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by Scott Juba Published: December 11, 2007
Being that about seven months have gone by since the culmination of season three, fans may find it beneficial to re-familiarize themselves with the events of last season before new episodes of Lost begin airing. Also, with the writer's strike ongoing, this DVD box set may help fill the void if the strike prevents Lost from airing a full season in 2008. In season three of Lost, viewers discover the aftermath of the hatch explosion, witness the deaths of more key characters and become acquainted with the backstory of "The Others". The season builds to a mega cliffhanger that poses new questions about the direction Lost will take from that point on. One perception of the show exists that Lost always gives its fans more questions than answers. The criticism seems unfair given that Lost would lose its luster without a sufficient amount of intrigue. Nonetheless, for those who complain about the show's lack of answers, episode 20, "The Man Behind the Iron Curtain," delivers in a major way. It delves into the backstory of Ben (Michael Emerson) and provides a glimpse of the almighty power he refers to as "Jacob". The audience also learns how Ben assumed his leadership role with "The Others". Those in search of answers should also appreciate episode 19, "The Brig," which reveals the identity of the real Sawyer and episode 13, "The Man from Tallahassee," which reveals the cause of Locke's (Terry O'Quinn) paralysis. Other standout episodes include "Flashes Before Your Eyes" and "Catch-22." Yet, episode 21, "Greatest Hits" proves to be the best episode of season three. Charlie (Dominic Monaghan)recounts the greatest moments of his life, evoking the type of identifiable human emotions that drives the success of Lost. The true genius of the show lies not in its plot twists or mysteries but rather in its ability to make the audience invested in the characters by evoking themes that almost anyone can identify with. As Executive Producer Carlton Cuse says on one of the featurettes, "This is a show where the title, Lost, is really more about how these characters are metaphorically lost in their lives than literally being lost on this island." This DVD box set spreads the season over six discs and includes a seventh disc with bonus features. One of the best featurettes is "Lost in a Day," which documents a typical day during the making of the show. It dispels myths of television production being glamorous work by providing a window into the complexities of transforming Lost from ideas to the screen. The featurette includes a look at the filming and editing of episode 16, visual effects work for episode 14, the prepping of episode 17, the musical scoring and recording of additional dialogue for episode 13, the sound design and mixing for episode 11, as well as the brainstorming and planning by the writers and executive producers for future episodes. Given that so much of season three focuses on "The Others", it only seems fitting that the special features disc also has a segment dedicated to "The Others". During the featurette, Michael Emerson provides what may be the best summation of Ben Linus tactics in fulfilling his objectives. "Hes a master of the art and science of psychology," Emerson says of his character during the featurette. "He sets up situations where the results he hopes for are inevitable." Aside from serious analysis of the show, there is also a light-hearted moment when Emerson and Elizabeth Mitchell trade claims over who has the scariest character on the show. Video gamers will take particular interest in the featurette that provides a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming Lost video game. In the featurette, Executive Producer Damon Lindelof stresses the need for giving Lost fans a "reward" for playing the game. He also explains that the game will follow a new castaway who loses his memory during the plane crash and experiences flashbacks throughout the course of the game as he tries to figure out his past. Other bonus features include deleted scenes, bloopers, audio commentaries, new flashbacks, a featurette about Lost's literary references, as well as much more. Even for someone who has little interest in watching season three's episodes again, the amount of and quality of the bonus content makes Lost: The Complete Third Season worth owning. While I highly recommend this seven-disc box set, I will impart one warning. Someone new to the show should not start with season three. Following the show from the beginning remains as essential as ever. At times, the plot lines can confuse even seasoned fans of the series. To put it best, jumping in on Lost at season three would leave a new viewer... lost! |
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