Top Ten - Lost Episodes - Part 1
I kind of got a late start reviewing Lost episodes, so I thought I would fill in the gaps by providing a list of my top ten favourite episodes from the series (up until I started reviewing, so as much as I love Flashes Before Your Eyes it won’t be on this list). Again, there are a lot of plot details mentioned, so if you haven’t seen Lost or are trying to catch up, I would recommend avoiding this article at all costs
10. S.O.S. – Season 2, Episode 19
I know it’s not a favourite amongst most Lost fans, but this touching look at Rose and Bernard’s back story always chokes me up. Believing that everyone has become complacent with island life, Bernard decides to build a huge S.O.S. sign in order to attract passing planes, a decision that makes Rose increasingly more and more agitated. Sure the main storyline isn’t really all that compelling (although a subplot involving Kate and Jack trying to make a deal with the Others is interesting), but the flashback is heartbreaking as the audience learns about Rose’s struggle with cancer and how Bernard took her halfway around the world to try and cure her.
Favourite Moment – While Bernard’s “If you can’t leave, neither can I” line provides the emotional heart of the episode, I’ve got to go with Bernard’s Niagara Falls proposal as my favourite moment. He asks Rose to marry him, she tells him that she is dying, and then after a brief tearful pause, Bernard replies with, “you didn’t answer my question.” Call me a sap, but it’s these heartfelt moments that put Lost above any other show on television right now.
Favourite Moment – While Bernard’s “If you can’t leave, neither can I” line provides the emotional heart of the episode, I’ve got to go with Bernard’s Niagara Falls proposal as my favourite moment. He asks Rose to marry him, she tells him that she is dying, and then after a brief tearful pause, Bernard replies with, “you didn’t answer my question.” Call me a sap, but it’s these heartfelt moments that put Lost above any other show on television right now.
9. Do No Harm – Season 1, Episode 20
This is the episode where Lost stated flat out that it was playing for keeps. After Boone’s airplane accident puts him in serious life-threatening trouble it’s up to Jack, sans medical equipment, to save him. The only problem is that Claire goes into labour at the exact same time. Oops. With so much pressure on him, Jack does everything he can to save Boone’s life, but as the episode reaches its brutal end, it slowly becomes clear that nothing can be done. The flashback follows Jack as he prepares to marry Sarah, and has many doubts. It’s not one of the better flashbacks, but the island drama more than makes up for it. Do No Harm is one of the most suspenseful, unrelenting hours of Lost.
Favourite Moment – Jack has a horrible realization that in order to save Boone’s life he is going to have to amputate his leg. With no surgical tools at his disposal he finds an old metal door left over from the crash debris. One quick swing and he believes it will cut right through Boone’s leg. Even though Lost is primetime television and it can’t be all that gory, there’s still enough sweat on your palms tension as Jack puts Boone’s leg in place and prepares for the precision cut.
Favourite Moment – Jack has a horrible realization that in order to save Boone’s life he is going to have to amputate his leg. With no surgical tools at his disposal he finds an old metal door left over from the crash debris. One quick swing and he believes it will cut right through Boone’s leg. Even though Lost is primetime television and it can’t be all that gory, there’s still enough sweat on your palms tension as Jack puts Boone’s leg in place and prepares for the precision cut.
8. The Other 48 Days – Season 2, Episode 7
The first all flashback episode shows what happened to the survivors of the tail section during their first 48 days on the island. It’s a great episode that addresses many lingering questions from season one (including who Boone talked to on the radio, what strategies the Others are using, and numerous other half answers and further questions). It’s also nice to take a break from our regular band of survivors in order to see things from an entirely different perspective as we follow Ana Lucia (who I didn’t find nearly as offputting as the majority of Lost fans), Mr. Eko, Bernard, Cindy, and more on their perilous journey to escape the Others.
Favourite Moment – I enjoy Ana Lucia’s confrontation with Goodwin (an undercover Other), but the opening, where the tail section of the plane hurtles toward the beach is pretty powerful stuff. People drowning, crying children, and mass chaos blend together into a great scene that is reminiscent (but doesn’t copy) the opening of the pilot.
Favourite Moment – I enjoy Ana Lucia’s confrontation with Goodwin (an undercover Other), but the opening, where the tail section of the plane hurtles toward the beach is pretty powerful stuff. People drowning, crying children, and mass chaos blend together into a great scene that is reminiscent (but doesn’t copy) the opening of the pilot.
7. Orientation – Season 2, Episode 3
The first episode that provides a considerable chunk of answers also tells a suspenseful self-contained story about taking a leap of faith. The computer, that is supposed to save the world, is damaged, and as time starts running out everyone, Locke and Jack in particular, contemplates whether or not something as silly as typing in a series of numbers on a remote island can be linked to the safety of humanity. Locke’s flashback, about an old girlfriend, shows that as independent as he tries to be, he is truly a lonely soul seeking human connection, a realization that forces him to ask Jack for help.
Favourite Moment – The Orientation filmstrip is the highlight of this episode. As Jack and Locke watch the filmstrip, the audience is treated to the first juicy plot points about the nature of the island, learning about the Dharma Corporation, who settled on the island to create a remote outpost for their scientific experiments. After this moment, for the first and only time in Lost’s history, I felt like I was handed some no-strings attached answers. Of course, soon after my mind started wandering, and four thousand new questions popped in, but for one moment at least, I felt like I had caught up to the Lost writers.
Favourite Moment – The Orientation filmstrip is the highlight of this episode. As Jack and Locke watch the filmstrip, the audience is treated to the first juicy plot points about the nature of the island, learning about the Dharma Corporation, who settled on the island to create a remote outpost for their scientific experiments. After this moment, for the first and only time in Lost’s history, I felt like I was handed some no-strings attached answers. Of course, soon after my mind started wandering, and four thousand new questions popped in, but for one moment at least, I felt like I had caught up to the Lost writers.
6. Numbers – Season 1, Episode 18
Lost’s funniest episode finally reveals the long-awaited Hurley backstory in which it is revealed that he is worth hundreds of millions of dollars after winning the lottery. Alas, while helping to translate a map of the island from Rousseau, Hurley sees the numbers he used to win the lottery printed on the surface. This wouldn’t be too bad, except for the fact that after he won the lottery Hurley suffered a horrible string of bad luck where his grandfather died, his new house caught fire, and…well… several other terrible, yet humourous tragedies. Thus begins Hurley’s obsessive quest to see why the Numbers keep following him. The episode also marks the long standing tradition of having 4.8.15.16.23.42 appear in one form or another throughout Lost.
Favourite Moment – The punchline to the episode is perfect. Charlie and Hurley sit on the beach where Charlie finally reveals his heroin addiction to someone other than Locke. When Hurley finally tells Charlie his own secret, how much money he is worth, Charlie pauses and replies with, “Fine, don't tell me. I bear my soul and all I get is bloody jokes.”
Favourite Moment – The punchline to the episode is perfect. Charlie and Hurley sit on the beach where Charlie finally reveals his heroin addiction to someone other than Locke. When Hurley finally tells Charlie his own secret, how much money he is worth, Charlie pauses and replies with, “Fine, don't tell me. I bear my soul and all I get is bloody jokes.”
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