYCH and is in an upcoming movie "Cristiada" a Mexican film, in English with Andy Garcia and Eva Longoria.
Henry Ian Cusick (Desmond): Did two episodes of Law and Order SVU
Jeremy Davies: Has a supporting role in ‘It’s Kind Of a Funny Story’ but be sure to see him in ‘Justified’ he has a recurring role in Season 2. Kick ass show.
Emilie de Ravin (Claire): Two B movie roles announced.
Michael Emerson (Ben): Has new show "Person of Interest."
Jeff Fahey (Frank): B-movies projects.
Matthew Fox (Jack): Working on a movie in Cleveland, where he got arrested for an off-set altercation with a bus driver.
Jorge Garcia (Hurley): He stars in the upcoming ‘Alcatraz’ television show which may be hit or miss on the schedule.
Maggie Grace (Shannon): Was in ‘Faster’ with Mr Eko and will be in the next Twilight movies.
Josh Holloway (Sawyer): Guest appearance on "Community" and linked to several potential film projects.
Daniel Dae Kim (Jin): In the bad reboot of "Hawaii Five-O!"
Yunjin Kim (Sun): Nothing in America.
Ken Leung (Miles): Guest appearance on "The Good Wife."
Evangeline Lilly (Kate): In the movie ‘Real Steel’ with Hugh Jackman.
Rebecca Mader (Charlotte): Television appearance and role in a Jim Belushi B movie.
Elizabeth Mitchell (Juilet): Lead in "V" TB reboot.
Dominic Monaghan (Charlie): Has movie role.
Terry O’Quinn (Locke): Was pegged to team up with Michael Emerson on buddy script pilot which went no where; wound up with role in "Hawaii 5-0."
Harold Perrineau (Michael): In two indie films, ‘The Hungry Rabbit Jumps’ with Nicolas Cage and January Jones and ‘Cooler’ a indie comedy with Jim Parsons and ‘Inferno:A Linda Lovelace Story’ in production.
Michelle Rodriguez (Ana Lucia): In sci-fi film, "Battle Los Angeles"
Ian Somerhalder (Boone): In the "The Vampire Diaries."
Julie Bowen (Sarah), stars in "Modern Family."
Katie Sagal (Helen), in acclaimed cable series, "Sons of Anarchy."
Monday, November 28, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
WAS IT ALL ABOUT JACK? (Part Three)
The "opening" of Jack's eye in the pilot to the mirror image closing of it in The End was supposed to symbolize . . . . something. A circle of life analogy, perhaps, as he began the LOST journey in the same field, in the same prone position, and basically ended his island existence the same way.
What was the great redemptive journey of Jack?
Did he make amends with his father? No.
Did he find true love? No.
Did he make any lasting, trustworthy friends? Not really.
Did he make a huge sacrifice for his fellow survivors? Maybe.
Jack took the Jacob gig really by default. No one else wanted it. And, if you look at the awkward writing of the light cave scene, there was no magical morphic event between Jack, Hurley and Ben. Jack just made it up. It was like the last semester high school senior transfer student taking the blame for a prank in the school cafeteria because he had no friends and was mad at his parents for making him move from school to school.
After choosing Hurley as his replacement, Jack descended into the Light Cave, and according to several sources "saved the Island from destruction by sinking into the ocean" and being teleported to the field, he sees the Ajira plane fly away, "he knows that he has fulfilled his purpose and ultimately his destiny."
We really don't know that: because we don't know what the Island was or what it's true purpose is. We know Hurley and Ben took over the Island for a period of time. But we don't know what they did. We know Hurley's time as Island chief folded back immediately to Jack's awakening at the church. So one could argue that Hurley was the man behind the curtain all along, gathering the 815ers in the church, and not Jack.
It was Hurley who was left behind with the mission. And the sideways world construct, with the characters all living a seemingly normal and happy life, was all a fabricated dreamscape until Hurley came back to and awakened most of them after Desmond became conscious of his island past with Eloise. Who created the sideways holding pen? Hurley, so he could gather all the LOST souls in the afterlife? Eloise, who wanted to keep her son close to her? Only a person "alive" in island realm could create the sideways "dead" world to know about both worlds simultaneously.
And Jack never seemed to have the imagination and interpersonal traits to create an entire functioning new world construct. Who had the greatest psychic imaginative traits? Walt and Hurley. But Walt had been written out of the main plot and the Ending, so that leaves Hurley, not Jack, has the probable key character in putting the lost souls in place at the End.
What was the great redemptive journey of Jack?
Did he make amends with his father? No.
Did he find true love? No.
Did he make any lasting, trustworthy friends? Not really.
Did he make a huge sacrifice for his fellow survivors? Maybe.
Jack took the Jacob gig really by default. No one else wanted it. And, if you look at the awkward writing of the light cave scene, there was no magical morphic event between Jack, Hurley and Ben. Jack just made it up. It was like the last semester high school senior transfer student taking the blame for a prank in the school cafeteria because he had no friends and was mad at his parents for making him move from school to school.
After choosing Hurley as his replacement, Jack descended into the Light Cave, and according to several sources "saved the Island from destruction by sinking into the ocean" and being teleported to the field, he sees the Ajira plane fly away, "he knows that he has fulfilled his purpose and ultimately his destiny."
We really don't know that: because we don't know what the Island was or what it's true purpose is. We know Hurley and Ben took over the Island for a period of time. But we don't know what they did. We know Hurley's time as Island chief folded back immediately to Jack's awakening at the church. So one could argue that Hurley was the man behind the curtain all along, gathering the 815ers in the church, and not Jack.
It was Hurley who was left behind with the mission. And the sideways world construct, with the characters all living a seemingly normal and happy life, was all a fabricated dreamscape until Hurley came back to and awakened most of them after Desmond became conscious of his island past with Eloise. Who created the sideways holding pen? Hurley, so he could gather all the LOST souls in the afterlife? Eloise, who wanted to keep her son close to her? Only a person "alive" in island realm could create the sideways "dead" world to know about both worlds simultaneously.
And Jack never seemed to have the imagination and interpersonal traits to create an entire functioning new world construct. Who had the greatest psychic imaginative traits? Walt and Hurley. But Walt had been written out of the main plot and the Ending, so that leaves Hurley, not Jack, has the probable key character in putting the lost souls in place at the End.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
WAS IT ALL ABOUT JACK? (Part Two)
In "White Rabbit" episode, in a flashback, Jack as a young boy lies on the ground in fear as a playground bully threatens him, while his friend, Marc, is being beaten by another bully. Jack, seemingly out of character, attempts to intervene, resulting in him getting a black eye from the bully.
Later on, Jack explains the fight to his father who tells Jack about his day at the hospital. Christian, while drinking whiskey, says that he is able to cope with the difficult job of surgeon because he "has what it takes." He claims that he can make life or death decisions daily because even when he fails, he can live with the consequences. He concludes that Jack should not "decide," because if he failed, he wouldn't "have what it takes."
On the island, Locke claims Jack's White Rabbit is the vision of his dead father, an illusion to a character in Alice in Wonderland that leads the main character down the rabbit hole and into a dangerous fantasy world.
If LOST was all about Jack, was the trip to Australia to retrieve his estranged father's body the cusp of his life suddenly falling (literally from the sky) into a dangerous fantasy world on the Island?
In life, Jack was told he was not a leader because he could not handle the "wrong decisions" which would cost people their lives. On the island, survivors came to him to make decisions for them - - - life and death decisions on survival, which path to take, who to trust, and where to go.
If one takes all the plot elements, flashbacks, island time, and flash forward arcs, nearly all of Jack's decisions were the "wrong decisions." He really did not have a good instinct at reading people's inner motivations. He really did not want to make close friendships because that would lead to trust. His story is really one of being beat up, physically and emotionally. By the time Jack gets on Flight 815, he is spent. He is lost. He cannot change his relationship with his father. He can never show his father that he was wrong when he said he could not handle the consequences of life and death decisions. Only in a fantasy world could Jack face his White Rabbit.
So how does Jack actually meet his father in "real time?" His flashbacks are mere memories. He finds his father dead in Sydney. His interaction with his father on the island is mere illusion because it cannot be real: is Christian a guardian angel? a fellow traveler trapped in a fantasy-purgatory realm? is Christian a mere delusion? There are two ways to reconcile this premise: the plane crash sent Jack into a fantasy world made up by his mental images or Jack perished in the crash with everyone else and this was his Egyptian style journey through the underworld.
The only time Jack speaks to him on the same plane of existence is in the church at The End when it is revealed that they are both dead. But that short conversation never solved or resolved the deep "daddy issues" Jack had throughout the series.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
WAS IT ALL ABOUT JACK? (Part One)
Was LOST merely the spiritual quest of Jack Shepard? Was Jack the keystone character for the series? Was LOST all about Jack?
Jack Shepard was born on December 3, 1969. The most significant historical event on that day was that John Lennon is offered role of Jesus Christ in Jesus Christ Superstar.
Sandwiched between that trivia were too more significant events:
on December 2, 1969, the Boeing 747 jumbo jet made its maiden flight from Seattle to NYC;
on December 4, 1969, the Chicago police raided a Black Panther apartment in a hail of gunfire, killing several militants which caused an uproar in the city.
Why did the writers choose December 3, 1969 as Jack's "birth date?" What is the significance of that date in history?
The 747 jumbo jet was a major advancement in airplane technology. It was big enough to haul a great number of passengers, or more importantly, open its hull to international cargo flights. The age of globalization was just beginning with the advent of long distance air transportation.
The idea of man flying through the skies on wings is an ancient doctrine. Early man believed that their gods were winged creatures that descended from the heavens to give them life and guidance. Winged creatures came to symbolize change. Migrating birds signaled the change of seasons. Winged creatures also symbolize angels and demons of death.
The central focal point for the LOST mythology was Flight 815, a long distance, international flight. Coincidence?
Chicago was the hot bed for racial tension in 1969. The Democratic convention of 1968 turned into massive riots and confrontation between the police and protesters. Tensions were high. Within months in 1968, Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated by lone gunmen. Riots burned major urban areas. Protesters wanted the end of Vietnam. Change. It was the Establishment against the Revolutionaries (which included subgroups of intellectuals, hippies, militants, communists, anarchists).
Another major plot line for LOST was the dynamic between the Survivors (middle class establishment types) and the Others. Coincidence?
Between the two news events is the John Lennon story. Lennon was the most vocal, political and boundary pushing Beatle. He was the focal point of controversy. People were drawn to him for hope and in anger. He was an international celebrity. He once said that the Beatle were bigger than Jesus Christ, which angered most Christians throughout the world. So there was some irony about Lennon being offered the role of Jesus in a rock opera.
Jesus Christ Superstar was a rock opera produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first Broadway performance in 1971. According to Wikipedia, the musical is based very loosely on the Gospels' account of the last week of Jesus' life, beginning with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem, and ending with the crucifixion. It highlights political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus, struggles that are not in the Bible. The resurrection is not included. It therefore largely follows the form of a traditional passion play.
The work's depiction offered a free interpretation of the psychology of Jesus and the other characters. A large part of the plot focuses on the character of Judas, who is depicted as a tragic figure who is dissatisfied with the direction in which Jesus steers his disciples. Twentieth-century attitudes and sensibilities as well as contemporary slang pervade the lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the depiction of political events.
The flashbacks in LOST appear to show the preparation, motivation and coincidence of the passengers on Flight 815 departure from Sydney in a similar way to the last week of Jesus' life. After the crash, the psychology and manipulation of personal beliefs was a continual struggle for Jack, his fellow survivors, and his interaction with his captors, Ben and the Others.
In The End, Jack must come to terms with his interpersonal struggles and sacrifices himself in the same way Jesus is crucified for his followers. For some, LOST could be considered a personal passion play of Jack's character in attempting to reconcile his life choices to find a personal redeeming moment of self sacrifice; instead of trying to "fix" others, he finally "fixes" himself.
Jack Shepard was born on December 3, 1969. The most significant historical event on that day was that John Lennon is offered role of Jesus Christ in Jesus Christ Superstar.
Sandwiched between that trivia were too more significant events:
on December 2, 1969, the Boeing 747 jumbo jet made its maiden flight from Seattle to NYC;
on December 4, 1969, the Chicago police raided a Black Panther apartment in a hail of gunfire, killing several militants which caused an uproar in the city.
Why did the writers choose December 3, 1969 as Jack's "birth date?" What is the significance of that date in history?
The 747 jumbo jet was a major advancement in airplane technology. It was big enough to haul a great number of passengers, or more importantly, open its hull to international cargo flights. The age of globalization was just beginning with the advent of long distance air transportation.
The idea of man flying through the skies on wings is an ancient doctrine. Early man believed that their gods were winged creatures that descended from the heavens to give them life and guidance. Winged creatures came to symbolize change. Migrating birds signaled the change of seasons. Winged creatures also symbolize angels and demons of death.
The central focal point for the LOST mythology was Flight 815, a long distance, international flight. Coincidence?
Chicago was the hot bed for racial tension in 1969. The Democratic convention of 1968 turned into massive riots and confrontation between the police and protesters. Tensions were high. Within months in 1968, Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated by lone gunmen. Riots burned major urban areas. Protesters wanted the end of Vietnam. Change. It was the Establishment against the Revolutionaries (which included subgroups of intellectuals, hippies, militants, communists, anarchists).
Another major plot line for LOST was the dynamic between the Survivors (middle class establishment types) and the Others. Coincidence?
Between the two news events is the John Lennon story. Lennon was the most vocal, political and boundary pushing Beatle. He was the focal point of controversy. People were drawn to him for hope and in anger. He was an international celebrity. He once said that the Beatle were bigger than Jesus Christ, which angered most Christians throughout the world. So there was some irony about Lennon being offered the role of Jesus in a rock opera.
Jesus Christ Superstar was a rock opera produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first Broadway performance in 1971. According to Wikipedia, the musical is based very loosely on the Gospels' account of the last week of Jesus' life, beginning with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem, and ending with the crucifixion. It highlights political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus, struggles that are not in the Bible. The resurrection is not included. It therefore largely follows the form of a traditional passion play.
The work's depiction offered a free interpretation of the psychology of Jesus and the other characters. A large part of the plot focuses on the character of Judas, who is depicted as a tragic figure who is dissatisfied with the direction in which Jesus steers his disciples. Twentieth-century attitudes and sensibilities as well as contemporary slang pervade the lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the depiction of political events.
The flashbacks in LOST appear to show the preparation, motivation and coincidence of the passengers on Flight 815 departure from Sydney in a similar way to the last week of Jesus' life. After the crash, the psychology and manipulation of personal beliefs was a continual struggle for Jack, his fellow survivors, and his interaction with his captors, Ben and the Others.
In The End, Jack must come to terms with his interpersonal struggles and sacrifices himself in the same way Jesus is crucified for his followers. For some, LOST could be considered a personal passion play of Jack's character in attempting to reconcile his life choices to find a personal redeeming moment of self sacrifice; instead of trying to "fix" others, he finally "fixes" himself.
Friday, November 11, 2011
SHARK JUMP
When did LOST "jump the shark?"
For those who liked The Ending, the answer is never.
For those who disliked The Ending, the answer could be unclear.
For the casual viewer who got pulled into the hype of the first season, but
never was a die hard fan, the shark jumping moment could be:
A) when the smoke monster appeared;
B) when the Others appeared;
C) when the Tail Sections survivors were introduced;
D) when time travel was introduced;
E) when the Hatch imploded but Desmond survived;
F) when the fake wreckage site was found;
G) when Jack screamed "we have to go back!"
H) when the Jacob and Man in Black story arc came into full view.
For those who liked The Ending, the answer is never.
For those who disliked The Ending, the answer could be unclear.
For the casual viewer who got pulled into the hype of the first season, but
never was a die hard fan, the shark jumping moment could be:
A) when the smoke monster appeared;
B) when the Others appeared;
C) when the Tail Sections survivors were introduced;
D) when time travel was introduced;
E) when the Hatch imploded but Desmond survived;
F) when the fake wreckage site was found;
G) when Jack screamed "we have to go back!"
H) when the Jacob and Man in Black story arc came into full view.
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