Welcome to the LOST retrospective, brought to you by the dynamic duo of Matt and Crit, who you know from the weekly articles reviewing and recapping each episode. LOST is arguably the greatest show of all time, and is definitely the one that will have the greatest impact from our generation of TV. With that in mind, we have decided to take a look back at each season of LOST, picking our favorite episodes and moments to share with you the reader. Each day of this week we will take a look at one season, each of us picking our five favorite episodes from the season. Will we pick the same episodes? Yes, most likely. But when it comes to LOST (and when it comes to Crit and Matt, really) there are bound to be purposeful coincidences.
So with the series now officially over, let’s take a look back at the show that has been so important since September of 2004. Follow us behind the cut for more, and let us know your thoughts about your favorite episodes/moments in the comments!
Episode 1: Man of Science, Man of Faith
Crit:: On the island: Hatch exploration! Desmond! Jack’s flashback scene where he meets Desmond was great and has always felt very important. “You have to lift it up.” “See you in another life, yeah?”
Matt: Season 2 is my favorite season of LOST, hands down. If I could pick every episode of this season to glorify, I would. But those are against the rules (as defined by Crit and I, not Jacob). Instead, I put a vote in to the premiere, which in my opinion is one of the best on LOST. It introduces the fantastic new character of Desmond, brings us down into the hatch and begins to introduce us to all the elements that become recurring throughout this great season. Such an excellent start.
Episode 2: Adrift
Matt: This episode is great for a multitude of reasons, but people often overlook it. The reason I love it is for these three things: the DHARMA shark everybody loves to reference, illumination into Michael and his relationship with Walt which is KEY this season, and of course – “Othas! OTHAS!” This is the second episode of the season, and this moment was huge into bringing me in even deeper to the show. Granted, I was already a huge fan by this time, but seeing Jin run away screaming from a dark group of people that we’d heard about for a long time was so intriguing, I remember shouting, “Dammit! NEXT EPISODE, NOW!”
Episode 3: Orientation
Crit: Learning more about the hatch was really fascinating.
Matt: Aw yeah, John Locke episode! We get to learn all about the hatch and the button here, and it’s our first real look into the DHARMA Initiative, which is a huge part of the show. It also features an incredibly powerful moment between Jack and Locke debating science versus faith as John cries, “I can’t do this alone, Jack. I don’t want to.”
Episode 14: One Of Them
Crit: Henry Gale! Michael Emerson’s addition to the cast was great and he’s been phenomenal in every scene since.
Matt: When he first showed up, I said, “Hey, look, it’s that guy from Saw!” Who knew that so shortly after than, Michael Emerson would be forever known as Ben Linus, and his role as Zepp would be instantly replaced. Benry Gale became the best new character of the show, constantly stealing the top spot in many people’s hearts from Desmond. He’s also further proof that season 2 is the best, because his manipulations in the hatch are fantastic and astounding.
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Episode 20: Two for the Road
Crit: Michael shooting Ana Lucia and Libby is one of the most shocking moments in the shows history.
Matt: Darkest moment in LOST? Maybe. My jaw hit the floor, and thank God there was a week in between episodes because something like this hit people pretty hard. He shoots Ana Lucia, Libby, and himself. Man. We knew something bad would happen when Michael returned, but who knew it would be so dark. And poor Hurley…
Episode 23 and 24: Live Together, Die Alone
Crit: Desmond episode + season finale = double awesomeness. We learn about Widmore’s race, Desmond’s initial arrival on the island, see the four-toed statue, “I think I crashed your plane,” the fail-safe key is turned, the sky turns purple, a man in the arctic calls Penny to tell her “I think we found it.”
Matt: Again, the season finale makes it into the list. As proof that the second season is the best, a lot happens as Crit points out. Humorously enough, this is where I know a lot of people left because the four-toed statue was just too odd, but it is – again – one of those moments that has such a pay off later for the long time fans. Most of the things in this episode do, especially the Widmore/Penny thing that’s really placed at the forefront as part of the important aspects of the show. That and Ben finally owning up to being the leader of the Others, leaving our heroes tied up on a dock, and bam. Best season.
