Why the television show "LOST" is becoming irksome

In a quick acting update, I auditioned for UCB House Harold team this past Friday. It's my first audition for the team (you become eligible after completing Improv 401), so we'll see. Anyway, on to the matter at hand, which is title of this particular entry. We're going to chat a little "LOST."

Some of you may follow the show, and some of you don't, so I'll really try my best to avoid any spoilers to any potential viewer out there. When the show began back around 2004 or so, I really didn't give a crap about the show. Fast forward a season and a half, and I was told by multiple sources about how great this show is, how you have to pay attention, and basically that I had to watch it. So I watched the next episode and enjoyed it. I had no idea that my roommate at the time was really into the show, and he scolded me for watching episodes out of sequence. He promptly let me borrow season 1 (and a few months later season 2) so I could get completely caught up. I became hooked. Plot twists and sci-fi stuff, and really cool back stories (let the record show that the afforementioned "sentence" is not a sentence as there isn't a subject or verb, I'm really just writing as if I were talking now, so all of you grammarphiles, knock it off...you know who you are).

The show is currently in season 5 out of a possible 6 seasons, and I don't know if any other fans are as frustrated as I am, but I intend to outline some major plot points that have not been answered, or completely abandoned, or God only knows what happened. For the record, it's my understanding that the writers of "LOST" are contractually obligated to answer every question/mystery/etc. by the series end.

1) We're four and a half seasons into the show and not a single person has a freaking idea what the hell this damn island is. At a certain point withing, oh, I don't know, the first or second season, we should have some kind of idea. All we know as of right now is that the island can be physically moved, it's been inhabited by a group calling itself the Dharma Initiative, and a group of hostiles known as the Others. I'm not going to dwell on this one too much, but I don't think it's too much to ask for a bit more clarification on what in the name of all things holy this place is.

2) Where happened to the other survivors of Oceanic 815?
*Spoiler Alert*
At the end of season 4, Ben pushed this big magic wheel knocking the islad off it's "timeline" (we're going to cover that bad boy as well), a group consisting of Locke, Sawyer, Miles, Faraday, Julliet, and the red head (forgot her name) began to travel through time, seeing many past incarnations/inhabitants of the island. That's fine and dandy, but there missing something kind of huge here. There were SEVERAL survivors of 815. From a production standpoint, these are the extras. Still not clear on whom I'm talking about? OK, remember the couple on there, the wife had cancer and the island cured her? Her husband was the guy who played Mr. Dewitt on Growing Pains? Mr. Dewitt, he was Kirk Cameron/Mike Seaver's high school principal...Ben Seaver ran into him one night while he was out with Stinky and Boner looking for potash for a school project. OK, now you know who I'm talking about. Back to "LOST." Jack and Kate tried to get to the freighter, but Locke and Sawyer didn't find it prudent, so they took a captured Ben Linus back to Eggtown (the houses formerly of the Dharma Initiative that were then inhabited by the Others). OK, so you have a picture, after I went on a "Growing Pains" tangent and what not. The point? Yeah, where the hell did all those people go? Everyone I've posed this question to who's a follower of the show has given me the same answer:

"Oh....yeah...where did they go?"

2) Where are the Others?

I can sort of answer this question. Ben gave them instructions, I want to say that he sent them to the Swan, or the Flame, or the Orchid...something along those lines. They're in hiding. It's just that they were such a big part of the show for 3 seasons, we havent' heard from them at all, we were starting to get a beat on what's going on, and then...nothing. Oh, and they had extensive files on 815 survivors, were able to bring Locke's dad to the island (which it sounded like he knew something about this place, but we'll never know now), they wanted to kidnap kids, wore disguises, would routinely invade the beach camp, and had a list of survivors who were "the good ones." Again....nothing.

3) Why doesn't Richard Alpert age and who is this guy?

We met Richard back in season 3. I can look past not getting to his age-defying theatrics for now, but we should at the very least have an idea of who this guy is. The only time we ever saw him look different in any way was when young Ben Linus met him (in a Ben back story) and Alpert was rocking a sweet Grizzly Adams-style beard.

4) Are we ever going to find out about Niki and Paulo?
Don't give me this "filler episode" nonsense. They dedicated an entire episode to these 2, only to see them buried alive. Thank you for the cliff hanger that will never be resolved.

5) What's up with this Jacob guy that Locke did not see at first, but finally heard his plea for help?

Yeah....bet you forgot about that, since it was forever ago, and they keep adding new stuff to remember. Is he an Other, Dharma Initiative.....what?

6) The Flight 815 "wreckage" was discovered.

Obviously it was planted, and my money is on Charles Widmore. Again, if him and Ben are bad, which I suspect, then great, just freaking get to it already.

7) The freighter crew that came to the island to "rescue" the survivors.

OK...this one has been jogging around my mind a tad. Widmore paid Frank Lepidus, a pilot who was supposed to be the pilot of 815, Miles, a clairvoyant, Faraday, a physicist, the red-headed anthropologist, and Naomi to find the island. Apparently they were there for Ben. We can surmise that their intentions on the island were less than noble. The more I think about it, the more I have a hard time believing that those sent to get Ben would become so buddy-buddy with Sawyer, Jinn, etc. They did give a back story on each one, but I kind of want to know why (outside of Frank's obvious flying skills) each one is specifically needed.

8) Are we ever going to see Claire again?

Don't give me this "Claire is dead," because she's with Christian. She wandered off at the end of season 3 and we haven't seen her since. Does that annoy anyone else?

9) Where did Faraday go?

He travelled back in time with the rest of them, and Sawyer didn't really give a clear account of what happened to this guy. I do find it interesting that Faraday's mom has been working in close conjunction with Ben Linus and Faraday is supposed to be working for Linus's enemy Charles Widmore.

10) Why did some people travel back in time and others did not?

I'd imagine this question will be answered soon enough....I mean common sense would dictate such, but then again, what do I know. Also, before Ben got on the plane, he looked to have gotten the crap kicked out of him. I'd love to find out what happened there.

My issue now is I'm emotionally invested in the show. I love it, and I really want to know what happens (I also avoided asking any smoke monster questions....what it is, where it's from, etc.). I'm frustrated with the show because instead of answering any of the legitimate, aforementioned mysteries, the writers thought the show needed a nice dose of time travel. Because if anything in the world can clear up a muddy story, it's a time travelling island. Oh, and the potential Sawyer-Kate-Julliet love triangle that's starting to be teased. Don't think I forgot about Kate and Julliet fighting over Jack when Kate had a thing for him back in season 3 and part of 4. Wow...OK, if you're a "LOST" fan, your comments/critiques/etc. are welcome.