So much to post.
Seems apparent that everyone who watched it now knows that the original idea was limbo, and when people called it on them they flinched. The really sh.tty thing is that in creating another reality that is then limbo, the TV show about the island is completely pointless. You could end ANY story with "and when they died eventually, either in the circumstance or long since, they all met up in the afterlife." The show could have been about anything, at all.
Speaking of rendered pointless - as EH mentioned above, Shannon and Sayid?? What about Sayid and his amazing story of love in war torn Iraq? I always adored his backstory and to have that swept under the rug for bimbo Shannon is pathetic. I'm also annoyed that this "one true love" thing affects how we view Kate and Sawyer's relationship, which they again worked so hard to build up. When Kate and Jack separated I thought they made it abundantly clear that they weren't meant for each other. One could argue misdirection, but I argue lameness.
Shannon and Boone get to take their bows, but not even a cameo from Michael and/or Walt. And what about Mr. Eko? If Rose weren't there you could practically accuse the writers of racism.
I said to GD earlier that this show wrapped up the emotional side of the show but left the mental side untouched...but now I'm thinking that it wrapped up only certain aspects of the emotional side.
It was incredible for the first two-thirds or so. All the flashing rememberances were so emotional, so real. As they flashed, we flashed, we remembered that we've been there, with them, for so long. For all the movie and literary references this show has brought to mind, I kept thinking of The Neverending Story last night - from breathlessly staying in touch with these characters to the world collapsing. I even turned to GD during the island destruction moments and said "It's The Nothing!" Seeing as how the cork/light etc remain wonderfully nebulous, "The Nothing" is an especially appropriate name.
Still, Sun and Jin truly reunited, Hurley going to get Charlie, even Juliet and Sawyer (which I give credit to the actors for, as I had a hard time buying into them at all), and my God, the Charlie/Claire/Aaron part....such powerful stuff.
Yeah, total sap for childbirth scenes now.
I was laughing and BAWLING. Never mind that I adored them way back when and it's been so long!...
Just thinking about it all, it's a rollercoaster.