The Romance of Lost…
Whether you love it or hate it, you can’t deny LOST is one of the hottest shows on TV. I confess, I became hooked (and I do mean hook, line and sinker!) from day one. I mean hey, I like disaster/stranded-on-a-desert-island scenarios just as much as the next viewer, but when I saw the previews for the pilot, I knew I just had to watch. And now into the fourth season, I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt, I’m caught up in the story — every Wednesday I’m glued to the TV for one full hour, and no one had better disturb me! I mean wild horses could not drag me away. There could be a four alarm fire burning in the house next door, with sirens blazing, and my eyes would still be centered on the boob-tube…okay, so maybe I’m exaggerating here, but not by much… LOL
But what is it about the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 which is so bloody fascinating? Is it the beautiful Hawaiian scenery? The plethora of unusual characters who all seem to be connected in some way? The danger which lurks around every corner? The fabulous eye candy? (Sawyer and Jack.) Of course all of that does make the show great, but the most important thing of all is the storyline… Ah yes, now we see the direction I’m going—the writing! Truly I think it can be said for any TV show, the writing is at the core. If you don’t have good writing, you don’t have a good story, and therefore, no audience (okay, there have been some shows who have defied that logic but then there is always an exception to the rule).
What I truly love about LOST is it makes you think. Okay, so I’m one of those people who loves to speculate, and this show gives me plenty to speculate about. What is this all about? Who is behind the island’s “security system” and why? What do the “Others” want with the survivors? Why does everyone seem to be connected? Like I said, I love a good mystery. (What can I say, I was raised on it.) Which brings me back to the writing—without an intriguing storyline and fascinating characters, LOST wouldn’t exist.
So what does LOST have to do with Romance? Think about the last really good romance you read…what was it that drew you into the story? What compelled you to turn the next page, and the next? Was it the fascinating characters? The little twists and turns in the plot? To me, a good romance is one with an edge, a little mystery to entice you deeper into the story, a twist here, and turn there, so your not always sure where the author is leading you and the characters and that’s how I write all my stories. Who truly is the bad guy in A Knight of Passion? Is Reynard (the hero) truly a murderer who’s kidnaped an innocent Rianna?
So you tell me…what was the last good romance you read? Did it have a touch of mystery? Intrigue? Adventure? Murder? What keeps you “glued” to the pages? And do you love or hate LOST?
Ingela F. Hyatt
I tried watching Lost but I guess my other obligations caused any regular watching to fall to the wayside and I lost touch with it (no pun intended).
This season I’ve been hooked on Heroes and the Dresden Files … so its the same thing. Don’t bug me during the measly two hours a week that I allow myself to watch television.
Let’s see … what romance drew me in? That’s a toughie. There are really so many that naming just any one is diffucult. I love anything by Jayne Ann Krenz. That woman can weave a terrific story. So can Sherrilyn Kenyon. I’ve heard that Karen Marie Moning tells a good tale, so I’m looking forward to reading her Highlander series. Beyond that, my reading strictly for pleasure is fairly restricted. Something I’m trying to change since my TBR pile is getting downright scary.
Hey Liz,
Well you do have to watch LOST on a regular basis or soon you’ll get lost in the storyline… grin But you’re right, with an author’s busy schedule, including writing, family, etc., I’m sure many don’t have time to watch TV in the evenings. But every Wednesday, I gotta have my LOST!
Love Sherrilyn Kenyon too. She knows how to write gritty, sexy stories which really pull you in. I’ve read several of Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series, and I think you’ll love her books too. There is something almost magical in the way they are written. The characters are real, and even though her books are based on Mythology, she makes it so very believable. I absolutely loved the Immortal Highlander, could not put it down!
Hi Ingela and Liz,
I read all of Karen Marie Moning and I can tell, you will loooove it ! lol
The last books I’ve read that litteraly took me in the story were from these authors :
Karen Marie Moning,
Jennifer Crusie,
Shirley Jump,
Julie Garwood (just love her)
Linda Howard (duh… no comments required for me. She is one of the best !!)
As for the TV shows… I love CSI, the three of them, Without a Trace, Cold Case, Law & Order….Ghost Whisperer is one I actually tape if I’ll miss.
Have a great day !
Anne Marie
I used to love LOST, but I sort of thought the writing and the storyline got too far-fetched this last time around. My suspicion is that the writers and producers had no idea the show would get renewed for so many seasons, and now they’re scrambling trying to figure out what’s next.
That said, I do love the romance that’s there: Jack and Sawyer, with Kate, of course, but also Sun and Jin—I think they’re so sweet rediscovering their marriage—and Hurley (even tho’ he lost his lady love) and Sayid and Shannon’s super-intense romance from a couple seasons back.