LOST Finale Review

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After thinking about it, I decided that reviewing the entire LOST finale in a few short sentences isn't worthy of the masterful effort that it was. So I have decided to write a review. This is a warning to LOST fans who have not yet watched the finale, DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW. There will be many SPOILERS, which will ruin your show experience. Again, do not read. Here is my review....

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After 6 long years and 119 episodes, it had finally come. One of the most anticipated finales in history, and while it's too soon to tell, it will probably go down in history as the most hotly debated finale in history. Watched by over 13 million people over a 2 and a half hour period, it is probably the most ambitious finale of out time, by perhaps the most ambitious and groundbreaking show of all time. Featuring many of the shows's varied and diverse cast in touching reunions, the show's final moments were simultaneously emotionally resonating and ridiculously confusing. It was basically typical episode of LOST.

 The episode featured the castaway's final attempt to defeat the Man in Black, who had taken the form of John Locke's body. Jack travels to the heart of the island with Desmond and MIB, all with ulterior motives. (Yay for Rose and Bernard appearing in the finale!). Desmond tries to literally "uncork" the island, which he believes will carry him to enlightenment in the "sideways world". Once the cork is removed however, it starts to destroy the island, just as MIB predicted. Also, it makes him mortal, and able to be killed. Jack is able to kill MIB after a long and dramatic fight, although he sustains a fatal wound during the fight. He returns to the heart of the island and "recorks" the island. Meanwhile, in the Sideways world, the other characters are being enlightened in their own various experiences. Charlie and Clare reunite, Sawyer and Juliet (yes!), Sayid and Shannon reunite (boo!), and most of the original castaways receive their "awakening". Ben apologizes to Locke for all of his sins, and Locke forgives him and walks into the church. (Started tearing up here). Jack walks into the church, looks into his father's empty coffin, and turns around to see his father standing there. His father explains to him that this is a place that their collective consciousness created together, so that they could find each other in the after life. The Sideways world is revealed to be a sort of purgatory, instead of an alternate reality caused by Jughead. Everyone is reunited in the church, intercut with shots of Jack dying on the island. The closing shot is Jack's eye closing, an exact reversal of the opening to the LOST pilot, which was Jack's eye opening.

My reaction to the finale is mixed. I am not totally in love with the episode, like many of the show's cast are, but I do not totally hate this episode like many people I know do. While I loved the resolution to the character's personal storylines and found the idea of them all being together in the afterlife very touching, I found many aspects of this episode to be very confusing. More allegorical then literal almost. I loved that Hurley and Ben were the Island's new number 1 and 2. I loved that the show's various romances got to be together in the afterlife. (Except Sayid and Shannon, more on that later). I loved that Jack finally got over his father issues, and was able to peacefully reconcile with his father. I loved the closing moments of the episode, and it is hard to deny that there is not great art to be found there. And who didn't that love that climatic jump between Jack and MIB, right before they cut to commercial. LOST has always been a master at cliffhangers within episodes. However there are some things I didn't like. First of all, what was up with Sayid and Shannon being together in the afterlife? I know that Nadia was never on the island with Sayid, he spent over a decade searching for her. He and Shannon had about a 2 week fling before she was shot by Ana Lucia. (Never a big Shannon fan). I am sure one could come up with some explanation about how Shannon was the only person who accepted Sayid for who he was with all his baggage and blah blah blah I don't care. Still not happy about that. Also, the finale not only left many questions unanswered, but left us with many MORE questions. Why was it so easy to turn the light on and and off at the center of the island? You think would have done it before now, to kill MIB. What wasn't Richard, Miles, Walt, and others in the church? (We know why Walt wasn't there, it's because the poor boy is too old. And we know why Mr. Eko isn't there. The actor that potrays him could never reach a deal with the show's creators to appear in this season). What's up with all the other people in the Sideways world? Are they dead too? Some of these things make no sense, and we'll most likely never get an explanation. Despite these shortcomings, I found the series finale to be a satisfying conclusion both pensively and emotionally,

LOST creators and showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have refused to talk about the finale. I think they did this to force us to form our own opinions about the finale, instead of relying just on theirs. And half the fun of LOST has always trying to guess what happens next and what everything means. LOST theorizing has become a professional sport on the internet. I think it is fitting that LOST's finale is so polarizing. The LOST people have always done things their way. They've never catered to a lower level of intelligence because the mainstream wouldn't "get it". They've never had to compromise their vision, and I am very glad that LOST got to end on their own terms, which is truly a rare thing in modern television. Sure, the finale wasn't perfect, but it was pretty darn good. The more I've thought about it and read about it, the more I start to appreciate it. This is my salute to the hundreds of people who have helped to contribute to LOST over the years. Thank you for the ride, it was certainly an enjoyable one.