You Had Me at "Lost"

I used to not watch any television. Now I watch far too much. But all of that mind-pulping, eye-glazing time is well spent because it brought me to "Lost."

What a brilliant show! Not since Twin Peaks has there been a more convoluted, non-linear story arc on television. The writing is impeccable. The characters are well-developed and engaging. The tension from episode to episode can be sleep-disturbing. And the story depth is unmatched. After the second season I was terrified that maybe the writers were just throwing in new story elements willy-nilly, with no thought to pay-off or narrative development. For the most part that's proven to be completely untrue. While there are a few details that seem to have been abandoned, most things have managed to tie into what is becoming a masterful twine ball of a story.

I'll sum up the story for those of you that haven't started watching without giving anything away. Something happens to a bunch of people, and after a time they think they have it worked out. They don't. A whole mess of crazy stuff happens to them. They process it and think they have it worked out. They don't. They break into smaller groups, hoping to mull over and work out their new circumstances. This fails miserably, leading them further down the rabbit hole, deeper into confusion and crazed in-fighting. Then, a Eureka moment! Something makes sense. A light in the darkness. They finally understand what's going on!

Except they don't.

That's the sort of ride you're in for once you plug your brain into the "Lost" universe. It's a frustrating, aggravating, and delightfully confusing experience interspersed with epiphanous periods of deep understanding. If you're a TV junkie, you need to add lost to your roster. If you don't watch television, make an exception for this show. If you don't own a television, break into your neighbors house while they're on vacation and watch the series on DVD. Do whatever you have to do...knock over a Best Buy if need be. Just watch the show.

It's the best 46 minutes (skipping commercials) on television.