The Ending of ‘Lost’ Was Perfect

The big picture

• Lost
  dominated the cultural zeitgeist with its complex storytelling and mysteries, resulting in a “water cooler effect”.
• The final episode, “The End”, received mixed reactions but provided satisfying conclusions for each character.
• Lost
  Options such as exploring timelines and universes kept viewers engaged and questioning.

game of thrones i Strange things may have ushered in a new wave of “blockbuster television,” but no 21st-century show ever managed to dominate the popular culture zeitgeist like Lost. From the JJ AbramsThe directed pilot wowed viewers in the fall of 2004, with hordes of loyal fans following the show every week, leading to a “water cooler effect” where news of major plot developments circulated quickly. Lost was a show that quickly became as much fun to speculate and discuss as to watch, as showrunners, Damon Lindelof i Bryan Burke, it always seemed to hint at a major revelation that would “explain everything.” This perhaps set up the final episode, “The End,” for mismanaged expectations, like the end of Lost remains one of the most divisive the history of dramatic television.

Given the rapid way in which television has overtaken cinema as the premium form of “serious entertainment”, the pressure on a program to somehow justify the time and investment of its audiences has become even greater. highlighted over the years. While shows like mad men i Succession were considered successful because they had great season finales some fans regret seeing game of thrones or How I met your mother firstly because they didn't “stick the landing”. It's not a constructive way to criticize television, since even a truly awful final episode wouldn't negate the years of fun mysteries, great characters, and exciting moments that Lost provided However, this conversation is in itself superfluous, as Lost had a perfect final episode that continues to get better with age.

What happens in the “Lost” finale?

“The end” it was perhaps the most epic delivery in the history of Lost, as the multi-part episode aired for 104 minutes in the summer of 2010. The feature-length runtime was justified, as the episode needed to wrap up years of complex storytelling and give enough space for each of the main characters had an outstanding moment. As Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox), Kate Austen (Evangeline Lilly), and Hurley Reyes (Jorge Garcia) head into the heart of the island to reach the inner chamber, find themselves caught in a merciless battle with the evil Man in Black, who has taken the form of their former ally, John Locke (Terry O'Quinn). It is after James Sawyer (Josh Holloway) and Desmond Hume (Henry Ian Cusick) appear to learn that Benjamin Linus (Michael Emerson) plans to destroy the island forever.

“The End” finally managed to bring the core cast together on a singular mission, dating back to the beginning of the first season when they had all met as strangers when they first crashed on the island. “The End” certainly doesn't leave much room to breathe, as the brutal fight between Locke and Jack is one of the most intense moments in the history of Lost. However, it is quite emotional to observe how the characters have evolved significantly over the course of six seasons; together, they have experienced monsters, time travel, secret hatches and militaristic societies. Although characters like Sawyer and Jack have been at odds with each other, they are able to compromise to achieve a collective goal in the end.

Lost was able to ensure that each character had a satisfying conclusion, a difficult task considering how extensive the set is. Considering Hurley has always been the heart of the show, it made sense that he would become the protector of the island, making sure its secrets were kept safe. Seeing Jack finally confront his father, Christian (John Terry), was also quite poignant, as their tumultuous father-son relationship had been one of the show's most critical conflicts. It was also very rewarding to see Desmond escape safely, as he experienced more trauma than perhaps anyone else as a result of Season 4's time travel storyline.

“Lost” was always defined by its daring choices

One of the reasons for this Lost it was so exciting it was that it constantly changed the viewers' perception of what it was actually about. While the first season focused entirely on the mysteries of the island, the second season delved into the DHARMA initiative, with later seasons detailing different timelines and pocket universes. The final season made the bold decision to take the series in an existentialist direction centered on a generational battle between good and evil on the same island. This seemed like a natural conclusion to where the characters were headed; viewers were so intent on learning “what” was happening that they never had a chance to ask “why.”

The revelation that most of the final universe took place in a secondary universe where the characters were dead all along may have rubbed some viewers looking for concrete answers the wrong way. Despite this, “The End” was satisfying for anyone Lost fans who watched the show just for the characters. Seeing all the couples who met during their adventures on the island united in a church is one of the most shocking images in the history of the series; if that wasn't powerful enough, the sound score of Michael Giacchino it's enough to shrink even the most cynical Lost fans until they cry.

The final episode of 'Lost' did not deserve the reaction it received

LostThe last season was immediately subjected to backlash, which is not surprising given the high expectations it had. Perhaps viewers who expected the mystery series to continue forever were disappointed as their favorite show came to its conclusion; Lindelof himself admitted that he “regretted” acknowledging the haters of the finale, as he didn't want to color viewers' expectations if they were watching the show for the first time.

The experience of looking Lost it's personaland for many, “The End” was a cathartic moment. Even if it wasn't an ending that answered every minor question that was raised throughout the show's entire run, it's for better or worse an ending that people are still talking about more than a decade later .

Lost is available to stream on Hulu in the US

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