Hi all!
Today I am sharing a personal post but I’m not going to get too into specifics. I want to detail how a series (be it a book, game, movie or television show) can be so comforting and reliable, it has the ability to literally save your life. I feel that way about Lost. I’ve written several articles about it, yet never fully revealed just how much it means to me. In my deepest, darkest moments, it pulled me out and kept me going. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
– Check out my character ranking here
– Check out my season ranking here
– Check out my 5 favourite episodes here
WHAT LOST MEANS TO ME
I was 18 years old when I first watched Lost. It crept up on me slowly. At first I was apprehensive but as the seasons progressed, I knew I had stumbled upon something special. I felt as though it had been made just for me. I still feel that way almost 20 years later. I have rewatched the series close to 10 times through now. Each time, I discover multiple new layers to the story and its characters. At the moment, I am documenting every episode in my notebook (pictured below). It sounds completely nerdy but I have dedicated two pages per episode, sharing my favourite/least favourite moments, my favourite quote, storylines, island lore, easter eggs/fun facts and my overall star rating. It has been the best way to dive deep into the richness that is Lost. If you’ve never seen the show, your basic understanding would probably be: ‘a bunch of people find themselves stranded on an island.’ It is SO much more than that. Creator, J.J. Abrams, worked backwards when he made it. That means, he already knew how it was going to end, before it had begun. It’s evident how intentional everything was and how all of it tied together. Each episode is told from a different character’s perspective. It’s so unbelievably clever. At its core, this is a story about fate – how nothing is a coincidence. Every single character landed on that island for a reason and are all connected in some way, shape or form. Even the smallest of characters have the richest of backstories. I know them like the back of my hand. Just when you think you’ve cracked the code on what is going on, more reveals itself. Before long, you are thrust into a world of time-travel, good vs. evil, science vs. faith, cursed numbers, immortality, romance, revenge, adventure, mystery, horror etc. People love to complain about the ending but I think it’s flawless. If you truly understood what this show has been trying to tell you from the beginning, you won’t question it. I still feel certain character’s deaths like it’s the first time. I still get excited when the score starts to build. I still cry in the exact same pivotal moments. You cannot find a more perfect series – in my opinion. But just how did it save me? Read on!
THE FIRST TIME LOST SAVED MY LIFE
When I was 22, I was in a very low place. I was experiencing several panic attacks a day that were sapping the life out of me. Due to emotional overload, I had developed agoraphobia (a fear of open spaces) and things felt very bleak. I practically lived in my bedroom. My friends would have to visit, just to see how I was faring. I couldn’t work, I couldn’t socialise, I couldn’t even eat. I lost a scary amount of weight in a short space of time. In other words, it felt like the end days. My stepfather at the time, wanted to help draw me out of my room but didn’t want to push me. That was when he suggested watching Lost together in the living room. He had never seen it before but knew it was everything to me. Each day, after work, he would signal at me from my bedroom window that it was time to watch 1-2 episodes. I would carefully come out of my room, sit on the couch and for the next hour or so, my problems were forgotten. Watching Lost regulated my nervous system. It made me feel safe. That is the power of something so comforting and familiar. We got through all six seasons together and by the end, I was doing a lot better. I credit my stepfather for helping me but I also know nothing else was going to get me out of that room except for Lost. It’s fun watching it on your own but sharing it with someone else is even better. Seeing them experience it for the first time is a real treat. Who knows how long it would’ve taken me to get well if it weren’t for that show.
THE SECOND TIME LOST SAVED MY LIFE
The second time around, Lost literally saved me from death. In 2022, I had to solo drive three days from Melbourne to Queensland, as we were relocating. I was only a couple of hours into the journey when I received a phone call that changed my life forever. Needless to say, I almost ran off the road. A car on the other side blared their horn at me, before I quickly course-corrected, saving myself from a potentially fatal accident. I still had three days of driving ahead of me but I couldn’t concentrate. My primary goal was making it to QLD in one piece for my husband and daughter. Nothing could relax or soothe my addled brain. In that moment, I thought of that 22-year-old girl on the couch, watching Lost with her past stepfather and knew what I had to do. I recited the entire plot out loud from start to finish. I voiced every single storyline, every character’s backstory and every piece of lore I could. Trust me, it takes days to cover all of that. That television series kept me safe on the road. It steadied me when I thought I couldn’t go on any longer. It continued to come through for me in my darkest moments. However dramatic that sounds, it’s my deep and honest truth. I can only imagine how certain movies, music, shows, games etc have helped others in the same way. I’m truly grateful Lost exists. It will never let me down because it will never change. It’s my ‘constant’ (if you know, you know).
Thank you so much for reading. Do you feel the same about a certain series? Let me know in the comments.
Peace & Love xoxo
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