Sep
Understanding the Ending of Lost: What Really Happened on the Island?
Entertainment Weekly delves into lingering questions surrounding the series finale of Lost, from its complex timelines to the profound symbolism in its concluding moments.
Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for Lost, Season 6, Episode 17, “The End.”
Lost is notorious for its divisive series finale, leaving some fans thrilled and others bewildered. Created by Jeffrey Lieber, J.J. Abrams, and Damon Lindelof, the show wasn’t always a subject of heated debate.
Debuting with its iconic pilot in September 2004, the Emmy-winning series captured audiences with the crash of Oceanic Flight 815 on a seemingly deserted island. What began as a survival story soon morphed into a complex narrative filled with mysteries—ranging from the Others to the Dharma Initiative and the intricacies of time travel.
However, when “The End” aired on May 23, 2010, viewers were left with more questions than resolutions. What was the significance of the split timelines? Why was everyone congregating in a church? And did the characters actually die at the start?
Entertainment Weekly explores the finale to shed light on these pressing queries. Here’s a breakdown of the ending of Lost.
What is the Island?
The question is answered with a “sort of.” The series hints at several theories but never gives a definitive explanation.
The island possesses mystical qualities, including healing abilities (like John Locke’s recovery from paralysis) and manipulation of time and space (notably in Season 5’s time-jumping). Central to the story is the battle between Jacob (Mark Pellegrino) and the Man in Black (Titus Welliver), who embodies chaos. Jacob, as the island’s protector, faces off against the Man in Black, who seeks to escape his prison.
At the island’s core lies a powerful energy source known as the “Heart of the Island.” This glowing cave is linked to its mystical powers and is deemed the origin of life, death, and rebirth. Described as a “cork” preventing a malevolent force from escaping, the energy’s release could unleash the Man in Black and plunge the world into darkness.
Jacob’s role is to safeguard this energy. When Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) accesses the Heart of the Island, its potential for catastrophic manipulation is revealed.
What Occurred on the Island?
Jacob explains that the passengers of Oceanic Flight 815 were brought to the island to determine a new protector to succeed him. A list of candidates was discovered in the lighthouse and cave, with names linked to recurring numbers (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42). As candidates perished, Jacob eliminated their names until only a few remained. Ultimately, Jack assumes the role of protector against the Man in Black.
In the finale, the Man in Black, now inhabiting Locke’s body (Terry O’Quinn), attempts to escape by bringing Desmond to the Heart of the Island. Jack believes that “uncorking” the energy source will kill the Man in Black once and for all.
Desmond removes a stone plug, extinguishing the light and triggering earthquakes, indicating the island’s impending destruction.
Jack confronts the Man in Black, ultimately prevailing. However, the uncorking makes the Man in Black mortal, leading to his death. Aware of the island’s peril, Jack resolves to restore the light.
He instructs Kate (Evangeline Lilly), Sawyer (Josh Holloway), and Claire (Emilie de Ravin) to escape via the Ajira plane while he remains behind. Jack sacrifices himself by replacing the stone cork, reigniting the light and stabilizing the island, fulfilling his role at the cost of his life.
As Jack succumbs to his injuries, he passes the mantle of protector to Hurley (Jorge Garcia), who reluctantly accepts, while Ben (Michael Emerson) offers his assistance as an advisor.
Understanding the Ending of Lost: What Really Happened on the Island?
What About the “Flash Sideways” Timeline?
The final season introduces two timelines. One continues the story on the island, showcasing the Oceanic Six’s struggle against the Man in Black and the island’s impending doom.
The second timeline, the “flash sideways,” depicts an alternate reality where the plane never crashes. Here, characters lead different lives, yet their paths still cross significantly. Sawyer becomes a cop, Ben a teacher, and Kate befriends Claire. In the finale, many characters recall their original lives upon reminders of the island.
After his death, Jack finds himself in a church within the flash sideways, adorned with symbols from various religions. He reunites with his deceased father, Dr. Christian Shepherd, who explains they are in a kind of purgatory. Since their time on the island was the most pivotal part of their lives, they created a space to reconnect after death. Now reunited, they can transition to the afterlife together.
Who Moved On to the Afterlife?
In the finale, nearly all major characters are reunited in the church, paired with their soulmates—Jack with Kate, Sawyer with Juliet, and Charlie (Dominic Monaghan) with Claire. However, some fans expressed disappointment over Sayid (Naveen Andrews) ending up with Shannon (Maggie Grace) instead of Nadia (Andrea Gabriel), who was his primary motivation throughout the series.
Not everyone moves on; Ben opts to stay behind, feeling unworthy of joining just yet—a moment of character growth that hints at his ongoing quest for redemption. Some significant characters, like Mr. Eko (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), Michael (Harold Perrineau), Walt (Malcolm David Kelley), and Ana Lucia (Michelle Rodriguez), do not appear in the church, nor do several others from the flash sideways.
Understanding the Ending of Lost: What Really Happened on the Island?
Were They Dead the Whole Time?
No. While earlier seasons sparked speculation about the passengers being dead and trapped in limbo, it became clear that they were in a real place, particularly as characters escaped the island and insisted on returning.
The confusion primarily stems from the flash sideways timeline introduced in the final season, where characters are indeed dead in purgatory, but they only reach this state after dying in the original timeline. The initial plane crash did not kill them, and everything that unfolded on the island was genuine.
Following the finale, ABC aired footage of the plane wreckage as a callback to the pilot, prompting some to assume the characters were dead from the beginning, which is inaccurate. They experienced real events on the island, while the flash sideways served as a separate spiritual journey.
What Does the Final Shot Mean?
The closing moments of Lost echo the pilot’s opening sequence, with Jack lying in the bamboo forest, his eyes closing as he succumbs to his injuries. This poignant conclusion brings Jack’s arc full circle, symbolizing the end of his role as protector.
A subtle yet powerful detail in the final shot is the presence of Walt’s dog, Vincent, a consistent figure throughout the series. Vincent lies beside Jack in his final moments, symbolizing the enduring connections forged on the island that transcend death.
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