Look: I never expected every single detail, or even most of them, to be explained or even acknowledged in the finale. Homer is allowed to nod. I just wish he didn't say, "Night, all" and head off to bed.

During the last half of this season I thought often on two questions: why couldn't the Man in Black just leave, and why did Desmond have to come back to the island?

Having watched Lost faithfully throughout its run and marveled at the twists and turns, however odd and fanciful, I couldn't help a sense of revulsion at the easy way out the writers took in the show's finale.

After the January 2007 TV Critics Association tour, Lindelof and Cuse discussed Season 3 to date and their plans for the show. The transcript of that conversation proves that they had an endgame in mind years ago.

More than any other show in recent memory, Lost required our full attention and rewarded that sort of dedicating viewing with its singular elusive excellence.

The mad complexity of Lost merits a grand, glorious finale that will keep people talking for years to come. If the show's writers don't deliver, we may never again see a show as demanding and uniquely entertaining as theirs.

I like Lost. A lot. I've watched it from its spectacular cinematic beginning in the fall of 2004. I've probably seen every episode. And I'm still not sure what's really going on.

I can't even begin to articulate what Lost is about. In fact, I'm not even going to try. I'm just going to take some heartburn medicine and enjoy the final ride.