Today we're putting our 16 questions to Karen Mauro of Karen's LOST Notebook, a great source of detailed episode recaps, theories and clues. Having been hooked since that 'life changing day' in September 2004, Karen uses her site to encourage fans to think outside the box and fears she might end up heavily medicated in Santa Rosa Medical Institute once LOST ends...
Q: How long have you been watching LOST? How did it get its polar bear claws into you?
A: I have been hooked since that life changing day of September 22, 2004. There were many things that hypnotized me in those opening moments. I was totally taken in by the absolute beauty of the island with all of its rich colors and the way the show is filmed made it feel surreal. That’s how amazing it looked even on a TV! Then of course there’s that amazing gorgeous and talented cast. I knew right away this show was going to be very special.
Q: Favorite character?
A: My favorite character is John Locke.
Q: Least favorite character?
A: My least favorite character is Ana Lucia Cortez. There, I said it!
Q: Favorite season and/or episode?
A: My favorite season is season 1, and my favorite episode is Walkabout. That is where it became very clear early on that John Locke was misrepresenting himself.
Q: Least favorite episode and/or season?
A: I don’t have a least favorite season or episode. I find even the least fan favorite episodes such as Expose and Stranger in a Strange Land were very insightful and do add to the whole of the story.
Q: Are you on Team Jack or Team Locke?
A: I’m all for team Locke, although there are times I feel like John and Jack are two halves of a whole.
Q: If you had to be one of the following, which would it be and why: an 815 Survivor, a member of the Dharma Initiative or an Other?
A: I have to say a survivor on flight 815. The survivors are on a quest to face the past, come to truth and grow from it. Part of their adventure is a journey of discovering who they truly are and I guess you can say I’m on the same quest too.
Q: Which character's demise were you most upset to see happen?
A: I was extremely saddened by Charlie leaving the “island”. But I understand its all part of the game.
Q: Tell us a bit about your site.
A: Karen’s LOST Notebook did not start out as a public place to share my notes. Early on over at MySpace I would get into great discussions with fans sharing some of the things I’d notice within an episode. I would obsessively take on those types of things. It was those fans who encouraged me to post my notes asking me to literally “show” them where I was coming from, so I devised a way to do that. From that came LOST podcasters such as The Printing Press, The Smoke Hatch, The ODI, and more, who were interested in my notes and willingly brought my LOSTNESS into their forums.
The formula to Karen’s LOST Notebook is simply my handwritten notes transcribed with a sprinkling of my commentary thrown in along with the detailed episode. The goal is to share, to encourage fans to think outside the box and maybe show them a little something new. An important truth I have been able to illustrate is that “things and people are not what we think they are.”
I will continue to post my notes past the end of the story. You never know…there may be more LOST to write about. “Never say never, dude.”
Q: Tell us something interesting/scary/exciting that happened to you as a result of being part of the LOST fan-verse.
A: The LOST fan-verse is a very special place. My life has changed in many ways. The past few years have been filled with connecting with many creative, intelligent, interesting, caring and fun people. They have enriched my LOST experience greatly. That’s not to say I haven’t seen my share of “haters” too. A scary thing I can share is a couple of times LOST fans that I didn’t personally know and who are apparently good detectives, literally tracked me down.
Q: Tell us your LOST elevator pitch, i.e. how you'd convince someone whose never seen an episode of LOST to run out and buy all the DVDs after only a brief conversation with you.
A: I would just speak in my most seductive and hypnotic voice … “Your story begins on an island of beauty and adventure. You find yourself in the midst of an amazing race through a labyrinth to solve a puzzle. And while zipping through the mysterious terrain with other opponents to discover clues that will lead you to the truth, you come face to face with terrifying monsters in human form that try to stop you from moving forward on your mission. Ah, but the winner may find exactly what they are looking for…in a magic box. But what is the magic box you ask…You must watch LOST to find out!” Now, who wouldn’t want to watch that totally interactive show?!
Q: Has your love of LOST led to any creative inspiration in your life, e.g writing, media, etc.?
A: It’s made me want to be a better actor, that’s for sure. Creativity is part of who I am and LOST has brought out different ways for me to express it. For years I’ve been creating “Silly LOST Pictures”. I taught myself (with the help of talented fellow Losties) how to use Photoshop and other graphics programs, and of course there’s the posting my LOST notes. I am not a writer and don’t consider myself to be one. But I find that I truly do enjoy writing and expressing myself that way. So maybe the stories I have in my imagination and heart may find their way to paper some day.
Q: How do you plan on combatting PLDS (Post LOST Distress Syndrome)?
A: I’m sure when the LOST story ends I will still have it on a loop in my house. We hardcore followers are indeed destined to re-watch incessantly. I can imagine there being different versions of box sets to entice fans into looking deeper into the rabbit hole. We will forever be LOST! I can guarantee that I will not handle the end of the story well at all. It has been such an amazing part of my life and I don’t want that to change. But I also know that change is all part of the game so I’ll reluctantly have to that trust destiny will lead where it’s supposed to. In the meantime I can be located residing at the Santa Rosa Mental Institute… heavily medicated.
Q: What do you think will be LOST's legacy?
A: I feel that LOST’s legacy will be that it left its dedicated followers with such a special experience that we will never be able to watch TV the same way ever again. This living breathing chess game and puzzle has greatly and personally affected some follower’s lives on a very deep level, including mine. No TV show has ever done that before and I’m sure never will again.
http://karenslostnotebook.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/KarensLostNotes
www.myspace.com/divadisney
Thank you so much Karen from everyone at the LOSTBlog.com!
-------------------------------------------
A QUICK REMINDER FOR IRISH AND UK LOST FANS:
In case you've been stuck on Dharma's submarine for the last few weeks, you'll know that LOST finally airs on Irish TV tonight and on UK TV tomorrow night.
IRELAND - Tonight (Thursday 4th February) RTE2, Recap at 8pm, LA X at 9pm
UK - Tomorrow night (Friday 5th February) SKY1, Recap at 8pm, LA X at 9pm
