Was LOST the best network TV show in history, and will we ever get anything as great or as epic again?

No show has managed to captivate the entire nation like Lost did (maybe Game of Thrones). The magic and mystery of Lost sucked you and didn't let you out, the character development was fantastic, the nostalgia was deep, the scenery was amazing. This was a re-watch for me during the lockdowns, and it was still great re-watching. Lost is now 11 years old (since the final episode), and I have yet to find a show as captivating and entertaining as this one. Years on this still remains a cult classic with a wide following. What do you guys think? Will anything ever measure up to this one? 

Here is one of my favorite scenes: "Good luck, brother. See you in another life, yeah?"

32 Comments
 

Yes LOST was the greatest. I watch the whole thing again every 1-2 years.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
Most Helpful

The only thing that really comes close is Breaking Bad - that had the character development, plot lines, execution and importantly sticking the ending. It was also unique in that it was one of the first, at least in my recollection, universal 'theory box' style shows - where you had fan communities write, and candidly probably help guide the writers, plausible endings/theories or even re interpretations. And that was largely before social media and the rise of all these prestige TV type news outlets that just pump up esoteric, confusing shows for the sake of them... being confusing. Though AMC might end up with two on their hands - Better Call Saul is a totally different type of show, but fantastic nonetheless. 

It's what Westworld wanted(wants) to be - firs two seasons were pretty good, but the last one got a bit too cute and wonky for me. 

Game of Thrones - It doesn't impact my life, but the last season will forever keep it out of that top tier. No matter the reason - and there's many valid ones - it was a disaster. It's the worst when a very smart, well written and 'logical' (within their own world of course) show goes full stupid to try and justify a rushed ending. It's incredible how you had multiple seasons where battles were never even shown, yet you FELT the impact and the weight of them through the characters... ok. I'm done now. 

 

I think the last season of Game of Thrones wasn't as bad as the media / critics made it out to be. People acted like the whole show's reputation was tarnished by it. Even the general population bitched and moaned more than I have ever experienced. 

I would suggest you rewatch it and see if you still feel the same way. I rewatched it during COVID and tried to come at it with a fresh perspective. In the end I hated the final episode (I thought it was just as bad as I remembered), but genuinely enjoyed the rest of the final season. Keep in mind while the writers were pretty good, they were trying to tie a neat little bow around one of the most intricate plots of all time, one that George R.R. admitted he couldn't even wrap up. In other words, the writers had to do what the creator of the fictional universe was incapable of doing, so I think they deserve some slack. Did I mention they had an incredibly limited amount of time to crank out an ending? 

 

No.

No because tv will only get worse. 

Never discuss with idiots, first they drag you at their level, then they beat you with experience.
 
Heartcore

Some individual seasons of 24 are GOAT TV series material, IMO.

I met Kiefer Sutherland at Radio Bar in Manhattan and talked to him for like 30min and got a picture. He was really cool. 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Lost was both peak awesome and peak frustrating. Episode after episode of cliffhangers and so gripping every time with fantastic casting but hot take, it got really repetitive after a while. Again, it was awesome and I'll always love it but god sometimes it got frustrating. But gotta shout out to the early seasons - my god they were incredible.

 

I think its hard for a lot of shows to stick the landing, because a definitive ending is (1) hard to do (2) will not make everyone happy. 

It's like the Sopranos, people still talk about the ending. Contrast to Game of Thrones, people hated that ending. So Lost did a good job of wrapping it up, but also left it open ended. 

I also feel that Lost did a great job of having a wide ranging story and cast, where as, in today's shows, it seems they can never stick that part. 

 

At least LOST had an ending. The worst is when shows don’t get funding for the next season and there is no ending.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Aspernatur dicta omnis qui dignissimos ea. Earum unde quaerat error aperiam tenetur qui. Laborum fugiat temporibus tempora. Sit soluta et molestiae error eum adipisci. Nihil mollitia adipisci et est dolor iste nostrum facere.

Occaecati fugiat repellendus impedit non aperiam est. Asperiores laboriosam nobis quia eligendi consectetur perferendis odit. Repudiandae dolores dolor cumque sit officiis dignissimos qui.

Amet id omnis provident eum cumque. Ipsum ut rerum nisi doloremque.

The poster formerly known as theAudiophile. Just turned up to 11, like the stereo.
 

Rerum id vero vel sit aliquid omnis animi. Assumenda iure non perferendis non eius ipsum aspernatur. Voluptatem ex et vel et excepturi veniam mollitia provident. Cum laudantium voluptatem ea fuga harum ut.

Deserunt et non aut magni vel. Aut corrupti ut eaque. Vel praesentium aperiam cum autem doloremque nemo. Impedit tenetur ipsam ad quidem ullam placeat ut non. Magnam exercitationem delectus molestiae aut.

Nostrum accusantium voluptatem maiores quod. Aut maiores et sed similique soluta blanditiis. Non magni earum cum quas aspernatur saepe fuga.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (45) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”