Love or hate the ending, there's no denying the major impact that Lost had throughout the 2000s. It's nearly impossible to recreate the magic of Lost in today's TV viewing climate. With Netflix, Amazon, and the ever-fragmenting nature of TV viewing, a collective national experience like watching Lost seems a thing of the past. While viewers can certainly enjoy Lost today, it's a bit of a "you had to be there" show.
Lost helped capture the attention of the nation through some fantastic character work and thrilling episodes. These are the most iconic.
Pilot
Of course, it all started with the Pilot. Even to this day, the Pilot remains an exceptional piece of television. But back in 2004, this was truly spectacular stuff. Nothing like this had been seen on network TV before, including the scope of the story, the ensemble cast, and especially the film-like production values that helped bridge the gap between movies and TV.
TV had long been seen as a "lesser" medium, but the Pilot helped destroy any semblance of that opinion. The episode captured a nation, and they never let go.
Walkabout
If viewers weren't enraptured with the Pilot, then they certainly were by the end of 'Walkabout.' The early episodes of Lost certainly promised fantastical elements, but Walkabout was the first episode to come out and declare a sense of magic. Audiences learned in a spectacular twist that Locke had been relegated to a wheelchair before crashing on the island and that the island had imbued him with the ability to walk again.
Combine that with some spectacularly moving music from Michael Giacchino, and fans have one of the greatest TV moments of the 21st century.
Exodus
Lost certainly had a way with finales. Even if people disagreed about the quality of a given season, everyone generally adored the thrilling, expansive, and emotional finales. Season one set the bar incredibly high with Exodus, a particularly great piece of television. The episode features many classic moments, both exciting and personal.
It also has one of the most shocking moments of the entire series - believing themselves to be saved, Sawyer, Michael, Walt, and Jin are ambushed by Tom and the Others, who proceed to kidnap Walt and destroy the raft.
Live Together, Die Alone
Season two is largely remembered for two things - the dry spell involving the widely-derided "Fire + Water" and the thrilling Hatch subplot. While the season received more mixed reviews than season one, it ended in equally amazing fashion with 'Live Together, Die Alone.'
This episode is mainly remembered for finally answering the season-long question - "What happens if they don't enter the numbers?" Turns out, the Hatch implodes within itself. Not the greatest answer, but an answer nonetheless.
Flashes Before Your Eyes
The early half of season three is not fondly remembered, and this contested era of Lost saw a major exodus of viewers. One of the shining bright spots of an otherwise dour first half is the Desmond-centric 'Flashes Before Your Eyes.'
Introducing time travel to the proceedings, Flashes Before Your Eyes concerns Desmond hopping back in time to his past life in London. It also brings up the intriguing prospect of Charlie's impending death, as Desmond can also see into the future.
The Man From Tallahassee
Things began to pick up considerably with The Man From Tallahassee. Another Locke-centric episode, The Man From Tallahassee finally answers the three season-long question regarding Locke's injury.
And the answer was quite tragic, to say the least. After the death of Peter Talbot, Locke is pushed from a hotel window by his own father, resulting in a broken back and paralysis. The on-island portions are equally fascinating, as Locke battles with Jack and destroys his escape sub. Terry O'Quinn won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his work in the episode - a much-deserved win.
The Man Behind The Curtain
Lost turns electric whenever Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson share the screen. It was the case with The Man From Tallahassee, and it's also the case with 'The Man Behind the Curtain'. Another episode detailing a Locke-Ben adventure, The Man Behind the Curtain introduces the viewers (and Locke) to Jacob in a harrowing sequence that puts most haunted house movies to shame. It also contains a thrilling ending that sees Ben shooting Locke.
Combine all that with Ben's magnificent flashback regarding the downfall of DHARMA, and The Man Behind the Curtain becomes one of Lost's finest hours.
Through The Looking Glass
The season three finale, Through the Looking Glass, isn't just one of the best episodes of Lost - it's one of the best episodes in the history of television. There is a ton of great material within Through the Looking Glass, including the tragic scene in which Charlie is drowned while contacting Penny. "Not Penny's Boat" remains an iconic image to this day.
But perhaps the greatest aspect of the episode is its ending. Audiences learned through a magnificent plot twist that Jack and Kate had escaped the island and that the "flashback" events of the episode were actually flash-forwards. It changed the dynamic of Lost forever.
The Constant
Lost continued its momentum from Through the Looking Glass and carried it through much of season four. While seasons two and three were somewhat languid in their approach to storytelling and plot momentum, season four moved at a blistering pace. Within season four is the greatest episode of Lost - the Desmond-centric 'The Constant.'
This episode represents everything great about Lost - inventive storytelling, an intriguing gimmick, incredible production value, and magnificent character work that has audiences bawling.
There's No Place Like Home
Season four ends with There's No Place Like Home, arguably the wildest and most adventurous finale of Lost. This episode capped a spectacular, momentous, and intriguing season in equally spectacular, momentous, and intriguing fashion.
It's just pure adventure, from Ben spinning the donkey wheel to Jin's supposed death on the freighter to The Oceanic Six being rescued by Penny to the island literally disappearing in front of their eyes. When people think of the wild sense of fun and unhinged zaniness of Lost, they think of 'There's No Place Like Home.'