The Lost TV shows have a strange reputation. The series was one of the biggest things on television when it first aired and the ground-breaking ways it changed the format of television storytelling are still seen today. However, when the series ended, the reception of the show was much more mixed. There are still many fans who count Lost Like one of their favorite shows of all time and enjoy rewatching it years after the finale. However, fans may have ignored some of the more glaring flaws that are obvious to others.
It’s not hard to see what some people love about Lost As the premise is equally exciting and the cast is filled with complex characters that make for a thrilling ensemble. The show also delivered some unforgettable television moments that remain impressive today. However, with the show’s grand ambitions came areas where they faltered. From the show’s endless mysteries to the controversial storytelling choices to where the series ends, several problems with Lost are difficult to look past.
15
There was no end game in place
The series either lost its way or didn’t know where it was going from the start
When you start a TV series, it’s unfair to think that the showrunners would know how the story will end from the beginning. In the case of most shows, there is no idea about how long it will last and, therefore, how much story they need to come up with to make it to the end. However, with a show like Lost What is all about a central mystery – discovering the truth about the island – the showrunners should have an idea in place.
The more Lost Going on, the more it became clear that they are making it up as they are along with no direction from where it is heading. It is possible that it was an idea that needed to be modified somewhere down the line. however, Without knowing where the story was heading, the show simply became, ironically, lost. This was most evident in season 3, which was filled with flashbacks that added nothing to the overall story.
14
Ask questions without answers
Lost kept introducing mysteries that don’t mean anything
One of the things that helped Lost Become so popular in the first place the intriguing questions it would present. Audiences tuned in each week to get more clues and find out the many mysteries that were beginning to build up. However, the mysteries eventually became less about building the story and more about filling in the gaps in the story with something that was ultimately unnecessary.
The more mysteries that were introduced that took the story in a completely new direction, the more it became clear that the show didn’t really have answers for all of them and they wouldn’t cleverly connect in a way that made for a big reveal. When the survivors discover a massive four-toed foot from a statue that was destroyed some time ago, it is not exciting, but rather frustrating, As it turns out, this is another pointless detail thrown into the increasingly sad story.
13
Losing touch of key characters
The ensemble suffered from a complicated history
As exciting as the show’s building mysteries were, one of the things that drew audiences in from the start was the incredible ensemble. Lost Delivered many characters that became some of the most beloved television personalities of the 21st century. It was exciting to see all the different personalities forced to live together and work together and also get some insight into who they are through the flashbacks in each episode.
However, as the story of Lost became more complex, the focus of the characters became more and more narrow. Jack and Locke became essential to the story, while other characters who were not so involved in these aspects were reduced. Charlie’s departure from Lost was a direct result of this, viz Actor Dominic Monaghan admitted he was frustrated with the lack of screen time Charlie was getting. The show was beginning to sacrifice beloved characters for convoluted storylines.
12
Getting too deep into mythology
The story was unveiled
The brilliance of Losts ensemble also highlights another sad truth about the show in that it could have leaned into the characters and avoided the confusing storyline. The idea of ​​a show about people surviving a plane crash and being stuck on an island offered an exciting ensemble piece. Adding a potential monster lurking in the jungle and other mysterious people already on the island, it was more than enough to make an exciting show.
however, Lost Was bogged down in growing the mythology of the island and adding more and more layers to the story. With the battle between Ben Linus and Charles Whitmore, the story of the Man in Black, and the magical abilities of some of the survivors, the show grew out of control. When it was so confusing in the end, it highlighted that the simpler direction would have been the more satisfying one.
11
The others quickly became a problem
The mystery islanders range from exciting to boring
The discovery that there were other people on the island and that they were not plane crash survivors added a huge threat to the story early on. It only got more exciting with the discovery that one of the “others” infiltrated the Oceanic group of survivors and was posing as one of them. Ben Linus obviously became a popular character when he was introduced as part of the mysterious group, but the show quickly lost its footing with this storyline.
It seems like the show keeps changing their minds about who these people are and how dangerous they are. First, they were villains who kidnapped children and then they were allies who helped. Were they part of Dharma Initiative or did they replace them? In the end, the others were simply mixed in with the rest of the survivors, until it was hard to remember where they came from.
10
Very complex narrative
The time travel elements proved a step too far
From the beginning of the show, Lost Is not afraid to confuse the viewers with all the mysteries that they throw at them. From the monster lurking in the jungle to the mysterious hatch to the presence of others on the island, There was a lot to gain.
However, given the show’s simple setting and fairly standard storylines, it was easy enough to follow in the first few seasons. However, this has become more confusing over time. Lost Introducing different time travel elements added a lot of confusion to the series and that is where it lost a lot of viewers.
In season 5, the writing became increasingly complex and messy. With several things happening on the island in different timelines and also showing various storylines off the island, It was easy to lose track of where the story was at any given moment and thus became difficult to be invested in.
9
The entire final season
The finale is overshadowed by what came before
For a TV show that has had so much build-up over the years with mysteries and unanswered questions, there was a lot riding on its ending. The final of Lost Has a mixed reputation with many calling it a disappointment.
However, similar to Game of Thrones‘ Finally, the issue with Lost was less about the finale itself and more about the flawed final season. The tone of the show changed drastically with the growing fantasy and sci-fi elements To such an extent that they started promoting the characters.
The mysterious and unanswered questions also continued to pile up with new subplots and characters being introduced when viewers were really looking for things to be wrapped up. It was a common complaint from the beginning of the series that it It seemed like the writers made it up as they went along And last season didn’t help dispel that notion.
8
The messy answers
Big build-ups lead to half-hearted conclusions
Lost was known for its excessive number of mysteries and many of them were initially very intriguing. The smoke monster and the polar bear were two early signs of some truly compelling things to be revealed later on. However, not only did the show take far too long to address many of its mysteries, but the answers they provided were usually disappointing.
The kind of disappointing reveal that longtime fans of the series are frustrated with
The polar bear is a prime example of Lost‘s disappointing answers, because this is one of the first things to really put the characters on the question How did a polar bear end up on such an island. There are even clues peppered elsewhere in the show, including a comic book, that the polar bear is extremely important.
However, the final revelation is that The Dharma Initiative simply brought the polar bear for unknown scientific reasons. It’s the kind of disappointing reveal that longtime fans of the series are frustrated with.
7
There are several major pacing issues
The show struggled to maintain momentum after big moments
The Lost Pilot kicked the show off with one of the most exhilarating first episodes of a series ever. There were many who wondered how the show would be able to sustain such an exciting pace over the course of the 20+ episode season.. The reality soon set in that it actually couldn’t.
While there were some great ones Lost Episodes that were filled with thrills and twists, there were also many that felt like they added little to nothing to the storyline. “More episodes” can sometimes be an easy criticism to throw at a show when they simply have quieter character moments as opposed to action. however, Lost would seem to Fluctuate between intense momentum with exciting reveals only to begin treading water With idle hours of television.
Filler episodes that are still great |
season and episode |
---|---|
The courage |
Season 1, Episode 7 |
Drift |
Season 2, Episode 2 |
… and found |
Season 2, Episode 5 |
Exposé |
Season 3, Episode 14 |
Left behind |
Season 3, Episode 15 |
Meet Kevin Johnson |
Season 4, Episode 8 |
The Little Prince |
Season 5, Episode 4 |
Some how it did |
Season 5, Episode 13 |
Lighthouse |
Season 6, Episode 5 |
In a way, it was the show’s popularity that hurt it in that respect because, as obsessive fans watched and waited for the next clue, These smaller episodes started to stand out a lot more. Lost Probably would have thrived more on modern TV where seasons are typically closer to 10 episodes than the 20 or so that were expected in the 2000s.
6
Inconsistent quality
Seasons would ebb and flow in terms of watchability
While awards aren’t the only measure of a show’s success, there’s an interesting anecdote that highlights some Losts issues as a series. Lost Came on the scene as a massive hit with viewers and critics.
During its first season, it was hailed as a television masterpiece and won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. After its second season, the show wasn’t even nominated in the category. This has become the struggle for the series over the years.
The inconsistency of the story overall makes many people stop short of actually hailing it as an all-time great show.
The Show would lose audiences with its unending and seemingly pointless mysteries, only to introduce a new twist Which would suddenly make things interesting and then lose its way all over again. Fans can look back on the show as some great moments, but the inconsistency of the story in general makes many people stop short of actually hailing it as an all-time great show.
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5
Poor visual effects
The show’s budget doesn’t always match its ambition
Lost is a network show from the 2000s, and it sure looks like it. Television has come a long way in terms of budgets and what they can pull off on the small screen. shows how Stranger Things, House of the Dragon, And Rings of power Shows the kind of scale that rivals many blockbuster movies.
It was easy to take the audience right out of the story when the smoke monster appeared
Lost Came from a different era, but even those who watched the series as it was arranged would never suggest the CGI work is effective. With 20+ episodes a season and a massive cast, it makes sense that there isn’t a lot of room in the budget for CGI.
The show also seemed to understand this and Had to avoid the need for such moments. However, it’s easy to take the audience right out of the story when the smoke monster appears, the polar bear makes an appearance, or the show tries to do something bigger than they’re used to.
4
Bloated and unnecessary flashbacks
The flashback stopped adding anything
The flashbacks on Lost Was a great storytelling technique in the early episodes, with many future shows following this pattern. Featuring a cast of characters, each with their own backstories and secretsThese flashbacks revealed aspects that they did not want the other survivors to know.
This led to some incredible moments, such as when it was revealed that Locke was paralyzed before going to the island and when Kate was shown to be the criminal on the island. however, After a while, the flashbacks stopped giving new information to the audience and started feeling like an excuse to get the story off the ground. of the island for a little while.
There were cases where the flashbacks felt unnecessary and even silly, such as The infamous episode that provides a backstory to Jack’s tattoos Like they meant something deep. Season 4 switching to the Flashforwards was a smart way to get past the issue that was beginning to drag the show down.
3
Neglecting important stories
The show often dropped notable plot points for lesser stories
Another frustrating aspect of the show with its many mysteries is how it has opportunities to address some of the biggest questions fans have, But tried to distract from this with less interesting stories.
The introduction of the Dharma village should have been one of the biggest moments in the series where all the questions surrounding the organization could be explored. However, it seems like the show is either unwilling to answer these questions or simply doesn’t have the answers.
Instead, they would give the audience things like Sawyer and Juliet’s relationship. As much as the couple was well-liked, it was A miscalculation of the show that fans would be more interested in this Like the story of the island that has been teased for so long.
2
Lackluster Love Stories
The romance drama of Jack, Sawyer and Kate never mattered
While the capital letters on Lost Could be fascinating and fun on their own, three of the most central characters became tedious as the show continued to Forcing them into an unnecessary love triangle.
Unlike some aspects of the show that were unpopular, Lost Keep doubling down on this
Kate, Jack and Sawyer are all key characters and the show quickly manufactures some tension between them with relationships blooming between Kate and both men. However, the soap opera story did not have the desired effect as quickly became the most boring aspect of the show.
There was a lack of chemistry between the romantic pairings and the stakes elsewhere were far too high to really take any of the drama seriously. Unlike some aspects of the show that were unpopular, Lost I caught on to this, Force the storyline on viewers until finally giving up and making Sawyer and Juliet a couple.
1
Bangling cliffhangers left unanswered
The show would tease ideas without payoff
Lost Often used cliffhangers, and most of them worked to spectacular and tantalizing degrees. The hatch’s cliffhanger opened with Walt being taken at the end of season 1Or the flash-forward reveal in season 3 are great examples of how the show could keep audiences coming back for more.
However, there are also far too many examples of when the cliffhangers felt like gimmicks with no real answers. for example, Sawyer stealing all the guns in season 2 Or Jack decides to build “an army” To fight the other well as interesting ideas that never really develop.
Most frustrating of all, the cliffhanger Revealing Libby was in the same psychiatric facility as Hurley is never mentioned or referred to again. It feels like the show had those moments there to get the audience excited, even though they knew there wasn’t really a reason or idea of ​​what it meant.