Comments on: Was Race a Factor in Michael’s Demise? We Think Not http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/ theTVaddict.com is your number one source on the net for TV news, scoop, reviews and commentary on all of your favourite TV shows. Check out theTVaddict.com daily for commentary, a WHAT TO WATCH TVguide, and a weekly podcast. Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:42:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: mimi http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256402 mimi Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:18:04 +0000 http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256402 When I first heard Harold's remarks, it seemed as if he was repeating a feeling that fans of the shows have made a remark about- Black characters on this show were becoming MIA. Rose was gone for awhile, Mr. Echo (a great character!) was killed off, Walt disappeared (even thogh he seemed to be an integral part of the mystery in the begining?), Michael disappeared and never heard of. Well the writers responded by bringing Michael back, but to what resolve? His relationship with his son is crappy, we still don't know what is "special" about Walt, and has his inner demons (prior to crash) been resolved? I don't think so. Was it racist? I'm not sure, but that's Harold's opinion. It is very disheartening to see people make comments about Harold's character, work status, or personal behavior. It is his opinion. Give that to him and just have your own. It is unnecessary and immature to make disparing comments about the man. When I first heard Harold’s remarks, it seemed as if he was repeating a feeling that fans of the shows have made a remark about- Black characters on this show were becoming MIA. Rose was gone for awhile, Mr. Echo (a great character!) was killed off, Walt disappeared (even thogh he seemed to be an integral part of the mystery in the begining?), Michael disappeared and never heard of. Well the writers responded by bringing Michael back, but to what resolve? His relationship with his son is crappy, we still don’t know what is “special” about Walt, and has his inner demons (prior to crash) been resolved? I don’t think so. Was it racist? I’m not sure, but that’s Harold’s opinion. It is very disheartening to see people make comments about Harold’s character, work status, or personal behavior. It is his opinion. Give that to him and just have your own. It is unnecessary and immature to make disparing comments about the man.

]]> By: 2BTru http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256380 2BTru Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:33:16 +0000 http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256380 Locke IMO got better than a reunion with his father, he was able to see retribution and he was able to find a purpose on the island. Sawyer gave Jack the gift of a Christian story of how Christian wanted to make things right with his son. Kate has redemption and love through Aaron. Sayid got Nadia. Sun comfort in Jin’s baby. Sawyer gets the affection of Kate. It’s not about long-lasting happiness---we know through the flash forwards that it is fleeting---but the idea that Michael doesn’t get *any* happiness, bothers me. S1 we see Michael as a man striving to be a father to a son he doesn’t know, losing his son, getting his son back and then losing him again due to the actions he took to get his son back. He goes back to at least redeem himself for what he has done by trying to save those on the island and he dies in the quest, yet he doesn’t get the one thing he wanted most? Locke IMO got better than a reunion with his father, he was able to see retribution and he was able to find a purpose on the island.

Sawyer gave Jack the gift of a Christian story of how Christian wanted to make things right with his son.

Kate has redemption and love through Aaron.

Sayid got Nadia.

Sun comfort in Jin’s baby.

Sawyer gets the affection of Kate.

It’s not about long-lasting happiness—we know through the flash forwards that it is fleeting—but the idea that Michael doesn’t get *any* happiness, bothers me.

S1 we see Michael as a man striving to be a father to a son he doesn’t know, losing his son, getting his son back and then losing him again due to the actions he took to get his son back. He goes back to at least redeem himself for what he has done by trying to save those on the island and he dies in the quest, yet he doesn’t get the one thing he wanted most?

]]> By: shanna http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256379 shanna Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:07:22 +0000 http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256379 IA 2Btru: I'm not saying that the producers are being racist (or even that HP is all right in this situation) but I think that it is a bit shady that in many ways, Walt and Michael were dropped completely from the show and then brought back awkwardly only to have Michael die. Which does fall into a common racial stereotype. Now, given the nature of the show AND that Walt was reintroduced in the finale (which I think was an indication that from now on the show will take place in 2008 with flashbacks to the island), I think HP might have messed up his chances of being asked back, either in flashbacks or through ghost-visions like Christian. Btw, Jones - the racial problems in this country will stop when we no longer have people who ARE victims of racial discrimination and violence. And if you believe people are just "playing victim" it will take that much longer for the problem to be solved. IA 2Btru: I’m not saying that the producers are being racist (or even that HP is all right in this situation) but I think that it is a bit shady that in many ways, Walt and Michael were dropped completely from the show and then brought back awkwardly only to have Michael die. Which does fall into a common racial stereotype.

Now, given the nature of the show AND that Walt was reintroduced in the finale (which I think was an indication that from now on the show will take place in 2008 with flashbacks to the island), I think HP might have messed up his chances of being asked back, either in flashbacks or through ghost-visions like Christian.

Btw, Jones - the racial problems in this country will stop when we no longer have people who ARE victims of racial discrimination and violence. And if you believe people are just “playing victim” it will take that much longer for the problem to be solved.

]]> By: Timwilkins http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256378 Timwilkins Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:02:16 +0000 http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256378 Bitter grapes. The character was not going anywhere and "dead" on "lost" is anything but a killer. lol Maybe he would have been back. It'll be interesting to see if he will now, AFTER speaking out. But the actor is right to be bitter with the "lack of story" and direction. What did he come back for? Window dressing? Bitter grapes. The character was not going anywhere and “dead” on “lost” is anything but a killer. lol Maybe he would have been back. It’ll be interesting to see if he will now, AFTER speaking out. But the actor is right to be bitter with the “lack of story” and direction. What did he come back for? Window dressing?

]]> By: Hil http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256375 Hil Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:21:32 +0000 http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256375 How about a fatherless Locke? Did Locke get a happy ending with his family? Um, no. Parent issues are common in LOST and I would disagree with the assessment that others got good resolutions while Michael got left out. Desmond is the only one that seems clear cut happy to me and that is likely temporary. The rest of them have been screwed over as much or more than Michael when it comes to family and loved ones and not having happy endings. How about a fatherless Locke? Did Locke get a happy ending with his family? Um, no. Parent issues are common in LOST and I would disagree with the assessment that others got good resolutions while Michael got left out. Desmond is the only one that seems clear cut happy to me and that is likely temporary. The rest of them have been screwed over as much or more than Michael when it comes to family and loved ones and not having happy endings.

]]> By: 2BTru http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256374 2BTru Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:52:31 +0000 http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256374 I agree with Harold. It's not that it's racist it's just that it's a lack of consideration and reflects an thought process (that the writers may not even realize they're exhibiting ) that it's common place to have a fatherless Black child. Characters throughout the series have received some sense of closure but not Walt or Michael. That's IMO shady. At the very least they could've had a scene where Hurley told Walt how much his dad loved him and had Hurley give him a hug. It really hurt me to see Walt just *there*--tetherless. I felt this way before I even read Harold's interview. I agree with Harold. It’s not that it’s racist it’s just that it’s a lack of consideration and reflects an thought process (that the writers may not even realize they’re exhibiting ) that it’s common place to have a fatherless Black child. Characters throughout the series have received some sense of closure but not Walt or Michael. That’s IMO shady. At the very least they could’ve had a scene where Hurley told Walt how much his dad loved him and had Hurley give him a hug. It really hurt me to see Walt just *there*–tetherless. I felt this way before I even read Harold’s interview.

]]> By: Jones http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256373 Jones Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:43:12 +0000 http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256373 And this, my friends, is why the country's racial issue will never fade away. Because certain folks always have to play the "victim" and bring prejudice into the argument, when there's no basis for it whatsoever. Imagine how far along we'd be as a nation if we'd just followed Rodney King's advice? And this, my friends, is why the country’s racial issue will never fade away. Because certain folks always have to play the “victim” and bring prejudice into the argument, when there’s no basis for it whatsoever.

Imagine how far along we’d be as a nation if we’d just followed Rodney King’s advice?

]]> By: Common Sense http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256367 Common Sense Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:50:50 +0000 http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256367 I still want to see what's up with WALT! Like, what's the deal with his book...and the polar bear, his perceived ESP and/or supernatural powers....and how/why he appeared to Locke in the pit. Why was HE targeted for capture by The Others...and then mysteriously let go? Clearly, there's more to this kid that we know. So what if he's grown a bit....we'll overlook it to get the story!!! Don't leave us dangling on this issue, please. I still want to see what’s up with WALT!

Like, what’s the deal with his book…and the polar bear, his perceived ESP and/or supernatural powers….and how/why he appeared to Locke in the pit. Why was HE targeted for capture by The Others…and then mysteriously let go? Clearly, there’s more to this kid that we know. So what if he’s grown a bit….we’ll overlook it to get the story!!! Don’t leave us dangling on this issue, please.

]]> By: Hil http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256362 Hil Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:08:05 +0000 http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256362 Natalie, three years passed between the rescue and those scenes with Walt. That is why he looks older. He is older. Thinking about this a second time, I can sorta understand the actor's reaction based on his character's experiences. It would have been nice if Michael, a struggling dad, got to succeed and live as a father (despite the fact parents on LOST tend to not have happy endings). His character's path instead seemed to be completed by being selfless for his friends rather than being alive and around for Walt. In that sense I guess he could be disappointed for his character not getting to achieve that other goal, but it is hardly a race issue. A lot of characters on LOST don't get to have a happy ending. Certainly parents don't if Ben and Locke and Alex and Jack's parents are any indication. Natalie, three years passed between the rescue and those scenes with Walt. That is why he looks older. He is older.

Thinking about this a second time, I can sorta understand the actor’s reaction based on his character’s experiences. It would have been nice if Michael, a struggling dad, got to succeed and live as a father (despite the fact parents on LOST tend to not have happy endings). His character’s path instead seemed to be completed by being selfless for his friends rather than being alive and around for Walt. In that sense I guess he could be disappointed for his character not getting to achieve that other goal, but it is hardly a race issue. A lot of characters on LOST don’t get to have a happy ending. Certainly parents don’t if Ben and Locke and Alex and Jack’s parents are any indication.

]]> By: Natalie J. Damschroder http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256353 Natalie J. Damschroder Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:03:56 +0000 http://thetvaddict.com/2008/06/02/was-race-a-factor-in-michaels-demise-we-think-not/#comment-256353 Not to mention the whole, "Walt grew three years in two show months and how the hell do we deal with THAT?" issue? Not to mention the whole, “Walt grew three years in two show months and how the hell do we deal with THAT?” issue?

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