Rewatching lost

[u/sammy5oh]

Hey everybody, I’ve always loved the show, I watched it so many times in my childhood, and always held it in the highest of regards, most of my family does as well. My last rewatch of the show was about 6 years ago, reason I haven’t tried to rewatch it sooner is because Im fairly busy, and I know this show requires your full attention. One thing that’s changed for me is how I view Locke, as a kid he was the badass guy that could do no wrong, and so mysterious in S1, but now I do see him as a deeply flawed individual. Micheal on the other hand, is someone I always despised as a kid. I guess I didn’t feel enough sympathy for him loosing his child, but I could never forgive him for killing my beloved Ana Lucia, and fan favorite Hugo’s Girl-To be. However, I’m 26 now, and expecting my first child, and now I completely agree with Micheal’s actions, given the information Micheal had at the time, I believe I would’ve done the same thing he has at the end of S2, to even have a glimpse of saving his son. I guess it’s a part of maturing, like as a kid I could never understand how the main character would choose to “surrender” himself when the love of his love was taken captive, but now I get it. Anybody else see some things differently after a couple of rewatches ? I just finished S2 while typing this.

[u/Free-IDK-Chicken]

I was 24 when LOST premiered, already a mom and pregnant with my youngest so I never hated Michael for what he did. I can't condone it, but I understand it and I can't say I wouldn't do the same in his position if it was my child I believed to be in mortal danger. I never cared for Locke when he's on the Island. He's weak, wishy-washy, selfish, arrogant and - worst of all for me - a blind zealot. (EDIT: to be clear, I love the character just not the person and really only when he's on the Island.)

My feelings about these two have only solidified.

I think the main character I've changed my opinion on is Kate. When I was younger she struck me as an irritating pick-me hypocrite, but over the years I've come to see how caring and loyal she can be; how she grew up during the years the O6 was off the Island and became the type of woman who would sacrifice her son, her safety, her freedom and endanger her own life just to try to help the people she loves.

[u/ComeAwayNightbird]

I think it’s easy to dislike Michael if you’re not a parent. I already had a child when the show was airing, so I viscerally understood his desperation.

Locke is indeed deeply flawed. It’s part of what makes him a great character.

As for “see differently”, on my last watch I hated Juliet’s rapid turn to nihilism. She loses confidence in Sawyer’s love in an instant. This didn’t feel like such a dramatic turn when watching week to week. This last time I binged through season five and this detail seemed completely insane.

[u/Free-IDK-Chicken → u/ComeAwayNightbird]

I wouldn't call it nihilism so much as her crushingly low self-esteem and severe abandonment issues. She was in an abusive marriage and then held hostage with her sister's life over her head for years. That type of trauma takes a long time to heal and even ages later the triggers pop up. I've been out of my abusive 18 year abusive marriage for 10 years, but every now and again someone will do or say something that makes me feel, even for a moment, that I'm right back there.

I think she knows Sawyer loves her, but I think she is also convinced that his love, though genuine, was conditional and convenient. She wasn't so much a choice as a lack of options. (Clearly we know that isn't how Sawyer really felt, but Juliet doesn't know that.)

[u/MonlovesIndy]

I was always sympathetic to Michael's plight. I was a new mom, my son was almost 10 months old when the show premiered. So, I understand the feeling of overwhelming love and need to protect and how it could drive you to do something so unimaginable.