[HappySquared]

Any suggestions on the title? I'm thinking about the hatch?

[Darbi]

S2 in review...?

[~Beloved~]

'coming home' as in the island is home now to the characters, and also to us, becuase we are starting to understand and learn what its all about? just an idea? bit complicated lol

[HappySquared]

Now, I can't choose?

I really didn't like season 2 per se as compared to season 1. Season 1 was really interesting. Season 2 answered some questions but most of the time, I'm cluless.

[|so alive|]

Didn't like it.
Moving on.

[Darbi]

Season two seemed more like an experiment that included too many elements that the writers weren't absolutely certain how to bring everything together in a concise way.

[HappySquared]

Originally Posted by Darbi Season two seemed more like an experiment that included too many elements that the writers weren't absolutely certain how to bring everything together in a concise way.

OMG! You totally nailed it.

I don't think they havethe exact answers to what they were doing. I thought, maybe they'll think of something as the story unfolds but not concrete planning had been executed.

I mean, I love the episodes and how they've done them, but if you look at it in a broader aspect, it's not very much clear.

[Darbi]

Originally Posted by Shnicky OMG! You totally nailed it. I don't think they havethe exact answers to what they were doing. I thought, maybe they'll think of something as the story unfolds but not concrete planning had been executed. I mean, I love the episodes and how they've done them, but if you look at it in a broader aspect, it's not very much clear.

Not to mention, by the latter part of S2, it's almost like the writers forgot they had a finale they needed to write, or that they needed to start setting up plots to be expounded on in S3.

I wish I knew what happened?

[HappySquared]

They had it going good on the first part of the season, killing Shannon off and stuff.

[Darbi]

Originally Posted by Shnicky They had it going good on the first part of the season, killing Shannon off and stuff.

That was meant to richochet throughout the camp...but little became of it. I suppose Ana Lucia's murder and the way it happened was meant to be some ironic twist...instead, it was just a cheap, tacky way to kill of the character since ABC decided they weren't going to resign MR. And ensure they wrapped up HP's storyline if they decided not to bring him back for any future episodes.

[HappySquared]

I kinda thought that Ana and Libby's deaths were just out of the blue decision.
Shannon's death should've had a lot of impact and a better storyline for both the original castaways and the tailies but instead of delving into that, they used a different approach - acceptance. That perhaps made the season less enthusiastic.

[GrhmLz]

Aside from the fact that this season killed off characters i liked, the character and plot development was all over the place. The story would dramtically shift focus, just drop all together, or change without a reasonable explanation to justify it! Sorry, but the latter part of this season left me with the impression that the writers have no real plan nor goal in mind and are winging the story as they move along! Granted, writers never have "everything" set in stone and there are always twist and turns throughout the plot development; however, season one appeared to have a direction/focus! Even with all of the unanswered questions in place!

For example...let's take the "monster." Season 1 displayed an invisible-like force that could thrash loudly throughout the jungle and took up space. It carried a life-threatening presence and intimidated the crash survivors on several occasions after killing the pilot from the plane. However, somehow, the "monster" managed to transform into a "black smokey entity" floating around the jungle in season 2. Now, i realize, the black smoke first appeared in the end of season one when it first attacked Locke but at that time i was left speculating were the "monster" and "the black smoke" two different concepts alive on the island? Then, season 2 came and along with it Eko. Eko and his confrontation with the "monster." So, i'm still waiting for the explanation on how the "monster" concept started out as an invisible, life-threatening "security system" and transformed into a black smokey entity that can apparantly read the "souls" of our survivors? There has been no justification to explain the sudden shift/change.

[Darbi]

Originally Posted by GrhmLz Aside from the fact that this season killed off characters i liked, the character and plot development was all over the place. The story would dramtically shift focus, just drop all together, or change without a reasonable explanation to justify it! Sorry, but the latter part of this season left me with the impression that the writers have no real plan nor goal in mind and are winging the story as they move along! Granted, writers never have "everything" set in stone and there are always twist and turns throughout the plot development; however, season one appeared to have a direction/focus! Even with all of the unanswered questions in place!

Even with all the unanswered questions, the show had direction and focus especially in the season finale. And as it headed into S2, it carried a great deal of promise of what we would see. The "Others", why they wanted Walt, what was so special about him, why didn't they want Aaron anymore, the suggestion that there were other survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, the hatch. (for what that's been worth) Then there were the characters themselves. Walt being taken and seperated from Michael, Jin and Sun's touching, beautiful and heartbreaking good bye, Sawyer's bitter sweet departure from the island. Telling Jack about his father, but not getting to say goodbye to Kate. Kate searching for Sawyer before she left to go on the hike. Sayid and Charlie trekking down Rousseau to get Aaron back for Claire. Artz coming out of red shirt oblivion to play a pivotal part in the finale. Locke nearly being sucked down into a hole by the "monster". Walt leaving Vincent in Shannon's care. Hurley trying to assert himself last minute to stop Locke from blowing the hatches door. All these great things to be elaborated on and developed.

For example...let's take the "monster." Season 1 displayed an invisible-like force that could thrash loudly throughout the jungle and took up space. It carried a life-threatening presence and intimidated the crash survivors on several occasions after killing the pilot from the plane. However, somehow, the "monster" managed to transform into a "black smokey entity" floating around the jungle in season 2. Now, i realize, the black smoke first appeared in the end of season one when it first attacked Locke but at that time i was left speculating were the "monster" and "the black smoke" two different concepts alive on the island? Then, season 2 came and along with it Eko. Eko and his confrontation with the "monster." So, i'm still waiting for the explanation on how the "monster" concept started out as an invisible, life-threatening "security system" and transformed into a black smokey entity that can apparantly read the "souls" of our survivors? There has been no justification to explain the sudden shift/change.

You know, I don't have an issue with the "monster" be it in invisible form, or soul reading black smoke form...it's a cool entity that unfortunately got over looked this season. Eko facing the monster head on was the single coolest scene filmed this season. The fact that it was Eko's flashback made it all the more intriguing. However, the simple fact that neither Locke, Jack, Kate, Charlie, Hurley or Eko ever mentioned it again...oh, wait, Locke did mention it to Kate to ask what she thought it was, and what she thought Jack thought it was...but that was it. Not another word. Why didn't someone else have an interfacing with the "monster"...Sawyer, Sayid, Claire, Sun, Jin? Would it have made any difference? Somehow, I doubt it.

[GrhmLz]

Originally Posted by Darbi Even with all the unanswered questions, the show had direction and focus especially in the season finale. And as it headed into S2, it carried a great deal of promise of what we would see. The "Others", why they wanted Walt, what was so special about him, why didn't they want Aaron anymore, the suggestion that there were other survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, the hatch. (for what that's been worth) Then there were the characters themselves. Walt being taken and seperated from Michael, Jin and Sun's touching, beautiful and heartbreaking good bye, Sawyer's bitter sweet departure from the island. Telling Jack about his father, but not getting to say goodbye to Kate. Kate searching for Sawyer before she left to go on the hike. Sayid and Charlie trekking down Rousseau to get Aaron back for Claire. Artz coming out of red shirt oblivion to play a pivotal part in the finale. Locke nearly being sucked down into a hole by the "monster". Walt leaving Vincent in Shannon's care. Hurley trying to assert himself last minute to stop Locke from blowing the hatches door. All these great things to be elaborated on and developed.

Exactly, and that was the beauty that enveloped season one as a whole. It made the season finale intriguing and gripping because the focus was on all the characters. All of their connections to the island played a significant part in the unfolding of the story no matter how minor/vast their roles were at the given time. The balancing of the ensemble cast was at it's best!

You know, I don't have an issue with the "monster" be it in invisible form, or soul reading black smoke form...it's a cool entity that unfortunately got over looked this season. Eko facing the monster head on was the single coolest scene filmed this season. The fact that it was Eko's flashback made it all the more intriguing. However, the simple fact that neither Locke, Jack, Kate, Charlie, Hurley or Eko ever mentioned it again...oh, wait, Locke did mention it to Kate to ask what she thought it was, and what she thought Jack thought it was...but that was it. Not another word. Why didn't someone else have an interfacing with the "monster"...Sawyer, Sayid, Claire, Sun, Jin? Would it have made any difference? Somehow, I doubt it.

Hmmm...i guess for me the change was too drastic because without a clear explanation as to what the "monster" is, it left me confused. Danielle explained at the end of season one that the "monster" took the form of a "security system." That makes sense because it instantly killed the pilot. But then season 2 comes along and the monster is portrayed completely different. And i'm left asking myself "Well, which is it? Is the "monster" an invisible force that thrashes through the jungle loudly or is it a puff of black smoke that jumps out of the ground"? Because without an explanation, the black smoke and the invisible monster appear like two different concepts the writers are trying to mesh into one. No longer do we hear the loud, invisible thrashing through the jungle...it's like the writers just dropped that concept because it wasn't "cool" anymore. I hope i'm explaining this right...but it's like the monster has been replaced with a "new one."

The black smoke and Eko's confrontation with it was intriguing but it just looked like a new concept compared to what we were introduced to in the pilot episode.
And you did bring up another good point...why didn't anyone else have more confrontations with the "monster"? In season one, it was roaming freely and very close by to the fusies side of the island...we even saw it thrashing through the tops of the trees a couple times. I mean, "it" seems to have become awefully quiet for something that is suppose to be acting as a security system? It also would have been interesting to know if the "tailies" had ever encountered anything like it on their side of the island? Was that really the first time Eko saw/heard it? Maybe it was just the first time he had a direct encounter with it like Locke did?

[Darbi]

Yeah, it would have been fascinating to see if the "Tallies" had their own experience with the "monster" in whatever form it took. Even if we didn't see the actual incident, Ana Lucia and Jack talking about it would have been intriguing if for no other reason to know what they each thought it was, and why it was so gone quiet so suddenly.

Also, the monster very well could have come up in conversation when Locke and Mr. Eko were on Mr. Eko's adventure and they discovered the Pearl station. Lord knows there was enough strange phenomenon transpiring between the two with interlocking dreams and exchange of faiths.

Eh...

Danielle explained at the end of season one that the "monster" took the form of a "security system." That makes sense because it instantly killed the pilot. But then season 2 comes along, and the monster is portrayed completely different. And i'm left asking myself "Well, which is it?" Is the "monster" an invisible force that thrashes through the jungle loudly or is it a puff of black smoke that jumps out of the ground? Because without an explanation, the black smoke and the invisible monster appear like two different concepts the writers are trying to mesh into one. No longer do we hear the loud, invisible thrashing through the jungle...it's like the writers just dropped that concept because it wasn't "cool" anymore. I hope i'm explaining this right...but it's like the monster has been replaced with a "new one."

I guess we just see the "monster" and any explaination of it's true form differently. Sure, I want to know what it is, but the "monster" very well may be one of the only mysteries of the island I'm more than willing to wait until the series end for an explaination in absolute terms. As long as it continues to be a part of the show, integrated in a way that the characters have to respond to it, or we learn a little bit more about it's special properties via the characters...then I'm all for it remaining a mystery.