The second reason I love LOST is because there is a larger story at work. The individual stories of the characters drive the day-to-day action of the show, but the larger story is what keeps us longing for more.
In Seasons 2 and 3, it was hard to tell where exactly LOST might be going. We all knew The Island was mysterious, we all knew there was more to learn, but when Locke, Desmond, Jack, and Eko kept pushing that button, I really felt like a mouse in a maze never being able to find my way out.
The finale to Season 3 changed all that when we moved from having flashbacks to having flashforwards. Finally, after 3 long seasons, we were glimpsing the future and a small taste of where the show might be going. The flashforwards continued to inform us about individual characters, but more than that, they made us even more aware of the larger story - the mystery of The Island and of Jacob.
The other part of this is that we have the end in sight. After Season 3, the producers of LOST announced that they the show would end after six seasons. At first, I think I was disappointed, but then I realized how genius it was. By setting some boundaries, the producers and writers were able to write with the end in mind, which I think has made the show so much better ever since. (In fact, I would now say that every show should set limits because almost every show drones on and on until finally it gets cancelled and it ends in mediocrity.)
And so, here we are. Ready to start the final season and hoping that many of our questions will be answered. I say many because if there's one thing I've learned watching LOST, it is to treasure mystery and not expect every question to have an answer. After all, it is the mystery that has helped the show last six seasons, and it is mystery that will help it endure even when it is all done.
Many of my thoughts were inspired by The Gospel According to LOST, by Chris Seay. A worthy read for any fan of the show.
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