<div style="text-align: center;">A to Z 2013 : LOST</div>

April 13, 2013 Jak Cryton

(An A to Z 2013 Challenge Entry)

All week I’ve been excited about “L” so that I could talk about LEGOS. It seems strange, but considering they were among my favorite toys during my childhood — along side my army men and G.I. Joes — it felt fitting. I wouldn’t have been able to promise anything in depth. Though after my random stream-of-consciousness-esque post for “K” yesterday, I imagine it best not to delve too deep into my crazed mind today.

I wanted another short entry. I’ve lots of catching up to do, since falling behind on blogs I follow. I sat here and I just couldn’t think of anything. It's only 7pm — no big deal, right? — but I’ve disliked how close I’ve come to almost missing the daily deadline. Not that there are any repercussions or that anyone would care; except me. I would know, and I would undoubtedly care.

Sitting here, in contemplation, I’ve been struck by the overbearing feeling of being lost...

LOST & Found

LOST is one of my most favorite television series. Possibly my number one, which was once held by Alias (both series have the same creator: J.J. Abrams). What’s not to love about it? It has action, drama, mystery, romance, sci-fi elements, and even Polar Bears! POLAR BEARS!

If you didn’t already know, LOST is a show about a group of people that survive a plane crash and become stranded on an island. It isn’t too long into the pilot episode that we discover that the island contains its fair share of mysteries, and that the survivors are not alone.Throughout the series these castaways fight/struggle amongst themselves, their inner demons, and unexplainable forces — all the while, discovering an abundance of secrets the island holds — as they try to find a way back home

The series is very heavily character driven (just the way I like them) and continually explores the inner workings of each main character, piece by piece; their past, their demons, their dreams. There are many great characters, and many times when watching a show/movie I like to pick one I like — in a way, to represent me. It’s something I've done since a child. Will my character end up good or evil? Will they survive? It’s fun, don’t judge.

Locke & Load

While some would expect me to pick Jack Shephard — given my name obsession — my character is John Locke. It was tough to choose between the two, each having their own draw to me. Jack and Locke had many differences of opinion/philosophy, which were mirrored in the series recurring theme of Science Vs Faith. He was arguably the heart of the show, at least for me. Being one of the most tragic of characters, his initial “reveal/secret” and journey of self-discovery after crashing on the island was one of the strongest elements keeping me glued to LOST.

Simply put, Locke is a badass. In fact, in my Liebster Award answer regarding what fictional character would I be, I feel dirty he wasn’t listed. I'm going to fix that right now! Maybe the fact he was played by Terry O’Quinn (who I’ve been a fan of for a long time) added to this perception. I don’t think so, though, as Locke is a series favorite for many. The part is so well written and acted, the character’s story arc thought-provoking and inspirational.

If I was stranded alongside the survivors of LOST , John Locke would be an individual I would want in my corner. Showing me how to hunt, talking about philosophy, and screaming into the night. I’m pretty sure he’d have my back. As long as I didn’t tell him what he couldn’t do.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

Unfortunately the series came to a close after six seasons. By the final season, many viewers — including myself — were distraught there may not be enough time to wrap up all the story arcs and explain the countless mysteries uncovered during the shows airing. We (the viewers) had been told that the end was planned from the beginning, and that while most mysteries would be explained, not all would. That the unanswered questions were part of the show’s “magic” and appeal.

This concerned me, but I wasn’t going anywhere. Like most, I had invested too much time to just walk away. The creators knew this; bastards. In the end, it was like they said, most major mysteries were explained. I use “explained” loosely.

And what about the ending itself? All I will say is that I thought it was an incredibly beautiful/poetic, fitting end for the series. I don’t think I could have imagined it any other way. I am trying to refrain from saying “perfect,” but it may have been, within the context of the series.

There Can Be Only One

So, Is LOST number one? King of my favorite television series? I came into the series at the fourth season. This was literally like a double-edged sword. I could watch the first three seasons straight through (marathon style), but had to wait weekly/yearly for the last three. It was torture. I couldn’t wait for more, I wanted more, I needed more LOST . I spent countless hours reading forums/discussion boards, discussing with family and friends — hypothesizing/debating — and having my thoughts and dreams invaded by it.

It would be a fitting champion.

I am catching up on so many series, though — Battlestar Galactica , Dexter, Game of Thrones , The Walking Dead — it’s hard to say which will eventually reign supreme.

One thing I know for sure is that LOST will always rank among the top, and hold a secure place in my “database” (memory), even if some of the specifics were... lost... over time (Give me a break! I’ve only seen it through its entirety once, which is a crime on its own... I know, I know).

It’s about time I went back and got... lost... on the island, once again.

“We have to go back!”

Don’t judge.

So so so so much more I could/want to talk about, but being brief... Keep it short... Breathe...

Did you watch LOST? If so, who was your favorite character? Did you love or hate the series finale? Do you have an all-time favorite TV series? If so, which and why?