14 Years Later, I’m Even More Impressed About Lost’s Finale Because Of This 1 Detail

Summary

• Lost’s divisive ending has improved over time with the show’s lack of a reboot, maintaining its courageous storytelling decisions.
• Reboots, like those of Dexter and others, can harm the reputation of the original show, making the choice to stick with Lost’s finale commendable.
• Though audiences didn’t like Lost’s ending, it is admirable that the show stuck with its intended ending.

Although Lost had a very divisive ending in 2010, I think one lasting detail about the sci-fi mystery show has made the finale better and better. From 2004 to 2010, ABC aired Lost, a sci-fi series that follows a group of plane crash survivors as they uncover strange mysteries on a deserted island. The show was pivotal for a lot of reasons, but mainly because of its outstanding viewership and its role in pop culture. Lost was one of the first shows to spur internet discussions of television. One of Lost’s biggest disappointments though was its ending.

Because of Lost’s incredible success, its ending was highly anticipated. Lost was unique because the showrunners set an end date for the show rather than letting it continue indefinitely. However, Lost’s series ending wasn’t as great as many expected. The final episode of Lost showed all the characters gathered in an alternate realm wherein all of them were dead. While some interpret this as “they were dead the whole time,” that isn’t exactly the case. I believe Lost was trying to show that the characters had returned to each other in a parallel universe, no matter when they died.

14 Years Later, A Lost Reboot Still Hasn’t Happened

How A Lost Reboot Would Hurt The Finale More

Although Lost’s finale was controversial, I think it is much better that the ending has remained the definite conclusion of the show. Lost is a very popular show, so it wouldn’t be surprising if someone tried to get a reboot made. Yet, in 14 years, that hasn’t happened. I think that is for the better. While a reboot can revive the magic of a series and get audiences excited again, it can just as easily flop. When it comes to Lost, the ending may not be perfect, but going back on it may just make the situation worse.

Part of the excitement of Lost was that it was so distinct and different from other television series. Though some viewers became tired of Lost’s ongoing mysteries and questions, Lost’s allure was wrapped up in what remained unanswered. To me, the show was always meant to be more abstract and paranormal than it may have seemed. Ultimately, I think a reboot would struggle to recreate this ambiance. Furthermore, by bringing Lost back, the franchise would not be standing by their planned ending, which would feel a bit like a cop out, even so many years later.

Prison Break, Dexter, & More Prove Why Reboots Are Dangerous

Reboots Taint The Reputation Of The Original Show

I’m especially glad that there hasn’t been a Lost reboot story, since other similar shows have had theirs fail. For example, the crime drama Dexter aired from 2006 to 2013 and received mostly positive reviews throughout its run. Unfortunately, when Dexter returned for a reboot in 2021, it didn’t do quite as well. Many audiences were disappointed and wished the reboot had never happened. Similar situations have occurred for shows like Prison Break and Heroes. I fear that Lost could have easily fallen into the same category if it had been given a reboot series.

Despite fans’ disappointment with
Dexter: New Blood,
a prequel show and a sequel show are both in production. They are called
Dexter: Original Sin
and
Dexter: Resurrection
respectively.

The worst part of a failed reboot is that it hurts the reputation of the original show. Though a television series can be amazing, its failed reboot puts a sour taste in some viewers’ mouths. Suddenly, the original series doesn’t have the same sparkle it used to have because audiences have seen the bad way in which the story continues. In this way, reboots are incredibly risky. They may be able to generate a lot of buzz and anticipation, their failure can be detrimental to an entire franchise.

I Appreciate Lost’s Finale Even More After Seeing Many Revivals Fail

Lost Has Stuck To Its Story

I think that Lost’s finale has been made better by the show’s lack of a reboot. Dexter had a revival because its finale was poorly received, yet the reboot didn’t really help all that much. Lost could have easily faced the same fate, and I’m happy it didn’t. Audiences may have been disappointed by Lost’s finale, but I think it’s courageous that the series stuck to its guns. The showrunners knew how they wanted to end the story, and regardless of what others thought, they stood by their decisions. I find this to be very admirable.

Reboots are not always the worst thing in the world, but for shows like
Lost,
it is better to showcase a complete story and leave it at that.

Overall, I can appreciate Lost’s finale more now. With time and age, I think much more can be gleaned from it. More arguments can be made, and more theories can be provided. Lost is proof that it is better to let a story stand as it is rather than drop more story on top hoping that it improves. Reboots are not always the worst thing in the world, but for shows like Lost, it is better to showcase a complete story and leave it at that.