The original ending of Lost sounds like it would’ve been epic and action-packed, but it would’ve ultimately distracted from what’s really important — the characters and their relationships — in the show’s final moments. Lost has one of the most divisive series finales in television history. It frequently appears on lists of the worst finales ever made alongside Dexter and How I Met Your Mother. As a mystery series with a lot of plot threads in the air, Lost set itself up for a disappointing ending. But in recent years, the Lost finale has been reevaluated.
At the end of Lost, Jack sacrifices himself to give his friends a chance to escape from the island, then finds himself in a kind of purgatory, where the survivors of Oceanic 815 all reconvene after their own respective deaths. It’s a touching ending that brings the series full circle and focuses on the most important aspect: the ensemble of beloved characters. But according to the creators, that wasn’t always the plan. Throughout the entire series, a volcano was bubbling away in the background. It didn’t end up being a significant plot point — but it was supposed to be.
Lost’s Original Ending Would Have Paid Off The Unresolved Volcano Hints
The Final Battle Would’ve Been Set Against A Long-Awaited Volcanic Eruption
Years after the series ended, showrunners Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof revealed the original ending they had in mind for Lost. They wanted to take advantage of their gorgeous Hawaiian filming locations and visualize the concept that the island is all that separates the world from apocalyptic hellfire. This led them to introduce the volcano. In the original finale, the island would become unstable and the volcano would finally erupt. This would set the stage for a climactic “fight between the forces of good and the forces of evil” on the island, with “magma spewing everywhere.”
In the original finale, the island would become unstable and the volcano would finally erupt. This would set the stage for a climactic “fight between the forces of good and the forces of evil” on the island, with “magma spewing everywhere.”
This volcanic final battle sounds similar to the climactic sequence of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. The molten volcanic explosions of Mustafar created the perfect symbolic backdrop for the explosive emotions between Anakin and Obi-Wan. But Lost’s volcanic battle probably wouldn’t have looked as epic on a limited TV budget. Even at the best of times, Lost’s CGI was pretty shaky and immersion-breaking. It’s interesting to go back and binge-watch the entire series and see the Smoke Monster gradually get better-looking each season, but it was never 100% convincing.
Lost’s Original Ending Plan Would Have Distracted From The Story & Characters
CG Lava & A Lot Of Action Would Ultimately Undermine The Characters
While it would’ve been cool to have Jack’s group battling the Man in Black against the backdrop of a volcanic eruption, it ultimately wouldn’t have served the story. It would’ve distracted from the drama between the characters, which was the key to this show’s success in the first place. Having CG lava fill the screen with a bunch of action going on in the foreground would’ve been a fun spectacle, but it would’ve undermined the emotional substance. Stripping it back to the basic human elements actually ended up making the Lost finale better.
The
Lost
finale was criticized for not answering enough of the series’ questions, but praised for its emotion and character development.
Instead, the Lost finale focused on the connections between all the characters, and the emotional bonds they’d formed throughout the series. Rekindling those connections was the key to getting those characters into the endgame. Reconnecting with old friends and lovers in the flash-sideways timeline made them realize they were stuck in purgatory. It was deeply cathartic to see characters like Sawyer and Juliet find each other again. The finale — and, by extension, the series — was never really about the island; it was all about the people occupying it and the friends they made along the way.
As Lost’s Dropped Mysteries Go, The Volcano Was Far From The Biggest
Lost Has Much More Pressing Unanswered Questions
The volcano isn’t the only lingering plot thread that Lost left hanging in the air. This show was jam-packed with unresolved mysteries and unanswered questions. The writers were really good at coming up with intriguing mysteries to keep the audience guessing. What’s in the hatch!? What’s a polar bear doing on a tropical island!? Why is there an angry cloud of smoke killing people!? But they were less skillful when it came to explaining those mysteries and providing solid answers. That was the biggest reason people were disappointed by the finale: underwhelming answers.
Related
10 Disappointing Lost Mysteries That Seemed Really Important At First
Lost was known for continuously introducing new mysteries. By the show’s end, mysteries of varying importance weren’t resolved in a satisfying manner.
There are a bunch of unanswered questions from Lost. What was “the light”? What evil was being contained? How did the light turn the Man in Black into a smoke monster? Why do some people see ghosts? Why do select dead people turn into whispers? Why do some people turn into whispers and others turn into ghosts? In the grand scheme of things, figuring out the purpose of the inactive volcano doesn’t feel all that pressing. As far as Lost’s unresolved mysteries go, the volcano is a pretty minor one.
9/10
Lost
Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the passengers must work together to survive the island’s seemingly deadly intentions.
- Cast
- Evangeline Lilly , Naveen Andrews , Henry Ian Cusick , Daniel Dae Kim , Harold Perrineau , Dominic Monaghan , Emilie de Ravin , Jorge Garcia , Josh Holloway , Michael Emerson , Terry O’Quinn , Matthew Fox , Ken Leung , Elizabeth Mitchell , Yunjin Kim
- Creator(s)
- J.J. Abrams , Damon Lindelof , Jeffrey Lieber
- Seasons
- 6
- Showrunner
- Damon Lindelof , Carlton Cuse
