Created by Jeffrey Lieber, Damon Lindelof, and J.J. Abrams
2004 - 2010
A flight from Sydney, Australia crashes on a mysterious island where bizarre and unexplainable events take place with regularity. Following a huge ensemble cast of characters, this sci-fi/fantasy drama was massively popular right out the gate, but while it's viewership slowly declined, the quality stayed high throughout, ending the series on a terrific note.
Finally finishing this show after starting it close to 15 years ago was a weirdly emotional experience for me. Not only is this due to the effective storytelling tools implemented through its writing and editing, but also for the simple fact that I had gotten invested in these characters over a decade ago before my interest waned, so seeing resolutions to their stories after all this time was made all the more satisfying. While plot lines at times became confused and/or convoluted, the development and changes in the cast were never less than incredible.
While I found the show difficult to hold my attention during its first run, as a series to sit down and watch in marathon, it was totally captivating. A bit self-aggrandizing at times and preoccupied with trying to fill the audience with some sense of importance and wonder over every tiny detail (some of which never resulting in any real pay-off), it could be easy to criticize the show for being pretentious and poorly planned out. I would have to mostly disagree. They always knew where they wanted the story to end up, just not quite how to get it there.
Use of flashbacks, and later flash-sideways and flash-forwards, make up a good part of the character development. Interlacing backstories and retroactive explanations for character motivation are key to the success of the show, both of which are also great examples of how the series gets its hooks in you with the promise of pay-off. And 9 times out of 10, your wishes are granted, leaving the remainder off in the background to simmer. One thing is for sure though, the writing staff was excellent and implementing cliffhangers with satisfying resolutions.
From a purely aesthetic perspective, there's a lot to love about this show. It's setting is gorgeous, and the way the environment affects the story is terrific. It's shot well, but even more than the visuals, one aspect I find very appealing about this show is the music by Michael Giacchino. With about 10 different memorable pieces of music, all of which eliciting strong and varied emotional reactions, I think it's safe to say the show has one of the best musical scores in the history of television.
I would usually highlight my favorite character, but instead I will briefly talk about the show's lead, Jack Shephard. For a majority of the show, he's unlikable, often making poor decisions, acting erratically, and insistent that everyone put their unflinching faith in his every action with little to no guarantee of having their loyalty rewarded. But by the end, he's back in the audience's good graces and his arc is incredibly satisfying. In many ways Jack is a reflection of the show as a whole, as you have to be patient many times before receiving your due. But worry not, your faith will be rewarded.
As far as shows of the 2000s go, few left a mark on network television quite like Lost. It had dry spells, but to sit down and watch it now, my complaints are very few and far between. It was weird, experimental, and quite wonderful from beginning to end.
My grade: A-
Finally finishing this show after starting it close to 15 years ago was a weirdly emotional experience for me. Not only is this due to the effective storytelling tools implemented through its writing and editing, but also for the simple fact that I had gotten invested in these characters over a decade ago before my interest waned, so seeing resolutions to their stories after all this time was made all the more satisfying. While plot lines at times became confused and/or convoluted, the development and changes in the cast were never less than incredible.
While I found the show difficult to hold my attention during its first run, as a series to sit down and watch in marathon, it was totally captivating. A bit self-aggrandizing at times and preoccupied with trying to fill the audience with some sense of importance and wonder over every tiny detail (some of which never resulting in any real pay-off), it could be easy to criticize the show for being pretentious and poorly planned out. I would have to mostly disagree. They always knew where they wanted the story to end up, just not quite how to get it there.
Use of flashbacks, and later flash-sideways and flash-forwards, make up a good part of the character development. Interlacing backstories and retroactive explanations for character motivation are key to the success of the show, both of which are also great examples of how the series gets its hooks in you with the promise of pay-off. And 9 times out of 10, your wishes are granted, leaving the remainder off in the background to simmer. One thing is for sure though, the writing staff was excellent and implementing cliffhangers with satisfying resolutions.
From a purely aesthetic perspective, there's a lot to love about this show. It's setting is gorgeous, and the way the environment affects the story is terrific. It's shot well, but even more than the visuals, one aspect I find very appealing about this show is the music by Michael Giacchino. With about 10 different memorable pieces of music, all of which eliciting strong and varied emotional reactions, I think it's safe to say the show has one of the best musical scores in the history of television.
I would usually highlight my favorite character, but instead I will briefly talk about the show's lead, Jack Shephard. For a majority of the show, he's unlikable, often making poor decisions, acting erratically, and insistent that everyone put their unflinching faith in his every action with little to no guarantee of having their loyalty rewarded. But by the end, he's back in the audience's good graces and his arc is incredibly satisfying. In many ways Jack is a reflection of the show as a whole, as you have to be patient many times before receiving your due. But worry not, your faith will be rewarded.
As far as shows of the 2000s go, few left a mark on network television quite like Lost. It had dry spells, but to sit down and watch it now, my complaints are very few and far between. It was weird, experimental, and quite wonderful from beginning to end.
My grade: A-
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