It’s amazing, the kind of resonance a show takes on when the public deems the finale subpar. Lost is one such show. (See also: The Sopranos.) Viewers either loved the finale or thought it tainted the entirety of the ABC program. To judge a show solely on its final act is ridiculous, especially one that brought us as much joy as Lost. It remains one of the best shows of the past decade and there’s a myriad of reasons why you should revisit the series. (Also, I loved the finale.) It’s currently streaming on Netflix, and if you never thought about going back to the island, allow me to try and change your mind. Here are four reasons why you should make room in your bingeing diet for more Lost.
1) The Acting
Lost doesn’t get enough credit for having a remarkable ensemble cast. Terry O’Quinn, Naveen Andrews, Michael Emerson, Evangeline Lilly, and Matthew Fox were all nominated for Emmy and Golden Globes (in some cases, winning), but the supporting players were just as strong. Henry Ian Cusick, as Desmond, evolved from a guest role into one of the most important characters on the island. His performance earned him an Emmy nomination for a guest spot early in the series, but his role in the finale is anything but supporting.
Other incredible performances abounded: Daniel Dae Kim, Josh Holloway, Yunjin Kim, Harold Perrineau, Dominic Monaghan, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje — the latter in a limited role — turned in exciting, moving performances. If you have no other reason for watching Lost again, watch it for world-class actors doing their thing.
2) The Writing
There’s considerable debate about the payoffs in Lost not exceeding expectations (see also number 4), but those who make this argument are missing the bigger picture. Case in point: The season one episode, “The Moth,” is one of the show’s finest hours. Using an extended metaphor, the episode encapsulates many of the themes (see number 3) woven throughout the series by introducing Jack Shephard to a cave that ultimately serves as a cocoon of change. There are many episodes in Lost that echo the same qualities — heavy soliloquies emblematic of a singular idea, with each idea eventually meeting others to create a thematic tapestry.
3) The Themes
Good versus evil. Life and death. Destiny. Faith versus science. These are just a few of the themes explored by Lost. John Locke’s progress offered an incredible story of redemption and courage in the face of pessimism. If you’re someone struggling with faith, then pay attention to Jack’s journey. His crisis of faith ultimately results in him becoming a religious figure of sorts. With all of the death in the show, grief becomes something many characters share, and Sayid’s path after the death of Shannon touches on all of the stages someone dealing with a tragic loss has to deal with. Even if one disagrees with the narrative choices of the series, it’s tough to argue thematic elements of Lost don’t have power.
4) The Mysteries
So what that there’s a polar bear on a tropical island? There’s also a smoke monster, a mysterious string of numbers, an island that is a living entity, time travel, miraculous physical regenerations, and, if that wasn’t enough, possession. Are you really that hung up on a polar bear? Lost is a show that’s greater than the sum of its parts, and while — yes — some things are not explained to their fullest, in the end, that didn’t matter. What matters is the magnetic quality the writers and creators of the series were able to maintain through six seasons of the show.
But it’s not like the mysteries aren’t still gripping. Remember how badly you wanted to know what “The Hatch” was all about? Remember the first time we heard the smoke monster? How about that time Locke suddenly came back to life when the group traveled back to the island? These mysteries kept us coming back for more each week, and if you’re to revisit the series — and you should — now you have a chance to try and decipher these questions. And if you can’t, that’s not necessarily a problem. Do it. Go back to the island. It’s your destiny.
