Lost (2004 — 2010)

Lost (2004–2010) is an American sci-fi adventure drama series developed by Jeffrey Lieber, J. J. Abrams, and Damon Lindelof for ABC, running from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010 for six seasons and a total of 121 episodes. The show incorporates supernatural elements and chronicles the lives of the survivors of a commercial flight from Sydney to Los Angeles that crashes on an enigmatic island in the South Pacific Ocean. Each episode delves into a main storyline on the island while also featuring flashbacks or flashforwards that give viewers a deeper understanding of the characters involved. Critics have consistently ranked Lost as one of the top television series of all time, with an estimated average of 16 million viewers per episode during its first season on ABC. In its final season, the show maintained a viewership of over 11 million in the U.S. Additionally, it received numerous industry award nominations and won multiple accolades throughout its run.

Season 1 (2004–2005). The first season starts off with a plane crash that leaves the survivors of Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 stranded on an apparently deserted tropical island. Leading the group is Jack Shephard, a skilled spinal surgeon. However, their survival is constantly threatened by various unknown forces such as polar bears, a hidden creature lurking in the jungle (dubbed ‘Smoke Monster’), and the island’s hostile inhabitants known as ‘The Others’. Along the way, they come across a woman named Danielle Rousseau who has been marooned on the island for 16 years and is desperately searching for her daughter, Alex. As they explore their surroundings, they stumble upon an enigmatic metal hatch buried in the ground.

Season 2 (2005–2006). In the second season of Lost (2004–2010), we see a growing conflict between the survivors and the Others, as well as the recurring theme of faith versus science. Both old and new mysteries are brought to light as the four survivors in the raft are unexpectedly attacked by the Others and Walt is held captive. This turn of events forces the group to return to the island, where they encounter another group of survivors (known as the ‘Tailies’). As tensions rise between Jack and John Locke over control of vital supplies in the hatch, Sawyer ultimately takes charge in ‘The Long Con’. It is later discovered that the hatch is actually a research station established by a scientific project called Dharma Initiative around thirty years ago, which conducted experiments on the island.

Season 3 (2006–2007). In the third season, the crash survivors uncover more information about the Others and their mysterious island, including their extensive history and the ultimate fate of the Dharma Initiative. We are also introduced to Benjamin Linus, the leader of the Others, as both sides experience defections that lead to conflict. Additionally, time travel elements enter the picture when Desmond is forced to activate a fail-safe key in the hatch, causing his mind to travel eight years into the past. Upon his return to present day, he gains a unique ability to see into the future. Meanwhile, Kate and Sawyer manage to escape from the Others while Jack remains behind after accepting Ben’s offer of freedom in exchange for operating on his cancer. However, their plans are foiled when John destroys their means of escape by destroying the submarine. This leaves Jack stranded on the island with Juliet, another member of the Others who is also seeking a way off. In contrast, John decides to align himself with the Others.

Season 4 (2008). The fourth season of Lost centers around the arrival of people from the freighter, who have been sent to take control of the island from Benjamin. ‘Flash forwards’ continue, giving insight into the post-island lives of six survivors known as the ‘Oceanic Six’: Jack, Kate, Hurley, Sayid, Sun, and Aaron. In the present timeline, four members of the freighter’s crew team up with the remaining survivors in an effort to flee the island. However, they soon realize that their pursuers have orders to eliminate anyone who stays behind. Meanwhile, Ben and John travel to meet Jacob, the leader of the island. Upon entering his house, John is surprised to find Jack’s deceased father Christian speaking on Jacob’s behalf. Christian instructs John to ‘move’ the island and then leads him to an underground station where time travel was studied. As a result of this encounter, John becomes the new leader of The Others while Ben uses a giant frozen wheel to physically relocate the entire island and eventually finds himself stranded in the Sahara desert.

Season 5 (2009). In Season 5, we follow two timelines. The first takes place on the chaotic island where the survivors suddenly shift between past and present. During one of these time jumps, John has a conversation with Richard Alpert from the Others. Richard informs John that in order to save the island, he must bring everyone back. John follows Ben’s footsteps to an underground station and moves the wheel himself. This transports him to 2007 in the Sahara desert while time stops shifting on the island, leaving the survivors stranded with the Dharma Initiative in 1974. In 2007, John reaches out to the Oceanic Six, but they are reluctant to return. Eventually, he comes across a despondent Jack and reveals that his father is alive on the island. This has a profound impact on Jack and he starts taking flights in hopes of crashing onto the island once again. Meanwhile, Ben tracks down John and kills him. Following his death, the remaining Oceanic Six are instructed to board Flight 316 of Ajira Airways with John’s body in tow in order to return to the island.

Season 6 (2010). The final season of Lost, season 6, features two timelines. The first shows the survivors being transported to the present day after Jacob’s death. This event allows his brother, the Man in Black, who is also known as the Smoke Monster in his human form, to take control of the island. Disguised as John Locke, the Smoke Monster seeks to leave the island and forces a final showdown between good and evil. Meanwhile, the second timeline, known as ‘flash-sideways’, explores the lives of the main characters in a world where their plane never crashes. However, as we see them living completely different lives than before, it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems. In the last few episodes, a flashback to ancient times reveals the origin of the island’s power and the conflict between Jacob and his twin brother, who was transformed into the Smoke Monster by its power.