OK, let's go one more round in the Film.com version of the dunk tank.

After an article I wrote brought out a few problems I had with one of my favorite series, Lost, we had quite a few responses -- some positive, some negative.

A response to their concerns is only fair:

"I'm sorry things are getting TOO complicated for you ... soaring over your head like the broken frame of flight 815. Maybe you should stick to Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy." --schmelldoc

So you think that it takes fewer brain cells to watch Desperate or Grey's? Wait until those message boards find out about you. I've been a fan of Lost since the beginning, and a typo aside concerning how many toes on the statue, I've keep up with the show. Yet even people who have been keeping up find the series is going into areas that seem overly complicated and unnecessary to advance the story.

"Lost started out well and kept us entertained for a while. It was their ability to tell a good story that worked so well and now they seem to be LOST. Stretching our imagination until we get LOST. After watching the first few episodes this season, I had to quit." --mrcardpro

I believe the writers can still spin a pretty good story, the characters keep getting better -- well, I'll admit I'm getting a little tired of Jack -- and the dialogue has never been better. It's the mythology that seems to be tripping them up the most. When I read that former viewers like sapphirechild has given up on the show, it concerns me. The last thing I want is for Lost to turn into The X-Files, choking on the mythology while forgetting why people started watching in the beginning.

"I'm a die hard fan and have seen every episode. I can't believe you would say that it sucks. I've never been more in love with this show!" --beavek

Just because I acknowledge the problems that even long-time fans have with this show, doesn't mean I personally think that Lost sucks. I'll still watch every episode to the end.

"I guess the author of this article wouldn't get beyond five pages of a Robert Ludlum novel. And Ben kills Locke -- recurring themes make stories stronger, not weaker. Jack's addiction -- that was more of a bi-product of depression than anything. They made it back, so he's happy." --dtimoske

Jack happy? What series have you been watching? As for Ben killing Locke over and over as a theme that makes the stories stronger -- it's a take-off of South Park's killing Kenny. Even they gave up on that. Robert Ludlum's a good read, and I don't even need a chart to figure out who's doing what.

"How can one criticize the donkey wheel? That's like saying 'Oh, I didn't like Superman cause the dude could fly.'" --dtimoske

I'm not opposed to the time travel, but dude, a freaking donkey wheel? I think they can come up with something a little better than a wooden wheel. Worse, a rickety wheel that can get jammed up and make the island jump around in time like a barefoot boy on asphalt.

"People like YOU are the reason why I can't hang around people who are not completely invested in the show ... leave the 'thinking' shows to the grown-ups." --twd277

Settle down, twd277. It's just a TV show. As for leaving the island, I signed on to the Lost cruise on Day 1 and I'm no quitter. In fact, I'm so mired in the mythology, I wake up screaming "course correction, course correction." And what a correction it's going to take after -- SPOILER ALERT (stop reading if you haven't seen last week's episode yet) -- last week's episode where Sayid killed the young Ben Linus. Talk about a major rip in the timeline! And that doesn't even take into account the fact that it shoots Sayid's redemption all to Hades. Before you feel the need to "rip out my hair because I can't stand your constant whining about something which you clearly have NO IDEA about," yes, I know full well that Mrs. Hawking has already told us that the universe or fate "has a way of course correcting." That's why the people who are always supposed to die expire and those who are supposed to live somehow spring back to life. It doesn't mean the way the Lost writers play it always makes sense, or doesn't get tiresome at times. See? I can have a thought or two.

"I watch Lost religiously. I'm psychotic about this show. But I HATE the time travel elements" --RobGrizzly

I feel your pain. If you're going to romp around in the time shift playground, you have to be careful about some rules. There are rules of engagement, rules about not messing with the timeline, or the Lost premise that apparently you can do what you want, because fate is always going to course correct.

"As I read this article I would have to agree with most of it. I have never missed an episode. What I see in these comments is the very vocal minority. Those who have watched without fully understanding or linking the inconsistencies. I am fully invested. I can not NOT watch the show." --EkoKills

I agree with many of EkoKills' points, such as why those who left the island must come back, but not Walt. "Why did Walt not have to return to the island to prevent bad things from happening? Why did Sun not jump with the originals?" the writer asks. Damon Lindelof, one of the show's creators and driving force, told me a couple of years ago that Lost was all about redemption, and that once a person is redeemed, they are released. In most cases, that release was death, but maybe Walt has also been released. The island has obvious Egyptian symbolism regarding death and rebirth. And we have the children angle that has been languishing a bit lately. Where are the stolen children? Why can't children be born on the island after Ethan? I've got plenty of questions. I'm just looking for answers after a considerable investment of my time.

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