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Parents' Guide to

Lost

By Jill Murphy, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Excellent, sometimes scary drama for fearless families.

TV ABC Drama 2004
Lost Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 42 parent reviews

doctora
doctora Parent of 5-year-old
June 6, 2022
age 14+

Buckle up for a fun ride!

The show vacillates from ok, to good to great. The beginning is stellar! But the drag of having to create 23 original episodes for ABC's too long seasons wears in the first few seasons. The economics of storytelling help the show in the latter seasons, but they definitely take the storylines OUT THERE. Buckle up! It's a fun ride! As for the ending...it disappoints, but the show had overstretched in a way that it could not gently retract from.
soulshare
soulshare Parent of 12 and 15-year-old
December 5, 2023
age 16+

Best show ever made.

This is my favorite show of all time. I have watched the entire series 5 times. Two of those times, I went through each episode with other people and explained all the meanings. By the end, I converted three non-believers to LOST lovers :) Ten years later, I still think of parts from LOST every week to give myself encouragement and guidance on how to live. Like when Jack tells Kate how he gave himself 5 seconds to let the fear sweep over him, and then he took action in spite of the fear. Like over and over again, we are shown specific instances when we misjudged people even though we thought we had enough evidence. Like when we realize that the struggle someone has been on can be traced back to a deep past hurt and they need closure of a specific kind to "let go." Like when I remind myself that "it only ends once" and until then I'm not going to give up hope. I watch a lot of tv and movies. Its my favorite hobby. Still, even my 2nd favorite (Fringe) and 3rd favorite (The Chosen) don't even come close to the amazingness that is LOST.
See all 42 parent reviews

What's the Story?

LOST is what happens when you take a couple of handfuls of survivors -- some family, mostly strangers -- crash them onto an island with a traumatic plane wreck, and give them little sign of hope, a mystery in the jungle, and no sign of rescue. Then add a pinch of Gilligan's Island, a smidge of Survivor, a sprinkle of grown-up Goonies, a dab of 24, and a generous serving of originality to taste. Each episode adds a building block to the mystery surrounding the survivors. Viewers are slowly introduced to each character's past via flashbacks to what led them onto the fictitious Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 -- and, eventually, to the island. Slowly, viewers discover that the characters' fate was no accident, and there are connections between the remaining passengers.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (42 ):
Kids say (167 ):

The show's interlocking puzzle of characters, secrets, and endless discoveries make for an enticing family drama. Lost could be considered the TV version of a board game. There are compelling questions left at the end of each episode and vast amounts of room for interpretation. The blend of mystery and drama in Lost is enthralling and tends to overshadow the violence that occurs along the way.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about death and disaster, which are prominent themes in Lost. Is the show optimistic or pessimistic? Are the characters intended to be role models?

  • Talk about the idea of fate, which plays a pivotal role on the show. Do you believe everything happens for a reason?

  • The mystery of the island and the embedded clues are a big part of the show, and sharing theories about the happenings on the show can be a fun way for teens and parents to share the viewing experience.

  • How do the characters on Lost demonstrate courage and teamwork? Why are those important character strengths?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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