Get Lost! (Lost - The Complete Third Series (DVD))

Member Name: samueltyler

Product:	Lost - The Complete Third Series (DVD)
Date:	03/03/08 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great script, fantastic to look at, intelligent telly

Disadvantages: Main characters too dominant?

There is always a problem with liking a TV show too much. As an outrageous fanboy (or fangirl) you can never sit back and relax because you are always worried that the next series will be rubbish and that your love affair will die on the vine. I had it with 'The X Files', I loved that show so much that I would have named my children after individual episodes (Tunguska Tyler sounds good), but then it failed me with its poor seasons 4 and 5 (in hindsight I re-watched all the seasons and everyone is excellent). I also felt let down by the second season of 'Lost', it was too samey and not much happened. I don't mind new questions being asked, but at least answer some of the original ones first. Therefore, when sitting down to watch season 3 I did not expect that much and I was relaxed - behold the best season of 'Lost' yet, and maybe even one of the best seasons of TV ever.

The survivors of a plane crash are still on the mysterious island as Season 3 begins, but unlike before we will see relationships change significantly. 'The Others', a group of seemingly brutal locals, are involved a lot more and we begin to learn about individual members of their group. We learn more about the island than ever before, but as normal one answer always lead to a 100 new questions. What do 'The Others' want? What is the Dharma Initiative? Season 3 sees the loyalties and motives of characters such as Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hurley, Locke, etc tested to the full. When it comes down to it will they think about themselves or the group? Characters are introduced, characters are killed - the island has become even more dangerous.

Having spent the first two seasons of 'Lost' introducing the characters and their back-story as well as revealing some mysteries about the island itself season 3 moves into overdrive. As per usual each episode follows a particular character through an event on the island e.g. discovering a hidden bunker. Whilst this is happening in the present the scenes are intercut with events in their past which are used to colour the viewers opinion of the character. This is a fantastic mechanic that has worked brilliantly throughout 'Lost' and continues here. If anything, the revelations of the past get better as they are used to really turn our opinion of certain people, one episode you love a character, the next you hate them.

In my opinion it is the main characters of Kate, Jack and Sawyer that are perhaps the weakest now as we know too much about them. The fact that these three characters are separated from the group for some of the season means that we get to know even more about them. Personally I was more interested in learning about the other characters on the island and this is something that season 3 does better than ever before. Locke is probably given the best journey this year as he learns more about the mysteries of the island than anyone else, the sections that he appears in are far more suspenseful as you never really know his true motives.

Perhaps the most impressive element of season 3 of 'Lost' is the successful integration of many new characters that add so much to the show. Desmond is a character who for all intents and purposes you suspect you would never see again after his brief stint in season 2, only for him to become integral. I was also really interested in 'The Others'. We learn so much about this group and their motives this season that each episode is a joy to watch. By introducing the likes of Ben, the leader of 'The Others', J.J. Abrams and the other creators are able to move the story on so much faster than before and this kinetic energy reinvigorates the show. Also the fact that the rivalry between the survivors and 'The Others' grows so much means that you clamber to find out what happens next.

As well as great characters and storylines 'Lost' is a beautifully shot and edited show. The complex nature of the narrative could make the show confusing, but it is handled to perfection. Available on BluRay in the States I imagine that the box set would rival many feature films in terms of cinematography. Due to each episode ending on a cliff hanger I believe that watching several at once is the best way. This means that the DVD box set gives a different experience than just watching the TV weekly. Unlike the first two seasons that end in yet another cliff-hanger season 3 does feel like a contained story that answers as many questions as it poses - what a relief.

I would say that Season 3 of 'Lost' is he strongest that the show has and is so good that people should buy or rent the first two seasons just so that they can get to see this. If you do not know anything about the previous seasons there will be too many characters and relationships that will confuse you if you jump straight in here. However, I envy those people who have yet to watch the show because when they get to season 3 they will have around 20 hours of the tensest, well written, beautifully shot, television ever made.

Sammy recommendation

Year: 2007
Cert: 15
Starring: Matthew Fox et al.
Price: Amazon uk £41.98
Play.com £41.99

Extras

There are plenty of extras on the disc that look at the way the show was made. Unfortunately you will not glean too much information about the mysteries of the island as the makers are keeping this quiet. However, the commentaries do give small hints if you listen carefully.

Summary: The best series of Lost so far