'Lost' Rewatch : Even Better The Second Time

It's been more than ten years since the end of "Lost," and I still have never quite found another show that made me so excited to make an appointment in front of the screen each week. The arrival of the binge TV model has further eroded the idea of excitedly waiting each week for a new episode — but even before Netflix changed everything, I had already felt that void. Shows like "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" have perhaps come closest, as have "The Leftovers" and "Watchmen"; ditto, recently, "The Mandalorian" and now "Wandavision."

But the pandemic gave me the opportunity to carve out some extra time to give "Lost" a re-watch; I was inspired by my friend Christy, who had started one with her son. I asked the Blogger Teen last summer if he'd like to join me in watching the "Lost" pilot — still one of the best pilot episodes of all time — and he was hooked.

From there, over the next few months, we would watch several episodes in a row when we had a chance, especially on Friday nights. We rediscovered the mysteries of the island in Season 1, which ended with the hatch — remember the hatch? Evan would share his theories, and I would tell him if he was on the right path. But then there would be times where I wouldn't remember things either, and would share my own questions. 

I stood back and watched as he shared his theories about the man who would turn out to be Ben Linus, as well as who the "others" were and the Dharma Initiative. I thrilled as we watched the flashbacks, and later the flash sideways, as the pieces came together. We laughed at the extras, including Nikki and Paolo, which was a better episode than the producers are given credit for.

Then there was the mystery of how some of them got back to the mainland — and Jack's infamous "We have to go back!" plea to Kate. There was the story of the "constant," and the love story of Desmond and Penny. There was so much to dissect, and plenty of episodes to consume.

In September, I did a Variety cover story on Emmy winner Damon Lindelof (for "Watchmen") and I mentioned we were doing a "Lost" rewatch. He told me to let him know when we got to the final season, and what Evan thought of it.

Finally, last month, we hit Season 6. And we've been enjoying the unique tales of connection and letting go, leading to the triumphant, emotional finale. It was even better than I remembered it. Sorry, haters. Evan enjoyed it as well, as we saw most of the main characters reunited in a bit of an afterlife, having found each other again after who knows where or how long. 

It's a journey I'm glad I took again, and brought Evan along for. And it was fun to show him along the way what the show meant to me, including the collectibles I still have from the show, and this unique booklet I helped write in 2010, for the Vilcek Foundation, about the international and immigrant contributions to the show.

I recently dropped a line to Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof to let them know we were finishing our "Lost" binge — I picked up Hawaiian BBQ for the occasion — and I'm glad I did. "Watching the LOST finale with one’s dad is probably exactly what it was designed for… really hope you and your son were able to take Christian’s words to heart and move on," Damon said.

Variety Cover Story: Damon Lindelof, a Day After His 'Watchmen' Wins

Interview Damon Lindelof and then write a Variety cover story, in the span of eight hours? Also post a behind the scenes Emmy story and blast out my Awards HQ newsletter at the same time? Sure! Whew, whatta end of Emmy season! Great chat with Damon as always, hope you enjoy a recap of *his* amazing weekend.

An excerpt:

Damon Lindelof admits he’s a little wary when celebrities use fashion to promote a cause. But when the Television Academy told nominees that there was no dress code for this year’s Emmy Awards, he knew he had to do something.

That’s why, as “Watchmen” won the Emmy on Sunday night for limited series (as well as a writing nod and acting awards for stars Regina King and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), Lindelof’s T-shirt proclaimed, “Remember Tulsa ’21.”

The HBO show opens with a depiction of the 1921 Tulsa massacre — the real-life tragedy in which the city’s vibrant Greenwood District (also known as “Black Wall Street”) was destroyed. He and his writers used that event to examine the history of systemic racism in America, and the resulting trauma that’s been passed down from generation to generation.

Lindelof printed up the shirt and others — he passed them out at his COVID-compliant Emmy party — because he had asked writer Cord Jefferson to give the acceptance speech if the two of them won the Emmy for outstanding writing for a limited series or movie. That way, in case “Watchmen” didn’t win the limited series Emmy, Lindelof would still get his message out.

“This part of our history was erased, and it’s not [like] now everybody knows about it,” says Lindelof, who warns that cultural forces could very well bury it again. “You can feel the writing in the sand and the tide coming in.”

Read the full story here.

Damon Lindelof on the End of 'The Leftovers': KCRW's The Business

There's always so much to talk about with Damon Lindelof, particularly as we head into the third and final season of "The Leftovers." We chatted for the latest edition of KCRW's "The Business," and discussed the show's move to Australia, how he finds himself once again ending a critically acclaimed TV series, and why he can't help but care what audiences have to say. (And no, he won't be returning to Twitter!) We also chatted about the potential of a writers' strike, and the legacy now of "Lost." Listen below!