Call me crazy, but amongst all the ancient ruins, impossible monsters made of smoke and preternatural powers flying around Lost, the characters have always been the most important part to me. That being said, I realize that Season 4 was a very plot-driven season, and the one episode that seemed the most character-focused was everybody's least favorite (The Other Woman), and knowing that I'm already in the minority as far as people who watch Lost, I still have to say that they did Michael wrong. He was one of the most interesting characters, and had perhaps the most down-to-earth, realistic, relatable struggles. I mean, how many of us are on the lam for patricide? Have ghosts of our past who keep appearing to us? Are predestined to commune with a mystical island? None. But how many of us are dealing with divorce in some way? How many of us are struggling with fatherhood? How many of us have rocky relationships with our children? A whole lot, I'm betting (isn't the U.S.'s divorce rate near 50%?).

I guess I just don't understand why everyone hates Michael so much. Yeah he killed Ana-Lucia (another of my favorites that nobody else liked) and Libby, but come on, it was an interesting way to take the story. Can anybody really be petty enough to hate a fictional character for doing something to another fictional character?

Anyway, for those of us who liked Michael and were waiting for something great to happen with his comeback this season, what do you think TPTB could have done other than blow him up? I think that Michael could have done the whole Bourne Identity thing instead of Sayid. It seemed a role that was unrealistically shoved on Sayid, just to give him something interesting to do post-Island. Given what happened to Michael post-Island, it'd make much more sense and of course, it'd be more interesting to watch him play hitman for Ben. With Sayid, you know he's going to succeed every mission he's given, because of his military background, but with Michael it'd be more suspenseful, not to mention that Sayid seemed to accept working for Ben while Michael insisted, "I do not work for that man," so there'd be that angle as well.

What do you think they should have done with Michael instead of killing him off?

I really liked every scene with Michael in season 1. Only a few in subsequent seasons, but one of my favorite aspects of the show was the humble father-son relationship that they had going on. It was so sweet and believable. I blame the writers for making him so one-sided in season 2... yet, even though he made a huge mistake with Ana-Lucia and Libby, that's what humans do sometimes. I think that plot point really drove home the fact that we are all capable of murder, if motivated enough. I can relate to Michael even then, although I certainly don't condone what he did.

Can anybody really be petty enough to hate a fictional character for doing something to another fictional character?

Well, I wouldn't call it "petty" as much as I'd call it "reasonable". If we are capable of loving fictional characters, why shouldn't we hate some that do things we don't like? That's what fiction is all about. Some characters in fiction we are even supposed to hate, like the villains. I'm not talking about Michael specifically, but I think it's petty to assume that you shouldn't have negative emotions about a fictional character. That's part of what makes a competent work of fiction, to push your right buttons.

Anyway, for those of us who liked Michael and were waiting for something great to happen with his comeback this season, what do you think TPTB could have done other than blow him up?

I wanted to see him make amends with everybody, without the use of death. Especially with Walt. I would have also liked to see Michael join with, say, the Oceanic Six and help them get back to island and succeed in doing whatever they're supposed to do. Bringing him back just to kill him off seems a little clumsy to me. If Walt eventually understands that Michael was always just trying his best to do the right thing for him, though, I can't complain too much about what they did with him. Things happen, people die. It would just be nice if Walt loved his dad's memory.

I guess I just don't understand why everyone hates Michael so much. Yeah he killed Ana-Lucia (another of my favorites that nobody else liked) and Libby, but come on, it was an interesting way to take the story. Can anybody really be petty enough to hate a fictional character for doing something to another fictional character?



I'm afraid so. Look at how much Ana-Lucia was hated for accidentally killing Shannon. But I don't think that most fans hate Michael for killing Ana and Libby. They hate him for luring Jack, Sawyer, Kate and Hurley into a trap set by the Others. He went against the group. He chose his son over the other castaways. And considering how the fans have always mocked Michael for his desperation in getting Walt back (think Waaaalt), it is not hard for me to wonder if the fans hated him for this.

When it comes to the crimes of the other Losties - Charlie, Kate, Jack, Sawyer, Locke, etc., they are willing to forgive those characters or make excuses for their crimes. But Michael . . . he committed the worst crime in their eyes. And I don't think it had nothing to do with him killing Ana-Lucia and Libby. Well . . . except for many of the rabid Ana-Lucia fans.

I am okay with Michael. I do not have children, but I do understand that a parent whose child was kidnapped and being (as Michael was told by Walt) being 'tested' on would do anything to get his child out of that situation. AL and Libby's deaths were upsetting but I was never that mad at Michael, I was mad at the Others for forcing his hand.

For some reason, Michael has never had many fans. From Season 1, I have always pointed out all the shippers and the number of threads that were on each character, and Michael ALWAYS had the lowest total - even under the dog! Maybe its his attitude. Maybe because he was kind of a loser on the show.

I would have liked to see him reunite with Walt at the end of the show. BUT, I'm not sure you would have ever seen a happy ending where Jack and the O6 forgave Michael for tricking them. Maybe that's why they wrote him off again...

For some reason, Michael has never had many fans. From Season 1, I have always pointed out all the shippers and the number of threads that were on each character, and Michael ALWAYS had the lowest total - even under the dog! Maybe its his attitude. Maybe because he was kind of a loser on the show.



From what I can remember, many fans tend to look down upon Michael because he had to struggle a lot in his relationship with Walt, conveniently forgetting that he was being a father for the first time in his life. And I'm talking about Season 1. Look at how they perceive Claire. They tend to define Claire by her relationship with Charlie, instead of her role as Aaron's mother. A few people even went as far to say that Claire has a better chance of becoming a more interesting character once she became separated from Aaron. And they always mocked her, when she expressed concern for him. For some reason, many fans seemed to have a problem with characters who are parents . . . especially parents of children who are 10 years old and under.


Michael was a loser and not any of the other characters like Jack, Sawyer, Kate and especially Locke? I find this hard to believe.