Lost contains one of the most divisive endings to any TV show in history, which is undoubtedly saved by the series' most crucial aspect. Lost aired on ABC between 2004 and 2010 and ran for six seasons with creators Jeffrey Lieber, J.J. Abrams, and Damon Lindelof. After its six-season run, Lost's series finale began being counted among the most divisive TV endings, an argument that has remained to this day.
Despite this divisive ending, Lost is saved by one crucial aspect. The overall story of Lost remains engaging throughout its six seasons, with the reason why linking intrinsically to this one critical element of the show. With that being said, here is the main reason why ABC's early-2000s network show Lost works in of the overall show, why the quality of its ending is undisputable, and why a reboot is not necessary.
LOST’s Character-Centric Story Makes The Ending Work
The element in question that makes Lost's ending work is none other than Lost's characters. While Lost's overarching story includes many different elements, from monsters to time travel and ancient deities, the focus of the show was its characters every step of the way. All of these otherworldly elements are told through the eyes of incredibly engaging, almost always sympathetic characters. This makes the ending of the show work, as its divisive conclusion also rests squarely on its character's shoulders, as with the rest of the story.
While the ending of Lost certainly causes its fair share of suspension of disbelief, it works based on the character work put in over the preceding six seasons-worth of TV. In making each and every character sympathetic, endearing, and exceedingly well-written, the Lost ending works regardless of the division around the specific plot points it entails. Not only this, but the ending avoids some misconceptions through its character work.
LOST’s Ending Avoids 1 Commonly Assumed Aspect Through Its Characters
One of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of the Lost season finale involves season 6's flash-sideways universe. Throughout Lost season 6, another timeline was shown in which the plane never crashed on the island, and the show's cast of characters live vitally different lives to what was known before. In the Lost series finale, it is revealed that this flash-sideways universe is a plane between life and death, in which Lost's characters waited to reunite with one another before journeying into the afterlife together.
One of the most criticized aspects of this ending spawns from one of the most common misconceptions about the Lost finale: that everyone was dead the entire time and the events of the series did not happen in real life. Somehow, despite multiple denials from Lost's showrunners and very overt lines of dia the series finale stating this is not the case, the argument still remains to this day. However, Lost's flash-sideways universe makes the characters as clueless as the audience was to the true nature of the side-universe, meaning the ending works as a result.
As the likes of Jack, Locke, Sawyer, and Kate are unaware of the flash-sideways having this purpose, it is laid out plainly in Lost's final episode how the ending works. Due to developing the characters further in Lost season 6, the show allows the ending to make complete sense. Unfortunately, the show still causes some confusion, which should be avoided through the explanations given to the characters.
LOST’s Characters Mean A Reboot Would Never Work
Recent online discourse often surrounds the idea of a Lost reboot or remake, something that would never work due to the show's characters. Firstly, in of a Lost reboot, the aforementioned divisive ending should not be so and is incredibly satisfying due to the heartwarming, emotional ending it gives all of its fantastic characters. In rebooting the show, the potentiality arises of tarnishing the original show's stories for the characters. Also, the ending itself would mean a Lost reboot would not be possible, due to its characters entering the afterlife together at the end.
While a remake is certainly possible, it still should be avoided. For starters, Lost has not aged enough to warrant a remake. While some show aspects look dated, Lost's production value was outstanding for the time in which it was created. Lost season 6 only ended in 2010, after shows like Breaking Bad began - a show that notably is regard as happening too recently for a reboot or remake - proving that not enough time has ed. Finally, a remake would need to top the outstanding character work of the original to warrant its existence, which would be immensely difficult due to the beloved nature of so many Lost characters.