I have loved LOST since the first five minutes of the series. There have been some weak moments, episodes, performances, etc. Yet they stick out because the show is so damn good. It is my favorite series in the past 5 years - perhaps even longer. Everything about the show is THAT super, but liking it doesn't blind me to LOST's probable Achilles heel - the writing.

I hear footsteps... BIG footsteps. I hope my worries are unfounded, yet I can't shake the nagging feeling that eventually the writers are either going to offer a terrible series conclusion or (more likely) the weight of their accumulated time (or dimensional) acrobatics will eventually crush the logic beyond any acceptable explanation except, "They can do that because it's in the script".

Time travel paradoxes are fine in theory and technically are hypothetically possible if time is dimensional with separate (and possibly even intersecting) lines. However certain time travel paradoxes become automatically IMPOSSIBILITIES (actual and theoretical) if presented in a single line of time. Faraday can look nervous (isn't Jeremy Davies distractingly twitchy in every role) spouting half-sentence admissions and shady revelations all he wants, his character is really starting to amass a staggering number of potentially contradictory explanations and observations. Ben has been doing that also, but not at such a frantic (another Jeremy Davies adjective) rate.

If the acting, engaging characters and dialogue continues throughout, the series probably will always be enjoyable. Still, there are limitations to science-fiction. However akin, it is not as unbound as Fantasy. It may be fiction, but the science of Science-Fiction must follow a logic, however bizarre. Just because stories and premises are fantastic it doesn't mean they can avoid following that inner logic. It's looking now as if the creators might be painting themselves into corners with some of the plot devices. Hopefully there doesn't come a critical (in both senses of the word) time where the vast majority of viewers go, "No, they did not just give that as an explanation!" Handing the out excuse, "It's only TV" might satisfy many viewers. Still, I'm sure I'm not alone in dreading the idea that this remarkable production - from acting to sound design - could be ruined or damaged by easily avoidable misplays. This is not the quirky trip-out of Dr. Who nor the roller-coaster romp of Farscape... As with those two shows I love, I'll always enjoy nearly all episodes of LOST, but the overall serious nature of this "universe" relies on drama and action based on the world we live in. An instance of total fantasy here and there can pass by, if it doesn't involve the larger picture - as in series resolutions. Poor actors or roles can easily be swamped by the high quality across the cast. The effects, scenery and camerawork are hardly anything less than top notch. Still, throw just one MAJOR "That can't happen" moment involving something that a highly important series mystery hinges upon and the show could be compromised. It's happened to other great shows, leading to a deservedly diminished appreciation on the part of the loyal fans. There's still a lot of the LOST series left. It would be a shame if things started tanking a la X-Files.

LOST is far too grounded to hand people storyline solutions that are 100% baked AND disappointing.

Will the show stay the course, go astray slightly or totally collapse? Time, ahem... will tell.