Three more seasons of yelling at the television
May 7th, 2007
According to this article in Variety, “Lost” producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have signed on for two more seasons worth of viewing, spread out across three seasons. (Argh!) Apparently, they only wanted to do two more seasons, so the final three seasons will be 16 episodes each instead of 24, and will air beginning in January, and will run consecutively. So, at least none of this “here’s half a season, now wait until next year for the rest” that they pulled on us this year.
But let’s not lose sight of the big picture here: can I really stand three more seasons? I mean, really…I think we all know they could have written it as less padded two year series. And yet, I remain hooked. Why? Cause I don’t want to miss it when it gets really good.
I think it’s a great strategy (even if it’s a little late in coming) that makes me think not all tv execs are complete idiots. Imagine a world in which every tv series has it’s own natural lifespan, and doesn’t exist to be wrung dry.
“I think for story-based shows like ‘Lost,’ as opposed to franchise-based shows like ‘ER’ or ‘CSI,’ the audience wants to know when the story is going to be over,” Cuse wrote. “When J.K. Rowling announced that there would be seven ‘Harry Potter’ books, it gave the readers a clear sense of exactly what their investment would be. We want our audience to do the same.”
As for the rest of this season (um…my Google Calendar says there are only three episodes left — oh yeah, it’s in there!) things will likely take yet another aggravating (for me, anyway) unexpected turn:
Details of the plot are under wraps, but a person who has read the script described it as a major shakeup to the plot.
“It changes everything,” the person said.
Damn it.