Formspring Question # 47--Contrarian Edition

Give me an unpopular opinion about LOST, Battlestar Galactica, and Doctor Who.

Lost--I really liked the finale. Others have complained it did not give any answers to the series’ questions, but ultimately, faith won out over science. Faith does not require answers. I can accept that.

As a bonus, I did not mind Nikki and Paulo. Michelle Rodriguez as Ana-Lucia Cortez was a fine addition to the cast, too.

Battlestar Galactica--I am not sure I have an unpopular opinion about the show. Were a lot of fans really upset about the ’God did it” finale? If so, I liked it, so that will have to count.

Doctor Who--Christopher Eccleston made a better Doctor than David Tennant. Eccleston played the part of a melancholy loner racked with survivor’s guilt perfectly. Tennant often came across as a whiny emo. Maybe the problem is Tennant had to drag out the persona three years longer than Eccleston, but regardless, that is how I feel.

Lynch mobs of teenage girls are now forming all over the United Kingdom to come after me now…

Formspring Question # 28--Nature v. Nurture Edition

You've written a lot about LOST dealing with faith and reason, but not much about its nature v. nurture argument. what do you think about that?

I have not talked about it because after the first season, the show did not, either. It was only during the first season the Lostaways were really roughing it like plane crash survivors would. In the second season, they had the hatch and a mysterious food drop. By the third, they had discovered the barracks with all its amenities. Eventually, environmental concerns became less important to the plot.

If I am reading your question right, you want to know whether I think the Lostaways were corrupted by society and fond redemption as noble savages or became corrupted y their island experiences.

The writers seemed to believe the former. Jacob claimed to have brought them from unhappy lives in the civilized world for a purpose on the island. We are supposed to think their behavior there, which involved lots of cold blooded murder, served as redemption for some characters 9Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Locke, and Juliet among others.) while condemning others for the same type behavior. (Michael and Ana-Lucia.) If there was any logic to it, I missed it. Lost was written by atheists to have a spiritual ending, so my expectations were low as to how thought out the resolution would be.

Personally speaking, I do not buy into the noble savage concept. Man has a sinful nature that must be resisted. So it is the nurture part that is more important in how one behaves. Civilization is a hot meal and a good night’s sleep away from total barbarism.

The corrupt, sinful nature is a constant among everyone. It is the nurturing that is different. Nurturing is how other people treat you ad how you react to that treatment which determines exactly how much of your corrupt nature gets to run on a long leash.

I will even drop my usual cynicism and say experiencing bad treatment does not necessarily produce bad people. Yes, there is a good chance if one was abused as a child, one will grow up to be an abuser, too, in order to gain “revenge” for pain suffering, but the abused child experience also be a lesson on what not do. I am not a psychologist, so someone else with better knowledge should feel free to chime in with better insight. I am speaking from the personal experience of watching alcoholic family members destroy themselves resulting in a nearly complete disinterest in alcohol on my part.

The uncertainty of how one’s treatment will affect one’s attitude must be why there is still an eternal debate over the issue. I will not be able to resolve it in a blog post within the context of a television show or otherwise.

Formspring Question # 28--Nature v. Nurture Edition

You've written a lot about LOST dealing with faith and reason, but not much about its nature v. nurture argument. what do you think about that?

I have not talked about it because after the first season, the show did not, either. It was only during the first season the Lostaways were really roughing it like plane crash survivors would. In the second season, they had the hatch and a mysterious food drop. By the third, they had discovered the barracks with all its amenities. Eventually, environmental concerns became less important to the plot.

If I am reading your question right, you want to know whether I think the Lostaways were corrupted by society and fond redemption as noble savages or became corrupted y their island experiences.

The writers seemed to believe the former. Jacob claimed to have brought them from unhappy lives in the civilized world for a purpose on the island. We are supposed to think their behavior there, which involved lots of cold blooded murder, served as redemption for some characters 9Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Locke, and Juliet among others.) while condemning others for the same type behavior. (Michael and Ana-Lucia.) If there was any logic to it, I missed it. Lost was written by atheists to have a spiritual ending, so my expectations were low as to how thought out the resolution would be.

Personally speaking, I do not buy into the noble savage concept. Man has a sinful nature that must be resisted. So it is the nurture part that is more important in how one behaves. Civilization is a hot meal and a good night’s sleep away from total barbarism.

The corrupt, sinful nature is a constant among everyone. It is the nurturing that is different. Nurturing is how other people treat you ad how you react to that treatment which determines exactly how much of your corrupt nature gets to run on a long leash.

I will even drop my usual cynicism and say experiencing bad treatment does not necessarily produce bad people. Yes, there is a good chance if one was abused as a child, one will grow up to be an abuser, too, in order to gain “revenge” for pain suffering, but the abused child experience also be a lesson on what not do. I am not a psychologist, so someone else with better knowledge should feel free to chime in with better insight. I am speaking from the personal experience of watching alcoholic family members destroy themselves resulting in a nearly complete disinterest in alcohol on my part.

The uncertainty of how one’s treatment will affect one’s attitude must be why there is still an eternal debate over the issue. I will not be able to resolve it in a blog post within the context of a television show or otherwise.

Thirty Days of Lost # 30--And In Conclusion

"Everybody dies sometime, kiddo."--Christian Shephard
We end the Thirty Days of Lost Challenge.

Thirty Days of Lost # 30--And In Conclusion

"Everybody dies sometime, kiddo."--Christian Shephard
We end the Thirty Days of Lost Challenge.

Thirty Days of Lost # 29--What Are You Going to Do Now That Lost is Over?

All things come and go. It is best not to get desperately attached to anything.

Thirty Days of Lost # 29--What Are You Going to Do Now That Lost is Over?

All things come and go. It is best not to get desperately attached to anything.

Thirty Days of Lost # 28--Favorite Lost Related Item

Sheila Kelley, who played geophysicist Zoe on a few episode in the final season, wrote a book on pole dancing as good exercise for women. I have never read it, but I wholeheartedly endorse the idea it espouses.

Thirty Days of Lost # 28--Favorite Lost Related Item

Sheila Kelley, who played geophysicist Zoe on a few episode in the final season, wrote a book on pole dancing as good exercise for women. I have never read it, but I wholeheartedly endorse the idea it espouses.

Thirty Days of Lost # 27--The One Thing You Will Miss Most About Lost

I will miss the philosophical conflicts of faith v. reason and good v. evil the most. You do not get to see subjects like that dealt with very deeply on television period, much less the dumbed down network offerings that have to appeal to the masses.

Not to oversell it, mind you. Lost was a Philosophy 101 term paper, not a doctoral thesis in ethics or existentialism. but since most of television is on the level of an eighth grade remedial learning class, that is saying something.

Did I have problems with the conclusions drawn? A few.

First, I do not think it was well defined why some characters found redemption when others did not. Sayid had more blood on his hands than either Michael or Ana-Lucia, yet he wound up going to paradise while they did not.

Chalk it up to two atheists, Damon Lindelof and Charlton Cuse, putting their warped vision of religion on screen. Considering that most everyone in the church during the climax scene had found true love, the writers may have been trying to say that finding love is the ultimate redemption. I would rather not think of it that way. Boone and Locke were there without any true love, so there is a point in my favor.

Second, They had set up Jack as the man of science and Locke as the man of faith with the apparent idea they were going to switchover the course of the series. Jack became a man of faith, perhaps a little to conveniently, but Locke never really changed. I do appreciate Jack had a more reasoned, less blind faith than did Locke, evidenced by the fact jack did not royally screw up everything he touched while expecting everything to magically work out in the end. Jack developed a mature faith. It was about the only mature aspect of the character.

This might be the last time I get to mention it, but the Calvinist theme of predestination ran heavily through the series. Predestination in particular was dealt with in regards to the immutability of pat events and the universe “course correcting” to ensure future events happen the way they presupposed to. Very cool and theologically sound.

Thirty Days of Lost # 27--The One Thing You Will Miss Most About Lost

I will miss the philosophical conflicts of faith v. reason and good v. evil the most. You do not get to see subjects like that dealt with very deeply on television period, much less the dumbed down network offerings that have to appeal to the masses.

Not to oversell it, mind you. Lost was a Philosophy 101 term paper, not a doctoral thesis in ethics or existentialism. but since most of television is on the level of an eighth grade remedial learning class, that is saying something.

Did I have problems with the conclusions drawn? A few.

First, I do not think it was well defined why some characters found redemption when others did not. Sayid had more blood on his hands than either Michael or Ana-Lucia, yet he wound up going to paradise while they did not.

Chalk it up to two atheists, Damon Lindelof and Charlton Cuse, putting their warped vision of religion on screen. Considering that most everyone in the church during the climax scene had found true love, the writers may have been trying to say that finding love is the ultimate redemption. I would rather not think of it that way. Boone and Locke were there without any true love, so there is a point in my favor.

Second, They had set up Jack as the man of science and Locke as the man of faith with the apparent idea they were going to switchover the course of the series. Jack became a man of faith, perhaps a little to conveniently, but Locke never really changed. I do appreciate Jack had a more reasoned, less blind faith than did Locke, evidenced by the fact jack did not royally screw up everything he touched while expecting everything to magically work out in the end. Jack developed a mature faith. It was about the only mature aspect of the character.

This might be the last time I get to mention it, but the Calvinist theme of predestination ran heavily through the series. Predestination in particular was dealt with in regards to the immutability of pat events and the universe “course correcting” to ensure future events happen the way they presupposed to. Very cool and theologically sound.

Thirty Days of Lost # 26--Favorite Lost Romance

I have made it clear Desmond and Penny had the only mature relationship on the series, so for the sake of variety, how about a tribute to them all, whether I cared for the relationships or not?

Thirty Days of Lost # 26--Favorite Lost Romance

I have made it clear Desmond and Penny had the only mature relationship on the series, so for the sake of variety, how about a tribute to them all, whether I cared for the relationships or not?

Thirty Days of Lost # 25--Favorite Lost Actress

I have to go with Elizabeth Mitchell. Not only does she play Juliet, my favorite female character, but she has been enjoyable in guests spots throughout television in recent years and has had a couple memorable movie roles.

Besides, she made you believe a erudite fertility doctor could fall in love with an uneducated, scraggly con man. That took talent.

Thirty Days of Lost # 25--Favorite Lost Actress

I have to go with Elizabeth Mitchell. Not only does she play Juliet, my favorite female character, but she has been enjoyable in guests spots throughout television in recent years and has had a couple memorable movie roles.

Besides, she made you believe a erudite fertility doctor could fall in love with an uneducated, scraggly con man. That took talent.

Thirty Days of Lost # 24--Favorite Lost Actor

My favorite Lost actor is Michael Emerson.

In his acceptance speech for winning the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series last year, he said he was eternally grateful what was supposed to be a short stint as Ben Linus turned into the role of a lifetime. I am eternally grateful myself.

Ben had a way of yanking your emotions from hating him to sympathizing, then back again, often within a span of a few minutes. It is a testament to Emerson’s skill as an actor he could pull that off convincingly for four seasons.

Like Ralph Fiennes, who has not been able to play any other character as far as I am concerned after portraying the evil Nazi commandant in Schindler’s List, Emerson may never be able to play anyone else but Ben. But I am eager to give him every chance.

Thirty Days of Lost # 24--Favorite Lost Actor

My favorite Lost actor is Michael Emerson.

In his acceptance speech for winning the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series last year, he said he was eternally grateful what was supposed to be a short stint as Ben Linus turned into the role of a lifetime. I am eternally grateful myself.

Ben had a way of yanking your emotions from hating him to sympathizing, then back again, often within a span of a few minutes. It is a testament to Emerson’s skill as an actor he could pull that off convincingly for four seasons.

Like Ralph Fiennes, who has not been able to play any other character as far as I am concerned after portraying the evil Nazi commandant in Schindler’s List, Emerson may never be able to play anyone else but Ben. But I am eager to give him every chance.

Thirty Days of Lost # 23--The One Thing That Puzzles You the Most About Lost

Only one? Geez.

How about this: Sayid, a devout Muslim, was forced baptized in the first episode of the sixth season in order to bring him back to life. He spent time in purgatory and was waiting in a Christian church to enter what is, while still somewhat ambiguous, the Christian concept of heaven. But no Muslims have gotten upset over it.

All three of those things are acutely blasphemous to Islamic beliefs, but no one has said anything. Trey parker and Matt Stone put a cartoon version of Muhammed in a bear uit, covering him completely to the point you have to take their wor for it he is supposed to be in there, and they receive death threats. Damon Lidelof and Carlton Cuse forcibly convert Sayid to Christianity and there is nothing but cricets chirping.

So what gives? Selective rage? Muslims do not watch Lost? I dunno, but I would think Sayid's fate would have been a bigger deal.

Thirty Days of Lost # 23--The One Thing That Puzzles You the Most About Lost

Only one? Geez.

How about this: Sayid, a devout Muslim, was forced baptized in the first episode of the sixth season in order to bring him back to life. He spent time in purgatory and was waiting in a Christian church to enter what is, while still somewhat ambiguous, the Christian concept of heaven. But no Muslims have gotten upset over it.

All three of those things are acutely blasphemous to Islamic beliefs, but no one has said anything. Trey parker and Matt Stone put a cartoon version of Muhammed in a bear uit, covering him completely to the point you have to take their wor for it he is supposed to be in there, and they receive death threats. Damon Lidelof and Carlton Cuse forcibly convert Sayid to Christianity and there is nothing but cricets chirping.

So what gives? Selective rage? Muslims do not watch Lost? I dunno, but I would think Sayid's fate would have been a bigger deal.

Thirty Days of Lost # 22--Character You Would Most Likely Be Friends With

I would probably be pals with Hurley. He is a decent guy, a science fiction geek, and has led a life of harshly bad luck. We would have lots to talk about.