MovieChat Forums > Flashforward (2009) Discussion > Suicide of Al Gough...

Suicide of Al Gough...

posted 14 years ago by aronsonstack
16 replies | jump to latest

Do you guys think this was the turning point of the show? I thought it opened up a whole new can of worms and convoluted the plot. I thought it was too big of a contradictory. But I guess, it needed to be done, otherwise how can you drag on the show without new plots and twists? I'm not surprised the show was canceled. I thought the idea was great for a 2hr blockbuster movie or a mini series, but I always questioned how it was going to continue to drag this out for years. Anyway, I jumped off the wagon when Al committed suicide. Anybody else quit watching because of the suicide?

[–] SherlockVonEinstein 14 years ago

for me it was a turning point as well, but for just the opposite reason. i didn't care too much for the show until then... by calling into question everyone's "destiny," it really built the suspense (at least for me) on what would happen next. it also made the sci-fi elements (in particular quantum physics) more applicable to the show. for example, it brought to light that there were multiple possible futures, which begged the question: why did they all see the same possible future? what made that specific future more possible than others? what factors could be altered to prevent or ensure said future, etc...

i think the ending of the season (having a flashforward several years in the future) was a smart move, because it ensured that the writers would not have to rely on yet another blackout every again to move the story along... now the characters could spend the next few years investigating what caused the blackout, jericho's connection with the event, and what their visions meant, etc... i felt that the show setting itself up to be more conspiracy theory based, which definately could've last a few more seasons.

[–] Burklayton 14 years ago

Aye, it was just the opposite for me. The show was incredibly hot-and-cold for me up until that point, but that added a whole new layer to things for me.

I also thought Al's story itself was very well set-up. What seemed like just a token type character suddenly had a lot of depth, and I cared about his death. From then on I was considerably more invested in the show.

[–] Theoden_of_ODU 14 years ago

My problem with the shift wasn't that it opened a new can of worms, but that they didn't properly discuss the implications of the actions.

The characters appeared to *believe* that everything they saw would still happen and I think the writer's simply forgot the kind of change this would mean for the series. It wasn't until towards the end that they really introduced that there was "destiny" at play, trying ever so hard to make sure that the flash forward would actually happen.

Had they introduced this "self correcting" aspect to the show soon afterward instead of long after the extended break, I think the story would have been far better off.

"You've shown your quality sir. The very highest."

[–] MrZoolook 13 years ago

i think the ending of the season (having a flashforward several years in the future) was a smart move, because it ensured that the writers would not have to rely on yet another blackout every again to move the story along...

I guess you're right - the writers don't need to script any further blackouts.

now the characters could spend the next few years investigating what caused the blackout, jericho's connection with the event, and what their visions meant, etc...

Alternatively, they could spend the next few years on other projects.

i felt that the show setting itself up to be more conspiracy theory based, which definately could've last a few more seasons.

... damn!

[–] There_Is_No_Sayid 14 years ago

The ending was one of the better moments of the series. For me the most solid ep was the Keiko-Bryce ep but Al Gough's suicide was another high point.

"Unless Alpert's covered in bacon grease, I don't think Hugo can track anything."

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] DanPhx 14 years ago

it sure looked like him.

After the face plant, you must've seen him from behind to recognize him. ;-)

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] goosh69 14 years ago

It was interesting, but unnecessary. Want to prove the future can be changed? Well, why not have a woman who had long hair in her vision shave it all off? Or why not get a tatoo? Or hell, if you had ten fingers in the future cut off one. All the sorts of things that fall far short of killing yourself to prove the point.

"I am the Defender of the Weak, and Enemy of the Weak Minded." - Me

[–] Jonah_Roberts 14 years ago

couldnt agree more

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] ravmeltt 11 years ago

“Big Al’s new series “Rizzoli and Isles” was picked-up for a second season. It returns next summer. It seems like “jumping off that building”, was a great move career wise.

The show is a police procedural drama staring two female leads (a detective and an ME) and since he partners with the detective, he gets a lot of screen time.

FF may have written him out, but it looks as if Big Al is having the last laugh.

I wish he was still having the last laugh. So sad that the actor who played Al Gough and committed suicide in the show, actually took his own life a few days ago. Talk about life imitating art. I came on the board to check out if anyone was saying anything. I never watched Flash Forward, though I recently saw the clip of him killing himself on the show in episode 7. I wonder why they killed him off in the show, although he bounced back and got on to R&I immediately after it seems. I plan to watch all the eps of FF now, especially the first 7, to see him in it. I always liked him since The Famous Jett Jackson, and I'm very sad that he is dead and supposedly killed himself.

This is my signature and I'm sticking to it. lol

[–] mizzoutigers 13 years ago

I agree that if you're trying to prove a point, then there are much easier ways than jumping off of a building. The problem with your theory, however, is that Al Gough was not simply trying to prove a point. He was trying to save a woman's life. From everything that we know now ... if he had been alive on around late April ... fate would have made sure that he would have hit her with a car and killed her.

Obviously, it didn't work b/c the universe course-corrected resulting in her death at the hands of the UK agent anyways. But Al did not know this was an option when he jumped.

[–] MrBelette 9 years ago

He didn't want to prove the future could be changed. He wanted to save a woman' s life because he knew he will be responsible for her death if he lives in the future ! Can't you see the difference ?

[–] tlbriley 11 years ago

In a sad turn of events, Lee Thompson Young, the actor who played Al Gough, committed suicide a few days ago.

What a waste.

[–] GForce59 8 years ago

I thought it was too soon. I think them showing the future could indeed be changed happened too early.