I think the things that I love the most are the hidden hints and the way the writers use the internet and message boards to their advantage instead of trying to fight them. it has been artistically written!!! it has SOOO many layers and each layer adds more entertainment. if you JUST watch the show on TV, you will love the show. however, if you re-watch the show (especially the pop-up enhanced show), you’ll catch more than with just one watching. if you visit message boards or internet fan sites, you get even more. and then there’s the “lost-their-minds” who have taken being a fan to a whole new (and scary) level. they devote hours, days, years of their lives to research details that may or may not really be there. it’s amazing how many different, well-researched pieces there are. the deeper we get into LOST, everything still fits together seamlessly. it’s truly amazing!!! there is not, nor has there ever been a show that can rival the artistry of LOST!!!

That’s not to say he’s my favorite or anything. I don’t really have a favorite and just appreciate the ensemble. We’re not necessarily supposed to root for anyone on this show but I really want Jack to be redeemed fully and completely in the end. It may be at the cost of his life but I still want it.

He has a messed up life before the island (including pushing his wife away), is the reluctant leader on the island, starts to leave a normal life upon return, hits rock bottom (including pushing Kate away & nearly committing suicide), adopts some of Locke’s season 1 philosophy, and goes through a stage of non-interventionist apathy when in the past, only to end up the impulsive, science-driven leader again, motivated by how messed up his life *still* is.

It’s still an interesting journey though. Ironic that Jack is a doctor and his life tends to resemble the line on a heart monitor — extreme ups and downs for each heartbeat. But, between the beats, his life is on the center line. It’s as if Jack’s destiny is not to grow, to change, or to improve, but to simply survive the ups & downs and end up the same person he was all along (driven, lonely, bitter, highly capable but equally impulsive, someone to depend on but *not* to idolize).

Maybe that’s what grounds the show, despite all the crazy stuff that happens: a lot of protagonists, but no true heroes.

To counter the thought that Sawyer changed the most, I’ll offer up Jack. From their doctor/leader/savior in season 1 to his anger and despair in “Through the Looking Glass” to his laissez-faire attitude in season 5 where he no longer wants to be the leader and just wants to stay out it these wacky situations. As an audience, we’re not supposed to like him anymore. Finally, he takes charge again, trying to end the madness and start over. They are all on redemptive paths but I feel his path may end up being bittersweet.

Incidentally, I had totally forgotten that in Season 2 when the 108 minutes run up on that display, Egyptian symbols appeared in their place. Considering how Season Five ended….

Incidentally, I noticed there are some truly horrendous typos in this article, for which I heartily apologize… and hope that the first person to disagree with me doesn’t use that to make the case that my whole argument is null-and-void.

You are so right. My husband hates all other Sci-Fi (and I do mean all–he refuses to even give Fringe a chance and has never seen LoTR), but he loves LOST.