Lost: The 12 Greatest Episodes

      Here are the 12 greatest episodes of Lost, the early 2000s ABC drama revolving around a group of castaways whose plane crashes on a mysterious island in the South Pacific. We have to go back!

      But First

      Matthew Fox as Jack in “The Beginning of the End.” ABC – Credit: C/O

      What contributed to Lost's immense popularity? It became a cherished water-cooler show during its debut season in 2004, largely due to its intricately woven narrative and complex characters. Fans often engage in lengthy discussions analyzing various easter eggs, and the series is filled with puzzling questions like, “What lies in the shadow of the statue?”

      Created by J. J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and Jeffrey Lieber, Lost is recognized for its non-linear storytelling, featuring flashbacks and flash-forwards that reveal the intertwined histories of the characters. The extensive ensemble cast includes Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Terry O’Quinn, Daniel Dae Kim, Yunjin Kim, Naveen Andrews, Emilie de Ravin, Harold Perrineau, Dominic Monaghan, Ian Somerhalder, Maggie Grace, Henry Ian Cusick, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Michael Emerson.

      Although the narrative became increasingly intricate over the seasons — and the series finale faced criticism — Lost skillfully blends supernatural and sci-fi elements with insightful commentary on human nature.

      Here are the 12 finest Lost episodes, beginning with the twelfth best and progressing to the top. For this ranking, we'll treat two-part episodes as a single episode.

      Number 12: ‘Ab Aeterno’ (Season 6, Episode 8)

      Néstor Carbonell as Richard in “Ab Aeterno.” ABC – Credit: C/O

      After seeing Richard numerous times throughout the series, we finally uncover why he doesn’t age in Season 6, and the explanation is quite rewarding. We relish when Lost takes us to another world.

      With a flashback to the 1800s, we learn that Richard’s true name is Ricardo, a poor laborer from the Canary Islands who is imprisoned after killing a man who wouldn’t give him medicine for his ailing wife. He ultimately ends up on the Black Rock, which crashes on the island. There, he meets the Man in Black and acquires immortality, explaining why he hasn’t aged a day in almost 200 years.

      Number 11: ‘What Kate Did’ (Season 2, Episode 9)

      Evangeline Lilly as Kate Austen in “What Kate Did.” ABC – Credit: C/O

      Kate’s backstory episode reveals what led to her being handcuffed and escorted by a U.S. Marshal on Oceanic 815. The drama is so intense it’s etched in our memories.

      Spoiler alert: She killed her father, Wayne, who was abusive toward her mother. How? By detonating explosives in his home while he slept. Ironically, her mother is the one who turns her in.

      We also hear Patsy Cline's music during Kate’s scenes, particularly "Walkin’ After Midnight."

      Number 10: ‘Across the Sea’ (Season 6, Episode 15)

      ABC – Credit: C/O

      While Season 6 overall left much to be desired, this episode finally delivered the long-awaited answers about the origins of good and evil on the island — featuring Jacob and his brother, the Man in Black.

      We discover how these brothers arrived on the island in ancient times and how their adopted mother caused a rift between them. The episode also clarifies the nature of the well of light, which serves as the source of the island's electromagnetism.

      Part of what makes this episode so fulfilling is that the series had been hinting at it since Locke and Walt played a metaphorical game of backgammon early in Season 1. It was also foreshadowed by the discovery of a skeleton in the cave, buried with two stones: one black and one white.

      Number 9: ‘La Fleur’ (Season 5, Episode 13)

      Josh Holloway as James “Sawyer” Ford in “La Fleur.” ABC – Credit: C/O

      Season 5 delved deep into the history of the Dharma Initiative, one of the show’s most intriguing elements. This episode explores how Sawyer, Juliet, Jin, and Miles found themselves living in the barracks during the 1970s, all thanks to time travel. If you're a Lost fan, you're already accustomed to a certain level of suspended disbelief.

      Watching the subsequent episode, “Namaste,” provides a broader, more colorful perspective on life in the Dharma compound, but this episode was crucial in setting the stage and offered a more humanized portrayal of the Dharma group than earlier depictions. It also initiated the significant love story between Sawyer and Juliet.

      Number 8: ‘