The Lost – Flash Forward Connection

Have you heard? There’s word that an attempt is being made to tie ABC’s new “Flash Forward” series to “Lost”. It would make a lot of sense to try to capture those Lost cult-like followers. They’re very loyal viewers. They’ve stuck around year after year on the glimmer of hope that eventually they’ll get some of the answers to the mysteries of the Island.

At this point, let me fully disclose that I am indeed one of those Lost fans.

As the final season draws to a close I find myself already looking for its replacement. Anticipating Lost-withdrawals, I want to get right into a new show that has me dizzy with questions. I’ve tried a few, but have always felt left down.

I thought “V” would do nicely, but its first episode seemed too rushed. The earthlings were ready to accept the aliens within the first episode. Heck, they applauded the spaceship’s first appearance over earth. It was just forced. Too much, too soon.

I gave “Flash Forward” a chance. And although I enjoyed the first episode and wanted to see more, I found myself forgetting about the show after a few days and never saw episode #2. There was just something not quite right with Flash Forward. Once again, I felt it was a show trying to do too much too soon.

But now I hear that Lost’s final episodes will somehow tie-in to Flash Forward. This rumor seems to have been proven by an image inside one of the Flash Forward episodes showing a billboard for Oceanic airlines, and how they have a “perfect safety record”

But how will these 2 shows be tied together? At this point, no one’s really sure. But I do have a theory.

The alternate reality where the plane doesn’t crash (aka the Flash Sideways) could be the currently reality for Flash Forward. Meaning that the Jack with a son and the Sawyer who’s really a cop actually exist in the Flash Forward world. This would be a fabulous idea, at least in regards to marketing. Those Lost fans who just aren’t ready to give up their favorite characters could easily be drawn into seeing a show where Kate and Jin and the others live on. The obvious problem with that is there are 2 Lost actors (the ones who play Penny and Charlie) that are already on Flash Forward, but as characters other than Penny and Charlie. It’s possible that this situation wasn’t originally intended by the Flash Forward writers/producers, but with the show struggling in the ratings maybe this is a tactic that they’ve only recently implemented, not until after they had already hired “Penny” and “Charlie”.

I do hope the Lost “Flash Sideways” scenes are not solely for the benefit to get us viewers to start watching Flash Forward. As a Lost viewer, I’m already finding these stories to be annoying. With just a few episodes left I want to finally be getting answers, not seeing possible alternate-world scenarios with new characters… and not even knowing if this alternate reality is actually happening or if it even means anything. I will be horribly disappointed if I find out these stories are just part of one huge marketing ploy for Fast Forward.

What I do know is that whatever tie-in between Lost and Flash Forward better be well-planned. It cannot be some last-minute attempt to save a new show’s ratings. It had better have been planned before Flash Foroward producers started shooting even one minute of their first episode.

Because I really want to find an adequate replacement to Lost. And I’m running out of time to find it.