Is it possible to be unsure of whether you liked something or not, but still be satisfied by it? Because after sleeping on it, that’s how I’m feeling about the series finale of Lost, complete with its Desmond Ex Machina, sideways purgatory and creepily Evangelion-like conclusion. Despite all the mythology and ambiguity, the show creators have always maintained that this was a character show, and “The End” certainly lent itself to that end. Continue reading →
What Eddy Writes
Spun Yarns, Tall Tales
Stones of Black and White in the Magic Box
A couple of years ago, J.J. Abrams gave an illuminating presentation for TED, where he spoke about a principle in storytelling that is riveting to watch unfold: opening the magic box. Here is a clip of it, if you be having curiosities.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of watching it, or if you’re just too lazy, the idea behind the magic box is simple. Sir Abrams speaks of how he bought a mystery box at a shop when he was a boy, and how he has never opened it his entire life. Mystery creates imagination, and that is where stories and characters live in their coolest places.
The danger of all of this mystique? What’s inside the box can never be as rad as what your imagination wanted it to be. Perhaps that’s why he’s kept it shut all these years.
Continue reading →