After rewatching all 121 episodes of Lost, I found that these 10 episodes proved to be so much better the second time around because of how much significance they ultimately had to the larger story. Lost ran from 2004 to 2010, and although the Lost ending was very controversial, it remains a beloved show.

In fact, even 15 years after the finale, Lost is absolutely worth rewatching, especially because doing so reveals numerous hints and details that become much more meaningful within the full context of the show. These 10 Lost episodes in particular were the best to watch again because they were so much more profound in retrospect.

10

“A Tale Of Two Cities”

Season 3, Episode 1

When the Others were introduced as a concept in Lost, they seemed absolutely terrifying. Even when Benjamin Linus—pretending to be named Henry Gale—was captured and revealed that the Others were just people, they remained mysterious, dangerous, and like something out of a horror movie.

This context made Lost season 3, episode 1, “A Tale of Two Cities,” fascinating to watch at the time, as it showed the Others living relatively normal lives, with Juliet even hosting a book club. However, in watching Lost over again, “A Tale of Two Cities” becomes even more compelling because of what we now know about the characters.

As just one example, Juliet undergoes incredible character growth following this episode (which is also the episode in which she is introduced), and audiences come to understand and empathize with her situation so much more after learning more about her own background and knowing how she changes.

9

“Dr. Linus”

Season 6, Episode 7

The death of Ben’s daughter, Alex, is one of the single most heartbreaking and horrifying events in all of Lost, in part because it seems Alex really died believing her father’s cruel words about Alex meaning nothing to him. As detestable as Ben sometimes was, this was an absolutely brutal plot point.

It was therefore wonderful to see Alex and Ben reunited in Lost’s flash sideways in season 6, episode 7, “Dr. Linus,” in which Alex was an enthusiastic, promising student of Ben’s (or, as he’s called in the episode, Dr. Linus). At the time the episode was released, however, it wasn’t at all clear what exactly the sideways was.

Now, watching the show back with an awareness of the finale and what it meant, the reunification of Ben and Alex is so much better. Ultimately, Ben elected not to move forward into the afterlife with Jack and the rest of the Oceanic Flight 815 passengers, instead remaining in the show’s version of purgatory, presumably alongside Alex.

That alone makes this episode better, as it means that Ben likely continued to be close with Alex in purgatory and, it can be safely assumed, eventually went to the afterlife with her and her mother, Danielle Rousseau. While that doesn’t entirely take away the pain of Alex’s horrific death, it does make “Dr. Linus” even better.

8

“Do No Harm”

Season 1, Episode 20

Admittedly, Lost season 1, episode 20, “Do No Harm,” was brilliant even upon first watch because it had so many significant moments. This episode actually captured the beautiful yet bittersweet way the island embodied the cycle of life and death as Claire’s baby, Aaron, was born in this episode, but Boone also died at the end of this episode.

What makes this episode especially meaningful when watching Lost again, though, is the fact that Kate delivers Aaron. Although controversial because it meant leaving Claire behind on the island and then concealing the truth from Claire’s grieving mother, later seasons of the show revealed that Kate raised Aaron for years after they first left the island.

In that sense, Kate became a mother to Aaron, which only makes it all the more symbolic and profound that Kate is the one who delivered him. Added to this is the fact that Jack is later revealed to be Claire’s half-brother. Knowing that Aaron is therefore Jack’s nephew gave this episode even more impact.

7

“Maternity Leave”

Season 2, Episode 15

When Lost season 2, episode 15, “Maternity Leave,” was first released, it was downright creepy and left many questions on the table, particularly regarding what exactly Ethan was doing to Claire and her baby and why he would be doing such a thing. The mystery of that episode worked even at the time.

Yet, watching “Maternity Leave” again after completing the show is so much better because we now understand why Ethan did this. It does little to make Ethan look any better; he still comes off as a complete creep even with the added context. But, Lost eventually revealed that pregnant women on the island had been dying for decades.

Because of that, Ethan was contributing to experiments aimed at determining why pregnant mothers were dying on the island and learning how to prevent it, which is the entire reason Juliet was brought to the island in the first place. This is also simply a thrilling episode to watch because it really is so unsettling.

6

“Whatever Happened, Happened”

Season 5, Episode 11

Ben Linus quickly became one of the biggest villains in Lost, and while he was eventually redeemed and even went on to take care of the island by Hurley’s side, the 815 crash survivors understandably hated him. That made the conflict in Lost season 5, episode 11, “Whatever Happened, Happened,” all the more affecting.

In the episode, Jack was asked to save young Ben Linus’ life. This raised a whole host of moral questions, including whether it was right to punish young Ben, or at least refuse to save him, based on the things he hadn’t yet done as his adult self. Evidently, for Jack, the answer was yes.

Surprisingly, though, Kate and Sawyer worked together to save Ben. Particularly after watching the show all the way through again, this moment is incredibly profound. For one, we know that Ben ultimately was redeemed, and this event giving him a bit of grace feels like a stepping stone to that eventual redemption.

What’s more, this decision showed immense growth in Kate and Sawyer that absolutely paid off in the end. It’s also worth noting that the title of this episode is repeated in the finale when Jack’s father, Christian, is explaining that everything that happened to them on the island really happened (a critical point).

5

“The Life And Death Of Jeremy Bentham”

Season 5, Episode 7

John Locke was consistently one of the most frustrating characters in Lost, especially because he frequently felt intense convictions and failed to realize when he was wrong or being led astray (which unfortunately happened relatively often). However, in the end, John Locke proved to be essential to the lives of the Oceanic 815 survivors and their passage to the afterlife.

That is in part what made Lost season 5, episode 7, “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham,” so meaningful and even emotional when rewatching the full show. Initially, it seems as though John has been resurrected when the Oceanic Six, minus Aaron, return to the island.

The truth is so much sadder, however, as Ben really did kill John when he strangled him. His body was simply taken over by the Man in Black/the Smoke Monster when they returned to the island. Knowing this makes the story of John’s death (and life) so much more profound, and it makes this episode so much more meaningful.

4

“There’s No Place Like Home: Part 1”

Season 4, Episode 12

Lost season 4, episode 12, “There’s No Place Like Home: Part 1,” felt absolutely groundbreaking when it was released because it confirmed the characters who had made it off the island. Called the Oceanic Six, the 815 passengers who returned home the first time included: Jack, Kate, Sayid, Sun, Aaron, and Hurley.

Viewers had known that only six people made it off the island since season 4, episode 1, and, over the course of that season, those individuals were revealed. However, there had long been discussion and debate as the episodes were airing regarding whether Aaron counted as one of the six because he was born after the crash.

There had therefore been speculation that there could be another character, such as Jin, who had survived as well, but with the press conference in “There’s No Place Like Home: Part 1,” it was confirmed that only the above-named characters made it off the island and returned home at the time.

This was already thrilling, but rewatching it after completing the show makes it even better because there is now so much more context regarding what went into those six people returning from the island. Even more compelling, viewers now know why they all decided to return to the island as well.

3

“Through The Looking Glass: Part 2”

Season 3, Episode 23

Charlie’s death in Lost season 3, episode 23, “Through the Looking Glass: Part 2,” is perhaps one of the saddest deaths in the whole show, but rewatching Lost makes Charlie’s death and the entire episode so much better. For one, the existence of the flash-sideways brings some relief, as it means Charlie didn’t cease to be when he died.

On the contrary, Charlie was ultimately reunited with everyone in the sideways and went into the afterlife with them. Even before that, though, Lost made this episode so much better by revealing that Charlie became instrumental in helping the other 815 survivors stay on the right path.

This was particularly true with Charlie appearing to Hurley after he died, which is something that happened outside the sideways, as Hurley inexplicably had the ability to speak to and see the dead even off the island. While that remained largely unexplained, knowing that Charlie remained pivotal after his death made this episode so much better while rewatching.

2

“The End”

Season 6, Episode 17

As mentioned, the Lost finale remains very controversial even 15 years after the show ended, but that’s largely due to a misunderstanding. Some interpreted the finale of Lost to mean that the characters had been dead the whole time, but that is not at all the case. Rather, Christian tells Jack that everything that happened to them really happened.

The sideways was simply the alternate reality they ‘created together’ to find one another after death and move on together. However, the events of Lost really occurred, and each of the characters died at unique times, ranging from Boone very soon after the plane crashed to Kate, Sawyer, and Claire dying long after they left the island the final time.

This, in addition to watching the show from start to finish again, makes the episode so much better, especially because, upon rewatching, viewers go into it knowing that the key characters all end up together, and everything they fought for was worth it. No, Lost is not a perfect show, but the finale does become even better after a rewatch.

1

“Pilot” (Part 1 And Part 2)

Season 1, Episodes 1 and 2

Ultimately, the episodes that become the very best upon rewatching Lost are the pilot episodes, “Pilot: Part 1” and “Pilot: Part 2.” It is incredible to go back to the very beginning and see how the characters start out, as it reveals just how much significant and often beautiful growth these characters undergo throughout the show’s six seasons.

It’s also true that so many more hints of what’s to come pop up, ranging from the bizarre sighting of a polar bear on the island to the first sound of the Smoke Monster. Sure, there were some mysteries that Lost unfortunately never really answered, but the little details in the pilot are thrilling to see so early on.

While it was truly enjoyable to rewatch all of Lost, these 10 episodes stood out the most, and none was as wonderful to see again as the two pilot episodes were.

Lost

9/10

Release Date

2004 – 2010-00-00

Showrunner

Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse

Directors

Jack Bender, Stephen Williams

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