What I’m basically saying is the only way to ensure that our aggravating questions are answered is if we don’t let the writers or ABC get away without telling us.

Of course, forcing them to tell an impossible story might be another version of hell too…

Andreas: Agreed!

Matt: I wish I could say the same… but now that I’m reeled in, I can’t get away.

But you’re right about the raft. it was definitely necessary, and I was wrong. but last week’s episode drove me nuts — they spent an hour on Charlie and I don’t feel any richer for the experience.

On the anarchy, they probably are too close to civilization. I mean, even the criminals that were on the plane are nice happy members of this little society. And how can you question Jack’s leadership? Charlie’s punishment for almost burning down the camp was an almost-stern talking-to. I was expecting Jack to pull a ruler out of his pocket and tap Charlie on the knuckles. Piano teachers are more upset with their students when they mess up chopsticks than Jack when Charlie nearly killed the lot of them.

I need to read that whole Wheel of Time thing — give me a heads up when it’s done.

I both agree and disagree with you on this one. I’m often forgetting characters’ back stories, and when their story comes back up I usually am a little behind. But I love that it inches you along like that, just giving you bits and pieces at a time. And maybe I’m just being optimistic, but I don’t see it as the writers bringing along a plot line, then just dropping it when they can’t fit it in. With your example of the raft, that plot did a lot to further the overall story. Without it: Sawyer would not be nearly as accepted as a member of the group; there would still be a rift between Jin and Sun; the Lostaways would know nothing of the Tailaways, from which there are several good plot-offshoots; Michael and Jin would still hate each other; there would have to have been some other way for the Others to get Walt. I’m sure there are other things, too. Besides, this island is not going to let them leave, but we have to see that – we have to see them try or it’s unrealistic.

One thing that does bother me, though, is that there seems to be no organization. I’m sure it goes on behind the scenes, and we see a bit of it with the roster for entering the numbers, but shouldn’t there be some sort of structure or order? They’ve been there 50 days. And though it seems they generally defer to Jack (with exceptions) there’s no visible mechanism for staving off anarchy. I guess everyone is still close enough in time to being in “the real world” to have civilization’s trappings sticking to them, but eventually the situation will degenerate. Jessica thinks there’s about to be a civil war of sorts, and I agree. Jack sucks as a leader IMHO – they’d be better off with someone with a head on their shoulders, like Locke (who I’m sure doesn’t want it) or, I don’t know, Sayid, the Republican Freaking Guard!!

I wish every show on TV were on iTunes. I’d get a lot more done. Give me Scrubs and My Name Is Earl, please, NBC!

Thanks for stopping in Texas — take care!