Shut Up It's On

Well here we are: the end of Lost. A lot of people are making jokes that they’ll have to get a life again after six years of watching this addictive program. As for me, I feel that in some way I developed more of a life from watching every episode. Because of Lost I’ve read books I wouldn’t have read, became a pseudo-expert on a couple of religions, brushed up on philosophy and had my imagination stretched from my home to Tunisia. According to Jim never had that effect on me.

To celebrate, and maybe just for an excuse to watch them again, here are the top 15 (but really 16) greatest moments from the show. I put them in chronological order and chose not to rank them, because we’re all winners in this timeline. Everybody get in line for your Dharma trophy!

“Don’t tell me what I can’t do!”
From “Walkabout”
Original Air Date: October 13, 2004

For once I felt good that I am not as observant as my friends: while some of them figured out the twist early on I did not, and when I saw he was in a wheelchair I said, “What IS this show?” (I’ve since tried harder to not talk while watching television. People get nervous.) Locke smiling at the wheelchair about to be set ablaze: pure awesome.

Shine A Light
From “Deus Ex Machina”
Original Air Date: March 30, 2005

Season 1’s man of faith John Locke was losing it: after Boone’s death he was wondering if he was doing what he assumed to be the island’s work for nothing. Until he saw the light. The bathroom light. Enlightening nonetheless.

“Small world huh?”
From “Exodus, Part One”
Original Air Da;te: May 18, 2005

Sawyer telling Jack that he met a certain doctor in Sydney was the first time a character revealed to another character a quite remarkable coincidental connection. Also, Jack got to hear what he always wanted to hear from his father. (Hulu is uncooperative so I have to tell you to start at 16:51 and end at 20:21)

“You will never be free.”
From “Exodus, Part Two”
Original Air Date: May 25, 2005

It’s easy to see why Carlton Cuse says his favorite episode is “Exodus”. There were so many great moments from that episode that people rarely bring up this sequence: Mr. Paik crony informs Jin he will never be free, Jin is happily sailing away on a boat free as a bird, Sawyer starts a “Redemption Song” singalong. Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. (Hulu is being uncooperative so I have to instruct you to start at 12:42 and to end at 16:03)

More like FENRY Gale! BOOM.
From “Lockdown”
Original Air Date: March 29, 2006

A lot was seemingly revealed during the last five minutes of this late Season 2 episode: Locke finds a map of the island with a big ? in the center, Jack and Kate discover a Dharma food drop (which was never explained dammit) and whoops, you’re a big stinking lying liar Henry Gale, if that is your real name which we just proved it isn’t.

“I was wrong.”
From “Live Together, Die Alone”
Original Air Date: May 24, 2006

Lot going on here: Desmond giving himself up for his love of Penny (who knows she’ll be getting a call from him a few weeks from that point), Locke being taught that he really should believe (when it comes to electromagnetism buildup anyway), Charlie trying to redeem himself for being a weirdo and being Sawyer’s Sun kidnap partner and Ben looking as creepy as he ever did, looking as angry as I’ve seen anyone bathed in unnatural light.

“You speak to me as if I am your brother.”
From “The Cost of Living”
Original Air Date: November 1, 2006

Eko was one of the most liked characters when he was murdered by Smokey. Apparently the actor, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, didn’t like Hawaii and asked off the show. He got his wish and apparently also the wish to be the first character not to die like a bitch. He said he didn’t sin? Then Eko didn’t goddamn sin. I’d like to think Smokey will have to pay comeuppance for that in the finale.

Cheech to Hugo: Relax
From “Tricia Tanaka Is Dead”
Original Air Date: February 28, 2007

One of the greatest episodes involved Hurley, Sawyer, Charlie and Jin just broin’ out, trying to help Hurley get the Dharma van motoring. It meant a lot to him, and after beating up Sawyer(!) convinced an at the time doomed Charlie to ride with him. If the car wouldn’t start and kept rolling down the hill it’d be death. Hugo Reyes laughs at your mortality.

Too hot to be Heaven
From “The Brig”
Original Air Date: May 2, 2007

I haven’t yet met someone who didn’t catch the sawyer/anthony cooper connection and yet it didn’t take away from the intensity of this scene. It’s dark in every sense, but it was very cathartic and necessary for Sawyer to turn into James “LaFleur” Ford. (Hulu sucks so I am informing you to go from 34:00 to 38:00) Bonus: “Is it true? That he threw you out a window? That you were a cripple?”)

Number one with a bullet
From “Greatest Hits”
Original Air Date: May 16, 2007

Has any character ever gotten a better sendoff than Charlie Pace? “Greatest Hits” had Charlie list his favorite moments of his entire life before heroically surrendering to his fate of martyrdom. It worked out but not really at all. Whatever. The part when Desmond asks Charlie “What about your girl?” and Charlie smiles is the A1 of television steaksauce.

Who’s in the coffin? Never mind, who’s in that beard?
From “Through The Looking Glass”
Original Air Date: May 23, 2007

Because Jack was using a cell phone that came out after 2004, some people figured out it was a flash forward sooner than they were supposed to. It was quite a mindfuck anyway considering holy shit they got off the island?! An actual game changer in an industry that uses the term “game changer” way too often.

The Call
From “The Constant”
Original Air Date: February 28, 2008

Bobby Thomson’s home run off of Don Larsen is “The Shot”, Joe Montana to Dwight Clark is “The Catch” and Desmond calling Penny on Christmas Eve 2004 is “The Call.” The part that always gets me? When Desmond says “I’ve been on an island.” Sayid looks up at Desmond when that is said, because he had never heard somebody tell anyone of his plight before. A blog the next day asked, “Is ‘The Constant’ the greatest Lost episode of all-time? Or the greatest television episode of all-time?” (Hulu sucks so please start at 36:22 and just keep watching until the end. It wouldn’t kill you to watch the whole thing either.)

Finally
From “There’s No Place Like Home, Part Two”
Original Air Date: May 29, 2008

The only problem with Desmond and Penny finally finding each other was there were two seasons left to go in the series. You just worried that something bad was going to happen. Dammit it’s annoying to be right all the time. (Honorable mention: The reveal in “Jughead” that they named their child Charlie.)

Not everything tied together, but you had fun watching right? I mean, did you feel it?
From “Happily Ever After”
Original Air Date: April 6, 2010

My favorite characters are Charlie, Faraday and Desmond, and sadly they were only together in this episode, and even then there was never a scene featuring all three. There’s always the finale? (15:24 or so to 22:03 for Charlie showing Dez the way, 32:50 onward for Faraday pushing Dez towards Penny)

Meet the new boss…
From “What They Died For”
Original Air Date: May 18, 2010

Instant classic. The higher power that has manipulated their lives finally reveals himself to Jack, Kate, Sawyer and Hurley, as Jacob pulls off the biggest miracle of all: turning Jack Sheppard into a likable man filled with win. (31:17-37:29)