Lost (2004-2010)

USA

Television Series

Creators: J.J. Abrams, Jeffrey Lieber, & Damon Lindelof

Cast: Naveen Andrews, Matthew Fox, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Daniel Dae Kim, Kim Yunjin, Evangeline Lilly, Terry O'Quinn, Emilie de Ravin, Michael Emerson, Dominic Monaghan, Henry Ian Cusick, Harold Perrineau, Elizabeth Mitchell

The first season is essential viewing, after which it loses its way somewhat, with its various MacGuffins taking over and becoming the show’s central focus, as the often very moving human drama of its origins is slowly replaced with a great deal of (admittedly often inspired) sci-fi guff.

Season 1 (2004-2005)

After their trans-Pacific flight crashes on a remote island, a bunch of disparate survivors attempt to stay alive and await rescue whilst uncovering the mysteries of their new home, in this outstanding first season, which elegantly mixes the enigmatic action of the present with the character-building backstories of the past.

Season 2 (2005-2006)

Survivors from the tail section of the plane joining the action and the corporealisation of the mystical “Others” ensure that this increasingly addictive second season is never less than enthralling if not quite as elegantly and eloquently mounted as before.

Season 3 (2006-2007)

A strange irreverent tone, more dodgy accents than ever before, and a number of episodes that are no more than filler ensure that this third season, which sees the lives of the Oceanic survivors and The Others becoming ever more entwined, though still perversely addictive, is a long way short of the quality of the first one.

Season 4 (2008)

Livened up by the addition of flashforwards to its usual flashbacks, and benefiting from a more streamlined approach to its narrative, this fourth season, detailing the build up to and aftermath of the rescue of The Oceanic 6, is a decided return to form.

Season 5 (2009)

The focus is almost completely narrative based now, with little time spent on the character building of earlier seasons, as two separate narrative strands – one in the present and one in the ‘70s – follow the trials and tribulations of the remaining Oceanic survivors, in this fifth season, which is as gripping as ever if somewhat less substantial.

Season 6 (2010)

Questions are answered – though the answers are seldom as interesting as the original questions – in this final season, which often feels quite tiresome and drawn-out though still often rather inspired, as it draws together two seemingly unrelated narratives – one on the island, one off it – which head towards its vaguely satisfying conclusion. Iain.Stott