Hello and welcome to another edition of “Way Ahead”, your 100% English-spoken podcast that helps you take your English skills to a desert island…NO NO to the next level. I’m Fabio Emerim and today I’m going to talk about one of the most beloved and controversial TV series of all time and my favorite: Lost.

WARNING: THIS EPISODE OF WAY AHEAD BRINGS SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO STILL HAVEN’T SEEN THE SERIES, SO FROM THIS POINT ON, CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Lost is a drama series that aired on ABC from 2004 to 2010. The show was created by J.J. Abrams, Jeffrey Lieber, and Damon Lindelof, and it was known for its complex storyline, intriguing characters, and unpredictable plot twists.
The show followed the lives of a group of plane crash survivors who find themselves stranded on a mysterious and seemingly uninhabited island. As they struggle to survive and cope with the challenges of their new environment, they discover that the island holds many secrets and dangers that threaten their lives.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the show was its non-linear storytelling. The show used flashbacks, flash-forwards, and time jumps to tell the story of the characters and their experiences on the island. This approach added a layer of complexity to the show and kept viewers on the edge of their seats. Me included…
Another characteristic of the show that made it so popular was its memorable characters. From Jack, the reluctant leader of the survivors, Kate, the tough survivor with a troubled past, to Locke, the enigmatic and mysterious figure who seemed to know more about the island than anyone else, the characters of Lost captured the hearts and imaginations of viewers around the world.
However, Lost was nothing without its controversies. Some fans were frustrated by the show’s many unanswered questions and plot holes, and the show’s final season was met with mixed reviews. I wasn’t particularly bothered by these points, especially because they were kind of self-explanatory or didn’t really matter in the big picture.
Despite these criticisms, Lost remains a cultural touchstone and a beloved TV series. Its impact on popular culture and television storytelling cannot be overstated, and its influence can be seen in many of the TV shows that followed in its wake.
There are many mysteries and unanswered questions in Lost that have kept fans speculating and debating for years. Here are just a few of the most intriguing ones:

1. The Smoke Monster: One of the most iconic and mysterious elements of the show, the Smoke Monster was a creature that roamed the island and seemed to have the ability to shape-shift and manipulate people’s thoughts and actions.
2. The Numbers: The numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42 played a significant role in the show, and appeared in various contexts throughout the series. Their meaning and significance were never fully explained, leading to much speculation and debate among fans.
3. The Polar Bears: In the early episodes of the show, the survivors discover a polar bear on the island, leading to questions about how the bear got there and what its significance was.
4. The Others: A group of mysterious and hostile individuals who live on the island and seem to have a connection to the survivors, the Others are one of the central mysteries of the show. Their true motives and identities are revealed gradually throughout the series.
5. The Island’s Origins: The true nature and origins of the island itself are one of the biggest mysteries of the show. Throughout the series, characters discover that the island has a rich and mysterious history, but the full extent of its significance is never fully revealed.

These are just a few examples of the many mysteries and unanswered questions in Lost. While the show’s final season attempted to tie up some loose ends and answer some of these questions, many remain a subject of debate and speculation among fans to this day.

Every fan of the show has their favorite characters and episodes. My favorite episode is “The Constant”, that is often considered one of the most beloved and iconic episodes of Lost. It originally aired during the show’s fourth season and was directed by Jack Bender, who directed many of the show’s most memorable episodes.

The episode centers on Desmond Hume, one of the show’s most loved characters and my personal favorite. In the episode, he struggles to maintain his consciousness and mental stability while bouncing between different time periods. The episode is notable for its emotional depth and complex narrative structure, which involves multiple flashbacks and flash-forwards.
The title of the episode, “The Constant,” refers to a mathematical concept that Desmond learns about while serving in the military. According to this concept, a person needs a fixed point in time and space in order to maintain their mental stability and avoid being lost in time.
The episode sees Desmond trying to establish a constant in his own life in order to save himself from a mental breakdown. He reaches out to his longtime love, Penny Widmore, who helps him establish the constant he needs to remain anchored in time.
“The Constant” is beloved by fans for many reasons. It is one of the most emotionally powerful and character-driven episodes of the show, and it offers a unique and fascinating exploration of time and memory. The episode also features standout performances from actors Henry Ian Cusick and Sonya Walger, who play Desmond and Penny, respectively.

Anyway, Lost is a complex, intriguing, and unforgettable TV series that captured the hearts and imaginations of viewers around the world. If you haven’t watched Lost yet, I strongly recommend you to! It’s available on stream. Thank you for listening to this episode of Way Ahead, this is Fabio Emerim saying goodbye, don’t get lost, and see you next time!