BY KEVIN CARR
In preparation for the release of “LOST: The Complete Fourth Season,” producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse took some time this past week to answer some questions about the past, present and future of the show. Here’s some of the things they had to say regarding…
The return of “dead” characters: “As for Jin, we’ll definitely be seeing more of him in season five… but as we’re moving through past, present and future… who knows WHEN we’ll see him.” (Damon Lindelof)
What you can find on the DVDs: “The DVDs are definitely part and parcel of the show. We’ve always thought of an episode of ‘Lost’ playing on several different levels… they’re almost designed for repeat viewings…. I sometimes think about how frustrating it would’ve been to read the Harry Potter books ONE CHAPTER AT A TIME once a week. I’d pretty much kill myself.” (Damon Lindelof)
Flahsbacks and flashforwards in the upcoming season: “The fact that the audience embraced switching gears on the show from REVERSE to DRIVE emboldened us to get a little more loose with how we drive (as long as we’re never in neutral!) the story. The cool thing about Season Five is that it takes a little while for your brain to fully absorb how the story is unfolding.” (Damon Lindelof) “There will still be flashbacks and flashforwards but we are not limiting ourselves to those ways of transitioning between stories. We still love doing them and will when appropriate. There are still some cool flashbacks left to tell for our characters.” (Carlton Cuse)
Christian Shepherd (Jack’s dad): “I think its safe to say you’ll be seeing Christian again in Season Five. And what’s up with those white tennis shoes he was wearing back in Season One?” (Damon Lindelof)
The ever-changing ensemble: “I think everyone, writers and fans alike, feels the show is at its best when our characters are together… but the fact of the matter is that the story is constantly twisting and turning to keep them apart. Let’s face it — Absence makes the heart grow fonder… but there’s nothing sweeter than a reunion. All we’re willing to say at this point is that if we were to spend the ENTIRE duration of Season Five with the Oceanic Six trying to get back to the island, we are fully aware that the audience would strangle us.” (Damon Lindelof)
Viral campaigns: “We consider the viral campaigns to just be additive and non-essential. Our rule of thumb is you should not need to watch anything but the mothership — the network show — to have a complete understanding (or at least as much as that is possible) of the show.” (Carlton Cuse)
A possible feature film: “We’ve always felt that the show should definitively end the same place it started… on television. To bring our characters to some sort of cliffhanger where the audience gets none of the answers that they really care about and then say, ‘Now give us ten bucks. Buy some popcorn and we’ll give you the rest!’ would pretty much be the worst thing ever.” (Damon Lindelof)
Answers to all of the show’s questions: “As we roll into the end of season 5 and certainly in season 6 the show will definitely be much more in answer mode.” (Carlton Cuse)
“LOST: The Complete Fourth Season” is available on both standard DVD and Blu-ray.