Lost turns 20: the groundbreaking show that redefined television history
By Grace Hilton
The following content contains no spoilers.
The hit series Lost will celebrate its 20th anniversary on September 22, after first captivating audiences in 2004 and earning its place as one of the “best shows ever” to grace our screens. Just ahead of this anniversary, Lost has made its debut on Netflix, while also being available on Disney Plus as well.
Without giving away any spoilers, the show follows a group of plane crash survivors who land on a mysterious island, where they encounter strange phenomena and uncover deep secrets about the island and each other.
Consistently hailed as one of the greatest series of all time, even surpassing Breaking Bad in the eyes of some fans (aka, me), Lost remains a cultural touchstone. Now, 20 years after its debut, it’s (finally) capturing the attention of a younger generation.
I can’t emphasise enough how brilliant and underrated this show is. Had it been released 10 or 15 years later, it might have captivated a younger audience much sooner, so I’m thrilled to see it finally receive the attention it deserves.
One of the most memorable and iconic scenes from the show is its opening sequence, which shows the aftermath of the crash through the eyes of the main character, Jack Shepard (Matthew Fox). This scene offers the first look at the other characters, revealing how each of them responds to the shock amidst the scattered wreckage of the plane.
Throughout the series, new passengers from Oceanic Flight 815 are gradually introduced. One of the show’s most unique aspects is how it replays the opening scene through various flashbacks but from the perspectives of different characters. In these moments, viewers can spot familiar faces in the background, adding depth to the unfolding story. It’s the kind of show where, no matter how many times you rewatch it, you will always notice new things.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the series, the cast is reuniting for a documentary titled ‘Getting Lost’, which will celebrate the show’s profound impact on television. The documentary is set to premiere on September 22 in Los Angeles, exactly 20 years after the show’s debut and the iconic plane crash. The celebratory documentary will feature a host of familiar faces, including Josh Holloway, Daniel Dae Kim, Terry O’Quinn, Maggie Grace, Evangeline Lilly, and many others. Showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, along with director Jack Bender and composer Michael Giacchino, will also make an appearance.
It has not been confirmed yet whether the documentary will air in the UK, however, UK viewers can enjoy a special cinema screening of the pilot episode on September 19 at the Rio Cinema in Dalston, London.
Between 2004 and 2010, the series was nominated for 54 Primetime Emmy Awards (11 wins), 7 Golden Globe Awards (1 win), 4 People’s Choice Awards and 2 BAFTA TV Awards. Amongst the wins for the series are the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series and the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama.
In 2010, 600,000 Brits tuned in to watch the finale of Lost on Sky 1, with 68,000 setting their alarms for 5am to catch it live. Lost made its mark on television through its complex storytelling and backstories and later inspired several TV series, including, The 100, Manifest, The OA, and Westworld.
You can now watch Lost on Netflix and Disney Plus.
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