LOST producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, confirmed once again that part of the focus for Season 5 will be on the O6 trying to get back to the island and how the island is "drawing them back."
They also used an analogy calling Season 5 The Two Towers (part 2) of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Basically a season that will setup Season 6.
Here are the details:
Speaking at ABC’s TCA press tour today, LOST executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse explained how giving an end date for the series last year has truly reinvigorated the writing staff and streamlined how they’re going to get to the end.
“I think it completely changed our storytelling approach,” says Cuse.
Last year’s writer’s strike also gave LOST the ability to air the finished episodes and return to the show after the strike and utilize fan and friend feedback in the writing and completion of the remaining episodes of the season.
“We got feedback from audience and we were able to course correct,” says Lindelof who notes this year they won’t have that benefit, since the series will air in January, and they’ll be done writing shortly after that. “We’re done by writing the show at end of February, so there’s not an opportunity to get any feedback, which quite frankly scares the sh*t out of us.”
Most importantly, Cuse notes it’s a “tricky year for us,” since Season 5 is the linking mechanism to the final season the following year.
“This is year is the ‘TWO TOWERS year,’” explains Cuse in his reference the middle chapter of THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy that set everything into motion for the final chapter. “This is the year that links us to the past and the present. We knew what we wanted to do for a long time. The challenge for us is how to make this engaging and exciting, where everybody is really excited about the final season of LOST.”
As for teases on the new season, as usual the executive producers are tight lipped, but they do reveal this season will be about the Oceanic 6 getting back to the island.
“The people that are off the island, the island seems to be drawing them back and Ben [Michael Emerson] makes it clear they need to go back to the island,” says Cuse. “So hopefully that’s a lot of what you’ll see of in Season 5 -- the journey how those six return to the island.”
And for Lindelof, he notes “the worst thing we can do on the show is be boring,” and he prides himself on the fact that people are still talking about LOST after last year’s reinvigorated season and that the writers themselves are still engaged with the show’s twists and turns.
“Season 5 is very exciting for us,” says Lindelof. “At 86 hours into the sow, we’re going into Season 5 and the fact people are asking us, ‘what is the show going to be next year, how are you going to tell stories next year?’ It has been exciting.”
Source: IF Magazine
Posted By: The ODI
More Details from LOST Producers at TCA Press Tour
(Comments: 29)
Labels:
Carlton Cuse,
Damon Lindelof,
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29 Comments:
Its the Two Towers, not Twin Towers :P
I was about to say just that... twin tower... lol.
Haha...that is what i get for copying pasting an article...!!
can't believe i missed that...
now i wonder if that is what they really said...!?
lol
So hopefully that’s a lot of what you’ll see of in Season 5 -- the journey how those six return to the island.”
cant wait for the new season!!!
great spoilers :)
Lindelof, he notes “the worst thing we can do on the show is be boring,”
Well, last season I remember at least a couple of boring episodes: "Meet Kevin Jhonson" and "The other woman"...to me last season was the worst of fourth seasons but still Lost is the best show ever, please Cuse & Lindeloff you have to try make it better next season.
Interesting! I wonder if it'll be the O6 getting back as well as seeing flashbacks to Locke visiting them all? And how will they incorporate the events on the island with that? I'm so excited!
I really hope we get more of the island instead of those five characters that got shoved down our throats at the expense of everything else.
The island and it's mysteries, the mysteries of the Others [in particular Richard Alpert] and the back stories of the new characters all got shafted for the over-exposed 06. That may have played a part in why the ratings started to go down.
I am glad that they admit that they are worried about being boring and listening to the fans. After Nikki and Paulo, they seemed to have planned things out better.
The only complaint I have is not being able to see a Rousseau flashback. I can't blame them for killingher off, since she wanted off the show. Still, we should have seen a Rousseau flashback in Season 3, and not a Pikki episode.
actually ratings are going down since S3...
im so glad to hear that O6 will be the focus of the new season coz all the characters i love and care are off the island...
Jack
Kate
Ben
Locke
Desmond
Sayid
Sun
Hurley
and Aaron
yes Aaron... im dying to know what is special about this baby and why Claire was telling not to take him back in Kate's dream while Ben thinks they all have to go back!
we hav to wait for 8 FREAkinG monthns
Curiosity IS KILLING ME
SATISFACTION IS MONTHS AWAYYY!!!!!!
I would expect to see the characters continuing to become more like the opposites of themselves in seasons 1-3. After "TTLG" all of the characters have completely changed characteristics of how they behaved in the first three months (seasons) on the island.
Kate has gone from self sufficient, on the run, strong lead to becoming a doting mom and almost background character in season 4. (how many complaints did I read on here about how much people miss the old Kate from season 1).
Jack and Locke have effectively switched roles with Jack becomming the man who has faith in the island and wanting to return, while I can see Locke becomming a man of science as leader of the others. Locke will have to act in a more practical manner as a leader and this may be when the island begins to reject him and ultimately allows him to be killed off island (as it doesn't need him anymore?)
Sawyer has gone from arrogant wiseass and self absorbed to caring about the rest of the losties and actually taking over the mantle of leadership. Quite a turnaround for his character.
Sun starting out in season 1 as quiet and subservient to Jin to becoming the powerful determined woman who could confront Widmore directly.
I expect season 5 to continue these characters evolutions in their current directions until the end of the series.
The only character who doesn't seem to have changed is Hugo, he seems to me to be pretty much the same now as before.
It's nice that we are now starting to get a few spoilers at least. Can't wait for season 5!!!!
mmmmm...Is next season going to be focused on the O6 again? OMG, then I think I'm going to focus my interest in another show, I'm now watching Dexter and I think is quite good, I'd like an Emmy for Dexter. another O6 season is too much to me.
I was a big fan of Lost till season four but now....I'm not sure.
I also think (and hope) we'll have a 50/50 LOST next season. I just don't believe they're going to forget about The Island and the people there.
The off-island characters I'm more interested in are: Hurley, Ben, Walt, Abaddon, Sun and Widmore and I really hope we get a good idea of what Abaddon's position is.
Ah, so we have to wait to season 6 to get answers regarding the island. I really thought that this season would be about Locke and the others on the island. Well, well. I guess we have to follow Jack for the whole season. Ugh.
Those curious for clues about what's coming should listen to Official LOST Podcasts. Even way back in the day D. and C. were dropping hints about things we have yet to see, like the fact that we may not see a Rousseau flashback, but we will see her in another character's flashback.
They also reference Montand's arm and Marvin Candle's missing hand quite a bit, and in a season 2 podcast even read a fan question which asked "Does the island move?"
If you pick up on the patterns between podcasts and what's been revealed on the show up to this point, it's not difficult to deduce some of the potential upcoming story-lines.
I'm disappointed because season 4 focused so much on the Oceanic 6. I would rather have the focus now be on the island.
And what about Locke? If season 5 is focused on the Oceanic 6 getting back then it's going to pick up after he's dead in a coffin. I'm sorry but that just sucks.
Plus, why are they doing this to Sawyer fans? Sawyer is supposedly one of the most popular characters and now he's basically non-relevant. I just don't buy that the care about what the audience thinks. Either all that they have said about Sawyer being popular is pure rubbish. Or else, they are back-burning an audience favorite for 2 seasons. I know every character has been backburnered to some degree. But Sawyer is now in the poor "Claire" territory on being a character that is never hardly used. I guess the Sawyer haters will be happy now.
I think they must show at least 3 centric's episodes about the people left behind. And i quess Sawyer will get one .
@charlesthejedi-I'm with you. I don't want to see the O6 be the major thrust of the story next year since season 4 centered on the O6. I'd rather see what happened on the island in the 3 years the O6 have been gone (there was no hint of that in season 4); and what's happening to those left behind while the O6 are trying to get back. What are the "very bad things" that happened that necessitate the O6 going back? Why and how did Locke leave? Why did the island allow him to die? What's happened to Sawyer, Claire, Jin, Juliet, Daniel, Miles, Charlotte, the Others? I don't know how they can concentrate on the O6 again and not expect some fans to get frustrated. Granted I'm one of those Sawyer fans you mentioned, but even so, this was originally a story about a mysterious island (how many times have we been told the island is a major character), but now the main story line will be off-island? I hope not. I hope what is being said is really an exaggeration. If not, my obsession died with Locke. Maybe like Locke it will be resurrected in season 6.
Wow!, I have officially ended my three years of lurking just to comment on the negative tone in these sections.
Sawyer fans need to chill out, I love Sawyer but honestly people we're being a little irrational here. He's obviously going to have a centric this season (as he didn't last season) and to say that he was underused last season is only patially true. He was everywhere during the last half (especially post break) and was written more heroic than almost any other character in the history of the show. That's no small matter considering how many characters and subplots were being juggled near the end of S4.
A real underused character is Claire, Miles, Jin etc.
Those characters often disappear or hardly talk for episodes.
Next season is likely to be two groups of subplots:
On island we'll get Locke and the others, more Richard, the temple possibly dharmas return (in time?), the freighters back stories (likely Miles and Dan, maybe Charlotte near the end). More Juliet and Sawyer stepping up as the yin-yang leadership and hopefully a satisfying conclusion to the Rousseau storyline.
We will see more weird science, dharma statios, and maybe the foot statue.
Off island, were likely to see more Ben and Sayid killings (leading into a tragic Desmond-Sayid showdown), Jack rallying the troops (including Walt?), Mysterious Aaron events (what will happen when Walt meets toddler Aaron?, Way more Sun/Paik industries/widmore stuff including past Paik involvement with Dharma, More Abaddon, and I'm hoping an integration with the Hanso foundation (will our characters visit Scandanavia?), the Valenzetti equation and maybe a speaking Hanso (check hospital bed in Meet Kevin Johnson),Near the end we'll see Frank come to pilot them back through the vile vortices. Finally though unlikely I'd love to see Dave return to Hurley, Marvin Candle alive off-island, Libby ties with Widmore? and a flashback to Uganda to show the hanso foundation there (with Keamy).
I love Lost and will not watching it until it's over. But season 4 was about how the O6 got off the island and now we have watch how they get back?! They shouldn't have left in the first place. We knew in season that the losties landed on the island for a reason.
I don't really care about the O6. They made it off. Theire lives are hell, except for Kate. I wanna know about the people left on the island. Why is Claire hanging with Christian? Why does Christian have to speak for Jacob? Those are the things I wanna know.
I'm still pissed off with the whole Desmond and his visions, Charlie dying, Claire and Aaron being seperated and the people buying into the idea that Kate is Aaron biological mom. This is the only show that has the ability to piss me off so much. BUT I CAN STOP WATCHING!!!! LOL
i dont think that S5 focusing on O6 means they will completely ignore the island plot...
im sure we will get great episodes and learn what happened to the left behinds but the season will generally focus on the future plot... coz lets face it the mejorty of the main characters and also characters such as Widmore and Abbadon are part of the future plot...
and im sure we will be seeing Locke both on island and off island coz i want to know how he got off the island, what did he tell to jack and kate to convince them and how he died...
we still dont know the character of Widmore... everybody thinks he is the real bad guy of this story but we dont know enough about him and i wanna know...
i also want to know what's Ben's real agenda...
Im dying to watch Jack getting better and how he will manage to convince O6 to get back to the island...
i want to know what's the deal with Aaron... should he get back to the island or not? who is right? Claire or Ben...
I want to watch a scene where Christian and Jack actually talks... i want to know what Christian would tell Jack...
i want to see Kate changing her mind about going back to the island...
i want to see how Kate-Cass and Clementine story will play out...
Im looking forward for more Sun/Paik and Sun/Widmore scenes...
Abbadon? who is he?
Where are Desmond and Penny?
Hope we can get to see Charlie again...
Sayid and Hurley... Where did Sayid and Hurley gone?
and most importantly how will they find the island?
To be truly engaging, the show will have to maintain a balance between on-island and off-island events; if they focus too much on the O6, many fans will tune out.
I'm way more interested in what happened to Locke, Sawyer, Juliet, Jin, Claire, the Freighter people and Richard Alpert than I am about the O6. We've seen their stories. Move it along.
I doubt very much that Damon and Carlton are going to ignore the stories of the people left behind. At least I hope not. I really can't take much more of messed-up, self-absorbed Jack and Stepford Kate. We get it. Most of them have fallen back into their old ways. The only O6er story that I find truly compelling is Sun's.
Let's find out why it's so important for them to get back to the island. Those reasons are on the Island or the Island itself.
I wonder how much like the "Two Towers" this season will be... I'm referring to the actual book here, not the movie, which of course wasn't entirely following the book, though I think was better for it. In the book, the groups of characters that were split up had their stories told entirely seperately, not overlapping like in the movie (one story told first, the second after the first was complete). I hope season 5 doesn't split like that - it'll be even more difficult to follow all the timelines. I like how the stories have been told at least every other episode (kinda), not 1/2 season for one, 1/2 for the other.
There sure seems to be a whole lot of story left to be told in 2 short seasons. So the last 2seasons should be jam packed with all story lines. As with any good book/story, it should vary between all of them. At least I hope it will. There's only been one episode which I did not find to give insight into the characters or story in general-even episodes people didn't like for some reason or other. And that's saying a lot for 4 seasons of story telling. Kudos to the writers, actors, producers and all involved - including the music.
Let's all just wait and see where we'll be led next season and quit the griping. Heck, it's the best ever show on TV! We all know it, or we wouldn't be on Dark's excellent site after all. I suggest patience.
Lost has only one main character, and that is the Island, so any worries about S5 ignoring the island should be lifted. Chances are very good that our season opener will even begin on the Island, as it reappears in whatever time it means to reappear.
In fact, there's no reason why the season couldn't start with the 06 already on the island. We just wouldn't know it for some time.
I mean, what if the island reappears in time just as our castaways feel confident they've discovered its location? So that their arrival is the exact time they departed?
What if this allows Locke to become alive once more? What if Locke died only because he "came into existence" again when the island reached it's destination?
Anyway, getting away from the main point, which is the Island and its story is the main story. And if last season was any indication -- as you'll recall, the thrust of that season was how the 06 get off the island -- there's plenty of on-island action to come.
The Island was always supposed to be the star of the show, I don't want to see a season of the 06 off island, there's only 2 of the 06 I care about anyway plus Ben. What happened to season 5 revisiting the DI, what about all the bad things that happened on the island? In the past they've always said the focus of the show would remain on-island. Let's hope they get the 06 back to the island pronto.