Warning: Some minor spoilers within.
We LOST fans have been targeted, with a vengeance — by FlashForward. ABC Has spared no expense in attracting us to their latest epic sci-fi/drama series FlashForward, and – whether you like the overt tactics or not – it was for good reason. FlashForward is, in fact, the type of television show that LOST fans can appreciate. I’ve seen the pilot for FlashForward, so I thought it would be appropriate at this time for a [humble] LOST fan to opine on ABC’s widely publicized comparison to our show of choice, apple to apples.
Why Compare FlashForward To LOST?
First of all, I wanted to meditate over why ABC is even so heavy with the LOST comparisons. On one level, it might seem that ABC is being a little trite — since FlashForward is also the name of a plot device in LOST, and our LOSTies have done their fair share of time-tripping, a hard-line LOST zealot may jump to the conclusion that ABC was attempting a pseudo spin-off. The problem with that reasoning is that it isn’t true. The novel FlashForward, which the series is based on, was published in 1999. This is the point where proud LOST fans proclaim that those elements weren’t the tent-poles of LOST‘s creativity anyways, and we’re sure Damon and Carlton never read that book, but all fan-pride aside, the concepts of LOST and FlashForward are well worn tropes, the trailblazing in LOST has all been in the management of the dramatic threads and the ability of the writers to refresh their well of mythic structure.
LOST is a fractal, a Mandelbrot set – the closer you get to the mystery, the more hidden details emerge. LOST is a good example of how plastic a tried and true ‘˜device’can become in the hands of imaginative scribes. But, is FlashForward? The fact is, if you were trying to determine how to market FlashForward you’d quickly attach to the similarities between the shows, add the fact that you have some of the same cast, and really be left with no other alternative. ABC’s ‘˜in your face’of the LOST brand — going as far as to place LOST Easter-eggs in the FlashForward pilot — makes sense.
The real risk here isn’t whether or not FlashForward is the next LOST, but whether ABC has overdone that proposition to the point where SciFi fans who don’t like LOST will still tune in.
Okay, but IS FlashForward the next LOST?
One fact makes all the LOST name-dropping irrelevant: LOST built its reputation and audience over time. One of the truly groundbreaking aspects of LOST that has assured its place in the record books is the fact that over five seasons the story never became stale. In fact, it got better – so much better we thought our heads would explode. FlashForward can’t be the next LOST until it has achieved that test of time. So let’s stick with what we know. We have to start with the potential. As any exec in the film biz will tell you, if you can’t sum it up in one sentence that makes people want to watch it — your idea sucks.
It’s an idea that makes sense, they are banking on word of mouth. How easy is it going to be for the guy on the street to convince somebody else to tune in? If he has to spend half an hour going into detail about why the show is good, he fails. After miraculously surviving a terrifying plane crash, 48 people must learn to live together on a mysterious deserted island — and there are monsters, ghosts, and secret science cults waiting in the shadows, too. (Okay, not how we’d really want to pitch it, but you get the idea.) For FlashForward, the ‘˜logline’is something like ‘For two minutes and seventeen seconds, everyone on the planet flashes forward to the same future date. Now they must work together to find out whether their fates are sealed, or they can change the future.’Yeah, that’s two sentences and not really compelling prose, but you have to admit — the question that is posed is interesting. As interesting as that of LOST? I think so.
The point of all of this is that LOST has a core concept that piques our interest, and so does FlashForward. In this rudimentary sense — FlashForward is in the right camp. On the other hand, I’ve talked to a lot of screenwriters who say F**k your idea, it’s all about character and story. So let’s move on to the meat of the matter.
Getting FlashForward off the LOST teat
So, in my opinion the LOST comparisons aren’t a guarantee of epic sci-fi ala our beloved LOST, it’s just common sense marketing. Once you know the show, the comparisons are neither misleading nor a disservice to fans of either property. ABC knows LOST fans will like FlashForward, and they know why. Here’s why. LOST fans love an ensemble mystery where every character’s perspective is unique. This is easily the case with FlashForward, perhaps even more so. With LOST we have different people seizing the tabula rasa of the crash
to suit their past lives. FlashForward is much different, because people see where they are in the future and some are pleased, others are not.
FlashForward presents the right situations to make this imbalance interesting: a hotshot FBI dude Mark Benford (Joseph Fiennes) is solving the case of why the FlashForward happened, and is being stalked by dangerous looking guys with night-vision and guns. His doctor wife, Olivia (Sonya Walger), is calling another man ‘˜sweetheart.’Mark’s AA sponsor Aaron (BrÃan O’Byrne) has discovered that his daughter — who he thought had died in Afghanistan — is, in fact, very much alive. Mark’s partner, Demetri (John Cho), thinks he may be dead in the future, while Olivia’s suicidal co-worker Bryce (Zachary Knighton) sees something that calms his urge to blow his brains out. And that is not even all. There is enough story meat there for fans to eat mutton legs for the next 23 episodes. When you begin to see the stories of the characters unfold you realize the real power of FlashForward isn’t so much in the ‘˜idea’of the FlashForward itself, as much as it is in the potential for drama that emerges when people get a glimpse into their future – and it gets even more interesting when those glimpses cross character lines and we begin to see how people’s different parallels of satisfaction can lead to conflict. For instance, that guy that was with Olivia in the future. Yeah, he and Mark are bound to be great friends, even though in the here-and-now everybody’s behaving.
What really drives the story, so far, is whether or not we will be watching how all of these threads come together into the ‘˜fate’we have seen, or whether the characters will become masters of destiny and change the future. On the science-fiction end of things, what if they did? FlashForward producer David S. Goyer has said the time of the FlashForward will come to pass in this season, so no matter how this question is answered we know it is just one in a super-fantasy interrogation that has the potential to pose bigger, more troubling questions of temporal politics as future seasons are planned.
Aside from the intellectual heat of FlashForward there is plenty of eye-candy as well. FlashForward is a visual odyssey of cinematic setups that rival the biggest blockbusters. Goyer, an accomplished film scribe and director, took the reigns for the pilot and his big-screen training is evident. Action scenes are fast, always in motion, and oozing with a sense of exhilaration and danger. The more poetic shots, like Bryce on the Venice Pier watching what he thinks will be his last sunrise, are vast and beautiful. Likewise, Goyer brings the strange when it’s needed — making a Kangaroo bounding through downtown L.A. into a dreamlike momentary fugue.
Is FlashForward the next LOST? In terms of apples to apples, it’s far too early to tell. In terms of potential, absolutely. With headier concepts like The Prisoner, Person’s Unknown, and Day One ruling the fantasy menu this season FlashForward definitely has the potential to be the leader of the pack.
NOTE: You can watch the first 17 minutes of FlashForward right here!
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After you watch FlashForward, talk about it on Facebook: http://bit.ly/4vneT4 or on FlashForward Live Chat on ABC.com where all questions and comments are addressed during a real-time discussion with Executive Producers David S. Goyer and Marc Guggenheim!
As someone who's read the book, I can say that FlashForward is NOT the new LOST. That's not a dismissal of the book or the show. Both are entertaining. But the show is not an original premise – something LOST is. The show is taking a concept of the book and bending it to make it palitable for an average TV audience. Very infrequently, if ever, has LOST attempted to dumb itself down for it's viewers. FlashForward is doing it from the start.
As someone who’s read the book, I can say that FlashForward is NOT the new LOST. That’s not a dismissal of the book or the show. Both are entertaining. But the show is not an original premise – something LOST is. The show is taking a concept of the book and bending it to make it palitable for an average TV audience. Very infrequently, if ever, has LOST attempted to dumb itself down for it’s viewers. FlashForward is doing it from the start.
After you watch FlashForward, talk about it on Facebook: http://bit.ly/4vneT4 or on FlashForward Live Chat on ABC.com where all questions and comments are addressed during a real-time discussion with Executive Producers David S. Goyer and Marc Guggenheim!
What I want to know is where and what the easter eggs are so I can be on the lookout and get a little Lost fix. Any chance of you sharing that info?:) pretty please
There is one around 6 minutes in. Look for billboards! Watch it here: https://tvovermind.com/flash-forward-tv-news/w…
My daughter also suggested the kangarro is an easter egg because it symbolizes Australia and also I htink the corpses in the water were sort of lost-ish
What I want to know is where and what the easter eggs are so I can be on the lookout and get a little Lost fix. Any chance of you sharing that info?:) pretty please
There is one around 6 minutes in. Look for billboards! Watch it here: https://tvovermind.com/flash-forward-tv-news/w…
My daughter also suggested the kangarro is an easter egg because it symbolizes Australia and also I htink the corpses in the water were sort of lost-ish
Wow, spoiler alert for Flash Forward.
Wow, spoiler alert for Flash Forward.
Ok Flash Forward is not the next Lost because it did not grab me and force me to watch every single episode to see where the story goes. I like the Flash Forward story, I like some of the characters, but I don't care that much. Perhaps I will if I keep watching it. But Lost got me and made me a fan from day one and I have not missed an episode yet and won't even watch it DVR delayed. With lost I need to watch as soon as I can. I think the creators of Flash Forward made some mistakes with there Pilot and were not as skillful in spinning the tale as the Lost story tellers are and were.
I am giving Flash Forward one more week. I like the idea and found it fun but I feel they are moving some of the plot to fast and revealing to much. I feel some of the big discoveries in Flash forward could have been held back. Some times the tease, surprise and the suspense is better than getting all the answers so quickly, as Lost fan well know. Flash Forward, is treating it's audience like they have the patients of a 2 year old. I think they may have been listening to critics of Lost that say they don't reveal enough and that answers come to slow. The Journey of Lost and it characters are what make it what is is. Flash Forward needs to slow down let us meet the characters, make us care,
I agree with Scott, Flash Forward didn't grab me like Lost grabbed me. When we discovered Lost DVD about a year ago, I would have watched the entire series without stopping for anything if that had been possible. Somehow, Lost made us care or be very curious about the characters immediately, I didn't feel the same connection with the Flash Forward characters, at least not yet. Finally, I think the characters got to the "everybody on the planet passed out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds and we all had visions of our future 6 months from now" conclusion really, really quickly. So, we missed the "what on earth is going on here" suspense that also makes Lost so great and was so prevalent at least in the first 3 seasons.
Wow, and you know how the show will progress from just the pilot episode?
Ok Flash Forward is not the next Lost because it did not grab me and force me to watch every single episode to see where the story goes. I like the Flash Forward story, I like some of the characters, but I don’t care that much. Perhaps I will if I keep watching it. But Lost got me and made me a fan from day one and I have not missed an episode yet and won’t even watch it DVR delayed. With lost I need to watch as soon as I can. I think the creators of Flash Forward made some mistakes with there Pilot and were not as skillful in spinning the tale as the Lost story tellers are and were.
I am giving Flash Forward one more week. I like the idea and found it fun but I feel they are moving some of the plot to fast and revealing to much. I feel some of the big discoveries in Flash forward could have been held back. Some times the tease, surprise and the suspense is better than getting all the answers so quickly, as Lost fan well know. Flash Forward, is treating it’s audience like they have the patients of a 2 year old. I think they may have been listening to critics of Lost that say they don’t reveal enough and that answers come to slow. The Journey of Lost and it characters are what make it what is is. Flash Forward needs to slow down let us meet the characters, make us care,
I agree with Scott, Flash Forward didn’t grab me like Lost grabbed me. When we discovered Lost DVD about a year ago, I would have watched the entire series without stopping for anything if that had been possible. Somehow, Lost made us care or be very curious about the characters immediately, I didn’t feel the same connection with the Flash Forward characters, at least not yet. Finally, I think the characters got to the “everybody on the planet passed out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds and we all had visions of our future 6 months from now” conclusion really, really quickly. So, we missed the “what on earth is going on here” suspense that also makes Lost so great and was so prevalent at least in the first 3 seasons.
Wow, and you know how the show will progress from just the pilot episode?
To the casual viewer of either show, there are many other comparisons to be made. The opening sequence of Mark Benford waking up and discovering the wreckage is eerily similar to Jack's waking up and discovering the wreckage. Then you can go on to character-to-character comparisons (doctors, police officers, wanted fugitives, oh my!). The episode is largely told in flashback. But my favorite, "Are they trying to be next LOST" moment came with the obviously-out-of-place animal.
I haven't read the book, but so far, I would say the creators of the pilot were consciously trying to make the next LOST.
… and more! Yet, none of it is really proprietary 'LOST.' There was definitely a conscious effort to crack the 'LOST' code in the execution/content of the beats, but I think it is still its own story – imho, of course. It reminded me of the whole Blake Synder/Syd Field thing done amok, where some script consultant looked at LOST with a 'story' slide-rule and said "strange animal should show up on page 11."
LOL! Exactly!
Bulfinch would serve them better, me thinks…
To the casual viewer of either show, there are many other comparisons to be made. The opening sequence of Mark Benford waking up and discovering the wreckage is eerily similar to Jack’s waking up and discovering the wreckage. Then you can go on to character-to-character comparisons (doctors, police officers, wanted fugitives, oh my!). The episode is largely told in flashback. But my favorite, “Are they trying to be next LOST” moment came with the obviously-out-of-place animal.
I haven’t read the book, but so far, I would say the creators of the pilot were consciously trying to make the next LOST.
… and more! Yet, none of it is really proprietary ‘LOST.’ There was definitely a conscious effort to crack the ‘LOST’ code in the execution/content of the beats, but I think it is still its own story – imho, of course. It reminded me of the whole Blake Synder/Syd Field thing done amok, where some script consultant looked at LOST with a ‘story’ slide-rule and said “strange animal should show up on page 11.”
LOL! Exactly!
Bulfinch would serve them better, me thinks…
I have to disagree with Scott. While I, like him, am a fan of LOST from day one, I have seen so many of my friends and family stop viewing the show because of the intricate plotlines and new twists. They just got fed up. I am not going to judge FlashForward by just two episodes. That's basically not fair at all. And the 'discoveries' that Scott said could have been held back, what sense would that have made? Unlike LOST, this show involves the entire human race and of course they would piece together things rather quickly with access to the Internet, cell phones, and news reports. LOST started of with a group of survivors in the middle of nowhere without any of that stuff, which (IMHO) totally separates the two. I think we as an audience have gotten spoiled and are looking for the next LOST and any scifi show with a clever, intriguing logline will try its best to fill that void. But I doubt any show, in the near future or ever, will ever match the appeal that LOST has.
Now with that said, I just want to say that while I am a devoted fan of LOST, I want to point out that LOST itself is not wholly original as a lot of the masses believe. I came across a radio serial from back in the day called "Magic Island" that is eerily similar to LOST, but when I bring this up I am either ignored or it's not talked about again. Here goes the Wikipedia page for it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Island_(radio)
And here goes another cartoon show that has a similar plotline.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_Island
And finally the Jules Verne book called Mysterious Island, which LOST itself has referenced in the show. Not trying to be a negative nancy, but I feel that Darlton took a previous idea and improved it greatly, but in the end the show is not as original as everyone thinks. Just a smart breath of fresh air from all of the procedurals, crappy reality shows and other genres of TV shows that dominate our television
I have to disagree with Scott. While I, like him, am a fan of LOST from day one, I have seen so many of my friends and family stop viewing the show because of the intricate plotlines and new twists. They just got fed up. I am not going to judge FlashForward by just two episodes. That's basically not fair at all. And the 'discoveries' that Scott said could have been held back, what sense would that have made? Unlike LOST, this show involves the entire human race and of course they would piece together things rather quickly with access to the Internet, cell phones, and news reports. LOST started of with a group of survivors in the middle of nowhere without any of that stuff, which (IMHO) totally separates the two. I think we as an audience have gotten spoiled and are looking for the next LOST and any scifi show with a clever, intriguing logline will try its best to fill that void. But I doubt any show, in the near future or ever, will ever match the appeal that LOST has.
Now with that said, I just want to say that while I am a devoted fan of LOST, I want to point out that LOST itself is not wholly original as a lot of the masses believe. I came across a radio serial from back in the day called "Magic Island" that is eerily similar to LOST, but when I bring this up I am either ignored or it's not talked about again. Here goes the Wikipedia page for it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Island_(radio)
And here goes another cartoon show that has a similar plotline.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_Island
And finally the Jules Verne book called Mysterious Island, which LOST itself has referenced in the show. Not trying to be a negative nancy, but I feel that Darlton took a previous idea and improved it greatly, but in the end the show is not as original as everyone thinks. Just a smart breath of fresh air from all of the procedurals, crappy reality shows and other genres of TV shows that dominate our television
Well, FF can't be the new Lost but it can be an interesting and enjoyable replacement for when Lost is over. I enjoyed the first ep and am really looking forward to the series. I wouldn't want a complete "This is Lost only in LA (is it LA?)and with a kangaroo instead of a polar bear" but if they can keep the parts that we like (the research) and still keep their own identity, than I'm good with it.
Well, FF can’t be the new Lost but it can be an interesting and enjoyable replacement for when Lost is over. I enjoyed the first ep and am really looking forward to the series. I wouldn’t want a complete “This is Lost only in LA (is it LA?)and with a kangaroo instead of a polar bear” but if they can keep the parts that we like (the research) and still keep their own identity, than I’m good with it.
did the billboard say Perfect Safety Record for Oceanic?
did the billboard say Perfect Safety Record for Oceanic?
First of all this show just have the character to compete with lost. Lost hit the motherload with Jack, Sawyer, Kate, and Locke–even though Terry was already well established. If anyone thinks that show succeeded because of the story–boy you have never watched scifi. The actors/director make the individual scenes work–if they dont–story means nothing.
I dont one actor yet in FF that makes the screen pop. I hear no interesting voices. Story will not make or break this. Character interaction on screen from moment to moment is what makes people keep the channel on. What happens is you like the way people say things, you like the looks they give, how they move through the screen—do you see anyone like I mentioned above?
So, sorry..I will watch–but they made some huge cast mistakes and as far a presentation goes they basically forgot that the world was burning and hundreds of thousands had died in the worst disaster in human history and they are just lying in bed playing footsy as if everything had already been resolved. Sorry..an FBI agent works at least a double on that day–so that was a big miscalculation which completely minimized the event. The first show could be nothing but action or it was going to look absurd and it did.
First of all this show just have the character to compete with lost. Lost hit the motherload with Jack, Sawyer, Kate, and Locke–even though Terry was already well established. If anyone thinks that show succeeded because of the story–boy you have never watched scifi. The actors/director make the individual scenes work–if they dont–story means nothing.
I dont one actor yet in FF that makes the screen pop. I hear no interesting voices. Story will not make or break this. Character interaction on screen from moment to moment is what makes people keep the channel on. What happens is you like the way people say things, you like the looks they give, how they move through the screen—do you see anyone like I mentioned above?
So, sorry..I will watch–but they made some huge cast mistakes and as far a presentation goes they basically forgot that the world was burning and hundreds of thousands had died in the worst disaster in human history and they are just lying in bed playing footsy as if everything had already been resolved. Sorry..an FBI agent works at least a double on that day–so that was a big miscalculation which completely minimized the event. The first show could be nothing but action or it was going to look absurd and it did.
Surely the biggest difference is that Flashforward is good TB, whereas Lost was sloppy, boring, lazy and tedious.
Surely the biggest difference is that Flashforward is good TB, whereas Lost was sloppy, boring, lazy and tedious.