Tyler Anderson

The final season of Lost answered many questions for its viewers. We finally found out what those voices in the woods were all about, the origin of Jacob and the man in black, even the true purpose of the Island, and the consequences that come from the destruction of that purpose. The sections of the finale that take place within the cave of light hearken back to season two, when we discovered what happens when the Swan hatch’s button isn’t pressed every 108 minutes. Even the imagery in the episode is very reminiscent of the Swan, with a great recreation of the season one finale scene of Jack and Locke staring down into the blown open hatch.

These connections to previous years can be seen throughout this final season, starting of course with the revised opening Oceanic 815 scene, which you can see in a comparison video. In addition to this, some of the most obvious connections can be seen between episode names, such as Season 2 Episode 9 “What Kate Did” and Season 6 Episode 3 “What Kate Does.” Another connection can be seen between Season 2 Episode 4 “Everybody Hates Hugo” and Season 6 Episode 12 “Everybody Loves Hugo.” These connections are important, as revealed in the finale, because of the characters they focus on.

However the final season was not all about answers, the show still left many questions open to the interpretation of the viewer. I, for one, am thankful for this. Do you want a show that just ends, leaving nothing for its viewers, or do you want a show that you can discuss and theorize about for years to come? Because, answers or no, Lost has always been a show that was at its best when it came to theories and predictions. The finale wasn’t about answering the viewers questions. Instead, it was about the characters and their resolutions, and I couldn’t be happier with it.

You see, an ending that would reveal everything to the viewer would go against what the writers have been doing all along: challenging their audience’s intellect. Most series, when presenting so many questions to the viewers in the first season alone, would give all the answers up before providing more questions. However instead Lost’s creators presented us with more and more questions, weaving obscure philosophical and theological references into the framework of Lost’s tale. This is what made the show brilliant at its core. Every episode night extended outside of the hour in front of the television. I’ve probably spent at least twice as much time in front of a computer screen researching Lost references as I have watching the show. And that’s what I love about it. It challenged us to learn, to be more than just spectators. And its finale was no exception, as I found myself reading up on different afterlife theories the very next day.

The most obvious of the lingering questions comes in the form of Hurley and Ben’s reign as the next generation of Island protectors. How might Hurley run the Island? In what manner did Ben act as his number two? Was it a role similar to Richard’s, or was it something more? What caused Hurley to ultimately die? These questions make me think back to the season 5 finale, where Jacob tells the Man In Black that there’s a beginning and an end, and everything else is just progress. Some people may think that because the monster has been killed that it’s the end. I, however, would disagree. Ben and Hurley have their own story, one that people can ponder over and guess about for years to come. There will always be people who come to the Island. How did Hurley and Ben end up dying? What caused that death? Was it someone else who showed up on the Island? Was Hurley able to find another to take his place? Going into a life without Lost, these are the questions that stick in my mind, and I couldn’t be more happy that the writers put them there.