Lost: what is the worst season of the series?

Season 1

ABC

The best in our opinion, because it all started with her, with an eye opening onto a jungle that then seemed perfectly normal. This is an opportunity to salute the talent of JJ Abrams on the realization of the pilot.

During these first 25 episodes, the viewer will be presented with various characteristics of the island and all the important and intriguing characters via unexplained facts (Locke, once handicapped, walks again) or coincidences (the heroes crossed paths before the island without necessarily the knowledge). Above all, these characters are hollow, have flaws, shortcomings that make them immediately endearing. It has sometimes been written that the island was the real character of Lost, but for those who see the series today there is no possible doubt: Jack, Kate, Locke, Sawyer and the others are the real heroes of this story. From season 1, they are fascinating and we can’t wait to learn more about their past life. We didn’t know then that we would also know more about their life after the island… The season also sets up many of the mysteries that we will find in future seasons (explained or not) and offers for its final season a incredibly frustrating and perfect cliffhanger: the opening of a hatch that will change the lives of the occupants of Oceanic Flight 815…

Season 2

ABC

With the multiplication of its characters and in particular the passengers in the tail of the plane led by Ana Lucia (Michelle Rodriguez), season 2 will continue to explore the character and psychology of its heroes. She takes up the alternation of flashbacks and events on the island, always using the editing brilliantly to draw a parallel between the common points between the past and the present.

This season also sees a debate that will never leave the series again: that of science against faith. A fight symbolized on the island by Jack (the doctor, scientist) and Locke (convinced of being on the island for a specific reason and that his destiny will be guided by the island). The plot of the hatch allows us to discover one of the best characters of the series, Desmond Hume. With little presence (only four episodes), he managed to establish himself as a prominent figure.

The writing quality is there and despite some problems with the rhythm, the plot is still gripping and the few mysteries that progress and become clearer always thicken those of the island. How not to be addicted?

Season 4

ABC

It revolves around this question: “which “Losties” were able to leave the island and what life do they lead now? The show retains the lessons of the previous season and, cut short by a writers’ strike, season 4 is more “nervous” and returns to further development of its secondary characters. The authors neglect Jack and Kate a little, but after 3 seasons around them, it was time for new characters to be dug too. Note that this season has what is perhaps the most powerful episode of the series, The Constant (Lost in Time), which will have brought tears to fans of the character of Desmond and the series.

Season 3

ABC

Season 3 has its fans as well as its detractors. It contains both great episodes and moments of pure boredom. This is especially the case for the first episodes, centered on Jack, Kate and Sawyer prisoners of the Others. The plot does not really advance, succeeding escape attempts to each other.

Locke and especially Desmond begin to have visions following the swan station explosion, leading to some not-so-exciting subplots. Similarly, if the past of Mr. Eko (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) is gripping, his presence and his actions on the island often detract from the main action, further lengthening an already unbalanced season between its first and its second part. However, the second part of season 3 offers some great moments: the episode Through The Looking Glass ((introduction of flash-forwards, sacrifice of Charlie) is a great television moment, as is the opening of the season premiere which presents Juliet to the tune of Downtown or even the episode The Man Behind The Curtain which tells the murderous past of Henry (alias Ben) or shows that Richard Alpert (Nestor Carbonell) does not age. to reassess this third season, perhaps too often decried.

Season 5

ABC

The series introduces time travel by blasting our heroes to 1977, the golden age of the DHARMA Initiative while in the present, escaped survivors of the island desperately try to get back there. This interesting premise provides some great scenes but again the off-island storytelling is sluggish, with each episode unsurprisingly advancing each of the six characters towards their way back to the island. Good points though, the explanation that the island can “move” thanks to an ice wheel located in its depths. We also meet for the first time the character of Jacob, who is immediately killed by Ben. We also note the interesting developments of the character of Daniel Faraday (Jeremy Davies), a perfect caricature of the sharp scientist whose complex concepts on time travel are made accessible by the causticity of Sawyer. Faraday confirms despite his late introduction to the show that he is a leading character. Finally, we discover the “new version” Locke, a must.

Season 6

ABC

While this final season of the series answers some questions, the conclusion and the fact that a lot of the elements feel rushed make it the archetype of a failed season, at least for a series like Lost.

Loss of character depth, confusing and sometimes filler-like flash-forwards, rushed subplots (the “Hostiles” and their temple, the under-exploited character of Dogen)… Perhaps the obligation of having to conclude the show in one season of 18 episodes got the better of the series’ usual level of writing? Fortunately, a less good season of Lost still remains above a failed season of another series and certain moments like the final scene of Jack on the island, the discussions between Jacob and the Man in Black or the presence of an increasingly strange Locke allows these episodes to keep a certain minimal level. In addition, the realization is of excellent quality. The series finale itself remains extremely controversial, divided between pros and cons. But the debate is not over and may never end.