So unfortunately true. The lack of character interaction weakened the show this season. One other thing that hasn't been talked about much was the disappearance of Michael and Walt this season. I could be completely off base with this, but I don't think Michael was originally intended to be gone as long as he was, if at all. Behind the scene politics may have forced the writers to use that as a cover, but I get the sense, that along with how Ana Lucia died wasn't how the writers meant for events to unfold.

they're bringing in those 3 new characters...2 women, 1 guy? And, also on a side note, i understand that "death" will occur but it shouldn't be on a regular basis every season. How can we invest an interest in characters when we know they run the risk of being underdeveloped and disposed of? Shannon's death was unnecessary IMO, Ana's development was rushed/changed at the end to get her out of there, and Libby was seriously underdeveloped this season!

oh, i definitely agree with your speculations regarding the whole Walt/Michael storyline resolution! My hunch is that the network's failed attempts to reach acceptable contract negotiations for a season 3, with Harold, led to Michael's long absence and the quick "resolution" of Michael/Walt. I guess it's still up in the air as to whether or not Harold will recur as Michael next season at all but for now it appears like their storyline was cut off/rushed for the same reasons Ana/Libby's were. My distinct impression is that the storyline was not originally planned out for Michael to shoot Ana/Libby, to reunite with Walt, and leave the island free and clear! We got no clear answer as to why the "Others" needed/wanted Walt in the first place! Henry just hinted to us "we got more than we bargained for with Walt." Well, why and what does that mean? Yeah, to me, it looks like at the last minute ABC network left the writers with no choice but to throw in a quick resolution for Michelle and Cynthia's characters so they meshed their stories into the story of Harold's character because they needed an immediate way to write Michael out too!

And just when Micheal and Walt's characters were primed for becoming a much more intregal part of the show. I have no doubt Walt was special, but why would the "Others" honestly return him since they went to such great lengths in taking him, destroying the raft and leaving Michael, Jin and Sawyer for dead?

Let's say that Ana Lucia's death was planned from the beginning. Granted, I have more than a few issues with what the writers didn't do with her character up until that time, but Micheal didn't have to be the person who killed her. It very well could have been Libby, (we all had our suspicions about her being an "Other") or Henry himself. Michael could have cold-cocked Ana Lucia in the head, simply knocking her unconscious then throwing her into the armoury. Her death very well could have come in the season finale by ambush when Sayid, Jin and Sun ported where the "Others" were supposed to be. I don't know...just throwing out some ideas on how Micheal's character could have still been redeemed if he got back to camp, and it would have given him even more motivation in trying to get Walt back by taking a stronger interest in how the Losties approached the "Others" in an more organized way. I'm just trying to keep people from being killed off unnecessarily and to provide a stronger tie into the overall storyline arc for certain characters.

Let's say that Ana Lucia's death was planned from the beginning. Granted, I have more than a few issues with what the writers didn't do with her character up until that time, but Micheal didn't have to be the person who killed her. It very well could have been Libby, (we all had our suspicions about her being an "Other") or Henry himself.

But that wouldn't magnify Michael's betrayal on them.