During the years when I was at secondary school (or high school in other words), I got to experience the joy of digital TV thanks to Sky. This gave me and my folks access to things such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and new episodes of
The Simpsons long before Channel 4 would get them (and more recently Disney+). During this time, Sky One (now known as Sky Max) started broadcasting this very show. I was intrigued by it, but didn't watch it in the end during its initial run. Then, when I learned that Disney+ would have it via the Star hub and that J.J. Abrams was behind it, I decided to put it in the list of shows I would watch while the world is recovering from Covid. Sure, we are still getting through it, but not out of the woods yet. So let's take a look:
Season 1
An uninhabited tropical island becomes the crash site of one Oceanic Airlines Flight 815. While many of the passengers within survive, they soon grow accustomed to this new way of life in the hopes that they can get off somehow. Little do they know that the island is not just their new home, but home to some mysterious entities, a Smoke monster of sorts and another group of humans that call themselves "The Others". With similarities to both
Arrow and
Orange is the New Black in terms of how each episode is a mix of flashbacks and present day events (the flashbacks giving us an idea of each passenger's life prior to the crash), this first season makes this show very addictive and unpredictable which I would expect nothing less from the guy who bought back both Star Trek and Star Wars, albeit with some flaws here and there. Interesting how I can spot a number of actors who have been in other well known things, such as the Middle-Earth and Marvel films. But yeah, overall, a great first season. 9/10
Season 2
The conflict with The Others begins to grow as they start taking hostages while faith and science is put to the test. As well as that, the leader of the survivors Jack (played by Matthew Fox) enters a power struggle with the mysterious John Locke (played by Terry O'Quinn) over medicine and guns as they learn about the research facility that houses those supplies. All while the equally mysterious Desmond Hume (played by Henry Ian Cusick) tries to prevent a catastrophic event from happening on the island. This second season is probably the best of the show, or among the best. It's got depth to its growing cast of characters, further mysteries are revealed, and we get more and more deeper as the story goes on. Can't really complain here, it's as good as it gets. 9/10
Season 3
Season 3 delves deeper into the lives of The Others and also the fate of the people in the research facility. We get to meet the leader of the Others known as Benjamin Linus (played by Michael Emerson) and both sides begin to see defections as a conflict between the two rages on. Desmond's prevention of the event he has foreseen may require some time travel because there just isn't enough mystery there already. Plus other things too, including our first flash forward. This season can be described by most as borderline silly, especially when more sci-fi elements are introduced that make us scratch our heads. Despite this, the beloved characters are able to keep the show afloat with the plot and also some pretty darn good flashbacks too. 8/10
Season 4
The fourth season sees a freighter arrive at the island, with the crew intending on getting people off the island and kill those that want to stay. John, meanwhile, travels the island with Ben and eventually becomes the new leader of the Others and also finds a way to move the island. Flash forwards show us six of the survivors who managed to leave the island in one possible future and their continuing lives despite some believing that everyone needs to return to the island. Despite a weak third season, this fourth season manages to get the show back on track with the continuing mysteries, thrills and elements we saw in previous seasons. Plus, flash forwards may have started growing in popularity from this show, but doesn't necessarily mean that they will in fact happen. It's just one possibility out of trillions, as a certain Sorcerer Supreme would tell you. 9/10
Season 5
Due to the island's movements, the survivors experience time travel as the island keeps moving back and forth in time. John learns what he must do to save the island from the mysterious Richard Alpert (played by Nestor Carbonell) before being killed and then somehow resurrected but not quite himself. Yep that's pretty much this season in a nutshell, though it can be hard to keep track of the time travel shenanigans. Nevertheless, it has more unanswered questions that gets balanced with further character development and fleshing out in the world we have watched in this show. Let's see how it all ends. 9/10
Season 6
The Smoke Monster (having taken the form of John Locke) instigates a final war between good and evil on the island as it attempts to leave the island. We also get flash-sideways that give us an alternative scenario where the flight never crashed and the people on board start living different lives. We learn about how the island gains its power and how various unexplained conflicts seen throughout the show got their origins. As it all comes to a climatic end, the survivors are forced to choose how their future will play out, with the final scenes depicting how it all ends. This is perhaps the most confusing series due to the many flash events, but it's OK for the most part despite that. All the actors continue to give us some strong performances, while the show continues its dedication to its themes. Is it a great ending? Probably not, but at least more people will feel some kind of satisfaction here over other popular shows. 8/10
This show could have gone in so many directions. Some would say the whole battle of survival across a few seasons would be enough. Whereas, the addition of sci-fi elements kind of makes this show stand out, even though it may come across as silly and confusing at first. Regardless, I found lots of enjoyment in this show. It hasn't aged a day, and it's worth giving a watch if you are into sci-fi, mysteries and thrillers with a cinematic feel to it all. 8/10
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