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
 
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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.
 
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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
 

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

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