One of the reasons that Lost was such a popular show was that it left the audience hanging every week. The series was known for the shocking cliffhangers that had everyone talking for the next few days about what could possibly come next. In fact, some of the greatest cliffhangers in TV history are from Lost.
Who could forget Jack shouting, "We have to go back!" at Kate? The same goes for the opening of the hatch and Michael killing Ana Lucia and Libby before turning the gun on himself. While those are iconic, there were also some great ones that aren't as well remembered.
The Looking Glass Isn't Flooded
Season 3 put a lot of focus on the idea that Charlie was destined to die. Desmond kept seeing it in his premonitions and intervening to save his life. In "Greatest Hits," Charlie accepted his fate, recounted his life's highlights, and went on a mission that was sure to end in death.
He swam down to the Looking Glass station, which was supposed to be flooded, to flip a switch that would stop blocking transmissions. However, when he got there, Charlie found that it wasn't flooded and he would seemingly live. Alas, he was then met by two women pointing guns at him, adding another problem.
Kate's "Son" Is Aaron
A major recurring storyline during season 1 was Claire's pregnancy. She eventually gave birth, with the help of Kate, to a baby boy that she names Aaron. During season 4, the flash-forwards revealed that Kate was one of the Oceanic 6 who got off of the island.
While in the future, Kate was on trial and the show kept mentioning that she had a son. Viewers wondered if she had a kid after leaving the island but "Eggtown" ended with Kate coming home and hugging her son, revealed to be Aaron. It left the audience wondering why she took Aaron and what was going to happen to Claire.
The Kevin Johnson Reveal
A big part of season 2's cliffhanger finale saw Michael give up Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and Hurley to The Others in exchange for his son Walt. The father-son duo drove away on a boat and wasn't seen again for more than a season. Then, the stunning return came at the end of "Ji Yeon" in season 4.
The always cunning Ben Linus explained that he had a man planted on Charles Widmore's boat, which Sayid and Desmond were also currently on. The episode ended with this man, a deckhand named Kevin Johnson, walking up to them and it was none other than Michael himself.
Clarie Stumbles Back To The Group
As noted, Claire's pregnancy played a huge part in season 1. Early on, she was abducted by Ethan, a member of The Others who snuck in as part of the Oceanic survivors. Claire was missing for several episodes, with Charlie often being the person who was most desperate to find her.
In "Special," he tried using her diary to find her. However, nobody expected him to, especially since the episode's flashbacks focused on Michael and Walt. Yet, right at the end, a confused Claire stumbled out of the jungle as Locke and Boone were exploring. Audiences wouldn't find out what she went through until season 2.
Sayid Works For Ben In The Future
The flash-forwards from season 4 were filled with reveals that nobody saw coming, especially since the audience had so little information about that time off of the island. "The Economist" began by revealing that Sayid was one of the Oceanic 6 and the episode saw him working as an assassin.
Sayid got close to a woman named Elsa before she ended up shooting him in the shoulder and he has to take her down for good. The ending saw Sayid getting stitched up by the man he's working for and it's Ben. This was a true stunner since the two were major enemies most of the time on the island.
Jin Is Part Of The Dharma Initiative
Things really got trippy during season 5 as Ben's moving of the island left it dislodged and caused it to begin traveling through time. Viewers saw the characters in all sorts of decades and eras. Meanwhile, Jack got the Oceanic 6 together in convoluted ways to return to the island.
When Jack, Kate, and Hurley finally returned, they were greeted by an expected sight. A Dharma Initiative van pulled to them and out stepped Jin, holding a gun and wearing a Dharma uniform. Audiences had no idea what happened but it became clear that the three had returned to the '70s and some of their friends were working with the Dharma Initiative.
Jack Hunts Down Locke
The relationship between Jack and Locke drove a lot of the show, especially given the "man of science vs. man of faith" dynamics that eventually flipped. One of their more underrated rivalry moments came in season 1's "Do No Harm" where Jack couldn't save Boone's life.
After the emotional highs and lows of Aaron's birth and Boone's death, Jack was seen packing his bags. When asked where he was going, Jack noted that Boone was with Locke and was likely murdered, so he was going after him. The intense look in Jack's eyes suggested a fight was coming.
Jin Runs From The Others
Season 2 opened with many of the characters separated. Among them was the trio of Michael, Sawyer, and Jin, who attempted to get to safety on a raft only to have it blown up by The Others when they kidnapped Walt.
"Adrift" focused on Michael and Sawyer stuck out on the water. They eventually made it back to land, only for Jin to run towards them with his hands tied up. He could only get out, "Others!" before the camera panned to show those who had held him captive. It turned out to be the back of the plane survivors and not The Others but it was still shocking.
The Hatch Lights Up
John Locke became obsessed with the hatch that he and Boone found on the island. He believed that there was something special about it and that it was important. However, his faith was tested when Boone got fatally injured in "Deus Ex Machina."
He banged on the hatch door in a desperate search for answers. The scene was emotional, especially given how it came right after the heartbreaking reveal of what Locke's dad did to him in the past. As Locke pounded away, the hatch lit up with a bright light, showing that something down there had heard him.
Jack Plays Football With The Others
The beginning of season 3 is often seen as a time when Lost was spinning its wheels. In "Par Avion," a lot was revealed, including Jack and Claire being half-siblings and information about Mikhail of The Others.
The real kicker was the unexpected ending as Kate led a group to try and rescue Jack. When they arrived, they spotted Jack charging at them at full speed. However, he wasn't running away and was instead playing football with The Others as if they were friends. It seems simple on paper but it led to a ton of questions.