The end of Lost is coming, and it will be good.
Lost will continue for three more shortened seasons, then go out with an inevitable “shocking” finale at the end of the 2009-2010 season, ABC said Monday.
The announcement means producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof have gotten what they wanted, receiving an end date they requested as well as signing a rich new deal.
The agreement is also good for ABC, which gets three more seasons of the still-popular series. The network receives 48 more episodes that ABC will roll out in 16-episode seasons, with all seasons airing uninterrupted (like Fox’s 24).
“In considering the powerful storytelling of Lost, we felt this was the only way to give it a proper creative conclusion,” said Stephen McPherson, president of ABC Entertainment. “Due to the unique nature of the series, we knew it would require an end date to keep the integrity and strength of the show consistent throughout, and to give the audience the payoff they deserve.”
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The deal appears to be good for all concerned, including viewers.
“I think for story-based shows like Lost, as opposed to franchise-based shows like ER or CSI, the audience wants to know when the story is going to be over,” Cuse told Variety. “When J.K. Rowling announced that there would be seven Harry Potter books, it gave the readers a clear sense of exactly what their investment would be. We want our audience to do the same.”
I think Lost has been as good as it’s ever been lately, and I think (I hope!) this will settle the question of whether or not the producers know what they’re doing and where they’re going, or if they’re just making it up as they go along with no plan. Much as I know I’ll miss it when it’s gone, I can’t wait to see how Lost ends.