LOST - The ExperienceSeason 2 of Lost began its run in the UK this week (Tuesdays, Channel 4), so fans now know what's down The Hatch! Did anyone guess? Hmm, I doubt it somehow...
Personally, I'm up to speed with the US showings (episode 20) with a month left until the apparently "mind-blowing" 2-hour finale. Don't worry, I won't reveal any spoilers in the blog, but let me just say that I think the second season is very different to the first, and will possibly divide UK audiences. The focus is more on the mystery angle to the show (the island, the polar bears, the Hatch, the smoke monster, the Others, etc), and less on the survivalism/community aspect.
The flashbacks are still intact, and the characters aren't neglected really, it's just that the fun of the first season was in discovering who these people were... but season 2 is more interested in seeing how they react and investigate the island's mysteries. Quite rightly too. But, as a consequence some of the flashbacks aren't quite as revelatory and exciting as last time, but thankfully the island-based adventure is much more exciting! ;-)
I've enjoyed season 2 immensely so far; it's had several jaw-dropping cliffhangers, a half-dozen spine-tingling sequences, an amazing amount of depth added to the mythology, and even some answers! No, really. People don't seem to realize when the writers actually do answer a question -- usually because the answer poses more questions, but that's the fun of Lost!
I find Lost a remarkably complex and enjoyable show -- quite possibly the best TV show I've ever seen, to be frank. There's a depth, subtlety and command of storytelling that's quite rare in this age of reality TV phone-ins. It's like reading a damn fine book you never want to end, but can see slowly coming together with the passing of each chapter...
To make things even more interesting, there's also the Lost Experience to take part in, too! Essentially this is an online game that fans can play during the summer (designed for Americans to play during the summer hiatus, but just as much fun for UK fans).
You may have noticed some adverts during the UK showings relating to the Hanso Foundation (a company with massive relevance to Lost -- watch episode 3, Orientation), and you can unlock various areas on their website and read secret material -- but only by accessing them correctly. This means pay attention to the Hanso adverts, call a special call centre for a password, etc. It's all good fun, and brings even greater cohesion and intrigue to what is already a multi-layered show.
Truth me; the mystery deepens...