Dear Gregg,

I'm sure you've been asked this before, but I've heard that 'Lost' has been commissioned for 5 series in total. I was just wondering do you guys have a general, linear direction for the show from now until it's end? I don't mean you have every detail of every character worked out, but from the beginning to the supposedly already-composed end, do you know where you;re going?

Thanks, and good work with the show, it's the most intriguing thing I've seen since 'Twin Peaks'.

Eoin.

Thanks for watching. It's nice you think the show is intriguing and enjoy the mysteries. The writers will be very happy to hear that.

Damon has an overall idea of what he wants to do in the seasons (or series). The first and second seasons have had overall themes and conflicts. Plus, he knows plot points and character development he wants to get to by a certain episode. He and the writers do have some details worked out but it's not rigid or unchangeable. It's good to let the stories live and breathe on their own to see what's working and what isn't.

I'm a big fan of Twin Peaks, too, but the second season had problems with the overall development. I personally think they stretched out discovering the killer of Lara Palmer way too long, but afterwards the stories nose-dived. You could see them trying to set up new mysteries and plots to intrigue viewers, but I don't think it worked well. But then when they hit on the character of Windom Earle and made him the main conflict, I think it started getting back to its former self.

So I like that Damon and the writers on Lost have made the first season generally about survival and the second season generally about the Dharma Initiative. Plus, I think they're very good about answer questions (of course never directly) and introducing new mysteries. It helps keep everything really interesting.