The Return of "LOST"

Fuck. This. Worst idea ever.

I...don't understand what's happening.

#10 - OUTLAWS
Original Airdate: February 16, 2005
Written by Drew Goddard
Directed by Jack Bender

A boar starts messing with Sawyer (Josh Holloway) and so he goes out on a hunt to track it down and kill it. Meanwhile, flashbacks show his pursuit for the man responsible for his parents death. The episode does a great job of balancing slapstick comedy with a heartbreaking tale of murder and revenge. It also fleshes out Sawyer from a Southern bad boy into a character with great depth.

#9 - THE MOTH
Original Airdate: November 3, 2004
Written by Jennifer Johnson and Paul Dini (of Batman: The Animated Series fame)
Directed by Jack Bender

Heroin addict Charlie (one-half of the gay Hobbit duo) is suffering from withdrawal and flashbacks show his rise and fall as a one-hit-wonder rock star. He gets to redeem himself when Jack gets trapped in a cave and he volunteers to rescue him. Although Charlie is the focal point of the episode, it is Locke who gets to shine. His spiritual wisdow guides Charlie and he uses a moth coming out of its cocoon as an example of what Charlie needs to do.

#8 - RAISED BY ANOTHER
Original Airdate: December 1, 2004
Written by Lynne E. Litt
Directed by Marita Grabiak

To quote Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys II, "s--t just got real." In this episode, the survivors discover there are "others" on the island, and we, the viewers, realize that there might be a supernatural reason for the airplane crashing on the island. Most of season one is spent on developing the characters, but this episode is almost purely setting up the story arc that would dominate the series.

#7 thru 5
EXODUS, PART I (May 18, 2005)
EXODUS, PART II (May 25, 2005)
EXODUS, PART III (May 25, 2005)

Written by Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse
Directed by Jack Bender

Michael (ship driver, or whatever, from The Matrix), his son Walt, Sawyer, and Korean Dude built a raft and attempt to escape the island. Unfortunately, the island pulls them back in. Meanwhile... Jack, Locke, Kate, Hurley, and some dude who blows himself up, finally open the hatch. Normally, season finales wrap things up. However, Lost is a show that raises more questions than it answers, so they open up a new can of worms.

#4 & 3
PILOT, PART I (September 22, 2004)
PILOT, PART 2 (Septemer 29, 2004)

Written by Jeffrey Lieber, J. J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof
Directed by J.J. Abrams

The only episodes written and directed by J.J. Abrams set-up the premise for the show. A plane crashes on a mysterious island and the survivors have to brace themselves for quite the adventure. Both episodes do a brilliant job of getting viewers hooked on the series.

#2 - NUMBERS
Original Airdate: March 2, 2005
Written by Brent Fletcher and David Fury
Directed by Daniel Attias

Hurley, the goofy fat dude played wonderfully by Jorge Garcia, turns out to be the key to the mystery. The episode is mostly comedic, but it unleashes a wealth of information and is an overall satisfying viewing experience.

#1 - WALKABOUT
Original Airdate: October 13, 2004
Written by David Fury
Directed by Jack Bender

John Locke (Terry O'Quinn) is like the Gilligan of the island. He's the only one that's benefitting from it and it is a life-changing experience for the better. This episode tells his tragic backstory, with a brilliant twist ending, and also sets him up as the perfect antagonist for Jack.

THE 10 BEST SEASON THREE EPISODES OF LOST!

Seasons 1 & 2 of Lost were a mixture of contemporary fantasy, science-fiction, action/adventure, and religious allegory. Season 3, however, focused more on action & adventure as the survivors go to war with "The Others", also known as "The Hostiles" and "The Natives." This season got mixed reaction from viewers since focus shifted from the ensemble to the core cast of Jack, Kate, and Sawyer. The writers also threw a few curve balls like the revelation of Claire being Jack's half-sister and Locke's father being the mysterious Tom Sawyer that ruined "James Ford's" life. But as always, the creative team managed to crank out a few excellent episodes. And, of those, here are my Top 10:


#10 - THE GLASS BALLERINA
Original Airdate: October 11, 2006
Written by Jeff Pinkner & Drew Goddard
Directed by Paul Edwards

Sayid and the Korean couple plan a surprise attack on The Others, but it is them who get the surprise. Flashbacks reveal Sun having an affair with her English instructor. When her father finds out, he orders Jin to kill the man.

#9 - A TALE OF TWO CITIES
Original Airdate: October 4, 2006
Written by J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof
Directed by Jack Bender

J.J. Abrams returns for the season 3 premiere. In the episode... Jack, Kate, and Sawyer are kidnapped by The Others. Flashbacks show Jack beating up his father when he suspects him of having an affair with his wife. It's an heavy-duty episode, but what's great about it is the wealth of information. We learn who exactly The Others are (although where they come from is a different matter) and we finally get an explanation of why there's polar bears roaming around. The Island has an aquarium, which is where Jack & Company are held prisoners, and it's implied that the animals escaped or were let go.

#8 - EXPOSE
Original Airdate: March 28, 2007
Written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz
Directed by Stephen Williams

Nikki and Paulo were new additions in season 3 and to say fans hated them is an understatement. So, the writers did what they had to do... kill them... sort of. Personally, I think this episode is awesome and the way they're "killed" is very inventive.

#7 - ENTER 77
Original Airdate: March 7, 2007
Written by Carlton Cuse & Damon Lindelof
Directed by Stephen Williams

Another hatch is discovered but this one has a surviving member of the Dharma Initative. Or at least he claims to be. Flashbacks show Sayid (Naveen Andrews) being confronted by a woman he tortured in Iraq. Like the season premiere, it's an heavy-duty episode with lots of answers. Here, we learns what happened to Dharma and its people. The Others, or The Hostiles, killed them.

#6 - TRICIA TANAKA IS DEAD!
Original Airdate: February 28, 2007
Written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz
Directed by Eric Laneuville

Hurley discovers a Dharma van. The dead driver inside is Ben's father, although they don't know that. Speaking of fathers, the flashbacks reveal what Hurley did before going to Sydney, Australia. He's confronted by his dad (played by Cheech of "Cheech and Chong") who abandoned him and his mother nearly two decades earlier. It's largely a somber episode, but it concludes with a happy ending. The van also plays a big part in the season finale.

#5 thru 1
THE MAN FROM TALLAHASSEE (March 21, 2007)
THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN (May 9, 2007)
GREATEST HITS (MAY 16, 2007)
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, PARTS 1 & 2 (MAY 23, 2007)

Writers: Carlton Cuse, Drew Goddard, Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis, Damon Lindelof, Jeff Pinkner, and Elizabeth Sarnoff
Directors: Jack Bender, Bobby Roth, and Stephen Williams

These five episodes feature everything that's important and GREAT about season 3. Ben (Michael Emerson) is revealed to be a child who grew up on the island when his father got work with Dharma. His dad hated him cause his wife died giving birth to Ben. A lot of pain and anger comes from that so when he becomes an adult, Ben teams up with The Natives to eliminate Dharma and take over the island. Back in the present time, a woman (played by that lesbian on White Collar) has landed on the island and she has a radio that can signal for help, but first, Charlie and Desmond have to go to a Dharma submarine that's blocking all communication while everyone else heads to a radio tower to stop playing Danielle's transmission that's also blocking all signals. Meanwhile, Locke meets Jacob and flash-forwards reveal that Jack regrets leaving the island. Season 3 has its flaws, there's no doubt about it, but there's also no denying it ended VERY strong.

LaFLEUR (MARCH 4, 2009)
NAMASTE (MARCH 18)
HE'S OUR YOU (MARCH 25)

Season 5 begins with Saywer & Friends jumping through time like some weird episode of Quantum Leap, while Locke tries to get off the island. In the flashforwards, Jack & Company debate whether or not to return to the island. After 7 episodes of that nonsense, the season settles into its main storyline. Sawyer, Juliet, Miles, and Jin end up in 1974 and bulls--t their way into joining Dharma. Three years later, they've settled into their new lives and are finally happy. But then Jack, Kate, Hurley, and Sayid show up and ruin everything. These three episodes highlight the best moments of that situation. Sawyer manages to get Jack, Kate, and Hurley to join Dharma but Sayid is confused for a Hostile and is imprisoned. While in Dharma's holding cell, he meets 12-year-old Ben. Ben helps Sayid escape and Sayid returns the favor by shooting him. These episodes are great because it shows how quickly everything turns upside down after a period of peace and harmony. It's almost heartbreaking.


THE VARIABLE (APRIL 29)
FOLLOW THE LEADER (MAY 6)
THE INCIDENT, PARTS 1 & 2 (MAY 13)

In the 100th episode of Lost, Daniel returns to inform Jack that he can change the future by dropping a hydrogen bomb on Swan Station a/k/a The Hatch. But the bread and butter of these final episodes is Locke returning from the dead, taking over The Others, and finally meeting Jacob. In typical Lost fashion, more questions are raised than answered but it's all very compelling nonetheless.

HERE WE GO!
THE 10 BEST EPISODES OF LOST!

#10 - THE 23rd PSALM
Season Two
Original Airdate: January 11, 2006
Written by Carlton Cuse & Damon Lindelof
Directed by Matt Earl Beesley



In the grand scheme of things, it's easy to forget about Mr. Eko (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje). His contribution to the series was minimal at best. However, I'm a fan of the character and would have loved to have seen him continue with the show till the very end. Although I've read that the actor who played Mr. Eko didn't want to stay and that's why he was killed off. That's a shame because no other character embodied the spiritual nature of the series better than him. In retrospect, it makes sense why the Smoke Monster didn't initially kill Eko. He saw him as a kindred spirit. Both are flawed souls haunted by the memory of their near-perfect brothers. In the case of Eko, however, he saw the errors of his way and seeked redemption.

#9 - SUNDOWN
Season Six
Original Airdate: March 2, 2010
Written by Paul Zbyszewski & Graham Roland
Directed by Bobby Roth



Speaking of the Smoke Monster, I find it amusing that the first mystery on the island turns out to be the biggest one. People end up on the island for one sole purpose, to stop it. And in this episode, we learn how difficult that task will be. Even more interesting, however, is Sayid (Naveen Andrews) and his side of the story. He's the only main character that has a truly disturbing past. And to see him abandon all humanity and become the monster's right-hand man gives the episode an overall feeling that everything just got ugly.

#8 - MAN OF SCIENCE, MAN OF FAITH
Season Two
Original Airdate: September 21, 2005
Written by Damon Lindelof
Directed by Jack Bender



At 23 million viewers, this is the most-watched episode of Lost. The fact it never reached those numbers again, not even with the series finale, comes to show how quickly people were disappointed with the show. In season one, Lost was about a group of lost souls who were redeeming themselves on the island. In season two, that theme continued but it took a backseat to the mysteries of the island, which would remain the central story for the remainder of the series. Personally, I have nothing against that and I don't think the show lost anything by shifting focus. At least at this point. This episode features the two most important characters, and perhaps the biggest theme on the show. Jack (Matthew Fox) is a doctor and believes in science. Even though he has encountered miracles and other fantastical events, he truly believes there's a rational explanation for everything. Locke (Terry O'Quinn), on the other hande, is a man of faith and believes the island is a spiritual place. They're both proven to be right and wrong when the hatch is opened and Desmond and the Dharma initiative are introduced. Throughout the remainder of the series, Jack begins to understand this and that's why he eventually becomes the island's protector. Locke, unfortunately, becomes confused and eventually becomes the face of evil. And all that begins, here, with the opening of the hatch.

#7 - DAVE
Season Two
Original Airdate: April 5, 2006
Written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz (creators of Once Upon a Time)
Directed by Jack Bender



Hugo "Hurley" Reyes (Jorge Garcia) is a strange character when you think about it. He's a former mental institute patient who wins the lottery by playing numbers he overheard from another patient. As soon as he gets the money, bad luck seems to follow him. It gets so bad that he travels to Australia to seek help. He doesn't get it. On his flight back home, the plane crashes and a new chapter of his life begins. He meets cool people and goes off on adventures even though he's ridiculously out-of-shape. Then he hooks-up with a blonde, big-breasted chick. She dies, but that's okay, because out of nowhere, he develops the ability to communicate with ghosts. Through those abilities he meets Jacob and eventually becomes "Island Protector" when Jack sacrifices himself to rescue the island. Now with all that being said, let's take a look at Dave. In this episode, the idea of everything being in Hurley's head, ala St. Elsewhere, is introduced and literally never brought up again. Has anyone here ever entertained the idea that MAYBE that's the answer? Even if you don't think so, and I'm assuming everyone here doesn't think so, it can't be ignored that the possibilities of that being the truth are very intriguing.

#6 - THE END
Season Six
Original Airdate: May 23, 2010
Written by Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse
Directed by Jack Bender



Here's a question I've never seen anyone ask. Does Jack become the dog? In Across the Sea, we learn that going to the light kills your body but not your soul. That's why Jacob's brother became the Smoke Monster and needed vessels to roam the island in the form of a human. So we know Jack's soul remained on the island, but isn't it weird how Vincent just lays next to him? And Vincent, somehow, survived everything and always looks so well-groomed. Weird, huh? Anyway..... the finale is definitely a mixed bag. I enjoyed the conclusion to the main story, but the infamous "flash-sideways" or whatever you wanna call it, are disappointing and confusing even though composer Michael Giacchino makes it work.

#5 thru 2
THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN (May 9, 2007)
GREATEST HITS (MAY 16, 2007)
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, PARTS 1 & 2 (MAY 23, 2007)

Season Three

Writers: Carlton Cuse, Drew Goddard, Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis, Damon Lindelof, and Elizabeth Sarnoff
Directors: Jack Bender and Stephen Williams



I'm in the camp of people who believe the show should have ended with season three. I find Jacob, Smoke Monster, and the Island Protectors to be very interesting, but ultimately, the series got way too convoluted because of it. Some could argue that simplicity would make Lost lose its richness. If the show were simply the survivors battling Ben and The Others while solving the mysteries of the island through the Dharma initiative, it would be less interesting in retrospect. All the WTF moments are what makes Lost, well, Lost. However, the characters are the bread and butter of the series. Having them defeat the bad guys and leave the island is a much more satisfying conclusion than what we got. Not to mention that their experiences on the island would have made them grow as human beings and redeem themselves from their past sins. I guess it all comes down to art vs entertainment. What we got was art but what we really wanted was entertainment and these four episodes are easily the most entertaining.

#1 - WALKABOUT
Season One
Original Airdate: October 13, 2004
Written by David Fury
Directed by Jack Bender



Seconded chances. I think that's what Lost was ultimately about, at least initially. John Locke had a pathetic life in the real world but became everything he wanted to be on the island, at least initially. This episode is strangely inspiring and made Lost one of the standout TV shows of the `00s. If Lost had made more episodes like Walkabout and less episodes like Across the Sea, it would probably be considered one of the greatest shows of all-time, alongside Breaking Bad and The Wire.

I wasn't as attached to this show as you, so I enjoyed the finale.

The End was a terrible episode, and a horrible way to end a great show.

You guys are getting so worked up on something I posted 2 years ago. LOL.

You guys were pissed off back then too. LOL. JBond refused to acknowledge season 6's existence.

We have to go back!!!