With its massive library of stellar TV shows both original and licensed, Netflix is not a company that often gets a lot of negative criticism. And when it does, it’s usually more about what isn’t there rather than what is. For example, the polarizing series finale of Lost is currently missing a fairly huge chunk of the episode for some inexplicable reason, and Lost vet Damon Lindelof was particularly peeved when it was brought to his attention.
I am totally befuddled by all this. Love it or hate it, the finale that aired is the definitive finale and to alter it in any way defies explanation. Something tells me that this isn’t Netflix’s fault – that it’s an honest mistake and something got miscommunicated…But as the show lives on in DVD form and on Netflix, there is ZERO reason to have the shorter version out there.
Around 18 minutes of the 104-minute finale, titled “The End,” were missing from the episode in its streaming form. In his statement, Damon Lindelof does say that there were shortened versions of the episode cut for network airings where the allotted time wasn’t long enough, and that it’s possible one of those cuts somehow made it onto Netflix. But EW points out that some viewers insist that they had previously watched the entire finale with all of the footage intact, which makes it seem a little stranger that an entirely different version of the episode would be there now.
As on top of its game as a company can possibly be, Netflix took very little time in providing a response to this mystery.
Well that was easy. If only all companies were as quick to appease everyone as Netflix is. I'm looking at you, Comcast, you big bully.
Lost has been at the center of tons of criticism over the years about everything from mysteries going unanswered and haphazard plotting in latter seasons. And Lindelof has been open to talk about the entire process, understanding that the bad must come with the good. But this was definitely different from everything we’ve heard before.
Glad that will soon all be settled. But mark my words. If anyone ever tries to cut footage out of the spectacular finale of Damon Lindelof’s current show, HBO’s The Leftovers, I will find a way to make them join the Departed on an island in the ethers.
