Readers Respond: What has 'Lost' meant to you?

Shortly after the second season started, I got the job of About.com's Guide to Lost and began building this Web site. What had once been my favorite show then became almost an obsession. I have loved working with this site and interacting with other Lost fans and professionals.

Most of all, I've loved the journey and the story of Lost. Co-executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse and the other writers have given me so many things relating to life, love, and God to think about. I am truly blessed to have been part of such a wonderful, not to mention historical, experience.

How about you?

I grew up watching LOST!

I started watching LOST in 2008 because of my mom. The music gave me goose-bumps and I knew at that moment this was no ordinary TV show. I am a HUGE fan of LOST ever since. I'm fifteen now and the impact of the characters' stories on my own life is very significant. I love the music, the amazing actors/actresses, the crew, the writers (although Darlton would be in critical danger, if I ever laid my hands on them 'cause I'm a hard-core Skater).

—Guest Bessy Lostaholic

EVERYTHING!!!!!

After watching the last episode of season 6, I felt kinda hollow and weird. I mean, every time I finished up watching a LOST episode I felt refreshed knowing that another would be following soon. But not that time when shephard lay dying on the island. LOST touched me and moved me deeply. It transported me into a dimension of its own.......it meant EVERYTHING to me :( (I actually felt low for a couple of weeks when I finally understood its over.) It was the ONLY series I've ever followed up, and I'm glad that I did. :)

—Guest TRUE LOSTIE

There has been no greater work on TV

In my 42 years, nothing has been better written or executed for the medium. Though many shows have had excellent writing and production value for their time (All in the Family, Seinfeld, Twilight Zone, Sopranos, M*A*S*H* all come to mind) none was on the scale or scope of Lost. And the decision to cap it and bring it to a conclusion cemented its legacy and avoided the inevitable jumping of the shark to which other great shows fell victim. Now the debate can be made as to whether the ending or the path the storyline was up to some self-styled critics' standards, but its degree of impact on the industry cannot be questioned. The production of this show, the level of support & freedom provided by its studio, and the loyalty of its followers in the fledgling 21st century new media changed the game. And so far it still holds up. Current 18 - 30 viewers who were too immature to get in the game six years ago are rediscovering the DVDs. A new generation has been born.

—Guest R. L.

Metaphysical Psychotherapy Couch

I see the island as a metaphysical psychotherapy couch where people who would have completely destroyed their lives were sidetracked by the mystical Jacob to get a stab at learning from their evils and having a chance to make things right. Jacob's only request in return for this favor is that one stays to govern and protect the island in good will. I see each character as dealing with major things that we as humans all face in this world. The 'Losties' were a kind of "everyman" people that every person can relate with. My favorites: Locke needed to make peace with his weaknesses. Jack needed to quit carrying the weight of the world by himself. Sawyer needed to learn how to love instead of con. And Sayid needed to embrace himself for who he was, not what the world said about him. In the end it wasn't all that clean of a resolution in their issues. But then again life never is.

—Guest Ransom

All

I was so lost without 'Lost'. I have spent hours flipping channels! I am so excited, I am popping to tell all of you this!! I found, entirely by chance, a little bit of a passifier for 'Lost'. It is on NBC Monday night and is called Persons Unknown. Now I am hooked..again. Several people get abducted and put in a pretty little town they can not get out of. Every bit as weird as 'Lost'. Love it.My summer is saved! [Editor's Note: Thank goodness, Delandax! I'm glad your summer is saved! I've DVR'd the show, but haven't watched it yet. Maybe tonight!]

—Guest Delandax

Fade to black...

The last scene on ‘The End’—the secluded crash site of Oceanic 815—takes me on a journey past of the lives of the survivors on that beach—and what remains are the memories.

—LostinMelocholy

It was well worth it...

The 6 years I spent watching and following LOST was the best ever. I lived, thought, cared, laughed, screamed and most of all cried with them, especially towards the end. Why do I have this admiration for the show? Because it was raw human experience, they were real and we learned lessons along the way. I certainly hope a show like LOST gets to be produced again. It was totally about humanity and suggests that there may still be something out there when we finally meet our death. To the LOST characters, producers, this was ONE TRULY GREAT SHOW... You will live on in our memories...

—Guest Guin

Sad to see them leave

The sign of a great drama is missing the characters after the show ends. Lost succeeded big time in this department. I don't know who was my favorite: Sayid, Hurley, Kate, Jack, Sawyer, Locke, Desmond, et al, but I miss them all. Each week we were captivated, sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a nerve racking edge of my seat way but I was always glad to be there with them whatever they were going through. When Vincent came out of the jungle and lay down beside Jack in the finale, I lost it. I will miss this wonderful, mysterious, touching series. I loved every minute!!!

—Guest gslouch

Letting Go

Lost obviously gave many viewers much to ponder and it allowed us to apply certain ideas to our own life. That being said, it is time to let go. Why go on about details insignificant to the whole message? Learn to live with love and caring for others.

—Guest Rahab

The finale meant more the 2nd time

I watched the finale again, after re-watching Season 5 Episode 6: "316." That's the episode where they all meet Eloise at The LampPost, where the pendulum tells them where the island is going to be, so they catch Flight 316 to Guam. I hadn't recalled that the church of all faiths where Jack was going to have Christian's funeral was the LampPost. I appreciated the finale even more the second time, partially because of that association and partially because Desmond's words to Jack, before Desmond descended into the Light Source, were that once Desmond went there, he'd be in another place, and Jack would be there; that Desmond had sat next to Jack on the Oceanic flight, and the plane had never crashed - basically reiterating the sideways timeline. Jack was the last to remember. All had agreed to meet there. To take joy in each other. I loved the ending this time even more than I loved it the first time. I still needed to keep the tissues handy. :) Lost: there'll never be another.

—Guest MeredithD1

Missing Lost

A Tuesday evening has passed without an episode of LOST on the small screen. There’s a deep emptiness and realization that an emotional investment of six seasons has passed.

—LostinMelocholy

It showed you.......you.

I often kidded my wife when a tear came to her eye during a movie. I just didn't understand. I was hooked from the opening two hours through Christian opening the church doors. I will never forget the six years that the Losties became my friends and sometimes my enemy. I have all five seasons and will have six later this year. Meanwhile I share them with friends and family that they can watch the greatest tv show ever! Thanks to all that produced and followed as fans. No regrets: great ride.

—Guest Glad

Missed First Year

I was turned on to Lost during year 2. I was very turned on to West Wing, and my daughter convinced me to get turned on to Lost as well. I never turned away. While watching Lost, I realized that every type of character in Lost was in my life at some time. However, the Lost characters were more unpredictable than my life ones were, which grabbed me. I was never able to predict correctly the behavior of any character at any time. That's probably why my interest in Lost was so strong--it piqued my curiosity. How would I get fooled this time?

—jacquie219

Greatest ends that i have seen

I can bet my money that I have or anyone has seen this kind of ending. I think this series was one piece and no other series could emerge as good as this. Greatest TV show in the history of television, although there were some questions unanswered, but I loved it. I think the flash sideways happened in another life of the Losties, after death that is....

—Guest rafsan akib

Great Writing and Acting

Matthew Fox, Terry O’Quinn, Evangeline Lilly, Josh Holloway, Naveen Andrews, Jorge Garcia, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Dominic Monaghan, Emilie de Ravin, Henry Ian Cusick, to name a few, has been a stellar cast ensemble unequaled in serialized television.

—LostinMelocholy

Thanks for Six Years of Escape

Whatever else it was, it was not the usual formulaic Hollywood pap that passes for most "entertainment" on TV for the last six years. I looked forward to Lost whichever night it was on, and tried not to miss any episodes, because I knew that for an hour that night I'd escape the cares of my life and could watch the excellent actors of Lost go through their life on The Island. There was a fascinating mix of physics, science fiction, fantasy, mythology, romance, morality play, and survivalism. And before I go further I want to THANK and compliment the composers and the musicians of LOST-- the soundtrack and music on the show were not incidental to the show, as on most shows-- it was a huge part of the show, setting the mood, carrying us away, allowing us to remember moments of danger, triumph or sadness. Thank you so much for that! It was an experience to tune in to this show and enjoy it for so long. Thanks!

—Guest Tom in GV

Loved, Loved, Loved It

This series was so great!!! It was way more than just an entertaining TV show, although it was that too. It draws you in and makes you think about life in general and the moral, ethical and spiritual parts of it. I think the actors were totally caught up in it and really were the characters. Loved it and I doubt there will ever be another show like it.

—Guest grammy02456