In 1995, there was a series called "Nowhere Man." In its first episode, the protagonist, Tom Veil, has his life taken away. He is not killed, it's just that everything he knew about his life is gone. No one remembers him. He has no proof of his existence. This forces him to go on a quest to find out what happened, and who is behind it.
The show was a great example of a "Mystery" but it only lasted one season. It never concluded. There were just a couple of questions answered during the season, but many more were asked, and many original questions were left unanswered.
"Lost" is the most recent mystery that's hooked us (at least the most recent that's lasted long enough to still be around.) We are in the final "season" and it's still adding more mystery. We're beginning to suspect that we'll be left with one of two unfortunate situations: A) an unsatisfying series of quickly delivered answers that may or may not fit together or B) well constructed stories that leave huge gaps unfilled.
"Lost" has been excellent and entertaining. But the payoff needs to happen. As it happens, one of the influencing factors on "Nowhere Man" was that the creator - Lawrence Hertzog - never intended that the mystery would be answered. In newsgroup discussions as the show ended, he said that he wanted to use the milieu to tell stories about uncertainty and our views of reality, whereas the "network" wanted the mystery to get solved, piece by piece. I happen to agree with the network on this point. While I think a series can get built around such a concept, the thing that hooked me was the mystery, and a mystery needs a denouement.
So, as I sit here anticipating another thrilling ride with the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, I keep hoping that the producers and writers have planned out the final story arcs well enough that they can keep surprising us -- one of their trademarks -- while filling in all the necessary blanks.
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