Before Lost premiered in September 2004, it was uncertain if this ambiguous new show with a little-known cast stranded on a tropical island would last past the pilot episode. Not only did Lost survive to become a series, it become an enormous success that skyrocketed to become considered as one of the greatest television programs of the last decade. Lost acquired a cult-like following of fans that watched the show religiously, as well as praise from many television critics. No other show has been able to gain the same type of dedicated fan-following and critical acclaim that Lost had during its six-year run. What was the secret to its success? Why has no other show been able to quite capture the same magic formula that made Lost fantastic? Well, simply, there was no single reason behind Lost's success. But a combination of a few critical ingredients may have driven Lost to become a show like no other.
Characters, Characters, Characters.
While die-hard fans may have been pondering the meaning of the island or the secrets of the Dharma Initiative, the true heart of the show lied in the well developed, meaningful characters. While the questions of the show frustrated and puzzled many, the characters provided the life, the humour, the personality and the fun of the show. Over six years, we viewers grew a bond to Jack, Hurley, Kate, Locke and the many others. From the start, the show was praised for the diversity of its cast. The elaborate cast included characters of all different races and personalities. There was the doctor, the fugitive seeking a second chance, the struggling father and the repressed wife. There were whites, blacks, Asians, Hispanics and Middle-Easterners. These were characters we could relate to. Characters we grew to love and adore. No matter what else happened, we knew that we could always count on the show's characters for entertainment. Lost involved creative ways to bring depth to our characters, including the utilization of flashbacks and flash-forwards to tell their stories. It could be argued that the characters' respective mysteries were just as interesting, if not more so, than the ones on the island. While every great show has fantastic a cast and set of characters to act as a driving force, Lost brought together a unique blend that grew on the audience like no other I have ever seen.
A Plot Which Built Upon Itself
While Lost was undeniably a science fiction show, viewers were not dumped into the heavy mythology and dense plot right away. Had Lost introduced us right from the start to time travelling, black smoke monsters that could shape-shift into deceased characters, or a frozen wheel that could move the island, a huge chunk of Lost's audience may have been, well, lost. Instead, Lost actually began quite simple, spending a first season that focused primarily on the characters' stories while only hinting at the dense mysteries to come. In this way, the writers did not plunge us head-first into the mythology; rather, we were able to stick in our toes to test the water before entering. Once we developed a foundation of attachments to the characters and to the plot early on, the writers increased the amount of mythology and outrageous plots in later seasons. By this point we were hooked, and there was no turning back.
Something for Everyone
Drama, romance, action, suspense, mystery, adventure and comedy. No matter what you were looking for, Lost seemed to have it all. The same show that introduced us to a pillar of black smoke that could tear people apart also introduced us to more sensitive love stories, such as those between Charlie and Claire or the infamous Jack/Kate/Sawyer love triangle. It provided suspense, often ending each week on a cliffhanger which drove us crazy wanting more. There was comedy in Sawyer's one-liners or Hurley's lovable antics. We saw anger and revenge, but at the same time we saw characters love and heal. One episode could take you on a grand journey across the island, while another could have you scratching your head at a simple puzzle in the hatch. Whether you were tuning in to see Sawyer without a shirt each week or answers about the Others, Lost truly was entertaining for almost everyone.
Distinct Feel
In a time in which television seems to be filled with run-of-the-mill detective shows or doctor shows, Lost introduced something unexpected and unique. It did not wrap up every episode nice and tidily, leaving the viewer knowing who committed the crime or what the diagnoses turned out to be. Instead, it left the viewer in a constant state of confusion with its serialized form, and more importantly, Lost left us wanting more. Not only was Lost unique in its serialization, but almost every aspect of the show was a breath of fresh air. Almost literally- the constant shots of beaches and jungles were quite pleasing to the eyes. But Lost was more than that. It crafted a story that was unexpected and that felt like nothing else on television. Its structure was new and different, incorporating two stories per episode - one on the island, and one somewhere else (flashbacks, flash-forwards, or flash-sideways). And Lost never let this formula grow stale. When the flashbacks seemed to be dragging down the momentum of the show, the writers unexpectedly introduced the flash-forwads. And when the flash-fowards ran their course, the show introduced an entirely new universe. In this way, Lost kept a distinct feel that was constantly evolving as the show progressed.
Planned Ending
Lost will be remembered in the memories of its fans as having a clear beginning, middle, and end. This is crucial to any narrative, whether its in literature, television or in movies. This may seem like a simple point to have, yet many great shows lack a clear direction when heading toward their ends. Incredible shows fall victim to a seemingly unending story. Even though they may be running out of ideas, these shows produce episode after episode for the sake of making more money. Shows like 24 and Scrubs were phenomenal for many years but began meandering in their later seasons as producers ran out of ideas. Lost did not fall victim to this fate. Producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse carefully planned out Lost's later seasons to make sure the show ended exactly how the story was meant to be told. ABC allowed this to happen, setting an end-date at six seasons despite the high ratings of the show. Like a great novel, having a clear direction as to where the series is going- and how long it will take to get there- allowed Lost to end strong and keep a meaningful legacy.
While many shows may be able to emulate a few of the above listed criteria, it will be incredibly difficult for another show a capture all of these characteristics in the same perfect way that was seen on Lost. Lost had a blend of well-written story, courtesy of a group of phenomenal writers and producers, and an incredible cast which crafted their characters in fantastic ways. The show was like nothing else on television and became an addicting drama that could not be missed. Will there ever be another Lost? No one can know. But until that time, we still have our reruns to watch this great series over again.
Kevin Kurack - Kevin Kurack is a current sophomore student studying at the University of Richmond. He is studying Biology and Pre-Health sciences.
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