No new LOST episode last week (boooo), hence no new posts her for a few days. Since I can't think of anything new to discuss, I'm going to tackle The Numbers today.
For a quick rundown of every time they are brought up, see the Lostpedia article.
From the same article:
It has been revealed in The Lost Experience that these six numbers are the core values of the Valenzetti Equation, a mathematical formula designed to predict the end of humanity. The numbers in actuality are said to represent human and environmental factors in the equation (given numerical form), though their precise meaning is uncertain. One purpose of the DHARMA Initiative was to change the factors leading to humanity's demise, which will be indicated by an alteration in at least one of the human/environmental factors - i.e. the numbers. However, in all its years of research, the Initiative failed to reach its goal. Despite much research and manipulation of the equation's values, the end result was always the numbers.
If anyone can translate what that all means, I'd be appreciative.
Bottom line, The Numbers are the highest-profile, least-explained mystery in the show. It seems that Hurley's entire character is based on The Numbers. The Swan hatch (and subsequently all of Season 2) was based around The Numbers.
And then the Swan blew up, and it seems they disappeared.
Sure, random numbers show up from time to time, but that just seems like the writers messing with us.
To cap off the frustration-fest, here is a long quote from Damon Lindelof (one of the LOST producers):
There are some questions that are very engaging and interesting, and then there are other questions that we have no interest whatsoever in answering. We call it the midi-chlorian debate, because at a certain point, explaining something mystical demystifies it. To try and have a character come and say, "Here is what the numbers mean," actually makes every usage of the numbers up to that point less interesting.
You can actually watch Star Wars now, and when Obi-Wan talks about the Force to Luke for the first time, it loses its luster because the Force has been explained as, sort of, little biological agents that are in your blood stream. So you go, "Oh, I liked Obi-Wan's version a lot better." Which in the case of our show is, "The numbers are bad luck, they keep popping up in Hurley's life, they appear on the island." ... But if you're watching the show for a detailed explanation of what the numbers mean—and I'm not saying you won't see more of them—then you will be disappointed by the end of season six.
Well. I wish the producers would give us a list of mysteries they aren't going to bother explaining so I can stop worrying about them.
And the problem with the mitochlorian thing, Damon, is that it is terrible. Lucas didn't make fans mad merely because he explained the Force, he made them mad because the explanation was totally lame.
Foreshadowing of your own future? :)
I sense much lameness in you, Damon. And the numbers - I sense lameness in them, too.
ReplyDeleteThe producers are like magicians who whine about something not being magical if they give away the trick, but I think it's more they feel they'll lose their power over the audience if they explain how it's done. Or they don't have an explanation. Or it's a lame explanation. A lame, textbook-like explanation.
Bottom line: l-a-m-e.