Jorge Garcia Talks Lost at the Monte Carlo TV Fest
Did you know that people from Monaco are called Monegasque? That’s almost as good as people from Glasgow being Glaswegians and people from Manchester being Mancunians!
Ahem. Anyway, on with the show! The 48th Monte Carlo TV Fest is chock-full of small-screen stars ready to talk about our shows and young Bryan Reesman is on assignment for WWK to get the goods.
Now, want to know Jorge Garcia’s theory about the series finale of Lost, what it will take to get Hurley to go back to the Island and how the show as changed his life? Click in!
Is Hurley really unbalanced, or is the Island messing with him?
Unbalanced? I don’t know. I have no idea what exactly is going with the “I see dead people” stuff. There’s so much in playing that Hurley, and the craziness is the trickiest part. I’ve gone to directors and asked, “How is it that I get to the point to where I decide that blowing up the food is the best possible way to resolve this issue?” And all they can really say to me is, “Well, you’ve been in a mental institution.” “Great, that helps a lot.” But I just decide to believe that if [Hurley] feels that this is how this has to go, this is how it goes for him and just commit to it.”
How long do you think it will take the Oceanic Six to get back to the Island?
I think that’s what a lot of season five is going to be about, and hopefully we can do it in a season.
What will it take to convince Hurley to go back to the Island?
I don’t know yet. There’s this thing where Sayid comes to get Hurley [from Santa Rosa], and I’m curious what type of buddy adventures they might be going on.
Do you have a theory about how the show is going to end?
I feel like there’s going to be a fight for the Island. There are at least two competing powers who can lay claim to that Island, and I feel like there is going to be some kind of fight for it at the end.
Have you been subject to the normal Hollywood pressure to lose weight, or have they said they like you the way you are and that’s your character?
It hasn’t come up. Well, it’s come up with the audience apparently because that was a big question—why isn’t Hurley losing weight? I was like, wow, with all the questions you’re going to ask about the show, why are you focused on this? No one’s asking why aren’t the women getting hairy armpits?
How has the series changed your life?
There’s nothing like it. When I got off the plane here, someone took my picture as I walked to baggage claim, as I got my luggage, as I walked out of the airport, as I got into the car, and even [as I was] in the car, he shot pictures through the window. That’s a little much maybe. Every doorway I walk through? That’s a little much. I get that they are filling a demand, and if the public didn’t want that kind of stuff, there wouldn’t be a business for it. That’s just part of it.
Lost season four highlights
We’ve already discussed some of this season’s letdowns, and now it’s time for the good stuff. Even the pickiest Lost fan must acknowledge that season four was phenomenal. A lot of things could have gone wrong this season. The writers had to incorporate an entirely new timeline into the show, deal with strike-related delays, and ease another group of characters into a huge ensemble cast.
Instead of falling short of expectations, this season surpassed them. I probably could have devoted separate posts to each of the following highlights. As usual, please share your own praise for this season of Lost in the comments section. I didn’t come close to covering everything that made this season incredible.
Following through with the game-changer - If you had told me a few seasons ago that most of the show’s original characters would leave their fellow survivors behind and reach civilization, I wouldn’t have believed it. Lost began as a drama about plane crash survivors on a mysterious island. Taking them off the island wouldn’t make any sense. How could the writers shift the timeline into the future halfway through the series? Somehow, Lost became even better once the flash-forwards were introduced. Most of the latest flashbacks told us things that we already knew–Hurley was unlucky, Locke had a horrible life before the crash, and everyone had father issues. The flash-forwards were a brilliant way of changing our perceptions of each character. Jack went from a leader to an unstable drug addict, Kate became a law-abiding mother, and Sayid became Ben’s hired assassin. I have no doubt that television writers will look to this season as a model for successfully transforming a show.
Michael Emerson - Is there anything that this man can’t do? This season, Michael Emerson managed to add several dimensions to his character–a convincing action hero, a grieving father, and even a lovesick stalker. His performance in “The Shape of Things to Come” alone should earn him a boatload of awards. Ben wasn’t the same person after Alex’s murder, and Emerson’s performance brought those differences to life. The cold, calculating Ben is gone forever. Until he gets his revenge, he’ll continue to be swayed by his emotions. I’m eager to see what Emerson does with his role in the next two seasons.
Male bonding - Even with all of the drama this season, the writers found time for some lighter, touching moments. Hurley and Sawyer became roommates at the Barracks and spent their afternoons playing Risk with Locke. This unlikely friendship nearly turned into a bro-mance by the end of the season. Hurley also became snack buddies with Ben. He really does bring out the good in people, doesn’t he? I was shocked when Ben gave Locke a (seemingly) sincere apology for his part in Locke’s unhappy life. Last season, a desperate Ben shot Locke and left him for dead rather than tell him the island’s secrets. In their final scene together, Ben almost appeared to respect Locke when he handed off leadership duties to John. Moments like these demonstrate that all types of relationships matter on Lost, not just the romantic ones.
Strong performances from the freighter folk - In my letdowns post, I complained that we didn’t get enough time with the freighter folk. I wouldn’t have wanted more from these characters if they hadn’t intrigued me. Ken Leung, Jeff Fahey, and Kevin Durand were particularly fun to watch. We all know that Widmore’s the big bad, but Keamy became the face of evil on the island in his stead. Frank Lapidus was the only member of the freighter team that I ever trusted, and his connection to Flight 815 was an unexpected twist. Miles’ ability to speak to the dead and see through the lies of the living will continue to be valuable. I also expect him to take over Sawyer’s role as the island wise-ass now that Sawyer is set to become the new leader of the 815ers.
Desmond and Penny’s relationship - There isn’t enough gushing in the world to do justice to this season’s development of Desmond and Penny’s love story. In my mind, “The Constant” is tied with “The Shape of Things to Come” for best episode of the season (and possibly of the series). Penny and Desmond’s reunion was the high point of the finale, and I was pleased that the writers brought them together so soon. Unfortunately, their happiness won’t last. Ben plans to take his revenge on Widmore by killing Penny, which puts both Penny and Desmond in danger. My heart will break if something terrible happens to them, but we’ll always have Season Four.
Sun rocks - The viewers who once complained that Sun and Jin were boring have (hopefully) been silenced. Jin’s fate was one of the biggest cliffhangers in the season finale, and Sun has become the Oceanic Six member to watch. Her grief turned her into a strong, mysterious woman back on the mainland. She’s sticking it to her father, holding a major grudge against Jack, and forming an alliance with Charles Widmore in the future. She’s come a long way from breaking a glass figurine and learning English in secret. Like Ben, loss has influenced Sun’s motives and moral code. She’s capable of anything now.
What did you love about this season?
Survey Says
Al Roker, everyone's favorite weatherman, is following in the footstepsor, more accurately, lip imprintsof Richard Dawson, Ray Combs, Louie Anderson, Richard Karn and John O'Hurley and has signed on to host NBC's summer edition of Celebrity Family Feud.
No star clans have yet signed on to the series, which debuts July 1.
Damon Lindelof Dishes on Lost's "Spectacular Kiss"!
Have I mentioned in the last week how much Damon Lindelof rocks my world? No? Well, in that case: Damon Lindelof rocks my world.
You guys have been emailing for more info ever since the official Lost magazine published a quote from D.L. promising a "spectacular kiss" in this season's finale, and frankly, I was dying to know myself! So I broke down and went to the man himself, asking:
"Is there still such a kiss in the works, even with the strike-shortened season? And could you give the fans any hints about who might be doin' this spectacular kissing?"
Keep reading for Damon's answer…
KDS,
It's still in the plan.
It's still spectacular.
It will happen between a boy and a girl.
But it doesn't happen on the island.
Your fan,
DL
Hold. The. Coconut. Phone! It doesn't happen on the Island?!
Okay, so does that mean it happens in the ocean just off the Island? Or in the sky above the Island? Or in a flashback…or back in the real world between two of the Oceanic Six?! Argh! Could it be Sun saying goodbye to Jin? Claire saying goodbye to Aaron? A new coupling in the future we haven't yet seen? (Kate and Sayid? Sun and Hurley?)
As for the opposite-sex info, well, I guess that kills our Juliet-Charlotte makeout dreams. Phewey.
So tell me, who do you think does the kissin'? Make your pick in the poll below and then share your take in the comments…