Join the Initiative! (Lost - The Complete Fifth Season (DVD))

Member Name: cyberem78

Product:	Lost - The Complete Fifth Season (DVD)
Date:	02/10/09 (39 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Exciting sci-fi drama. Great performances.

Disadvantages: Plot can get confusing.

This is the penultimate season of Lost which aired in 2009. Our castaways are now split into two main groups: one on the mysterious island and one back on the mainland.

The plot of the show now involves sci-fi elements of a high degree. The time flash phenomenon, which was introduced to us gradually throughout the past two seasons, is now in full effect. The time travel aspect is a lot to get your head around and it can sometimes be difficult to get your bearings. We are helped with inserts which state the time, date or place. When the inserts are omitted it's up to the viewer to decide: flashback, flash-forward or present time! It makes for exciting and unpredictable viewing.

This season it feels like the storyline is going at full throttle. Unlike the first season where each hour of the show seemed to play out almost in real time - we are now skipping across the years like a record needle skipping over an album. Wherever the needle catches we are on a different song. Viewer imagination is essential here but the characters are so well written that it's easy to imagine what their journey has been in the unshown periods of time.

The 'Miles centric' episode 'Some Like It Hoth' is a highlight of the season and is similar to the season one episodes in which we get to see the true heart and soul of the featured character in flashbacks - their inner spirit portrayed in the choices the character makes and the life they lead. There is also a great episode featuring the character Kate 'Whatever Happened, Happened' in which actress Evangeline Lilly acts her socks off and proves she is a talent to look out for in the future.

Another wonderful aspect to this season is the exploration of mature romantic relationships which are satisfying and which seem realistic. The writer's have done a brilliant job of being able to bring a character like Sawyer full circle in terms of maturity yet without transforming him into someone unrecognisable. It is also gratifying to see pairings at different stages of their attachment to each other.

This fifth season has also been nominated for prestigious awards at the biggest TV award ceremony the Emmys. Michael Emerson won his Emmy for Best Supporting Actor. To be considered, actors must submit one episode which showcases their talent. In this case Emerson submitted episode 12 'Dead is Dead' in which his character Ben Linus seeks redemption and forgiveness for his questionable actions in the past. Throughout the season Emerson shines and I find myself unable to take my eyes off him. His performance in the last seconds of the finale is heartbreaking.

As well as Emerson's win, the Lost team were also nominated at the Emmys for what is perhaps the biggest award of the ceremony - the 'outstanding series' award and for their writing ability for the season finale episode 'The Incident' which is both action packed and filled with emotional, shocking and puzzling scenes. One brilliant scene involving the effects of the island's special electro-magnetic forces looks like it belongs in a movie it's so well executed.

Every season of Lost has provided audiences with finales that are mind-blasting. I think season five's finale is perhaps the most game-changing and crucial two hours of Lost we've ever seen and begins to hint at the what the final answer is to the show's biggest mystery.

The DVD is realeased October 26th in the UK and in addition to the 17 episodes contains a bonus disc of extras. These include: Bloopers, deleted scenes, Lost on Location featurettes, a tour of the set with Michael Emerson, a documentary with Nestor Carbonell and audio commentaries.
HMV are also selling a special exclusive version that has an EXTRA bonus feature disc at a slightly higher price.

Summary: An unmissable sci-fi series.