POVTV

SERIOCITY'S Kay Reindl has some crunchy crafty goodness with a big bright post about POV -- and especially how POV relates to LOST.  There is a definite chill every writer feels when it comes to storytelling POV... you have tremendous pressure to make the character's choices understandable at every single juncture.

And yet from The Sopranos, to Six Feet Under, to LOST, to The Shield -- many of the most compelling shows with the greatest characters don't bother with that fooferaw.

Both Lost and Twin Peaks had ensembles that were heavily into their own points-of-view. I think the shows that try to ape this success, like FlashForward, do so with the typical omniscient TeeVee point-of-view. And just before some of you wiseacres think I'm saying that ensemble shows are character-driven while single-lead shows aren't, that ain't the case. THINK ABOUT THIS. In most TeeVee shows, you're watching a chosen point-of-view. It's safe; there may be character or plot surprises, but you know that what you're seeing is what's happened. Stuff may get held back, but you watch because you know that the omniscient friend with which you've made a pact will faithfully reveal the truth to you at some pre-designated point in the future (end of episode, two-parter, episode arc, season).

Lost didn't make that pact with people. Now, if you went into the show expecting the answers that you get from other shows, then yeah. You'll be disappointed. And maybe that kind of storytelling just isn't your cup of tea. Doesn't mean it's wrong.

You know what other show does this? Damages. And I dig that show. Except for season two. But one and three? Fantastic.

In the great unfortunate battle between creators & that one vocal nitpick section of the audience, more ammo.  Go read Kay.