The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

Searching for an alternative

By the time this column runs, the season premiere of ‘Lost’ will have already aired. Right now, I’m taking a break from a weekend of binge-watching the first through fourth seasons to be completely caught up for the biggest season yet.
‘Lost’ has become a cultural phenomenon since its inception in 2004. It has redefined television in a way few shows have, proving to the television industry that audiences are more than willing to follow a six-season long show with a single running plot line. Also, it’s about as addictive as TV shows come.
As of press time, the ‘LOST: The Premiere Event Wednesday January 21st 8/7c on ABC’ national Facebook group had over 273,000 confirmed guests. Yesterday’s premiere marked the beginning of the second to last season of the show ‘- a season that allegedly will answer some of the biggest ‘Lost’ questions.
While having ‘Lost’ back on TV for its 17-episode-long season will ensure good television for the next four months, having to wait seven long days for the next episode to air leaves ‘Lost’ fans itching about as bad as Charlie was during his heroin days. To stop chronically seeing a connection between the numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42 and your own life, here are some alternative ways to avoid ‘Lost’ withdrawal.
Watch season one of ‘Heroes.’ ‘Heroes’ borrows a lot of its inspiration from ‘Lost.’ If you like the episodic way ‘Lost’ is set up ‘- with an ongoing plot line and an addictive personality ‘- ‘Heroes’ will keep you guessing until the bitter end. Season one was the best for ‘Heroes,’ so for weeks one and two, it will keep you occupied and satisfied.
Read ‘Watchmen’ by Alan Moore. I was lucky enough to hear ‘Lost’ executive producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof speak this past summer at the San Diego Comic-Con. There, Lindelof recognized ‘Watchmen,’ Alan Moore’s masterpiece of a graphic novel from 1986, as one of the bigger inspirations for the show. He said Moore’s work showed him that a story can sometimes be best told out of sequential order, a trait which has flourished in ‘Lost’ through each episode’s flashbacks or flashforwards. Reading, absorbing, then re-reading ‘Watchmen’ should carry you through weeks three and four without you even realizing it, and possibly help you understand the intricacies of ‘Lost’ even more. Plus, ‘Watchmen’ will be hitting the silver screen in less than two months, so it will get you duly excited for the film if you aren’t already.
Watch ‘Battlestar Galactica.’ While the mini-series that sparked the re-imaging of the 1978 television show debuted on the SciFi channel in 2003, the television show did not begin being aired in the United States until early 2005. It is four seasons long and completely engrossing ‘- a science fiction show for those who don’t like science fiction. Like ‘Lost’ and ‘Heroes,’ it has an ongoing plot which somehow magically makes you continue watching the show through hours of homework and classes instead of pressing stop like you know you should. Granted, the end result leaves you in just as sorry a state as you are with ‘Lost,’ because wondering who the final Cylon models are is just about as vexing as wondering what a four-toed statue was doing on the island.
If you still have time, watch ‘Arrested Development.’ By this point in the ‘Lost’ season, every whisper on the wind or column of smoke curling for the sky will have you running for cover, and every time you hear the name ‘Jeremy’ you will double over in the agony that was season four’s cliff-hanger. ‘Arrested Development’ will give you some much needed comedic relief ‘- plus it’s just plain awesome.
Or you could always follow my lead and re-watch the entire ‘Lost’ series. I’m going to go reintroduce myself to the disaster that was Ana Lucia now. See you in another life, brother.

‘- Terri Schwartz can be reached at [email protected].

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