Television

In Blue Like Jazz Donald Miller talks about television.  He starts off saying, “When you are a writer and a speaker, you aren't supposed to watch television.”  I think that's the common perspective.  TV rots your brain and all that.  In On Writing Stephen King says, “TV... really is about the last thing an aspiring writer needs.”  But then Donald Miller recounts how he was listening to someone bashing television.  “He said that when we are watching television our minds are working no harder than when we are sleeping.  I thought that sounded heavenly.  I bought one that afternoon.”

That I can completely understand.  There are just times in life when I'm too exhausted to do anything but sit in front of the TV and let my mind do nothing.

Last night was one of those times.  The hubby and I spent this weekend between two graduation parties for various family members (including little sleep and a good bit of cooking).  By the time yesterday evening rolled around we did not want to do anything whatsoever; we were a bit partied out.  We plopped on the couch and turned on the prelude to the Lost finale.

I finished watching the Lost finale earlier today (during lunch—I justify much of my tv watching by doing other things at the same time that require my hands and would thus make reading impossible).  Don't worry, no spoilers.  Just wanted to talk about it a little bit since it's on my mind now.

For the most part I enjoyed the finale.  The last half hour did a few things that disappointed me, but I can pretend that those things happened differently.  There were a lot of really beautiful moments too.  Made me realize how much I came to care about some of the characters.

I think that television shows that have a good story and good characters can be enlightening.  That doesn't mean I should go out and watch everything—I grew up without much in the way of TV and I don't think that harmed me in the least (just the opposite)—but I think I've learned some good things from Lost.  I'm glad that I've experienced that show.

So here's to Lost.  Great show all around.  It will be missed.