LOST Finale: Revisiting ‘The End’
May 23, 2011 by Marisa Roffman
As you may have heard, today is the one-year anniversary of LOST’s series finale. (Yes, I’m a nerd.)
Five months ago, I selected “The End” as one of my favorite episodes of 2010 and as it stands today, it’s probably up there as one of my favorite series finales of all-time. Ending a show is never easy and it seems especially true in science-fiction shows that series finales are often controversial and divide the fandom. “The End” is no exception.
Some fans were disappointed by the remaining questions left unanswered. Others were unhappy with whom their favorite characters ended up with romantically. And while I can say there are times I wish I had a few less lingering questions and there is still one couple I can’t bring myself to really care for, I still adored the episode.
When our characters “woke up” in the sideways world and remembered their real lives, it broke my heart in the best way possible. The montages were beautifully done and Michael Giacchino’s score added to the intensity of those moments. This was what the show will continue to be about for me…these characters and the bonds they formed.
But even now, a year later, the final scenes of the series gives me chills and literally brings tears to my eyes. The LOST executive producers had long claimed they knew exactly what the final shot of the series was, but given the show’s dense mythology, I wondered how they could be so sure about where it would end up. However, as soon as a gravely wounded Jack started making his way through the jungle in the final minutes of the episode, it hit me where he was going and what the show was going to do.
So the end? It was perfect. Regardless of whether you liked the finale or not — and I’m not naive enough to think I could convince the haters to like the finale and I’m not going to try. We like what we like and that’s what makes the world interesting — I don’t think there was any better way the final shot of the series could have played out. Jack literally went back to where it all started, having fulfilled his purpose for his time on the island.
Want to rewatch the final scenes of “The End”? We’ve got it here…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vrNyC25-8Q[/youtube]
Now, if only that “they were dead all along” debate would go away…
Follow @GiveMeMyRemote and @marisaroffman on Twitter for the latest TV news. Connect with other TV fans on GIVE ME MY REMOTE’s official Facebook page.
And to be the first to see our exclusive videos by subscribing to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/givememyremotetv
Related Posts
Filed under #1 featured, Lost
I LOVED the finale, for me it was perfect. The scenes where they remember, particularly the vending machine and the baby being born, OH MY HEART.
I do understand why some people are mad about the island mysteries, but as characters go, I adore how they wrapped it up. I loved the mystery and weirdness to begin with, but some part of me checked out during season 2 or 3, it seemed to go a bit directionless and I just accepted that they’d never solve the island properly, so I was more than happy with what we got. All I have to do is think about Jack lying there, Vincent by his side, and I start crying. It was just so good, definitely going to re-watch it before bed.
Rewatching it was the best decision I made today. Even if it meant I cried multiple times during the 2.5 hours. Glad you enjoyed it, too!
It still makes me bawl like a baby.
I couldn’t agree with you more. The finale invoked the type of emotion I came to expect from Lost. The scene with Sawyer and Juliet at the vending machine still gives me goose bumps everytime I think about it.
It wasn’t a perfect ending and I’m sure they could have done a few other things but as a fan of the series I was happy with the way the series ended. I think that over time, most fans will learn to appreciate it in the same way that we already do.