The Lost Blog - Top Ten Greatest Episodes

Making a list of the ten best epsiodes of LOST isn't an easy task. Hell its difficult to make a top ten for just a single season. Then you have the season finale's. One thing LOST most definitely got right was its season climaxes. Every season ended with such a bang, you were always left wondering how they might possibly top it. And when they did, you were in awe of not only their ambitious and courage, but also with the reality that it was never anything like you predicted; take the last ever episode of proof of this. So here are the ten best episodes of LOST. I have included two and three parters as one, otherwise this list might just be occupied with all those finales. So for those of you who think LOST was never incredible, here is all you need to know about just how high LOST managed to get in terms of jaw droppingly, mind bendingly, breath takingly brilliant TV. Enjoy!

10. Ab Aeterno
Season Six
There are a number of reasons "Ab Aeterno" can be considered one of the highlights of LOST. Not only does it clear up a number of small mysteries such as when and how did the Black Rock end up inland on the Island? How did the four toed statue end up as a four toed statue? And perhaps most importantly, how old is Richard Alpert? Turns out nearly 200 years old. Set in the late 1860s, we learn that Richard was a slave upon the Black Rock, sold into slavery after accidentally killing a doctor on his homeland of Tenerife. We also learn how he came to be Jacob's intermidiary. But what really makes this episode stand out is Nestor Carbonell's performance, which may well be the finest single episode character performance of the entire show. By the shows climax, Richard has been transformed into a mystical, curious and intriguing character to a tortured, heartbroken tragic hero. Add to this the LOST creators desire to tell a strong story rather than just reveal a bunch of backstory makes this episode indispensible. Oh and we also get perhaps the most abstract definition of the island up to this point; basically its a cork (who knew).

9. The Man Behind The Curtain
Season Three

From the moment we learnt who Benjamin Linus was we all craved that backstory. Who was this man and how did he become the evil monster he is? It turns out Ben was a bigger liar and more evil monster than anyone ever thought. He wasn't born on the island, he came there when just a boy as one of the Dharma Initiative. Then, after a visitation from his dead mother he meets Richard (who doesn't look any younger - the first time his agelessness becomes apparent). We learn about his desire to control, the lack of love he felt from his father, and that he was instrumental, maybe even planning it himself, in the "purge". As he sits with his father in that VW Van and puts on the gasmask, it is one of the most shocking moments in the shows history. Oh, and on the island, Ben takes Locke to see "Jacob" and then shoots him, leaving him in the pit with Dharma bodies. Truly epic, mouth watering TV at its best.

8. Exodus
Season One

The Season One finale was a three part extravaganza which saw Michael, Jin and Sawyer set sail on the raft, Jack and Co venture into the island in search of the Black Rock, the first sighting of the black smoke, the opening of the hatch, Rousseau stealing Claire's baby and Sayid and Charlie heading off to get them and the first dramatic, on island appearances of the numbers. Like the show's finale, this was essentially a massive LOST film which offered action, emotion, drama, tension - basically everything you could possibly want from the finale. By the season's climax we had seen Sawyer shot and left in the ocean, with Michael screaming after Walt as "The Others" sail away and Jin is missing, presumed dead. Locke and Jack are left staring down a deep hole in the ground creating what is probably the most infuriatingly audacious season cliffhanger in TV history. Exodus was also the benchmark of LOST and a sign for how dramatic and addictive the show would become.

7. There's No Place Like Home
Season Four

As Season Four shot along to its finale there was a genuine sense that the show was moving into its final act. The freighter people had arrived. The survivors had been culled to just the core major characters, we had flash forwards to give us a hint of what their lives would be like off the island, and for the most part things were better on the island. But we also got a sense that the show new where it was going. The introduction of a handful of new, intriguing characters that would allow us to further explore the island made for interesting viewing, and the introduction of the science of the island through characters such as Faraday started to make everything fall into place. Then came the finale; a three part thriller which begins with the Oceanic Six arriving on the mainland. As the possibility for rescue to the Freighter begins to become a reality, Ben, Hurley and Locke head to the Orchid station to "move the island". Jack and Sawyer also head to the Orchid to rescue Hurley, whilst on the Freighter, Michael, Jin and Desmond attempt to disarm or at the very least prolong the inevtiable explosion of the massive C4 device set up by Keamy. Its a fraught, nail biting climax as Keamy and his men are out manouevered and destroyed by the Others with the help of Kate and Sayid; Sayid toe to toe punch up with Keamy was the shows finest until Season six when Sayid again had a dust up with Dogen. The finale also holds some of the great moments and shocks; Sawyer becoming a hero by jumping off the helicopter to save everyone; Sun's clambering to save Jin as the Freighter explodes; Michael's redemption as he stays with the bomb and of course Ben moving the island. We also see Desmond finally reuniting with Penny and Jack discovers Claire (who he has to pretend he never met) was his half sister. All in all "There's No Place Like Home" comes very close to being the best Season Finale of LOST and completely changes the entire show as the island disappears. 



6. Flashes Before Your Eyes
Season Three

Desmond episodes usually rank quite highly. The season 2 finale Live Together, Die Alone nearly made the list in part for the excellent flashback to Desmond's time in the hatch. A wonderful way to end the season. But with "Flashes Before Your Eyes", we see what happened to Desmond as a result of turning the fail-safe (who would have known how important his survival would be). For a lot of the early part of Season 3, Desmond secretly goes round seemingly protecting Claire and saving her from drowning. As Charlie and Hurley grow more and more suspicious of the effects of the hatch implosion on Desmond they decide to get his pissed on McCutcheon whisky to try and extract the truth. What follows is fascinating, edge of your seat TV as we learn Desmond temporally displaced his consciousness back to the time when he was about to propose to Penny. This works wonderfully as a flashback to give us a clear indication of the love Desmond feels for Penny, he sense of unworthiness and how it all ended. What makes this even more interesting is the appearance of Eloise Hawking, a sort of Timecop who warns Desmond about making the "wrong" choice. That she knows so much is a wonderfully intriguing addition to the episode and her argument that the universe has a way of course-correcting comes into play much more prominently later in the show.

5. The Shape of Things To Come
Season Four

This was a big episode full of jaw dropping action, huge emotional beats and moved at such a pace, you barely had time to catch breath before the next massive scene slapped you across the face. Following the untimely death of Rousseau we all knew and expected something big, but not as big as this. The whole thing kicks off with Hurley, Sawyer and Locke playing Risk when a phone call reveals an automated message saying Code 14-J. Everything seems fine until Locke asks Ben what it means and springs into action pulling a shotgun out of the piano chair. As Keamy and his men descend on the Barracks all hell breaks loose as most of the "redshirts" are killed off, Claire's house explodes under missile file and finally Keamy brings out Alex. Ben refuses to leave choosing the island over his daughter and Bang! there goes another cast member. The big shock though is when Ben disappears to "call" the smoke monster and Keamy and his men seem less threatening. As they leave, a showdown between Locke and Sawyer over Hurley keeps the heart racing before they head off for Jacob's Cabin. All that and we haven't even mentioned the flash forward which sees an off island Ben (waking up in the middle of the desert) recruit Sayid, after he coolly dispatched a few Arabs, to help him kill Widmore's men. The episode ends with one of the most tense dialogue exchanges in the shows history as Ben tells Charles he will kill Penny and never let him get back to the island. Instant Classic. 

4. The End
Season Six

For a more indepth analysis of LOST's final episode see my blog of the final show. When I first watched this episode for almost 2 hours it was one of, if not, the best two hours of LOST ever. It really did threaten to take top spot in this list, and even now, when I have come to terms with the ending and find it deeply satisfying and incredibly rewarding, it just misses mainly because, well I always expect more from LOST and although this delivers in spades, there is a sense that there wasn't enough story to tell for a finale episode (for example they reach the Source almost instantly, the story is quite linear, and not enough mysteries are revealed). But still, as far as LOST two strengths goes (pulling on heart strings and incredible twists) "The End" has it is spades. Every scene is short, snappy and keeps the pace flowing. With it being the end you never know exactly how it will all end or who will survive. It's also possibly the only season finale where the off island story is as compelling as the on island story. As Desmond and Hurley work together to bring everyone to the concert and trigger the memory of exactly what this place is, every scene is tinged with a feeling of closure. That everything is coming to, well, an end. When the final scenes play out there won't be a dry eye and that they managed to give every single major character in the shows history (well almost) a wonderfully emotional and cathartic ending is genuinely miraculous. 

3. Pilot
Season One

For me, as soon as the first add break arrived on Channel 4 all those years ago when LOST premiered on Channel 4, I knew I would stick with this show until it ended. I don't actually remember taking a breath as Jack wakes up in the bamboo, staggers in the direction of screaming and comes upon one of the most dramatic and visceral starts to a TV show ever. The pace, the excitement, the characters, the intrigue, everything which would become synonymous with LOST and reshape TV forever was here in this opening pilot. From the "dinosaur roars" in the jungle, to the French message on a loop, to polar bears in the jungle, to the pilot being ripped out of the cockpit. From the glorious opening, to the superb ending, the characters, the locations, the inherent drama, even the flashbacks were gripping. LOST instantly presented itself as must see TV. Every character seemed drawn from cliche, yet was utterly compelling. There was humour, drama, excitement, pathos, confusion, mystery. You can see why ABC picked up the pilot, and why JJ Abrams was intent on directing. In the words of the late Charlie Pace "Where are we". For Lostites everywhere, that was a question we definitely wanted exploring. 

2. Through The Looking Glass
Season Three 

As LOST built its reputation for stunning, incredible, show changing season finales, nothing comes close to its Season Three finale "Through The Looking Glass". As Season Three, the shows strongest built to its ending there was never any doubt about its potential to blow your socks off, and it did it constantly for double bill. As the episode begins, Locke is seemingly dead, Juliet as been revealed as a double agent, only to turn into a triple agent. The Others are coming to take the women, Naomi is well and hoping to contact her freighter to offer rescue and Charlie is about to embrace his destiny and make the ulitmate sacrifice. And we have the return of Walt, who tells a suicidal Locke his work isn't done. What makes this episode work so well is that there are three on island plotlines running simultaneously both enhancing and driving the main story forward. While Jack leads everyone to the radio tower to disable Rousseau's message, Jin, Sayid and Bernard wait behind to ambush the Others as Desmond and Charlie head to the Looking Glass to deactive the signal blocking radio transmissions to and from the island. Firstly, the ambush goes awry with only two explosions, Sayid, Bernard and Jin are captured. Sawyer and Juliet, unarmed, return to find out what has gone wrong. Ben moves to intercept Jack and the survivors resulting in one of the greatest scenes in LOST's history as Jack finally plays the hero and beats the crap out of Ben. Hurley, spurned by Charlie on his mission follows, Sawyer and Juliet and saves the Jin, Sayid and Bernard with help of the VW van in another of the shows highlights sequences. Charlie takes on the mantel of preordained hero when captured in the Looking Glass and fulfils Desmond's vision by deactivating the signal, in the shows most tear inducing deaths ever, and Jack finally makes contact with the freighter, despite Locke's re-emergence and attempted murder of Naomi. All of that and we have the shows first ever Flash forward and those famous lines, "We have to go back". Through The Looking Glass in not only the best season finale to LOST ever, but it is probably the greatest season finale to a TV show ever.

1. The Constant
Season Four

And so to number 1. "The Constant" is quite simply the finest hour of TV LOST ever produced. Another Desmond centric episode (I told you his episodes rank highly). What makes The Constant such an excellent episode is that it is 40mins of what LOST does best. Great mystery, intriguing drama, and tear inducing emotional intensity. It also offers one of the finest acting performances from anyone in the show from Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond. The basic story runs as follows; Desmond and Sayid decide to hop on the helicopter with Lapidis. Warned by Faraday to stick to a particular course to avoid any "problems", Lapidis flies into a storm and in the process something happens to Desmond which sees his conscious displace to a time in the past (sometime in the 90s) when he was in the army. Desmond flips when he doesn't recognise anyone on the Freighter (or Sayid) and we soon learn that another crew member (Radzinsky) has been suffering the same thing. When he dies because he lacks a constant, Desmond must try and find one for himself, and with the help of Faraday, both on the island and back in the 90s Desmond chooses Penny and sets up the most emotionally satisfying end to a TV episode ever as for the first time is years Desmond and Penny make contact. I'm not going to lie to you, when I first saw this I was jumping up and down with joy as tears streamed down my face. One of the best moments of TV ever.

A quick note on a few other notable episodes which should never be overlooked across the seasons

Season 1
Walkabout (1x04) - Locke centric episode where we first learn he was in a wheelchair before the crash
Solitary (1x09) - Sayid centric episode, first appearance of Rousseau and Hurley's golf course.

Special (1x14) - We first discover that Walt may be special as Michael and Walt get a flashback
Homecoming (1x15) - Charlie get's his revenge on Ethan.
Deus Ex Machina (1x19) - Boone dies and Locke meets his real father.

Season 2
Man of Science, Man of Faith (2x01) - Locke, Jack and Kate finally make it into the Hatch
The Other 48 Days (2x07) The tailies get their own flashback as we learn just how hard survival has been.
The Long Con (2x13) Sawyer cons everyone (with a little help from Charlie) and steals all the guns.
Lockdown (2x17) Locke gets trapped in the hatch as the timer runs out and he sees the map of stations
Two For The Road (2x20) Ana Lucia and Libby gunned down as "Henry Gale" escapes

Season 3
The Cost of Living (3x05) - Eko stands up to the smoke monster and comes off worse.
The Man From Tallahassee (3x13) - We finally find out how Locke ended up in that wheelchair
Expose (3x14) - Pablo and Nikki special episode. At the time annoying, now scary, exciting and brilliant
The Brig (3x19) Locke offers Sawyer a chance to meet the man who killed his parents
Greatest Hits (3x21) - Charlie makes a list of his greatest moments; both moving and poignant

Season 4
Confirmed Dead (4x02) - Reactions to the crash and death of everyone from Oceanic 815. Huh
The Economist (4x03) - Sayid flash forward, doing what he does best. Seducing women and killing people.
Meet Kevin Johnson (4x08) Michael is back, the island is not done with him yet.
Cabin Fever (4x11) Locke goes in search of the cabin.

Season 5
Jughead (5x03) Still flashing, Faraday helps the Others deal with a hydrogen bomb
This Place is Death (5x05) The flashes start taking their toll, nad Jin and Sun get a flashback/forward.
The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham (5x07) Locke gets off the island and tries to get the 6 to go back
The Variable (5x14) Faraday returns and has a plan to prevent the future.

Season 6
Sundown (6x06) The Smoke Monster goes medieval on the Temple.
Happily Ever After (6x11) Desmond uses his unique talent to cross between timelines.
Across The Sea (5x15) Jacob and Smokey get their own flashback.
What They Died For (5x16) The candidates finally meet Jacob as the pieces move for the final battle.

So, there we have it. The Top Ten episodes of Lost ever, along with the highlights of each season. If these were the only good episodes of the show that would be enough to make LOST one of the best shows of recent years. That there are still some wonderfully brilliant pieces of television and possible only 2 bad episodes across the entire show is a testament to the consistent quality and heights achieved.