The final 'Lost:' Share your reaction
[Editor's Note: You know the drill by now. If you haven't seen the series finale of "Lost" yet, DON'T READ ANY FURTHER.] I'll make this relatively spoiler-free for now, actually. So - that was a real curveball, those last five minutes. A lot of it was very fitting, it definitely took us on an emotional journey, and there were so many moments that moved me, and really worked. But, those last five minutes will certainly start some "healthy debate," to say the least. As a finale to season six, it was very good. As a finale to the series as a whole, less so. But it was hardly a misfire. And I'll leave it at that for now. Check back here tomorrow for my full reaction: here's what I had to say as it was happening. In the meantime, let the conversation begin in the comments below. Better yet, share your video of what you thought about it.
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Like most commentors here, the ending was so disappointing. It really spoiled the six years of intense entertainment...
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Like most commentors here, the ending was so disappointing. It really spoiled the six years of intense entertainment...
Pah. Just watched it. Pah. All that build up to a sappy "happy " ending. Pah. I cried amost of the way through it, but I'm still horribly disappointed. Pincher Martin. Blah.
Lost was no doubt an enjoyable ride for its 6 year run, but in the end I must say I'm happy it's done. No more questions unanswered, as frustrating as that may be. Now everything left is left to imagination.
The single most satisfying line of the entire series, IMO, came in the last 10 minutes when Hurley said to Ben "You were an awesome #2". I could not help but think back to gradeschool potty humour, and correlate that to Hurley's statement.
I sat down for the finale knowing without doubt that there would be questions unanswered and curiosities unsatisfied, but Ben was without a doubt a #2 throughout the entire series, and to see him called one summed things up perfectly for me. Was this what Hurley meant? Probably not...but with so many other of the shows questions left to imagination and interpretation, I'll take it.
I'm sorry to say I was disappointed.
So many story lines cut dead, so many possibilities touched upon then forgotten. What was Charles Widmoor really doing? Where did the people who died on the Island, and remained trapped there, go? (Michael etc.) What was the man in black? Who built the temple and the chamber of light? What did Hurley do to protect the Island, How did Ben help? and so on and so on.
How clueless are some of you people? The island was not limbo, the sidways world in Season Six was the limbo! You need to think in non-linear time; if you didn't learn that from any other time travel science fiction throughout the ages, you would have learned it if you paid attention during Season Five. The sideways-world was where they gathered before moving on, not the island. If you paid attention to what the characters said in the final five minutes, you would note that while they all had died at some point in time, they did not all die in the plane crash. How could Ben and Hugo reminisce about the "good old years" of running the island if they died in the crash? You would best be served to actually pay attention to the story instead of smother it with your own interpretation or expectations of what it was.
Lost definitely lifted the bar for television delivering thought provoking drama which inspired both thought and conversation. Audience involvement was unavoidable. My regrets for anyone that missed the opportunity to become involved with this show and its characters. You really missed out on something big and it will take a lot to fill the void. Thanks for everyone involved with this show for one great ride. You really delivered.
The problem most of you are having is that somethings weren't explained. Well, you have to be smarter than the chair your sitting in. The ending was as poignant as it had to be. It was almost perfect. The acting was amazing for pt tv.
If you need to have everything spelled out for you, go back to watching everybody loves raymond or some other mindless show. The creators said they had the beginning and the end. If you think it's easy to fill in six years of plot, island background, and 30 character histories, then go try.
Best show on tv ever, wonderful acting, beautiful and moving ending. I will miss it dearly.
Great show that I'll miss. Absurd sometimes, yes, but very entertaining. The wackiness of the story lines was simply a backdrop for the relationships and drama. Maybe it was all a scheme to get Kate into tight jeans and a tank top for six years? The plot lines got crazy, but I'd rather "waste" six seasons watching one TV series than waste the thirty seconds it took some of you people to rip on people you don't even know for watching a TV show you probably know nothing about.
The second best show on TV is now off the air. Thankfully Breaking Bad is still going strong.
Loved it, except the unplugging of the Island thing, and the last five minutes. Wish those promised "alternate endings" would have been real! All in all, still one of my favorite shows. Hey, at least they didn't explain everything with aliens!
After reading a majority of the other comments on here, I am feeling much better about the show's ending. I am inclined to agree, they were not all dead when plane crashed and that Walt (Earlier with Michael), Kate, Claire {(Aaron, earlier (Oceanic 6), and Sun & Jin's baby for that matter..} Sawyer, Richard, Miles and Frank survived on in the real world till their "normal" deaths. The last 5 minutes and the "sideways" reality was actually in the future purgatory. Hurley and Ben continued to live and care for the island till their deaths, as well as the old couple and the Dog. After much thought and from one who has hung in there since the beginning That's the only underlining theme that fits.. The rest is certainly debatable, a little disappointing, and still very mysterious and Lost. Thanks for the long plane ride, for sure.
I just watched the last 20 minutes again.
The dog vincent wasn't meant to be a puppy at the end- just maybe kinda looked like that.
Also funny- All the souls collected there before they 'moved on' yet Aaron had an entire life before this point but was still confined to a helpless babies body- what a rip eh Aaron? LOLLLL!
Oooh ! hark at me I so got the ending and love Lost so much I feel like rubbishing anyone that didn't quite get it so I sound more profound on a discussion board nobody has got the answer yet on here so "Stick a Cork in it"
Left with a lot of unanswered questions, i find it's comforting to watch all the Lost parodies and mashup videos that are still being released. He's one i thought was pretty funny: http://www.frequency.com/video/dharma/68999
The funny thing is that up until yesterday night, even passed 10:30 pm, I felt sad to say good bye to the show that I loved so much, but with that finale the sadness was replaced by resentment. I think we were better off – even with all the open questions – had they canceled the show midseason this year, instead of subjecting us to this ending ... It is as if they completely destroyed some beautiful and mysterious world we had build for several years taking everything away ... We invested so much for so long, and they rubbed us intelectually!!!
Sorry about the genders thing, more of a joke. But also an observation none the less- most who commented about loving it were women...
Just an incredible amount of holes forced closed with a "just kill em off" superfluous side plot. Very easy to do, very cliche to a show that had been everything but a cliche for most of its existence.
Adam I agree to all your comments, but I don't like it that you make it about genders. Like many other women I did not like the ending.
I think the only poeple who can be fully satisfied with the finale either believe in blind faith or put emotional resolution ahead of intellect ... I totally agree that most of them did not watch the series from the beginng, and did not watch every episode ... Yes, who care about why the MIB must not leave the island as long as Sawyer and Juliette end up together in the afterlife?
Why was Vincent a puppy when Jack died? He had aged greatly over the seasons but was a puppy in the scene with Jack? Anyone have an answer to that?
Cannot understand why someone who doesn't watch the show would bother to read an article about it in order to post that they didn't watch the show?????
I'd be willing to place a wager that if there was a sample taken of all the people who loved the ending, most of them haven't seen every episode and some probably out of sequence.
I'd be also willing to pace a wager that if there was a sample taken of all the people who are completely disappointed with the ending, most of them have seen every episode at least once (in my case a good chunk of episodes over 10 times selling it to friends) and on top had spent considerable amount of time doing extra curricular research on the story and keeping all the pieces in line.
I would sit in the latter category. By a landslide.
I'm going to miss the show a lot. What a great six seasons. It was always something I looked forward to. I don't think I realized how attached I as to the characters until the finale. I will definitely miss them. Reminds me of finishing a good book.
At the end of the first season I told my wife that I didn't think the writers had any idea how to tie it all together and that they were just making it up as they went along. Rats! I was right.
The final was a scam! Very cheap ending....
Awesome TV series!!! I will miss it.
The island was real. The alternate world was a limbo. One of the few mysteries that were solved.
Unfortunately, lots of other things went unexplained.
It was a good end, the only tv show that I watched from episode 1, years ago, when I sterted to watch it in Italy, my homecoutry. . It was a celebration, and the main question has been aswered.
The Island was real, weird but real, the parallel universe a limbo dimension where they had to come all together again and remember everything before letting go.
I can't believe that some people still think that the Island was all a purgatory or something, it is so clear, Jack's father said it, clearly!
That (The Island) was the most important part of their lives, they were lonely people, with lonely lives, the Island changed them deeply and made them better, all of them.
It was a great tv show, very cool.
To all the haters that never even watched Lost, why are you even here? It's weird that you are here, do you realize it?
@MIKE they WERE NOT DEAD. This was clearly stated in the final episode. The whole death thing at the end was superfluous to the whole 6 seasons and was just a way to not answer most of the plot twists along the way.
Ya can't squeeze answers out of a dead person...
Its true: The women loved it and the men hated it...
Guess all along they didn't really need logic when they just make em forget everything that happened with a big fluffy teddy bear. AWW look at the bearbear.
LMAO, I almost feel sorry for all the fools who watched this show after the 1st season.
How can people say it was a cop out ending? The ending of this show was written 7 years ago when they took the pilot to ABC...They showed the execs the first and last episode.
By some lines that are said through out the ENTIRE series, they have been dead the whole time. Notice that most of the time when someone died it was after they had a moment of redemption. Just because their time on the island was as Christian says "the most important part of their lives" does not mean it had to be their mortal life. The constant moving through time completely coincides with "there is no now" explanation to Jack.
Great show and I recommend NetFlixing the first season because they wrote it to coincide with that last episode and you should be able to spot out some hidden gems.
I thought it was a wonderful ending to a show that will always live in my heart. I know that sounds dramatic but it's sad for those who gave up. For the person who left the comment "read a book", this certainly wasn't any waste of time.....better than any book I ever read and I have found many to be a waste of time. What happened to just sitting back and being entertained? These writers are geniuses! There's always questions....after many good movies I have seen, books I might have read, other TV series that have aired. The most incredible cast and crew EVER! The music – perfect! I loved everything about it and will certainly miss it. I think the end was very spiritual and a touching, tear-jerking 4 1/2 hours! WELL WORTH THE FULL 6 SEASONS! Love it, always!!!!
I hope they come back to the islands. I didn't watch much of the show but, I thought it was great. The ending was very well done. Much aloha to the cast and crew of "Lost". Aloha
@Joe thats kinda like saying "that was a great boat ride, although we didn't really get off the dock, and we weren't really in a boat but oh well you get the point'
They were all dead at the end- that had nothing to do with the 6 seasons- that was just a good easy cop out
Give me a break with this group of ugly people. They're lost and we are happy for us.
Marc
I have to say that they did take the easy way out with the ending! I understood it and it was okay, but after six years of a show, so big and epic they could have done more with the ending!They are dead and the island is like Purgatory and they can not leave until they get it correct. I think that even i could have come up with something better than this ending!
Was it just me or did you feel last night finale was a mix of Ghost Whisperer, Sixth Sense and Indiana Jones?
I loved Lost for 6 years but the ending could have been less cliche. The alternate flashsideways which lasted only one season took all the writers attention. So many important stories remained underdeveloped – Widmore's obsession, Dharma, Eloise's abilities, who put the hell cork there, MIB's mother, where did the others (hostiles) come from if the people who lived with the MIB all died, why babies die (electromagnetism?), etc.
It felt like the writers did not have enough content to fill a whole season and came up with this original "sixth sense" idea....and left us with way too many holes.
We deserved a better finale with at least some answers to important questions.
It was a great ending. Basically they were all dead and helped each other get to the other side. Granted Jack was the focal point and yes many things are unanswered, but in the end, does it really matter? We all gotta go at some time.
THANK GOD ! What a load of old cobblers senseless rubbish
@140 I'm reading 5 books right now. How many are you?
You're all a bunch of idiots for wasting your time. Go read a book.
I was disappointed in the end. Would have like to have seen how true survivors on the plane did after leaving island.
Thank You Charles!
It takes REAL genius to make sense of madness- and tie it all in- that is truely what sets apart excellent writing from rubbish!
A complete cop out and abandonment of a MONSTROUS portion of a story line is never good writing- how can anyone say that it was good???
I watch all 6 years and really liked it, my favorite show ever. I have mixed feelings about the last episode. I have too many unanswered questions – what was the island? Where did it come from? I have a dozen questions. I can do some interpretation and try to fill in some of the holes but would still have liked a little more than "you figure it out" from the writers. I don't want to figure it out, I want to be entertained and challenged but some of the challenges here were a long reach. I understand the next to last final scene in the church but not sure about the way it was presented. Once Jack entered the main part of the church it was too fast, too lovey-dovey and seemed to be missing too many people. I wanted more answers and less hugs and kisses as background to Jack looking around. Jack's last scene in the jungle was poetic and hit home. The sneaker in the tree had aged the 6 years. Me too.
These writers are nothing special. Anybody can thing of weird freaky stuff that makes no sense. It takes a Agatha Christie to give sense to the madness. That didn't happen here and it left people dissatisfied.
I thought the ending was pretty good, but still it left us wondering about some things. Like what happened to the people on the plane and their duplicates in the states?
Honestly, I stopped watching lost after the 3rd season. I felt their was no continuity at all from show to show or season to season. The jumping all over the place with the storyline was a bit to much for me. The only reason I tuned in was because my husband wanted to watch. He kept up with the show each season and continued to like it despite my lack of interest. He too was not blown away by the ending and I think he definitely expected there to be more.
The show would have been better without the silly storyline such as smoke monsters, etc. Basically I think the show became childish and convoluted instead of the intriguing adult drama I expected it to be.
OK Im confused...the church was a meeting place for all of them prior to moving on...why was so many people missing that had large parts of the series? Why was Aaron still a baby at the end? Why was Shannon, Syieds true love and not the woman that was killed in the car wreck that locke was hanging over his head in the last season? Why did Jack have a kid with Juliette, where did that come from? Help me out here?
I was neither happy or unhappy about the ending. LOST gave us what I expected, for all of us to do exactly what we are doing now, debating. It left it up to us to fill in the blanks. Have we all lost our imagination, or do we need to have everything spelled out for us. How sad if that is the case.
BrianCNN rules. It was all a dream or they were all dead. Pathetic!
Just a big thank you to the producers, directors, writers and most importantly the cast of LOST for an incredible ride...the pleasure was all mine!
Awesome ending. I loved it. It will go good with the new LOST Movie that I heard was coming out. Lots more to see.
Great Finale. Successful because it has us all thinking. Bravo.
I get the ending. Everything we did on the island mattered. Now we're dead. Let's roll out to heaven or whatever. I thought it was the easy way out, though. A lot of things in the sideways flashes seemed inconsistent with their previous backstories, e.g. Jack having a son, and it seemed to me the writers were doing whatever they wanted to reach an almost cliched ending. Very disappointed.
@ Andrea "writer's nod to its intelligent fans knowing that they know how to put pieces together, connect dots, read between lines and ultimately see the big picture. "
The very VERY unfortunate thing is that the pieces really do not fit by many stretches of the imagination, the lines to be drawn to connect the dots leave a really poor 'big picture' that really show complete abandonment of the WHOLE picture however painted by the writers. It was totally covered up by a campaign attempting to make it about the 'characters' and not all of the holes left abandoned and unfilled. They spent WAY more time making questions to be answered than anything else then abandoned it all with a 'oh well f#^&j it we made a mess too big to clean up in this little time' additude
May be some intelligent writers can take the show, throw a good part of Season 6, and add a couple of more seasons, because you can come up with some brilliant ending or even suspense endings for this beautiful show.
It is true that not every question must be answered, but so many seasons and stories have to have some explanation, other than streching a 4 hour miniseries to 115 episodes without having a point of all those 100+ extra hours...
Open philosophical questions are always welcome, but not pointless plots season after season ...
@holly – it could be that he always wanted acceptance from Whitmore and never got it til the sideways world...
Very disappointed. I expected answers to the larger questions in which the plot seemed to pivot around. I liked the character interactions and the "awakenings" plot line; however, the intervening episodes posed questions that should have been answered. Why set-up questions if there was no intention of providing an answer. The story build-up set the stage for an incredible ending...I believe with some more thought, a more clever explanation could have been put forward. At least an attempt. I just don't want to hear that it's all about the relationships. "Lost" had set the bar much higher and failed to deliver.
I loved the last episode. While I'm sad the show has come to an end. I thoroughly enjoyed it (the whole series) from start to finish.
Just curious, to all those posters who have been assuring us that the island scenes were real and it is only the Flash-Sideways which was the afterlife. What is your interpretation of the scene at the beginning where the whole island is underwater including the statue where Jacob used to live? Was it the H-bomb that caused it? If so that happened back in 1977. So how can Oceanic 815 crash on the island in 2004 if it's underwater? What is the meaning of the underwater picture?
@ BrianCNN: what did you call from the beginning that there was a light in the centre and 2 brothers? I'm not sure what you called from the beginning- cause if you're talking about purgatory- that is totally NOT what happened and even if that would have been what happened -everyone with a 85 IQ thought the purgatory thing in the first episode.
...just wondering what happened to the part about Desmond teaching everyone how "the numbers" can transport them back and forth to the island from "karma improved" Los Angeles any time they like...which was a neato tip scribbled down on a random page from Farraday's journal near the Light Source...
...wha?....it coulda happened
@Derek – The island is not Purgatory. The script itself says the island is not purgatory. The sideways world is purgatory. Why would they make a purgatory within a purgatory? Why would characters die inside purgatory? Just believe the script – re-read the Christian Shepard speech – there are plenty of better reasons to complain about this episode than to try beating that old dead horse.
I hated it. Mostly because I think the 'its about the characters' crap is a smokescreen that the writers have been putting up all season to try to give themselves an out to not have to answer ANYTHING regarding plot. Who watches a show to see how its characters deal with their own deaths? Its pointless. Do you care whether jerry seinfeld went to heaven? Stupid.
A truly existential thought is this – what if the sideways world actually happened IN JACK'S MIND right as he's closing his eyes and his brain's shutting down at the end? This would fit with what Miles' ability was earlier in the show – he doesn't actually talk to the dead, he just can sense what their last thoughts were up until their ol thoughts stopped. I don't think that its a coincidence that they ended NOT with the walking into the light scene, but with the real, Jack closing his eyes scene.
I don't feel like arguing about mysteries, though, as if they had answers, which they never did, it's clear now. The writers clearly had only a marginal idea of what was happening behind the scenes – they were making it up as they went. There is no point to asking what the island was – they had no idea. It was a place that let them make up whatever mystery they wanted and they trained us not to expect answers, but to keep tuning in, chasing after them like a donkey after a carrot on a stick. I'm DONE with this kind of TV. Good riddance.
@BAM...NO not everyone on the island was on the plane i.e. Ben, Juliette, Miles, Farraday, Desmond nor did most of those on theplane know eachother prior to the plane crash
Amazing ending! If you are a viewer who honestly expected all the questions to be answered in the final episode, well then you lost the idea of the whole series. I personally feel its the writer's nod to its intelligent fans knowing that they know how to put pieces together, connect dots, read between lines and ultimately see the big picture. The ending is also open to interpretation... they want this to be talked about and theorized for years!
Stunning acting, simly brilliant writing. The best show ever on television. Sad to see it end! Congrats to all those involved!
I felt the finale pulled everything together in the end. It is sad not to have any more new episodes to keep the Lost hunger in check. However, I have not enjoyed another show more in the last 6 years than Lost. I will miss you all. Good Luck!
I dont understand one thing.... If the flash sideways was the limbo and Jack had a son because he wanted a son, and everyone created the flash sideways themselves then why is it that some of the people were worse off in the flash sideways? Desmond was all alone, surly he did not want to be a workahloic and alone instead of being with Penny and having chieldren..?? He was happy before the flash sideways..........
Boring, boring, boring. They could have come up with something better. To be honest, I was getting bored with show and glads it's over.
Everything that we saw happen on the Island actually happened, it was not purgatory. The last scene of Jack dying was Jack's individual death. Everyone the has either already died (i.e. Charlie, Boone, Locke etc) or will die some time in the future (i.e. Kate, Sawyer etc). Time does not exist in death, it is a human experience. This was Jack's experience. This idea is based in Deism.
I thought this was a great last episode! It did answer a ton a questions, it brought back beloved old characters and reminded us why we felt so strongly for them. It was a happy ending and it didn't underestimate the intelligence of us – the viewers!
I agree with Chris, the wreckage at the end was simply for effect, bringing the story full circle back to the beginning. What happened on the island was real!
However that doesn't change the fact that what happened on the island was completely non-sensical and ridiculous and the creators of the show thought it would be ok to end it without explaining half of those mysteries to us. I don't know about you, but I didn't watch Lost for the characters, I just wanted to know what was going on in this completely messed up show. Yay, they're all in heaven, that's so original...
Or even better, BCD, the stewardess wakes Jack towards the end of the flight. Jack says, "Wow, what a dream I had!" Then the plane crashes and everyone dies. End of story. It was all Jack's dream and then they crash.
For those who need the writers to tell you everything, here is what happened with the characters after they left the island:
Sawyer: founded a bookstore megachain and manipulated their fin. statements to make illicit money
Lapidus: got a job as oil rig operator at the Gulf of Mexico for a famous British company
Miles: got a job offer to replace Jennifer Love-Hewitt in Ghost Whisperer
Richard: His skills from the 19th century were useless in the modern world. Met Tyra Banks and became a model of Covergirl. Successfully launched their new waterproof maskara.
Claire: makes ads for hair brushes at Target and raised Aaron until he moved to the island to replace Hurley – who had lost 200 lbs when the Dharma lasagna was over
Desmond: became a PokerStars.net sponsored gambler
Kate: flew to Korea to adopt Jim and Sun's daughter. Still occasionally hooks up with Sawyer, but swears she keeps praying for Jack...
RIP Lost...
Still undisturbed wreckage.
The stewardess wakes Jack at the end of the flight. Jack says, "Wow, what a dream I had!" Then everyone gets off the plane in LA. No crash. End of story. It was all Jack's dream.
Adam, hats off to you man. I too think they have left too many loose ends. To think I spent 6 years watching the show and wanting to know how, why, who, what, where and when. And to be disappointed like we were yesterday, it was a real bummer!!!
Hopefully, they will create a series called "CHRONICLES OF LOST". And have an episode called "CHRONICLES OF LOST-Origins of Smokey". We all know that the MIB became the smoke monster but HOW did he become the smoke monster. He fell into the light and poof!!! what happened under there? Was it the spirit of someone before him who was all evil and its spirit was trapped there and got a hold of the spirit of the MIB to escape? They can really cash in on the LOST phenomenon.
I am so confused as to why so many people ask about Michael. Did these people complaining about "answers" not even pay attention to the last 3 seasons?? Michael died on the freighter. He appeared to Hurley this season and told him he is a whispering voice wandering the island because of the bad things he did on the island (killed Libby and Annalucia). Its these people so desperate for answers that 1) did not even know some of the answers were actually given and 2) did not comprehend the true beauty of the show. It was a show that made the viewer think and reach inside spiritually. It did just that with a brilliant ending. Viewers are on here still debating which is the magic of the show.
I am so disappointed in the ending. Right at the point where Jack went down into the cave with the light and put the pedestal back in the hole thus restoring the whitish light and thus saving the island, I turned and said to my wife:
"Wow, I didn't see that coming. Jack is the next Smoke Monster."
Because as we just learned two episodes previously in "Across the Sea" going down into the cavern with the light results in a fate worse than death according to Jacob's "mother". But Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof can't even obey their own rules that they set down just two episodes previously. Not only does Jack not become a Smoke Monster, but neither does Desmond. So why did Jacob's brother become the Smoke Monster then?
So this was just one of hundreds of contradictions that was never answered. I am so mad at Cuse and Lindelof for wasting my time. They are punks. Beware ABC, I'm not going to take this crap anymore. V and Flash Forward, you are banished to the Island.
I called the ending from the beginning. I knew it would leave some viewers satisfied and others dissatisfied.
The shot of the wreckage at the end was just to duplicate the beginning shot in the first episode, similar to showing Jack's eye closing. The burning wreckage from the first episode is now quiet and empty. Just for effect, no significance to the story.
Will everyone stop saying they called the ending from the beginning. They were not dead on the island. The events on the island took place while they were alive. The "sideways flashes" took place while they were dead. Did you not hear Christian Sheperd's comments? He said that you all made this place to meet after you died because you were all such an important part of each other's lives, or something to that effect.
I think the same Derek... but thats what is so great about the last show... the creators left it all up to the viewer to "figure" it all out
I thought maybe Bob Newhart would wake up and realize the whole thing was just a dream.
Take a look at the wreckage in the final scenes.
The wreckage is not picked over. Thus, there were no survivors. They all died in the crash. The Island is Purgatory.
Great and a beautiful ending. It was moving, sad and yet a happy ending. Thank you LOST for the great ride. It was an entertaining and intellectually moving TV experience. Yes, there are many unanswered questions but I believe the writer left this open for our own imagination. LOST fan forever.
how can a tv show be a fraud? thats the joy of tv is to escape... the show did a great job grabbing the viewer and leaving them with more... what a better way to end the show then leave the true ending a never ending debate.
Great Series, Terrible final show!!!!! It was a waste of 2.5 hours watching the final.
A three-hour tour, a three-hour tour.
I watched the first season, then the second then very little hear and there. Some of you got this right - this show was a FRAUD. Things were too absurd. Sorry for you if you wasted all this time watching and promoting this series.
My thoughts: Everyone on the island, everyone, was on the plane. They all died...except for Jack. What we saw was his life "flash before his eyes" and we also saw the thoughts of a dying man. I don't think the island stuff happened. I don't think the alternate timeline happened. It was Jack's journey to the light. Plain and simple. The ending was genius – people will be debating the how's, why's and where for years.
To all of you who keep asking about Michael. Michael died on the island and because of the things he had done he was sentenced to roam the island forever. Remember the whispering voices heard on the island. he is one of the whisperers.
BTW I consider it a lame excuse that "show was always about the characters.. not the island." as DBart mentioned. It should have included both aspects.
no one went on to live a happy life... everyone that was on the original plane to Sydney.. died... so during the entire story on the island everyone was dead they just weren't willing to except death just yet... so at the end everyone was dead and they all let go together.
The ending was what I was hoping for, and it worked for me. If it was a collection of endless explanations, it would have killed what Lost was at heart, aside from the various mysteries: a character driven show.
The ending left me satisfied, and had well played emotional impact.
So long Lost, you'll be missed.
Ok here we go
Woman likes the end and cries a lot.
Man disliked the end and does not cry a lot.
Life is so simple.
Am I the only one who was not happy with the ending? And my big question – what happened to Michael and his son? They were such major characters in the beginning, but they didn't even make it to the finale.
"I can only assume that Desmond was the only one who went on to live a happy life with his true love. "
Why would you assume this? Desmond was on the island when Jack replaced the 'cork'. He didn't leave the island, as far as we know.
The only ones to leave the island were the ones on the plane Jack saw flying over: Sawyer, Kate, Claire, Miles, Lapidus, Richard.
Jack died on the island. Hurley and Ben became the new caretakers. I don't recall seeing Desmond's fate; Hurley and Ben pulled him out of the cave, and then the light turned back on.
Perfect ending to a phenomenal show..
To all you dissapointed fans..
They werent dead on teh island. The island was real. Christian Shephards speech to Jack explains it all. They are all dead in the "alt" or flash-sideways universe. This world was a sort of purgatory that they created themselves to connect to the people that they loved the most during their lives.. the oceanic 815. Again.. they did not die on the island.. some did and some didnt. Some died before and some died many many many years later. But this alt universe was where they all went when they were all gone.
At the end of the day the show was always about the characters.. not the island. And with that i think it ended perfectly
For all you people who say you are not satisfied and you wasted 6yrs of your life. Well obviously it entertained and kept you intrigued for 6yrs so how were they wasted? You could've chosen to change the channel at anytime. I to in season 1 and throughout the entire series have thought it was purgatory but i continued to watch to see how each individuals story was going to play out. Not to mention the great writing and acting every week. In nearly 40yrs of watching tv this was the best show i've ever seen. Most of you are just mad because it didnt end the way you wanted it to...
I think it was the greatest show on TV. But I didn`t like the ending. I liked it right up to the last few remaining minutes. I hope they can come up with something in the future.
I liked the fact when the seperated pairs would kiss or touch the whole thing would crytaliaze in their minds. or the birth of the kids and so on.
I found the reunion of Jack and Kate was less than emotional and seemed a bit fake! It looked as if these two actors have something againt eachother outside the show and that is why theychemistry between them was less than solid.
But Ithink there should be a reunion made as what this whole thing meant, not only to them but to the world they tried so hard to save.
Whatever happened to Richard, and Lipidus?
But at the end my hat off to all of them, from the behind and before the cameras whoever worked on it, they all did a great job.
Thank you
For those of you think that they were all dead in Season 1, watch the last few minutes (if you recorded it) when Christian Shepherd is explaining things to Jack. Yes, at the church they all are dead. But Jack's father clearly states to him that some died before him (Jack) and some longer after. For all we know, Sawyer died in his 90's; Hurley could have died at hundred of years of age on the island. They see each other at the church as they knew each other during the critical period of the plane crash and the 3 years following. They were definitely alive during the first season....most of them anyway.
Can anyone explain to me what the significance of the island being underwater in the first episode of season six is when the survivors were on the plane in the sideways reality? Does that mean the island was eventually destroyed in the real world or what?
if you honestly think the finale meant that during the whole series they were dead and the reason you now hate LOST is because you are incorrectly thinking that, you should really think about the show as a whole more (and listen to what christian said in the church to Jack). The all lived out their full lives and died when they were supposed to die. Then, they met up at the church when each was ready. jeez people, dont judge something until you understand it.
Some of you missed it completely. For those who are inference impaired. No, they did live through those years. Yes, they are all dead, BUT they did not die in the crash.
Jack's dad said they were in a time and place of their making. Ben and Hurley had some adventures as caretakers of the island, 'you were a great #1... you were a great #2.' Ben found his place. But that's a story not told. SHEEESH! Do writers have to beat everything into the audience. No idea is given when this 'reunion' takes place. It could be 1 year or 1000. It is a place 'out of time.'
As for the island. Ultimately, the 'power' of the island isn't as important as the characters desire to preserve it and belive in it. Just like those of faith strive to please and obey dieties they will never fathom.
I've only been a fan for a year (I have the box set), and I caught that much.
Spectacular show! Spectacular ending!
I wanted to see Smoke Monster turning lose on the rest of the world and then some dramatic rescue operation. Instead: uncork the island like a monster bottle of champagne, get stabbed, kill Smokey, cork the island, problem resolved, Jack is dead and has some after-life experience.
The finale had some very great potential but I ended up watching soapy scenes and refused to 'cry'.
bj noobs
The ending left me both satisfied and pondering. Appropriate for the LOST experience.
Choices for series endings:
1) Screen goes blank
2) Some guy wakes up from dream and says something clever
3) Cast breaks out of character and thanks the studio audience
4) "The Cliffhanger"
5) Plausible ending that wraps up six successful years and demonstrates an achievement of a strategic end that was imagined by some clever folks prior to beginning the series
6) Irrelevant "character-based drama" mumbo-jumbo that makes people who invested six years of their lives either feel that they just wasted six years of their lives OR feel a sense of superiority because they just wasted six years of their lives
Hated the ending. It was the easy ending. Certainly not worth the 6 years it took to get there.
A total cop out. I cared more about the mystery of the island then being emotionally involved with the characters or their journey in the afterlife. The final season was very much a bait and switch. Who cares if they spend eternity together! Very very cheesy and intended to please the masses who desperately needing a happy ending tied up with a neat little bow.
Really liked the ending! I loved the spiritual overtones – made me think of the concepts of spiritual families, alternate realities, parallel lives, life after life. Good stuff! There was more to it than I realized. I'm looking forward to watching it again.
Not happy...Who were the Other's, who were the Dharma people, where did Jacob get the numbers from and how were they connected to the cast. The show could have answered some of these questions during this final season, but chose not to.
Those of you that keep thinking that they were dead all along are really missing it. Each lived in real time on the island and died in real time wherever they were when they died. The end was about them all coming together after they died, whenever that was, because they all meant something to each other. The 'flash sideways" was the only time that they were in "limbo". Come on people get with it! Outstanding ending to a great show! P.S. Those that were not in the church were not critical to the original Oceanic Flight that is why they were not there.
Yes, all the questions were not answered (indeed big questions). But this is a small sacrifice for an ending that left the audience at peace.
Big fan first three seasons then the show lost (no pun intended) focus. I loved the characters and I wanted to keep watching but the plot became obscure. I thought the finale was weak I am glad the show is over. It was disappointing to see a show I really liked become absurd.
I have loved LOST from the very beginning but was disappointed in the finale. I wanted to see the characters that I had grown to love get a better ending. I wish that last night's episode ended with a montage of these characters a few years into the future, living happy lives. I wanted to see Jin, Sun and their daughter playing in a park, I wanted to see Juliet and Sawyer getting married, etc. I can only assume that Desmond was the only one who went on to live a happy life with his true love.
I think it would have been better if the flash sideways was an alternate timeline, but still just as real as the main timeline, but where they learned from their past mistakes and the time spent on the island somehow, to make their lives better in the future.
that said, I still love the show – even last night's episode.....
I'm sure whatever I can't figure out, I'll find it at Target.
More time for Farmville!
Well, I don't believe we have a second chance to make up for Lost lives but the end was consoling to those of us who were true 'Losties'. I do agree with Mike that the naysayers who need concreteness can go watch Desperate Housewives (or a reality show or something)!
Looking forward to freed-up Tues. nites but what will replace this great show??! When X-files finished it took me a very long time to start up a new relationship with another show!
I havent seen one episode of LOST, but I will say this, everyone that watched it are a bunch of losers, get a life
What I liked:
1 – Jack sacrificing himself at the end
2 – the message "nobody is an island, you don't succeed alone"
3 – Spiritualism leaving room for interpretations as always
4 – Hurley becoming the island protector
5 – Jin and Sun becoming aware of the past through the ultrasound
What I disliked:
1 – After years talking about Dharma (and the countless stations) and Charles Widmore, they became totally unimportant at the end
2 – Numbers = candidates, ok, but that does not explain why they caused Hugo to win the lottery and several other things
3 – Implying that Christian was a superior being (God?)
4 – Explanation about what the island and Jacob's mother were should be clearer. Same with Eloise Hawking's role.
5 – Fight between Jack and Locke lacked drama
6 – Richard Alpert leaving the island – for what? The guy was from the 15th century.
7 – Aaron – I thought he would have a bigger role like becoming the island's protector in the future
8 – Sayid + Sharon? Why not Nadia, the love of his life?
The stained-glass windows proves that the island was real and that no one died when the plane crashed (then again, no one ever actually dies when a plane crashes, right?).
Oh I forgot one more thing
-all of the whispers were around when the Dharma (others) were showing up (and kidnapping). THEN in season 6 they said it was spirits who haven't moved on. If anyone didn't know theres a place online, you can find out what every whisper in the series was, transcribed. Go look!
I never watched the show, so I could care less
I have watched shows off and on over the years really never understood so my step daughter bought me season 1 to 5 for Christmass this year 2009 and guess what? i could not stop watching. many, many hours my wifre and i watched until we started watching season six on the internet. It is the greatest tv show we have ever watched. The writers and the actors where awsome. the show struck a real inner peace with me and i have always said we are born in the spirit ohf the light. GREAT JOB EVERYONE
@seanz : seems your opinion is more right than mine. I simply made an observation that many others have made. Some people want to jump on the "they are dead" bandwagon because it makes them look "right, from the beginning", even though it's fairly obvious, even stated by the Lost team that they are not dead on the Island. Just wait until producer/ writer/ director commentaries come out..
That stained glass window was so irritating
The perfect ending to the greatest show ever.
I really wish more people would realize that they didn't die in the plane crash. The island and all those events were real and only the "alt-reality" was purgaory/when they were all dead. Watch the episode again and you'll realize I'm right. The plane crash site during the credits was simply showing where/how they met not that everyone died. This is further proven by Desmond and Penny being there even though they weren't on the plane and Hugo and Ben talking about how they were a good team as island protectors.
My take: they weren't dead on the island. I don't understand how you could say they were. It was pretty much established that the island was real and all the events were real. All the characters had to find each other in the afterlife to get closure and move on. They all died at different times, on the island and off the island. Some got off the island, some did not. Some died on the island, some did not, but they were all reunited at the end. All the characters in the church were dead at that point, but reunited with the ones who meant the world to them. For all we know, it could have been 100+ years since the island, but they did finally come together.
Ben can't move on until Alex "remembers" and moves on with him. She's his love. He's waiting until she's ready – and he can ask her to forgive him and they can move on together. Michael is stuck on the island forever in spirit (this was explained already) as his "sins" exceed what he can atone for. Walt wasn't there, because his connection was his dad and his dad will never move on. The other characters who weren't in the church obviously have other oats to sow before they can move on. Locke could move on once he remembered and once he forgave Ben.
The whole finale was fantastic. As a fan who has watched this show since the very first episode, I was moved to tears and I am still reliving the finale today. I kept replaying it in my head last night while trying to fall asleep too.
Oh, and to the person who complained about Sayid ending up with Shannon – that was obviously THE great love that was meant for him. Yes, he was in love with Nadia, but he wasn't meant to be with her even in the afterlife. She was married to his brother. They loved each other, but they weren't "it" to one another. Sayid's great love was Shannon.
@BrianCNN:
Did you even watch this show or are you just here to make sarcastic comments?
The farm on Farmville is real.
They were not dead the whole time, as a previous poster said. Only the Sideways universe was a Purgatory of sorts, while they waited to all go together. The island and everything that happened there was real.
Meddling kids!
It was exhilerating. Spritual awakening to how the afterlife is. But what about Michael, Walt, the policewoman, air marshall, the others, and most of all Jacob? Are they dead, still alive, or in purgatory? I didn't realize Lost was a spiritual show. I thought it was aliens and island is a spacecraft. The sciencetist are experimentalists like the aliens. It caught me off guard!
@ William G I guess you know the truth and every other opinion is incorrect lol! You are very confused. I read your post from 12 mins ago and there was nothing that explained anything. Maybe you need to watch the finale again instead of regurgitating other peoples false opinions.
barnyard: there is also a killer asteroid heading this way the government isn't talking about.
@Lost Junkie
Great comments here! It certainly applies to "bumpspeed" whose comments boil down to "nanny nanny boo boo, I watched television for six years".
I think they never had a plan and wrote each episode as they went. Everyone really just waited 6 years only to find out the obvious.
Bottom line: Great original stoy that shall have spinoffs 4ever, exellent cast that will always be associated with Lost characters regardless of future roles, finally, it's about time prime time has a show that makes the collective think instead of react.
BTW, for all of you who need ALL the answers at the end of a show, Scooby Doo is on everyday.
THERE'S OIL SPEWING INTO THE OCEAN, YOU GOOFBALLS!!!
Amazing. It only took 12 minutes from my original post for someone to say "they are dead, look at the wreckage"...
@ Adam
and the worst part is when you read these people who really did not understand much from the show insult those who have invested so much in it for six years. I read comments like, "if you did not like it, you were not a "real lost fan"!" or worse "if you did not like it, you did not understand it"! Now suddenly some fans are real fans and some are unreal! When comes to having an opinion suddenly "all people are equal, but some people are more equal"!!!
I'll agree with the author of this post that it was a good season 6 finale, but a bad series finale. The only real answers we got were to the flash sideways questions and those weren't raised until season 6.
We got no answers to dozens of other questions. My hunch over the past few years is that the writers never had answers to those questions and the finale sealed it for me. They never knew what they were doing with this show. What a waste of 6 years? It was entertaining at times, but mostly frustrating and a waste of time.
It was a good, commercial ending that made a lot of people happy. However, it ended but didn't really explain a lot of what the island was and what all the people on it were. People are happy with the purgatory world but didn't really explain any of it.
Glad LOST was on but people's theories were a lot more significant than the real show was.
Did the Mib also 'move on'.. or is he still 'worse than dead'?
And how did Jack survive the treatment the MiB obviously didn't?
What is up with Ben Linus not being in the church?
After sleeping on it, I've decided to like the ending. The characters in Lost seem to have created a karmic island to work out their spiritual development, and because the audience didn't absolutely know this, they were pulled along for the ride. Sort of like "real life?"
To everyone who did not watch the show, your input is not wanted nor required. Please go back to TMZ.com and enlighten yourselves there.
To all those who think that everyone died when Oceanic 815 crashed, please pay more attention. You choose a great show to watch only to let your inability to understand and listen get in the way.
The writters did exactly what they should have done and should be applauded for their work. They made a show that encapsulated many people and many cultures and even after ending it will live on in discussions. The show may be over yet I the inquiries, discussions, hypothesis and conspiracies will live on for a long time.
Did they give us answers to everything? NO. Should they have? NO. The best mystery is the one we never see. Everyone is going to paint a different picture in their mind about what happened during the years of Hugo's and Ben's lives on the island after Jack. This is what they wanted. Why feed it to us when we can do it ourselves.
What is the island? It will be different for everyone. Call it a test. Call it magic. Call it religion. Call it whatever you want. The island is a unique place where things happen. People brought there are alive and real. Yes there is time travel and talking dead people, but that it part of the Island.
What are the statue older building remains? Again, the island is it's own special place that has been around for a long time. The structures were probably built by those brought before. We building modern structures next to historical ones. In the future people may ask why different structures are so close. It happens as time progresses.
What about Darma? Their role was not as big as some people hoped. The ending left the door open for a possible spin off. But, they were not needed to end an otherwise great story.
What was the flash sideways? It was pretty much spelled out for your. It was where you go, your mind/spirit or whatever your religous belief is, when your waiting for your next journey. The reason we did not see everyone there is because not everyone was ready to move on. Ben obviously has unresolved issues with Rusoe and his step-daughter. Ana Lucia had things she needed to work on. Why is everyone the same age if some lived on after the island? They all came back to a time were they needed eachother, maybe. Why does it have to be broken down for you. Find the answer that works for you and run with it.
Stop looking for writers to do everything for you. The best writers/story tellers will give you enought to get your mind going and then let you do the rest. Thank LOST for a 6 year mind bending story.
hey, the people like me who did not like it, we got it ... that's the problem we got it. we don't care that people where dead in the beginning, in the side reality , or at the end. Them being dead at all
was just stupid.
It's obvious the island was purgatory. Look at the timeline, jack opens his eyes in the first scene first episode. He makes his way to the beach which is a chaotic scene of people who survived the crash. Now skip to the last episode final scene. Jack finds the spot we started from. Him closing his eyes was him accepting death. When he closes his eyes he is dead in real life. The last shots during the credits make it pretty clear when you see no life after the plane crash. Everyone who believes that life on the island was real and that people actually survived the plane crash are incorrect. How could the island have been real if Jack was dead when the plane crashed??? Hello! Jack saw the plane crashing in the final scenes because it was when his afterlife missions were finally connecting to his real life death and he was going to finally let go in peace. I guess most of you just took what Christian Shepherd was saying a bit too literally in the church. When he mentioned people dying at all different points in time etc etc he was not talking about plane crash, he was speaking of everyone else who was connected to the island i.e. Alpert, Ben and so on. There is a lot left for interpretation obviously but I believe it's a fact that they all died on the plane and others who lived on the island or were drawn to it died at different times. They were all LOST in the afterlife, refusing to move on until they reconciled whatever they needed to reconcile.
Does anybody else feel sad today.....like somebody real has died? LOST will always be special to me because of the way they made you care about everybody. I cried like a baby when Jack's eye closed and then showed Vincent laying there beside him. Even though all my questions were not answered, I still loved it. I agree that those who think they were dead the whole time were not paying attention or they are just too shallow to get it.
Lost had the problem that the stories of all the characters it introduced were too much to be told in this format, so there was no other way of wrapping it up.
I'm at peace with it, but I have to say in retrospect it seems like a pretty bogus side round trip through a fantasy world that was creating a lot more 'meaning' along the way than just being Jack Shephard's near-death experience.
Wow, so many people really did not understand the ending to this show. Since season one viewers have been throwing out theories that the island is some sort of limbo/purgatory between life and death... that is not what happened! They threw us another curve by taking the opposite route; the island was real, and the "flash-sideways" to the story line in which the plane did not crash was the limbo/non-existing plane of consciousness. While I would have rather had a more scientific explanation for the multiple timelines, I was happy with the ending as it was.
Terrible ending to an otherwise fantastic show.
Part of me still appreciates the magic of all six seasons, the other part of me feels cheated for having never missed a minute to only be completely ripped off in one of the worst excuses for a series finale ever.
The writers of Lost entirely failed in the last 5 minutes of a show that had the potential to be one of the greatest series I have ever watched, only to leave me with a feeling of bitter angst and disappointment.
Okay, so now I think I am getting it, with some help from some posts. So the Island and everything that happened on it was real. The sideways-flash was a purgatory-like reality where they lived out their lives as they would have wanted them to be (in part because of how their experiences on the Island changed them). For instance Sawyer’s maturing on the Island as Security, became James being a cop in the Sideways/purgatory. Since they all affected each other so much no one wanted to move on when they died until they could all move on together. Desmond, as the constant, needed to find them in the Sideways/purgatory and make them see it was time to let go and move on. There must have not been a timeline/time-frame in the sideways purgatory as some of them lived longer after Jack saved the Island and of course some had died before that event. Massive tears to see Charlie and Claire, Shannon and Sayid, Sawyer and Juliette, and Desmond and Penny all recognize each other and find each other to move on together. So the stated goal of the writers was to make it a character study. I believe they did that as I, at least, became very attached to the characters, who were all “lost” in their lives and needed to change. I was really concerned with what they were going to do with them in the end. WOULD LIKE TO SEE: a movie about Hurley’s experiences as the Protector on the Island and how he handled that, a buddy cop TV series with James and Miles (with Juliette as James girlfriend/wife), and what happened to Ben until he decided it was time to move on. So, okay, I changed from not liking the ending to understanding it, or at least finding an explanation that I can live with. Still did not want it to end!!!
Wow. There are a lot of people that are kinda dumb. It's very obvious that the flash-sideways was the limbo, not the island, as many many people have posted already. It's just amazing that so many others are still saying "I knew it, they are dead". As for the wreckage scene at the end : I think the message there is that the Island will go on, and the wreckage of the Oceanic flight will become one of the island's new mysteries to those who travel there later.
The ending was stupid, the very first show , everyone who watched
came up with they must all be dead and they don't know it. How
about what is the island? Why was the island there? No one on
the island ever asked that question, and no one watching the show
will ever know. why not make it , that they really did get back to their
place and time and now they remember their history together or they all come together at the end remember and go on to live there lives
the way they should have. no imagination
I have seen season 1 at least 10 times. Season 2 at least 6 times season 3 at least 4 times season 4 about twice and 5 and 6 once. This does not include all of the time I did researching and looking into the story and the side story (anyone who didn't know there was a side story apart from the TV show- well you're only half a LOST fan IMO)
As a LOST fanatic I believe I'm speaking for the others who say this to Mr. Lindeloff, Cuse, Abrams and writing staff who very early on promised all of the answers: Take your millions and RUN AND HIDE!!!
There are so many holes that make this story end so bunk- off the top of my head:
-the numbers: cursed? Why on the hatch? Why broadcasted? Jacob numbered the candidates. AND?
-side story: spider protocol, thomas mittelworth, changing the values (numbers) for humanity
-Walt (beyond all other questions)- why did he get kidnapped?
-Pregnant women die? Why?
-How'd the statue get built? why 4 toes?
-Why was the island flooded when the black rock crashed?
-what happened to all of the others that crashed?
-How did Ben know to build a runway if he never talked to Jacob? What purpose did it serve anyway? This would imply that they knew the Ajira plane was coming.
-I thought that if you talked to Jacob or His bro you couldn't kill them- how did Ben kill Jacob?
- what was the significance of the couple who hid the jewelry then got buried alive?
-I would have a ton more loose ends if I took another 10 minutes thinking about it.
People who say the ending was awesome obviously haven't spent the amount of time I have into LOST because the final season makes the story riddled with holes. Its like anyone who promises to deliver you a bunch of things (which they did promise) and not delivering on at least half. Less than half is a fail. The only good job they did was trying to cover it up with the "Its about the characters" bulloni campaign.
Anyway- none of the characters accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour so the light must not have been heaven...
I absolutely enjoyed last night's final episode! It left me emotionally drained and totally satisfied. I replay the final scene with Jack and Vincent in my head and it literally makes me tear up. Thank you Lost creators for the past six years!
I'll agree that the end of Lost fit the show and was sufficient to bring the series to a conclusion... But, speaking as an atheist, I think the religious path was an easy way out and, reading the comments, worked for some people on an emotional level and didn't work for some people on a technical level.
A very disappointing ending. It seems instead of a conclusion of significance, it all came down to cleaning up Jacob's mess from killing his brother. If he or his step mother had just let the man in black leave the island in the first place, none of this would have been necessary. You still do not know why he was not supposed to leave. Again, so many unanswered questions that should have been answered.
A well executed ending, with moments of greatness, but I feel like it could have still connected more dots (Charles Whitmore anyone?) ...so liked it, didn't love it.
You can't argue anything in this series as being fact. People who keep saying "everything on the island was real but the flash sideways was the afterlife" as if it's indisputable fact are deluding themselves. Consider this interpretation:
Everything in this show took place inside the sole survivor's mind (Jack) as he lay dying after the plane crash. The opening scene of the series was Jack lying there, just as it closed with Jack lying there. What if, in reality, he had never opened his eyes to begin with? It could have been an extended dream as he lay there dying the whole time. He saw several people on the plane and made up several others based on his own life experiences.
Cut to the scene of the actual plane wreckage, which nobody walked away from alive.
Taken from this perspective, several of Lost's more ridiculous plot twists that raised questions which were never answered become irrelevant.
Anyway, I enjoyed the show overall but agree with those dissatisfied with the lack of logic as the series progressed.
To mike in texas:
Another commenter made a similar reference (Loved the idea that they created this place as a way to get together again to see Jack off and reconnect with each other.)
Oh, Mike, it's worse than that really. They use Christian images as the landscape, but didn't forget to pander to other religious groups by including some of their symbols in the stained-glass windows. "This way, everyone'll be happy!"
(reference: Traci May 24th, 2010 2:37 pm ET Did anyone else notice the church's stained glass window behind Jack's father? It had a Christian cross, a Jewish star of David, an Islamic star and crescent, and the Ohm symbol. I really loved that the producers wanted to illustrate spiritual diversity and convey that the path of "crossing over" comes from wherever your spiritual beliefs lie. Not from one religious belief specifically.)
@todd.....yeah, more like a circle j@rk.
I think the crashed plane on the beach at the end was a new crash. Like it's starting all over again, but for a different group of people. It's a circle.
BrianCNN,
ROFL!!!
One of the dumbest endings ever. walking into the white light together. .
In a church. In a country full of Right wing Christian idiots. Hollywood brings on a nice happy ending with Christian reference while its the sleaze capital of the world.
It was a pretty perfect ending. those who didn't like it, didn't understand it. cliche, but true. They weren't dead on the island, that was when they were most alive. The flash sideways was were their limbo was, not the island. but really, the flash sideways' didn't matter. that wasn't real. the island was. the island changed them forever of course they'd have to find each other before they passed on...
Tried to watch this show at the beginning. Didn't and couldn't get into it. Seemed like the writers were making up the story line(s) as they went along. Tried to be a "Twin Peaks" type of show but didn't even come close. Too bad,
Haven't missed an episode.
The last 5-10 minutes of the show where a huge let down.
ABC, I'd like my evening back.
Let's spell it all out for those who are still "lost" – you obviously are not "ready" to accept creativity, imagination and faith; you want everything spelled out for you in black & white with definitive answers. Life is not like that, there are many shades of gray where our questions don't get answered – or don't get answered in the way WE want them to be answered.
1. The crash happened, and the experiences of the those who survived the crash happened in real (TV) life. The sideways flashes were them connecting in the afterlife, one that helped them all to work through their problems as individuals.
2. Human choice has been bending the trajectory of the island for thousands of years, and different groups have been trying to harness the islands's properties, but the core "constant" of the island, the inner light remained the same, acting as a pathway for souls to pass on.
3. MIB turned into Smokie after entering the life because all the was left of his inner being were dark, angry feelings of betrayal that he was bound to the island. Jack was at peace with himself and the island, and was sacrificing his human body for the benefit of humankind, so his purity remained.
4. Christian Sheppard explained at the funeral home that there was no "now", and that all of them had formed bonds with each other from the island experiences that death could not subvert. Some died before Jack (Charley, Boone, Sayid, Sun, Jin) and some after Jack (Kate, Sawyer, Claire after escaping on the Ailjira plane from the island, and Hurley & Ben after becoming the caretakers of the island...for how long, we don't know but most likely years. But each one waited for all the others to either die or to realize that they were dead and remember their connections to each other.
5. Desmond was the Constant and brought everyone together; Penny as both his soulmate and as his "constant" and rescuer to the Oceanic 6, became an integral part of the other's lives as well. Ben told Hurley to do what he does best, take care of other people, and to start by getting Desmond off the island, by making his own rules or shucking the old ones. So we can assume that Des got off the island at some point and reunited with Penny & his son.
6. Michael did not redeem himself and thus was doomed to stay as a whisperer on the island. Walt was special in the same sense as Des, but because he was young and got off the island early, was able to live a fulfilled life without being tied down with the kind of baggage of the adults.
7. Sayid could never be with Nadia because of both the torture that occured, and by the fact that he put her up on a pedestol and never felt good enough to earn her love. He met Shannon, another "flawed" individual (i.e. human) who had her own life baggage to deal with on the island. Thus they accepted each other's imperfections and pasts and accepted each other for who they were – no pedestols. Each began to learn and grow with each other, but had to wait to be reunited until the whole interconnected group could be together.
8. Ana Lucia, Mr. Ecko and others were not ready to remember or accept what happened on the island and were not ready to move on. Eloise knows both timelines but preferes the sideways one because her son Daniel is alive & well – she did not kill him nor make him give up music.
9. Love. Faith. Forgiveness. Empathy for others. Those are our best qualities as humans, that everyone struggles with in their own way, no matter how our life choices or other's choices bend our road from time-to-time.
10. The Hydrogen bomb corrected the 70's flash-back and put the Losties back in 2007 together. As Juliet lay dying, she glimpsed the sideways reality that would bring her & Sawyer back together after death – "It worked" (both the H-bomb and the unplugging of the candy machine), and then "we can go dutch" (coffee together) as her dying words.
All the Losties had to make sacrifices along the way to being reunited, but their human bonds together kept their soul bonds together, until each one was ready to move on together.
It is just a TV show...but one that bound people together during the 6-year journey. So let's celebrate our shared experience with this magical, mystical show; after all that is what has brought us together to "move on" from the end of LOST.
Julie,
Don't worry, Polar Bear is preferred image to excerpt from Jeanne's post immediately above yours ("...they created this place as a way to get together again to see Jack off...").
What is "Good" and what is "Evil"?
My huge disappointment started from the episode "Across the Sea". I wondered why nobody asked the right questions here.
What was so good about Jacob (other than the symbolism of white cloths), and what was so dark about MIB before her was thrown in the well?
Consider a woman that is the gaurdian of the Island. She kills people randomly just because she feels a threat from them. She kills the mother of twins right after giving birth, take her kids, and lies to them about being their mother. She decieces them by telling them there is nothing else beside the Island. She favors one child in black (the more intelligent independent one) over the other only to realize later tht he is the wrong one. The only thing the child wants is answers. He wants to know wht else there is, and all he gets are lies from his fake mother. When he realizes that he is lied to, he leaves and goes somewhere he can learn skills and crafts with the hope of leaving the island and finding answers. What is so aweful about this? Then he is once again hurt and decieved by his fake mother, all his friends are killes, ll the paths to his journey are closed. Now, the mother picks the less intelligent child (in white) as the gaurdian of the island and in charge of keeping his brother from leaving. When the MIB wakes to realize he has lost everything, and is deprived from making a "CHOICE" and kills the fake mother, he is thrown by Jacob (MIW) in the well and is turned into a monster.
I am shocked as nobody is bothered by MIB being portrayed as evil when he did not have any choice in the matter, and was defending himself, while his mother and brother who killed people randomly and exploited any means to protect the island due to their blind faith were considered the Good. What is the message here? That asking questions is evil, but killing people because your blind faith tells you to is justified? That you should surrender your choice to a faith that asks you "do not ask questions as they lead to more questions"?
I honestly was truely shocked and disappointed in this episode and what followed, because these are the exact opposite of what I thought to be the message of "LOST". Sadly, the finale reinforced the same message.
BrianCNN,
I am taking medical terminology in college now, I couldn't help it.
But sorry about the image
Absolutely stunningly beautiful ending! God had a hand in writing it. What a wonderful visual to see all the love reunited in a sendoff to Jack and each other! Loved the idea that they created this place as a way to get together again to see Jack off and reconnect with each other. Its beauty brought me to tears. What a joyous concept brought to television.
I was very pleased with the ending. A wonderful 6 years! I don't know what I will do with my spare time now. Re-runs anybody?
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Did anyone else notice the church's stained glass window behind Jack's father? It had a Christian cross, a Jewish star of David, an Islamic star and crescent, and the Ohm symbol. I really loved that the producers wanted to illustrate spiritual diversity and convey that the path of "crossing over" comes from wherever your spiritual beliefs lie. Not from one religious belief specifically.
Consider this...in most historical faiths, we know the beginning and the end (metaphorically at least). Its the middle though, that gets blurry. Its blurry because that's the part we reside in. Its riddled with doubt, belief, disbelief, mystery, struggle, joy, suffering, etc.
So as the story of LOST came to close last night, not every question from the blurry-middle was answered. But perhaps that's the point. Perhaps we need to struggle through the beginning and end just enough to help our struggle in the blurry-middle. Perhaps we're supposed to wrestle with the uncertainties because it draws us to (if not mandates) community....
READ MORE here: http://www.continuedconversation.blogspot.com
@ rick – with all due respect, I think you're missing the point. And the real quote is "The most important part of your life was the time you spent with those people." It doesn't mean that was the best time. Some of it was hard and awful for sure. The others were considered bad because that's how the survivors first saw them. The women couldn't sustain a pregnancy to term most likely because of the eletro-magnetic properties of the island. Ben always wanted to be special and more to the point, he wanted to be Island Special. Widmore was a threat to that. I'm not sure there was anything suggesting that Ben couldn't have hurt or killed him unless that was part of Jacob's rules on the island. But once Jacob was gone, so were those rule.
I assume the struggles between island people were due to them seeing the other side as a threat. But the truth is that the answers to those questions aren't as important as what the sideways world showed or what happens to and is said to Jack in the last 5 minutes. Truthfully, those are the ultimate answers and part of that is the understanding that some things happen just because and ultimately bear no major influence on the end game scenario.
It seems that the series finale was clearly over many people's heads.
People: when they were on the island, they weren't dead, in limbo, purgatory or what have you. I suggest you go back and watch the episode again.
i thought it was rlly good besides the end the whole"their all dead" thing?
Julie, I was speaking figuratively, not literally. (I am having a hard time getting the polar bear out of my mind now)
When Jack and FLocke are fighting on the cliff, FLock says to Jack that he was too late.... what was that about? It didn't seem to me that it was simply about not being able to plug the hole before the island was destroyed.
It was very cerebral, and I am glad to not feel compelled to watch it anymore. I like thinking, but enough is enough. Now I'll go think about something else (hopefully other than a TV show).
I agree with @deadbug. I can't say it was 2nd season but for me the tipping point was Ben's entry. Since then the show has been endless torture, kept watching it though on my wife's insistence. Now she also feels terribly let down.
jacob's ladder called. he wants his plot wrap-up back.
It's obvious that they had no idea what they were doing when making this program–just riding off the coattails of Survivor. So, great job on captivating a whole bunch of people for six years. They'll never match the Simpsons, of course, which uses the same method of "character-driven" TV Program.
Ewww.... never watched the show or the last one. The commercials were enough for me to neva watch. What a waste of time...
I think the ending would have been better.
If everyone had gone back in time .
That would help to explain.
Why they were having flashes of memory.
Of what happened on the island
Seems to me there was a time machine
That made the island disappear during one program
EWWWW...why even bother? I didn't ever watch the stupid show. Just watching the commercials were enough for me to never even watch. Glad it's over.
I can't believe how many of you idiots waste time sitting on your butts in front of the TV watching this CR*P!!!
Get off your A*S and do something oinkers!
Somewhere around Season 2 you could just tell they were just pulling stuff out of their butts as they went along. Maybe they had some writer attrition and the ideas got muddled. Maybe there were too many writers, too many cooks in the kitchen overall. The show needed a strong visionary to carry it all the way through, and in the end it just went the way of the Times/AOL merger - so much promise that no one could actually get a handle on. And in the end, the only thing lost on "Lost" was the plot.
Does anyone know where I can purchase this season 6 cast poster of the Lost cast? Thanking you in advance!!
@ JMills.. i saw them, but did not decipher what they were thanks for enlightening me. I will not only miss this show but the true lost fans & day after bloggers....some of the best intelligent posters on the internet...
I can't believe how many people are still confused over the meaning of the island. It is clear that it is a metaphor for the television show "Survivor", which was at the height of its popularity, say, about 6-7 years ago, and which featured people from various backgrounds facing unfathomable and seemingly insurmountable challenges. The "flashbacks, flashforwards, etc." are metaphors of the camera outtake interviews, which add to the hype and excitement of the program (sort of like in chick flicks and teen movies when they show a young couple changing hats and trying on outfits with a popular song in the foreground).
Hey BrianCNN,
Would that be a "polarbear-ectomy" of the anus?
The commercials were unreal, they should have charged double and cut them in half. The ending was very predictable but it still was some of the best TV acting ever. It kept you on the edge of your seat the entire series. I will miss it.
Please try and think about it. People are saying the series finale would fit better as a season finale or saying it just plain sucked. Well, if you're a fan of LOST, you've been watching episodes that had random tangent stories about the individual characters. Those stories had had NOTHING to do with the island the majority of the time. This has always been about the characters and where they've been, where they are, where they will be, and where they want to be. That last episode was nothing short of being poetic and beautiful how it all came together. Everything else that was told about the island is exactly all we needed to know.
Predictable ending?!? I don't think I heard ANYONE call the ending correctly! As the MSNBC writer said: "At least no one can say they saw that coming."
At least someone is calling a spade a spade, unlike most of us who are willing to accept that we have devoted 6 years to absolute nonsense.
http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/review/2010/05/24/lost_season_finale_recap/
Good show, weak, predictable ending!
I think the biggest question is this: What did the writers have in mind when they first thought of (and sold) the show?
Did they want a group of 'lost' characters finding their redemption through purgetory?
Or was it about a mysterious island that the characters got to explore?
One for the other please
And fwiw, OBVIOUSLY they were not dead the whole time. Doesn't take a genius to decipher Christian's dialogue. Some of you it seems have barely paid attention.
Another stupid fake reality show. This just shows the retarded level of American TV viewers.
I hear the complaints about not being given the answers... Actually I think the viewer needs to fill in some of the blanks with their own answers.
When Kate was outside the concert she told Jack that /// "she had been waiting such a long time for him" ....... In that scen she was dead and so was Jack ~He saw her as he remembered her. She saw Jack as she remembered him... .. what we don't know is how long Kate waited... was she really an older woman and not the young woman we saw on the screen?
I was able to figure out so much when in the hospital, Lock told Jack that he didn't have a son.
Will miss this wonderful show....
"What is the Island": I'm amazed that people haven't picked up on the island as being a metaphore for all our daily lives on this planet. Don't we each live in an "island" of relationships, totally unconnected to the outside world (like Haiti and Afghanistan)?. Don't we struggle for power with others in our "island"? Is it accident or fate that we end up with strangers on our "island"? We search for meaning ("are we here for a purpose"), we fall for leaders with compelling stories, we learn from our mistakes and find out our true friends are not who we'd have guessed them to be initially.
I agree that the middle years were "lost" by the writers. ( Really, what in the world was that temple and all the drowing scenes about? ) It seemed like many episodes neither introduced or resolved anything of substance. But they got their groove back this year, and went back to focusing on the evolution of the central. I loved the flash-backs to the great memories. That's the fundamental stuff of stories that we all live day-to-day.
Great 6 years.
The characters were NOT in limbo/purgatory ... the island was the island. The lived their lives accordingly and all, eventually, died.
THAT was the limbo/purgatory part – the flash-sideways. They had to wait until ALL had died ... with the last probably being Hurley ... before they could "awaken" and go to their final destination.
Whatever that turns out to be.
Still some questions to be answered, but overall a very satisfying finale. Thanks again for 6 excellent seasons.
Deadbug, "character-driven drama" is code for "writers pulling plot out of behinds each week".
@phillylostie
In regards to the religous symbols on the stained glass..... did you notice the bottom two? The Wheel of Time and the Aes Sedai Symbol to the right
I had my doubts as this season/show was coming to an end but I feel as though they did an outstanding job with the finale. They tied it all together.
So long Losties
I am deeply dissapointed. Last 20 minutes of the show ruined all good impressions ( 6 years ). Commercially speacking , I will destroy all the seasons on discs I have. There is no way I would buy season 6.
I advise to do the same for all who shares the same oppinion.
They do not deserve high profit after such negledgence to us.
uh, wasnt there a black kid on the show? With a dad?
They must have LOST their contracts and didnt make the finale.
LOL at BrianCNN
I don't believe they were dead the entire series. It seems like they were waiting on eachother to meet again then pass. But what about the 5 that actually got off the island in the last 15 minutes? They never died, but were in the church scene. Or was the credit screen with the crashed plane showing that they crashed and died too?
Deadbug,
You're awesome!
Thought it was excellent. Sensitive, thought provoking and well crafted. There will be spirited debate for years to come
I was SO disapppointed. All the Lost finale did was explain that the "alternate universe" - a late invention in the series (season 5 or 6?) - wasn't real after all. It left everything else about the island itself unexplained. LAME.
There are all these posts on message boards about it was a “character-driven TV show” and the 2-hour recap before the finale had the series creators saying the same thing. "Oh, it's all REALLY about human relationships."
But sorry, that baby was all about plot. If it was so “character-driven,” you don’t need to add a homicidal smoke monster that makes noises like it’s printing out a receipt, a messiah-like figure who can’t leave the island yet somehow appears all over the place picking “candidates,” magical water that makes you immortal but not, a crazy time-shift thing that strangely favors the 70’s, a wheel in the bottom of an island that makes it disappear, a glowing cave of water that turns out to have a big cork in it, a polar bear out of nowhere, a kid with psychic powers, a big curly-haired guy with psychic powers, an Asian guy with psychic powers, and at least one dude who doesn’t age.
There were so many fascinating plot points with all the above, and in the end the writers/producers/whoever just frittered them away. It could have been the most fascinating finale ever. But it just wasn't.
I would love to see a spin-off cop show with Sawyer and Miles, though.
Rick-I share alot of your questions but maybe have some answers for a couple of yours. Widmore and Ben were enemies from that start. When ben was with the Others and took Alex from Russo, Widemore wanted to kill Alex, telling Ben to do it. Ben answered if youwant to kill this child you do it yourself don't have me do something you wont do. From there they were enemies. Ben's manipulative/power hungry nature didn't help things anyway. Especially when he took over as leader and Banished Widmore of the Island. Ben wanted to kill Penny, because Widmore's mercinaries killed Alex, his daughter to try to get Ben. The Others killed the Dharma people so they could "rid" the island of them and their research. They beleived the island was special, and probably taking orders from Jacob.
To everyone who are saying they are right that the islad was purgatory, I am not sure it is. When Jack's dad told him that everythign he experienced on the island was real and that they created "this place" (los angeles, post 815 'landing') so they could find eachotherl; this leads me to believe the island was real, and therefore real life and if anything was purgatory it was the sideways world.
Thoughts?
Julie said it best!
My god, some of you really want a DUMBED DOWN show. You NEED all of the answers, lol. How about you think and theorize like the rest of us have been doing for 6 years. Understand, it wasn't a show meant to talk down to you like a 4th grader and spell every little thing out. It's not about telling you every little insignificant thing about every little mystery. It is about THE CHARACTERS. Remember: it's a story about a group of people that crash-landed together and how they would survive and live together. It's not all about the mysteries, it's about the people and how they have progressed. I thought the ending was very good and fitting. We got to see them all (mostly) together again and joyful. It was a beautiful thing.
It was a great show, and a great run. i will miss it, however the ending could have been better.
I noticed all the symbols but just the idea that it was a church and not just a beach or something. They all established their bond on that island, many of them talking to each other at the beach campsite, heck there was outright death and people buried on the beach. Why would they create the last place they want to meet each other as a church. The writers threw in all those symbols on the stained-glass window to appease all the religions, just seems like more Dharma/Others secret codes right till the end. I mean where would that come from anyway, who amongst the group would imagine that in the first place. The "Flash-Sideways" existence is for them alone, and everyone they ever came into contact with on the island is in it.
Wow...it's just a TV show people! Reading these blog entries has been quite entertaining...some of you are soooo into it. Kinda creepy in a way. Like I said, it's just a show. Thanks for the chuckles...!! LOL
That was SUCH a lame ending!
It was basically the same plot as the 1990 film Jacob's Ladder.
This was so good it needed repeating,
by Jason Covington:
"Great characterization, but this series does not deserve the glorious praise so many are giving it here.
Good writers work out all the details first before proceeding with a plot this complex; otherwise, you end up with a cheap way out like this."
Of course the island is a real place. Just like the farm on Farmville is a real place.
Wow..I was right about most of the ending...no wonder my post as "TakeMeThere" & "LOVELost" never appeared after several attempts.Predicted the eye of Jack closing as the end & knew Christian Shepherd was going to be a main factor in "the end" just did not know how? The island time had to be REAL since most of them did not know each other prior to the crash to form such a bound as to wait for each other to move on or to join together with their "constant."
Jack did not know Kate, Sawyer/James did not know Juliette, hell they weren't even on the same plane. Their island journey/experience is what formed their bonds from here to eternity. Whoever did not notice the myriad of religious synbols on the stained glass was just not paying attention.
Dumb show, dumb story line, dumb ending.Cliff hanger after cliff hanger that never really got resolved. Good acting and good scenes but the show was incoherent and poorly written. I think the writers made it up as they went along. It is too bad because the characters were likeable and we could all identify with them because of their weaknesses and strenghts and faults. But really, the audience got strung along for the entire run of the show without really understanding what was happening. Perhaps that was the point of the show, to keep us in the dark and guessing all the time. The flashbacks got a little tiring too as did all the repeat episodes to try and stretch it out. The only memorable thing for me was all the great acting and the characters. But the story itself was stupid and so was the ending. Are we all now suppose to believe that every time a plane goes down the people killed are all running around on a island in a state of confusion with multiple mysterious things happening to them as though they are still alive? Give me a break.
Great wrap up, just wish that they hadn't gotten into the depth on Jacob, MiB and Richard in Season 6. They opened up more questions that were just not needed seeing how the show ended.
Irritated. The last 5 minutes were terrible. I didn't want to see Jack die. The best time of his life was on the island???? Jack actually spent very little time on the island. Certainly we deserved some more explanation about the people.
Why were the Others so bad at first? Why couldn't women have children on the island? What was the deal with Widmore and Ben? What were they really fighting over? Why was Ben able to kill Widmore? Ben wanted to kill Penny because he couldn't kill him. Why did the Others kill all the Dharma people? The alternate universe was a waste of screen time.
@DC
"Anyone think Ben did not go in because he knew that he was going to Hell?"
No, just got the feeling he was not ready to move on do to his past.
I'm just glad that the show did NOT end with Jack as Jacob and Sawyer/Locke as MIB, sitting on a beach, with Sawyer/Locke saying "Do you know how much I want to kill you?" That would've sucked so bad, especially considering hundreds of idiotic posts with that same lame prediction.
Great ending to a great show! I just people would open up their ears and listed to what Christian said to Jack....
The Islands was real, the events that happened there were real, THEY DID NOT DIE IN THE ORIGINAL CRASH!!!!
They were all waiting for each other to cross over to the afterlife together. They all died at different times, Christian eluded to this; "Jack some died before you and some long after."
Anyone think Ben did not go in because he knew that he was going to Hell?
@infosurgent
Did you not actually listen to Kate and Jack talk in the last 10mins? The reason they were at that (Western Judeo-Christian) church was because that is where Jack was going to have the memorial service for his dad.
And now you'll all have an extra hour or so for Farmville each week! Hooray!!!
I thought the finale was awesome. Such a great way to end the show!
There are two major camps here. Those that are comfortable with ambiguity and those that are not. Those that can think abstractly and outside of their box, and those that cannot. This entire show, the finale included, was created by and for the former – those with open minds and the ability to consider a realm beyond the physical. I don't need to have everything answered to be supremely satisfied.
If MIB/Locke said at the end "good thing that we were already dead or that nuke really would have hurt" or "Congratulations, Jack, on plugging the hole to hell" or "the Island was ________", I would have been angry. I love this ending. I love that it makes people think. The naysayers who concreteness can go watch Desperate Housewives.
On the whole, I thought it was a great episode. I am a little disappointed in an ending I thought was an easy way out, but it was done well and did convey the necessary emotion needed to end the series properly. There are still a lot of questions to be answered that may be addressed in a book or spin-off someday.
I will miss the show deeply.
For everyone that's saying they guessed it all along from Season 1 and that they were all dead or we just taken for a ride, you're just wrong. Even Christian made it apparent that they WERE all real, that everything DID (notice the tense) really happen, etc. etc.
The ending of "Lost" as it pertains to what we knew of the island and Season 1-5 (and Season 6 real world) ended w/ Jack dying, Hurley/Ben taking over w/ Desmond on the island, and the rest leaving. Period, the end, that's what happened. So for anyone who's saying, 'We've been duped' or 'We guessed it' – unless you guessed all that then you're just lying to yourself.
However they threw in alt-world to get to the heart of the matter – that it's about relationships, and our experiences with the people we love that matter...not whether or not Ben is gonna double-cross Hurley in some weird future that we don't know about or why babies can't be born on the island. How much cheaper would you feel about the experience of the show if what you got out of the finale is if you got your theory scorecard correct vs. whether you had an emotional attachment to these people because of it?
The ending was beautiful, tragic, heartfelt but above all engaging. If you had an emotion then it had it's effect. Who knows how we deal with each other's parting but I thought this ending was beyond beautiful.
predictable, boring, big let down…
I was very disappointed.. I wanted more answers. What *WAS* the island? Where was it? What's up with DHARMA? Just who were Jacob and his brother, and why were the protecting the island? What's the significance of the numbers? How did Jacob get to the rest of the world to influence the characters lives previous to their arrival on the island? Who built that big a$$ statue that Jacob lived in? etc, etc
They could have done so much more with the story given what they had built up. I was hoping for a more scientific and plausible (time travel, other dimension, etc) ending and explanation. I honestly couldn't care less about the romantic drama ending.. ?
and the polar bears – I thought they were brought to the island by the dharma project for experiments and what not. remember the bear cages that kate and sawyer were trapped in for a little while.
the only question i would have liked to have been answered was why michael and walt were not in the final scene. because they abandoned the rest of the characters, so they dont deserve a good after life? maybe thats why ben didnt come in the church, he still had something to prove to himself for all the bad that he did?
Not unlike religion, the Lost finale pandered to emotions rather than provide explanations.
I shall never watch another J.J. Abrams project.
As a writer myself, I was intrigued up until mid Season 2. I had worked out 2 or 3 explanations for all the mysteries. This is what kept me engaged. Then, when nothing was explained by the end of season 2 and in fact more mysteries were introduced, I knew that the writers had written themselves into a corner with no way out. The producers even said as much around that time, that the writers in fact, did not know the answers to any of our questions. However, the producers promised there would be answers. To me, all the answers in this final episode are really a cop-out or cheap way out of an elaborate plot. Great characterization, but this series does not deserve the glorious praise so many are giving it here.
Good writers work out all the details first before proceeding with a plot this complex; otherwise, you end up with a cheap way out like this.
ok, i enjoyed the last episode as well as the last six seasons. i have watched them all in order from first to last and am greatful for the journey. although like most of you i am lost. i need the writers to explain to me exactly what has happend. but this is the end so i should not need them to. i have understood everything and never questioned the show too much. i learned to wait, i got it. but with this ending who knows. it was still worth it for me, thank you.
Well dan that is fine if the island was not part of reality, because as far as I know nuclear bombs destroy thing when they blow up in reality not send people to a different decade...... now, that could happen if the island part was not real, too many inconsistencies, We all started watching the show because the writing was more intelligent than other shows..... oh well
The really disappointing thing about LOST is we knew going it that this was a series that had a definite ending date. So, the theory goes, the writers then had a definite story behind the series. Not true at all as evidenced during the 7:00-9:00 time slot in an interview with Linus' actor who revealed that he was originally only supposed to be on the show for 3 episodes. Probably due to high focus group ratings, they decided to keep him around, and build story lines up around him.
Booooo.
Last night's culmination was nothing more than what I suspected halfway through the first season. That they were all in a state of limbo waiting to redeem themselves and move on to heaven. Yawn. Guessed that one correct 6 seasons ago.
Some things left me wondering, however, if the writers don't plan on taking this to the big-screen a la X-Files?????????????? What's the significance behind Ben staying outside the church? Not ready to move on? Who wasn't in the church? Michael, Walt, Miles, Rousseau?
The funniest thing about this is how so many people thought they had it all figured out from the beginning when in reality they didn't.
I'm glad it's over. Every season I've said I've had it with this show, only to turn it on again thinking I must have missed something. It turns out I didn't miss a thing. I'm just happy that Jack didn't end up in a shower scene saying it was all a dream.
I spent 6 years wondering what the show was really about, and I still don't know. Yeah, Yeah I get the whole sideways reality was purgatrory, woop de doo, they could have had that ending after the first season.Too many questions remained unanswered. At first we were led to believe it was about purgatory, next theDharma initiative was the reason, then time travel, then good vs evil, and then finally purgatory again. I want a makegood.
What a beautiful way to close the greatest television show of all time. Thank you LOST for giving us all such a great gift.
Please give me back my 6 years! I figured this out after Season 2!
The Island Was REAL!! Everything in seasons 1-5 and half of season 6 actually happened to these characters. The flash sideways parts of season six while they were back in the "real world" was pergatory where they all waited for the rest to die so they could all move on together (Jack did not have a son before the flash sideways). Remember Juliet telling Sawyer "It worked" just before she died? She was moving on to pergatory where the plane never crashed and she was never taken by the Darma Initiative so she mistook it for being sent home. THE ISLAND WAS NOT LIMBO.
They weren't dead the whole time...the island wasn't the afterlife...the church and the flashes we saw through this season of life in LA was the afterlife. They created that fake LA world to find each other again after they died. Jack's dad said "I'm real, you're real. Everything you experienced was real" or something to that affect...
I think the point was, at the end it wasnt about where the island came from, how the smoke monster was made, who inhabited the island originally, etc. Those unanswered questions are irrelevant because the important thing was the island helped all of the characters resolve issues in their lives – gave them a second chance, allowed them to change, grow closer to each other, etc. In the end, what the characters went through together was more important than what the island was all about. I thought it was a good ending. And appropriate that even the ending kept us guessing
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I thought the ending was appropriate and well executed. Hands down one of the greatest shows ever conceived. I will miss it.
but if you seriously think they were dead the entire series, you're an idiot.
what a waste of space. Season 1 and maybe 2 made sense and was interesting. Everything after was such a stretch by the producers to squeeze every cent out of max air time it was so stupid. Glad that this is over finally!
Not particularly happy with the very end – didn't seem to really quite fit, almost too rushed. However I can't help but think that perhaps they left openings for potential spinoffs, movies, etc... – Like what happened to those on the plane, Hurley's life as the island protector, etc... Or perhaps just for "Losties" to continue pondering and making up their own stories
The ending was such an injustice to a brilliant show and those intelligent viewers who followed every episode for six years, not missing the smallest symbolism and detail. The level of intelligence dropped from the ceiling to the floor in the last episodes. There is no way to offend a person more than by telling them d...on't ask questions, because every answer raises another question??? – i.e. just accept what I am telling you, and blindly follow me. Is that what it was all about? To accpet anything you are told? The soap opera ending was an insult to viewers... At the end all the people, events, dialougues, moves that we so carefully watched meant nothing. Science meant nothing. Questions meant nothing. Now if you are a "real fan" (!!!) as some put it, you have to be thankful for this shameful ending, and these pathetic answers to the intelligent questions that were raised for years.
In my opinion, the finale was written to the first pilot episode (that also aired last Saturday) ignoring eveything that happened in over 100 episodes in between. Now, some say all those questions were not important. So, why not produce a 3.5 hour show that is all about who ends up with who in after-life, instead of what all the events we so carefully watched meant? I think the writers failed miserably, and I would have been much happier left with my own theories had I not seen the "Across the sea" and the final episodes... instead of being forcefed some answers – no explanations – that do not make much sense ...
They should have brought back Nikki and Paulo
The ending sucked. After 6 years of watching every nearly episode, awaiting in anticipation for the start of each season, I can't say how disappointed I was at the ending. To have them all be [stop reading if you don't know the ending] dead really sucked. I was wondering all along why they were "waking up", remembering their time on the island, to have them all realize (but we didn't know it until the end) that they were dead and were just meeting up to "move on" together. WHAT A HUGE LETDOWN!!! Someone else said it well, I WANT MY SIX YEARS BACK !!!!!!!
For all those who are saying final episode or episodes from other seasons have answered all the questions and that the island was real, Can someone answer the following:
If the island was real:
1. How come Jacob can bee seen by others when he is already dead.
2. What about Richard. How come a supposedly real person (Jacob) give Richard immortality.
3. Even if Richard somehow got immortality and was a real person, how come he was visited by his wife's spirit.
4. If according to Jacob's rules, no one was allowed to leave the island, then how come in 2nd and 3rd seasons, people managed to leave.
5. Once Jack and Hurley drank the water, they were supposed to be like Jacob. Then how come they die like a normal human beings, while Jacob is running around appearing/disappearing. Should'nt they also be able to do that.
The list of unanswered questions is still endless.
The greatest long con was on us people. I have loved this show, looked forward to every episode, blogged online my theories, and had many fun debates with friends about this show, however it was a cop out ending. They kept saying it was about the characters but they kept writting the island is special only to pander to the audiences desire for everyone to live happily ever after together. They wrote the entire last season to make this silly ending. Sorry but can anyone tell me how successful they have been at getting friends or family together to agree on one meeting place ie dinner, bar, what have you and here 20+ people all create a purgatory to wait on everyone to go into the light together? This is a great ending? They wrote a Machavialian plot on an island where people crashed and needed to get over their "issues". Why did they need to write those subplots and not write people under pressure trying to survive coming to terms with their issues? Face it people it was the greatest hoodwink to sell marketing to the viewers and we bought into it. I love the show and all the memories, but the ending was a slap in the face. They created a show that redefined tv with interactive fan support only to give the big middle finger to the fans. Sorry people they had lightening in a bottle only to make a getaway with our cash. I actually felt like a loony tune character when they realize that they stepped off a cliff believing they were fine only to turn into an image of a sucker or donkey as they plummet into the ground below. Thanks LOST for tarnishing great memories with a greedy exit.
Liked it....now I can watch the entire series again which I illegally downloaded. Yippee!!
ABC already announced 2 spinoffs, Jack and Kate plus 8 and LUST starring... well Kate, Sawyer and Jack together...cant wait!
HORRIBLE!!!
The last five minutes 'killed the moment'. All 6 years were great. Up until the last five minutes, I was with intrigued, but starting with Christian's (Jack's dad), and revealing that they were already dead, then that's where it ended for me. They went too far. At that point, it just became a TV show that was ending, nothing special, nothing to talk about, nothing left to debate
People people people – the island was real and they were all alive when on the island. The flash-sideways was not real but a vehicle for the Losties to find each other and remember their lives. As Christian said there is no now. Time is not a factor in the flash-sideways. This was shown when Hugo told Ben he made a great number 2. Hugo and Ben might have lived for 50 more years after Jack passed away. I know its hard to accept but the theory of the final season "time to let go" applies for us as well.
Hands down best TV drama ever.
...and now for something completely different...
what about he polar bear??
This was a sad ending to a long chapter of time that I devoted to "Lost." When Kate rolled over in the bed, I KNEW IT WAS ALL JUST A DREAM!!! I've been saying that for a while now and to see it played out was just screaming mad! I don't know if I've seen every episode (I may have missed a few), but for the most part, I'm a "Lostie." That note that said "I never knew how a Trekkie felt until I became a Lostie" was right on the money. I'm glad that some viewer comments made it on air; it made the farewell all that much more sad and sweet. I hope that "Lost" will be forever in reruns so that we may all partake with gusto at will. Probably ScyFy will pick it up. It'll cost millions, but hey, it's worth it. "Lost," I'll miss you terribly and will have to find a replacement; it'll be hard to find one as good and quirky. Love to all the cast and crew and I hope that some of the cast is able to find a vehicle for them; I'd watch it!!! Evangeline Lily was in "The Hurt Locker" and it won Best Picture this year at the Academy Awards. Not bad, Kate! A fond farewell to all, Namaste!
"Go back to "Idol," the Kardashians, the bag of chips, and the rest of your sorry Go back to "Idol," the Kardashians, the bag of chips, and the rest of your sorry lives."
Are you serious?? Lost is right on par with those mindless shows you're describing! Give me a good show like Mad Men or Breaking Bad... You sheep really lapped it up right to the bitter end didn't you?
The last five minutes 'killed the moment'. All 6 years were great. Up until the last five minutes, I was with intrigued, but starting with Christian's (Jack's dad), and revealing that they were already dead, then that's where it ended for me. They went too far. At that point, it just became a TV show that was ending, nothing special, nothing to talk about, nothing left to debate. It 'had' been so good, the ending was right on until that point... then they 'blew-it'
some of you people are so thick.
The island was NOT purgatory. They made it pretty clear. Everyone was not dead on the island. The island was real events. They survived the plane crash. All the events in seasons 1-5 happened – from the flashbacks to the flash-forwards. It was all real.
the ending SUCKED!!!!!!! what a crock!!!!!! this was so uncreative i believe it was written by a roomful of monkeys!!!!!
I watched the show mostly to support my wife who has been a big fan from day one. At times this is helpful since I can step back and just look at the series as a whole and not get all wrapped up in the relationships, plot twists, etc.
Overall I enjoyed the finale and agree in the "afterlife" puratory angle that most bloggers are describing. I wish there would have been more tying up of loose ends and explanations, but frankly I think that would have been impossible. A few lines explaining why certain characters were not at the church (Ekko, Walt, etc) would have been nice, and maybe a few more words about Hurley/Ben living on the island would have cleared some confusion. I have often felt that the various plots were written somewhat independent of each other and ended up down roads that really could not be reconnected with the other plot lines. I'm sure the writers/directors had a general idea of the path of the show, but the subplots were created much more randomly. With so many independent stories and plot lines, it is just simply impossible to tie them together in a nice little bow for the audience so they just came up with a generalized ending and left the questions out there, which is why so many watchers seem disappointed, and some angry. Part of the reason many of us continued to watch (me included) was to learn the "final answers", but in the end there were none (or just a few) and to those watchers the show was a big let down. For those more interested in the characters/relationships etc. the show provided a perfect ending...
That's my two cents anyway.
Just rewatched the last 10 minutes of the finale. I absolutely loved it–very beautiful and moving.
My family and I thought the ending was beautiful. After 6 years we are very sad to see it end. All of our questions were not answered, but in the end it doesn't matter. We felt like we connected with the characters. With LOST gone I guess it is time to go back to Netflix.
Okay so I totally loved the show all the reunions were perfect. However, I too didn't care for the scene in the church, I think they should have reunited on the island. I think it would have been more appropriate for them to have taken a boat, or to have all "woken" up on the island, and Hurley to meet them at the edge of the woods and say, Welcome home. The church didn't make much sense. Plus i am little confused, did they ALL die in the plane crash, and this was their afterlife. Or did they die through time and because they were so close and the time in their life was so important? I think it kind of left me asking, and coming to my own conclusion. But I LOVED the flashes and the memories.
Perfect end to a story that I don't think will ever be topped on TV in my lifetime.
I already miss the show.
anyone who says they died right away is a fool.
Using Jack going through the bamboo and dying and saying it was from the wreck is WRONG.
He was wearing a suit during the original crash and diff clothes during the end. He was injured by the restarting of the light and the plane crash injuries were different.
It is nice to see all the paid for comments are done, and the truth about how much of a suck-fest that show was can come out. All you jokers claiming how "perfect" it was please explain if it was purgatory how they characters were existing in 2 places at once. Nothing on that show was explained.
Where did the murdered mother of Jacob come from? Why was she murdered? Did everyone die on the plane? What about the others? Was the island real? Did it sink? Did Linus go back to being a teacher? What was the point of the whole temple story and the water that healed people? Why was dude trying to kill Siyad? Would the bomb had not exploded on the sub if James would not have pulled the plug? What happened to the little black kid? Where did the plane come from that had all the heroine? Why would Daniel's mom not want the Australian guy to take everyone out of purgatory? How did she know she was in purgatory? What was her husband doing on the Island, why was he even there? Where did Ethan go? What was the point of tapping the computer every three hours or whatever? What was the point of the Nuke? Where did the little board game go that Jocob played with his brother?
Oh screw it, the whole show sucked.
WOW!!! Lots of amazing feedback – some people are really missing the boat though. They were not all dead on the island . Only Jack and the Man in Black died last night. The rest all "eventually" or "previously" died, hence Christian's statement "We all die, Jack. Some just sooner than others." This was a mind bending tale that attempted to paint a picture of fear and love and life and death, and succeeded.
I've been a loyal Lost fan for six years... I was so mad at the ending. Well not the ending its self but the unanswered questions. Alot about the island why did we go through time travel, the island moving, black smoke, good and evil? What were all of those things? Highly disappointed.
For those of you that think they were dead on the island, they weren't. They were very much alive. As Christian Shepherd said to his son, "some died before you (Shannon, Boone, Sayid, the Kwons) and some died after you (Kate, Sawyer, Hurley, Ben). Purgatory was always the flash sideways scenes.
I am sad to see the show end, but I think it was a great ending!
I stopped watching religiously after season 4. So what was the Darma Initiative? The Sharks with logos, who were the "Others?" why the Radio signals broadcasting for 14 years or whatever. Why no females could have babies and on and on and on. They just made this crap up as they went along. They sucked you in with a mystery and then never went back to explain. The sub that could go back and forth between real world and the island.... just too many leave me hanging crap that I couldnt take it anymore.
I loved the final epsiode. I couldn't have been more happy with the outcome. I will miss my Tuesday nights now that it is off the air. But... I have my DVD's to watch over and over again. Thanks Lost for the last 6 years.
And also..Jack saw his Dad several times through the series....because they were all dead! Curly saw dead people when he was back after they apparently were saved.
NONE of you called in season 1 they werre in Limbo because the "Island" part of the show was real.
The sideways world of Season 6 was limbo, where they all reunited after everyone had died years later.
Kate, Sawyer, Miles, Lapedus, and Richard all went on to have lives off the island and Hurley and Ben ran the island for an undisclosed amount of time.
Check out an old movie: I think made for TV called PURGATORY. It has an obvious, but similar story line. A group of bank robbers, running from a possee go through a tunnel and come out in this town where they encounter people who seem to be living peaceful, normal lives. After each character is redeemed through some act appropriate to his sins, they all move on into the light, riding in a stagecoach. Their time in the town is different for all. Thoughout the movie there is an old indian who takes away the unredeemed dead to a horrible drop through the gates of hell. Much like the black smoke.
You might find it on HULU. It's not quite as sophisticated as Lost but very similar.
the biggiest question of all.......
what about the polar bear???
I'm going on record one more time...
The island was real but ONLY because the souls of those who came to the island needed it to exist.
Which seems more "plausible";
1) A Metaphysical island existence in an afterlife, created by the souls of the characters as they struggle for redemption.
2) A real-world island location where a plane blows apart at 40,000 feet because of an electromagnetic pulse, many of the passengers impossibly survive the crash, a man who couldn't walk suddenly can (Locke), a woman who had terminal cancer is suddenly fine (Rose), an Infertile couple suddenly becomes pregnant (Sun Jin), You can move the island by turning a big wheel, there is a Smoke Monster, Divine Light, Polar Bear, Massive Statue, Immortality, Electromagnetism run amok, you can survive a Nuclear bast at ground zero, there are ancient Temples (one with a pool that can bring you back to life) immortal Jacob and his immortal brother (good/evil), Dead people who are randomly visible, Whispering Jungle, identical and mystical numbers on the mainland and on the island, Dharma (Hindu for "one's righteous duty"), overwhelmingly impossible coincidences in the various characters story-lines, a lighthouse that has images of each characters lives, a pirate ship, immortality by drinking some river water, and on and on and on and on...
Pretty much NONE of the most vexing mysteries of the island were explained. Why? Because the lingering questions about the island were not the story. The island was the sum total of the experiences of the souls who inhabited the island, not a physical place that exists.
IN ADDITION, pretty much all of the main characters who died on the island, (Boon, his sister, Charlie, Syid, etc) did so after finding new inner strength and resolve.... they were ready to move on.
The key here, really, is this: Were you watching a drama about people or a sci-fi show about an island?
Those in the first group got a great ending. Those in the second group didn't.
I find it interesting that although "Lost" has repeatedly shown us religious ceremonies and observations of different types of religion such as pagan, Christian, Jewish and Muslim, the writers decide to end the show in a place that is the Western Judeo-Christian ideal of a final meeting place after death.....a church. Are we to believe that every person there has a similar belief system that would make them feel comfortable transiting to the after-life from a church. Especially Sayid, the man was a devout Muslim the entire series.
I liked it. Definately above my expectations.
My only problem with it is that I wish it would have been more overtly Christian. I was irritated by that stained glass window. My main worry for the finale would be that it would degrade into flabby uncontrovertial unitarian universalist spiritualism. I would have liked it more if it took place in a Catholic Church.
But good ending. They did well!
Didn't watch. Never saw the show. If it was on commercial television, then more than likely the show interupted the commercials. Get real, what is important on television is the commercials. The shows, no matter how well done, have become after thoughts.
I think in many ways, LOST took us as fans on the same emotional, bonding journey that the characters went on. We were all united around this show for 6 years, not knowing where it was going yet we saw it through. We had our doubts, frustrations & struggles. Even reading this message board, it's obvious that viewers were even split into two schools of though much like the struggle between science and faith in the show... some fans focused on the mysteries of the island while others got caught up in the message and characters.
But in the end, we can all say that we were part of an incredible journey lived through these characters and their adventures. Many people have bonded over the show, countless blogs have been created to discuss it & I'm sure that we will continue talking about and enjoying LOST & the experience for years to come...
What it comes down to, at least for me, is that the creators of this show, whether you agree with all their plot twists or not, succeeded in sending a message about having a good, fulfilled, happy life with those that you love and what it may take to do so not just be telling a story but also by drawing fans into almost "living" it so the message seemed that much more potent in the end.
Kind of felt a little like the ending of Battlestar Galacitica and the final reveal of the opera house, except this was in a church. "All of this has happened before," was a very definite linkage between the flash sideways universe and the flashbacks and flashforwards that we were given in the last 6 years. I like how through all of the good and the bad, we could see from all angles how each charachter in their own right was "lost" and how the island created or gave an opportunity for all of the charachters to find puropose and meaning. Through all the struggle and heartache, the choice that was presented to each charachter spoke about our ability as individuals to be a part something greater than our individual selfs. A fine piece of high literature presented masterfully.
The island is NOT a purgatory! Stop calling it that and stop calling the ending stupid/waste of time/whatever, cos you think they've been dead all along, got stuck in the purgatory and got to heaven afterwards!!!!
If the thought of an island as some kind of a limbo is the only thing that spoils the finale for you, re-think your initial thoughts! Isn't it obvious that as Mathew Fox said at Kimmel's, all the religions have this idea that when you die you embrace all the actions you did and all the people you've met and who influenced your life to move on! To another life/form of existence/etc. They all dies on their time and just gathered in this funeral home out of time and space to embrace each other and appreciate for being a part of each other's life. If someone's left outside, then he/she were not as interconnected as those who finally made it to the chapel, whats so hard to understand about it?
What part of Walt's life was the island? A few years as a child, the experience that will go away as the years passes. His father, Michael, was lost and also lost his connection with the rest of the Oceanic survivors when he chose to kill his friends in exchange for his freedom. That hardly qualifies him as a welcome guest in the chapel. The same goes for Ben, yeas, he was a memorable part of the Losties' lives, but hardly the best one worth remembering forever cos of all the hard feelings. He surely made a great #2, thats why Hurley felt he should invite Ben inside, but Ben knew the others wouldnt be thrilled to meet him at the moment of their greatest joy and happiness.
And does it really matter what the island was? I mean, use your imagination, you've been given enough clues to take the light for whatever is the most important to you and what you think is inside each man. For me it was love. Too much live will kill you, remember? For someone it might be the enlightment, life/death, soul etc. Just look inside you and honestly answer this question pertaining to YOU.
For all of those who wanted more detailed answers, Carlton Cues and Damon Lindelof have a podcast where they go into a bit more detail about the show. They have repeatedly said that they felt a detailed explaination of how the island works, a la the "Oracle" explaining the Matrix to Neo was not good drama, and pedantic.
Did everyone really want a detailed explaination of the mechanics of the light and the island? How did that work out for Star Wars and "Midichlorians"? In the words of Mother, any explaination would lead to more questions.
ok...about whether the island was 'real' or not, then how come they showed the wreckage of the plane right at the end of the show...with all the suitcases thrown around, and the engine still spinning....that was the final clue that they were dead for six years...if it was real their time there then all the wreckage was cleared up by them and you wouldn't have seen that shot. It was all about the afterlife and lost souls coming together to work some stuff out and then to move on into the light together...
I thought it was amazing. It wasn't some contrived sci-fi creation to explain all the events leading up to the final scene. They didn't try to over philosophize or mythologize (only references).
I think there was one overall message that was beautifully portrayed – Love conquers all. What is here and now (and when is here and now) doesn't really matter. Who you love it what really matters. Simple. Beautiful.
Rose and Bernard got it the whole time. That is why they never worried about anything.
A disaster. What a way to make money.
The end was worth the wait...sure, around season 3 things slowed down a bit and maybe you drifeted away from the island... If you were/are a true fan and you stuck with it, all the answers that needed to be answered WERE in the finale! We'll miss you Doc, Freckles, James, etc...mark August 24th on your calendar: DVD entire series will be released!!!
It makes sense, they all had to be dead for these six years to have happened.
What happens back in the states when the plane carrying Kate , Sawyer and Clair get to where theer allready is a Kate, Sawyer and Clair?
This entire blog is full of speculation. The writers should put something together explaining it, otherwise, us "Dumb folks" just wont get it......I plan on dropping off the first 5 seasons on DVD to Goodwill. The receipt for my taxes is worth more at this point.
I am a huge fan of the show and watch episodes from previous seasons over and over. I have to say I was disappointed with the ending for several reasons.
1. After all the reliance on science and scientists to explain why the Island did what it did, and the final answer is some pseudo-religious idea of purgatory just as many have postulated since the beginning.
2. So we are to believe in the end that the "Flash-Sideways" was in not fact an alternate reality created by the detonation of the atomic bomb in 1977, it was a cosmic waiting room that was created by all the survivors of Flight 815 because they wanted to be together again?
3. Why is it that when exposed to the "Source" of the Island, Desmond travels through time via his consciousness; Ben and Locke are transported through the Tunisia wormhole(as I assume everyone who comes in contact with the "donkey wheel" does) but MiB is changed into some sort of utter manifestation of evil and Jack..........is deposited somewhere outside. That makes sense for the writers because it is not like we could have dropped Jack into the middle of Tunisia....we had to get that final scene of him closing his eye and dying like the writers said they always planned.
4. Although Hurley and Ben have reconciled and decided to become the new Dynamic Duo of the Island, in the "Flash-Sideways" Hurley and Ben compliment each other on doing such a good job protecting the Island. So, now we are back to time travel theory again. Is this in fact some middle place where you go before you die (of course you have to create it with your friends first right?); or is it in fact an alternate timeline with wormholes in everyone consciousness allowing them to see multiple places along this timeline, even far into the future to their own ultimate deaths. Which means all along, we have been watching things that have happening long ago from the perspective of those in the "Flash-Sideways", possible thousand of years in the case of Hurley and Ben considering how long Jacob lived and if he touched Ben, he would also have lived much longer along the lines of Richard.
All and all, with the mythology they set up, and how they resolved one of the major issues of the Island (unstuck in time) and then we get this "Jacob's Ladder" ending, I was disappointed.
From magical fantasy to wandering souls, connecting with each other and finally joining together for a journey to eternity. Significant that they join together in peace, in a church with a door open to a white void. No magic envolved. During the credits we see a scene showing the remains of an airplane crash. No indication that anybody survived. Not a great ending, but at least it produces controversy...
What makes this so so thrilling and entertaining is the same thing that drives us crazy....questions are unanswered!! I really believe part of the writers goals was to leave so much up in the air such that each viewer gets what they want from the ending and the series as a whole. That is what the show really wants and stresses in the end...choices. Many times the cast were asked to stay in the car or come with me if you want to see what this means. They each had a choice if they went to the Church or not. Ben decided not to go in, others decided to go in. So just because someone has a different opinion on what the show means and how they choose to see it...does not mean they are idiots or crazy or did not watch the show. It is simply how they choose to see it.
As for me....it was awesome and truly thought provoking. I loved it and will miss the intelligence the show brings.
I choose to believe that everything on the island happened. I choose to belive the sideways universe was also real. The sideways universe existed in such a way that had they never been to the island; this is how their life woule play out. But since they did go to the island and had to use an atomic bomb to change the course of their lives, there were now parallel universes that existed. They were then given a choice to either go to the church or not based on this. Their were meant to crash on the island and at the point that Desmond became aware that this sideways life is not where they were really suppose to be, he tried to get them to come to the church. As each of them became aware of their true destiny of love and happiness they choose to go to the church, thus ending their existance in the sideways universe and bringing them all back together on their true course. It is not pergatory or anything else. It is a choice they made. The island was the stopper in the bottle between good and evil or however you choose to belive it was, but in the end if was an excellent show and I was truly hooked on each and every show. They all died at different times and they all choose to be back together in the end. This is my choice on what the show means and the intent of the writers. To make us choose the meaning of what we really want to believe or not believe. As jack and locke said for some it is too easy to believe and for some it is too hard to believe. In the end whatever the light means to you...you make a choice to believe or not believe.
Well done writers, you were awesome and brilliant throughout in the way you kept me thinking and guessing!!
PS.- folks do not get so hot headed over a great show and what it means to you indvidually. This is what life is all about!!
My wife and I have loved LOST since the 1st episode. We have purchased all the videos to continue to enjoy the LOST experience!
Fitting end to an iconic show!
It WAS an ending.
Considering that 90% of the show revolved around a mysterious island, why not spend some of the time (they had 6 years) and give some cohesive answers to that mystery?
The ending per se was a clever way to wrap up the main characters, but the Island was a character too - what about it?
This had the makings of great sci-fi (not just the Trekky variety) but only ends up with a C+!
Anyone who watched the 6 years of this series, only to have this ending, should be enraged. It was one of the most cliched bits of writing and entertainment I have ever seen. Open door. Bright white light. Everyone's dead. Been dead. And why in a church? Were all the characters Christian or European? Were all of the viewers Christian or European? It would seem that the writers were tired and just wanted to end it as quickly as possible. They surely didn't use their imaginations or stretch themselves as writers. They just picked one of the most worn out endings: it was all a dream; the whole thing was a story some god was imaging; they were all dead. Well, that's TV for ya. (Those too young to remember should look up the old Dallas show and the return of Bobby.)
Loved it! Very creative and satisfying and a great payoff for the 6 years! Thanks JJ, et. al!
Remember the island is the primary storyline. On the main/’real’ island storyline, Smokey/Evil Locke is defeated though Jack ultimately dies from his battle and resetting the stone. Hugo, Ben and Desmond are left on the island. Frank, Kate, Sawyer, Miles, Claire and the newly aging Richard escape on the plane. All the action of the island over the past six seasons really did happen. Not sure why so many people are thinking it did not. The image of dying Jack laying on his back, then smiling as he sees the plane fly overhead is absolutely perfect!
The sideways storyline is really where the twist of the finale occurs: It’s not an alternate reality of the losties’ lives as if the plane never crashed. The sideways was outside of time, and was an existence where the losties, after each of their individual deaths, whether seen on the show or not, whether past, present or in the future on the island storyline, were drawn together by the weight of their experiences together on the island. This is where everyone was always already dead. They wanted to meet again before moving on. As they all met (thanks to Des), they really were “letting go”. And the meeting again of the old friends was very moving–poetic in fact!
Wow, a lot of people seem to have misunderstood the ending of the finale. They were NOT ALL DEAD THE WHOLE TIME AND DIDN'T ALL DIE IN THE PLANE CRASH FROM THE START. Jack just met them in the afterlife after they'd all died in their own time for whatever reasons. That church was like a way station set outside of time where they could all meet before moving on. Basically, they pulled a "Somewhere in Time". Sad ending but joyous reunion in the next life. Sheesh.
To answer people's question re: why some people were in the chapel who weren't on flight 815 and others who were passengers were not there, here's my take on it:
It was never about who was on the flight and who was not. It was about who touched each other's lives ON the island. You can assume one of two things for people's absences – like Walt, he was never really a huge part of their journey and since his father wasn't there, he would not have had a 'realization' like the others... or like Ana Lucia, she wasn't 'ready' as Desmond put it. Michael is a whole other story, he's stuck, can't go one way or another. And Ben, I'm going to assume that he doesn't feel like he's ready to move on until he's battled his personal demons and can finally let go of all he's done.
What did you expect from a guy who made Cloverfiled?
6 years of never ending never answered questions only to end up with the Purgatory ending we were told it wasn't from the beginning.
Seems as if they never knew where they wanted to go with the show. They dug themselves so many holes so deep it was impossible to get out. Therefore, made an ending that would tug at the hearts with the hopes of sweeping everything else under the rug without us looking.
So close LOST, so close.
I feel like I LOST a loved one today. It is without a doubt the greatest moment in T.V. in my lifetime. I am 40 years old and that's a lot of T.V. finale watching, including MASH which I loved as a kid and none have evoked such an emotional response. Up until the past 10 minutes of the show I doubted I would feel completely happy with the ending and didn't see any of it coming. If you didn't cry when Voncent came and laid down next to Jack you don't have a soul. Greatest show ever!
@erik:
the bomb blasted them from island past (70's) to island present.
it didn't actually split timelines as most people believed.
Folks, I can't believe how many people are still thinking the island was purgatory – or in limbo. It wasn't. Everything that happened on the island was real.
The only thing that was not real was the flash-sideways stories in this season. That was their spiritual meeting place before moving on. Christian said there was "no time" there, as some had died in the past, and some died in the future, but they all existed together and met when they were ready.
Great finale to an awesome show.
watched the very 1st episode, and never watched it again....glad its over now and they can put something better in that time slot!
First of all you must question the nuclear bomb issue, they forgot that it happened or something because it was as if it never happened. Too weak from such a great show
I think it was an OK ending, but it is not good enough to be a finale for a great show like LOST. I think it wasn't as creative as the previous seasons.
"We live together or we die alone." The answer is that we do live. We do die. We can do it peacefully or we can struggle through the whole line that connects both birth and death. The point is, if you are born, you live. The crash happened. Some died when the plane broke up in the air and some died on the island. The island was read. That is where the plane landed/crashed. The island was a metaphor for life. So many weird questions that everyone has in their own lives. Light/darkness. Good/evil. Love/hate. Father issues (Jack/Christian). Mother issues (Claire, Kate, Aaron). Birth/death issues. This was a metaphor for "what/why are we here?" Time travel/turning the wheel "under the island" is a metaphor for the questions we ask ourselves throughout our lifetimes. What if we choose this instead of that? The island is metaphor for life itself. People that came before us (Egyptian stuff, huge statue, codes, meanings, experiences and do others understand/empathize with our experiences/are we alone?) and those that come after. Will things make more sense in the future? Will my children/their children find meaning/understanding. Did/do we live for any purpose? The answer is that for every person, different answers exist. Some see great meaning and others wander through life confused, sad, mad, alone. The sideways view was limbo. Purgatory. Feeling the hurt we caused others. Understanding meaning. The island happened and those seconds, minutes, hours, years meant something to THOSE people. They connected. They wanted to move together to whatever happens next. They waited for each other because they wanted to "go" together. They were ready to let go. Ben wasn't ready to let go. Walt, Michael, Mr. Eko – they let go. They were onto the next "adventure/life." The "church" or room they were in (before they went into the synagogue, sanctuary/whatever had the symbols of great religions. The Star of David, the cross, the Muslim symbol (the wheel = science/thinking/physical proof) was just a metaphor for all the catagories humans use to name. Christian went "into the light" and we can hope/assume that the rest that waited there all went in too. They faced each other. They apologized. They loved. They were loved. Deep stuff but a wonderful metaphor. Enjoyed the show. Sorry this was long!
There is NO DOUBT that everyone died in the plane crash, and the stories that took place afterward were their "survivors" souls doing what they needed to do to find redemption. The Flash Sideways was not the only construct made by the survivors, the island was as well. As I read in another post, if you look at what happened in the series on the island, it was made of the sum total of each individuals experiences, whether it was science, military, love, faith, etc... the island provided the means for the individuals to redeem themselves so they could move on.
Christian said that the island was real, then he said that the people (that are dead) in the other room are real too. There is no distinction between alive and dead. They were all dead on the island. It truly is the only explanation for all of the impossible events that occurred on the island and in the series in general.
As a story of redemption in the afterlife, the story is complete, satisfying, and beautiful. For the detectives who want answers to every single strange event on the island, you are wasting your energy and not seeing the importance of the greater story. This isn't a science fiction story, this is a metaphorical, and metaphysical story.
Brilliantly executed, emotionally satisfying, spiritually uplifting, and intellectually stimulating.
Wake up people the writers of this show burned you.
They weren't all dead the whole time folks. As Christian told us, they all died at different times, but came together in a place they had chosen in advance to let go together. I think the island was Eden. The source being the equivalent of the tree of knowledge. The religious references in the finale were very important. Think about that stained glass window in the room where Jack met his father. Jack dying of a wound in his side...WOW. In the end this show was a true character study. It is about the power of redemption, but a redemption that you must seek for yourself. Not one awarded by others. Overall, I thought this was a fantastic ending!
If I had known that this whole six years was heading toward a silly new-age type ending, I would not have wasted my time.
Awesome finale to an awesome show!
The only thing I'm still completely lost on is in regards to the A-Bomb detonation and the references to "it worked."
How did it "work?" "Work" would indicate it essentially changed time to where the hatch was never built and their plane never crashed.
I am disappointed that so many people can't put together what I thought was pretty obvious...
The only limbo was "the flash sideways" the writers, producers, characters never implied that what happened on the island wasn't real, or that the characters had always been dead. Jack's father said that the survivors had made that place together because the time they spent together in life was the most important to them. He also said that everybody died sometimes and some died before Jack, and some much after. Jack died on the island at the end of the series, some of the characters had died ont he island before him. Others got off the island and lived lives. But in the end they all met each other in limbo and remembered each other and chose to spend eternity together. Duh, Jack's dad pretty much laid it out in his dialogue. It was a little convoluted but I'm very surprised so many people didn't understand at least the broad view of what was happening. People saying the "called it" by thinking the characters were dead from the beginning or were in some kind of "limbo" on the island are pure idiots.
Beautiful, fulfilling ending to the show. I will watch it again to make sure I didn't miss anything but I thought it was awesome!!! I don't think anyone can be surprised by it, it was always going to be some variation of this... but man, executed so so well. I actually wish it was longer. Loved it! And now am going to miss LOST so much. I hope Damon and Carlton are working on a new project as we speak- the most extraordinary, maddening, stimulating on every level- show in the history of television bar none.
THEY DIDN'T DIE IN THE INITIAL PLANE CRASH! What is so hard to understand!!!!
That sucked sooo bad, to end a show like that, that has been on for six years. I never missed an episode. I'm a bit angry. They might as well had someone wake up in bed and say: Wow, what a bad dream. They were all dead, big deal! What happened to Michael, walt and some were dead on the island and some werent. Does that mean the ones that didnt show up at the chaple went to hell or just stuck on the island. It was really great watching each person in the sideways finally realize that they had a life at some time on the island, I loved how they did that, but then right at the climax, Duh, oh your dead too jack andso is everyone else.......I will never devote my time to a long series again, it was pathetic.
For those who thought they were dead from the beginning, I don't think that is correct. The Flash Sideways was them dead, but Jack's dad said that they were dead some before Jack some long after Jack. I think that Hurley ended up living a long time just like Jacob did. Decently done, satisfying but not amazing ending. It is like when your dog finally dies, you are okay with it dying but there is so much you wish you could have done with him.
It was a great ending to a great show. Many viewers fell in love with the characters and this gave them a closure that they could be satisfied with. The series as a whole was some of the best writing ever to hit television. Prediction: Within the next two years you will see production on a LOST movie. There were still some questions unanswered. Not enough to leave viewers frustrated, but enough to make us want more (i.e. the significance of the numbers, why weren't Lapidus and Miles in the church when Kate, Sawyer, and Claire were, and what happened to Richard?). It was a TV landmark event equal to "Who shot J.R.?" and the series finale of Friends.
WHAT A CROC!!!!!! People had been talking a bout the "island" being a purgatory/limbo for probably the entire run of the show. So essentially the six years of plot twists and dharma and polar bears and mercenaries coming to kill people was all fake. The "snowglobe". And, to insult the viewer further, they developed a parallel plot line in some alternate universe that made even less sense. I understand writing a series must be extremely challenging, but they dropped the ball on this one.
Here is my perspective and I am not an idiot for seeing it this way because it is an unknown until the writers tell us what is real. Everyone died in the plane crash on the island. The island scenes are the lost souls trapped there until they can redeem themselve or learn to let go. The sideways is the beginning of the journey to the afterlife. It is an awakening of sorts. In the end, the souls leave the church to be free in the light.
I must say, I never watched the show, so the last show created the same reaction as the rest, namely, none.
The finale was amazing! All I could have asked for. The smartest series ever written.
first of all it is so dissapointing that a show with such terrific writing for six years went out in such a weak and sappy note. For the folks that like this endidng I say one thing- you were just looking for the sappy ending no matter what. If you were a real fan of the show(not the tabloid- like love story lines) you would defintley demand better for all the time spent thinking about the plot twist. I want to know what happend to Walt, Michael, what about the fact that there were characters in the sideflashes(desmond) who weren't on the plane but get to "meet up" at the end in the church, and others who were on the plane are conviently missing. The biggest problem I have with this ending is if the island was the reality then they all died when Juliet blew-up a nulear bomb within yards of Jack and Sawyer and Kate. So both realities can't exist. Either they blew up in a nuclear bomb or the whole island part is not real, one or the other you don't get to have both realities.
Wow, hard to believe so many people couldn't follow the complete spelling out at the end. They were not dead all this time, and it did not take place in the blink of Jack's eye. Very simply as Jack's father explained it:
Everything on the island really happened, that was stated point blank. The sideline story of this season was the area in purgatory they created for themselves to meet up and find each other before moving on, as that period on the island was the most important in their lives. As he stated, some died before Jack, some long after. That's also shown clearly by Hurly and Ben saying how both were a great number 1 and 2 – after Jack's passing. Jack realizing he was now dead was cross-referenced with the moment he actually died after inserting the plug back in the hole.
Simply beautiful. Brilliant and beautiful. I couldn't ask for more.
So is Victoria Winters the "love-child" of Elizabeth Collins Stoddard through an affair with one of her father's cannery workers?? 40+ years later and I'm STILL waiting for an answer to that one. Lost has NOTHING on Dark Shadows when it comes to unanswered questions. LOL
Namasté
The writers & producers painted themselves into a corner with all of the idiotic twists and lame half-answers over the preceeding seasons. There was no choice but to end it with this ultimate cop-out, pretending that the show had always been about the characters and their relationships, and that the island itself was merely the stage on which the story unfolded. If that was true, then why did the show rely so heavily on all of the sci-fi/mythological hokum? Just because the characters have philosphers' names and there are mystical or mythological symbols in the background doesn't mean that there was any depth to this show. It was clear that the producers were making it up as they went along, and were overwhelmed by the show's initial success. In fact, wasn't Jack supposed to have been killed in the pilot?
An outstanding finale to the most amazing show! The symbolism used and the way the writers connected the beginning to the end was absolutely brilliant! I like the idea that all of the characters were brought together because they needed one another to pass on to the next life. Best use of six years and the writers are AMAZING!!!!!!!
Nice explanantion Mike but I don't see how all that could come to be. I mean...If all this happened after Jack was thrown from the plane and just lying there...How did he ever meet Kate and the others? He would never have moved or had the opportunity to talk to them. so, that theory is pretty much out the window....
Six year relationship and no engagement ring! Great, the island is real. Fantastic. Then give us some answers! Sideways land? Why bother with that? Wasted storytelling.
LOST was fun to watch, however, I need some help from the fans to understand that whole thing about the bomb.
Miles told Sawyer that Juliet told him "It worked." How so? I assumed the bomb had sunk the island and created this second timeline where it had changed history and we were seeing what WOULD have happened had the island not existed (which would explain why people's past BEFORE the flight had changed). Now we find out the 'sideways' was the afterlife? So what was the point of the bomb in the storyline?
Thanks.
So many people want answers spood fed to them, and when they don't get everything instantly, or they don't like the answers, they complain.
That is the vast majority of the people complaining here.
I enjoyed the finale of Lost even though I was a bit confused. I know some viewers are dissatisfied because some questions or issues were unanswered, but that's what it's about. These unanswered thoughts keeps the viewers curious and think more of the show after it ends. If Lost ended with all questions answered, I don't know if many people will forget about the show soon, but I guess J.J. Abrams didn't want to risk it. I know I'll think about the finale for months.
OMG! I knew the island was something like pergatory! I was so happy that they all were together and found each other in the end. If it would have went any other way it would have been disappointing. I am seriously having some withdrawals...I must by the DVDs for the entire series! This is a show that will be missed and never replaced! I will def miss the characters and the amazing view of the islands and ocean!
Been a fan of the show for so long. I'm very dissapointed witht he ending. Still don't really understand what the island stands for and what the point of the Darhma initiative was. Don't like the Jacob and man in black storyline and confused about how it ties into the whole story. The black smoke was never explained. Why did he turn into smoke? why didn't jack or desmond turn into smoke when they fell in? ugh so extremely annoyed!
The finale was a microcosm of the series as a whole. It could have been so much better.
Garbage ending.
The show that the writers started in season one is NOT the show that ended last night. They went for some existentialist mixed with religious bull that does not fit at all with the general theme of the show.
Where was Walt? Walt was a boy actor that grew up over 6 seasons and they had a hard time trying to tell the story reconciling his age changes. Apparently he got big is what they suggested in the reunion show. It wasn't viewed as important to explain that. Lets assume he moved on much earlier. He wasnt connected with anyone including Michael to begin with and since Michael is to wander the island he may as well move on. Michael is a ghost on the island having made the wrong decisions in life. Not everyone was together at the end because maybe the other people had a different group of people they connected with. Ben stayed behind because he still needed to think and he was waiting for others, literally. His "daughter" chief among them. We all have a group of people we connect with and some of them have groups they connect with just a little bit more. They'll see them, they just don't need to wait for them to move on together.
I loved the ending. It was way of saying goodbye to the fans and to themselves as they walk through the church door wherever it may lead them.
This was a huge waste of six years. Shame on the writers!
one of my biggest problems with the show was way to many commercials. It seemed like every 5 or 6 minutes there was a commercial. It made it to hard to stay in the flow of the show. I think the show was going to be 2 hours than they made it 2 1/2 just to make more money of the adds.
Wow....
This was probably the best final episode of any tv series ever. LOST has always been a bit of an enigma, and the ending didn't fill in many of the missing pieces, but it didn't have to.
The island was whatever you make of it, and in the end, exactly what the island was is irrelevant. The story of LOST has always been one of redemption for the characters. The island was just a storytelling device, whether "Real" or metaphorical. And with the story of redemption being the most important element of the series, this was a truly touching, fulfilling, and satisfying ending. I don't remember the last time I cried so much for the characters of a TV episode. Partially because their stories ended so beautifully, and partially because we had to face the reality that characters we have come to know and love have died.
Brilliant ending, absolutely brilliant.
Ah everyone is just overanalyzing everything....
I HAVE THE REAL ANSWER AND THIS IS IT.....
If you saw Jimmy Kimmel after Lost I think Matthew Fox explained everything when he said... "All I knew the whole time was the show opened with Jack opening his eyes and would end with him closing them"
The shot of the plane wreck just reenforces that theory..... Jack was thrown from plane wreck and the whole 6 seasons of Lost took place between Jack's "blink of an eye" between life and death. The whole 6 seasons took place in Jack's pergatory between that moment of life and death the blink of the eye.
Lost took place between Jack's blink of an eye while he laid on the beach and died from the first plane crash. He never moved from that spot after being thrown from the wreck and was the last survivor of the wreck that's why Jack "SHEPARD" the last remaining survivor was given the duty to shepard the souls out of limbo to the otherside and that is why they were waiting for him in the end because he was the last to die in the wreck hence the show ended when his eyes closed. All the events of the show happened in mere moments of Jack's blink of an eye. How did he end up in the same spot he awoke from the 1st episode? This explains it. To coincidental he just ended up there. The plane he saw flying overhead represented his final acceptance of death.
The island was real that is where the plane crashed and they died. The past, sideways and future were all representations of Jack's journey (reincarnations/alternate lives/possible future incarnates) and trails in pergatory but everyone elses as well just because he died last his body was the vessel that had the last connection to reality to get caught up in the inbetween stage of life and death thats why his story took presedence. Jack was the last survivor therefore the story of Lost took place within his inbetween state.
I dont know but thats what I believe.. the subtle but yet large symbolism of the show starting with Jack opening his eye and ending with him closing them means something as well as his name being Shepard. As well as him being in the same spot 6 seasons later and it ending with the plane wreckage.
Ok, it kind of makes sense that the island was real and the afterlife was like a "purgatory," but shouldn't all of them have died when the atomic bomb went off in season 5???? Can someone explain that event?
I LOVED the ending. I totally get it all. Maybe the crash wreckage at the end was the Aljira flight with Kate, Sawyer, Miles, Richard, Claire, and Frank on it? Maybe they blew up, Widmore said he had rigged the whole thing to blow. Maybe Jack saw it fly over so he could let go, and then out of view it exploded. Who knows. And it doesn't really matter, they died somehow, and our now back together in their afterlife...be it Heaven, or whatever version of afterlife you believe in.
I am OK with the ending, even though it is dumb. But one thing: DON"T CALL IT SCI-FI. This was not sci-fi, not even close. The mention of electromagnetic fields and nuclear boms is not sufficient condition to make something sci-fi
Man – I liked the ending and it was emotional. I knew they would never be able to answer all the questions. I feel a loss because I became invested in the characters. My wife and I looked forward to every season and each week we would discuss what had happened. We both feel that it will be sad to see them go.
Just been watching the finale again. When Jack asked his father: Are you real? Christian said: I guess so. You're real. Everything that's ever happened to you was REAL. All those people in the church, they are all real too.
So it only proves that the island was real.
Just listen carefully to what Christian was saying to Jack to get all the answers.
It was BRILLIANT ending! Just give it one more chance and watch it again.
All your opinions helped me understand more, thanks! I only have one doubt, when Jack wanted to return to the island and when Ben killed Locke, and Kate raising Aaron, this really happen? because Ben told Locke that he was really sorry...
IMO the whole show should have ended when they first got off the island. After that it has just been a confusing tail spin...
It seems most of the people who hated the ending or were dissatisfied didn't understand it. Each character died in their own time of dying, and they met up in the afterlife. But that wasn't the ending to the story of LOST, just merely a glimpse into their reunion to signify how powerful the bonds they created were. The end of the story of LOST was actually Jack saving the island, Hurley becoming the new Jacob with Ben's help, and the rest of them escaping the island. There was a definitive conclusion because the threat that set the series in motion, the smoke monster that would try to destroy all life, was eliminated thanks to the heroes of the Oceanic flight.
I'm SO DISSAPOINTED THAT THIS FICTIONAL SHOW DIDN'T END THE WAY I WANTED IT TOO!
WAAAHH!!
good lord people
Some people are saying that those of us who were slightly disappointed with this season finale were not "true fans." Ok, for the record, there are two kinds of LOST fans. The first group consists of the people who were primarily attached to the characters, their struggles, etc. and cared more about those things. This is the group who will be most satisfied with the season finale ending. The second group was the dectective-minded people, the mystery seekers, who were extremely intrigued by the island and all it contained. These are the people who were at least mildly disappointed by the ending. I am among the latter. I, like most other mystery-seeking fans, were the most satisfied by episodes like Ab Aeterno and Across the Sea. Indeed, Across the Sea WAS the season finale for me, as far as I am concerned. I did care about the characters, but come on, be fair, the show WAS practically set up in such a way that the ISLAND was the focus and purpose behind everything, why should it surprise the creators that we would care most about the Island and its meaning more than the characters themselves? As far as I can see these characters are just one part of an ongoing story/conflict, one which has obviously been raging on for many thousands (perhaps even millions) of years. Naturally we are going to find the conflict itself more enthralling than anything else.
Didn't understand any of the last episodes much less the finale. I have watched Lost from the first episode. If they all died at different times then why did the sideways start out with them getting off the plane. Why were there people that were not passengers of the flight in the last 5 minutes where others weren't like Walt and Michael for example not. I don't feel everything was answered. It didn't make sense to me. I think they ran out of twist and turns and threw together the finale . I did love the show. But this past season has been disappointing. I know some will disagree but I really wanted more closure. The ending would have made sense if everyone that had pivitol roles were in the church but so many people were missing.
I feel lost and betrayed. Such a "lazy" answer from such a thought provoking and outstanding show. So disappointing.
Good lord, reading these comments it's no wonder our world is fast becoming a world of idiots.
You didn't have to love or hate the show, but people's comments here are so stupid, and hateful I think that this entire world needs to be bathed in fire and started over.
i think the story was always purgatory. Its just that they got called out, told the fans that it wasnt purgatory. Then went back into the last season with the sideways flashes, and turned it back into the original story line, just at a different angel. not cool.
Remember, Michael became one of the "whispering" people who had to stay on the island forever, this is why he was not in the finale. I think they left Walt out simply because he is now an 18yr old man and there would be no way that he could pass for what should be about 13yrs old to 15yrs old......
Don't know if I needed some Hollywood director telling me about Heaven, Hell and purgatory.
I would give it a 6 out of 10 rating.
Much ado about nothing. Six years of mindless enterainment. Why is it that we humans have to have a meaning for everything. It was a great show and there is no ending.
Well it seems we are forgetting something....Lost is pure entrateiment we have to accept it for what it is...nothing more nothing less...but surely gonna miss the show!
PEOPLE....PLEASE GET YOURSELVES SOME LIVES AND STOP LIVING IN FANTASYLAND!
So many people keep saying they were dead the whole time... and they weren't! The island reality was real. The island itself was real. The sideways reality throughout season 6 was when they were dead.
I am torn as to whether the island was limbo or real, but I think the key message of the show is about relationships and people coming to terms with their existence.
Many mixed signals. Jack's father would lead you to believe it was all real, with his comment on how these people were all together at a significant time in their "lives". And do people really fall in love in purgatory? Interesting spin.
But the Island certainly felt like a traditional purgatory: Old spirits that do not seem to be able to move on, people that live for hundreds of years, a powerful light that is being protected....but why??
Why does Jacks neck keep bleeding? What if Evil Locke would've made it off the island? Why was the Island under water on the first Episode of season 6 as flt 815 is flying over towards LAX? What do some of these things signify?
I think the black smoke is explained as evil incarnate. The embodiment of sin. Almost like a Cain and Abel spine....not sure why that needs further explanation.
Anyway, great series; would love to hear the writer's interpretation!!
Did you notice that the stone in the heart of the island has the same symbols as those in the hatch associated with the button? I think that they all bear the same meaning – to restrain the energy, to tame it down. Cos the energy in no doubt is trying to break out through every crack on the island possible.
*amendment to previous:
Michael is now a ghost on the island.
Loved it. Great series and great finale. Will certainly miss all my Lost characters, but I am satisfied with a good feeling about the ending. Of course all the questions were not answered - are they ever in LIFE!?
Also, I so enjoy reading all these posts after each episode!! Will miss that too.
Best Series Finale in the history of Television! They definitely did not take the easy way out, it was risky but they pulled it off with ease as usual.
The story had two endings - better than one now that I have thought about it.
The pilot, Miles, Claire, Sawyer, Kate, Desmond – all escaped the island and went back to LA.
Claire and Kate raised Aaron – maybe Sawyer helps.
Jack gave his life to help they escape.
Hurley gave his future up to protect the island until his death at some point on the island ....
That was how the story ended -
The rest the sideways universe and the gathering and trip to heaven together was just bonus stuff.
First off, I'll admit that I would have liked more island mysteries to be resolved but the show was never really about the island as much as it was about the characters.
I've read a few places here where people seem confused about why certain people weren't in the church. Here's what I know:
Michael wasn't there because he died before he could be fully redeemed and is not a ghost on the island.
Walt wasn't there because those people were not the most important in his life. We can believe that Walt lived long after the events of the island and since he was only with his dad and the other 815ers for less than 3 months, they weren't that important to him.
Eko wasn't there maybe for a similar reason to Walt but the real reason is the producers couldn't get the actor who played him back in time.
Bernard and Rose Nadler were in the church. Watch carefully, they're in the pugh in front of Sayid and Shannon.
Richard wasn't there for a similar reason to Walt, the 815ers weren't the most important people in his life.
None of the freighter people went with the 815ers because despite the fact that Miles spent the most time with the 815ers, they all had lives before and after the Island so...same reason as Walt probably.
I think the reason Ben didn't go in with them is because even after all he'd done with Hurley (yes, the implication from their little convo is that Hurley did take over as Island Guardian and Ben was his #2), he had still betrayed, manipulated, and hurt most of the 815ers and maybe he didn't feel comfortable moving on with them.
I will admit that it doesn't make sense that Sayid would be triggered by Shannon and not the woman he loved for most of his life, Nadia. Although, it was nice to see Maggie Grace on LOST again.
I believe that the Sideways universe was a limbo where they could live out better lives until they remembered their real lives and their deaths. Jack's son wasn't real, he was a part of the "construct" of the Sideways limbo. Same as Locke's fiance Helen.
Big questions they could have answered and still kept the ending intact? How did Eloise Hawking know they were in Limbo, what was she doing in THAT limbo, and why hadn't she moved on if she was aware?
I think it was a fitting, risk-taking ending to the stories of the characters, although, I do think the spirituality comes across as heavy-handed considering how much it goes against the spirit of the first 4 seasons. They didn't have to necessarily answer a lot of questions about the island mysteries, but I would have liked an ending that gave more weight to the balance of science and faith rather than falling so hard on the faith side. I think in the end, the show became more representative of the beliefs of Cuse and Lindlelof than it needed or should have been.
Still, all that considered, I did tear up when Jack died. That was a fitting, moving, and logical way to end the show.
Live Together, Die Alone.
Michael chose the latter, for the sake of his son.
Walt left and presumably had a life full of meaning off the island.
God knows what happened to Zach and Emma, but their lives did not revolve around the events of the show.
Aaron was only there as a figment of Claire and Charlie's imaginations.
The ones that connected on the island are the ones that showed up at the church.
Sayid loved Nadia, but that was never going to happen. This was represented by Nadia being married to Sayid's Brother, present but just out of reach, even though he knows they would be happier together. On the island, Sayid connected with Shannon, and they fell in love. But, she was accidentally shot. Hence, they get to meet in the afterlife.
Ji Yeon was taken care of by Sun's mother. Sun had taken over Paik Industries, so Ji Yeon may be an orphan, but she'll be a rich orphan with a grandmother to raise her. It would have been selfish of Jin to leave his wife AGAIN to go meet Ji Yeon. From a practical standpoint, and from an emotional standpoint, Jin wasn't leaving his wife. And I don't blame him. Would it have been a wonderful, teary moment for Jin to meet his daughter? Sure. But he (or rather the writers) made the right call.
The only people who should get LOST are the show's writers.
All I could have dreamed for and more...
Watch Lost Finale Free
I am still wondering why they showed the island underwater at the beginning of Season 6! I expected it to end that way. Who knows! We are all Lost I guess! It was a great ending though!
I guessed by episode three that they were all dead. I guessed by the third season that "lost" referred to the time I was wasting, and quit. So after all that denial from the writers "they are NOT dead" "there is NO alternate world" "it's NOT science fiction or fantasy but absolutely real real real" it turned out to be a dream. Didn't bother to watch, don't care, glad it's over.
Wonderful show. A bit disappointed in the conclusion – not because I did not love it, but mainly because I wanted more answers – what was the Island, what was the Smoke Monster, why was Walt special and why did Clair have to raise her baby on her own? The show had a science-fictiony feel – I was hoping for a science-fictiony explanation to these. Still, considering how the show as plotted up to now, the whole mystery feel of it – it's reasonable that the writers decided to keep these secrets (perhaps they themselves have never figured it out) – and better to leave it that way.
Let the island – be it a metaphysical cork keeping the evil sludge at bay, a source of life or enlightment, or an artifact from the future, traveling back in time (I still say the smoke monster is some kind of future nano-bot shell for a soul that has been separated from its body) rest in peace in whatever weird dimension it inhabits.
I loved this show and will continue to think of it as a masterpiece. As for the people who created it – live long and prosper. And please try not to mess up my other favorite fantasy universe – you know, the one I mean – the one where people wear funny ears and ridges on their foreheads. Remember, you didn't create this one – you're just passing through. And may the Schwarts be with you...
i thought it was a cop out. I called it years ago – and when I am right, that is not good....well, for the writers I suppose. Sorry to all the Losties who stuck with it.
For those complaining that the church was christian, did you not notice things like the window that had many religious symbols, not just christian ones? That was huge to me, loved the ending, cried my eyes out and I never cry! Don't need answers, it was entertainment, not life remember?
People really need to read comments before posting because many of you really didn't get the ending. As for the 'critics', specifically the people who say 'I'm glad I stopped watching it earlier on because it was too frustrating'... trust me, so are WE. Lost was the first show that didn't cater to the lowest common denominator and said 'we're gonna make you WORK for it'. So for anyone who dropped the show or never bothered to watch it because it was, ahem, 'too complicated', the show wasn't for YOU... in fact, I think I hear The Biggest Loser, Celebrity Apprentice and American Idol calling your name. That must be more your speed
The last 5 minutes were such a let down and a cop out. Had the alternate realities all blended into one, wonderful life (not after-life) many viewers may have been left a lot happier.
It was NOT a church – DUH, it was a FUNERAL HOME CHAPEL.
All funeral homes relate to as many religions as possible so as to INCLUDE not exclude.
Good ending..But, Why was there some a small amount of people in the church? and why were the people that left the island in the church also?
Good ending, but what about the dog? they just kinda' left him there....
I got that "Christian Shepherd" was telling his son that the sideways world was a limbo state created by all of his friends that they lived in until they were all ready to "move on" to, I assume the "real" afterlife, whatever that is.
What is causing me some confusion, though, is that shot of Jack no longer lying in the pit where he put the "cork" back into the heart of the island, but rather, somehow now lying in the stream, all bloody, with no explanation of how he got there. No Hurley or Ben around either. Then he stumbles into the same place he was when he first gained consciousness on the island after the plane crash and opened his eyes, but instead of getting up and starting the six years of adventures, he closes his eye and presumably dies. THEN they show the wreckage of Oceanic 815 on an otherwise uninhabited shore.
THAT seems to imply that he was lying there in the water because he just crashed (kind of like the way they appeared after the Ajira flight crashed) and then he died and everything after he opened his eye in the first episode WAS part of him not accepting that he was dead and when he closed it again, he had accepted it. If that is not the case, then why the sudden appearance in the water and the crash wreckage as the final shot?
oh yeah Marliyn Manson was the Smoke Monster not John Locke
I agree with the approx. 50% of posts that what happened on the island was real. My interpretation, which may or may not be right, was the island experience was about getting second chances at redemption so to speak. There are those that did die from the plane crash who didn't need any further work so to speak in life. Those that 'survived' were given the opportunity to examine and be challenged on their flaws. The whole series continually explored the concept of good vs evil, the good and bad of each person and the difficulities they each had with those aspects of themselves.
The core people who followed that journey pretty continuously together, who used each other to learn those lessons, are the ones who went to the Sideways world after they died and waited for everyone else before they moved on. The island I think represented second chances, some did well with those chances and others, not so much. Were all loose ends tied up... No. But it was a philosophical interpretation of the whole good vs bad concept of life and afterlife, so not everyone is going to get it, or even agree with it.
Just my 2 cents worth!!
Mixed feelings about the ending – loved the series.
Question – since the MIB is dead, who does Hurley and Ben need to protect the island from?
For all that have said WHERE ARE THE ANSWERS? I agree with you. I wanted more answers. I can't say that I was happy with the ending.
I loved how the dog came and sat next to Jack as he died. God?
1- Didnt think Stephen King's Langoliers would be the ending
2- Hurley proved he will really eat or drink anything because that water Jack gave him from the river and he didnt even question it
3- Charlotte was sorely underused because she looked great in that last episode also while were on that I think I would have preferred Kate to end up with Claire rather then Jack or Sawyer
4- Show after 6 seasons just enforced my belief to drive everywhere because some crazy stuff happens on planes. From Smoke Monsters to Goblins in the Twilight Zone all the way to Snakes on a Plane
Someone posted that they were all dead from the get go from the crash? Geee! That wasn't borrowed from the movie 'Passengers' with Anne Hathaway was it? Sounds like reason for plagiarism lawsuit to follow!
I think this is another one of those situations where very creative people with fantastic intentions have to meet the demands of the business end of the show-business marriage; the series would continue for as long as the writers and actors made it viable, and when word came down in relatively rapid terms that the show wasn't pulling in the ratings ABC wanted, the writers had to come up with an ending they felt in line with the remainder of the show's themes - mysterious occurrences - but with a poetic brevity that wrapped things up in the writers' minds, albeit in a seemingly slapdash manner to audience. With the show simply not getting the viewer numbers ABC wanted, I'm sure the writers thought they could go back and explore these other things, but then had to cap the whole thing off before they could. A parallel timeline is a great way to expand a plot and generate even greater interest, but when the device didn't increase viewer, off to a new direction that would just resolve the story. Just my speculation, but I think the people who are decrying this as an exercise in wasting six years simply don't recognize the fact that the television program sold soap, so to speak, for that six years by keeping you hooked onto your television sets. Fantastic effort to the writers, the cast and the crew. This will surely go down in television history as a milestone.
Great Show!!!!! Spectacular Ending!!!!!!! NO SCI FI SHOW LIKE THIS WILL EVER BE MADE.
The ending was frustrating. It felt quite confusing and it made no sense. I think people who wrote this are very talented but this is the kind of easy ending. They obviously did not know what to do and just decided to somehow try to make sense out of all they did. It was very predictable (We all knew they are going to die at the end). Also, most of their flashes when they remember of who they really are include moments that they were already dead or should not remember. So I think that made no sense. And in addition, people who watched this show, are for the most part, quite educated, scientific, logical and very curious people, however the finale made me feel as if I am watching something of one of those "religious" channels with the entire " there is no now" and "we all die some day". I did not watch this show to figure out what the island was just to hear a lecture at the end about how we should live and we need to love each other. Very disappointing ending! They could have done much better and without all this religious stuff.
I am going to be suffering from LOST withdrawal for quite a while! Loved the series! It was worth every minute! My brain is still reliving it and will be for quite a while!
My goodness- there are a ton of people totally missing it!
They DID NOT DIE AND WERE NOT IN PURGATORY ON THE ISLAND. Sheesh. They all lived out their lives and ended up in the sideways universe upon their death until some were reunited. Michael wasn't there because his souls is on the island. Walt is still alive. Miles, Richard & Lapidus are all still alive. The only people at the church who "moved on" were those who died.
It was a fitting ending for a fantastic show. The important points were made- love and faith matters. Anyone who is focusing in upon the minute pieces of the show (the smoke monster, the island properties, etc etc) totally missed it.
I'll miss the show. It was a great finale!
It was a good ending to a wonderful series. I think the writers did all they could to bring things to a positive end. 1.) It left us with a sense of mystery and majesty. You can't nail down everything about everything. They left us with a sense that there are always unknowns that keep us seeking for more, that invite us to go deeper, "further up and further in." (C.S. Lewis). 2.) The whole story was about being LOST. Not Physically on a mysterious Island, but being lost in this world of hurts, broken relationship, selfishness and bad choices. Spiritually Lost and looking for redemption( i.e. Amazing Grace), and knowing that redemption is available to all who would choose to change and break from there destructive past. Even the likes of Sayid and Ben Linus could turn to the light and die to their violent ways. Jack could learn to trust the hand of providence, etc.
3.) What about those who enter the Island's light? the reason the man in Black became the smoke monster is that he entered the light, full of hostility, bitterness, and selfishness, that is inner darkness. Then when he encountered the light he was consumed and there was nothing left of redemptive quality in him. All that he had was the "smoke" of his selfishness and pride.
Jack on the other hand, when he was consumed by the light he was no longer lost, but had found his humble place and purpose in the world. As such Jack did NOT TURN into the Smoke monster, but was rather came through the light spiritually whole, though his body was still broken.
4.) It reminded us life is not always about happiness or pain and death avoidance, but rather it is about finding our place in the purpose of Divine Providence. Great men and women are those that are refined by their suffering to become better men and women.
5.) It reminds us that we are not meant to be alone and unloved. Loving Community is essential to living life to the full. And though they began Lost and alone they found themselves through their love for one another.
6.) It showed that the light was their final place of healing and heaven. The light will not destroy the redeemed, but bring them into perfect love and goodness.
7.) I thought they did a tremendous job with the deceptiveness of the man in Black. The whole season you wanted for him to be the good guy at times, because he would sell himself as the good guy who was Jacob's victim. But in the end He was Manipulative, lying and doing what ever it took to get his way. It reminded me how evil can at first appearance look like and "angel of light" (i.e. Hitler as the Savior of Germany), but underneath is a ferocious destroyer.
I know many think this is forcing a Christian worldview on this show, but the writers themselves have said that the Bible and philosophers such as C.S. Lewis have been an influence. I do not think they were trying to be explicitly for one religion, but I think there worldview fits appropriately in many ways with the Christian Paradigm.
Great Job Lost , It has been a fun ride.
I absolutely LOVED it! It totally finished off the show for me. I know there are still some things that weren't entirely answered, but I kind of like that there is still a little mystery to it.
Which plane did Jack see going overhead at the end? The one carrying the few survivors off the island or the original flight 815 that crashed?
It was fine, I get it and enjoyed it, but it was just a little bit lacking in substance considering how much effort they have put into the journey itself.
I did not want to have things tied together in a neat package, but they definately ignored a couple major things...like say...the 2 seasons they spent on time travel????? Would of liked some love on that, especially since they spend so much time and story on it. Oh well.
That said – amazing cast, amazing crew, amazing writers, amazing show!
I don't think any fan could have been satisfied completely with the finale. I am just sad it is over.
I'm not convinced that they did not die in the plane crash. The Island and all events were real, as is death, and if there is an afterlife, the afterlife will be real. All events absolutely happened. But the afterlife occurs outside of time. There is not "now."
It may be that they were alive on the island as appears to be the consensus, but I"m not sure it is so. I'm wondering if the Island and all events shown were actually their collective consciousness working things out. Each person brought elements of himself and life experience to construct the mysterious Island. Hurley brought the numbers and other things. Daniel brought all of the physics and time travel theory. Walt brought the polar bears from his comic books. Sayid brought his military experience. Lock brought his faith and adventure. Being dead would explain why women cannot give birth to babies concieved on the island, but babies concieved off island (a separate life) could be born. It would explain how JIn survived the explosion on the freighter. I could go on.
There is too much room to have a conclusion just yet for me, but I'm not convinced that they were all alive on the island post crash. There is much open to interpretation and so much to dig through and explain.
The brilliance of the shoe is that people will be talking about it and trying to figure it out for quite some time. It was a great show and will be missed.
Glad its done with. Watched 20 minutes of the first episode and that was it. I knew it was going to be a waste of time. I would like to know how that fat guy stayed fat all this time. You'd think he'd be skinny as a rail long ago – with no Whoppers, pizzas, etc. I didn't miss a thing!!!
We tried to watch it that first season and got bored with the constant "flashback" scenes. Over the years we tried popping in and out and still found it exasperating. Hope you folks find something productive to fill the vacant hole that this show leaves behind.
Loved the show "til the end. Then I was confused. But as I thought about it, it really was a fitting and moving end to the show. No, they did not all die in the plane crash. It was all "real" except for the sideways flashes, which occurred in the afterlife for each of them, where they lived the life they would have liked to have (Jack had a son, Sawyer was a cop, Kate was innocent, Faraday was a pianist, Hurley was lucky and loved, Jin and Sun had a passionate affair, Desmond has Widmore's approval, etc) until they were ready to "move on" together. I cried like a baby at the reunions and Jack's death. I liked the open ending, which leaves hope that Desmond got back to Penny and their son, and that Sawyer, Kate, Miles, Lapidus, and Richard made it off the island and got to live out their lives.
To reconcile a few things, I'm just going to write some random thoughts
The Island was just a special place with a lot of the "energy" described by Isaac. It's been there forever, and Mother wasn't the first person there. Dharma wasn't the first group to try to exploit the Island's power. The Ancient people dug a hole and had to put a cork in it. The Man in Black helped some people dig a hole and put a wheel in it. Dharma dug a bunch of holes, and they had to put a cork in one and then build a hatch around it.
The Numbers are the constants from the Valenzetti Equation. The Valenzetti Equation is why Dharma came to the Island. Because the Numbers are constants, and the Equation deals with how events unfold, naturally the same constants keep appearing. Imagine Archimedes of Syracuse first noticing 3.14159 in every circle. Or Leonhard Euler discovering 2.71828.
In a previous post, I said Walt, Hurley and Miles all have superpowers. First, Walt is Special. He can make things happen. He has some sort of grasp of how the universe works, but as a child he can't really understand it. Also, it's implied that the innocence of children is important, and as Walt ages, he'll likely lose his power. Speaking of Walt aging, I find it amusing that the whole idea that Island time is different from Regular time probably arose from the need to explain Walt's dramatic difference in age.
As for the other two, Hurley can talk to spirits, and Miles can read the last thoughts of people who have died. This is in line with the idea of Ghosts, and fits well with the idea that the Flash-Sideways is part of the afterlife. If Jack had simply died at the end of the show, my first question would have been "Does his Ghost end up trapped on the Island?" We don't need to know how Hurley or Miles do what they do, we just know that they can, because it's possible.
Holy Crap, Dave! I just realized that Dave was Smokey trying to kill Hurley! Crazy... But why was he called "Hurley?"
So what your telling me is jack was really sleeping with sawyer the entire season? How come hurley got fatter on an island with only fruit and fish? How come all the black people never made it to heaven or the final episode? So theres no blacks in heaven? DHARMA what was that people what does it even stand for the word DHARMA........Where did all the babies go on the island? I must say i like the no blacks in heaven angle....
They were not dead the entire time, even though they showed the original plane wreckage at the end. What happened on the island actually happened, and the sideways reality was the sort of limbo afterlife where they were all waiting for each other to move on.
However that doesn't change the fact that the ending was a completely sickening cop out that answered none of the important questions about the island. After 6 years I could really care less about everyone living happily ever after together in the afterlife, I want some answers. Extremely disappointed, but can't say I didn't see it coming...
I loved and hated the ending. I don't think there was any other way to explain all the crazy stuff that happened on the island. The show gave me six years of entertainment, and kept me on the edge of my seat each week wondering what the heck would happen next and I totally appreciate that!
I think the ending is always up for interpretation. I guess you are either a "man of science or a man of faith". Either way the message is clear. We all die although not always together. We as humans are meant to live together and take care of each other. These are emotions of what it means to be human. Even the black smoke realized this as he chose to walk to his doom at the end. He missed the way it felt. Carrying grudges are a heavy burden, but when you let go and forgive you can move on and remember moments in life that do make us happy. Going into a church that was emblazoned with symbols the iconology of various major religions was a great touch. The show married the ideas and Enlightenment philosophies of Locke and Rousseau “use of reason” with the common principles of the other religions. Wow! As humans you are not meant to understand all of life's (or LOST's) questions, even Jacob and the "man in black" like Greek gods, who were subject to folly, could not answer these.
So what about the THE BOMB?? – it was the BOMB that supposedly created the alternate timeline (bomb explodes, plane never crashes...) – the big quesiton being "did it work" or not? Numerous references were made to "it worked". If it worked, then see above (or htey all blew themselves to hell). If it didn't – then the island would've destroyed itself.
I was expected the two timeliens to converge and resolve this...still confused!!
First...I enjoyed the series as a whole. I am not sure about what to think to the ending or the explaination or lack thereof. Not sure what was real (to the show) or not.
Daniel Faraday's (Whitmoore) mother asked Desmond if he was taking his son? If Desmond was a ghost then was Whitmoore's wife a ghost too and just not ready to let go?
What about Walt? Why was he special?
How did magic ash allow Jacob to communicate with Kate, Hugo, Jack and Sawyer?
Why were there multiple skeleton's down the "Light" well? We cannot even assume one was "the man in black" or Micheal based on Jacob taking the body back and putting it by his fake mother...thereby creating the islands own "Adam & Eve" as referenced in Season 1.
What about Jack's son? Was all that just a dream? Locke told him that he didn't have a son...but we did see him!
Where were the others? And who were they?
Where were the other Oceanic 815 passengers that had contributions to the show? I know they were not main characters but they had significant roles in developing the story of the island.
I have many more questions...don't get me wrong, I liked the series as a whole but I just felt that the ending didn't do the show justice considering all of the time put into island development and character development.
Awful! Disappointing! Definitely was tilted to a specific, religious point of view! In looking back, the whole series was a garbled jumble of things that never did make sense. I expected some brilligant philosophical and metaphysical points to be made at the end about good and evil, but there were none. Again, trememdously disappointing, but then what could we expect – it is T.V. after all.
I hope the actors from the show are reading these comments!
I've been reading the comments but I still think they were all dead or dying from the plane crash and the island was just a symbol of the limbo area. If you watch the 1st show when Jack wakes up and starts walking you see a tree with a shoe hanging. In the last show I saw a shoe hanging there also. The dog runs by Jack in the 1st show and the dog sits down by him in the last show. The writers could have ended the show with Jack laying there but they don't. They show the beach with no one there but the plane pieces. Why show the plane pieces now if it has been many years since the crash?
Honestly not sure what to make of the last 10 minutes.
I loved the finale right up to the church scene. I thought they were all being assembled to be sent back to the island because they finally all realized that the island is where they were the happiest. And that they needed to be there to protect it and live together happily ever after. That would have been the logical way to end it – I thought anyway. But to end it with a kind of purgatory/stuck in limbo/after-life type of thing.....
Well that was weak in my opinion and frustrating as a fan. I mean it's one thing to write about smoke monsters, time travel and a light. It is a sci-fi series after all. Those things can somehow be explained. They somehow made sense in the series. But to end it the way they did... That scene between Jack and his dad was horrible.
my only question was why did they show those pictures during the credits of the plane crash? what was that all about
Thanks to Dave Spataro, you filled in the blanks for me. I somewhat got it, but all of them meeting in the end threw me a curveball. Especially as Jack died on the island. My mind wouldn't let me turn that loose. I kept saying this all makes sense, but everyone in the church isn't dead...or where they? Hugo and Ben's conversation along with Jack's father saying there is no "now" should have made it click for me but it didn't. I kept keying in on the wrong things. I completely agree with your line of thinking.
Loved the ending. So unexpecting yet so satisfying. Thank you for the journey. I get it. I really get it.
I think half the fan base could have written a more interesting ending. Producers wrote themselves into a corner and took the easy way out. Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof, go to the light ... your show is dead.
Terrible. No answers about the true origin of the island, and many characters were left unresolved. I didn't expect every tiny nitpicky question to be answered, but they didn't really explain anything. 'Just let go' is a real cop out. Terrlble.
thats like me selling you a ticket to an amusement park. you show up and ask where is the amusement park? I say walk with me through this jungle for a couple hours. I promise it's their. After hours of walking you come to an open field and your cousins, aunts, and uncles are there. You guys all rejoice to see each other. Then you go hold on, where is the amusement park and where is my money?
and to all you so called smart idiots. How the heck was the island reality they lived?? Since when does reality have a darn island with a glowing power that travels through time with a freakin smoke monster? What the heck r u talking about?
Also, didn't Kate, Sawyer, and the others fly out of the ilsand? what happened to them? I hate that it's confusing and at the same time clear and simple. thank you LOST
Just think if everyone who watched this sorry sitcom for their collective millions of hours doing something positive for humanity, how much better the world would be! Volunteer, make a difference! Don't be duped again into this kind of mindless and useless time wasting!
The writers said they quoted books they had read and love. I think it all boiled down to the book "The Five People You Meet in Heaven". All these people, because they so happened on the same plane caused significant situations in each other's lives.
It also has a 'butterfly effect' mix.
I honestly thought it was one of the best series finales I've seen. Here is what I took from the ending...
We find out, even though some thought this, these ppl were NOT in hell or purgatory on the island. The island LIFE (or timeline) really happened... Kate, Sawyer and all those on the plane got off the island. Those that died before that, did in fact die according to the timeline throughout the series. Hurly and Ben stayed on the island, as referred to a convo between those 2 outside the church. Hurley to Ben: "You were a good number two"...Ben to Hurley: "You were a GREAT number One". This means that there was a significant amount of time that passed on the island after Jack died and the plane left...time that the viewer never did see. With that, everyone off the island also lived their lives out of sight of the viewers eyes.
The alternate world we saw really takes place at no specific time, but at a point where everyone on the show has died, at some point in their life – whether it was on the island or 50 years later. This place is where their "connection" or bond to eachother made it possible to meet ONCE more, together and move on together.
What one has to realize is that the island life really did happen. These ppl were LOST in their life prior to the crash and it's the island that brought them together. What we've seen this season is a peak into this place, that was created by their bond, to find each other again. This "alternate world" again, takes place at no specific time, it's just simply a meeting point after all of them have died. And once they found each other, they moved on toghether...not alone.
Now to the light...that is what keeps the island "alive", if you will. And the island is what brings ppl together. Yes, the Dharma ppl were there to do science experiments, but WITHOUT the island's invite...that's why they had to go. All of the "others" were brought to the island for the same purpose as this group of "Oceanic" passengers. I believe the bonds they formed created a similiar alternate world, just something the viewer never did see, as it wasn't relevant to the stories of the Oceanic group.
So, yes....the light or "heart" of the island had to be protected at all costs in order for the island to continue to do it's job. The back and forth between Jacob and the Man in Black was simply a sibling rivalry based on their experiences growing up, knowing that one of them would become the protector and have a purpose..the other not. And once Jacob realized that the Man in Black wanted to get off the island, he had to be stopped. Because the only way for him to leave was to have the Island destroyed by destorying the light. Or....kill those who could take Jacob's place so that no one was left to protect the heart.
Ok, that's a lot...hope that helps lol
My biggest problem is Sayid being head over heels for Shannon. That was a brief moment in his history. His true love was that other lady (can't recall her name).
Not a man of faith. I knew that the bible was an influence for the show so shame on me for becoming involved with something I care nothing about. Everything except the going to heaven thing was absolutely amazing. I do feel cheated but as I said, the bible was referenced so I shouldn't be surprised.
@Andulamb – if your college buddies represents the most important time in your life and you loved them all and they made you become a decent person or made you do things that even your parents or family couldn't do, you prob would want to see them more than anyone else when you died before all going together to the afterlife.
Simply BRILLIANT! Genius! Storytelling at its best. This series will live on for decades to come. From the pilot to the finale I was hooked. The characters, the story, the quality work in every aspect of this show is unmatched. I only hope ABC's "V" will grow to be something of significance cause there isn't anything else out there!
I liked the fact that Ben apologized to Locke for killing him. Shows that they were NOT dead the entire time. If you remember the scene with Jin & Sun, they both remembered dying in the sub together. And while talking w/ his father, Jack remembered that he has died. The stuff on the island was real and the flashes from this season was the world they had created for themselves to stay in until the reunion. They all kept asking each other if they were ready to "leave" and when Jin & Sun left the hospital, Jin said to Sawyer, "See you there, detective" in a humorous way. It took me a while to understand, but it finallly clicked and I'm satisfied with the ending.
That was very unsatisfying to watch.
It was great..very moving. You can interpret the ending in different ways, but it seems like Christian Shephard explained it...
Everything that we saw that took place on the island happened exactly as it appeared..."it was all real", and...the core group, because they cared about each other, were reunited in death. Pretty simple.
The show was always about the characters and relationships. The island was just a plot device. If you need to have all the puzzles of the island explained to you...well, make up your own answers. It was a TV show.
I actually loved the finale, although I know there are still so many unanswered questions.
I totally teared up during the reunion parts: Shannon and Sayid, Claire and Charlie, Sawyer and Juliet, Jack and Kate... I was wiping my face every few minutes! LOL I also cried during the ultrasound scene with Jin and Sun when they remembered. And I laughed so hard when Sawyer showed up at the hospital and Jin and Sun were just smiling at him, like "hello, Sawyer" and he was all confused. LOVED IT!
I do think it was a good ending. The island was real, what happened to them was real. The "sideways flash" was the life they would have had if the plane never crashed and it was their afterlife. The lived the way they would have/should have and once they found each other, found their "constant", they could move on.
I think Ben is unable to move on yet because Alex is his "constant" and he is waiting for her to realize it and forgive him before he can move on.
I am so sad it's over. It's been a fantastic ride! Nothing else like it on tv.
I mostly liked the ending, but I found it sad that in life nobody got to be with the people they loved. Jack didn't get to spend his life with Kate, Sawyer didn't get to be with Juliette, Hurley didn't get to be with Libby, Daniel didn't get to be with Charlotte, etc etc etc... Good ending, but sad in a way...
My thoughts: The reason Michael and Walt weren't there to cross over with the rest of the characters......Michael didn't exactly leave things on good terms. Why would he cross over with them? Walt was probably still alive and was much younger on the island and not as connected since he was taken so early. Vincent the dog was there with Jack when he died. Enough said.
What happened on the island was real. Those who developed the strongest and truest bonds were waiting to cross over together. Not that all the other characters were insignificant. But they had stronger bonds with others, not with the main characters.
A fantastic and meaningful ending to a great show!!
Thanks for the mind bending ride!
read christopher comment at May 24th, 2010 12:23 am ET
like juliet said "it worked"
and johns father said, "some died before you some died after you"
they weren't in limbo from the beginning, they all just waited for the rest of their family to go on so they could finally be together once again.
it was a beautiful ending to an amazing show.
Juliet and Jack died long before Sawyer and Kate, who escaped the island in the final episode. Jack and Juliet met up in the sideways afterlife universe, married, had a kid and got to live out their unrealized love affair for a decade or more until Kate and Sawyer also died and joined them.
If I had known the ending I would never watched 1 show.
I watched all of them. Maybe I'm slow but I will never know answers to many questions I have.
One thing for sure it broke me from getting tied up in another series .
example V 9
Well I am going to have to watch the ending again becase I MUST have missed SOMETHING! I hated their being dead at the end. Wasn't the purpose of the A-bomb to change what would happen with the crash? Ben's moves back and for were frustrating to me. Where was Mr. Echo? What happened to Richard after he got on the plane? I can't buy Shannon as Sayeed's true love. What about his wife who died? In face I had quite fogotten about Shannon and Boone–he was a big who care in my estimation. I think they killed them off because they could not figure out a way to put Kate and Jack back together. I did get it that Juliet was going to be the mother of Jack's son. And don't the Kwons get to have their baby now? I just hope I fell asleep and missed something.
LOVED THE SHOW. WILL MISS IT. Must admit confused many times, but drawn to characters and I cried at the end.
If you watched the 2 hour pre show the creator and producer answered alot of the little questions in their interviews. Especially how Jacob visited each one and touched them. A lot of things that went unseen but happened right in front of us were cleared up. There is no perfect ending.
Hawkeye in Mash going crazy at the end was not a great ending. There is no perfect ending for everyone watching a show. But there is no coming back which is nice. It's final and done and I can respect that!
Apparently the last 5 minutes confused a lot of people, including the people I watched it with. No, it did not mean "it was ALL a dream". It meant that the flash-sideways of the final season were the dream, which was a great final twist. I mean they told us from the beginning that the sideways were not an 'alternate reality'.
Everything else was supposed to have really happened. Hugo told Ben 'you were a great Number Two', and Ben said 'You were a great Number One', meaning they had (possibly a lot) of time together on the island before they showed up in the sideways.
Perfect? Nah, Christian walking into the light was pretty cheese, but it was a great twist ending for a great show.
No problem grasping the ending. I can deal with the hundreds of unanswered details as well. I've only got one "big" question – what the heck is the island?
What the ....!
I've been a dedicated fan from episode 1! Along with a co-worker, we've spent many a moment analyzing why did this happen? Why did that happen? And yes this ending was one in which we long put to the side as "It just wouldn't make sense!" And it still doesn't!
I've read some of the comments and I agree for the episode on the greater part followed the series in every cliff hanging, emotional roller coaster, twist and turn, ... scene that aired thus far, but this??? Basically it leaves me thinking the writers didn't know how to end it, so lets try this. Just to many holes and I'm not taking about the unanswered questions. For example, if this was everyone who died on the plane and had to "settle" things on a spiritual level before they could "move on" why was Desmond there? Better yet, why was Penny there? What did I miss? Was there a season I missed?
I was going to buy the series on DVD for myself and my brother, NOT!
Why bother with all the "bubble" episodes trying to explain why this happened and this is connected to that when non of it mattered!
So much more could have been done with this series!!!
That being said I will say this, the cast was above and beyond what one would expect for a "13 episode mini series". They did an awesome job. BRAVO!!! Sorry to have such talent associated to such a disappointment.
Wow! The only better ending was "Buffy the Vampire Slayer".
A great series with a horrible ending. 6 years wasted with nothing explained and a ton of loose ends. The writers screwed us over with poor planning and lazy writing. We were all conned.
Great series and interesting ending....although the 2008 sleeper movie, "Passengers" had the same basic plot without the complex mythology and symbolism. I'm wondering how the writer of that movie is feeling about all of this. Also wondering about lose ends such as Walter and Michael.
Okay. I've been reading and I like the idea that everything on the island did happen and the alternate timeline was limbo until everyone was dead. But if that's true, and Jack didn't die til the end, what was he doing in Limbo? Also, Hurley was supposed to be immortal. How would he have died?
Lost...lost me in Season three. Like Heroes the plot and story line became to far out to be even good fantasy. Speaking of good fantasy...Evangiline Lilly is still hot!
One thought about the actors...I hope they find new projects. Tthey were all good. . Josh Hollowy would make a great lead in a Cop show.
Everyone that keeps saying that they were all dead doesnt get it. They didnt die in the plane crash and the island was not purgatory. They all died at different times of different things. They all chose that place in time to reconnect with one another. Jack Died after fixing the Island. Locke died when Ben killed him. Kate may have died years later but it looks like they got off the island. You can tell a lot more things had happened because Hurley and been made a comment that they ran the island for a long time together.
The End caught us back by surprise. Sure a lot of Q's were answered, some not, but in the end it all comes back to human nature. LOST's mystic storyline turned out to be true human psychology. I loved it and will miss it much. Thanks for the six years! Miss you!
Hello I thought it was a terrible ending, too easy an explanation and yes I agree the cork in the bottle, ie the island was weird but alas I guess in a "dream" world anything is possible. Richard said they were all dead in season 5 so I knew they would all be dead . Too much like Dallas and Newhardt.
Great ending to a great show. It seems most of you people didn't even "get it."
I know this has been explained already but I'm giving it another shot.
THEY DID NOT DIE FROM THE CRASH. The events on the island after the crash all happened. It was the sideways world that was some kind of limbo. Jack's dad explains the whole thing at the end.
Funny how some of you are posting on here complaining of a predictable end when it doesn't seem like you even know what happened. Perhaps you all should watch it again.
Thanks LOST for NOT giving us a tidy little ending. Isn't this kind of discourse about what "The End" might mean more fun? Of course it is! That's why we watched it for six seasons!!!
I'm cool with them all being alive on the island and when they die going to a sideways kind of "sandbox-purgatory" to wait for the others and while they're at it work out their flaws, but I'm still foggy on why they were in sideways mode and on the island at the same time?
Like, when did Sawyer (for example) die? In the bomb explosion? Then why do we still see him on the island afterward if he's in sideways-mode waiting for the others to die so he can move on? (Still trying to figure it all out - congratulations and please be NICE if you already have and want to offer an explanation)
And lots of other unanswered questions rolling around in my head –why did Jacob have a cabin if he lived at the foot of the statue? Why did Richard Alpert start aging and MIB-Locke become mortal? But all in all a great ending to six of the most entertaining seasons on TV.
Actually that's wrong, but Penny could have lived out her whole life. Now I can't keep track of who died!
Everyone thinks that they were in limbo! I really don't think that's the case. At the end Christian said they all died at different times and time wasn't a matter where they were. And Hurley said that Ben made an awesome number 2. This implies that life went on and it was only Jack that died and we saw HIS death only. The Island was real. We only saw Jack's death.
Either way- I've got a lot of contemplating to do and still wasn't impressed with the last few episodes.
I knew from the first episode they were all dead..EASY WAY OUT WRITERS! Could you not have come up with something perhaps a little more creative? As was said this morning on our local news, they ( the writers and producers) had no idea this show would be such a hit and were kinda lost themselves trying to figure out where to go with the show...to me that is why I stopped watching after the second season (until this year) the show got to damn confusing and stupid!
But i suppose if you had no creative skills this was the way to end the show..make all dead instead of REALLY explaining what the hell it was supposed to mean...
I thought the ending was absolutely fabulous. I t will give all the devoted followers of LOST weeks of wonder and analysis.
I figured that they all died in the crash but they had to atone for their past wrongdoings before they could move on and the island gave them that opportunity. Ben was the 'devil's' advoquate on the show and he couldn't go with them in the end because he had failed to keep them in limbo on their final quest to right their wrongs. Koodoos to the writers, actors and producers for an intriquing and fulfilling series.
Could not watch the finale – WEWS 5 in Cleveland had "techicial difficulties" (sic – was on shown on the screen).
Pixilation, lost of signal, freezes. They had to shut down the "live" chat because everyone was complaining instead of talking about the show.
Talk about a let down.
For all those whining about the end...How would you have done it? It wasn't about the end anyways. "The journey is the prize".
Although we didn't get every question answered, I thought the finale was great. Christian says it best that they were the most important people in each other's lives. I loved it.
And let me add one more thing:
They all died in their own time. Even though they all looked the same age they were on the island, when they gathered in the "church" they had all died in their own time. For instance, Penny and Desmond could have lived out their whole lives together and then died. Jack wasn't the last to die as many are saying. He was only the last person to come to terms with moving on.
Ok, i am not sure how i feel about this ending. the moments when the couples remembered one another were so moving, i cried during each one of them, everything was perfect until the last 15 min, i have more questions than answeres. The interesting glass window signs of all existing religions at church suggest this will be for every faith to interpret. I guess i thought Jack was dead right before he oppened the coffin ( maybe he would have been in it). anyhow, i cried and cried and wanted to scream at the writers because 6 years and they were dead? alright, i kind of feel everything that happened was real but also at the very very end they showed the plane right after the crash wich suggests that's when they died, but it can't be since they survived supposedly, also what about RIchard and his wife, was he right when he said they were all in hell? or? ok i m going to stop now. LOST will be missed, i feel a little cheated because if they were all dead from the start then it's just the easy way out. I wll think that they weren't . great show, just ok ending but LOVED EVERY MIN of it!
I get what happened to the people and all that. My questions were more about the island.
1) What really caused the light? I acted more like a nuclear reactor than anything else. You pull the plug and the water stopped and it overheated and started tearing the island apart...
2) The hatch and the code. Why was it needed? It was about electro magnetism blah blah that needed to be properly discharged......from the "island engine"? However, it would've needed that way before Dharma came along. Must've been something they screwed up.
3) How did Hurley become the guardian? Must've been short lived. Jack did not perform the whole ceremony as per Mother, Jacob, Jack. They all recited a Latin prayer. Jack did not when he asked Hugo to drink. I think this was more to make Hugo feel better about Jack sacrificing himself.
4) Polar Bear? Okay it could be from when Dharma was doing animal research, but wasn't that on the other island? Polar bears can swim and all BUT.
5) The young boy dogging MIB. I remember seeing a young boy that was following MIB. I thought it was a young Jacob that was haunting him for killing Jacob, but that would make no sense because the full dead Jacob was running around already talking to Hurley and the others later on. So was it a young Jacob or not?
6) Who built the temple? It was a pretty big structure. I doubt Jacob and MIB could pull it off.
7) How did that pool of water work? It had healing properties.
8) Who built the giant statue. The Black Rock crashed into it and the wave was apparently high enough to see the top of the statue before crashing. When we see the statue later, we see just the legs down. Apparently, the BlackRock broke the statue.
9) The Light house? How did that work? You could see different locations, and apparently times. It allowed Jacob to mark all of his candidates at different stages in their lives.
10) If one of the "rules" was that MIB could never leave the island until Jacob was dead...How was Jacob able to leave the island to get candidates? Seems like cheating to me. Why wouldn't MIB use the lighthouse too?
Damon & Carlton are liars. They need to explain themselves. If I ever meet them I may have to spit in their faces. It was a mediocre ending. I expected more. It was poignant and good to see the past characters we fell in love with – especially Vincent. I am a bit upset that Eko wasn't a part of the end. I wonder why he wasn't.
I will be on the LOST message boards for days. Hope ABC leaves it up throughout the summer.
LOVED IT! What a fantastic way to tie up the entire series. The mythology served the character development, as it should, and there were plenty of lingering questions, as there should be. There were some definite bumps in the road, but I am so happy with the way this series turned out.
The scene during the credits was not intended to show the wreckage to make a point. Lost has a very intense, loyal fan base and as a homage to the fans and to show respect they were showing the viewers the empty Lost set. It was a final goodbye to the show. It wasn’t to provoke thought that they all died on the plane. Furthermore, I feel that Matthew Fox explained it best when he stated that in some cultures it is a belief that to move on you have to face your actual death and all of those who were instrumental in it. That is why some of the people were not in the church that were important parts of the story line. The survivors had to face one another because they made the biggest impact on each other’s lives. Although I am not a science fiction watcher and it’s hard for me to understand I do feel that the ending was implying that the island and all that happened on it was real. They did leave it up to interpretation as they said they would. The biggest indication that the island was real was the conversation with Christian at the end. He told Jack that some died before him some after. You could interpret that meaning that the plane crashed and all of those on it died some before, some after him, but it’s not that logical to me. Hurley and Ben discussing being number 1 and number 2 then would make no sense. Since the scenes were close together I think it was the intention that the writers knew Lost fans would pick Christian’s speech apart so they made the interaction between Ben and Hurley to prove that the speech should be taken to the literal sense that the island was real. The only question I have is why was Juliette Jack’s child’s mother? Why wasn’t his wife there waiting for him? To me she was a key point to the whole story. Had she not died he wouldn’t have been chosen as a candidate on the island at all because he would not have been alone. To me she should have been there. Also if they would have put her there it would explain why he had a child, sadly they could have implied that she was pregnant and it would have made for a more fulfilling end to his life. He would have had the family he longed for and would be ready to move on.
Totally agree that what happened on the Island was the most significant thing in their lives. I think it is safe to say that these people were Lost before they crashed or ended up on the Island.
I think many people posting haven't actually watched the show in its entirety, and potentially didn't even watch the finale. I thought one very interesting aspect to the last moments was the fact that Vincent laid down and stayed with Jack when he died. He was there when Jack awoke after the crash, and he was there at the end, and it made for a very nice moment.
I, too, want more answers and I am hoping they will come in the form of a movie . . . are you listening, J.J.?!
Okay, going with the concept that they were all waiting for each other and finally got together at the church to move on, why was PENNY there? She never died at any time in the whole 6 years. She shouldn't be in that dimension with Desmond.
There life on the island was real, all real. They all meant something to each other (most important times of their life was together) so they waited folr each other in death before moving on. Come on people, the island wasn't limbo. watch it again.
The ending gets a 7 out of 10. Where was Walt? Where was Michael? Where was Eko? You can't have the ending be about moving on once you're all together, if you're not together. Plus, Ben was there but Ben wasn't on the plane, so if Ben was there, where were Alex and Rousseau?
One other thing that bothers me about the ending is this... Kate, Sawyer, Richard, Lapidus, Claire, and Miles left the island in the plane. We don't know for a fact that they made it back to the mainland, but I think we have to assume that they did.
And unless all of them had really bad luck back in the real world, some of them managed to live another five, ten, twenty, even forty years or more after leaving the island. But the afterlife flashes essentially tell us that none of those six had anything special happen in the rest of their lives. The island was the most important thing that happened to them.
I find that a little sad. Miles didn't get married and have kids? Aaron didn't grow up and have a family of his own? Imagine if you died and were reunited with your college buddies - and ONLY your college buddies. Okay, I'm overthinking it.
I have to add my two cents and say it was a great ending. But my guess is they were all dead after the crash. The island is a purgatory before one moves on, paying for past sins. If you look at the statue it looks like an Eqyption Anubis the jackal-headed god associated with the afterlife and in its his hands are ankhs, a symbol of life and the soul. The sideways scenes is the place they waited for each other to come together. Also the final scenes were they show the broken plane on the beach with no one around also confirms this. Also Richard Alpert in his flash back says he never wants to die so he doesn't go to hell, for killing a doctor so he forever stays on the island, he was never ready to move on until the end.
Love the series and loved the finale except for the last 10 minutes. To me the explanation that they were all already dead did not make sense.
I read the other blogs were some of you think you understand the flashes and the alternate timelines, but the truth is that this is fiction and logic does not apply. I am sill a fan and am sad to see the series end.
I thought the ending was awesome! I am going through withdrawals! I will miss that series!
Very disappointing. Way to get out of not answering 95% of the questions you built up in previous seasons
Ho, hum. Boring. What a typical Hollywood New Age ending where everyone goes to heaven (or Nervana). Compared to the entire series, the ending was boring.
Very disappointing. First three episodes were definitely the best!
I'm very confuse...so what was the deal about they leaving the island and Jack wanted to get back to it? did this really happen or is part of their imagination. This ending is crazy,I know it is just TV but please somebody explain it to me...the end?
Fantastic ending, and the final minutes of the episode with no words but just music were beautiful.
I read on CNN yesterday that they couldn't answer all the questions on the television finale but when they release season DVD's there are 20 extra minutes to the series finale that didn't air on T.V. Hopefully it'll answer some of the questions I still have...still a fantastic ending.
All of this smacks of some John Calvin-esque stab at the concept of predestination.....some characters were selected to be "saved" by a Supreme Being (I won't call it "God", due to the multifaith symbols inside the church at the last scene), and yet others who were on the island for a significant time and played an important role (Ana Lucia, Eko, Michael + Walt, Richard, Ben) were not.
@D
Exactly! The Island WAS real and they were NOT dead, so it was not a purgetry. What happened is that when everybody eventually dies (as Christian said) they all gathered together to share their truest moments of life! For those who got into the chapel (or whatever it's called, cos I saw the mix of all the religions there) the island was the greatest moment. Ben didn't quite fit there cos he was waiting for Alex, because SHE was in his greatest moents of happiness. The same goes to those who didnt make it – Michael, Walt, etc, for for them it was not the happiest moment, I think.
Oh my, I was crying every 10 minutes (wow, the commercials were really bad), because all the Losties shared their memories with each other.
The Island indeed was real. What was the light? We all had so many great theories – life/death, soul, enlightment, etc. Everyone could pick up a theory he likes better and stick to it. But it was really about the characters. I was crying cos I was saying goodbye to the greatest show I've ever seen!
Ignore those haters.
All i can say is that the Last Episode of Lost was GENIUSS! GENIUS!!!!
I thought the show captivated you in the beginning, but towards the end
I knew they could not tie all these things together. Dharma, time traveling, polar bears. My belief is the producers were lost themselves. Hated the ending, didn't really explain anything.
I kept thinking the writers had (LOST) control of their own story by making too much up as they went along. I was correct. some of the series was very impressive, but the end product (to me) was far less than spectacular.
All season I kept just thinking, "I just want to see the last show to see what they come up with". Now that I've seen it, I'm not impressed. If the writers had come up with a more definitive ending I would have called their work really good. As it is, I'd say, "Big Deal".
Where was Sahid's real true love from Iraq?
Any one who spent the last 6 seasons watching this show should cry foul!
It was all a dream, really!!!
I wrote the same ending to a story in the 3rd grade.
What a cop-out from the writing teams.
It obvious that the people who think everyone died in the crash have no idea what they are talking about.
Why is it that some really insightful comments about the finale are made, but then people post things that are so ignorant they clearly have not read the comments or bothered to learn about what they watched last night?
At first I wasn't sure what I was supposed to take away from the finale, but after reading some of the comments here it makes sense! Christian said the island was REAL, and everything that happened did in fact happened. The flash-sideways makes sense when you consider that to be the afterlife, and the world that the survivors would have liked to have. It really was quite a moving and well produced ending, but that last scene of the wreckage does kind of leave you hanging and begs the thought of whether they survived the crash at all.....so I can understand where those people come from.
In the end though, does it really matter whether the island was a purgatory or not? For 6 years the producers kept you hooked and that is the job of tv! They made a great show and you faithfully followed it every week!
Chuckles the Clown ROCKS!
I'm not quite sure why we needed seasons 2-5 everything in those episodes could not have been written at all.
All the strange things and happening in those seasons is what I liked about it. There were some great characters that were left to blow in the wind....,,,,
Might as well have been the whole "it was all a dream" sequence. I agree with a previous comment... great up until the last 5 minutes or so. Glad to see Charlie/Claire/Aaron reunited.
I really enjoyed the show. It was a good show and it had me in tears at the very end. They were creative in the relationships the group had together. They messhed well. It kept me lost until the very end. However, I did enjoy watching the show. Sayid and Sawyer, you guys were the bomb! Matthew Fox you were hot also. I will miss the show!
Lost.. Was named correctly. I was lost the whole six seasons and I watched the show...
Loved it! LOST is my favorite TV show of all time. The charachters were amaing, the show was fun, exciting and emotional.
I am having a hard time believing it is over.....
For all of those who "called it" with the island as purgatory is wrong. The island is reality and the sideways world ending up being a purgatory that time did not affect. I thought that was made pretty clear in the episode.
I loved the ending of Lost and found it difficult to sleep last night. I agree with those who said that everything on the island was real and very important to all of our Losties. It is explained very clearly by Christian to Jack at the end. The Church was the place that all these souls imagined in their mind to reunite before moving on to the Other Side. They all died at different times and the church was outside of space and time. They were all linked in a profound way because of the island. That was such a joyous scene at the end. And Jack did not die alone. They were all there with him. If you don't like that ending I understand that but you cannot argue that Lost has been one of the most important masterpieces of television in our lifetimes. It's all about Love – who we love and who loves us. Relationships are all that matters. Work out your unfinished business with other people before you pass on. It was a brilliant show that will be discussed for years. It really made us think. None of us will ever have all the answers to life and why things happen. BRAVO to all the writers, cast and crew of Lost!
A lot of these comments are very telling of a generation of short attention spans. All these comments about "not willing to invest my time" in the series. I'm sure they are big American Idol and Dancing with the Stars fans – no thought, just pure visual stimulation.
To all those who are just so sure they know all the facts...I didn't realize the show had so many uncredited writers who are now willing to spill their guts about the story lines!
All in all, I thought it was a good ending. better then the Sopranos, not as good as Six Feet Under. I too thought afterwards that everyone was dead from the start (all killed in the crash). I'm coming around to the "sideways storyline as pergatory" viewpoint. In either case, it was enjoyable and I will really miss the show.
Poor. I thought this ending was too obvious. I was waiting for some spectacular twist that I would have never thought of. I thought the writer's were smarter than me, guess not. I had this ending pegged a few shows in to the first season.
It just didn't make sense. What about Walt's special abilities? What about all the Egyptian undertones? Where was Michael? Why was Desmond in the church if he wasn't even on the original flight 815? And Peggy?
I think they took the easy way out, I feel cheated.
So what was the island. THEY NEVER ANSWERED WHAT THE ISLAND WAS!!!!!! Seriously, touching ending, but I'm still kinda lost. Didn't get more answers, but it was a nice moral to the story. But did anyone really want a moral?
Perhaps everyone is attempting to put scientific labeling to the show. I believe that the island was the embodiment of Pandora's Jar–hence, something that is never really meant to be found. The 'unique' properties that result are enough that those lucky few that do discover the island become intrigued enough to try and place scientific explanations to it.
Even those chosen to guard the island cannot live indefinitely so they must find a successor. Call it fate, or maybe just chance, that all the possible successors happened to be on the fateful flight but we now know why they alone survived when everyone else on the plane died.
I've seen it well explained that everything aside from the 'sideways-verse' was real and the 'sideways-verse' was a holding area. This is even explained by Christian at then end when he's speaking with Jack.
The wreckage at the end? I believe it's merely meant to reinforce that the island is not truly meant for humanity's discovery which would explain why the wreckage remains undisturbed.
Oh my – I don't normally post, but I have to because people are driving me nuts.
The biggest mistake here is people saying it was all them being dead from the very first episode. They were NOT dead from the beginning. And that doesn't even make sense then – if they were all dead, why is there a second, separate timeline?
To the person who commented about the Christian theme – if you looked, the church incorporated symbols from a number of religions. One of the windows had a Star of David, etc.
The plane wreckage shown in the last clip was the FIRST plane crash, from episode one. Remember that six of them left the island and returned to it a few years later? Well, the returned on a different plane. That plane remained intact. And that plane was the one they used to return to the island.
Ben is dead also. He is NOT now the number one. It can be assumed that as some point in the future both Ben and Hurley died and someone took over for Hurley. Ben is sticking around b/c he's not yet ready to move on. Plus, he was never really a part of the group like everyone else was. He was always somewhat of an outsider. Fitting that he feels like he can't move on with them just yet.
The sideways timeline was an alternate reality or type of purgatory that they created so they could meet up ONCE EVERYONE HAD DIED. Some people died in previous season. Jack died on the island in the final episode. The ones who left on the plane survived and lived their lives. Ben and Hurley remained to care for the island. At some point in the future, all of these remaining survivors died and met up with everyone else in the alternate timeline.
Overall, I was disappointed in the ending. I think it was hyped too much. I was actually disappointed in Season 6 as a whole. However, reading these comments are frustrating because people apparently didn't pay attention at all and think it was an entire series about them being in purgatory. It most definitely was NOT.
Their experience on the island was not death, or limbo. Simply the step they were all called to before moving on to what came next. Thought the finale was a very fitting ending, because you really see how Jack needed to be healed more than anyone.
What a disappointment!! The writers dug themselves in so deep they said, "let's just say they were all dead!"
Deus Ex Machina... nuff said
If they'd continued to focus on the people during the last season, but spent a little extra time on the island and how it (and its leader) fit into our world, it would have been brilliant. Then the could have introduced a reunion over the last 5-6 shows and could have ended with the same emphasis of "we're in this together" and had the same emotional reunion scenes, and the same effect, but without the propagandistic effect of "Jacob, Jack, Hurley, blah, blah, blah... Afterlife" that leaves me feeling like I've been manipulated and had my head grabbed and twisted to "look at me!"
As it is, the last few minutes of the show reduced the first seasons to Jacob's Circus, with some friendships formed.
Loved the ending. I had to sleep on it to fully understand it but I agree with those who felt the Island was "real" albeit a fantastical one (smoke monster, time travel, etc.) and the alternate reality was indeed the "real" purgatory.
Christian Shepard's little speech to Jack at the end and Hurley's and Ben's comments to each other about them being a great number 1 and awesome number 2 were the keys. Also John Locke just getting up from the wheelchair and walking (even though Jack "fixed" Locke's back, the muscles would still be VERY weak from years of non-use) also convinced me.
Of course I'd like to know about the Lighthouse and the big Statue. I'd also like to know why the Others kidnapped Walt in the first place. Why was he so special? You know, questions like that. The answers to those kinds of questions probably aren't all that important but I am curious nonetheless.
er Ray, if it's such a waste of time, why are you even reading the comments and what do you care what perfect strangers to you watch, much less insult them for doing so?
I'm shocked more people don't understand the ending.
Everything that happened on the island was real. It wasn't a fantasy sequence. Those they showed surviving the Oceanic crash actually survived.
The flash-sideways scenes this season were the afterlife. We don't know how far into the future it occurs, because everyone died at different times; before, during, or after the events with the island. It was showing their lost souls after their deaths, reconnecting with their memories from life and remembering how they needed each other. No "this whole thing was a dream" bull. No matter what we do in life, we all have the same fate in the end.
Very poetic and fitting end to Lost. Bravo.
It was as profound as a really good comic book. It could have been better, more original. The first season was. It did not fulfill the promise it began with but it wasn't terrible either, as so many finales to extended television shows have been. In the end it was quite conservative, with nothing original or new to say about life or death. But it certainly raised a lot of interesting questions along the way.
Everything we saw was real. The island was real. People dying or escaping from the island was real.
Everyone who arrived on the island was lost in their normal lives. The time they spent on the island was the most important, and most meaningful part of their lives because it gave them all a purpose, or allowed them to escape from their past. If it was by leading the group, finding love, fixing a broken marriage or not being a spoiled brat, it was the thing that allowed them to believe in themselves and put their lives at peace.
While on the island, they all made connections with the people who were around those events because they were the most important part of their lives. The flash-sideways that we saw was the re-creation and following of those paths that were built in life, so they could find each other in death. Every flashback we saw from the flash-sideways was a realization of a connection.
Now that they are together, the best part of their lives will now be with them through eternity.
From day one, the series wasn't about a plane crash, it was about the people and all the choices they made. It also blew away all the preconceived stereotypes people have of people. It's also important to note that all the major religions were represented in the final viewing room of the church.
What an amazing journey we were on.
I've watched Lost from the beginning and have enjoyed most of it thoroughly, but after last night, I feel cheated. The unwritten contract that I had with the writers to reveal unresolved plot issues was left unfulfilled. Yes, I enjoyed the characters, and I was okay with the 'altiverse' as limbo ending, but I need real answers also.
No love, no hate, just ... whatever.
Loved it. Beautifully done. Can't understand why so many people are confused. The Island Life happened, all six seasons AND BEYOND really happened, the sideways world was them finding each in the afterlife before moving on. They didn't die in the plane crash, it wasn't purgatory. Pay attention!
Wow, some of you really don't pay attention. It was the "alternate timeline" only that was revealed to be the afterlife. Everything that happened on the island was real life. Everyone didn't die in the plane crash. We have NOT been watching purgatory all this time.
I mean, what, a character says they're dead, so that must mean that the character has ALWAYS been dead? That's quite some logic. How do you manage to live being in such a constant state of confusion?
See, the "sideways flashes" were essentially forward flashes. They were showing us the FUTURE, after all of the islanders had died. It was showing us their afterlife. And in that afterlife, the islanders all meet up, regain the memories of their lives, and have a happy reunion.
Let's all get a life, a real one, not a "reality real" life. Santa Claus and the Easter bunny are more authentic than time wasters like the above show... What was its name again? I am sorry, I lost my thought.... oh well
I enjoyed LOST since the start and the first two hours I enjoyed. Bad way to end it. None of this happened, Jack never made it on the beach after the crash. Nothing has to be explained since they were all dead at the start. I understand and I always thought that these people were broken and the island would help them but I don't like it. Why have the back story of the fake mother of Jacob and the man in black? Why was Penny there at the end? Juliette died some other way but was on the island since she needed to figure things out also.
Didn't like it. Thought they took the easy way out.
I loved it! Just like there will never be a band like The Beatles, there will never be a show like LOST! THANK YOU FOR THE EXPERIENCE!!!
Loved it! A perfect ending.
This show is for the truly lost... centuries old beings, shape shifting smoke monsters, a light that extinguishes light everywhere, it’s a show for misfits who live in fantasy... I thought trekies were nutty, "Losties" are worse... one of the most overrated shows that jumped the shark on the second season... kept alive by the misfits who watch it... Thank the "light in the middle of the island" its over!
I miss it already.
WOW ! A perfect ending.
LAME! I want my six years back! I had this thing figured out by the end of Season 1. I thought it would be too easy for that so I kept watching....hoping for something.
Now all I feel is wasted.
THEY WERE NOT DEAD after the crash:
Look @ the crash pics. THere are footprints everywhere!
Christian clearly stated that many died on the island and the survivors died later!!
HOW DID KATE MISS JACK if the island time never happened?? She lived a long life after flying off of the other island.
Hurley and Ben CLEARLY protected the island for decades to come,"You were a good number 2!"
HELLO!!!!
The Target commercials were fun!
I was great with everything until the last 5 mins (church scene). It's like the network told them to wrap it up but make it happy. My wife had the best idea- the ALT timeline should have been Hurley and Ben bringing everyone to the Island (with loved ones) to start the next "Others". Then as they looked out to the ocean they could see the next freighter or plane crashing on the island to start the circle again...
Would have been much more satisfying...than "Yay- we're in the afterlife. Now that we realize it- let's have an after party."
Great show. Beautiful and peaceful ending. The only dissapointment was that for 6 years the viewers wanted to understand the island mysteries; from the smoke monster, jacob, their "mother", the others, the darma group, etc, and those questions are still unanswered. I totally get the whole limbo and moving on premise, but it seemed out inconsistent with the previous 5+ years of the show.
I don't know I think everyone is misinterpreting what Jack's father said at the ending. Everything was real but not in the sense "physical reality" real. Real in the respect to our inner journey or you can say our soul's journey outside the gates of heaven and after death of it's physical hull (body). Jack's father was talking to us as a soul in death, so yes it was all real explained as a soul's journey not a physical life. With everything going on you honestly believe the island, past flashes, sideways worlds and future flashes any of it take place in the here and now physical world. My opinion no. It was about the soul and its journey from the time of death of the physical body to the gates of heaven. The journey took us places anywhere it needed in order for the soul to accept and let go of the poor choices it made in the physical world (or test). Jack's last sight on the island seeing the plane fly overhead (his acceptance or accomplishment over letting go of his poor choices in life) as he laid dying translated into him finally coming to terms and accepting his mistakes in life and letting go.
- Desmond, Whitmore, Walt, Eloise, Penny, Jacob, The Dharma Group, The Others and everyone else in that showed up on the island (even the nobody characters) past present and future where probably all part of the same plane wreck. *Inside Hint* take a look of some of the people in the hospital, the police station, airport in the future worlds/sideways realities in my opinion we have all seen them before as the "nobody" characters in Dharma or of the Others....
In my opinion everyone and anyone that we seen on the island were all in the plane wreck. Remember that was one huge plane and we only got about 50 or so characters show up from the plane what about the rest? I just think everyone that was in the plane wreck took a role one way or another on the island and regressions/flashes. They just took whatever role necessary in order to get the group as a whole to move on and let go personally and as a whole. Even though Desmond was the guy in the hatch I still think he was on the plane. His afterlife role just took that form.
If you don't get it watch the series again! All the answers are there, some may not be as obvious as others, and some may not be the major "special answer" you were looking for e.g. "the numbers," but they are there. Plus they have stated they will go over these answers again in the DVD set for those who missed them.
And the island was real, the story was real. The flash-sideways was Jack's purgatory, his life before heaven. Many religions believe that you are in limbo before you reach your final resting place, this is what the flash-sideways was. Only in that sequence of events was everyone dead, the main story as we know it happened. Jack died, Hurley and Ben took over control of the island, while Kate, Sawyer, Richard etc. went home and lived out their lives. It was perfect.
Thank you lost for all the great times and memories.
Overall, I liked the ending, but they still left unanswered questions. (Walt and Michael? The stewardess and the kids?) Myles and Richard?)
I really think now that they either had NO idea where they were going in the first two seasons, or they changed their mind about how to end it. There are just some plot holes from those two years that didn't get cleaned up well enough for me.
Still, Jack's final moments? Hurley taking over? Ben's redemption? Worked for me.
A "perfect" ending. Like a "Perfect Margarita" there are other ways to make a margarita but the "perfect margarita" just works! The series could not tie all the questions together, it encourages re-watching. Knowing how the series ends will not spoil the re-watching it, but rather give it a slightly different flavor. The bottom line: it is not the destination but the journey that is important.
This was the best show I've ever seen and the ending was just as it was supposed to be. No, it didn't answer everything but then, it wasn't supposed to. I saw the NY Times sit-down with the writers and they alluded to the fact that the entire idea behind Lost was preposterous. (Ever write down each scene or idea? Its ridiculous if you really think about it). This story was about the characters: their past, their failures, their reactions and ultimately their salvation. All other stuff such as the Smoke Monster, the Dharma initiative, Walt, the polar bear ~ was just the background (think of the movie "Signs"). We saw how Jack and the other losties came full circle and learned to love, forgive and let go. It was beautiful and I'm glad that they all finally found redemption. Thank you, Lost!!
Most who didn't like it were looking for Hollywood to tell them what happened. You're like Jack initially, a man of science looking for the what, why and how. Does it really matter? Just relax and know that you read of the greatest stories of all time.... learn from it and... move on... it's time...
I thought the show was really really moving.... The writers and creators of this historic show got it on point. The sideway of their lives is what their lives would have been if the plane didn't crash. The lives on the island was real. However, i do have one regret, what happend to Richard and the pilot. And what about Charlotte and Daniel they both died on the island. Oh well, it ended well
Hi!! I loved the seaon finale!! Perfect ending. So satisfying on so many levels... still some mystery left, some unanswered questions but some answers too. I love that they didn't DUMB it down for the fans and left some mystique. I am just very confused about how people are getting the ending wrong!! Yes there is room for debate, but I do think one think is very clear!!! So many people are saying that they were dead the whole time, or it was a death dream??? WHAT!!
Did all of us watch the same show last night. It was VERY clear the the island experience all happend!! But the last five mins are up for discussion... but I saw it as they were waiting for Jack to let go..... It was a situation they created when it was their time to meet up again in the after.... whenever that was for each of them.....but that doesn't mean the island part the time they lived never really happend for them.... If they never lived on the island how would they remember the island???? Very strange people are not seeing that??? I guess to each their own read on the ending. I for one LOVED IT!!!
Penny was ot on the plane, never died or was never in harms way from what I remember. Why was she there at the end?
I agree with Moya, they had the first moment and the last moment (all of two seconds) and filled in between with late night sessions of wild ideas of....yeah that sounds good, we'll do that! Come on, it's a tv show! This was a great money maker for ABC. It's the dog moment at the end I will remember the most.
I'm not sure how I feel about the ending, or if I even understood it. It seems to me that there are two possibilities: one is that the whole thing took place in Jack's head as he lay dying. IF that's the case, I'm going to feel extremely cheated (not to mention angry since this is a lame plot device).
The other possibility (and the one I'm going with so as to not feel like I've wasted the last six years of my life! LOL!) is that they (the original survivors) were all in Purgatory as Christian suggested and needed to resolve their feelings of isolation in life by bonding together over everything that happened on the island. This would also explain why Juliette, Ben, Desmond and Penny were there as they were a part of the journey and may have already been in Purgatory before the others got there? I don't know – I'm really confused
A big question: how was Vincent there but not Michael and Walt?
Were Albert and Frank in the church? I don't remember seeing them.
IF not, where did they go?
Anybody got any answers?
Anyone else having flashbacks (hah!) to when the Sopranos ended?
I thought it was beautiful, and it was especially poignant for me. My mother died last September, and her sister, my aunt, died a year before. Both were huge LOST fans, and I've also been a rabid fan since day 1. I posted on FB last night before the show that I was really hoping my mother and aunt were in an afterlife where they got all the answers, because they deserved to know what happened on LOST! I said I wished we were all having a big watching party. With that ending, I kind of think we did.
@ Cetti, I think that everything that happened in the last 6 seasons was real. They all died how we saw they did.
If you think the finale "sucked" I feel bad for your sad, miserable life – you probably also hate Ice Cream, Pizza and Football. I lost interest during season 2-3 but I'm glad I came back in time to enjoy the final season...
But dame...I am so confused it hurts.(Who was Jack's son and why?)
I thought it didn't sum up events enough.
only thing that sucked more than the last three seasons of lost was its finale
OH MY GOD I DIDN'T GET MY ANSWERS!
WAAAAAAH!!! What about my answers!!!!!
WAAAAAHHHHH!
Get over yourselves people.
Why was their so much effort/time spent on the story that pregnant women on the island all died? Was there ever an answer to that one?
That was the worst ending for sucha creative story.
I did not want to watch a bunch of nostalgic memories. I wanted answers to a great mystery.
people did not watch 6 seasons and come back every week after for hopes of questions being answered for the writers to end this with oh everyone is dead and moving on together. The story was so epic in creativity...that is why people watched...to know what everything was and why.
Let's make an ending that is open for interpretation so it can mean what you want it to mean.......LAME
be a good story teller and finish your story....so many people involved in this... The dharma initiative....Mr Ecko...the statue...the island....time traveling...
How can a writer who can create such intense questions and ideas and storylines be satisfied with such an open ending that basically was for viewers and the cast to say goodbye ...without concrete answers.....
pathetic ending...and for those who thought it was beautiful or meaningful.....I think my friends and family and real life is beatiful and meaningful......I watched this show for an escape....a mind twisting and question filled esacpe....a good sotry that should have had an ending.
Amazing series. Everyone is complaining about them not telling you what was going on. That was my favorite part about the series – that it forced you to think and kept you captivated. The ending is right up there with my favorite season finale (Six Feet Under).
I knew there would be some people who wouldn't "get" the ending. People, we haven't been watching dead people for six years. It's only the sideways flashes this season that have involved the afterlife.
As for how I felt about the ending. I'm split. Part of me feels it was cheap and lazy. The afterlife stuff really doesn't have a point other than to give us a warm fuzzy ending. It was the only way they could think of to give us a happy reunion.
However, I think the explanation I came up with for the sideways flashes would have been better. They showed us an alternate reality created by the atomic bomb detonation (which is what everyone assumed they were). In the island timeline, the MIB would win - everyone would die. But in the alternate timeline, once everyone experienced an awakening they would all be transported back to the "correct' timeline, where they would surprise MIB and kick his ass, then live happily ever after on the island. That would have given us a reunion of all of the chararacters AND the sideways flashes would have actually had a point - without the alternate reality, MIB would have won.
On the other hand, maybe it's for the best that it turned out this way. Everyone who died, died. No second chances. That's how life is. The world was saved, but only at a cost. I'm still not crazy about the afterlife stuff, but that's how it goes. The show gave us a wild ride for six years and I loved every minute of it. Save for the last five or ten. Not bad.
That was it??? Six seasons ago the producers said they had the ending all figured out and that we would never guess it. What the heck kind of ending was that? The sideways world was a flashforward to purgatory and the island was...was what??? That was the ending? There was no answer to the island. Awful..awful ending. No resolution what so ever. Way to put yourself out there Lost producers! What a waste of six seasons.
Great Show.. Solid ending.. Did a good job giving me the joy-joy feelings that I wanted. They got to bring everyone back together at the end, because the flash sideways was dead people, getting a chance to redeem themselves, and they all get to be with the most important people in their lives. Loved the last episode, will miss the show.
Be well
Disappointed!
Why is it so hard to understand that they didnt die at the initial plane crash?
Why are you people so stupid??
Although touching in parts on the flashes where they "remembered", I was very disappointed that it explained nothing of Jacob, MIB, all the island secrets, the flash forwards and sideways, or anything else. Also, why didn't Ben go into the Church if he too, was one of the dead? Also, did anyone catch the six symbols on the stained glass behind Jack and Christian? Did it represent "tolerance", or was it symbols of the characters "faith". I recognized the Christianity, Islam, Jewish...but what did the other three represent? I read so much into everything in the background over the series, but the producers said they had very little, if anything, to do with the storyline. I haven't watched any of the alternate endings, but were they any more explanitory? I was very dissapointed in the ending, and felt the writers could have done so much more. Even if they had taken some of the blogs and posts I've read over the last couple of weeks...I felt some of those would have been a much better wrapup to a great series.
the island cant be freakin reality or the whole dang show makes no sense you hippies....
The island wasn't limbo, everything on the island actually happened. The flash-sideways timeline was where they went after they died at some point in their lives; Christian said that. The only character to actually die at the end was Jack. The church scene was after everyone had died at their own time. Kate, Sawyer, etc made it off the island, the just died eventually, as all people do, and then came to the church to be reunited with everyone else.
I get the impression that a lot of people walked away from that thinking it meant they were all dead the entire time on the island, which was not my interpretation. I did not get the whole alternate lives off the island thing that started when they blew up the bomb at the end of season 4(?), but I think they tried to explain that, being when they were on the island they were alive, truly, and the alternate lives were a purgatory type existence that they waited in after death for everyone to come together. the memory flashes was remembering their lives and each other to help find one another and move on.
for those saying that not everything needs to be explained – that's fine, i can live with that...BUT, when 4 seasons (or more) are devoted to Dharma, the number sequence, etc, and they just completely STOP talking about them, i expected *some* explanation...
if these things were so important that a majority of the show was devoted to them, how do they just forget about them? that's the frustrating part....
I think the writers made it up as they went along.
hmmm not sure i was really all that blown away by the finale. it seemed kind of a lame ending. i liked it ending with jack closing his eye...nice wrap up, but the show didn't answer a lot of questions..and by a lot, basically all of them. i'm so sad that the show is over and the rest of the questions will never be answered!!!
Seasons 1 through 4 made a great story arc, and if you recall the finale of season 4 it was tense and dramatic – stuff blowin' up all over the place – I mean that mostly figuratively. They wrestled so hard with fate to get off theisland – very very messy stuff happening – only to realize over the next couple of years (in the flash-forwards) that it was a mistake. While it would have been a downer ending, from a story-telling point of view, that's where it should have eneded.
In my opinion, Seasons 5 and 6 just can't be taken as seriously (even though there still was some good stuff there). They were an add-on, sort of a "Lost: The Return" which means the characters really weren't so lost anymore.
Therein lies the problem – the show was no longer about getting off of "mystery-frickin-island," and was now about Jacob and golden lights and...stuff.
One more thing as I ramble...the writers always seemed to have a habit of setting up some really intriguing idea and then just sort of abandoning it somewhere along the way. It's too bad the whole series went that way. I mean, you can end any story by saying – eventually they all died and went to heaven.
Why does everyone keep saying the island was the survivors in limbo? The island was their actual life and the sideways flashes were the limbo or purgatory or whatever you want to call it. Once these people died in their true life (the island world we have been watching for the past six years) they entered the first step in the afterlife and were waiting for everyone else to die so that they could move on together.
We are left to assume that those on the plane (Kate, Sawyer, Claire etc.) left the island and led lives off of it until they died. Then they were brought back to the most significant time in their life with the most significant people of their life.
When everyone got their memories back, they were memories of their life and now they understood that they were dead and could move on to wherever that might be.
I loved the ending! I don't think it could have ended better!
Please, someone can tell me when they died ?
At the first crash?
At the second one?
In the island ?
All together ?
The story really happened or was a dream ? Or since when ?
After six years I'm still lost in LOST.
Man I feel like I just watched a 6 year murder mystery and in the end they brought in some arbitrary character and said he killed them, and I didnt even get to see the freakin person!!!!!!!
This is BS! I wasnt so into the characters as others I guess. I was more of wondering how they were going to explain and make all these odd situations on the island, and timeshifts and timeline and actually make it make sense. That was the payoff I wanted. Even a shred of sumthin with substance.
Now your saying everyone was dead, had 2 be whole time or the ISLAND makes no sense, and all those weird things we hooked you with really dont matter because it was all a dream and afterlife. What?? and yes people have been saying they were really dead since the first or second epsiode, and those ACES!! who made it said no that isn't it. f__ing LIARS!!!!!!
That is brilliant producing to hook everyone with all the questions for 6 years and get paid. But that writing is horrible to say forget everything that happened it was all make believe after life. Heck then all I had to watch was the first and the last episode. Didnt matter about 300 some people getting killed at the camp, didnt matter Locke leaving island. Nothing mattered. hey all just had to die, so it could just end!! How weak!! THAT IS CALLED A SCAM IN THIS LIFE!! I can make up story and throw in all kinds of weird twists in turns with no answers and in the end just say none of it mattered it was all a dream. Purpose is to live life with those you love. Forget how the polar bears or a giant statue got there it was ll imagination. Seriously?? They sold everyone out for the dollar long ago. Dang corruption is spreading to freakin tv series! I really dont see how people can be happy with that ending. Really deserved so much more....
For those of you have interpreted the church scene as betraying the entire series as an "island in limbo" as one of you put it, I believe you are mistaken. As Christian said, the time you spent on that island with those people was the most important time of your LIFE, and you created this place (the alternate reality that has been existent since the end of season 5) so that all of those people could gather together before making the final journey to the afterlife. Therefore I conclude that the entire series has not been a purgatorial existence, but only the alternate reality. Also, throwing out there that Ben's reason for not entering the church is that he's going to Hell. Sorry, Ben, late is indeed better than never, but not always good enough.
Hated the episode the first time I watched it. The second time through, I LOVED it. I'm still not sold on the final five minutes (seriously? A "Christian Shepard" literally opens the door for them?) but this was a fantastic ending to a show that will be greatly missed.
I just wish the ending was more about explaining the island world and not the sideways one. After all, we understand the sideways one but there are a lot of questions remaining about the "real" world. I think the writers make the plot so twisted that there is no way of having an ending that sheds light on all the mysteries.
Didn't watch, figured they'd all wake up it a giant shower and it was all a dream. (throw back to Dallas) What TV needs is MORE DOCTOR WHO!!!
I started watching Lost years ago at the beginning, but it just became too confusing...too much going on, too much flipping back and forth in time and space, etc. I couldn't keep up. I tried watching the finale, but it was also confusing. Maybe my mind is just too finite to grasp it.
Somewhere between anger and acceptance. (very powerful) I think a clean wrap up ending would have been satisfactory to noone as we all had our ideas of what it was about. I had always believed the island to be purgatory but was believing the "sideways" to be the reality they were going to return to. I am left believing the Island and what happened there was reality and the "sideways" was Limbo. Very well done.
I guess the people who actually have brains will avoid the internet today, because look at all the morons coming out of the woodwork saying they KNEW IT ALL ALONG, or just spouting hate because they personally didn't like the show.
Or maybe everyone is just that stupid on this comment board.
I think they took the easy way out. Where was Walt and Mr. Echo. lol. Why couldn't those that were in the Island's 'limbo' like Micheal not get a redemption ending? It wasn't a horrible ending, but they could have done it much better.
I was completely thrown by the alternate reality, and it made me happy and sad at the same time.
I agree with Ender, that Hurley kept asking him to come in but Ben was now the new keeper of the island and had work to do before he joined the others. I think what happened to Jack in his death was the same thing that happened to the Man In Black before the smoke took him - that he was somehow expelled from the cave to the end of the stream and died there. The dog coming to keep him company in the end was very cool. No one wants to die alone. The flash sideways was written the way it was to trip everybody up, so in the end it sorta didn't make sense but it's as if they all rested until they could meet up with the ones they loved at the same time. I noticed too that the Nadlers weren't in that afterlife with them. Maybe they were alive. But I also wonder too, why they didn't become keeper of the island. It would've made just as much sense as Hurley or Jack. The ending fits in to the tradegy of the show as it unfolded over time. I only started watching it in the last season, and wish I saw more. But I will catch up. Think it was bitter and sweet!!!
You know, there's something to be said here where the people who loved or even partially liked the ending have written many sentences and paragraphs about what they took away from the finale.
Meanwhile, those that seemed to hate it have nothing more to offer than cliches like "I want my x-amount of time back!" and one word utterances like as "LAME!"
Great ending to a great series. Happy to see that some characters survivved and lived on for many years in whatever way they saw fit, only to meet up with Jack in the end to go on to the next world. Well worth the trip. Thanks everyone for making a great show and finding their way to a satisfying ending.
Seriously? That was the worst ending ever. The show started with such potential and just continued to bomb after Season 2. The writers for Lost were horrible, they were lost themselves. The whole multi-dimension storyline was horrible and then some people were really dead- the ending left more questions than ever; along with more confusion and anger for the people who stuck it out and watched the whole series from beginning to end!
The first and last seasons were good, but the middle years really dragged. Too few episodes, too many loose ends. As for the finale, at best I would give it a 4 out of 5. Going from mysterious to religious at the end was a bit of a cop out – where was all the spirituality for the last 6 years? We did get exposed to some decent actors, and I look forward to seeing their work in other shows. I especially liked Sawyer as a cop – quite compelling.
LOST = Jacobs Ladder + The Sixth Sense
This was a show that united all the losers in the world. Maybe now they will be able to try and do something with their lives instead of being LOST!
Thought it was very sad at the end but I have been confused this whole season. How they can be on the island and in another place in time was beyond me and last night how they can remember each other by just touching each other?? Weird and confusing, So, at the end, basically what we know, is that all the characters we loved and follwed this season are dead and were in a dreamland?? A bit dissappointing and crazy. So, the show killed off the whole cast in the series finally. That's pretty bad. I guess Richard was right when he tried to tell Jack and them that they were all dead and that this wasn't a island...it was hell...and they were all in hell together!! Seems like he was right on the money....
If you think about it, the two main themes were settled. Jack, the struggling anti-hero finds his purpose. And the people who didn't die got off the island for good, Gilligan-style. As for all the other stuff, I am going with it's just some Bermuda triangle stuff that nobody was really meant to understand. Still, I'd like a few more answers. Sad to say goodbye as well.
@Wysjoumuis
The A-bomb went off, and the "energy" sent them back to the present. Juliet died in the present in Sawyer's arms. It did not destroy the island. The didn't die from the explosion because they flashed to the future during the explosion... Because that was their destiny or something. And everyone goes to the flash sideways eventually.
I'm ok with all the unanswered questions. Walt, Hurley, Miles all have superpowers, and LOST takes place in a world where people can have superpowers. No further explanation is needed (although I was totally expecting at least a nod in Walt's direction).
All the rest, regarding character interactions and mysteries of the island, well that's life. Some mysteries go unexplained. Sometimes a crazy dude comes out of the jungle and starts injecting you with stuff. Then he dies, and you never get to find out what that stuff was. So you just have to move on with your life and deal with the situation in front of you.
Vincent, the dog, showed what mattered in the end.
Words cannot describe how this ending stunk. Limbo? Heaven's waiting room in a church with not so subtle stained glass with the symbols of all the major religions? Please. Yes, I get that the island was real and sideways is the afterlife, what a cheap way to get out of giving any answers whatsoever. At the beginning of the series, the creators assured us that there were logical explanations for the unexplained, that this was a scifi series. Bull. What a colossal waste of time. I only hope they don't move the writers over to Fringe and infect it.
I really loved the finale. I thought it was a great way to end this wonderful series with room for discussion just like all the other Lost episodes.
For those saying that they were dead from the beginning or that it was Fantasy Island in limbo the entire time, you couldn't be more wrong. The "alternate universe" was where they were in a state of limbo, not when they were on the island. We don't know what happened with Kate, Sawyer and the rest that were on the plane. We also don't know what happened to Hugo, Ben, and Desmond. Maybe they died tragically somehow. Maybe they lived long lives on and off the island. But all we know is that in the end, they all found each other in the afterlife and were able to move on.
I Guess Michael, Ben, And The Dog Went To Hell LOL!! But on the contrary It was okay, I just wish the producers would have went more in depth with the other stars.. And actually displayed how and when the died. Did They die when the plane hit the water or did they die prior to that??
Remember when you were little and you cried so hard your face, chest and arms grew hot, even in a chilly room? That's how hard I cried.
When the dog came to be with Jack at the end got me BIG TIME! Spent some quality time with my 16yr old puppy after that.
What in blazing hell was that?? The plane was supposed to explode because it had explosives on it. Did they get rescued the first time? If so why was Aaron reborn after death? Who were Jacob and the smoke monster....what role did they really play? Was this like Chicago Hope???
Many are calling the "flash sideways" purgatory. I think it was their reward.
1) They all died when the plane crashed
2) The island was their chance to redeem themselves
3) Having done so they all got to live the life they always wanted in the flash sideways place.
4) Having done that, they moved on the great white light place.
IMHO
(Not sure I like this, but it is what I am going with at least for now)
That was an incredible end to one of the best shows to come along since pretty much ever. It raised the bar what could be defined as epic.
I'm shocked by the number of people that don't understand.
Were they in heaven
When a TV series begins to run beyond its useful life, 3 things often happen: 1. A main character gets injured and his fellows gather around to reflect. 2. Strange, outlandish phantoms start popping up. 3. Time travel or dream sequences are introduced. That is all "Lost" was. It was a looser from day one. GLAD I did not throw away 6 years on this show.
Remember the Hanso Foundation? They had fake commercials and even a website!
http://lxicon.com/hanso/activeproject.html
Remember all the great "clues"? But no, all this was irrelevant because we went mystical and teary-eyed, and all the 'true' fans don't need anything to be explaned because they understood it all along. There is no way the story that started six years ago was headed to this conclusion.
I saw the same ending with Patrick Swayze in Ghost circa 1990.
Mixed feelings at the moment. Actually, I think I'm experiencing emotions of grief. I feel fairly satisfied, but certainly depressed. I think it was about the only way they could have ended it, but they left a LOT of things unanswered. The biggest, of course, being: "Guys, where are we?".
GREAT FINALE... they were NOT dead, they were NOT in purgatory. The lived their lives on the island and one by one died off. As they died, they THEN went to purgatory (or the Flash Sideways),,,and when the whole group was ready, they moved on to heaven together. Ben sat outside the church because he wasn't ready. Some people haven't died yet. I know that we probably wanted Walt to be included, but the kid (in real life) aged over 6 years and is now 18 years old and is a man. That didn't jive with the island timeline so I think that's why he was left off, or that he already moved on.
Folks, some things are up to your interpretation. This is all how I choose to believe it. Others have their views and that's fine. Great show. Phenominal acting. Superb writing. Emmy's across the board.
I was so disappointed!!! After 6 years of followers, you'd think they at least give you all the answers. I don't want to "make my own theories"...I want answers!!!
HMMMM....Wow......OK......I knew it was going to be a late night, but it took me a little while to work out what actually happened after the show. So on little sleep but satisfied I begin my day.
Though the creators left a little to be interperted, I see that many post seem to miss the mark. Many are saying "I called it from the first episode, they are all dead"... etc. etc. etc.
But I think there is strong evidence that they were not dead on the island, only in the alternative reality. Remember Hurley saying to Ben, "you were a good number 2". and Ben replies " and you were a good number 1". And then Ben not moving on (maybe he became the protector afterward... possible offshoot?). Well that kinda of shows that Hurley became the next protector and we can assume that it was for a while since there seemed to be some bond between the two.
What I found very interesting is that the main answer had nothing to do with the mysterious, but the characters. We are all alone, but we are made by our interations and that is what we take when we move on. The story is not the important part, but the relationships and the journey.
Anyway, when lost ended, here is my last thought to those that are thinking it was all a dream. The pilot, Miles, Sawyer, Claire, Kate, Roberto got off the island on the plane. Desmond likely got off the island some time afterward since now Hurley is the protector and can do things his way. Ben is the number two. Most everyone died before the final, or lived out their lives (Walt, the couple on the beach, etc.)
I hope this prompts the TV execs that we the puplic can handle a smart, complex show. Hope there are more to come.
Worst ending since The Sopranos! It answered no questions and made less sense. This finale sucked sweaty goat balls!!!!
I was lost. From Episode 1, Season 1. Roll on True Blood, S3.
Yeah, Michael Fox tried to put a band-aid over a major error in the special afterwards by generalizing religion and saying that it was a spiritual ending.. Trouble is, it could have been a spiritual ending in an open field, or a shoreline, or someplace "natural." Instead it happened in a Christian church, which automatically excludes all the other faiths, and puts that one on a pedestal. I loved the show, but that ending set was lazy and improper.
Great ending actually made you think which is why a lot of people are so ticked off because it wasn't spelt out for them. I too cannot believe that people watched 2.5 hours and could not figure that were NOT dead the entire time.
I also can't understand why people are posting about a show they have not watched in 5 years or even saw the finale. Seriously why are you wasting your time posting here? I saw from one post "don't believe the hype" but said they haven't watched since season 1. Is this how boring your life is? You need to write on a topic that you have no idea what it's about? It sounds pathetic and desperate for attention.
Is ABC pulling some social experiment where they showed two different versions in different markets just to watch the fight? What show were some of you watching last night? Or for the last 6 years for that matter? If you still have any questions, or think that the island was purgatory, then you were either not paying any attention at all or you can't connect any dots without the TV telling you what to think. Pathetic.
I've been afraid that the end of Lost would be the end of TV drama as we know it. But now I see that it doesn't matter. Audiences can't appreciate good TV even when it happens. Maybe 10% of the posters here got the show. The rest should just stick to CSI and Dancing With The B-List.
LAMEST ..... ENDING ..... EVER. Are you kidding me? I thought the writers took the easy way out. I said 5 years ago "oh, they're in pergatory and they're all dead" and my husband thought I was nuts – that it was too simplistic. The only thing satisfying about last night was when I got to turn to him at 10:31 and say "I told you so."
The PERFECT ending! We are given some much needed and deserved answers, yet in typical LOST fashion, the glass is left half full...
And in The Wizard of Oz they never explained how you can fly over a rainbow. Mr Scott never explained how that damned warp drive managed to exceed the speed of light. Or, for you die-hard Tolkien fans, who the Hell was Tom Bombadil?
It's fiction! - you don't always get all the answers. You hope for great characters and great story telling. LOST did that better than the vast, vast majority. Great show and I'll miss it.
They had to end it somehow, and at least they did end it rather than let it dribble off into irrelevance. I'm pretty happy with it.
And I agree that they were NOT dead all along. What happened, happened.
I thought this ending couldn't have been more perfect. It was a great way to go full circle with a cast of characters that we have known and grown to love. You learn what their life was like before they crashed on the island, you learned what happened to them on the island (which all of it was real), you learned what happened to the few that left the island and then you see what happens to them after they leave this world. All of the minor details don't matter so much. You know that the island is special and Hurley & Ben were there to take care of it till the end of their time. I assume Michael and Walt weren't in the final scene because they weren't ready to leave. As Michael told Hurley in a previous episode, he was stuck on the island because he didn't redeem himself. Everyone who came to the island were flawed and when they left it, they came out as better people for it. Michael wasn't better for it. He made more mistakes and now is probably stuck on the island.
This was definitely one of the best shows on television and I don't think anything will be able to replace. Thank you for an amazing 6 years of thought provoking televsion! I will trully miss it.
The ending was left so each individual watching can have their own interpretation of how they left the island. I loved it. Couldn't have asked for a better ending/closure to one of the greatest shows on TV.
In a word...bad. 5-1/2 seasons dedicated to what was happening on the island and we end in the sideways/purgatory world with a cheesy white light.
The showdown with MIB was underwhelming. MIB sets up this elaborate island-shifting, body-stealing plan, but forgets to have a feasable exit strategy. Sounds like he took a page from the U.S. military.
One thing still has me confused: when Jack's dying at the very end–which is actually the very beginning, after the Oceanic 815 crash–he sees another plane fly overhead and smiles.
If that's supposed to be the plane that Kate, Sawyer, Richard, Miles and Frank are on–which is further into the future–how is it that Jack sees it?
Great show, little disappointed that they didn't explain a little more. Truly believe it was a 6 year ploy to get us to watch Jimmy Kimmel.
LOST started out as arguably the most creative show to hit the networks. Then it started jumping sharks left and right. I stopped watching, and found that when you do this, you can't go back - the story was so convoluted, implausible, impossible to follow - unless you gave it every Tuesday night of your life for six years, you were in trouble. That's sad. What amazing potential it had!
I thought I understood the ending, and I'm glad to see my understanding backed up by so many people on here. So the island wasn't a dream, or purgatory, or anything like that. The SIDEWAYS world was limbo where they all waited until they were ready to move on together. Some died on the island during the show, some died far later (like Hurley and Ben) but all waited together until it was time to move on.
What is the island? I think that's up to us to decide. I'm fine with it.
At first I was completely irritated at the ending. I wasn't necessarily disappointed in the flash sideways being purgatory, and that they all end up together in the afterlife. I was disappointed that so many mysteries of the island did not get answered. Now, however, I realize the writers were making the point that in life, we never get all of the answers to life's questions. (remember the mother telling Jacob that answers would just lead to more questions and it could never be explained...) And in the end, it really doesn't matter. What matters is experiences, love, friendships. I think it is a matter of just looking at it all differently. Lost has always been about faith vs. science. In the end, the writers let us know it was always more about faith.
I have 1 oversite that I think some have missed. Ben is not dead in the sideways flash. He took over for Hurley and is waiting out his time to join the rest of the cast(that's why he didn't go inside). I love how everyone had a job even Kate( no her job wasn't to wear a grey shirt around for 3 years. Besides comming back to get her Aussie friend. She had to kill "The smoke monster". Everyone has/had a purpose and they fulfilled that purpose. They saved life as we know it and then got to see eachother before they settled in to the afterlife. Terrific and emotionally satisfying.
Loved the ending! I cried every time someone remembered the island life.
For those who don't understand – isn't it obvious? The losties lived their lives on the island and such but then they met up together in the afterlife. Island life is real and the sideways timeline is what would have happened without the island where the characters were not feeling alone in the world like they did in the original timeline. Everyone was able to be together in the afterlife because time of death didn't matter.
Richard was not in the final scene because he was not one of the oceanic passengers and didn't really tie into their group together. I think that Michael and Walt didn't fit in as well either and I'm guesing Walt's life was probably better at another point in time than when he was kidnapped on the island.
Now I want to rewatch the entire series!
okay. I agree with many posters. It was a waste of over 120 hours of viewing time, plus many more hours of conversations trying to guess answers to some amazing questions posed on TV. This could have gone down as one of the greatest TV series in history but the producers followed the money trail. How many commercials did they play last night it was ridiculous.
There where no real answers for the intelligent people who where caught up by the mystery, but only some heart felt moments for those casual viewers who really could not grasp many of the concepts that the show represented.
I will never watch anything brought by JJ Abrams again.
The numbers were to sell a new keyboard at Target.
christopher – "But that's just it. They weren't dead on the island. They all lived out the rest of their lives and were waiting for each other before they moved on together."
Thank you for actually getting it
i love the finale and i think that Hurley and Ben made the sideways world once Hurley became the 'new' Jacob. Ben told Hurley that he can make up his own rules and that is what he did. At least that is how I saw it and I like that. The sideways world exists rather you are dead or alive and once again Desmond is a big part of the picture in both worlds...
just my view...
we knew it was about the character's, we've seen them for the past freaking 6 episodes and the ones we haven't we're glad they died i.e. Shannon. And why was Shannon the love of Sayid's life and not Nadia?
oy vey!
It was your classic cliche TV ending....everyone is dead and is "moving on". I could predict the lines between Jack and his father before they even spoke them. I expected better.
For those who think they were dead the whole time: THEY WEREN'T – THE FLASH SIDEWAYS IN THE FINAL SEASON WAS THE ONLY TIME THEY WERE DEAD. IT OCCURRED YEARS AND YEARS AFTER THE SCENE WHERE JACK DIES ON THE ISLAND.
MEH!!! What the hell were the numbers all about? What was Dharma all about? What were any of the people who were either on the island (others) or came to the island (Whitmore and his people) doing there? Why was the island shown under the sea at the beginning of the season? We know that giant statue was there for hundreds of years from when the Black Rock crashed on the island, but how did it get there? They were going to see Jacob in the cabin but instead found Jack's father who we now know was the man in black (who appeared as the dead people on the island). What's up with that?
The finale took the easy way out. If Jack's father is really a "Christian Shepard" then what about anyone on the show who was Jewish, Muslim, Buddist, etc.? Are they trying to say that all people are/should be be of the christian faith?
I thought the final season was pretty weak compared to the entire series but I thought the finale was amazing and wrapped it up more beautifully than I could have imagined.
As far as the ending goes, it made sense. You have to remember the phrase "What happened happened". It wasn't a test, they werent all in limbo on the island trying to "find their way to the light" so to speak. Everything was real and EVERYTHING mattered. It was just the Island made it so they could "create" a meeting place when they all eventually died to meet up and find comfort in the fact that they were all together again. As Christina Sheppard said, "What they went through together on the Island was the most significant thing in their lives"
so the island is reality?? Then how the heck was it moving through time?? And how the heck was there a smoke monster in real life? Dharma Pointless?? How does the island have powers then? What some of you r saying cant make sense. Man I am ultra peaved now!!!
One of the ALL TIME WORST plot twists and endings.
I felt that it was the "BOBBY IN THE SHOWER (Dallas)" of the new Millenium! Those poor actors having to make this credible.
I am very doubtfull that I will entertain the idea of purchasing the series on DVD after having viewed the "dumb" conclusion.
It's funny a lot of you goobers don't get it. I've seen a total of 8 minutes of this show, watched the last 10 or so to faciliate myself at work the next morning, and knew the moment that guy got out of his wheelchair he was dead. So that other guy was either Jesus, or dead. I went with dead. It was obvious that casket would be empty, because jack was dead. Also apparently that was some sort of universalist church? Jesus out front and a hindu god on the wall inside. Plus the "we are the world" stained glass.
To those of you who are mad about all the things not being explained that you wanted explained, look at all the dead end story arcs that went into this show. It's just the writers poking around trying to get from pilot episode to season finale. Of couse stuff won't be explained, the writers have no idea what a lot of it means. Don't go nuts (a la Sopranos) trying to read into why some stuff isn't explained or what it could have meant. It's not explained because it was never going to be explained, so there's no answer.
I think a lot of people are confused on here. Im seeing a lot of comments like "Oh they were all dead the whole time." No they werent. The time on the island actually happened. They were only dead in the sideways world and that was explained by Christian. The times of their individual deaths were either before or after Jack How could any one have died on the island if they were already dead? They werent. Anyways, all that aside I thought it was a beautiful and moving episode and that the entire show was a great character study and shows how people can touch each others lives no matter what their differences. I'm already missing it.
If Kate was going to heaven why did she have to change cloths ? I like that little black number she had on before church. Maybe the nuns made her do it ?
ok, so the island was "real" or "real-time"...what about the island jumping through time, how does that get explained with "the island was real"?
Okay, I get it that they all lived their lives as shown through the six seasons. I get it that the sideways life was an limbo type place that they could all meet up so that they could move on . . .
I get all that.
What bugs me is that the stuff that happened on the island STILL DOES NOT ADD UP. They left too much of the mystery of the island unexplained.
And cuz of that? I am disappointed in the ending. I think its great that they all are having a limbo party (I think Ben chooses not to go in, cuz he feels uncomfortable with them, that's all) and that they all have a happy ending but . . . why couldnt there be more resolution of what happened on the island?
So they recycled the ending from the 1962 film 'Carnival Of Souls'.
Predictable ending not what true Lost fans deserved. The build-up was great just not the ending, it was an easy out. You could have done much better. Where was Mr. Echo?
Why was penny and Desmond in the church? They were never on flight 815. Can somebody help me out with this one?
My life is over...and I'm gonna join the crew of Lost. I love all my family and friends, see you in the Island.
They are not all dead.
The flash sideways for this season is the only part of this that is not real. It's actually a brilliant twist. Everyone has said - they're in Hell, they're in Limbo. No. For this portion of this last season we were on the threshold of Heaven.
I believe that what occurred was Jack's wish fulfillment, his dying thoughts about how best it should be for everyone. Wouldn't it be best if Hurley was lucky? If Sawyer was a cop, etc. If I could have fixed Locke?
Dreams rise up out of the scaffolding of what we already know. It starts with what's familiar, but becomes progressively weirder. That's why nothing was ever quite right. And reality intrudes on our dreams - your alarm clock might be a car alarm in your dream. This is why Jack's cuts kept appearing for no reason.
unclear and not an adequate ending for 6 years of confusion. at least it wasn't the "dream" option, but i expected better.
Six wasted years. I guessed the ending in the first season, then thought there must be more. There wasn't. So many unanswered questions. It was like a very long Scoobee Doo show where they rip the mask off the janitor at the end and try to tie some of the pieces together.
If they all died in the crash, they didn't have these realationships. How come not all the people who die on the plane were with them. Who was Desmon? He wasn't originally on the plane and what did his electromagnitism tolerance have to do with anything? Oh and a million other questions.
All in all...it SUCKED!!
For all of those who are upset. How else could have it ended. What ending would have made you happier.? I thought they did a good job with where the story was.
I thought it was beautiful.
Yeah, I don't understand what all the weirdness on the island was about. The bomb, the shifting time, the polar bear, all that. Those were the questions we never got answered in the first place. Season 6 just gave us all new questions that were answered last night. I get the ending. The sideways thing was cool. But what was up with the island in the first place? I guess that's where they want us to come up with our own ideas.
Perfect ending! I cried my eyes out for twenty minutes.
I am going to miss all of them very much.
I didn't care for the ending to much. If you stop and think, either they were all dead all along as someone said earlier, or else they pushed the clock WAY forward in order for the others to all be gone for the reunion ending. It was to unbelievable. IMO, it's ok to have mystical things incorporated with survival/adventure action, but you draw a line somewhere to keep it f rom being laughably unrealistic.
A much more satisfying ending to me would have been:
1. Hurly does indeed become the protector of the light.
2. I'll buy jack as the new smoke.
3. You show the island escapee's with a touch of REAL world lives, and managing to try and cope with realities of life.
4. What do you know, at the end, a plane crashes, and there are survivers, you show a glint in Hurley's eye as he looks to the curious island survivors, and the Smoke swooshes through the bamboo toward the beach, the end.
5, That leaves it open, that the same thing could repeat itself again, sort of like Matrix III ending. For people that enjoyed the show, much more satisfying IMO than some feels good spiritual reunion.
That said, I will say, I couldn't stay interested in the series over the last 6 years, I tried. I did tune in this year, though, with more interest.
that's my take.
Funny how a lot of you folks in here want to pretent like ya'll understood before the Jimmy "recap" with the cast. Ya'll didn't... just admit it. You watched the show... googled... then want to "pretend" like you understood the whole time.
I can admit that I didn't completely get it and initially thought the ending sucked. But now that I "understand"... I think it was pretty good. Still wish there was a little more action and it wasn't as emotional and the tear jerker it tried to be.
I figured out the Limbo angle a long time ago, so the ending wasn't a surprise. But all these characters who fought and squabbled with each other sitting around looking serenely happy strained credulity (not that that ever mattered in this series)–at least they didn't all start singing Kumbaya.–WEB
At first, I didn't understand the ending. Then after reading different views, I got it. It's about our lives and how different people we meet during our lifetime affects us and the results that come from those meetings. I guess we never think how others may change our lives. And when things happen, why did they happen and what results come from them. YES, I did enjoy it. I own all seasons so far and have pre-ordered the last. I will watch the series again and yes I will miss it. Not to many shows on TV cause us to THINK. Mostly we just like being entertained.
My take-everyone obviously died on the island, it's just that the journey was necessary for thier souls to go to the final "light" (church) instead of being trapped and whispering around in the jungle for the rest of eternity. All other lives that were lost were sacrificial lambs in a way for the sequence of events to occur. The island didn't let the plane leave in the final scene, the wreckage was new and the deaths has to happen for the initial survivors.
I think the people who do not like the ending did not understand it. They were NOT dead the whole time. The only time they were dead was in the flash sideways of season 6. In the flash sideways, they were in their afterlife. The Island was real, as were the experiences on the island. The island is what brought them together and built their relationships. That is why they waited for each other in the afterlife. I LOVED the ending and I will miss Lost!!!
I find it amusing that people claim that they "called it" since the beginning. What happened on the island really happened. They weren't dead the moment the plant crashed. Why don't people get this?
At first thought, I hated the ending at first. Now I LOVE IT!
Mike,
They weren't dead from the initial plane crash! Holy crap did you not even watch the show!
I don't buy the idea that "the show wasn't about the island, man, it was about the people!" Forget that. There were two good actors (tops) and zero chemistry in all of the on-island romance. The show rarely explored character nuance and mostly failed even to explain why characters felt compelled to do the various things they did throughout the show. The show was about the island through and through and the finale failed pretty hard at resolving anything about the island.
All the same it was a fitting finale if you buy into the "the characters are the message" argument. I just think it's pretty darn hard point to argue.
They all died on impact in the plane crash. Season one episode one it starts with Jack opening his eye. Final episode it ends with Jack closing his eye. The whole show was in his mind before he died. See the movie" Occurence at owl creek bridge" the writers did, they ripped it off.
I thought the episode was well done, good acting, touching, etc. I don't understand why some people think that the island was really them dead in "limbo". It was all explained by Jack's dad in the last few minutes, the island was the most important part of Jack and the rest of them's lives. They all died at different times, some on the island like we saw in the show and others later, like Jack's dad said and they had to meet up together later to move on. I thought it carried the idea of "live together, die together" we saw throughout the show to it's conclusion. Maybe not the ending everyone wanted but the island was NOT "limbo"!
So the flash sideways was 'a gathering area' where they all went when they died? So some of them managed to live out their lives like Hurley and Ben. But what was the hydrogen bomb that Juliet set off all about? It went off but didnt destroy the island? She died and went to flash-sideways but noone else died? But the massive hydrogen bomb did explode.. thats the only bit I'm confused about..
Any idea why Ben didn't want to come into the church? Did he not feel he was worthy to pass on with the others? I think when Locke forgave him, he should have come inside.
Since the plane crashed, how did it take off with the people in it, that Jack saw at the last moment with the dog next to him? Their final shot sure looks like they were both dead, the dog and Jack. As far as Ben, who knows.
Just to reiterate... they were not dead for the entire series! That's why this was great. They were alive on the island, in "that" universe.
They did live their lives out in the "alternate" universe in Los Angeles, without an island. That universe was one they created for themselves essentially until their souls felt whole; they were allowed them to realize love and life without an island.
The island was real. LA was purgatory.
A more fitting ending would have been if Dick Lauden and Pamela Ewing had rescued them and they would all live happily ever after in a bottle in Tony Nelsons house. What a crock!
First of all, to all those that say that "they knew this from the start" and that "they where all dead from the beginning", it wasn't quite like that at all.
They did not die in the crash. Jack's father (Christian) clearly states that they all died at separate times.. and this is them all reuniting in some distant and undetermined moment in the future– after their deaths.
That said, I believe it was an ok ending. Not the powerful ending I wished and hoped for– but not awful nor even bad.
I think the LOST writers were so used to cliff hanging their finales that it was kind of hard for them to figure out a fitting ending.
But then again, with so many millions of fans with different tastes, ideals and expectations on the show, I believe there would never be only one way to actually end the series in which everyone was pleased.
They did an overall great job. I love the series, and I am waiting for the blu ray special edition full package...
The island? Dante's Purgatory...
Oh and Doug hit the nail on the head...perfectly...when he said:
definitely lots of things open to interpretation but i think two things that you can take away:
1.) what happened on the island timeline was reality and actually happened
2.) the alternate timeline was the afterlife. Christian Shepard stating that there really was no "now" in the afterlife is very telling in my opinion. I think it helps explain that not all of those people had died at once (Oceanic 815 crash) but had died at some point...whether that was on the island or 30 years from when Jack shut his eyes in the final scene.
Ah I called that one from the beginning....
My opinion... they all died in the plane crash originally. Since they all died together in this plane crash and some couldnt move on the island was a construct of their shared afterlife before moving on. It was a collective reality for them in death to work out their own problems they had in life before they were able to let go and move on.
My answers
- The island, past, sideways and future flashes all took place in death. The future flashes, past regressions and sideways realities are all constructs of their shared afterlife reality. That's how they all someway or another were attached to each other, related to each other or ran into each other.
- All these constructs of past, future and sideways might have been of themselves in past lives, alternate realities or possible future lives they would have lived if they survived. Basically what Im saying is it's touching on the idea and theory that our souls have been reincarnated, our souls have existed in alternate realities and live simulatinous existences currently in alternate universes as well as our future "physical live's" are already preplanned for us and known by our innerselves or souls.
-Jack's father was dead before the crash and just showed up to guide Jack and the others to the afterlife. That's why he wasnt seen by all and involved in the story as a whole because he already moved on.
-Walt and son found inner solace and moved on to the afterlife earlier then everyone else because they made innerpeace within so their journey didnt need to continue.
-Benjamin, Ana Lucia, Faraday, Eloise etc... didnt move on in that final scene with the rest because even though they didnt explain it they didnt find inner peace yet and werent ready to let go yet so thats why they stayed.
- Again nothing that happened in the flashes p, present, fu happened in the living world it all is happening in death.
Ok I can keep going but lastly my final thoughts are...
- Simply put the whole show was about the journey of a ghost and the world he lives in before he moves on. No the show was not just about Jack's journey but all of theirs. We just saw his perspective in that last episode because he was the last to come around and he was the main character.
- I will definitely miss the show because after seeing every episode over so much time to become attached to it and the characters. I really hope to see them all on Survivor or maybe a movie together in the future. I really can't decide who I liked the best but it probably comes down to Locke, Jack and Hugo. Boy Im really going to miss Kate she's so beautiful! Can someone give Terry O' Quinn Locke a role in the new Indiana Jones movie him and Indy would make a great team or even greater enemies.
- The final season was alot better then the previous 3 or 4 seasons and the ending was fitting but I would have preferred it to be a little more explained. I do have a problem looking past those 3 or 4 seasons that stick out in my mind of this show really sucking. So many times I swore I was giving it up because it made no sense at all and plainly just sucked. Again the characters were great but this will be one show I can't picture sitting through beginning to end anytime soon. Oh yeah lastly what happened to the dinosaur from the first episode that pulled the guy from the plane I thought I was getting Jurassic Park ahahhahah just kidding
Not all of Lost goes to heaven! Sorry, Ben.
Ben has unfinished business? is he the new #1 now? Is this possibly a spinoff? where is Richard and Miles? OVerall, good ending
So correct me if I'm wrong but what we're saying is that there were essentially two stories here....season 1-5 was truly this mysterious island and everyone being brought to it by Jacob because in one way or another, they were LOST and needed help. Lots of strange stuff on the island like polar bears and shifting time. But that's just because the island was strange and we really didn't get any answers as to why the island was the way it was. Season 6-bringing in the sideways afterlife thing-seeing what happened when they all died at one point or another in their lifetime. Is this right? If so, the only issue I have is that we never did figure out what the island was. So we all have our own interpretation.
Just to make sure this idea gets out there. They weren't dead when they got to the island. It was not limbo. Hurley's "you were a great number two" comment just showed they all ended up living out their lives and when they died they all went to this "other world" they created with the bomb last season....
Kate and Sawyer got off the island and went on to live their lives with Lapidus and the others. When Jack dies at the end he really dies at the end. Not at the beginning of the show.
The difference is they got the chance to start over on the island and change the direction of their lives. They could leave if they could (Claire, Sawyer and Kate) and when Hurley is in charge he lets people leave as well. This was not them living in limbo for six years, It was them getting a chance to save their lives over six years so that when they die the get to heaven. Purgatory while alive is more like it, with someone (Jacob, Jack, Hurley) trying to guide them. And that is what made the island special.
I totally agree with Christopher (approx 12:30 a.m. comment)
Never watched the show. Who was lost? New show starting in the Fall called "FOUND".
All you people claiming you "knew it all along" that they were dead obviously didn't actually watch the finale. If you had, you would know that they weren't dead the entire time.
But by your initial post, you aren't smart enough to realize that anyways, so why bother trying to point out how you missed the entire point of the show.
So was everyone dead when they plane crashed? Or did everyone die as time went on?? I never could understand this show.
I thought the end was awesome, and I'm glad not everything was wrapped up nicely with a little bow. These are the conclusions I drew:
The people in the church were the ones who couldn't let go, or move on to the afterlife yet, because of their inextricable link to another person or persons on the island. I made a tree diagram of the characters and their links, try it out yourself; ie: Jack is linked to Kate and Claire who is linked to Charlie etc... When you start writing it down it makes a huge web of interconnectivity.
I think we can all agree at this point that all of the survivors had lives, and events on the island were real. Some people died early, some got off the island and died much later, but the flash-sideways was a spiritual construct created by the linked characters, in a place where time had no meaning.
The other characters in the flash-sideways were just constructs of the main characters, who were used to resolve their inner issues: Locke had a catatonic father, but his father loved him. Jack had a son who helped him resolve his own daddy issues...
Michael wasn't in the church because his spirit was still stuck on the island, never to move on. Walt left the island early and didn't really have a connection to anyone on the island other than Locke... he wasn't really part of the "web", etc...
By the way, Desmond took over Walt's original role. Walt's specialness had to do with his electromagnetic "talents". Remember when he guided the metal knife to the tree, when the bird (navigates by EM) fell out of the sky, and when the Others were so interested in him? Their tests had to do with whether or not he could be used for Desmond's eventual role. The actor grew too much in 6 years, and people loved Desmond, so Walt's role was written into Desmond's.
So everyone is saying they they did not die in the crash, but I don't understand why both the island and the FSW can't be purgatory. There are, what, 13 levels? So, they die in the crash, live out a level of purgatory, some move on to the next level from there, some get off the island and go on to another level, but then they all meet up in the highest level to move on because the most important parts of their "lives" were actually lived out in this level of purgatory where they got to work through whatever issues the island assisted them in working through . If you accept that theory, then the supernatural nature of the island makes sense and so does the FSW. And as for Christian telling us it was all "real," well, just because they died in the crash, it would not have made the island unreal. Message being that the spiritual is just as real as the physical.
Comments to this blog can be classified in three categories. Those that watched the show only superficially and didn't get the ending so they "called it" after season 1, those who were paying attention and understood the last season for what it was, and those who didn't even watch the series but for some reason think their opinion on the subject matters in the blog...
Entertainment can be found everywhere I guess if you are looking for it...
Btw...loved the show and the finale...I don't need anymore answers than what the show gave me because it was enough...
Great show but here is the real problem with the ending. The producers dragged us along with the "mysteries". That is what they used to "sell" us those 6 years of shows. To not reveal the mysteries was to cheapen the product and to "rob" the viewers of the very thing they we have been waiting for – for 6 years.
My wife and I have watched this show from the beginning and have loved every minute of it. To show you how peoples' thought processes differ, I came away with the understanding that the island was real and everyone died in their own time just to meet up in the "flash sideways" and move on together. My wife took it all to mean that they had died during the crash and the last 6 years was just a dream. We have both watched this show together and have taken completely different paths to the ending because the producers put in scenes to support both suppositions.
Sorry, but I do feel that they took the easy way out. I'm not surprised that they couldn't answer most of the questions, but they surely could have made more of an effort.
Leaving the ending up to each individuals interpretation may seem "intelligent" or even "brilliant" but this has been done over and over again whenever a shows producers have no other way out. I call it a cop-out. We the viewers deserved so much more.
I thought the finale was great! It was the perfect ending and I will really miss the show. It's been great following it the last 6 years and hope this isn't the last we see of LOST.
I think the ending was very fitting for the show...I have followed it since the first year and it just seemed right. I think over all Lost is one of the greatest shows of all time. I think they did a great job with the ending. This show kept us guessing for six years, and had they answered every question it would have lost that mystery that made it so phenomenal.
They got their ideas from the book, "A day with an Extraterrestrial"
I don't need a TV anymore....This was the only program I took time to watch...It had to end somehow...
When CBS cancelled "Jericho" (twice), I was irritated with that network for giving us a brilliant story and characters to care about - then abruptly pulling the plug. Now, I'm beginning to think CBS was simply being merciful and quick.
This is not to say there were not good moments about the "Lost" finale; Ben becoming No. 2 to Hurley's Jacob (nice touch), the effects of "pulling the plug," as it were - Alpert starting to age normally again, and Old Smokey able to be destroyed (unfortunately, along with Jack). And for any other type of drama, the "important thing is the journey" line may be satisfactory a conclusion. But "Lost" was no ordinary show, and the bar was set so ridiculously - perhaps impossibly - high, that we expected something truly spectacular. And this "most important thing in your life was what you did with these people" stuff may be true enough, but for this show it seemed a rather lame way of bringing the curtain down.
Maybe I need to watch the ending a second time to pick up something I missed the first time around. I liked this show, but between "Lost" and "Jericho," it's going to be a very long time before I get wrapped up in another drama like I did with this one... and since ABC's summer replacement is another (*yawn*) vampire spin on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," I don't see that happening very soon.
man dang it I feel asleep on the last 10 minutes. Shoot I'm getting old. When the plan took off from the island and the water was pouring on Jack from him plugging hole. what happened after that? Dang it waited all tha ttime and missed it. I want 2 kill somebody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love the show and been a fan since the beginning. However i was a little disturb by the lack of equality shown on the show. With the exception of Rose, what happen to all the other black cast members, like Micheal and Walt. Why didnt they bring back the African Dude, who i thought played a significant role. Anyhow, I expect a movie.
I won't be buying the DVD or watching anything else these idiots produce in the future. The ending was a complete jumbled mess. Just over-hyped garbage.
This is best series on television so sad to see it end.
The flash sideways could have continued for another season.
Thank you to the cast and the writers for making such a thought provoking series.
LOST – will live in our hearts forever!
I thought the true ending was so obvious. Jack was going to become the smoke monster because he was at the source of the light much like Jacob's brother, and Hurley was going to become the new Jacob. Jack and Hurley, formally best friends, would then replace Jacob and his brother as adversaries on the island.
The religious stuff at the end appeared to me to be little more than a reunion for the cast members. Unsatisfying.
The series ending was not only a fabulous wrap-up, but if anyone watches the UK series Ashes To Ashes (a spin-off of the UK series Life On Mars), ***SPOILER ALERT***
they very oddly had a very similar series ending only 2 days prior.
FYI – Watch both of those series...you won't regret it.
Love it, loveit, love it! But good Lord, that dog got me crying.
Loved the show and loved the ending. Of course all was not answered, but that's to be expected. Still, great characters were created and, even if we did get get lost watching it, you always watch, afraid of missing something. One of the best show ever.
T's Girl - you are WRONG!!! "Like I told my co-workers in the FIRST season..." LOL - they were not in purgatory the entire series. Everything that happened during seasons 1-5 and on-island in S6 DID happen - ONLY the "flash sideways" in S6 were "afterlife" - Why are so many people not understanding the obvious?!?
I think they were dead before they even got to the island. Remember they found the plane in the ocean? And Jacob's 'mom' said there was nothing but the Island? I think they were there for redemption. Andy people dying at different times? Like Penny for Desmond etc. The name of the show is, after all, called LOST.
so I guess Ben did not die.. He did not want to go in the church.. and what the hell was about Jack having a kid when he was actually dead?? I did not get that
In reading many of the "Loved it! comments here, it seems as though there are quite a few people who would be so exicted and happy with a lollipop after a botched surgical procedure.
(bouncing up and down)
"Gee thanks doc! I think this is wonderful!! It's my favorite! Too bad he died!"
I own all the preceding DVD seasons and have watched each episode numerous times and combed through for details. I enjoyed everything until the last five minutes of the finale. At that point it became a lazy solution to a very complex problem. Many of the gaping plot holes were left unfilled, or they were exposed to be red herrings.
I'm glad it's over. I enjoyed it while it lasted, but was left VERY unsatisfied with the ending.
This ending is amazing if you realize that they were only dead in the sideways timeline and you realize Lost isn't talking about your religion. Absolutely amazing if you can understand it.
What I got out of the last episode was that I should buy a Droid, shop at Target, and drive a Hyundai.
Was there some kind of TV show involved?
Did Jacob go see and touch all of them as children then? Where was walt?
Why so many people complaining that "they are all dead" ??? THAT'S LIFE!! As Christian stated (the obvious) - We ALL Die, at one time or another.
The island was real and they were in purgatory during the flash sideways this season... They are two separate concepts that existed during the same season... Clearly this has thrown off people that need to cookie cutter endings!
I personally thought the ending was perfect! So perfect that it was inmy head the whole night afterwards. Extremely sad and happy ending at the same time! It was worth the investment and will be missed!
It was a perfect ending! But, like I told my co-workers dunring the 1st season, I knew they were all dead and in some kind of purgatory. But the writers came up with the right ending and I am going to miss this show more than any other I've ever watched.
I agree w./TJ. I too thought more of the show's fans would get this one. Those who did not struggle with the conceptual and only understand the tangible.
The fact that many theorized the island itself was the "purgatory" and not until the flash sideways did they have their shots at redemption was awesome.
Great, fitting ending to a great TV series. And even if you were in it only for the "adventure" element, it was still cool.
I can't believe the people who think the entire show was about the crash victims being in purgatory. The only purgatory was the 'sideways reality' of season 6. The stuff on the island was all real. Jack's nfather said there was no such thing as 'now' in the purgatory; they all died at different times but weren't ready to go to heaven until they were all gathered together. The final two shots were just an illustration that they were now gone.
They were NOT in limbo on the island. They actually did go through what occurred on the island. The evidence: Jack's father made a revealing comment to him at the church when he said that some of them died before Jack and some of them died long after Jack died, but that they were all here together again. If some died long after Jack did, they did not die in the plane crash and it was not limbo. Some got off of the island and finished out their lives. Then they were reunited at the church. They had to wait on everyone to "arrive' meaning die later.
Worst ending ever! They didn't answer any questions: what was Dharma there for in the first place? What was the smoke monster? What happened to the people who escaped? What did Hurley, Ben, and Desmond do since they were left all alone on the island? Why was smokey suddenly able to be hurt? How did that big statue get on the island? Who built the temple and why? Just so much unanswered stuff.
I am very disappointed.
It was a great ending. I don't think I will ever have an emotional connection with characters like I have on this show. Brillant! Long live the island!
IT SUCKED!! I can not believe I wasted 6 yrs for that! Extremely disappointed, no questions answered. It just got me very frustrated and discourage to watch another series...I was like, I can not believe i wasted 4.5 hrs of my sunday, NO I ACTUALLY WASTED 6 YRS ON THIS S**T!!
As for the island being real...doesn't make sense guys. Like Robert said..the smoke? and like Seriously said why was Penny in the church? She never came to the island. So, you are saying when they went back they really went back? and when they went sideways – that was just something they created? I think they were all dead from the beginning...and the island was real, in that they were really working things out together...they didn't make it up...it was a place where they could work out their dharma/karma...
if hurley and ben are left on the island and the plane is flying away with the rest of them how can they all be dead and found there way at the church?
Ok, I get it now, only Jack and the dog survived the crash, then died together by the bamboo. That's why they showed the crash like it just happened!
Am amazed at the amount of people who don't get it! Only the sideways world of season six they were dead! They all died at different times, not in the plain crash. The island VERY MUCH happened! Jack died saving it! But Claire and Kate and Sawyer and Miles... they all got off and went on to live their lives. Hurley became the new Jacob and Ben finally had a purpose.
I loved lost until the very end when they made sideways lost a "dream." Sorry, that was too much, reminds me of the season of Dallas when a whole season was just passed off as "a dream." And "afterlife, or heaven" in TV land is just the same as "a dream" in my book. It was a cop-out. And it took away from the real story that was happening. Oh well, its over, time to forget and move on, they messed with us.
It was bittersweet. I didnt like it but how else would it end?
meh never watched the show till last night. But it seems like its just a long streched out Stephen King series that could have easliy been done in like 4-6 1 hour episodes, and they strung it out 6 seasons just to keep you guys foaming at the mouth piece and wanting more.
... A bad Stephen King series BTW
I love the show so much that I really hoped for something really original, and i'm really sad that they're all dead, but i'm sorry to say this is a complete rip off of the movie Passengers. watch it/look it up and tell me what you think!
I think it fitting that as Jack lay dying all alone and in pain, in the same bamboo jungle that we first met him, it was a dog that came to comfort him in his last moments of life. When all the humans had departed, attending to other more pressing needs, it was the white Lab that sought out Jack and brought a final smile to his face, laying down beside him as Jack bled out on the island floor.
Just goes to show that the show's creators understand that our four-legged brethren posses greater nobility and loyalty than you could ever expect to find in the two legged monkeys that make such a mess of this world.
What a humbug. The producers said the "survivors" were not time traveling or in limbo, but they were time traveling and they were in limbo; now those producers are laughing all the way to the bank. What really happened was that six years of sloppy writing, geared toward stretching the show as many seasons as possible, culminated Sunday night in a mawkish mishmash.
What happened to the dog? I didn't see it at the church :/ Why? Why??
I'm seeing a lot of 'Disappointed – they're all dead' comments. I disagree. Sure, the last 5 mins in the church, they are all dead, but on the island, they are very much alive! The flash-sideways, they are all dead and wondering around in limbo. Desmond is the only one who guides them in here, he knows the deal! But life is still going on on the island.
Congrats to Last crew – Excellent job on the series, great finally!
I'm seeing a lot of 'Disappointed – they're all dead' comments. I disagree. Sure, the last 5 mins in the church, they are all dead, but on the island, they are very much alive! The flash-sideways, they are all dead and wondering around in limbo. Desmond is the only one who guides them in here, he knows the deal! But life is still going on on the island.
If the island was real and they were all alive great, but then they all died when Juliette blew up the nuclear bomb right??? If so, then Jack wasn't the last to die. Sorry, I have watched this show from the beginning and was very dissappointed. I was just looking for so much more from the writers of a great show like LOST.
Remember the snow globe at the end of "St. Elsewhere"? Remember the fade to black on "The Sopranos"? Remember ???? from "Seinfeld"?
I watched Lost, like most of the other posters, for six years. Sure the show made you, at times, think about what was going on but this ending? The show's producers, in the catchup show before the finale, said that they knew people had invested six years to their show and they would not disappoint those fans. NOT! Like another person posted earlier, the producers has said early on the characters were not dead or in limbo as was really the case in the end.
I wanted satisfaction in the end not a metaphor. I didn't want my head to hurt and to lose sleep last night because I felt robbed, cheated and very disappointed. Just another cheap snow globe.
The ending was brilliant. To those who cannot wrap their minds around the simple notion that they were dead,- re-watch the series...if you were not satisfied with not knowing what was so special about Walt, you obviously missed the entire point of this show.
"Live together, Die alone" We will miss you LOST
The more I think about it the more I like this ending, it goes hand in hand with what my concept of death may be, specifically about having memories in the after life. I think that when you die, you lose your physical body and everything it has to offer, including memories. The people in teh alt. universe, ie limbo, did not recognize eachother, even tho they knew eachother in their previous life. It took certain jolts, usually brought up by love, to spark their memory, allowing them to finally move on. I think the "woah" moments they had with the flashbacks were entire flashbacks of their life, including their death, whcih is why tehy were so powerful. Once they all were reunited and realized where they really were, they were ready to move on... powerful stuff.
Terrible ending...no answers...sappy ending after six years of turmoil. I still need answers and I want to rewrite several shows.
To all those involved in Lost:
You had me at the opening of Jack's eyes in the jungle, how fitting that you held me through the years until Jack's eyes closed. It was a wonderful ride filled with many questions, some answers, and lot's to think about. Thank you!
Great show! Great ending! Only wished that Vincent was with them in the church scene.
Truly a great ending. The show was more about the characters and their inner-turmoil than about mythology. One of the most inspiring and thought provoking adventures I have ever read or seen. It is a little frustrating to me to hear so many people say that they knew it was purgatory the whole time. When in fact, it was NOT purgatory. The Island happened. This purgatory, or holding ground, did not start until the beginning of season 6 as the sideways flash. Some of them died before Jack, some of them died long after Jack died (like the ones that left the island on the plane). I really have enjoyed the LOST experience. This finale has been the best I've seen in a TV show. I will miss it.
Amazing ending – too bad it will be remembered as the most misunderstood finale in television history. I thought LOST fans were a little more intelligent than this.
Would've been nice to see Richard and his wife in the church.
Three's Company had a better ending
Great show! Great ending! Only wished that Vincent was with them in the end.
Not a fan – only watched one other episode. Not to my taste – too much "shake the camera and throw foam rocks." The "Jack hip thrusts the island with a stone plug" scene was stand out unusual taken out of any series context. "We'll meet together in the afterlife and be happy" scenes were good enough. So what was this show about actually again?
Did other people just not get it? Everyone keeps saying that they "called it 5 years ago" about everyone being dead and the island being purgatory.
The island is/was decidedly NOT limbo or purgatory. As Christian (Jack's father) said, everything that happened was real. Jack fixed the Well of Life, that last bunch of people got off the island, and Hurley/Ben took over guarding it. Thinking anything else is simply you not understanding what happened in the show.
I think the crew of the show did a WONDERFUL job wrapping up the story. What other show on TV gives you (essentially) half of a season of character resolution (via the sideways world)? I think having the sideways world be the characters post-death was perfect. It allowed us as viewers to see what each character truly thought of themselves at their core and then reconciled those feelings with the happenings and conflicts of the tumultuous lives they had with each other. We got to see Sawyer be the good man he knew he could be and always wanted to be. Jack became the father he never had. Kate was no longer a murderous fugitive, but an innocent fugitive. Locke lived a life where he loved others and, most importantly, loved himself without feeling shorted for being in a wheelchair. How could it get any better?!
The only people who will be truly upset are the ones who don't accept that the show is about the characters more than the mysteries (which it always has been). People will ask about Michael/Walt and other characters, or other small mysteries on the island, but I respond: who cares? Will it make any difference knowing those details? We know Michael has become a "whisper" on the island and we can assume Walt has gone on to lead a normal life.
It comes down to this: Did you enjoy watching a thought-provoking, well-made program, that is and will be different than anything on television?
For me that answer is a resounding YES. Well done. Fantastic finale.
I'll miss the show. The final was not what I had hoped for but it was what I expected. In the end it was Jack's journey. I'm letting go now as well.
So the only way for Jack to kill the smoke monster was to unplug the water well thing? That gave him the opportunity? Then he had to plug it up afterward to keep from destroying the island. Did I get that right?
At first I was like, 'HUH?' but it all makes sense now. But we're just assuming that the island with all it's weirdness and mysterious stuff was just that and not connected to the afterlife in some way, yes? I mean the smoke monster, the polar bear, the time shifts, the island moving, all that was still in itself a mystery?
I was stunned by the end and had to think about it and talk about it with a friend but man...LOST was billiant and will go down as an absolute classic.
Look, the show was all about redemption. The characters who came to the island were all flawed. During their time on the island – which was reality – they learned to become better people. Once their lives were finished they moved onto the church, the sideways universe. Some people could not move on as they did not find redemption. Ana Lucia, Eko, Michael – none of them redeemed themselves. Eko actually refused redemption. Ben couldnt enter the church cause he had to wait for others maybe, to get their forgiveness.
Walt was so important to the Others cause he was a child. As the Others couldnt have chldren, this was the only way to keep their society going.
Among the questions that I think about but aren't really important to get answered, I wonder what Juliette meant when Miles heard her say, "It worked." Hmmm...dont know.
For those of you that are disappointed, what exactly were you hoping for? Do you even know? Why can't you appreciate it for what it was, a terrific exploration of humanity? And if that's not good enough for you, then maybe you should take Christians advice and move on.
I loved the Ending or should I say new beginning. We do not have the answers in real life so how can we expect to have all of them answered on this final episode.
The journey was what this series was all about. I would like another series about Hurley and Ben's journey after Jacks sacrifice to save the Island.
That would make us Losties happy. This series gave my family much to talk about together. How great that has been.
This has been a wonderful 6 years. Thank you! Thank you!
I will miss all of you greatly.
Blog made more sense then the show.
I only watched the first episode and I said to myself...wow they are all dead but just havent' moved on. I told several of my friends, the diehard LOST fans that they were dead, but oh no no, they weren't. I was right after all, just that they were all in a state of flux, the island brought them together to basically in my opinion solve unfinished business and find each other so they wouldn't be lost, and thus the ending.
Just an alternate thought – The scene of the crash over the credits is what makes me think the island was also included (and pivotal) in the 'afterlife.'
Even if Jack's father said some died before and some after, then it makes sense because people like Ben, Juliet, Desmond etc were already on the island prior to the flight 815 crash – and people like Charlotte, Miles, Frank, etc came to the island quite a bit after.
Crippling wounds were healed on the island, babies could not be born on the island (unless conceived off the island). Maybe the island is a place where everyone comes to terms with their deaths and the flashes (forward, backwards, sideways) was where everyone came to terms with their lives. Still trying to figure out where Mr and Mrs Whitmore would fit in to this though so maybe I'm way off.
The more I think about it, the 'flashbacks' in early seasons may have been the only storylines that happened while people were still actually alive.
I don't know though, I think the writers intended us to have fun putting pieces together.
The end of that show was not an 'emotional journey'. The writers apparently couldn't think of much of a story, so the entire episode made cheap use of nostalgia. How many scenes did we see of old flames making out, or scenes from season 1. They figured (apparently accurately in some cases) that flashing old memories of the show at you would be enough to tug at the heartstrings and convince you that what you were watching was good TV, rather than a story-less, wandering cop-out.
They said some questions would be left unanswered people, lear to live with it. As a finale it was very touching, and I could live with it. It made sense that Jack would sacrifice himself to give the others a fighting chance, it also made sense that Hugo would be Kack's replacement, there was a reason they made Hugo so important in the last two seasons anf that was it. I liked how Ben told Hugo at the end that he could find a better way to run the island than Jacob did.
I thought for a minute that Jack was going to die all alone, thank God for Vincent. And I loved that they let Jack know before he died that his sacrifice was not in vain.
One last nagging question though, I understand why Michael was not at the church, he's stuck in island limbo after all, but no Walt? really??
Guess the kid didn't give a rat's ass about any of them huh.
I have mixed feelings on it. Not a bad ending... except I'm not sure how I feel about the church part. I remember early on that JJ Abrams said that he knew exactly how the show ended–the final shot and such. And the creators also said definitively that the island WASN'T Purgatory or the afterlife. In retrospect, I think that's exactly what Abrams planned it to be, until fans too many fans started guessing right. Those silly flash-sideways were a way for Lindelof and Cuse to hold true to both Abrams' vision of the final scenes AND their assertion that they island wasn't the afterlife...
I got a bigger kick out of the commercials from Target that integrated LOST into their commercials. Now that was funny!
If that's the best TV has to offer, it's doomed.
Great ending, tied up the character loose ends without having to say anything about the ‘reasons’ or ‘facts’ about the Island or the competing interests. As the writers always said the island was real, not limbo, or heaven or hell, the flash sideways being the limbo or purgatory depending on your particular belief so that was an issue well dodged. The last 15 minutes tied in a lot of mysticism within the crematorium so no major religion was specifically offended or ignored and atheists weren’t particularly forced to under-go a lot of sermonizing beyond people being allowed to redeem themselves.
It had a nice circularity Jack awaking in the Bamboo grove in the first episode being licked by Vincent and then dying in 2007 in the same place and Vincent sitting with him as he died, so at least after all he didn’t die alone. Note in 2004 the original crash he was wearing a suit and tie, in 2007 he was wearing a blue T shirt so the whole thing can’t have been a hallucination as he died.
Strange though that 2 sets of writers in two different continents came up with very similar ideas to close very different series after 5 year runs in both UK and US. ‘Ashes to Ashes’(previously Life on Mars) finished its run on the BBC on Friday 21st in a very similar way with the team heading off out of limbo to some sort of “next stage” through a mystic portal into a bright white light. So this idea seems to be a persuasive and satisfying one.
Now I remember why I stopped watching, I have a masters degree in Bible, and still could not sort it out.
Very well put, Alan.
Anybody that says "I knew they were dead from episode one!" basically wasted six years of his/her life, because you, actually, couldn't be further off.
By the way, Jack's father (Christian Shephard hint hint) provides a lot of the answers. He tells Jack that they are at a place where they worked hard for. As to why Michael and Walt aren't inside the church: it's because they refused to work for that place. Michael was given the chance to go back to the island, but refused.
Food for thought: Why was Ben not inside the church? He had some things to work out; he wasn't ready. How does that make sense in this story line? And why was Penny inside the church? She never even set foot on the island. Desmond Hume and Penny are the only two people in the church that were not on the original Oceanic flight, unless I missed something.
@ charlie
Best comment yet!
All TV sucks get up off the couch and go have a life.
Nice ending but they didn't prepare for it. There were way too many unanswered questions.
Walts mysterious destiny? Aarons mysterious destiny? Libby was a phsychologist or patient? What exactly did the Nuke do if it didn't create another time line? Was Jacks son just a figment of his imagination? Why did going in the hole turn the man in black into the smoke monster but not Jack? What was the island? What was the button doing? Why did turning a wheel move the island through time? Why couldn't the man in black leave the island? Why did the statue have four toes? Why did half the people on the show do half the weird things they did? Why did half the people on the show do half the things they did other than to create artificial suspense?
I like that ending very much. And now I can say it without doubt : "Lost" is my favorite tv show ever!
Wow, it is over. I am seriously going through some LOST deppresion right now. My only question is what happened to Miles, Faraday and all those other people I didn't see in the church? Were all those characters in the church not dead then? And how could these "ghosts" interact with the living? I am a little confused, but I am going to miss the show dearly! For the most part the ending was good.
We will miss Lost.
To everyone who is complaining about it being a "fantasy island." The island was REAL people. They even said it, everyone dies at some point. Most of them died while they were on the island a few of them got off, led lives, and then eventualy died hopefully many years later.
The ending was a success, or we/YOU wouldn't be posting. The only question that needs answering is – Who will be sitting on the pew waiting for YOUR arrival.
guys, they all where not dead. until juliet release the a bomb. remember she sd to miles. sawyer it worked. they all die that day in 1977. but what i dont understand is, when desmond turn out the light. flocke lost his power of the smoke monster. if that was true why did jack need to still kill him? but i called it when i said hurley will be the new jacob. and kind a ironic jack end up being the new smoke monster.( washed up on the same rocks as MIB). BUT I DID LOVE THE ENDING.
I have never been as deeply moved by a television show or movie as I was by the ending of Lost. I thought the ending was simply beautiful and to tell the truth I cried all night over the loss of these people. I've watched this show since it's inception and knew that the ending would be emotional but I had no idea. Yes, there are still unanswered questions but as in life there will always be things that go unanswered. As Christian told Jack, everything that happened to you was real and that those days on the island were the most important days of your life – so they were alive and each died in their own timelines – they we're just waiting for Jack to be ready at the end to move forward. He was after all their leader and they couldn't move forward without him. It was beautiful and I'm grieving the loss of a good friend. Job well done Matthew Fox and team.
I'm almost giggling aloud at some of these comments. People are SO MAD that they "called it" in the first season. SO MAD that the 815ers were dead the whole time... lol. I hope you guys DVRd it because you're going to have to watch it again and actually pay attention this time!
I enjoyed the ending, enjoyed the series. Thanks to the writers, cast, and crew for an amazing six years : )
I don't know whether to be really happy or really sad right now. I guess the whole point of the show was not figuring out the mysteries of the island but using it as mataphor for life and all of its struggles.
I did think the end was gorgeous. Especially when Jack is standing in the church in front of the stained glass windows with all the religious symbols. That was beautiful.
Also, I think Jack had a son in purgatory because he had a very rocky relationship with his father and he was trying to re-create a better relationship. That was Jack's hang-up throughout the whole series.
As far as the other characters, like Richard, Michael and Walt, they must be in a different church with different people is my guess because those are the people that mattered to them.
I wonder where Ben is going?
As for the theory that the alternate universe wasn't real and the island WAS real...ummm, kids, ummm, that means the smoke monster and all the other freaky crap on the Island was all REAL? lord.
Lupitas= St. Peter
Isn't it interesting, how people never stop loving a good bedtime story?
The only thing missing from the ending was Bob Newhart rolling over in bed with a bewilderd look on his face proclaiming "Honey, you won't believe the dream I just had" to Suzanne Pleshette. There were WAY too many unanswered questions. What about all of the scenes from the show now involving anyone that was in the church at the end?
SPOILER ALERT*******SPOLIER ALERT
Loved the sideways stories, so sad to realize none of them were real. How sad to see the island story was real life..... that Hurley really was that unlucky, Jin and Sun really did die in the sub, Locke really was dead, Sawyer never got his happily ever after with Juliet (maybe with Kate, since we don't know what happens with the people on the plane at the end). All in all it was kind of a let down, we went through so many ups and downs with these people I was hoping to end on an up note...in real life. But then again, Lost isn't real life, isn it?
I thought it was a great ending....in the end....it was about them all getting back together one last time and moving on together.....they were not all dead the entire time...they were all dead in the end (in their own time) and all waited for each other to move on together.....great show...one that stimulates your mind....and does not numb it!!! Will truly miss it!!!!
So what was the significance of Sayid being brought back to life and How? Who's body was at the bottom of the waterfall? How did Jacob's faux mother get to the island? If Jacob and The Smokeman don't get old and have lived on the island for so long ,why are they so easily killed now? Does becoming protector of the island give you eternal life unless someone stabs you? Why do they drink the water when they become protector? What is the time travelling and moving of the island stuff about if the island was real? Also the frequent appearances of dead people on the island? Does everyone get to wait for the people they love in a sideways alternate universe of just the flight 815 people? These are important questions essential to the storyline I can't believe they left these unanswered seems kind of lazy to me.
So I was right all along? After reading a few blogs, actual fans of the show say "Lost was a show about not giving you any real and solid answer to anything". A show about posing questions and never providing answers??? Just questions, and more questions, and more, and more, FOR SIX TEDIOUS YEARS? UGH. I don't know how you people put up with it for that long
Stayed up late to watch an ending that my 8 year old could right... and did actually.
Stupid...
What a let down to all the fans. Six years of buzz ended with a drink of ice water. bleck!
thank god it is over. Now can you fill the time time slot with something worth watching. I swear, I will even watch Howdy Doody reruns if you put them on. Lost, thats what the writers were in that one.
It was a lame ending, and there are still so many questions left unanswered. Totally disappointed.
Loved it. I don't want all the answers – yippee skippy they did NOT do it Seinfeld finale style.
I cannot believe what a disappointment the last episode was. Just in case I missed it... they made such a big deal about the lottery numbers, for what 2 seasons, and never found out why. If you ask me they never explain about the Dharma initiative really. Frontwords, backwards, sideways...come on why did they even bother. I have so many questions that it's not even funny. I think the creators of the show watched the last episode of Roseanne and went with it. I hardly watch any tv shows because usually nothing interest me, now I just wasted 6 years of my life.
Loved it! It was always a nice break from all the rest of the junk they have on any channel. I'm so sick of all the politics and all the back stabbing. Now that Lost is done and Prison break is done 24 is done and summer junk starts, might as well turn the idiot box of and and get busy in the workshop.
Folks: they weren't dead on the island, for crying out loud. They ARE dead in the "sideline" alternate lives...for some years perhaps decades after they died in real life for various reasons (including dying on the island WHICH WAS A REAL PLACE WITH REAL EVENTS)....
You hit the nail on the head with your review. I was very moved, love the characters, but the story itself fell flat at the end. It was not horrible, but it did not leave me with a feeling of closure and understanding that I had been hoping for.
They were only stuck in an afterlife during the last season! why are people thinking that they were always there until they figured out they died. They all died at different times. But thats why "No one dies alone!" was said, they all moved on together.
They were not in purgatory on the island, all that actually happened. They were not in purgatory during the flash backs, they also happened. They didnt let go, when they did eventually die! Hence, thats why they were stuck in the flash sideways "afterlife" until they did. All the flash sideways segments were happening after they all died, in an "afterlife".
People are thinking way too much about this. Going too in-depth about it. Saying that the ending was too predictable, what did you want? the island to blow up and everyone to die? that would have sucked!
The way it tackled the two biggest subjects on this planet, Faith and Science was amazing...
After all its only a TV show and to have make us think and talk about it so much, has made it the phenomenon it is today! Keep an open mind about the show and it will fulfil your needs and expectations.
One more thing to add. I guess the main reason why I really enjoyed the way the show ended was for the fact the my dad died on May 10th, just two weeks ago. So I guess in an interesting way, this was also another way of saying good bye to my dad one more time.
WOW...that was awesome.
It will affect each of us different. Im spiritual..it really made sense..simply amazing...makes you really think about life...
I gave up on lost after 2 seasons. Now I'm kind of sorry I didn't stick with it as I have no idea what most are talking about. If they pulled on an ending that works then kudos to them.
I have no doubt that very soon a "Lost" book will be released to explain all the unanswered questions, giving us timelines, characters etc....I hope.
@ Alan – When we need you to explain the ending of Lost then the show failed. A summary shouldn't be needed for Lost.
Did anyone see the ALTERNATE ENDINGS on Jimmy Kimmell last night? I fell asleep and would really like to know if any of the three alternate endings were better than the original.
Watched one episode and realized how bad it was. That was enough for me. Glad to see it is done.
The lost writers were huge C.S. Lewis fans. Around the last twenty minutes of the finale, I realized that lost is just a re-telling of the Chronicles of Narnia. for example: In Narnia, the character Tash could shape shift and turn into a cloud of smoke just like locke. Lost ended just like the Narnia series....
If you were disappointed, frustrated or Lost at the end, then you really weren't paying attention.
Classy ending. Best written and produced show ever on television. It will be the toughest act to follow.
Now that Lost is over everything on TV seems like crap. I'm looking forward to the next project these writers do. So long for now gang.
See you in another life.
I felt like I was robbed. I think they made to many wounders of the island and didnt have enough time to answer all the questions so they gave us this cop-out.
I am not sure what show so many people who seem unhappy with the finale were watching (perhaps channel surfing between Lost and Celebrity Apprentice?
My interpretation, which I thought was patently obvious: The Island and the events upon it happened, it was real.
The church was the place out of time, where people spun their own alternate lives until they reconnected there and could be at peace with one another. Where they would no longer be "lost". Did the Island create the church and the alternate timelines? perhaps.
Jack was the chosen one, but only for a "surgical strike" (nice allegory there, writers and producers), then he passed the duties onto a real caretaker, Hurley, who, in his wise and healing way, took Ben Linus under his wing and as his lieutenant.
Everyone achieved what they needed to achieve to balance their lives. It was lyrical and beautiful and profound.
WOW!!!!!! I started the ride six years ago and it was one of the best rides of my life as far as TV goes. For an old X-Files fan lost filled that gap for me so i hope somthing comes along to fill this gap as well. Last night LOST tonight 24 what am i to do LOL
complete and utter cop-out
LAME!
Brillant ending!! The flash sideways was really a limbo for all of them...I thought that final conversation between Jack and his father explained it all. That YES the altiverse was a sort of limbo for them and yes they are dead, however, Christian Shepard did say everything that happened on the island REALLY happened. Some of the people died before Jack and some died long after he did (which he did on the island).
So YES the flash sideways they are all dead but what happened on the island really happened. I loved the ending with Jack lying on the ground and his eyes closing, brings it full circle with the very 1st episode with Jack lying on his back and opening his eyes....
I understand that they were alive on the island but what I don't understand is if the flash sideways was them in limbo after they died then why was Miles present there but not in the church?
I think some folks are confused regarding how Lost ended, so I thought I'd write a short post explaining what happened.
Basically, the life they lived on the island was reality as we know it. The parallel story line this past season of everyone living back in the states, is actually, per Lost, life after death for each of the characters. It is a stage of heaven, where the participants are living out their dreams, but their dreams are still earthly bound. Sawyer and Miles are now cops rather than criminals. Sun and Jin are together. Jack has a son. So, on and so forth. Syed has not forgiven himself so he still sees himself as not worthy. But the two points that were being made during this parallel story, was that each of them was still trying to hold on to life as we know it and to fully experience heaven, they needed to let go. And actually, at the end there the premise that in the after life that time is irrelevant is one that I also explored in my book too (and I'm sure so have others). That what came before and what comes after aren't subject to time as we know it.
And the experience on the island was really an opportunity for each cast member to "work out their salvation". Jacob brought them there because each of them was alone and he knew that the exeperince and hardship they experienced there would bind them with a love that would survive this current existence. In the parallel story line, they are allowed to reconnect because of that love. At the concert it was interesting that the mother, Mrs Whitmore asked that Desmon not take her child (playing the concert), because she too understood that none of them were in the final heaven, but Desmond replied that her son, like the lady cop who freed them from the police transport van, was not ready (nor it seems was the mother either for that matter).
And while Kate, Sawyer and a few other survived their island experience, and Hurley and Linus lived out their days on the island, they all eventually reconnected in the next life, as they say they would.
So, does that help?
Alan Jones
To Wrestle with Darkness
To Mary: jack wasn't the last to die. you clearly see him die while kate and sawyer are flying away on the plane. Christian says, some of the people in the church died before him, some after him. That means the people on the plane left the island and died sometime later. They just all came to the realization that they were dead at different times.
To Jamie Clemens, no they weren't dead the whole 6th season. Everyone died at different points in the series, and some people after the series was over.
If anyone needs this explained to them, just let me know. I think lots of people are way misunderstanding what the finale was all about.
I can't wait for 24 tonight. After the massive let down by Lost I need to watch a show that knows how to tell a story and wrap up a series.
@ rlupin81 – Sorry but I'm not the only one who has made that observation. It's clear the Lost writers don't like black people and only included the older black woman because she was married to the white man.
PS. Lost had better not even think about making a movie.
Typical... no one gets an "F" ... all relative no 'right or wrong' everyone goes to the 'party' no matter what 'path' they take.
All roads lead to the 'big reunion in the sky to next fun reunion in the sky..." An unrepentant drunk adulterer named of all things, "Christian" and "Sheppard" leads everyone to the 'promised land of hope and peace'.
If this was about eternity...it was close to blasphemy if it was supposed to be about "THE" "
Christian Sheppard" we are most familiar with. The people are still "Lost" may the find a Savior.
As far as the technical side of filming, lighting and keeping your attention... incredibly well done.
Loved it up we found out they were dead. What was the point of that? I expected them to be reunited on the island, although I was wondering how they would explain 2 Jacks, Kates, etc... Other than that, they wrapped up the story lines beautifully.
If the characters were alive for the first 5 seasons on the island, then who was dropping the the parachuted food to them?? Why dud Hurley not loose any weight? We all have seen Survivor........They should all be rather "thin". This is just an example of a show getting away from the writers.
The writers took the easy way out. Something more profound than "Stuck In Limbo Until You Figure Out You're Dead" would have been much more appropriate and satisfying to the viewers who stuck it through to the end.
A better ending would have been something like:
The island was a nexus between choices made in life; a macroscopic, physical, quantum nexus (the quantum wave function prior to collapsing). Jacob could have been the 'pro-free-will' side and the smoke monster the 'destiny' side (or vice-versus if you want). The 'alternate' scenes being where someone(s) made different choices and the alternate view was the result of that one choice. Or, if you want a more religious story, the island was the Garden of Eden and Jacob was a Cherubim and Smokey the devil's agent. If the island stopped or Smokey got off then it would end up with literal Hell-on-Earth.
But the Limbo story line... Lame, dissappointing, too easy, predictable. It doesn't give the audience any credit. If I could borrow the island's time traveling ability I would go back and tell myself not to bother watching because what I thought in season one was correct. Sometimes the ending is worth the ride, but other times it is not.
for all of you saying they were dead the whole time, you're completely wrong. The whole time on the island they were alive. The church scene and that whole world is just what happened after they died. The island was real life.
And get over Walt.
It was about spiritual awakening. Our journey through existence. It was beautiful.
The church scene had Juliet and Penny in it, and I don't think they were on the plane. This proves to me that all the characters lived out their normal lives, and Jack might have been the last person to die. Thus, everyone else greeted him to get together one last time and escort Jack into the light, the afterlife.
So were they all dead the whole sixth season? See? Still LOST
Hate begets hate....and btw – what color was Rose?
Ok I get it. The flash "sideways" was really the mother of all flash forwards...all the way past the end of Jack's life. It all really happened and as Jack's dad pointed out some of those in the church died before him and some well after him (kind of a neat thought that one). So this final season was just a look back at how it all ended up and the flash "sideways" was just the whole crew working their way back to one another. Yea, the whole mythology of the island never got explored..temples, giant statues, the carved plug in the center of the island, but I suppose the writers just intended those to be distractions anyway. Am I entirely satisfied...nah..just too many loose ends and not enough time to tie them all up...but a nice final episode nonetheless.
oh and by the way...what happened to Walt? the daughter? etc...it was never real..nothing ever transpired from the moment the plane crashed..as they showed you at the end with it crashed and no-one around...all of it was them trying to work out their karma so they could move on. them going back...them going back again....that was all so they could find each other...and move on like Jack's Dad said... From the moment the plane crashed, it wasn't real living....so all the working it out is irrelevant as they were all in nowhere's land trying to move on. they never got to see their daughter...she was never born.
Lost = racist?
Really? Couldn't have predicted that conclusion from someone. I think they had other things to worry about and more important issues to get across than that.
Disappointed. BIGTIME.
Disappointing.
The first few years were brilliant. The show continued to intrigue and entertain with the talent of the cast and crew despite the fact that the plot began to thin after the third year. Personally, I believe they should have not explained anything and kept why, a mystery. Unfortunately, this series suffered the fate like so many others before it.
To take the audience on a ride like this, and then explain all of the memories and experiences as a pre-heaven (????) transition, is a slap in the face to many who gave six years to this series. Next time, please ignore our need for explanations and closure and just focus on entertaining.
@ Mo – Sorry, black people don't get to go to heaven on Lost. That's why Michael, Walt or Mr. Echo wasn't there. I firmly believe the writers of Lost doesn't like black people and only included them (for a limited time and in disposable roles) to attract a black audience. It's clearly obvious via their handling of these characters.
It was very disappointing. The producers left too many questions and mysteries left un-answered ?
Great ending. It was obvious from word go that they could not be any survivors from such a plane crash. They were LOST souls...dharma means truth so they were all stuck there on the island, (plane wreck, ship wreck etc...)them and the 'others' – looking for the truth and working things out so they could move on. Great how they all met at the end and were finally happy! after 6 years of seeing them struggle...finally they were all happy. cool.
not the best ending to a series. I think the whole world could have seen this weak ending coming. All these questions and 0 answers. BOOOOO
Loved it.
On a side note, I didn't see it as "they were all dead". On the island they were very much alive. In the flash sideways they were dead. The time lines in both didn't match, basically they went to the sideways time line when they did die, whenever that may have been.
Did I miss something?
A long time ago I reviewed a novel and then had the opportunity to interview the author. I was amazed at how much of my interpretation was counter to his thinking. The bottom-line with Lost is that so much of the interpretation lacks consensus from one viewer to another. Lost will require a Cliffnotes written by the writers.
Since they weren't all dead from the beginning, here's what what I'm left with:
1.) Kwons' daughter, I guess, goes to Sun's dear old dad now, who probably gets his company back. awesome.
2.) All the survivors never find anything else significant in the remainder of their entire life, so they just meet up in the end with fellow Lost members they knew for only 3 years at best? puhlease.
3.) So 'Freckles' and Sawyer never hook up with a more significant other the rest of their life to meet up with in the afterlife. That sucks.
4.) Guess Claire finally finds her son, even though she's dead broke and has no future.
5.) How do they explain Richard, after all this time, finally making an appearance in the real world? He was on the plane, right?
Yeah, great ending.
i found it predictable and therefore a big let down
That was a disgusting thing they did with the ending. No answers, I guess they did not know what they were doing and just made up pieces after pieces. That was a disrespect to all who watched for so long to come up with that at the end. please, give me my time back.
I was more frustrated than a midget with a yo-yo.
@ Maggie - I think Ben was waiting to move on until he could repent for his sins against Alex. It's another one of those moments of the show that will keep you guessing and theorizing for hours to come. Check out the LOST theory boards if you're really interested in finding an 'answer' to this.
To Yvette's "Ok, where were Michael & his son Walt at the end? Are we to believe they survived???"
I don't believe Michael ever felt home with the other survivors and was likely waiting in his own purgatory for Walt, who hadn't yet died. That's my thought anyway. I want to know how Penny died...and if Aaron exists in the real world and in the afterlife.
I'm not one to watch TV on any specific night, but did buy the 1st 4 seasons on dvd, and watched them. By then, I was hooked, and tried to watch the shows when they aired. But, since then all the flash-forwards/backwards/sideways made it miserable as far as entertainment value. As far as the finale, there were moments that were alright. But, the ending made absolutely no sense to me. While the premise was highly predictable, there were some people in the final church scene that I never recognized as being on the show, and they were missing others who I thought should've been included in the scene, IF the intent was to show a bunch of dead people reuniting to cross over, or go into the light, together, based on the concept that all these people were so meaningful to each other that they were waiting for them to move on. All in all, I'm not sure if I'm ever going to buy seasons 5 and 6 on dvd, although in my extensive collection of TV shows on dvd, I've never left any TV series incomplete. This would've been a better show if the writers never took anyone off the island. If they wanted to inject new characters and story lines, they always could've had another plane crash. After all the media hype ... the finale ... just blows.
I thought the ending was too perfect for a show that dealt in deception for six years. I agree with an earlier blogger: I want my six years back.
My reaction: I'm glad it's over. No more annoying commercials for this dumb show! Yay! We found it intellectually insulting and "lost" interest in the first season!
I was sad when I watched it, but how wonderful to think it could be true...all those we love, and mean so much to us – for whatever reason – will be there with us – always. So, in answer to someone's question about "where was Walt, and why was he so special?" The pews weren't filled yet..and maybe just as Jack's father walked into the light, the rest will go when it's time, when all those that will remember them will sit on the pews next to them.
This was just so wrong, it made six years a waste of time. Every one figured it out at the beginning, that they were dead and in purgatory. But which was purgatory the island or the sideways world?? Why did Penny die and what happened to all the other dead folks from the island??!!
curious to know why the captain and the phycic werent in the church
I must laugh at the people who criticize a show they obviously didn't watch, or understand. Look at all of the theories on this comment board. That's exactly why this show will live on and be discussed for decades.
I think that after the six seasons of what is the best writing and acting i've ever seen, there was no possible way that an ending was going to satisfy the masses. Besides, who wants a nice tidy ending anyway?
I was disappointed. I feel like the writers were seniors during the last week of school...just wanted to do the bare minimum to get by and get out of there.
Obviously, it was easy to figure out they were dead. What I want to know is...where was Mr. Echo? Ana-Lucia? What happened to the rest of Widmore's people on the island? What was the man in black's real name? Why didn't Linus die at the end too?
Answer my questions, please!!!
Dear Lost,
Thanks for the really nice story about heaven. But I had been watching a story about a strange island.
What about the gaddam island?!
The ending is what 80 percent of the Lost fans predicted would be at the end of the first season. It was worse than the Bob Newhart Dream episode or even Dallas' Who Shot JR episode. In essence I wasted 5 seasons on a made up island when I could have just watched the first season and the final episode. What a freekin waste of time. I should sue ABC for incompetent storytelling.
All I needed where Jack/Kate, Sawyer/Juliet, and Jin/Sun to be together. Since that happened, I'm satisfied!
I understood the ending, but it was not satisfying. This "Heaven" was outside the normal time-space reality, so the people he saw as dead were dead in the future, but he was seeing them now. It was like the "Nexus" on Star Trek -Generations. I would've much rather watched the survivors leaving the Island and seeing them touch down in reality. Also becoming one with the island and rather wanting to stay there marooned for the rest of your life, not. This ranked up with Star Trek DS9s ending. Too many subplots and everything didn't come to a conclusion.
Great show and enjoyed it all. No finale could have lived up to the spectacular expectations. Good closure....
Great story!!!!! If you still don't get it then you're still LOST......
I will be one that will miss the Series. For a Sitcom, that was real entertainment. Was it perfect? Could things have went a different direction? Maybe. When it first came on I was not that interested in it. But when a co-worker starting talking about it, that how I got hook on the show. However, I still lived my life thanks to DVR.
I enjoyed the full 6 seasons and staid with it, even when my co-worker stopped watching it. Did not feel that it was a waste of my time. My boss told me that we would find the people in a plane under the ocean, boy was he ever wrong.
And to top it off, I really did enjoy the ending. Yes there are still mysteries that will never be explained. But, that is what life is all about.
For those of you who still think that you wasted your life, I have one thing to remind you. That is, you and you alone choose to sit down, turn the tv set on and change the channel to Lost. And, you choose to sit down and watch the show. You have only yourself to blame.
I have one question, that is what's next?
I wasted six years of my life for that?
I only saw one episode, and it was bad. Dumb story, I'm glad it's over.
I dont get it...so they were all dead or what ....the fat guy was left on the island yet he appeared in the church later.. not alive... I guess what really happened when the plane crashed at the very beginning was that in realty they all died....I think they could have done better then that.....it was a silly almost childish ending for such a complicated show......
I absolutely dreaded the ending....and like others I thought....alternate reality, etc etc. BUT....to have them all meet in the end, after EVERYONE had died...was a PERFECT ending. We got to see them all together, but it was more realistic than a happy ever after. It was a happy hereafter.
In response to...
"They didn't answer all the questions." Are all of life's questions answereed? No. You don't get all the answers here, either. You must use the thing schools took from you in order to get what happens....imagination.
"I knew they were dead from season 1." That shows you didn't pay attention. They were all alive on the island and the ALT timeline everyone refered to was a holding place for their souls until they could be brought together again....after their death. They are gathering to say goodby to each other before moving on to their "heaven."
"It was a complete waste of my six years." Really?
It would be really something new and creative if the true meaning of it all was that it never happened. I mean, everyone died in the crash and there was never a Lost story at all.
Ok, where were Michael & his son Walt at the end? Are we to believe they survived???
I was half expecting Jack to turn into some white smoke monster and to have two clouds duke it out screaming "LIGHTNING BOLT! LIGHTNING BOLT!"
Perhaps less emotionally touching, but it would have been more entertaining.
I enjoyed the ending and didn't mind some things not being answered. I don't feel too cheapened by the finale. A lot was left open for interpretation, but I don't buy into the whole "dead for six years therory" that's been tossed around. I didn't get that at all from it.
Perfect.
The ending was extremely satisfying. It completed the on-island story and still managed to give a resolve of all the people being together. It didn't explain the whole mythology, but it didn't need to; it got back to being about the characters and that's why it was a fantastic episode, in my mind better than almost all of the last three seasons.
Side Note: The island was not purgatory. The producers have said this and reiterated it. That all was reality in LOST and it all happened. The Flash-Sideways Timeline was some form of purgatory, where after everyone died (which was at different times; they all look the same as they do on the island because that was the most important time in their lives) they all met up to go onto whatever was next together.
A very thought provoking ending. Many Biblical (Religious) references as we made our way to and in the finale. Did you notice all the different religious symbols in the anteroom of the church? I think LOST was just another term for LIFE and the island was a metaphor for our world and all of its unanswered mysteries...including religion. In life we meet a lot of people and each one has an impact on us. Some more than others. There's always a battle between good (the light – God?) and evil (smoke monster – Devil?) even if you're not religious. Heck, the smoke monster was "cast out" by the light.
Jacob and his "Drink this. Now you're like me." versus Jesus and "Drink this in remembrance of me". I don't know anything about the writers and producers, but it sure appears they put a lot of faith(s) and religion(s) into the series and I don't think that's bad. Just as in our real world.
The more I think about the ending the more it all makes sense in a mysterious and beautiful way. Have faith. Believe. Live life the best you can. Accept the good and the bad. We meet randomly, but we all have an impact on each other. We live, we love, we laugh, we cry, we hurt, we lose friends and lovers, and we die.
So, was Ben not allowed to move on to a better place, as in going down much lower, or was he just not ready? He said he had things to tend to, as in penance?
All the people who are saying "Duhh I was right I called it in the beginning, the whole time they were in limbo/purgatory or they were dead THE ENTIRE SERIES" - You are WRONG!!!!!!! Just as Jack's dad told him, EVERYTHING that happened on-island was REAL. Everything that happened during the show happened to all of these characters for REAL, with the exception of the "flash sideways." We now know that the flash sideways was the first step in the afterlife, it's what happened to Jack after he lay down to die in the bamboo forest and closed his eyes at the end. (The rest of them met him there when they died eventually, too - As Christian said, there's no "when" where they are)
On-Island, everything that happened, happened, all the way up to Jack dying at the end. That's when the "flash-sideways" at the beginning of S6 started.
I dont think that the show was Jack's dying thoughts as he opened his eyes in pilot episode to closing them in the end...(thats the consipacy)
Everything that happened on that island really did. They crashed there, lived there for a few years. Went back home, they're lives were worse so they went back.
Jacob was looking for the candidate for centuries judging by all the names he had crossed out. And it was always going to be Jack. The greatest things he ever did were on that island, And as for Locke, he was always going to be against Jack. His nature was just like that of Jacob's brother, that's why he was chosen by him.
The island is the life force of the earth, where it came from we never know, just like our planet, (nobody knows exactly where it came from), big bang theory or not, nobody knows for sure. Widmore had been there in the 50's and lived there for years until he was banished by Ben. That's why he hated Ben so much and wanted to get back.
The Dharma Initiative was set up there as a scientific experiment to protect and create new ways for different species to live in different environments, (polar bears). And other experiments for longer life. It also accidentally found the divine power of the island, which of course ruined the whole thing, the curiosity of man, and the destruction they cause. This is why Ben and Richard had to stop them.
The next timeline saw the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, and their experience on the island. Being hunted by 'the others' who were portrayed as (bad guys) when in fact all they wanted to do was protect the island from being ruined.
As for the smoke monster, It's probably the biggest mystery of all, because Jacob's brother died, The monster just wore his mask as it were. Same as he did with Locke. He became mortal when the islands light was put out, which lead to his death.
As for all the other characters, e.g. Mr Eko, Ana Lucia etc, they arrived to the island on a different path, therefore they would have died and let go in another way. they were just small peices to a big puzzle.
Amazing show, probably one of the best shows that will ever grace our tv screens. So glad they've only done 6 seasons, any more would have spoilt it!
Man, a lot of you didn't understand it. They weren't dead ON the island, just in the "other dimension" segments.
As many have already said, the show was fantastic until the last 5 minutes. "They were all dead" was akin to it all being a dream. I feel let-down and unfulfilled......pretty cheesy ending.My big question: Why was Penny in the church?
after six years......and they're all dead? COME ON!!! they had a great idea but didn't know how to end it.
Hey, wasn't this done before...like on Dallas? Somebody was in the shower the whole time...and it was all just a daydream. Ugh, that was bad last night.
What a crappy ending.
Hated it. Glad I only bought the one season on DVD, I sure as hell won't be re-watching this show again. Thank you, Damon and Carlton, for completely destroying what was a wonderful series.
Anyone who says that the ending was awesome or the best ever is lying to themselves or doesn't have the mental capacity to understand the actual show.
This was one of the worst series finale's I have ever seen. If you want to compare a great series with a great ending then you need to watch a show like "The Shield". LOST doesn't cut it and I am sorry for all those wonderful actors who had to deal with a series finale that consisted mostly of a music video shot as a montage. Wonderful...Thanks for ruining the show.
Worst ending to a major network show ever. What a waste of time. Almost no questions about the island and it's history answered. Very disappointing.
STUPID!!! Thanks for wasting EVERYONE's TIme
Never watched it....never had any desire to. Back to our regularly scheduled programming....
the show lost me sometime around the third season, too many unanswered questions. every week idiot characters doing idiot things. felt like they were just making the show up as they went along. started watching again this season. was enjoying it till last nights turd. I knew what was happening about halfway through. "if we give everyone a happy ending, all the characters meets the love of their lives, hopefully no one will notice when we take the easy way out and none of the show make any sense." what a waste of time
A really bad ending to a great show. I feel very let down and it seems the producers and writers took a lame and easy way out. Still so may un-answered questions and I get that, they want us to think what we want but a series finale should wrap up a story for everyone and the last Lost did not, it only leaves disappointment and more questions. As a writer myself, I think a better ending was deserved by the fans, like myself, of the show that have watched for the past six seasons with anticipation of how this would all end. OK great, they were in limbo or some place they all made but my twelve year old could have come up with a better story ending than that. Very disappointing indeed but would trade the experience of the whole show for anything.
I sure hope the series finale of Smallville next year will have a better payoff than Lost did. If not, then I'll might lose all faith in TV.
I thought all along that the Lost "survivors" were dead and that the island was a way for them to redeem themselves.
The ending was truly beautiful and showed a great deal of respect for the characters.
I will sorely miss all of them.
Back to Gilligan's Island, and a show that made more sense..............
The bamboo forest, then Vincent, then the plane...awesome.
Yeaaaaa. Now we all can get back to real life. Say who won the fight last night between Cena & Batista? Did you folks see Rey Mysterio shave C.M. Punk's head? What a riot, lol. And *those* Divas – whoaaaa buddy. Sooo, *Lost* is "kaput." You folks should be crying over NBC axing Law & Order – all to bring another 'reality' show on next year. Woooopeeee...
Amazing finale. Not everything was tied up in a neat little bow but ultimately it was a show about faith. It was good vs. evil, life and death. And the hope that there's something more afterwards. Jack made the biggest journey, going from a man of science to a man of such faith that he gave his life for the island. Fantastic series. Will miss it terribly.
OMG, what an awful ending. Seriously, how stupid was that, after wading through 2.5 hrs.
Well, it was a really good ending. A few basic questions, however, were never answered – unless I missed something:
1) They never explained why Locke was actually able to suddenly walk on the island (other than he was special).
2) What ever happened when to the children the "others" took?
3) Why couldn't women give birth (on the island) to living babies who were conceived on the island?
4) How exactly did Jin survive the explosion on the freighter? (and why just Jin? The answer might be that he was the only one on Jacob's list – but there were lots of other plane crash survivors already on the freighter. So, none of them were on the list?)
5) I understand Michael became a "lost soul" but what about Walt? Why didn't he show up at the church? Or Libby? Richard? (or some others)?
For those disappointed because "they were dead all along," – slow down a second. Christian clearly says all of what happened was real – and some died before him, some much later after him. This means the island did occur for "real," thus making LA more of the step between life (island) and death (moving on). Those that died needed to remember and accept that there was a "past" life they lived in which they died before they could begin to make the next step.
Great ending! Very good analogy on life, death, afterlife and the importance of relationships...not about "the others" or the polar bear, or the smoke or whether they get off the island...in the end it's about the journey and relationships that matters! Loved the ending!
i hated the ending. tons. but i will miss lost.
Overall, I was very disappointed with the finale. The alternate reality that was introduced at the beginning of Season 6 was a purgatory. However, the island was certainly real, and that was the real let-down. All of the first five seasons had developed this fascinating mythology which in the end will forever remain an enigma. Questions such as: what is the Island and what is the nature of the light that gives it such amazing powers?; what's the deal with Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore and his obsession with returning to the Island?; etc., etc. The list of fundamental unanswered questions is huge.
Avatar in 3-D Now THATS entertainment.
People really need to stop calling out others as being wrong.
There are endless possibilities.
Until the Producers come out and say "this is the way it is" then it's impossible for anybody to say what happened on the island was real, or not real.
Also, a few people were bagging on the ending of BSG. I thought the ending of BSG was beautiful. It didn't leave anything open to interpretation. It just was what it was.
Lost however was the opposite. It somehow managed to even create more questions than answers at the end. And it even opened up the possibility that no answers were ever given in the past. Just creations of Jack's mind in his dying moments.
Figures. They didn't even bother to explain much. The show hadn't been much for the past 4 seasons. No exploration of closure of any type until this yawner of an ending. No creativity whatsoever.
Typical Hollywood to dumb down the series like they did.
I loved the ending but I was disappointed that they didn't bring back Mr. Eko, he was one of the best characters.
Funny! I thought they canceled this program years ago! This is the one with the hobbit and the fat guy, right? : )
"Nobody dies alone!", that's why Vincent the dog came to lie next to Jack when he was dying... loved that part
loved the ending but like most people will say, I predicted this in season 1. I also think they took the easy way out. I loved the show too much to hate this ending.
The dog at the end was a cheap shot....but it worked..
I hoping for a Micheal or Walt Appearance, But loved the show and glad that it was brought to a proper ending.
"See ya in anotha life, brutha"
What I'd absolutely love is 6 Seasons of Blu-Rays with voiceovers from the Producers covering every aspect of it. Rather than just telling us what 'The End' meant, actually go through from the Season 1 Episode 1 and break it down for us, so all mysteries get revealed at the time without any inferences being needed.
Or maybe the easiest way out (again) is just to state that none of it was real. All the 'odd' happenings and coincidences were just the last thoughts of a dying man. Walt never had special powers. There was no smoke monster. There were nothing. Nothing other than a plane crash. And a man who scattered his dying thoughts so quickly and vastly that they filled up 6 years of time for us to enjoy.
I LOVED it, it made me feel good, it made me feel like love wins over all. Was surprised by the last 5 minutes and wasn't sure at first, but the more i think on it I think it was fitting. I am satisfied and happy.
Reminded me alot of the end 6 ft under, another great series
I thought it was a very fitting ending to a great show.
They all died at different times, but none of them let go of the island, that's why they all lived in the flash sideways afterlife until they all finally did it together! Jack died that day in 2007, while the ones on the plane carried on with their lives until they died.
Walt wasnt there because he let go of the island when he first left. If you remember the episode where he see's Locke, and he runs over the road to talk to him, He says "I have to go!" meaning that he didnt want anything to do with it again, he's let go. While all the other survivors "had to go back!"
notice how Desmond was 'the Messenger' in the afterlife, that is why Jacob wanted him, no other reason, He helped them let go and remember. Even though it still didnt answer the biggest question of all "What is the island?"
I still felt it was a great ending, both moving and intellectually stimulating.
The best tv show I've ever seen...
P.S. I wonder who the protector of the island is right now? after Hurley and Ben died... haha
I can't understand all these people saying that the island was reality. If so, where on earth is it? What on earth was the Dharma Initiative? What was that black smoke? Why did Jack have to put a big stone plug into a fiery hole at the end? What was the fiery stuff in the hole anyway? I'm not trying to give you LOST fans a hard time. I'm not a diehard hfan, and I'd appreciate answers to my questions because the show is now finished.
For a "short-notice" ending I have to say they did a fantatic job..but..
a) if they knew the this was the last season at the first episodic writing of season 6, they should have used the whole season to wrap up instead of the last 1 or 2 shows...Qustions and Suspense and Intrique and!? theend
b) the show had the visual appeal of a great movie and the content of a potentially great book at the the beginning, but then the direction was stolen....if you could have only trapped the writers in a room for six years and kept them from the limelight, they would have continued to write as well as the first 'couple' of seasons' and not have been infected by the "soap-opera" writers' syndrome.
But as it is, I was happy with the ending. Kudos.
So many unanswered questions. But maybe there's a reason for that. Maybe it's because none of it really happened other than inside Jack's head in the last moments of his life.
Did anything on the island actually happen other than 1) the plane crashing and 2) Jack surviving for seconds/minutes after the crash giving him time for thoughts to go through his head; the same thoughts that end up being the 6 seasons we've just watched?
Some people look at the island as if the occurrences truly happened. Some people look at the flash sideways as if it truly happened. Some people look at the church scene as if it truly happened. It feels to me like the only thing that really happened was the flashbacks. Then again, as Jack wouldn't have insight into other people's lives, perhaps there weren't real either.
As for Jack lying in the forest at the end, it felt to me as if Oceanic Flight 815 just crashed moments before and Jack, in his dying moments, hallucinated all we've seen for the last 6 seasons.
Maybe I'm wrong. I hope I am.
I thought it was a very good episode ... NOT GREAT ... but very good. I did not like the fact that it was like a rushed, albeit well paced, final episode like so many other shows that want to speed up there endings on the final night of the entire series. Did we need to see Sayid with Shannon or even Boone or some of the rest to make the final explanation that much more believable? No.
But we must remember Richard told us EXACTLY what the island was months ago so not a true shock in the end. Just a nicely made one.
I can't believe i stay up to watch that piece of Crap. Why does every writer have to give their "babies" a happy ending. They should have just sunk the island and gotten it over with. Why save the Reunion show for the last episode? GARBAGE!!
lol@ at all the fools thinking they "called it" because they were dead the entire time. Not that this needs repeating, but..they WERE NOT DEAD the whole time. Everything that happened on the island was real. The flash sideways was their afterlife. That was the only time where what you saw, was actually them dead.
90% of the show as them being alive. So not really sure where some of you fools are getting the idea that "ZOMG, they were dead the entire time".
That aside, how can people not be moved by those ending scenes. They were so brilliantly done. I'm not even religious, and I found the whole thing to be so beautiful.
The first show ever in America with closure. No waiting on a movie or a spin off. Thank you lost writers. I wish more TV shows would have an ending and not just drag on.
As for the ending it wasn't as exciting as I expected, but it brought closure and made me feel happy about all the characters I liked and were lost throughout the show.
Worst ending EVER. NONE of it made ANY sense. They didn't wrap up ANYTHING. They took the easy way out. Here's and ending for ya: Jack wakes up on the plane from Sydney and realizes it was all a dream. Now THAT would have made more sense.
The writers and producers wrote literary checks that they couldn't cash in the end. What was the black smoke from the first season? Who were Richard's "Others"? Who were Ben's "Others"? Who were the "Others" at the temple. What was the temple and what was the pool? Who built the large statue? Who was the "mother" and where did SHE come from?
Geeeez, the questions go on and on.
I agree, I want my five years back.
Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!
TV at it's finest.
Thanks for a wonderful ride.
I thought the ending was perfect. I personally would have done a few things different but then again...it wasn't my show. Still perfect though. The people who didn't like the ending aren't real Lost fans. Real Lost fans knew this is how it would end because it's the only way it could end. I'm just glad there were no cheesy twists like so many expected. Most people wanted to see some kind of stupid gimmick like on the Sopranos but Lost is too good for that.
The "Television Event of the Decade" was more like the "Commercial Event of the Decade."
That was funny when Hurley woke up and said he had dreamed he was a Vermont innkeeper. What a shocker!
Likes: Wonderful emotional pay-off ending. The sideways world created a beautifully spiritual and strangely disturbing purgatory world. The final scenes provided a lovely summation of the core themes of the show. What I loved most about LOST as a whole was always being baffled and blown away by the twists and turns. This finale was definitely unexpected and at least initially baffling; and in this sense, it was true to the show for me. I do somewhat love the idea that the island will always remain a mystery–like the universe and the afterlife, it is simply beyond explanation. I will enjoy continued discussion and debate about the island–the hieroglyphics, the statue, the source etc...
Dislikes: I wanted some darkness in the ending, because the show always had a dark tone. Like a new smoke monster being formed perhaps, or somehow being left with the knowledge that there will always be a balance of light and dark–you can't have one without the other.
My biggest question: If the most important aspect of the show was the characters while the mysteries were more of a background, then why did the writers spend so much time developing the Jacob/MIB/Island mythology story, sometimes at the expense of the main characters? Even though I did like and appreciate the ending, it still is a very classic deux ex machina, which can be interpreted as a "cop out."
Overall: LOST was a beautifully written series and will remain among my favorites, but there was definitely some lazy writing involved toward the end.
I really disliked the ending. The producers kept saying all along that it wasn't purgatory but this pretty much what it was. I loved most of the whole last episode and it moved me to tears in all the right spots but hat last 10 minutes was really awful and unsatisfying. Seinfeld and MASH weren't very good at ending either so I really wasn't expecting the best.
I like what "RICH" commented above. I realize it's not with the majority's concept but "died on original crash" has food for thought:
1. answers all the wierd stuff about the island (there's no real island like that?? psychic stuff, good/evil, polar bears, etc)
2. island helped each lostie figure it all out in order to "move on" (each had "flaws" (issues) to work out PLUS they all helped each other = most valuable relationships they had
3. Island light = crosssing over
4. Rose tell s Jack "You can let go now" = closest people help you cross over (and for real?? a 2nd crash to an wierd island?? don't think so)
READ comments by "RICH" above
(still crying over the emotional ending! I LOVE "LOST"
If I waited in a church for everyone to die that was significant to me before we all entered into the light of heaven, and everyone else waited for their significant's to die and arrive at the church, there would be an infinite number of us entering the light. It simply doesn't hold together. It's hurt-tugging and beautiful, perhaps, but sort of bad storytelling.
I was never a fan of the show but I tried to watch the "pre-finale" recap of the entire 6 seasons and that only thing that was LOST was my interest. I see now why it only lasted 6 seasons...hell The Dukes of Hazzard lasted 6 seasons.
Amazing, I will miss this show so very much. Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hugo, and the gang will sorely be missed in our house hold. There will never be another show again. Thanks for six wonderful and confusing years.
Julie Holley, Miami, FL
I find it funny that most people still dont understand what happened. Some people actually think that they were dead all along... How did these people watch for 2.5 hours and not pay attention?
The posts are usually up around 12 pm CST. It’s now past 5pm CST. Papadurbin must be dead or working on something big. Or sick. Or preoccupied. Or suffering some form of writers’ block. Or just having a lazy day (worst day to have one!).
Brilliant ending! So the flash sideways is a place they all went to after death to find each other again before moving on. But the Island was real. That works for me. Loved Hurley's "Ben, you were a good #2" and Ben's "You were a great #1" ... that showed that only the flash sideways was a sort of "purgatory." Very clever and intelligent writing. It's obvious that it went over a lot of people's heads.
I said Island, I meant sideways world (a bit sleepy, I am). Still, doesn't matter-I was highly disappointed in how this ended.
Additionally, I am a Christian who is a member of a Baptist Church. It was incredibly wrong for that lady to thump on here. If she was sitting next to me I would show her by the Bible why posting all about Jesus is not very wise. And looking for answers about a tv show is nothing like looking for answers in life. I apologize for my Christian sister for her unenlightened behavior.
Finally, why are people posting here that said LOST was bad from the start? Did you watch more than one or two episodes before tonight's episode? Why do you invest any time on a program if you never have liked it. I might not like the ending, but I kinda feel I and other FANS of LOST have the right to come to the decision of thumbs up, thumbs down, thumbs quivering.
In the last 2 months I watched all of Battlestar Galactica and was a bit disappointed with the finale but that's because a very thought-provoking, intense show concluded with a simple-themed ending.
Lost, on the other hand, had a complex finale that is very open to interpretation and it suits the very essence of the show. If you were expecting a straightforward answer, total conclusion episode then the finale was not for you...the series was not for you and I understand why you would hate it. The show is meant not just to entertain but to make you think, interpret, and explore ideas about life and the afterlife.
I enjoyed the 6 season and enjoyed most of the final episode but the very last 5 minutes stunk. It was a terrible way to end such a great show. I cant believe the number of people happy with the ending for me it almost ruins the entire series.
WHY did so many people leave the finale thinking that they were dead all along, and they have been right since season 1??? Were they not watching the same finale as me?
What happened on the Island was REAL.
Greatest show in the history of television!!! Best finale ever!! And for those of you who didn't get it or like to troll here... I am glad to say... you officially have no heart. Go back to OZ.
The acting and direction of the episode was beautiful, but that can only be acknowledged as the episode stands alone. As a part of the series, it was a horrid ending to six years of tremendous plot-weaving, suspense, and science fiction. Thanks to the purgatory ending, all the intricate questions and details of the island are moot. That's NOT how you treat an audience. You don't string them along for six years just to say "ah, nevermind, they're all dead anyway".
I'm glad I didn't waste my life watching this crap show. What a stupid ending. You all just got owned.
What just happened? I want answers. This is worse than the end of BSG.
The end should have been that they were stuck in a different dimension in time and one manages to escape to precursor the plane even taking off and save everyones lives but the person saving them all dies and cannot recant the story. Instead they gave us this cop-out garbage ending.
The ending reminds me of the Battlestar Galactica finale for some reason.
I thought the ending was great and very touching. I teared up a bit with the dog laying down next to Jack as he passes away doing what he was born to do, save people. The fact that lost loves were reunited was especially heart warming. It was like a Bernard and Rose reunion several times over. Great show, great ending.
What a wonderful finale! I loved it!!
I don't think I have ever felt so let down. I know there has always been this running idea among fans that the island was purgatory. While I did not like that idea, if they were going to go there, they did an awful job. I realized the moment the show ended I would never watch it again. It seems pointless to me to go back and talk on and on about a book or a record or . . . You know where I am coming from. I am really disappointed because it has now lost its next day conversational buzz. If someone wants to talk at all, I won't have anything to say. Sad.
People who think this is a great ending are complete and total morons.
That was the greatest night of television I've ever experienced.
Absolutely awesome. I honestly couldn't have imagined a better finale. Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse are true geniuses.
From the writing to the directing to the acting to the cinematography to the musical score, I was in awe from start to finish.
As with the characters in the show, I'm now satisfied and ready to "move on."
I'm a long-time fan of the show and am very disappointed by what seems to me far too simplistic an ending for what had been a remarkably complex and compelling journey. I expected much, much more from such creative storytellers. Even Vincent's dream would have been better than "Guess what. You're dead. We're all dead." Really? You couldn't even give us a "Rosebud" to go home with? There had been some alternative endings on the bonus DVD material, and not the schlop Jimmy Kimmel aired. Harumph!
This will go down as the worst ending of any series, ever.
okay show...felt as if time was "LOST" but it did make me think about the value of people in my life. On another note, did anyone notice that just about every major religion was represented in the room with Jack's dad's coffin? Christianity, hinduism, Islam, Jewish, Catholic, and Buddhism to name a few.
Awesome plus! I thought the last 5 minutes was epic!
So this was all just 6 season long remake of the 1962 movie Carnival of Souls?
Or maybe Jacobs Ladder (1990)? The Sixth Sense (1999)?
The Others (2001)? Stay (2005)? Or any other movie that wraps up with oh gee... never mind... they were all dead.
Very original!!!
I watched the whole thing on the coconut TV that the Professor built for us, Patrick!
I enjoyed the series and finale tonight. Very emotional.
I will greatly miss it and hope there will be future stories, if not on television, maybe in novel format that can add to the legacy, maybe giving more insight into the real history of the island.
Amazing show! Best show in the history of television actually. There were a lot of unanswered questions, yes, but most of the questions were answered. I'm going to miss this show so damn much! The only thing that really disappointed me with the last season is that they never brought back Mr. Eko. Oh, and those of you who compare it to Giligan's Island or Fantasy Island, shut your damn mouths! I'm willing to bet 99% of the people saying that crap haven't even seen the whole series.
I woke up at 4.45am in the UK to watch it and now I'm sitting at my desk dazed and confused! It was still confusing, but brilliant and heart wrenching and wonderful all at the same time. I will miss it. It truly was one of the best shows in TV history.
The final episode for the most part was great, except for the last few/final minutes. It didn't flow..........I was disappointed........it's almost like, in the editing process, someone chopped off some very important scenes. I'm a super fan....cooked a "lost" meal for last nights finale. Now on Tuesday nights I'm going to start watching the series over again........one episode at a time......
I used to care about all the mythology on the show so much but when it all comes down to it knowing those answers doesn't effect the lives and journey that these characters went on. We knew just as much as they did. Just like they had to "let go" to move on to the next life, we the viewers also have to "let go" so we can see the finale for what it truly is.
What about Widmore? what about the time travel back and forth? What about the Darma Project? Don't get it.
Those of you posting that they were dead the whole time weren't paying attention. Everything that happened on the island was real. They sideways universe was where they were dead and waiting to let go of their lives and move on. We saw it through Jack's perspective at the time of his death on the island, but it was probably many years later. Not all of my questions were answered but I am satisfied and thoughtnitnwas a beautifully done finale. We may never see network television thisndeep and intelligent again.
I'm sorry bout my last comment – I forgot that some died on the island, some didn't. geeesh – confused. I'm gonna watch it again!
The last episode did not shock or bother, or upset me at all. The first episode had about the same effect on me too....... Oh wait a minute, that's right, I never saw any of the episodes. So I have no feeling one way or another about this odd show.
I think that I am one of the growing majority that basically does not watch any of the BIG THREE networks for anything but the local news
GUYS – the were all dead on the island – remember someone told Richard (can't remember who), Richard told Jack, Jacab told Jack, and a few others all said that.
Did I watch a different show than some of you? I thought it was made clear they weren't all dead. The island really happened. The flash-sideways was where they reunited after everyone had died. I loved the episode and will miss it the show a lot!!
I really enjoyed lost, but I feel alienated by the ending. I watched Lost for years to find out answers to a bunch of crazy questions that piled and piled and piled, not to be preached some sort of existential idea of redemption in the last minute. I also felt it was cheap that since the writers wrote themselves into a position where they couldn't answer huge questions, they chose to play to our emotions by telling us that everyone was happy for eternity. Also thanks for not explaining the darma initiative and time travel, but then saying the whole reason for the magic of the island was a light we didn't hear anything about until 5 minutes ago and then not explaining that. Maybe whoever built the giant dog statue put the cork in the light. I don't know, I didn't watch for so long to have such a debatable ending. I watched because I thought the show was more creative than it ended.
I personally feel that they have insulted our collective intelligence. That ending made no sense. Many here seem to think they are dead, but they quite specifically ruled that out by comments made by Christian. I feel this is a case of the Lost writers saying "We wanted to make a more intelligent show" and then proceeded to make a very haphazard plot line, leaving most to feel they were just not smart enough to understand. The fact is, it's not that you weren't smart, it just didn't make any sense. Very disappointing.
WOW, a lot of people were not paying attention and need to rewatch the scene with Jack and his father.
Christian blatanly explains that the island was NOT purgatory, it was reality when he tells him that they all died at seperate times!!!!!!! They just created the church to reunite after they died! however it may be that they died! but it wasn't on the plane crash!
THE ISLAND WAS NOT PURGATORY!!!
I never watched the show, so, yeah... Why am I typing this from an island?
Carolyn nailed it with the long explanation.
What an amazing end to an amazing show. So hard to say goodbye but what an inspiration to bond with those I love.
The Limbo theory remains a possibility. Christian, Jack's dad said basically the church was a place the oceanic passengers created to remember the good times they had together before they moved on. He never said they were alive. It is possible they just needed each other to work out their problems on the island but they never survived. As Jacob said, he had picked them all because they were flawed and basically needed help. The island could have represented that consciousness after death and before they "let go". It is a possibility.
really, the best ending to the best show.
church = purgatory
I calledit that they were dead the VERY FIRST EPISODE and so did a lot of other people. My wife got annoyed to me cuz I stuck to my theory saying "but the producers say that's not what's gonna happen!".
Muahahahha. I was right and the producers lied! Eat it!
If this is "Christian" themed, then God help us all.
The horrible ending to Lost makes the last episode of the Sopranos appear as if it were written by Shakespear! Turn in your writer's credentials!
The finale wasnt dissapointing i just wish, they had taken the time to fully explain how the MIB turn into the smoke monster, and what is the origin of the others, essentially what is the role of the island cause it is not quite clear witht the example of the wine bottle.
Many questions werent asked, but at least we know the island was real and that the losties were marked by their relation to each other and the death of all the losties was what finally allowed them to go in peace. I will miss being LOST.
A theory:
Perhaps the reason why Ben Linus stayed outside of the church was because unlike everyone else in the church who had their "family" present, Ben's "daughter" had not yet died and moved on to purgatory. Everyone in the church was in purgatory and were waiting for everyone who was meaningful to them to be present before they moved on to heaven. Ben Linus never had the connection the people in the church had with one another. His connection laid instead with Alex Rousseau (and possibly the implied love interest in Gabrielle Rousseau). Let me know what you think.
I would have enjoy and understood the series finale more if I didn't have to watch over 50 plus commercials.
Ultimately, this is a sappy, emotional ending where no real anwers were given. All the Sci-Fi, mystery, suspense, is thrown out to end with a cheap, "Highway to Heaven" father and son reunion! Where are the answers - the writers jerked you around for a very weak pay-off with no solutions. Like Shakespeare would say: Much Ado About Nothing! I give it a C+ because I liked the actors, but the writers failed! When they started, they had no real ending in mind, and this "final" episode proved it! Abrahms and his team pulled the "long con" on all your suckers.
Words can't describe Lost. You don't get so see something like that frequently. It was one of it's kind.
It kind of reminds me of the premise behind the movie "Stay" where the kid driving a car on the Brooklyn bridge has an accident and during the events os the movie alll kinds of crazy stuff happens but in the end you find out it was just his mind rationalizing and coming to grips with the fact that he was dying. The characters in the movie end up being the people he sees surrounding him on the bridge.
So Lost ends up being much like that. Jack is in the woods dying possibly after he's done all he can to save others. During this time Jacob and smokey who I view as death and the devil are fighting for the souls of the doomed passengers.
As the plane flies overhead Jack is rewarded with passing over as well after he witnesses those he helped cross over make their journey. The church is a metaphor for the fact that they all cross over together at the same or nearly the same time.
Excellent ending!
I have watched the show from the very beginning. It ended higher than could be expected. We've come so far in story telling.
Get a life. Really. It's not real people!
I really loved. Pure poetry...
And they weren't all dead, dudes. That's not what they meant...
Wow.....I was diggin the entire Final right up unitl the last 10 minutes.......I think they took the easy way out! I feel betrayed for following the enitire last 6 years with this ending. So many questions still left that we all want to know: Like how did the Island come to be, smoke monster origins, who built all the ruins, what happened to Hurley, what the numbers had to do with everything, and what happened to the Island in general...THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ALL WERE LOOKING TO GET ANSWERED!!! Not where the heck we go when we die.....dumm dumm dumm.....no good feelings here. Why the crap did they have to drag religion into all this! I think the writers had a brain fart with this one. THis just doenst make sense of how it all went down this way...and who put the damn cork in place......We are all sad here.....I have lost my will to be lost anymore.
I'm seeing over and over again that people are disappointed because everyone was dead. Did you people really not grasp the story? None of them were dead when the plane crashed. The island was real. Only the sideways timeline of the last season was "limbo", though not even that. It was a place they all waited for each other when they eventually did die so the could all be togther again and move on. They were all alone before the island, and the island brought them all together and showed them that the needed each other. That's why they all moved on together.
I think people who started watching Lost during season 4 or 5 feel content with the ending moreso than those who have watched all of the episodes from the beginning. I still love the show, but I feel like the finale was a ripoff.
While the whole series wasn't a purgatory setting, even having it in this last season as the sideways reality was just a big gimmick. Not at all original. I think the finale provided an easy exit-strategy for the writers. Considering they had several years to plan for this episode, this whole season felt like a running patchwork.
I thought the series finale was really great! It answered the questions we've had...they didn't leave anything unfinished. It was a tear jerker and as a finale, perfect. Thanks for the great 6 year run. I had a great time!
) Now, to let go of Lost... 
(
Lame.
It gave us no information about what actually happened.
Why were there people at the church who made it out on the plane? Why was Linus staying outside? Are Hugo and Linus still on the island?
did any one notice Walt and Michael weren't at the church?...or did I just miss them?
I thought it was a beautiful ending. The finale as a whole was great (there was a few things earlier in the episode I would have liked, but oh well) and the last five minutes were perfect.
I really can't wait to hear the collective forehead slaps of embarassment coming from the people who:
1. Didn't pay attention to the last five minutes of the finale and THEN
2. Didn't stop to think or try to make sense of what happened and THEN
3. Didn't read anyone else's comments online to see if there wasn't something they missed and THEN
4. Proceeded to write retarded comments about how "THEY WERE DEAD THE WHOLE TIME".
If you were disappointed in the ending, what would you have rather seen happen? Not picking a fight, just wondering. I was disappointed myself but I can't come up with a better/more fitting ending.
Thoughts?
Well, overall I liked the finale. I was happy that they didn't just blow up the island. And the idea of Ben, Hurley and Desmond staying behind was good. I think it was inevitable that Jack died. The concept of the show ending with the close up on his eye closing was great.
But, now I am confused about the sideways world . Is it what happened when Juliet smashed the bomb? And was it real?
Or was it all just a view into their trip to eternity?
Well, at least it they didn't end the series by making it a dream sequence, or some kid staring into a snow globe. Ha!
Touching! I'm still wondering about a few things though, not everybody was inside the Church (I liked the fact that all religions were represented in the stain-glass window) Ben was shown outside and did not want to enter perhaps not ready to accept his destiny yet? Shall we assume that the people we did not see are perhaps dead but not "ready" to accept death? They all seemed happy wherever they were!
What a big hole this show will leave and what a great show it was!
I found all of the Christian references interesting. From the now obvious "Christian Shepard" to Jacob/Jack and Hurley drinking the water and telling/being told "Now you're like me." And last, but certainly not least, Jack as a sort of Jesus- sacrificing his life to save everyone else.
TJ, your post above provides ample evidence for why you are not a screenwriter.
its like the shinning thing in pulp fiction, not everything has to be answered, great ending.
I can't imagine my life week after week without Lost; finally a show that makes us think and feel on a higher level. I sobbed at the end of the show tonight for the characters I will miss so much. They each meant so much to me and I think that is what makes a T.V. drama or book so special. If you get to know the characters and feel that connection, that is what makes relevancy and greatness. This script was character driven and that's why it doesn't bother me if some things are not explained. I think the ending was so fitting; the script was full of allegory and symbolism. I absolutely loved, loved the ending. The writers are brilliant and I hope they endeavor to create another worthwhile, stimulating show.
What the island is was not a mystery as of a few weeks ago. Jacob answered that point blank. Most of the answers you idiots are looking for have been answered over the past couple seasons while you weren't watching and you expected the finale to go back and reanswer.
While I understand that the straight forward interpretation was that :
- The island was real, flash sideways was purgatory.
I think such a conclusion leaves open the question of whether the entire island was a spiritual journey too. Yes, they crashed, but did they all die? Was the island a "spiritual" reality so that they could die anew after they were able to reconcile their earthly problems.
Ultimately I go with the obvious interpretation, but it's interesting to think about
The writers of the show were conveying that these people died in a plane crash and were going through some sort of purgatory process to reach a heavenly state- thus the ending with the plane on the beach. Again- there was never any master plan anyway- writers were just making it up freestyle week to week as they went along. The power of media to catch the personal attention of a random audience (and manipulate emotion) is the big picture here. All in good fun though.
Dumb, sad ending. Dumb + sad= a bad combo. I could have done better-and here it is: an alternate universe flip-flop type thing they got caught in. At the end they meet Einstein. Have mention of other levels of the universe/other universes, with other smart life forms-but the bottom line is this: both Einstein AND these bleeping aliens (all over the universe, in fact) are themselves trying to figure it all out. They have some of the answers, not all. Einstein says that there may be a God- or may not, but all the answers may one day come-or maybe not. There is some "life force" acting on advanced life forms, like humans, that suggests something beyond science/physics as we know it. This life force is like a whole other kind of dimension/thing in itself-and it's tied directly to the more know physical forces controlling the universe-this opens up a whole new area of the science of the universe. This much he knows: in the end "the universe/whatever is going on" is more benevolent/hopeful/positive than not-just like during the big bang: matter formed more slowly and therefore, somehow, outnumbered anti-matter by 1% (which has just been talked about in the news)-if that weren't so "for some strange reason" nothing would exist anywhere (in this universe at least). They also say (true-it was news a few years ago) that "the mathematics" of the universe indicates that if there was even a slight ,tiny variation "in the equations" from how they tie in, the whole universe, as we know it, couldn't exist. So it looks like everything involved in "us being here" had to be extremely "finely tuned" (now THAT'S interesting-as in: " fascinating, captain") .Therefore, all the struggles of "good vs. black smoke evil" etc. were played out nip and tuck-till the end where the "1% benevolent" came thru. Yes- there should have been an ending based on some kind of scientific speculation like this, which still includes a potential "God like component". Yep-dumb,dumb, easy, boring-typical "Hollywood ending".
Agreed. EVERYBODY needs to read what Doug wrote.
Everything on the island timeline was reality.
I'll admit it was a bit confusing the way it was explained, but short of having a character drawing up the answers on a blackboard, this was the perfect way to get it across.
But the plot is really so insignificant to the emotion. And the emotion in the end was absolutely beautiful. All about the people.
why are people saying they are all dead ?
yes flash sideways of season 6 explains they are indeed dead and need each other to let go and move on to the other side.... but all of the events on the island are real and they were very much alive....
stop saying they were all dead from the start!
@avgjoe
What was...?
The massive statue of the fertility god – exactly that, a massive statue of a fertility god
Jacobs brothers name – who cares? how is that relevant to the plot?
The ancient ruins on the island – see answer to massive statue. the island has been there for thousands of years and has probably played host to countless communities who left structures behind (much like the Dharma barracks)
What is the island – up for interpretation, Locke at one point called it "a place where miracles happen" or perhaps it's the source of the 'light' that's in all of us and if that the island's light goes out then so does ours
you're not gonna get a black and white answer which is what sets the show apart – it requires people to think about it, if you want to turn your brain off for a couple hours of mindless entertainment watch some UFC
Anyone who enjoyed or bought that dumbed down ending shouldn't claim to be a true lost fan. This was a total sell out to please the casual lost fan who did not follow the story. Way to simple and way to character based.
I am surprised at how many people just simply didn't "get it" when the show ended.
Way too many people think the end of the show was merely that "they were dead the whole time." Folks seemed to have ignored the whole discussion Jack had with his Dad, Christian, where Christian explained that everyone there had died at different times, but their common bond is what brought them together.
I love how everything came full circle; from Jack dying in the same spot he arrived at the island, they all crashed and get to move on from the island at the same time, and the vindication that they were all there for a purpose (both Jack and Jacob told Locke/the man in black that there is only one ending). I agree when someone speculated that Jack probably became the new smoke monster because he woke up the same way that Jacob found the man in black after he had been thrown into the light. There's always a light and dark side, but every protector gets to make up his own rules. I would love to see them make an offshoot with Hurley as the protector, he probably would have some cool rules.
This show was brilliant and the writing was perfect, kept me on my feet and actually invited me to think. Would have loved to see more answers to the bigger questions, but overall I am satisfied with the ending. Farewell Lost
Okay, I'm done. Some of you need to... pay attention more, I don't know, lol. To The LOST Cast & Crew: You guys are awesome, I enjoyed the hell out of these six years and it was a beautiful send off to a story that I was completely invested in. I hope to see everyone back on my small screen soon.
Love,
Jillianne;)
Wow... people are stupid. No they weren't dead, and yes it was a great ending.
Every episode was the whimsy of the writers. I bet the first few episodes were only about survivors of a crashed plane. Gilligan's Island was already done. There is no way a plot this screwy was part of some 6 year plan. Anyway, I was hoping for at least one appearance of a soccer ball named Wilson.
I heard that there could be a Lost movie, a prequel, to a sequel, or rather the 6 years were a prequel to the movie, which is a sequel, or is it?
lol
can someone tell me what the show is about:
Polar bears
smoke monster
science project
light
time travel
disappearing kids
It's amazing how many people misinterpreted the ending, they weren't dead on the island. What happened on the island, happened. The "alternate reality" was where they went after they died, whether on the island or after they left.
I like how things were tied up on the island...just not sure why we needed to see the whole "sideways" story it none of that really happened.
Michael, I don't think you are seeing what you think you are seeing. The wreckage was just to show that the island was still there. It never sank. But that is just my opinion and you a free to yours, sir:)
This was by far the worst ending that I could have possibly watched. 6 years of watching this show for this? Everyone dies no #$@! sherlock. OMG this was supposed to be epic conclusion to the battle between 2 immortals, good vs evil. Oh the giant cork in the fountain lol I bet you I can lift a 500LBS rock with my gut spilling open, but don't worry jack had his appendix removed.
So much BS in the finale I guess I shouldn't be disappointed. It should be expected from the writers. I would rather the man in black get off the island and destroy this horrible ending!!!
Where was Michael, Richard, the polar bear didn't they die? BOO on You.
Wow. How do people who missed the point entirely hold enough interest to come write on a blog about it. First, they weren't dead the whole time. They died when they died. Second if there are questions you think still need to be answered you either only watched every third episode or you are retarded. Someone wants to know fake lockes real name? Are you serious
I think most of us here get it that people were not dead right from the beginning. Even considering that, what the hell just happened. What about the previous 5 seasons? It didnt really matter and had no bearing on the last episode. Sucked bigtime.
They all "died" in the initial plane crash. The imaginary purgatory island was to test each for redemption (love), which, when achieved, allowed each to let go and move on within the sideways dream-delusion until each realized that nobody ever dies, because they're all already dead, with the realization that love never dies.
The giveaway point was when the plane entered the turbulence. It crashed. From that point onward the sideways dream-delusion good-life was achieved after individual island redemption, from the moment in parallel after the turbulence when Rose tell Jack, "You can let go, now." The island, the sideways good-life are illustrative of the philosophical death experience stretched over a 6 years of Lost.
The characters absent from the church at the series end haven't achieved redemption, yet.
Ivette, you can have a go at explaining it to people. I'm blue in the face, basically because I understand symbolism and don't need every little thing spelled out for me:) Thanh, everything you want happened, you just aren't going to get to see it:) Make up whatever you want for Richard, and the Agira Survivors:) Feel free to, in fact.
The very last shot of the film under the end credits was the plane wreckage. It's very clear from that shot that no one could have survived that type of fragmented crash.
EVERYONE died when the original plane crashed on day one of season one. Everything up to now was in those last few seconds of life, or if you wish, those first few moments of afterlife.
And it all makes sense because otherwise none of those things could possibly have happened or ever been explained to everyone's satisfaction.
Bad season but a great ending to an incredible show.
Amen! I want my six years back. The pilot to the show said it all.
I just lost my yellow lab, seeing the dog next to Jack, was terrible.
some people are just clueless. they were NOT dead all along! the 6th season sideways flashes were basically purgatory. everyone that died were hanging around for the rest, so they can settle their unfinished business and then move on to the afterlife.
like jacks father said, there is no real time in this place. so in reality, sawyer, kate, claire, etc got off the island on the plane probably lived a good long time before dying. but in the end they all end up here. guess jack was the longest purgatory hold out and it took longer for his mind to remember everyone, and realise he's dead.
notice that ben stayed outside instead of joining the rest to the afterlife. probably because he did so much evil in his life he doesnt want to move on... especially if he ends up in hell. lol
So, did half of you even watch it? They weren't dead the entire series. They were only dead in the sideways flashes of Season 6. Christian made it pretty clear. The time they spent on the island was the most valuable/important of their life (because of each other), so after dying they all ended up in a place where they could find each other once again (which is Season 6's flash scenes). Really didn't even take that much thinking to figure that out either.
So every theory was right and none were. This is what happens in TV. They find a series with a simple premise gets popular so they extend three years to six and create a convoluted plot that has no real arc or satisfying message. Weak tie up.
The strength of LOST was always the WAY the story was told, not the actual plot.
I'll miss it anyway.
Allen, did you watch the show or are you just commenting. Because there wasn't an Autistic kid behind this. Neither was it Vincent the dog. It was a psychological fulfillment for Jack. He died, he saved everybody (as said above) and he got to be with them in the afterlife.
Going with the theory that everything happened, happened, and the sideflash is basically their "afterlife" that they made for themselves using Hurley's new rules.
I'm pretty interested what went down before the last survivor died, basically what Hurley, Ben, and Desmond did, as well as what the people on the Ajira plane did. Richard made it out, but he wasn't at the funeral. The only "Others" on at the church were Ben and Juliet.
PEOPLE PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WERE NOT DEAD TO BEGIN WITH!!!!! Read Doug's comment. He explains it perfectly!
WHAT IS THE ISLAND??????????
Brilliant series, horrible, horrible finale/ending. I am absolutley furious, none of the important questions were answered. I feel like I was totally ripped off and I want answers. Whoever enjoyed that two and a half pile of garbage is an absolute fool.
a great homage to Places in the Heart which puts all the characters alive and deceased in the pews in the final moment. Camera just reveals them in a matter of fact manner while the choir sings. I think the episode makes me want a dog so I will be sure to not die alone. Vincent is the hero of Lost.
larryl9225, no offense intended, but I don't think the show has been about solving mysteries since Season 3. It just wasn't going to happen that way.
great show sorry to see it end, but if i am not wrong didnt that show ST. ELSEWHERE end the same way?
Lost just become the worst show ever. I can't believe I wasted last 6 years for this crap. What the hell were they thinking all along? Everything that happened in previous 5 seasons didnt matter at all? Just a bunch of dead people wandering around and meeting each other. Seriously, i dont understand how people can be naive or stupid enough to like this episode.
When do we meet to burn Hawai out?
Those of you who didn't 'get it' probably never will...for me, truly one of the finest, most poetic, most tearful endings to a show.
The producers made it clear that NOT every question would be answered...and I don't need them all answered. Nothing quite like Lost on TV these days...there will be a void without it.
So where was the kid with the snowglobe?
I think it's fitting that everyone who was "Lost" is now "Found." I like the simplicity of how the light just "is," and when you die, whether it is in the ancient past, present, or future, or alternate reality, you come to a timeless place where you are embraced by those you love. Bravo!
Anyone out there old enough to remember the Dallas season ender where Bobby Ewing comes walking out of the shower after being dead for a whole season, and it turns out the whole season, which totally sucked, was only a dream Pamela had? That was the producers way to get out of some really bad writing that had flushed the show down the toilet. Well, this ending was the Lost producers way of flusing the entire show down the toilet. Ridiculous..
Apparently, when a show doesn't need to get high ratings for the season they don't try anymore. I can't believe what a lame finale that was. I feel stupid for watching and loving Lost for 6 years.
They weren't dead on the island from the start. I keep reading comments where people are complaining that they knew they were dead the whole time and can't believe that's how it ended. I thought it was pretty clear that they did NOT die in the original crash. Maybe some people need to rewatch this episode and pay attention.
I loved it. It didn't answer all the questions, which gives us an opportunity to debate it. I love the way the show ended with Jack dying in the same place he woke up after the crash.
Juliette was in the church, because she was an important part of Jack and Sawyer's life on the island. Sawyer gets to be in the church and he was happiest with Juliette, hence Juliette gets to go to Valhalla with the rest of them.
I said from day one, if it turns out it was all Jack's dream or they were all dead this show would be horrible. Turns out it was close. It left way too many questions open, very uncreative.
Doesn't matter to me if the island was real or limbo, or when the rest died. The series was about characters AND those characters's involvement with mysterious incidents. To not at least make a stab at tying up some of those mysteries was a cop out-what was the island? what did Jacob and
Smokey have to do with anything? Walt, Aaron, Widmore, Faraday-, the Dharma Initiative–all superfluous. I loved all six seasons and the final episode was like dirt sprinkles on my ice cream. Without those mysteries, now unexplained, Lost should have been a two hour tv movie, a remake of Outward Bound. J.K. Rowling pulled all her many threads together in the last Harry Potter book; Cuse & Lindelof ain't J.K. Rowling.
Horrendous! The whole season 6 was after life???? come on, anything would have been better than that...I think they made an ass out of everyone!
It's amazing that so many people enjoyed a show where writers obviously made up the plot week to week without any "big picture" plan. Next week? lets have one of the characters turn into a mysterious such and such- then the following week he'll turn into an angel- etc. etc. etc. All in good fun though- but a great topic for viewer manipulation by sociologists.
This wasn't an ending about purgatory. It was an ending about Jack seeing it through. The final ten minutes was the culmination of Jack saving everyone that he humanly could. His reward was to ultimately spend eternity with them. It wasn't a "cop out" purgatory ending. It was Jack seeing his final reward for being the one to see it through. That isn't a cop out. It was a very good finale.
Having said that, here is your "good" ending:
Hurley and Ben should have saved Desmond. In doing so, they use him as a Constant to free them from the Island. Desmond destroys it, Hurley and Ben. But they live on in the flash sideways. As a Constant, Desmond would be the only one to remember them. But he brings them all back yada yada yada and they meet in the church at the end for a happy reunion.
Either way. I thought it was great.
I should have read more posts before restating that everything was answered but many others said it better than me, but their deaths all occurred seperately on and off the island and whatever happened happened sums it up. They all just needed to wait for each other
I thought it was perfect. Profound and beautiful.
And for the record, if you thought they were all dead for the whole series, you must have been trying hard to not listen or pay attention. Christian spelled it out for you.
Dude, the island wasn't purgatory. PLEASE GO BACK AND WATCH THE FINALE, dcee. PLEASE. You didn't understand it. The reason people couldn't have babies was because of the electromagnetic properties of the island. *head falls, shoulders sink* I...I think I'm about done, lol. I can't help people understand anymore and can barely type, ha...
All I can say that 90% of the people here that did not like the ending are really "LOST" , and confused by the happenings in season 6 and generalizing all from there and making wrong conclusions at the end , go back and see the whole thing back to back and take all in consideration and then you would get it , hence revisiting Greek Myths and Hebrew myths will also help.
Frank U
How about a book series to explain all of the unexplained details, character by character, along with a timeline! They could make a $mint$ all over again!
LOVED it. Very poignant and well done. Vincent, in the end, made me cry the most. Beautiful touch.
So dissapointing!!!! The perfect end would have been matching the two timelines. Not matching them implies that the whole thing has no sense. Starting with the mere existance of Jke's son. Moreover, I thought that the producers have already denied the purgatory option.... By the way, why Lapidus and Miles were not in the church at the end? Even Vince the dog? Is there a purgatory for pets too? Uffffff....
I'm emotionally drained! I loved the finale and thought it was actually a great ending. Yes, I still have questions (like, why was Juliette in the church?) – but I'm OK with not having all the answers.
Jacob's brother's name? Uh, George. Bert. Flavio. Take your pick, it's not integral to the story. Note: The X-Files and Alias were great show that had characters that were also, never named. Had nothing to do with the finales of said shows. The Cigarette-Smoking Man? The Well-Manicured Man? Suit & Glasses? Classic characters, who scared the crap out of people.
I watches all of 2 (maybe) episodes of LOST and now I'm glad. I guessed they were dead. HA!
I think a lot of the people missed a couple of key moments at the end there. The Island was not "limbo" or "purgatory". The sideways universe from this past season was. The Island was real, and the sideways universe was a place for them all to wait it out until every one of them died (Kate, Sawyer, Claire, probably years later. Hurley and Ben, possibly centuries ... ) so they could move on together.
A moot end. We know everyone dies and I didnt have to watch these 6 yrs to figure this out. So far they surprised everyone. All the twists were fun to look forward for the next. This is dead end. and not the end.
I don't see why people say questions weren't answered. Being that they were all dead may have been a less than satisfying, predictable cop out but the way jacks father explained it does literally answer every question. Why no babies on the island? That's easy, babies can't be born into purgatory unless they died in the womb like Claire's. Why was Walt special? What makes you think he was, he helped them create the island like jacks dad said they all did and he had the imagination of a child hence the polar bears being his idea. The smoke monster couldn't go in the temple, that was already a rule and already answered. Any others? I wish it would have avoided the whole, they were all dead, dreamlike ending, but it did explain everything and lost was still hands down the beat TV show ever.can't wait to watch the whole series again on blu. Ray
Um, Frank Morrone, the sound guy??? LOL.
I thought this was a terrible ending. I believe it was a complete and utter cop out by the writers and producers of the show to not answer a single freaking question. I believe for the past six years the writers and the rest of the staff had no clue about what this show was about and because of this they had no real ability to answer any questions.
What was...?
The massive statue of the fertility god
Jacobs brothers name
The ancient ruins on the island
What is the island
Along with a thousand of the questions
Im glad I spent six years of my life to remain LOST. Other then making want to ball my eyes out for 2.5 hours, this finale was nothing other complete trash
ABC
Since they never survived the initial crash, it was all an illusion. They could have had Martians attack and it would still end up being the same story. It was a complete crap ending.
Lost was like a bad addiction....i didnt want to watch , the plot lines were so convoluted....but i HAD to watch....i'm glad its over.
Early in the first season, I read people were posing theories to the producers for their response. One mentioned purgatory and the producers said NO, it's NOTHING like that! Hmmm... I guess it was too early for the cat to be let out of the bag!
I didn't take it as a religious thing, in the end. I took it as more of Jack's psychological needs being fulfilled. The church was Unitarian, fersakes, lol. That's the "Sometimes We Believe" people:)
Frank Morrone needs to get off his high horse. He had NOTHING to do with the success of LOST yet he thinks he's all that. The only reason he got the gig was that he works at Disney. His work is quite sub-par.
Flash deadways.
My wife and I started watching from the beginning but it soon became obvious this was going the route of Twin Peaks where it would devolve into weirdness simply for the sake of weirdness and the writers confusing the audience with bizarre unexplained twists just because they can. Once we figured that out, we left the island for better entertainment elsewhere.
Loster, they didn't. In fact, I'm pretty much certain that these people only watched the finale, and if they have watched it before this, it's been a while since they tuned it. They just watched it so they said they coud and that's fine and all, but I don't get being all, "I don't understand it! Wah!" No, you don't understand it, because you just tuned in. I'm finding a lot of that on Twitter at the moment. "Just tell me what happened" "Oh, well that stupid." "No, I've never watched it." LOL. We're all critics:)
After 6 years of wonderful interesting programming (and truly the best show ever), the ending of LOST seemed rushed and unplanned. It was a let down to leave it that way. Way too many questions were left, created and unanswered. Did the Ajira plane crash? Did it fly away? If it flew away, why take years to develop characters to skip instantly to their deaths where they "wait" for eachother in some building they "all built for eachother". Are these religious references? What happened to Walt, Aaron, Penny and did Sawyer and Kate die or live on till they all meet in this church! The list goes on. It feels like a bit of a cop out to not develop this a bit further.We are loyal fans and needed more. Now I feel like we need CISM, critical incident stress management, as we were left a bit empty. There were moments of joy and sadness, unfortunately 6 years of amazing programming couldn't take it home. Thanks for the great prior work...it was truly some of the best ever created...just work on endings for future stuff, we're still and always will be LOST.
The Island life was real. Most of the main mysteries were solved. The Island needed Jack and Hurley to continue. My only question is what the heck is the Island and why is it even needed and important? The sideways world was a form of purgatory. They made up the lives that would have wanted in the "real" world in order to connect with one another. A lot of things were useless, the temple people, the time warps, and the Egyptians symbols. Guess the Island will always remain a mystery. Those who weren't in the church didn't want to move on in their after life. Good ending and satisfying.
They went way to religious, ruined the show imo. There was a lot of cool sci-fi which drew in most of the viewers, then they tried to turn it into a character development/religious propaganda show. Very disappointing.
It was suggested at the start that the island was a type of purgatory between life and death, so this ending is no big shock. Pretty satisfying. But, the real world intrudes in using child actors. They just couldn't figure out how to include Michael and Walt.
It was a very, very satisfying ending, especially in the emotional sense. It didn't explain everything but no sci-fi show does or has to. The island and everything in it was real and maybe nobody knows the truth behind it but that doesn't matter. The last few minutes made me realize it was just the setting, just the background for these people to go through these unbelievable experiences and find out how important they are to each other, and the last season made them realize that, just how important they are to each other. The end had a religious context because most people have a religious context but it's just how they see it. Looking back, it was a perfect way to end it.
Everyone who is complaining about them "being dead the whole time" is a moron. Did you even watch the finale? Did you listen to the dialogue between Jack and his father in the afterlife?
Matthew, you paid attention:) You are correct. Know that I agree with you.
Yep, good ending. I am satisfied.
What a waist. They could have done anything, but end it this way????
What a waste of six years and the last 2.5 hours of my life!!!
I'm still lost.. >_<
There were two big clues at the end to show that only the flash-sideways was purgatory but what happened on the island itself was real.
First there was the bit where Hurley stepped out of the church and had an exchange with Ben. They each complimented each other on how they had done as #1 and #2. This indicated that there was quite a bit that went on after the point where Jack died, but since the focus of the show had really always been about Jack the part after his death wasn't covered.
Second was the fact that as Jack lay in the bamboo dying he watched the Air Ajiera plane fly overhead with Kate, Sawyer, Claire, etc. safely on board escaping the island. This only makes sense if the island was real. Otherwise they would have been escaping from purgatory - into purgatory.
But that has always been the beauty of Lost. We did finally get a lot of answers, but they didn't dumb the show down and make the answers easy ones. Personally, I would have liked it better if the flash-sideways had been real as well. Yet I still thought that the ending they gave us was a solid one with heart. I'm satisfied.
Do I want to know what the light in the middle of the island was, and how Allison Janney got there to protect it in the first place? Of course. Do I want to know why she never named Jacob's brother and what power turned him into smoke? Sure. Do I want to know who built the big friggin statue and how the big gear caused the whole dang island to time-trip? You bet. But watching the finale none of that seemed to matter so much. I'll just miss watching the inner-circle trying to figure it all out every week. Bummer dude...
I feel like mayhaps, some of you would enjoy watching a couple of episodes of Doctor Who, so the electromagnetic energy that moves the island around will make sense. The wheel obviously manipulates it (in some way, time to Sci(pronounced sky)-Ence it, LOL. I don't know how it manipulates it, but the Donkey Wheel, does;)
Whew! However I am surprised now that "our" Jillianne isn't on this blog right now. But anyway. Well g'night all. G'night Lost. Thanks for making us think.
What a waste of six years and 2.5 hours.
I think the editor nailed it. If you believed this finale was good then you are probably looking at it from a season finale point of view. The truth is, however, that this was a SERIES FINALE that didn't answer any of the questions it raised from previous seasons. Why was Walt special? Why couldn't they have kids on the island? Why was it so important that Aaron be raised by Kate? Why didn't the smoke monster concern himself at all with the light that was in the pool that Sayid was revived in? Wasn't that the light as well? Sure it was an emotional episode but one that was not a suiting ending to a show that I believed to be a truly unique show. The writers bit off more than they could chew and I say shame on them for that.
Mark – Nope, I'm not your sister-in-law:) I'm in Louisiana. I've been to Michigan and California. Hell, never hurts to ask:)
Summary: Lost lost me, but joy! Christ found and saved me!
I have been a great fan of the show. I have watched every episode of every season. I have noticed a great divide in the comments so far. There were many looking for r
answers and the show seems to have left those people feeling empty. There were others looking for relational resolutions between the characters and it seems like most of these people were overall satisfied (not without some gripes about Walt, Michael, etc.though).
It seems the writers of the show wanted to leave us with this message: it doesn't matter what answers you find, as long as you don't search alone.
I'll probably be called a religious fanatic, but that's ok. I find most shows that attempt to address life, afterlife and the supernatural. I notice most also totally leave God out of the picture except for maybe a few minor references. I wonder what John, the writer of Revelation would think of a show like Lost? His vision overflows and is consumed with Jesus Christ, the saving one, the risen one, the judge, and the focus of all history. I've heard that the Lost writers also have a healthy respect for c.s. Lewis. I don't think he would have been satisfied with this show though. When finishing this show, the writers were faced with a debate between answers or relationships. As we know now, they passed on many of the answers in favor of relationships.
This is what makes Jesus so amazing and scary at the same time. Unlike the show Lost, Jesus provides both in spades. Jesus answers in relationship. Jesus finds where Lost remains lost.
I will agree with some of the fans who commented who thought Lost 'played it safe' with the ending. In contrast, when Lewis describes the Lion, Aslan in his Narnia books, he is described as 'good, but not safe. He's the King, you know.'
Jesus is not safe, but his rescue makes us secure. His life is light that brings life to the dead. Jesus doesn't provide an escape from the world to a mystical heaven that is built from our own imagination. He finds what was lost and takes life back from death. I really liked Lost as a story about the importance of redemption, but the redeemer was left out, and that is sad.
I thought the most telling shot in the entire show came in the last five minutes when the camera descends outside the church and there is a statue of Jesus with his arms outstretched. It's easy to think of Jesus as just a statue that we can look to for inspiration, but if we actually behold the living, risen and reigning Christ who has promised to return one day; then we are not just inspired and left empty but instead we are captivated and found by then only savior who has risen from the dead. So, while the show lost did not leave you with this question, I will: will Jesus remain a statue in your life or will you let him live as he lives in glory and love as no one else has ever loved you and lead you as the good king that he is in life with no more fear from death. While lost failed with answers, Jesus longs to speak into your life. There is some danger in the message of lost, because it ends with 'answers don't matter', when Jesus has said and still says to those who will hear, 'I am the resurrection and the life', and 'I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me'. Lost left me sad but not empty because Jesus finds, fills, satisfies me everyday just as He promised He would. I was sad because Jesus provides so much more than the show could and the show pretty much claims you're fine without Jesus and redemption can come apart from Jesus. In my mind, the writers better hope they are right because otherwise this greatly dishonors Jesus and disregards what he said and did. I hope these thoughts will stir something up and you consider Jesus. I really love Him and I'm not ashamed to let you know.
Oh, the island can be moved because the man in black installed a steering wheel. Ok, I got nothin'...
Al, Sideways *IS* purgatory. And I don't think it's so much that their "lives were better" as it was more opposite than what they had actually dealt with in life. Kate was on the run, but she was innocent, Sawyer was a cop, but still dealing with what happened to his parents, etc..
Well, I am not much of a movie geek. But you're online tone sounds like my sister in law from California, but is here visiting us in Michigan right now. After the X-Files comment (which I know my brother in-law was a big fan of) I thought, is this MY sister in-law? So, again – is this Jillian that is here in Michigan right now? That would be crazy.
Wow "Ian" you complain about the time we're wasting on a TV show but here you are wasting your time bashing people you so lovingly called "LOSERS"... Ah, the IRONY.
So what is or was the island ? Where did it come from why can it be
moved and what is hurly protecting it from.
BTW, I don't get creeped out. Hell, I know everybody. I win Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon by none:) LOL.
I love all the idiots commenting on how they didn't watch it, yet still feel compelled to leave a comment about how they didn't watch it. Who cares? Why are you posting here? You obviously have some investment in the show, otherwise you wouldn't waste your time. Go away.
To everyone else saying people were leading better lives in the Sideways 'purgatory'? Jack is divorced and his son disliked him for a while, Kate is still a fugitive and on the run... Sawyer is still looking for the man who was responsible for his parents murder/suicide, Sayid has to deal with his brother being married to his love, blah blah blah. Nobody's life is 'better'.
Um, Mark, are you Mark the movie geek, by any chance. If so, then yes, we know each other,lol.
Everyone is saying they were dead on the island. I'm pretty sure that is NOT true! When Jack was talking to his dad at the end, his dad mentioned how some of the people died sooner and some later on, it was just kind of like a meeting place for everybody to remember their lives on the island and to move on. It NEVER said anything about 'purgatory' or how they all died in the plane crash. We don't know how Kate died or how Sawyer or Hurley or Ben died. But eventually they did, because everybody does. It was the perfect ending. Not all questions were answered, but I think it should have been that way. Nobody on the island knew what the 'light' was, not even Jacob, so why should we? It's rare to come across a show these days that actually makes us THINK!
Mark RE: IAN – I know! I want to scream at that guy, "I've read War and Peace! AND I LIKED IT!" LOL. It doesn't matter, he's getting off on it, because he doesn't have anything better to do than to mess with us LOSTIES. It's just...what a putz.
Oh crap, Jillianne – not to sound creepy but do you live in California (but are visiting Michigan)? If so I think we know each other.
Ian, thanks for the over generalization. In a generation of mindless sitcoms and disposable fiction novels, it's refreshing to finally have a classic story told in our time. As I recall the art of story has always resonated with people. Just because the medium is the same as that of "Cougar Town" and "The Gates" I wouldn't say negates it's value.
ISLAND = REAL!!!!
FLASH SIDEWAYS = PURGATORY!!
I have been a huge lost fan all these years, but what was up with that ending?
The whole church scene was horrible, no answers at all. The first 2 hours were average for lost (which is great for any other show).
Look, guys. You want a crap finale? Watch the last two hours of The X-Files (and I *STILL* love that show). There are bad finale's, but this wasn't one of them.
Christian explains everything at the end, if you just listen.
But, for those that think any particular character isn't in the church because they aren't dead yet.. you are forgetting one thing... If Hurley became the new Jacob, he most likely would have lived for a VERY long time. The limbo scenes most likely had to be way in the future for him to be there.
I think there are other reasons some characters weren't there... they weren't important to these people, or they had already moved on, etc.
I thought it was a great ending. Best drama ever. The writers rock. Great character development over six years. The ending made the need for detail seem trivial to me.
I think we are pre-disposed to dislike the end of anything, especially when it leaves ?'s unanswered. Unfortunately, that's just life. If you followed the characters and their stories, enjoyed the creativity of the show and storylines the writers developed, you are most likely satisfied with the ending. If you wanted an ending with no questions and action sequences with guns and hero's yelling out one-liners, the finale for 24 is tomorrow night.
this was SO unorigonal
Chris, according to what I've read and seen, the writer's didn't have a clue what the island was in the beginning. They originally were going for a straight drama about the castaways and then decided to throw in some supernatural elements and see where they went. I don't think that they had a clear direction until at least season 3, maybe later, which isn't much different from many other serial dramas.
What a waste of time. Of course what could we expect from the Lost writers? answers?
They just like to throw loose stuff out and let us stupid fans create the rest of the story.
I'm glad it's over.
I meant hope. Sorry for the spelling, folks.
The Lost series was great, but this series finale...not so much. I hate to not have liked it but I just can't. The final afterlife scene is sweet and all, but not really Lost-esque. They failed to really do anything meaningful with the island, and I now have many things that I wonder about the show now. Things that I think they just goofed on in the process of writing the last season of the show.
Nevertheless, great show overall.
This show was like Great Expectations. A literary masterpiece....and I hated it.
Like a Heart of Darkness, it should be better and more meaningful on a second go through, but it's one thing to read a book and reread it. It's another to spend 6 years watching a show and then spend another 120 hours watching it again. No thank you; especially since most questions will remain unanswered, and those that were answered were lame cop-outs.
Ian, I truly hoe you are saving the world by coming up with a cure for cancer or Aids, or trying to solve the energy crisis, but as you are blogging right along with us, I highly doubt it. Goodnight, snob;)
Hmmm...I do remember the island was visible for a moment when Desmond turned the failsafe key and the hatch blew up. But I guess I hadn't gathered that was the reason it wasn't visible per se...
The message that when it's your time to let go in the real world, you will instantly be with all those you love, whether they preceded or followed you and you will all go on together for the next wondrous thing really hit home with me.
They weren't dead when they were on the island at all. It wasn't limbo...it's the exact opposite. The island really happened. And it was so important and profound in their lives that when it came time to be in pergatory/limbo, those are the people they wanted around them. It was truly about the characters, which stays true to what the producers have worked for the whole time, getting us to care about these characters as people.
Let's be honest. The writers originally intended the island to be purgatory. However, purgatory was the #1 theory on most fan sites since season 1. So, they tried to switch it up with the alt reality to confuse people. They had no answers for what happened on the island (it wasn't planned to be real), so they gave none.
In addition, the movie Passengers completely ruin the original idea for them.
aaand just saw my typo. Meant "characters" not "character's" :-/
I thought it was a great ending. For those who were wondering where Walt was, his name was not fulfilled by the island. He had a life that he lives off the island. He was not truly connected to those people. He did not enter into the pact to meet there before he had to move on. The church scene was the conclusion to the ALTERiverse, while the eye shot was the end of the island aspect of the series. All the characters were "lost" in their lives before the island. The ALTERiverse was when the characters had found themselves. The mysteries that remained were not essential to the ending of the season or the series. The writers always said they would not answer every question. It was a great ending to a great show, now let's hope 24 makes it 2/2 in 2 days.
Mark, it wasn't visible because of it's electromagnetic properties. Didn't we cover that in season 3 or 4?
Mark, I think a better question would be......"If Darwanism truly exists, then how have some of the morons and losers on this blog made it as long as they have?" On that note, goodnight to you all, and for those of you who revolve around shows on TV...good luck. The rest of us will not be waiting for you to catch up with us in this life or the afterlife......
I had waited for this all week.... had cried 3 times and was really enjoying it up until the last 10 minutes. I still cannot believe the way it ended. It is disturbing to say the least. I was expecting much better. As someone else stated...they took the easy way out. I am very very disappointed in the writers and producers. We never got the answers they promised and then to have the entire 6 years end like this?? I want my 6 years back! Because of the disturbing ending, I don't have the same feelings for the show that I felt yesterday. I had planned to buy the entire series on DVD but can't even force myself now. I think all of the fans were let down by the stupidity of the ending. I was sad with what happened last week to Jin and Sun but this week, I am speechless...and very sad!
Glad I never watched it.
Jess, Richard could die. Miles pointed out his first gray hair, denoting that Richard *WAS* aging:) He died eventually, but I'm sure once he got back to the "mainland" he lived out the rest of his life quietly, and died peacefully. At least, that's what I'm hoping for Richard.
My interpretation of the finale–and how I believe it is meant to be interpreted–is that the island is not purgatory. The island is very real. Everything that the character's experienced there, and before and after, truly happened. Eventually, they all died (when each person died is left open–could have been when the A bomb went off, or 50 years in a future we did not see-etc). The flash side-ways is the "limbo".
As Christian told Jack in the final moments of the episode, he had to come to terms with his death to "let go". So, when each character remembers the island and each other, they see the lives they lived, and realize that they are now dead. At this point, they are ready to let go and move onward. The fact that their memories involve happy moments, usually with a loved one, emphasizes that it is these moments that define one's life.
All in all, I loved the series, and I really liked the end. I hope this makes sense. It is 2AM after all...
Loved seeing so many of the characters together during the show and all the flashbacks that occured as everyone remembered their life on the island. The last five minutes was so disappointing though. The whole heaven thing was very unrewarding.
loved it
So my question (that we are all asking regarding the purgatory question over here) is "why wasn't the island visible to the rest of the world if it was real?"
Brilliant ending to a brilliant show. I'm surprised by the amount of people who don't understand the ending though. It's all there with Christian's conversation with Jack and Hurley's comment "You were a great number 2" to Ben.
Regardless, I loved it. Had me biting my lip the whole way through. Cheers LOST...I'll miss you.
(My above post was for Jess, not jess, who I respectfully disagree with)
Jess, I agree. I expected to hate the finale because I was afraid Eloise would suddenly jump up on a table at any point and start spewing out a bunch of technobabble about space-time whatevers to cover the unimaginative crowd. I am so glad that they just ended it with the characters and left for us to ponder.
Dude, it's like being 8 feet tall with a 5 foot jump and deciding to dig ditches for a living. It could've been great. Everyone expected it to be ok. But Cuse and Abrams are patting themselves on the back for their ingenuity like M Night did with Lady in the Water not realizing that even the remedial mind was disappointed. All the ingredients were there, but someone decided not to bake the cake.
Two questions:
1. What will you do with your lives now that you can't spend it talking about sentient land masses?
2. Why is that long-haired guy still fat after living on a deserted island for ten years?
i think everyone is right who say they didn't die in the plane crash but at different times in their lives. If you go with the whole theory of the lsland, of course richard wouldn't be there because he can't die. Michael is stuck on the island because of what he did while he was there and walt wasn't important to the main characters who wanted to be together...I think the last clip that shows the plain reckage was to show Kates plane didn't make it off with Sawyer but crashed and they all died.....but I think it makes more sense if they all had died on the original 815 crash because it would explain all the far-fetched things that happened on the lsland. The writers just kept trying to add and add and add and they just went to far with all the fantastic things on the island they couldn't possibly explain it all.
Fred, I think the wreckage was touched, but to each his own on that one. CK, Benny is correct, the bomb didn't work like it was supposed to. Faraday was wrong about the bomb. So the only person who died was Juliet and not even BECAUSE of the bomb, lol. Mark, sorry If I come off a little brusque. I'm tired and emotionally exhausted because of the finale:) Apologies, as well. I just want to be helpful, by explaining what I can, since SO MANY seem to not be getting it.
Ian, go away and leave us LOSTIES alone! We are having fun and you and Seking are just bothering us nerds:)
Agree with Jason. Some people really can't understand the idea that they weren't dead on the island. It was real. They died later in life and were brought together some time afterwards. All of that was explained very explicitly by Jack's father. They didn't all die at the same time. I don't care if they didn't tell me about Hurley and Ben's time on the island, or Kate/Sawyer/Lepidus/Richard/Claire's time off the island. I think it's nice to let me imagine that.
Also, I'm glad they didn't get hung up in some of the minor details and explain all the mysteries. Some they did, but people seemed to have missed them. The truth is that writers don't know how many seasons they'll have to work with. Give it up if sometimes they chased rabbit trails or if everything didn't tie up as neatly as you wished. The writers of the show work under incredible constraints, and they did a wonderful job.
...and I will say, as much as I hate commercials (though I understand they are a necessary evil)...I feel like I want to buy some BBQ sauce @ Target tomorrow if for no other reason than to say "way to pull out Super Bowl quality entertainment for Lost!"
I wept with an ethereal smile on my face...nice fantasy...if it only could be!
Series finale was one of the best if not THE BEST ever! It had everything and it just resonated so well – the lame will walk, the blind will see between life without the crash and life with the crash. Very cool. Awesome, awesome ending! Later!
Nice episode, but very dissapointed of the ending. As if we were not given answers because... there was NO answers.
I'm frustrated mostly because I believed the timetravelling, the smoke monster etc... for what? it was not even used for the ending!
We are 6 who thought that it could have ended as simple as them going back together to protect the island... would at least make a little sense. I feel cheated !
Loved the journey at least... man i just don't understand why this "it was just a dream" kind of ending!!!
Chris, some science-minded people who can let go love the show. Again, if you were expecting someone to stand up and spend five minutes explaining every last detail of the island, then maybe Star Trek is more your style.
Awesome! Thank you for the best series ever! Very well done!
The finale was satisfying in that it lent a conclusion to season 6 and offered us fans the chance to reconnect with characters from seasons past.
And to those people that think that the entire time on the island was time spent in limbo between heaven and hell and that the characters spent the entire series dead, then you missed the point of Christian's explanation. The events on the island were real and formidable in the lives of all those involved. Therefore, as one by one the characters died (with Jack, Sun, Jin, Sayid, etc. dying on the island) they entered the alternative world that existed in season 6, where time (and thus ages) don't exist. Those characters that gathered in the church had all died at different times in their lives but were lost in this reality until they found one another and reconnected with those most important to them and could "move on."
As one of the above posts said, those not present in the church were those who hadn't died yet. According to the logic I've presented above, of the passengers of Oceanic 815, Boon spent the longest amount of time waiting for the other passengers to die and join him in the season 6 alternative world.
Great way to end a great series.
Science-minded people will be very disappointed with the finale. Rubes will love it (see above).
lol. that's all.
PERFECTION...To everyone everywhere in the World who has watched this show from beginning to end knows that it could NOT have ended any other way. Sure there are irrelevant questions about The End, but those of us that know how the show works understand the big picture. Those last few minutes of the show were planned from the beginning. We live...we die...and the wheels on the bus go round and round. But what memories we make with our friends and our family, and the love we share with each other is all that matters in The End. These wonderful characters will always have memories of the island, but what they experienced together was so unique...so profane...so spiritual...that they are bound for all eternity. FOUND
I thought the plane was rigged w explosives??
Awsome ending,
I loved the show, Lost had my attention from the first advertisment.
I will miss it.
Benny....your defensive posturing leads me to one conclusion....you are the biggest Lost loser of them all...How's that for an answer for you? If you weren't guilty as charged, you wouldn't be so defensive.
Wow... I cried at every revelation, cried at every reunion, and cried at the end when all was made clear to our hero, Jack. What a great ride, Lost, and while I am sorry to see you go, you certainly could not have gone out in any other way... perfect ending to an epic show.
Sorry Jillianne!
Anyway, I didn't figure Miles, Lipidus were dead and yes, we're all over here discussing – trying to wrap our head around it all. All in all, loved it.
CK, I think that the bomb simply didn't work because of the electromagnetic field. But Jack's idea that it would work was the stimulus that created the gathering place.
everyone is ignoring the wreckage in the final scene. this wreckage looks completely untouched, like it just crashed there and was never touched or moved. in the series this wreckage and luggae etc. is taken apart and used for things. does nobody else find this to be especially significant?
So amazing. I think everyone meeting up after they die, since they all died at DIFFERENT times, was beautiful. Some of you need to pay attention when you are watching... they didn't die when they first crashed on the island.
Says the person blogging at 2am. Staying up late just to make sure that you remind us losers how much cooler you are?
I was deeply moved at times by the finale of LOST, and as always I really love the cast and the story too... all along I have appreciated the acting directing and all of it on another level along with getting lost in the story. I do feel they all deserve Emmys and the show and the director too..
That said the final segment was sort of like a couple pages of script were – lost.
I'm of the opinion that all did die in the plane crash but that as 'lost souls' with unfinished business these folks 'lived' the events that we witnessed over 6 years on the island as people unaware they had passed on but making an effort to do something good for others, redemption and all that jazz. BUT assuming that the people who say that these folks were not all dead from the get-go and that the events on the island were real and people died at various times later... are we to assume that when the atom bomb went off, everybody left on the island died? It was only after this event that we began to see the sideways purgatory sequences... Whatcha think? Any thoughts on the timing of these sequences beginning to appear having any kind of significance? Thanks for humoring me with any theories...
I love reading how many of you have revolved your lives around a television show. Who needs TV....I get drama, comedy, action, and complete personal satisfaction reading about how all of you wanna be, second rate "Trekies" have completely flushed yourselves down the toilet for a stupid TV series.......This is true entertainment......now go get a real life......L-O-S-E-R-S!!
The key is that they were not in limbo or dead on the island. It was real. They all moved on and lived their lives. Some got off the island and some didnt. At the end Hugo told Ben he was a good number two while Ben told Hugo he was a great number one. It was real. And now in the church they are all dead and they agreed to gather to remember and then move on together. Awesome ending.
Horrible ending to a show that should've been tied up in three seasons. BAD. Do not watch! J.J. Abrams needs to take a hike. Bored now!
So sad how everyone is hung up on whether they did or didn't die, and when exactly they did or didn't. This show isn't about that at all. It's about making things wrong, right. About acting on things you want, versus letting things happen. About seeing who you are, and how others see you. And then moving on.
Correct, Bean. Remember the scene last week with Anna Lucia? Desmond hinted that not everyone was ready. I also think that of all of the characters, Michael may the only one whose crimes were irredeemable.
I thought finale was very good. Had a lot of shades of "Our Town" play especially at the end. An amazing start and an impressive finish. Well done one and all.
@ Matt G – I believe you are assuming then that the island was only for the 815 survivors. It was not. There is probably too much to blog here but the writers left us clues all along. Lenny Sims in the metal hospital. Farady's girlfriend in a catatonic state. There is more than just the 815 survivors part of this.
Dang! I thought for sure they'd all wake up in bed with Suzanne Pleshette.
Hmmm
MIB slices throats and kills everything in his path however the minute he can slaughter everyone thats hes been trying to slaughter for 6 years of TV he takes a pass? For those of you that think the flash sideways is Purgatory/Holding blah blah please clarify MIB and Jacob roles and purpose. While your at it take a stab at the below.
Dharma Initiative?
Walt?
Michael?
Black Smoke?
Vanishing Island?
Numbers?
Light Source?
Why Charles Whitmore Stopped Aging at 60?
What a cheap ending. I apologise to the friends that I forced to watch LOST. Such an incredible let down. Everyone gets together and sings kumbaya.
The reason Michael wasn't there was because he was stuck as one of the "Whisperers" on the island. He actually showed up earlier this season and told Hurley so.
Loved the finale! It makes me laugh to see all the angry people posting here because they still don't get the show was supposed to make you think and discuss. It wasn't supposed to spell everything out for you.
I'm sorry Michael is dead...I forgot that. So, my theory now is that they're not ready to move on with the rest!
The ending left many unanswered questions. I don't mind an abstract ending, leaving the viewers to come to their own conclusions, but I was hoping for a bit more answers to questions. Like where does Jacob get his powers from, etc.
I felt a bit disappointed at the ending. It just felt like the writers could not come to a satisfactory conclusion based on all the information given to viewers over the past six years.
the island may not have been real. they show untouched wreckage at the very end. throughout the show, this wreckage is taken apart to be used for various things. showing untouched wreckage at the very end could serve to mean that they died in the crash. it is a possibility.
Brendan, people aren't getting it. It's weird. I get it, you get it...I don't know what the other people have been watching.
Ian, real fans have all of the answers that we need. Part time viewers are probably pretty confused, and haters like you wouldn't be happy with any ending. Oh, and by the way, the show was not cut short. The producers had intended all along for it to end in 5 seasons, but the writer's strike broke one season up into two. You have no idea what you're talking about.
Oh, and one more thing...for those of you who's very existence has hung on each and every episode of this show for the last 6 years........Get back to your children and families before they are LOST.....of course, you could always hope for a "flash-sideways" in which you are able to re-live these last 6 years and be the parent/spouse/friend/whatever that you haven't been because you are a pathetic loser who's life has hinged on the answers you were promised and never received....LAMESVILLE......
I enjoyed the finale! Those people that think it wasn't creative or that it was predictable are not realizing that LIFE ON THE ISLAND HAPPENED! I'm thinking the reason Michael, Walt, Richard, Miles,...etc. are not there in the church is because they haven't died yet, or they haven't remembered their life on the island yet, so they cannot move on.
Thank you, Marc, with a C;) I think we watched the same show, lol!
Seeing a lot of comments on here where people are completely misconstruing the ending.
The Island was real. What happened there really happened.
The Season 6 "Flash Sideways" was the "purgatory." Yes they were dead in those scenes.
One of the worst season finales, and one of the worst Lost episodes, ever. I expected something more creative than getting Dallas'd.
this finale was more about the characters and the relationships the developed. which is what the show has centrally been about all along. which is what made it so great.
Mark, Yes, everyone died...eventually, but they didn't ALL DIE ON THE PLANE. We don't even see Kate and Sawyer, Frank, Richard, or Miles die. They didn't even die on the plane originally. ??? And thanks for misspelling my name:)
Most people are not very intelligent and it's not surprising that the average fan did not realize as they were watching the show that everything that happened on the Island was REAL, and the alternate universe is what was left for interpretation, but we can gather that it is an afterlife, where they are all united, even though they died at different times – anything beyond that is up for us to interpret, forever more... as well as what the Island is and what it's purpose is.
The people who didn't enjoy the episode were looking for a checklist of answers – which would have been a terrible direction to take.
The final episode, just like the series as a whole, was beautiful.
wat i didnt understand is, hw did they all die.. first i thought they died wen they first crashed... but then i was like, no, it cant be. then thought they all died the beginging of season 6... but no.. because, jack died at the end.. so confused... but it was great... cant believe it ended... so sad...
Amazing ending. Many will not appreciate the brilliance in how this show was brought to a close, but that's their loss. As a fan of many television shows throughout my life, I can undoubtedly say that this was the best, hands down. Thank you Lost for an unforgettable 6 seasons.
-SB
No big reveals, no mind bending ending, but a very competent finale. My full review here:
http://jasoncollin.org/2010/05/24/lost-6×17-6×18-the-end-parts-1-2/
Awesome finale, as it made u think that purgatory can be a place you wait for those you care about to pass on, then u all can cross over together. I'll be honest it did not come to me that the flash-sideways was purgatory until jacks dad mentioned "what happened, happened, " and that "there is no now."
good ending to a great show!
I was completely onboard until the last 5 minutes...really? really? Everybody dies and goes to heaven? That's how it ends? I'm a big Lost fan, love the show, always will- great twists and turns, great charactors.
They dropped the ball on the 1 yard line, and lost the game.
Forget what you think you know and what you think others do not know. What all of you are failing to "get" is this: From day 1 you were promised answers. However, due to a dwindling audience, writers/producers were forced to end the show more abruptly than they wanted to and therefore you did not, and never will receive your answers.
Or option 2: You "Losties" have just been held hostage and suffered the biggest "duped" for the last 6 years. What a great marketing ploy. "There will be answers" keeps you interested, even if ever so slightly, and then you get.......NOTHING....ha ha. Bet you wish you could have your 6 years back.
Lost was nothing more than a story that spun itself way out of control, tried to go down far too many avenues, and ultimately "LOST" itself and therefore tied up no loose ends. What an easy exit for typical television writers and producers. They don't care if you still have questions. They never cared that you didn't have answers. Hell, they don't have the answers themselves. They tried to do too much and couldn't pull in the reigns before the show got the ax.
Nathaniel, I took that Eloise Hawking was like Desmond. That she knew everything she did in real life and "sideways", kind of puts it that some similar things happened to her an Widmore when they were on the island. Note, there was a body at the bottom of the waterfall. It couldn't be Smokey, because he's buried with his mom, and it's not Jack, obviously. Something else happened in the 50's and possibly why Widmore was banned from the island originally.
Um, Gillian, I got it form watching the show. It seems apparent each character was working out their own salvation. Again, this explains so many of the "unanswered questions" like Walt, Aaron, Ekko, etc. and it explains the alternate timeline this season. It was a test for each person. Once they chose, black or white, good or evil, they were "resolved" to move on (or remain stuck, like that couple that were fighting over the jewels in season one and both die...can't recall their names right now).
Benny, I'm with you on that. that's why it is amazing me that people are saying the clear answer is this or it's that. the ending is what you make it. If there is just untouched wreckage at the end, that would point to the conclusion that they all died in the crash. Yet, what christian said points otherwise. i think we should all just take our own ending, no matter what it may be, and not say others are wrong.
I only know I will remember this last episode forever. Maybe after all this years I was expectind=g someything different but I would not change one bit...
@Fred...the wreckage at the end....it was weathered and rusted....it merely showed you where the show started....it's the same wreckage from season one....just like the scene before that was Jack closing his eyes....the first scene in lost was Jack opening his eye...they were merely coming full circle
loved it loved it loved it thank you lost
Who has time for TV?
Absolutely Beautiful!!! Great ending! Thanks for concluding such a wonderful show in such a worthy manner!!!!
Nathan, it seems that every character in the flash sideways had invented some way of keeping themselves there (Jack's son, Charlie's addiction, etc). Eloise was most likely Desmond's.
this helped me understand so much more.
"Everything on the island happened. They landed, they left, they came back. Lots of people died. It ended with kate, sawyer, richard, miles, lapidus, (am I missing anyone?) leaving the island. Jack, Hurley, and Ben are all left behind. Jack dies. Hurley and Ben stay on the island as the new "Jacob." That's it. Everyone who left the island on the plane went back home and died at one point or another. Finally, after everyone died, they all met up in the flash sideways? And they go to heaven together."
perfect ending to one of, if not the, best show to ever be on tv.
those of you who are disappointed by the ending and have been fans of the shows are hypocrites. Dead is Dead, but the island heals you.
Fred, it means that the island was still there. That everything that happened on the island was real.
@mark..u are wrong ...lol...where did desmond and penny come from...they weren't on 815 and yet there they were in the church...along with faraday Ben etc....you should read up for what actually happened
fred, it was so that people would ask that question. I'm being serious. You didn't think they would let us go without one last piece of dangling bate for the bloggers, did you?
To Erica...
The "church" was not a Christian church. The first thing you notice when Jack walked into the back room was the stainglass window. The symbols were from numerous religions including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddism and more... So there was is wasn't offensive because it wasn't a church church but rather a symbol of the building Jack and the others built to meet in the afterlife.
When I first saw the final scene, I was as confused as most. "What the F... is going on". However, as I thought about it and rewatched the scene, it sank in more and more what the point of it and the sideways world was. It was a wonderful ending.
WHile there may be a bit of confusion as to why Jack has a son in the sideways world, that WAS elucidated by Locke when he was finally "awakened". Jack told Lock he had to get his son and Locke told him that he did not have a son.... because he really didn't. It was a ficticious world designed by all to exist and eventually move on together. The son was imaginary.
The only question I would have wanted answered out of all tht remain was about Eloise Hawking. What was here special connection with time? She knew more about what was going to happen than anyone else and I do not think we ever got a clear indication of what her special connection to time was. Anyone have an answer?
MARK, THEY DIDN'T DIE IN THE CRASH. Where are you getting this from???? They told you that some people were dead before Jack died, and some people died after Jack died. The point is that they were waiting for him to let go and come meet them so they could move on together. Where did it say that they ALL died in the crash???
What a waste! They are all dead...whoever thought of the ending should be shot!
People...get a life. Your obsessions area amazing. It's just a tv show. It's not real life. What will you do with yourselves now?
Okay, so someone please answer this because it has not been answered yet. what is the significance of the wreckage shown during the credits? what does this mean?
Before the show started I asked myself will it be a satisfying conclusion? Probably not. I sometimes think there were so many things I could have been doing. I could have read Tolstoy, painted oil on canvas, or pretty much anything with under privileged youths... but would it have been as much fun? I believe it was Lennon who said "Time you enjoyed wasting was not time wasted at all". Thats LOST for you.
As for the finale as a whole, well it wasn't what I expected but I loved every tear jerking minute of the ending to LOST. Incredibly beautiful and especially moving way to end the show. One of the finest finales I have ever seen. Financially speaking this unfortunately now validates the show as a whole, which means I now have to buy the $200 Blu-ray box set.
Hey, guess what? You can make up your own awesome answers to the questions that didn't get answers and tell everyone that asks that your ideas about the island are the honest to god facts;) It's called fanon, and I get the feeling it's going to be encouraged.
For those wondering where Walt was: He was dead. They ALL died in the 815 crash. This was a purgatory-type of story. Each character was working out their own "salvation" these past 6 years. The island kidnapped Walt to test if Michael would stop being a deadbeat dad & go after his son. In the end he chose self and was unable to move on. Babies could not be born there because the parents were already dead. But Claire's test WAS her baby. Would she choose to be a mother instead of running away? That was why it was so important she raise Aaron. And on and on...
From this perspective I think almost every question you could of had over the past 6 years is thus answered.
I thought Jimmy Kimmel said it best when he described it as Jack's test. It felt like the right ending to me. Especially with the knowledge that they had originally thought to have Jack die in the pilot show. Fitting that it would finally end up that way. I like the idea that the real world existed outside of the island and crazy, unexplained mystery stuff happened there. Some died on the island, some lived out their lives in the real world and they all met back in the "flash sideways" world to finish it up. People like Hurley and Benjamin, the people on the plane, live on but end up back with the people that had truly impacted them the most. I love that idea. Lost loves and friendships meeting up again... reunions we all wish to have with those we've lost. For me, it was about the journey and all of the fun I had watching it. Bravo to the producers and all involved. Great show.
@Boon
MIB did succeed in getting off the island. It happened exactly as it was supposed to. He moved on as well, and is with Jacob.
They were not dead. The whole time they where on the island they were all alive. The Alternate Reality was actually Purgatory and it happened after all the events on the island,. Its when all of those who died before, present and in the future gathered together to move on. Cause they all could not move on without each other.
Jed, it's called real science fiction. Don't confuse that with the Star Trek version where people need detailed schematics of a warp engine in order to accept the show. The island was real.
So way, way back Ben mentioned that you had to wait until "the island was done with you" to leave. So as each character was "done with", they waited in the flash sideways until they caught on that they were dead? (But it took some of them longer after death to catch on.)
They barely answered any questions & I loved every minute of it. What we did find out & how it played out, was enough for me.
I get it. LOST is like all religions. It makes no sense.
Jack's son was just a connection for him and Juliet, a subconcious agreement they made possibly, so they would know to wait for Jack or to bring Jack to them.
OMG..... They didn't die on the plane....how do you think penny and desmond were in the church..herp derp
Reminded me of the movie Vanilla Sky
Just ignore Seeking.
Seking, the show TOLD US IT HAPPENED. It's called suspension of disbelief. Everything on the island did happen.
really really bad. had such great expectations.
Didn't like it. My favorite juxtaposition is that people say "the island was real" but are satisfied that there are so many unexplained phenomena on the island.
Seking, I suspect that you are trolling, but if not, you are wrong on all accounts. Ben and Hugo stayed on the island until they died. Everyone else either died there or escaped. How can this be confusing?
ending kinda sucked. nice BUT, why was the island important? was aaron not important? why couldn't there be babies? what's with the numbers? if jacob and family could not leave the island how did jabob leave? did the side-ways world end up having no significance?
what is the point of creating questions if you have no plan to answer them?
I personally think that Ben decided to stay back, outside the church with the Losties, because he wanted to take care of Alex since he never got to do that in real life... That's the unfinished business he had to take care of.
It was brilliant! I'm not sure why people can't get their noodles around the idea that the Sideways!Flashes were the holding area. Everything on the island HAPPENED FOR REAL. How hard is that to understand? We didn't see all of their deaths. I think most answers are implied with a little creative license on the part of the viewer:) I've been through some crappy finales, but this wasn't one of them. I watched it, I understood it, I loved it and embrace the 114 hours I spent watching it. Perhaps, If I explained it like this: Remember, at the end of Lord of The Rings, when they go to The Grey Havens and Frodo and Bilbo get on the big boat? Okay, They are "moving on" to Valhalla. That is why they are waiting for Jack. So they can move on and go to Valhalla, whatever that may be for your religion or what not. Hope that helps:)
Jason B, Lost was a character drama set against a science fiction background. I understand the confusion that a lot of people have because both genres are very poorly represented on TV. Lost was the last. But if you understand the genres, the finale was a conclusion for the characters and their relationships. What the island was and how it worked will forever remain a mystery, as it should.
Anyone who thinks that the events that happened on the island were "real" must be idiots. We all know what took place on that island can't happen in the real world. Even the characters knew something was impossible about it, but refused to face it. It was the island of unfinished business. They needed to work things out before they could move on. They all moved on, Jack being the last. Ben is still on the island.
The island was NOT purgatory. The island and everything on it actually happened, the flash sidways was some sort of post-death place for them to get ready to move on.
Jesus, did some of you not watch the same show as the rest of us? Some of these comments make it seem as though you were watching a totally different show half of the time. If you were actually listening to the dialog, and paying attention to what was going on, you'd realize that no one lied. Everything that happened, happened. It was real. The whole church scenario takes place years (being a relative term) down the line, when everyone from 815 has died for some reason or another. Those not in the church either never made it (i.e. Michael) or weren't ready. (Ben, Ana Lucia, Daniel, Charlotte, etc.)
TO all of those that are saying they were dead, they were NOT dead, they lived on the island and when they were all dead they left together. If you saw the beginning of season 6 you would have seen that the world that they were in where the airplane doesn't crash was different than the world where the island was. They were not all dead at the beginning. They died during the course of the show, jack being the last one.
I felt like the series, including the sideways and time travel, had been all Jack's imagination as he lay dying all the way up to the closing eye shot. Is this what one experiences dying, because there's no other plausible explanation! The last 10 minutes just show that no matter what happened on the island, they'd still end up in the same place. I'd like to know the consequences of both universes had MIB succeeded in getting off!
I didn't expect the finale to reveal every secret of the island...but I expected some answers. Instead I get what most people assumed for years: everyone's dead. The island is real and the characters where alive when they were on it, I get that, but in the end it just played as a back drop for a spiritual life and death / good and evil debate. I'm science minded and I wanted some sort of facts to what the island is and what role it plays in the world.
I loved the fact the characters we all love ended up happily together. I am really upset that they won’t explain what the island is. We know it was real because of mainly Jack’s dad, as many people pointed out. I must say the most revealing line was: “Some died before you and some died after you” and they all created this universe so they may find each other and be together. They had three years to explain it and took the easy way out; they didn’t want to have anyone say, no way or that is stupid, they would rather continue messing with our heads. However, I still loved the ending and was satisfied to most degrees. I must admit I couldn’t stop crying since Jack told Kate I love you and left.
Glad I quite watching it earlier on. It was too frustrating... Glad I did not continue watching.
VERY VERY Disappointed. Becomes an average show, that does not mean anything in the end. A waste of time.
Wow for those who say "Oh i was right they were all in limbo the whole time" you clearly didnt understand what happened. The "flash-sideways" world was limbo...thats it. Everything on the island happened.
@Erica Manfred - I kept waiting for someone to mention this. Go back and look at the stained glass in the room where Jack meets Christian. You'll see all major religions represented there....including a mysterious wagon wheel symbol (or donkey wheel as some have called it) It wasn't about Christianity or any specific religion, you just have to look for their clues.
Worst ending ever.
Oh for the love of christ. They didn't die on the island. They were alive the whole time. The side ways flashes which were only in season 6 was afterlife that they all created. Everyone was there because they had such strong bonds with one another. The show was about relationships. Not all this sci-fi/object crap. That stuff was just the vehicle to the story of their relationships. In the end, all they needed was each other. We're there unanswered questions? Sure, but all that really matters is what happened. In the end they all got what they wanted which was each other.
I thought it was great, especially the last 5 minutes. Where was Michael though?
I loved this ending. It was a real Heartbreaker. You grew to love these characters and then to find out they were all dead was like losing a great friend. When these characters died they were all lost souls.I think they all died in the plane crash and the island wasn't real in the way we saw it. It was a way to show us how these lost souls all found each other and overcame their fears and needs before they moved on. They did it together so they wouldn't be alone or lost in the afterlife. They all needed each other. Michael and Walt weren't there because they had found each other. I think the island represented their fears and failures and that is what they needed to do before moving on. just my opinion.I really wish it had had a cheerier ending (sheds tears)
I love how some people are calling other people that "didn't get it" idiots. Get a life! It was just a TV show and if people don't understand the ending or have a different interpretation than so be it. Life will go on and you need to let go.
I think people need to rewatch the season finale. The island was NOT purgatory. The flash sideways were. Even then it wasn't limbo it was a paradise where everyone turned out happier . The door in the church was a door to whatever was next. Perhaps they were going to be reborn perhaps they were going to heaven. They left it open so you can interpret it how you would like
FINAL EXPLANATION:
The plane crashed in the first episode. Everything you saw in Season 1-5 actually happened. They all lived on the island during those seasons the way it played out on screen. THEY WERE NOT DEAD. The Oceanic 6 got off the island for awhile but DID come back to the island. That really happened. Some people throughout these first 5 seasons died on the island (like Boone, and Charlie, for example) as the show progressed. Those people moved on to "Limbo", but we never saw those stories.
Then Season 6 rolled around and we started to see these "Sideways" stories. It looked as though the characters were somehow back in America, living their lives and didn't know each other. This "Sideways" storyline was actually "Limbo-land".
(stay with me here...)
So meanwhile, back on the island, Jack becomes the new Jacob, Locke has become Smokey... everything you were seeing this season on the island was STILL actually happening.
In tonight's final episode, we saw Jack get stabbed, and lay back down in the grass in the trees (coincidentally where the show started). He dies there in the grass.
Everyone else (like Sawyer, Lapidus, Kate, Claire, etc.) fly off back to America in the airplane. Jack watches the plane fly away overhead. Those people on the plane, presumably, go back to America and live out their lives and die of natural causes.
Hurley and Ben stay on the island and, we assume, live out their last days protecting the island. ("You were a good number two." "You were a great number one".) They live to be old men and die as well.
It's then, in tonight's final episode, that we realize that they've all died (some old, maybe 50 years from now, some maybe sooner, but at some point, they've all died), and they've decided to "meet up" in Sideways "Limbo-land", so that they can move on to the afterlife together. They all just happened to look the same age they did on the island when they have the meeting in the church at the end. They all wanted to let go together...
Some people ask about Michael, or Mr. Ecko, or other characters like that. We can only assume that they weren't part of the pact to meet up in "Limbo" and move on as part of the group to heaven. In fact on Jimmy Kimmel tonight, Michael said that his character was doomed to wander the island forever as a ghost, whispering to anyone that comes on the island... but we'll never know I guess.
Does that help clear anything up?!?!
It was an emotional ending indeed. A lot of characters lost came back to connect the dots. The truth came out, and I think most viewers knew what it was going to be, but were too afraid to admit. Most of us share Jack's feelings. Kudos!
No, Ben is still struggling with his unfinished business. He is still on the island. Forgiven by everyone but himself. Waiting for the next group. Protecting the island of unfinished business. Waiting for something that will finally let him move on. He plays out his life, over an over, righting all the wrongs that he did, helping the girl who he must have abandoned, but still unable to forgive the horrible things that he did. Still unable to move on. Ben now protects the island of unfinished business.
Alright, to all the naysayers out there:
This guy has it right-
" May 24th, 2010 12:23 am ET
But that's just it. They weren't dead on the island. They all lived out the rest of their lives and were waiting for each other before they moved on together."
The entire meaningful adventure happened. And it happened in all its spectacular suspense, glory and time-bending. Those who are saying "oh boy, I had it from the start, they're dead". Such a cliche might have been spot on in a lesser show, but here its only true of the "sideways" universe.
The alternate universe was a plot device to finalize character development in a way the island could not. So while we get the climax of the adventure and ultimate saving of the island, we simultaneously get the emotional catharsis. Each character is able to forgive, ask forgiveness and accept what has befallen them.
All about the characters people. Few shows can boast that-
Awesome ending.
Ive been an avid lost fan since the beginning.
And while I hated jack dying..there was no better way to end the show.
It was done so beautifully, I just couldn't be upset by it.
Astounding how many are too dim to get past the "They all died on the island" nonsense. They did not all die on the island. Kate, Miles, and the others escaped on the plane and died in their own times. That's why Kate tells Jack how much she's missed him. They've been apart for a year, a decade, a millennium . . . . Time is irrelevant. Go back to watching World's Most Extreme Videos, kiddies and leave discussions on the nature of existence to the adults.
I'm beginning to suspect trolls because there can't be this many people who really still think the characters were dead from the beginning.
Read through the comments. Or better yet, pay attention to the show!
The characters weren't dead or in Purgatory. Ever.
The Flash Sideways was a view from the distant future after everyone had lived out their days. They just all met up again one last time to help us viewers realize that the Island had indeed helped them all find themselves somehow.
Amazingly beautiful ending to the best show ever.
I loved the ending and I'll miss the show..... Looking forward to the complete bluray boxset!
Walt and Richard were not on the show because they could not be recast for the finale and especially because Richard has already "grown up".
it all boils down to this...
those of us with imagination and creativity and open mind LOVE this show and ending...
Those of us who are bitter in life, are single minded and love to put down writers of shows when they themselves can't do better than a wal-mart job... they don't like the show. figures
Is the fact that Ben chose not to go into the church an indication that he was going to hell? Why not join the others?
Amazing how many people don't get it. This explains why CSI has two spin-offs. Viewers are completely incapable of processing anything even remotely intelligent. I really don't know what questions people still need answered, or why so many insist that the island was purgatory. Were you even watching?
Beautiful.
Anybody who criticizes the finale simply didn't understand it. If you've been attentively watching the show since the beginning, the ending was a perfect goodbye.
@Seeking: No.
No. I think they all were dead and the island was a limbo place where everybody went until they were ready to move on. The sideways universe was the "nowhere" that didn't follow time which is the afterlife. Jack died in the same spot where he awoke in the very first episode which means he finally had his closure and was ready to move on. All the other characters just continued to go on until they found their own personal closure and joined Jack in the afterlife.
Go into the light...That explains everything. Lost was a made for tv movie that was picked up by the network. It had no story from the beginning. Now ABC can finally stop sucking up to its creators.
Loved the series and ALMOSt loved the ending. The fact that they live happily ever after, but only in the afterlife did not do it for me.
wow, so many ignorant people on here that have no clue what they're talking about. they just didn't understand the show or the ending. sad to thing they watched this for 6 seasons & still didn't pay enough attention to get the ending. it wasn't a dream. they didn't all die in the plane crash.
Why wasn't Vincent invited to the heaven party?
They were dead from the moment they hit the island. The island was "unfinished business". There was never any escaping the island other than to move on. There was no past, present or future on the island. There was no real or unreal. There was no possible or impossible. There was only unfinished business. And the island is unfinished business. Try all you can, but the island was a metaphor. The only thing that keeps the island in existence is the refusal of at least 1 person to move on, to stay on the island. Thanks to Ben, the island is still there. Still waiting for more unfinished business. People between life and death who need to finish business, and it takes as short or as long as it needs to, there is no time. Only unfinished business. And thanks to Ben, Sequel.
I totally understand the ending, but have to admit that I'm now confused when I think of the whole atomic bomb thing from the end of last season. My assumption had been that the alt-verse was a result of the bomb going off and changing history. Since I was obviously wrong, what happened with the bomb? Was the white flase just a red herring & there was no bomb blast on the island?
I did like the ending because it was a moving ending. But it was quite clear that the finale was not meant to answer all the questions. I think the writers were holding other qualities of the show more important than the audience. The writers focused on the characters, not the Island itself. It may have been a way for the writers to get out of having to explain the story and the purpose the Island holds. It also could have been a way of saying that the Island doesn't matter, it's the journeys that were most important. It is an interesting way to end a series. I feel unfulfilled yet moved by the story. I guess not all questions are meant to be answered.
It was so bleh that even "Bad Robot" was "Speechless" at the end
Christian Sheppard said it directly, they weren't dead on the island. Those were the people that were important in their "LIFE". The "jump sideways" was the afterlife, created as a way for them to find each other. Some of them died before Jack (Charlie, Shannon, Jin, Sun, etc), and some died after Jack (Hurley, Kate, Sawyer, etc), but they are all dead at that moment in the jump sideways. The jump sideways wasn't real, but the island, and everything else, happened in the living world. They just left all the unanswered questions (what was the island, why was it special), unanswered, and basically said they weren't going to answer it with Jacobs mother. If you thought they were dead on the island, you weren't listening in the last 5 minutes.
Good ending and a heartwarming episode. It really didn't all sink in until after the end. I see a lot of people missed the fact that the island was real and the sideflash world was sort of like purgatory. They were all waing around for the last one to die bedfore they "let go". The ending gets two thumbs up from me.
Terrible! I wish I had kept my receipt as I would be returning this crap in the morning. People came out in droves during season three saying that everyone was dead and that the island was purgatory...the writers all jumped up and down and said it was neither one. Lies! Seemed very predictable once it was said and done. One more thing...so Ben is not dead?
A horrible ending to what could be the most overrated show in television history. Good riddance Lost...you will not be missed.
Thought it was great. Sideways time line was a purgatory for everyone who died. We all die at some point. And there was no now. I like how they all helped one another to the other side.
What's best is that the island was always there and "really happened" to the characters. Spin-off of Hurley and Ben running the island???
Thanks for an amazing show!
The finale just confirmed my belief that LOST was throughout a mindless show. The show never made any sense but at least there was a promise:"Questions will be answered". Where and what are the answers? No, I do not want to hear about parallel universes and alternate reality I want plain English.
I could write a book about how the show took us for a ride. From the top of my head, since birth Jacob has been a caveman who knew no better than the island is the whole world. In the end we are told that he chose "candidates" from outer world which he didn't even knew existed.
For 6 years we have been in denial and told ourselves that there can be an explanation while there is/was none.
begin watching lost with my father . my father pass away in 2008.
life go on and we must accept that we will all die someday.
The last 5 minutes of Lost I reminisced having the same feeling I had the last 5 minutes of the movie Sixth Sense.
I am so sad this show has ended, but what a great way to go-good triumphs over evil and all of the original characters are together again.
Now all we have left to watch is crappy reality TV, police shows, lawyer shows, and hospital dramas.
I think I'll go get a good book.
Some survivors of 815 died on the island, and others lived to make it off, presumably dying of old age, illness, whatever.
At the point of death, whenever and wherever that may have been, all of them would have had one question on their minds – what would my life have been like if 815 never went down?
The flash sideways alternate reality / purgatory allowed them to experience the life they would have had if the crash never happened.
Desmond, the constant, was the first to figure out that things were not as they were intended to be, and he started rounding up the Losties one at a time.
The group would not move on to the afterlife until Jack was ready to go... a gesture of thanks for the man who refused to leave any of them behind on the island.
I'm still trying to completely understand the very end, but I think it was not a bad ending from what I can interpret..... The series as a whole is just awesome, regardless.
Lame ass ending.
^ years of ultra creative writing...only for a cheesball finale.
EPIC FAIL
Just what had been said on the show...Remember then LET IT GO...lol
I agree that all the questions/mysteries were not answered. But maybe they don't have to be (lol I haven't totally convinced myself of that yet...). This was, first and foremost, a story about the people. What gets me though is how a lot of people posting on here did NOT understand that the entire island experience WAS supposedly real, while the flash sideways were the "limbo" scenes. I mean, really now...that was about as obvious as anything could be!
They *weren't* all dead after Flight 815...pay attention, people!
Well. Everything on the Island happened just as it did. Some of them lived out the rest of their lives and then met up in the afterlife when they died. It was a little confusing at first but it makes sense. I didn't care for the ending but was looking forward to it being over. I'm done watching ABC now that the show is gone. There will never be another like it.
I don’t know how I feel; kinda shell-shocked. I’m happy, sad and somewhat confused, but totally get it all in one. Life is about choices, and I believe that might be why there were all the different versions of everyone’s life. I believe in the living of life, many answers don’t get answered and won’t get answered until you are on the other side! I don’t know what I’m going to watch on TV now. I looked for my Tuesdays!
no seking.
they weren't dead from the beginning...
the Island was real, it wasn't purgatory,
the alt time line was purgatory. I don't think you understand.
Everything that happened on the island and for the past six seasons was REAL. it was the "sideways" time-line that was kind of a purgatory
Surprised with a cliche Sixth Sense ending. Nothing surprising, risky or creative. This is arm chair existentialism at its worst! The writers took no chances at all. A chapel full of symbols of all the world religions – that plays it safe. Doesn't matter that most of these faiths are mutually exclusionary.
Junk food for our minds – the problem with our pop society isn't that it has nothing to believe in, it is that it believes in everything.
EXTREMELY perfect ending. Not an easy ending. Very thoughtful, touching, profound, and perfectly in keeping with the creative arc of the entire series. Look at how we are all talking about the show.
Anyone that thinks this ending sucked is not able to appreciate the bigger picture.
that was exactly as it should have been.... leaving a little to the imagination, but still closing it off enough to have some semblance of a finish. perfect. all that i expected. nothing more.
They were all dead the whole time, from the beginning. They just "moved on" in their own time. Though there is no time.
And by they way @Dave Spataro, Ben is now in charge of the Island. He is #1. He is the only one left who didn't move on. He probably never will. Poor, sad Ben. If you disagree, the whole point of the "ritual" is to ensure that someone refuses to "leave the island", for the sole purposes of having someone left who didn't move on. Sequel.
Guys, all those who are saying they were dead ON the Island,
YOU ARE ALL DEAD WRONG! (no pun there)
they didn't Die in the Pilot.
You really NEED to pay attention!!
I'm amazed that so many people don't "get it". They have NOT been dead since the plane crash. ONLY the "flash sideways" part of of this season has been an "afterlife" story.
LAME ENDING!!!!
After all the twists and turns I expected something more than the obvious. Somewhere during second season, I told my wife that the island was just some form of purgatory, and they were all trying to get to paradise or some form of it. Wasn't this just an expanded Twilight Zone episode?
And, where was Walt and his father? Why were they not included in the final episode? What about gay Santa and the "others?" I mean, the other others too, not just the "others." Aw, who cares anyway?
LAME, LAME, LAME.
Watch The Latest Movie online Free at M O V I E S 2 7 . C O M
Also See Lost Alternate endings for the finale
I found all the Christian iconography offensive. If I was a Jewish Lostie I'd have been pretty upset to find the anteroom to Heaven was a church with a lot of Jesus statues around. How about Sayid. He was probably a Muslim.
HYPE HYPE HYPE...waste of 6 years...ending was worse and so predictable....black smoke is a joke
:D
A perfect ending to a perfect show.
And people, they have not been dead since the beginning!!! As was made quite clear, many of them lived on for years. ONLY the events of the flash-sideways timeline were after their deaths.
I felt like Jack represented Jesus in some ways. And maybe his father was even supposed to be God.
Thanks for the 6 years of a great show regardless. Ignore the retards wining cause half the show went over there heads.
What was lost all about??
I am truly lost.
Was Ben waiting for his daughter and her mom? Also, Charlotte and Physics boy Widmore were staying in limbo a bit longer also....waiting to 'hook up' I assume?
Not all dead on island. Go back and listen to what Jack's father said to him. Good grief. Overall, was OK ending. Can easily discuss why Ben, Micheal, Walt, Anna and others not in the church with them... they all agreed to meet or wait for each other. So not all were part of "their" agreement.
Ending could have been so much more. Seemed like story writers didn't put in the full measure tho... imo, great story with a less than adequate ending.
Ok I get it so they all came together but what was up with the final scene where they show the plane crashed on the beach...
someone should sue the writers and abc for the farce that took six years of so many peoples' lives. they started with no story but led people on pretending they would come up with one – yet knowing that they couldn't and they didn't care. sue . . . let's take all of their money away!!!
LOST = Lack Of Serious Talent... what a waste, like 93.34% of all TV shows
Wow my gandmother who died three years ago was exactly right. She had the entire story and ending figured out. I hope it pans out that way for me.
GREAT finale! but, a lot of people are getting it wrong. they weren't all dead while they were on the island. that was all a real experience. the ending scenes were what happened for each character when they did die, whether it was while they were on the island or sometime after. jack's dad told him some of the people there "died before him and some after."
if you didn't like the finale, you weren't watching for the right reasons.
Just reading thru, it seems many people totally missed the ending. It wasn't purgatory, the pilot episode wasn't the beginning and end. All of the island events happened. Those who feel cheated, you weren't paying attention.
I couldn't have been happier with the ending, one of the best ways they could have ended the show. Still, questions remain...
I still can't believe it's over ...
I loved every second, amazing ending!!!
Loved the journey. Sad that it is over. I will miss having television that makes me think so deeply and care so much. Loved Jack. I so happy I started this ride six years ago and that it will be part of my cultural literacy. I learned more from googling and discussing after each episode about philosophy and physics than I did in high school and college. Thanks for the great ride!
And in the end... the love you take is equal to the love you make.
Great show. It will be missed. I wish they would have explained more about the island. But overall ......6 years explained in the last 3 minutes. lol awesome.
Why was Aaron a baby in the church instead of a grown child or man or whatever he was when he actually died? And what about Sun's baby...it wasn't in the church either...AH!!!
I am totally satisfied and impressed. Best series finale ever. And I think it's hilarious that half of the posters completely missed the point. (They weren't all dead on the island, people. All if that was real). I have always said that Lost was the last show on network television that asked viewers to think for themselves, and it's a completely fitting ending for those who did. For those who need everything tied up in a neat package and a simple explanation, I am very happy that you were disappointed.
Oh man, it was just like that time when the Skipper lit a signal fire and they *ALMOST* got off the island but in the end Gilligan messed it up and they didn't get off the island after all, and then years later they did a reunion show and they were still on the island, but this time they actually got off the island, only to have Gilligan mess it up and then they wound up RIGHT BACK ON THE ISLAND, exactly where they were, almost as if they had been FATED to stay on that island forever.
I was originally disappointed in the ending when I thought everyone had died in the plane crash from the beginning, (I thought that was the case from the beginning, and I'm sure it crossed all our minds once or twice), but when I realized that the characters did not die in the crash, but rather lived the rest of their lives and came to meet again in their deaths, I was much more satisfied and appreciated the final episode. I think it was a beautiful, poetic ending. I was very moved, and, I'm embarrassed to say, even shed a few tears once or twice. I was disappointed that more questions weren't answered, but I respect and appreciate the decision to focus on the individual characters rather then the island itself.
Overall, great ending to a great show. Though, as the story progressed, the plot did not end up the way I thought it would, or even close to how I thought the series would conclude, when watching season one, I was very satisfied with the outcome. A beautiful conclusion to a never-dull, thought provoking series. You will be missed, survivors of oceanic flight 815.
Ahhhhh come on! – Let the dog in heaven for chrisssake!!!
i dont get the ending, were they dead along, or did they all die ... WHAT?
I really love this show it sad to see it end its the only good show on tv the show really made me think and feel.
Great ending but people, they weren't all dead from the beginning. Their lives on the island were real. They all died at some point whether on or off the island. When they died, they didn't know they were dead (watch the movie The Others) and their souls lived this alternate life where they were happy. At the end, they were all awoken to the fact that they were all dead and created this place where they could all be together, everyone that was significant to them. It didn't matter when they died, it only mattered when they realized it.
I was disappointed. Where was Walt and son? The dog was there but not them. Also where was Miles? I guess people will still be talking about Lost 50 years from now.
And...they did not die in the plane crash at the beginning.
For a show that didn't make sense for 6 years and obviously didn't care to, they took the only out they had – make the show essentially a dream sequence. If none of it was real, it doesn't have to make sense!
Lost was, is, and always will be a complete fraud.
Eric
tronik "If they hadn't shown Jack had a son in the sideways world, I would have been completely fine with the last 5 minutes."
Jacks "purgatory son" was a way for jack to understand/reconcile the rocky relationship he had with his dad.
They were not all dead!!!
Wow guys – listen to Christian's words!
Some died on the Island, some afterward. They all came together in the end.
Loved it
Of course they were all dead. The plane crashed. The rest of the series was about as weird as it gets (as if anything like that could ever happen), but people watched it in pretty big numbers and I guess that is all that matters.
I thought the whole episode was very satisfying. Some questions may not have been answered but the series was always about the people not the island itself. I don't believe that there will ever be another show that is as daring and deeply moving as lost has been.
And the island parts were not limbo like some people believe, it is only the flash-sideways that were limbo
The end takes a second or two to sink in, but they did NOT die in the plane crash, as others have said, the crash happened, the island happened and one by one those that we didn't see die (i.e. Jin and Sun drowning, Juliet dying in the hole etc) all died eventually and when the last of them (Jack) died, they all went off to the hereafter together. Once you understand that it is a beautiful ending. And as for the unanswered questions, it's like the old song "Ode To Billy Joe" they don't matter (in the case of the song, it doesn't matter what was thrown from the bridge, that's not the point, the island ultimately isn't the point either).
Worst Ending Ever.
I feel cheated. What an anti-climatic, unsatifying ending. And a cop out with the whole church thing too. I did enjoy most of the series thoroughly; i just wish they would have explained more before such a crappy finish.
Yeah....I said the first year...they are all DEAD and in limbo....the producers said NO THAT IS NOT IT.....well...that WAS IT....you lied to us for the almighty dollar. If you had nothing new to tell, you shouldn't have told it....or made a 2 hour movie.....The Sixth Sense did it so much better. So I guess the island was only a metaphor for crushing your demons and heading for THE LIGHT.....STUPID...we have seen this way too many times....I am really really disappointed as I gave 6 years to this and was hoping to be WOWED by it. Those who are touched by the church thing have only just jumped on and not known the full history. YOU LIED TO US GUYS!!!!! LIED!!!!! Maybe you need to go to an island and REPENT...
So it was purgatory the whole time? I don't get it.
The only way the ending could have been worse is if Jack had woken up from a coma. That was so disappointing. I just spent 6 years of my life devoted to this show only to find out the first episode's plane crash was actually the end of the show and the rest was just bunk
Wow! Loved it! What a great ending. Full circle back to the bamboo grove, redemption and love. Very well done indeed, much to ponder. Thank you for a great show!
The Lost Serie was incredible, congratulation. But the ending is a little poor. How the island got that power? who made the island?.. There are many unanswer questions. Please make a movie and tell that part of the story.
why when I post here it does not show? what am I doing wrong.
I was hoping that the story would come full circle – but I was not expecting it to end quite like this. Needless to say it did make sense and it worked.
I like the loose ends b/c it gives fans the creativity to tie them together the way they see fit.
I'm already ready to relive LOST! Tomorrow I start with the Season One – Episode One.
Frustration
I have to say it was much better than the sopranos finale! I thought it was great but they probably could have gotten a seventh season.
Good ending for a great show but it still left me a touch irritated. After everything that happened we still never definitely found out the true significance of the island and what it actually existed for. We found out WHO the smoke monster is but never WHAT it was and also there was significant history (the Egyptian references?) that was left out. Fortunately we did find out about the "sideways flashes" of this season and ultimately what befalls the characters. Maybe one day the creators will shed some light on the remaining mysteries but for now I can say that I enjoyed the ride. Thanks Lost!
Terrible ending. Where is Walt??
Pincher Martin.
beautiful . . . pull back the curtains of death and imagine a world peopled with being of you creation while alive. . . for weel or woe . . those born of envy, greed, will not make great company. But imagine that world peopled with kind generous caring souls !!
That is what this ending was all about !
BEAUTIFUL !!!
Most relationship issues were resolved – some questions about the island still unanswered – but in the end it was about the characters and how they related to one another and were able to resolve their "issues" before they died.... I liked the idea of a "reunion" before "moving on"... but poor Ben... ????
If they weren't dead the whole time, then why did they show the plane's wreckage over the final scene?
I was so dissapointed with the season finale. I was hoping that they wouldn't do a "Soprano" ending and that's exacly what they did. I wish I didn't watch the last 2 1/2 hours.
I was disappointed, it was an uncreative ending.
Amazing! They could not have ended it better. An explanation but not discarding anything that happened along the way.;
You were expecting "all the answers" in the last 5 minutes of a TV show. To what? Life? God? Existence? Please. Fantastic entertainment. Some the best to ever air on American television. I suspect many of the "it sucked" comments are from those who were never fans and couldn't wait to post a comment on how bad the ending was. Go back to "Idol," the Kardashians, the bag of chips, and the rest of your sorry lives. The rest of us will cherish the epic mythology of our time.
I guess I'm a still on the fence because those last 5 minutes really threw me for a loop! Were they dead from the beginning, or did they live in the island and then die to come together in limbo and move-on together?? I don't know... I'm LOST. But I still loved the show!
Um, what about Michael and Walt? They were originals to the cast....and richard!
Great ending to a great show. It was about acceptance. If you can't accept the ending, you will always be LOST.
Great show I loved them all I will now be lost on tuesday night this is truely the last good show on tv.
Beautiful ending. For me, the ending was less about the plot and more about the characters. While some questions remained unanswered, the characters got a fitting ending. The closing shot was genius!
Bye-bye Lost! Thanks for a great 6 years! As Desmond would say: "See ya in another life, brotha!"
why when I post here doesn't my post appear? feel like I'm wasting my time responding to CNN's site.
Lost was one of thr best written and compelling drama in the history of telivision. However,I was disapointed in the ending i remained "lost'.
do you guys not understand? they weren't dead on the island...whatever happened, happened...the sideways world was a place "untouched by the concept of time"...it was a place that the 815'ers created so that together WHEN THEY DIED ON THEIR OWN TIME, they could get back together and move on as a group...ana lucia, eko, and the other 815 survivors weren't there b/c they weren't ready to move on...i loved it!
Great ending. For those of you who are lost with the final episode, exactly what were you expecting after a plane crash? Surely not survivors....................
disappointed by the ending what happened to Richard Alpert, ending just doesnt make sense
John Locke said "you don't have a son" and Jack was dead, and created a better world with the rest of the losties. He had a son in the altiverse because he WANTED a son. the son was not real. see my prior post.
So a lot of y'all didn't get it–the island wasn't limbo, it was real. Just the church scene (and sideways flashes this season) were not real.
Oops, sorry. I forgot to include Kate in on all the survivors of the pointless island.
Never watched this show. It didn't sound interesting so I never bothered to watch it. Don't feel that I've missed a thing either!
Didn't watch the final, and won't watch it. This season, as well as most episodes of the last 1 or 2, have been major disappointments. All of the time-shifting back and forth left me...indifferent and confused. Takes too much to be invested in a show like that. To me, it seems like the writers started reading their reviews a few seasons ago too closely, and went about making it confusing for the sake of being confusing.
Glad it's gone. Don't believe tha hype.
They weren't all dead on the island guys, they all died at different times and all ended up in a common timeline limbo where everything was great. When they were ready they all met at the church to move on together.
Still sucks they didn't explain stuff like the Smoke Monster, The Island's Power, how Jacob and Richard didn't age, etc. etc.
After all of that nothing mattered. Sawyer, Claire, Miles, Frank, and Richard survive to live out their lives. Hurley and Ben take care of the island together as number one and number two until the day they die. And Jack dies where it all begins. All the questions like what was the numbers, who built the ruins, what was the point of the island, how the hell did a plug in a cave underground turn a guy into a smoke monster....all that didn't matter at all. After six years the answer to all the questions is "You're gonna die. Spend the time with the ones you love." Well thanx J.J. but I already knew that! First Sopranos, then Battlestar, and now Lost........they are making it hard for me to be a fanboy.
Whoever is saying they "called it" because they think they were dead the whole time wasn't paying attention. They weren't dead the whole time. The Sideways world was where they all went when they eventually died.
My initial reaction was also, "so they were dead the whole time?" which is of course wrong–it's only Jack who dies at that moment; as his dad points out, the afterlife has no 'now.' The end takes place after a certain amount of time has passed and the others have all died, be it from old age or anything else.
I think it was a very good ending; great last episode. Great series. I'll miss it.
Good-bye, farewell, Amen...
I felt the ending was satisfactory overall. But there's one thing I'm having trouble getting my
mind around. If the sideways world was just a form of purgatory for the lost souls of the island before they let go of their island baggage, how does Jack's son figure into the equation?! If they hadn't shown Jack had a son in the sideways world, I would have been completely fine with the last 5 minutes.
Brilliant! Absolutely Brilliant!
I got it! The island was a REAL existence, everything happened...hurley even became the new jacob/jack, and benjamin was a #2 to help him. Jack died, and some time later, MAYBE years, hurley and ben also died, because hurley stood outside the church and said "man, you were an awesome #2" and Ben said, you were a great #1. (this says ...that things continued to happen after Jack died, and hugo DID watch over the island.) THE ALTIVERSE was like a limbo. UNTIL all of them were dead and ready to let go, they all stayed together and created an alternate life, a BETTER one than they once lived.
Very good closure at one level and I sort of saw it coming when it was clear that people have been drawn to/brought to the island for hundreds if not thousands of years; once I picked up on that I figured we weren't going to get details on at a micro level and we'd need to focus on a much, much higher issue. I'm looking forward to some clarifying explanations over the next several days from the LOST team... best my wife and I can reconcile right now (night of the series wrap) is what Christian Shepard said... and yes, we're going to watch it again on the DVR this week as well.
Outstanding series, one of those that we usually only see on pay-for-cable.
T.
definitely lots of things open to interpretation but i think two things that you can take away:
1.) what happened on the island timeline was reality and actually happened
2.) the alternate timeline was the afterlife. Christian Shepard stating that there really was no "now" in the afterlife is very telling in my opinion. I think it helps explain that not all of those people had died at once (Oceanic 815 crash) but had died at some point...whether that was on the island or 30 years from when Jack shut his eyes in the final scene.
Dissapointed! I said from the first show if they were dead or dreaming the writers took the cheap and easy way out. Nothing was explained, nor did it have to be since it was a non existing place. Boooo!
I'm heartbroken. I cried through the entire final episode. I'll miss them all very much. I felt as though each one of them really mattered to me. I'm still not sure how I feel about the last few minutes, but I know it will be really hard for me to just 'Remember and let go'. No more lines like "He's worse than Yoda" or "That's really sweet, but we're all about to die". Thank you Lost for an incredible time. You'll be remembered 4,8,15,16,23,42 years later.
I hated the ending. It was still confusing....when did they die? What happed to Miles and Richard? I was expecting more.
The last 5-10 minutes were SO sad for me. Not the curveball I was expecting but appropriate, poignant, and beautiful. A fantastically well-done show and I will miss it...but then again, we all have to let go, right?
Yes!! Same here, I always thought that it was in limbo!
Predictable ending (that they were dead) and was very moving. But where was Walt and his son?
Greatest television show I have ever seen. I understand why some may be disappointed by the ending, but if you go into it with an open mind knowing full well that all questions will not be answered, it is very moving.
I stopped watching after the first 4 episodes when it became apparent that this show was going to be all about NOT telling me what's going on. I didn't have the patience or the stamina to invest that much aggravation. I'll probably rent them all now, though.
finally ...
Great ending. Sort of answered a lot of speculation while retaining all that had happened on the island.
I'm still quite mixed about the ending. Having watched the show from inception, I guess I wanted to understand all of the island's "mysteries" and apparently, they will stay that way.
Although I realize there is no way to clear up all the details in one last show, the ending left me wondering if Jack brought it full circle by becoming the "smoke monster". We'll never know for sure...
Very uncreative ending. I feel like all the hours I spent watching are LOST
But that's just it. They weren't dead on the island. They all lived out the rest of their lives and were waiting for each other before they moved on together.
I thought it was a perfect ending!! I can't even put into words how much I loved it!! It was a once-in-a-lifetime show and it will be greatly missed! God bless!!
I loved this show from the beginning but the ending was really dissapointing. I thought there were going to be answers, but I was sadly mistaken.
Wasn't satisfied. As much as I enjoyed all of the characters getting together, I really didn't want an "everyone is dead but happy" ending. I would have rather had more answers.
Plus, I thought the whole..island happiness is maintained by a cork holding in ??? was really lame.
they took the easy way out...very disapointing
I was expecting Gilligan and the rest to have a cameo there at the end.
My wife called it right the very first season, they're all dead and this is their way of wondering around until they decide which way to go! What a waster of time and energy! LOL The opening episodes were ten times better than the last episode!
I thought it was a great ending! I'm already planning on starting to watch the series all over from the beginning in my free time.
I thought the series finale rocked... right up until the last 5 minutes. Am undecided about what to think of the last 5 minutes (the church scene, I mean). I liked the final bits on the island.
On the whole, I feel satisfied. And, interestingly, though I've been one of those viewers who have felt dissatisfied with unanswered questions (e.g. what was so special about Walt?) I now think most of those unanswered things are basically irrelevant. IMHO, it is and was about the characters.
glad to have my tuesdays back.. but damn.
I loved it. I thought it was a great ending. Perfect. Wouldn't change a thing!
Loved the ending! Awesome show!
I want my six years back!
Man it sucked! I remember telling myself at the end of the 1st season that this was going to be "Fantasy Island" set in Limbo... I was so on the mark. Sad part, there was no Tattoo or Mr. Rourke.
All I can say is I am experiencing some serious, serious post-LOST depression. I am truly LOST.
Great ending to a wonderful show. I'll miss it. God Bless