Author: Emma Loggins
Date: 2008-12-03

Interview:
We had the honor of chatting with LOST writers/producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse about the series and the Season 4 DVD release which is available on 12/9/08. Here's what they had to say:

You've previously confirmed that Michael is dead. It would appear that Claire has also taken a dirt nap. But we're still left hanging on Jin's fate. Will both characters fates be resolved in Season 5?

Damon Lindelof: Good question. I would beg to differ on Claire's alleged "dirt nap" (unless you mean taking a nap on dirt) -- didn't we see her last sitting in a cabin with the mysterious Christian Shephard? As for Jin, we'll definitely be seeing more of him in season five... but as we're moving through past, present and future... who knows WHEN we'll see him.

We hear a lot of shows accused of jumping the shark. To your thinking, is it even possible for a show as time-bending and surprise-laden as Lost to jump the shark? In other words, how often do you guys say, "Hmm, that's going too far?"

Cartlon Cuse: We actually TRY and jump the shark all the time. The last thing we want to do is feel like the show is falling into a tired paradigm. In fact this season we start out with a new narrative approach. Not the now traditional flashbacks or flashforwards. We always are trying to keep the storytelling surprising.

At this point, how do you view the Lost DVD sets -- are they part and parcel of the show? Are they extensions of it? And what are your thoughts on the people experiencing Lost week to week on TV versus in one or two or three commercial-free sittings on DVD?

Damon Lindelof: The DVDs are definitely part and parcel of the show. We've always thought of an episode of Lost playing on several different levels... they're almost designed for repeat viewings. In fact, our habitual use of planting hidden "easter eggs" is tailor-made for the DVD experience. Personally, I love watching my favorite shows (particularly serialized ones like DEXTER) one after the other. I sometimes think about how frustrating it would've been to read the Harry Potter books ONE CHAPTER AT A TIME once a week. I'd pretty much kill myself.

Hi Damon and Carlton, did the new structure (and experimentation) of flashbacks and flashforwards in season four open help you feel emboldened to explore even more with structure in S5 and how?

Damon Lindelof: Yes -- the fact that the audience embraced switching gears on the show from REVERSE to DRIVE emboldened us to get a little more loose with how we drive (as long as we're never in neutral!) the story. The cool thing about Season Five is that it takes a little while for your brain to fully absorb how the story is unfolding... but hopefully, once it does, you'll realize we're trying something new yet again.