Yeah, I want to know too! What was the secret? What was the deal with the island? Wikipedia's page for Lost merely confuses me...but I really want to know...or did the show just totally progress beyond the point where explanations were possible?

I haven't seen a single episode either.

I loved the ending.

Sure, there are plot holes. The series has always had plot holes. The reason I watched it was for the masterful suspense and the OMFGs! and the gut wrenching, and the finale deliver on all three, for me. I can live with the unanswered questions. The series was always about the journey rather than the destination.

I'm looking forward to going back and watching the whole series on DVD now.

LOST is definitely worth the final payoff, particularly if you are a thinking person. Sure, they don't tie everything up in a neat bundle with all answers in place, and a warm, fuzzy feeling, but what you get along the way, and in the final moments is worth the ride.

I watched every episode from day one. I did not read any of the on-line extras, or visit the various official LOST websites. Everything I know about the show and the characters was on the TV screen. I like that. I'm sure I don't know every detail of every minute of life of even my closest family members, and couldn't/shouldn't have hoped to know it all about these characters. Watch it (unless you are of the mindset that every dot must have an 'i' under it - in which case, you're bound to be (at least) mildly disappointed).

LOST is all about the characters. If you're looking for technobabble explanations for all the questions the series raies, you'll be disappointed. If you like to explore great characters with depth and flaws, and want to see a TV series go out on a high note, check it out.

The ending was weird and kinda sucked.

Just to provide a dissenting opinion to that expressed thus far.

But that doesn't mean the series is an entire loss.

You are not alone. I haven't seen it either. I certainly understand about disappointing endings to TV shows, but I think that usually happens for one of two reasons. Either the network canceled the show early, or the writers were just making it up as they went along without a clear idea of the over all arc.

I did not like the ending and am still not sure I completely understand it. I DO know that the ending did not explain many of the mysteries that have kept us awake for 6 years. It only answered some of the questions of the last 2/3 of the last season.

You'll get different responses, but I liked it. It was a satisfying ending for the characters and delivered all the answers I needed and expected. There's a lot left unresolved, but that's all part of the show...

I loved it, but it's not for everyone (certainly, people hate it and that's vali, too). My advice would be to watch the pilot on DVD. If you like what you're watching, continue on. Be advised going in, it's not so much about the answers as it is the characters, and you should be alright.

I like stories about characters, and I'm all right not getting all of the answers ...so long as the right questions are answered in the end.

I agree. But I think it depends on who you ask - for me, enough of the right questions were answered, and I'm more than satisfied. There's resolution to almost all of the characters - certainly the ones we stayed with for six seasons. Other people would disagree.

I imagine it will be easier watching on DVD, because you can fly through it at a relatively quick pace (which was how I watched the first two seasons) instead of having to wait weeks, months, years. Personally, I'm kind of envious of you (and anyone else) getting to see it for the first time.

I feel like I'm the only one who thinks this (maybe because anyone else who is like minded wouldn't have bothered to stick with watching the whole series - but I'm like that...I'll watch and read -anything- and then rant about things to my husband afterwards), but I think the whole, "It's about the characters," is a cop-out.

Good characterization and good plot are NOT mutually exclusive. Good writing should have both. Anyone can come up a dozen good story beginnings, but it takes a whole lot more cleverness and skill to weave those beginnings into a storyline. I think as a magazine editor you'd appreciate that Douglas as I've no doubt you run across many stories that seem to have promise but then fail to deliver.

If the Island isn't important, then why waste 6 seasons talking about it? The Island becomes a gimmick with no real meaning other than to insert false senses of expectation, anxiety, and interest.

Were the characters' stories good? Yes, that's why I loved Season 1, when I thought things were going to go somewhere, but it became more and more evident with each season they things were not, and I began to feel that the Island is a waste of my time. The stories of these people could have been told without the hundreds of go-nowhere false leads that are tossed into the mix purely to create drama that then is ignored.

So, final recommendation -- if you've got a lot of time on your hands, sure go for it, though don't bother investing any energy or thought as to wondering what the puzzle is about because there really is no big picture. As to why -I- spent my time watching it if I feel so strongly? I'm an artist, I like to have constant something in the background while I work. :)

It was emotionally satisfying, but not intellectually satisfying. In the case of this show, that combo worked.

The finale was okay, and yeah, I was a bit disappointed. But overall, I feel it was one of the better TV series ever aired. It wasn't perfect, but what TV show ever was?

Risks were taken. Most times they worked. Some times they failed. At least they took the risk and expanded the scope of network TV storytelling.