unsolved mysteries - a critique of writing Lost

In college, some fellow aspiring filmmakers and I once shared a joke that "The X-Files" must be the easiest show to write for because anything could happen and it never had to make sense or fit an established continuity. I'm tempted to say the same of "Lost," as much as I want to believe the writers have a plan and it's all going somewhere. But after last week's revelations about Ben's relationship to Dharma led to the new mystery of Jacob, I came to the realization that they're incapable of answering anything on this show without giving us a new question to ponder.

With 48 episodes left to go over three seasons, I can appreciate the need for introducing new mysteries to keep the show from getting stale. But with so many loose ends already dangling out there, I was starting to get pissed that they were throwing more head-scratchers our way without resolving some old ones first. The gulf of what was unknown about Lost Island wasn't getting any shallower--it was just changing shape.

Then I saw last night's episode. I have to admit, it's not one I was especially excited about beforehand. Since they've been telegraphing Charlie's death for months and Dominic's been confirmed to leave the show, I was expecting nothing more than a sappy send-off for a character I wasn't that invested in while the "A" storyline took a back seat for another week. I was wrong on pretty much every count. Not only did the main story continue amidst Charlie's flashbacks, it actually addressed some of those loose ends (like the cable in the sand and Danielle's radio tower). And while the last moments did include a new twist, I can't complain too much this time because I think it's the introduction of the long-rumored second faction of Others, which has been mentioned enough times by official sources that I almost consider it a pre-existing mystery. So no harm, no foul.

I'm eagerly anticipating next week's season finale for the so-called "snake in the mailbox" that's supposed to change everything. I'm a sucker for a good twist...just as long as it doesn't leave me any more "lost" than I already am.