ABC’s LOST explained!
Still wondering what the television show LOST was all about? I have answers!
SPOILER ALERT – the following article will completely explain and therefore give away to the most important puzzle pieces from the hit ABC television series LOST. Therefore if you haven’t seen the show and don’t want the end to be spoiled, stop reading this article right here! As for the rest of you who have wondered… what did it all mean? I have the answer for you!
Now that the spoiler warning is out of the way, lets get right to it…
The most mysterious lingering question remaining regarding the television show LOST is… what is the golden light in the cave at the heart of the island?
If only we knew what the light was maybe we could determine what the island was. And if we knew those facts we could piece together all the remaining details. Some might say the question was already answered when Jacob claimed the island was like a cork (when he said that he wasn’t lying which I will explain later) yet saying the island is a cork really only raises another question instead of giving any type of comprehensive answer, after all… if the island is a cork, what does that mean? I for one am glad that the writers didn’t spell it all out for us because if they had, it would have robbed us the opportunity to ponder the larger questions and solve the puzzle ourselves and ultimately that was the fun of LOST.
SO WHAT WAS THE LIGHT?
The golden light in the cave at the heart of the island is the same light that was behind the frozen donkey wheel that the MIB, Ben, and Locke, all were attempting to manipulate or channel to their benefit throughout the show. It also seems to be the same light (or a type of it) that engulfed the island when Desmond flipped the fail safe, when Juliette ignited Jughead, and each time our losties were bounced around when the island was skipping in time.
Most folks assume the light is God, or spirituality, or possibly the personification of goodness, or life, or something similarly vague. None of those solutions help us piece together the puzzle that is LOST.
Drum roll please…
Continue…
Most sophisticated and complete theory of LOST so far!!
I forgot to put one thing in. The characters on lost are backgammon pieces.
Woops sorry I didn’t think it posted so I posted it twice, sorry about that.
Claudia is a Roman name btw
My theory is very old and very simple. The island is a backgammon board. The light represents a very simple English word “goodness.” The backgammon board is finite like the universe and the earth. The white stones represent good and the black stones represent evil. You win in backgammon by getting pieces into your corner first. So this is the perpetual battle between good and evil. Jacob represents the primitive society that philosophers on the show believed showed a higher morality but lower technological standard. Rosseau called it the noble savage. The MIB represents science and modern society onward marching of progress. This is the dichotomy Jack and Locke fought over Science versus faith and morality. Jacob during the course of the show tries to convert people over to his corner and be good. If he wins he saves humanity from destroying itself. If the MIB wins then humanity is ultimately doomed due to it’s own destructiveness. I believe the issue of time on the show was just to show the high electromagnetic source in the island. Just because light distorts spacetime doesn’t mean light is time.
My theory is actual a very simple and old one. The light represents goodness, that simple. The whole island is a backgammon set, there is the light stones representing good and the black stones representing evil. The show is full of names of philosophers we all know, some say man is born good and corrupted by society. Jacob represents the primitive society that is technologically deficient but morally superior. The man in black represents the modern society that is knowledgeable but with these scientific perks come immorality and war. Like 2001 Space Odyssey when the ape picked up the stick and beat the other ape to death. So in this finite backgammon board the person who has the most pieces in their corner wins. If Jack chooses to help, reject science and be good he in the white corner. If Sayid murders and tortures he is in the black corner. So Jacob perpetually plays MIB in backgammon till he wins or loses by using their pieces to fight this epic confrontation between good and evil. If Jacob wins humanity and the universe are saved. If the MIB wins then the world will remain evil and destroy itself.
This show was the best show i have seen…. Not only did it keep me guessing but the acting was amazing. I am in no way shape or form a emotional person… rather cold to be honest besides when im producing my music. Yet this show had me getting sucked into the emotions of the characters as they progressed throughout thier journey. Thank you for your explanation i was too far off and i believe this is one of the more accurate ones (as i have read many, and they all make no sense). I hope the writers can “Click Up” and make another epic series…. may i suggest something that has to do with the comparison of good vs evil and the comparison of God and Athiesm. That would make for a interesting show and not only that EVERYONE would relate and therefor, be interested… Hmmm i think i may have to take a break from producing to write a show… hehe. I Digress, anyway best show ive seen thank you for your explanation and if anyone is into house music EDM or dubstep, check out my stuff on soundcloud.com or FB….
Here is the link for my latest song.
https://soundcloud.com/lee-polcak/viva-haus-vegas-dj-lee-roq
amazing. i’m dying. we are re-watching lost as i type this, about ten minutes into the pilot. omg, it’s the best tv show ever. you did all the work and now we’re gleaning all your insight.
Great theory probably the best I’ve read so far however, Jack does actually run from the smoke monster(past), in the first episode pilot part two,Jack,Charlie,and Kate are running, Charlie falls and Jack even runs back to get him,gets up and continues to run,other than that flawless explanation of a theory you did a great job.
How come babies conceived on the island couldn’t be born on the island?
Id like to know how Ben whilst still leading the others paid for all the things they had.like all the trips to the city, and finding out info for all the people on the island and where Tom was in a hotel which looked expensive in the episode Meet Kevin Johnson. Great theory by the way, you nailed it!
Clearly one of the best explanations for Lost I’ve ever read or come across. Well done indeed to take the time to put this all out there for everyone to read and decide for themselves.
I always just assumed that Jacob was the protector of the island, representing the good and the smoke monster was the evil of the island. I never really broke it down into anything other than this but you clearly went deeper with it and I agree with your logic.
The sideways timeline is another thing I’m really trying to piece together to make it seem logical and without getting too deep into it. It’s pretty complex for sure but after reading your take on it, I agree with the time travel aspect of it and not the purgatory part. Why? Each character was linked in some way, if even for a brief moment, before getting on the plane. However, if purgatory is a state in which the soul gets prepared for heaven, I’m doubting it this is the way these characters would’ve had it play out for them if so much was riding on it.
Excellent articles though, I’m watching Lost for a 2nd time now and I love it even more. You start to piece things together you never noticed the first time around, even though you know how it eventually plays out. Still, one of the best TV shows of all time… why else are there books and full websites dedicated to it?
This was the best explanation I’ve found to date. While I was a little disappointed in the finale, I still loved the show and don’t regret watching (and re-watching) it. You’ve help me make sense of a lot things I loved and (didn’t quite love) about the show and I thank you for it.
Thank you Ryan!
I’ve spent a lot of “time” (wink, wink) reading up on LOST theories and this is by far the most clear and believable explanation of the show. Rather than try to break down each of the mysteries piece-by-piece to put together the puzzle, you’ve taken the answer and used it to fill in all the blanks. Brilliant!
Well thought out theory, the only questionable part is Ben developing cancer due to Desmond not pushing the button and time rushing forward. Ben finds out he has cancer 2 days before flight 815 crashes. I guess it’s possible Desmond missed the button-push at some point before that which may have caused it, but in regards to your specific example, it’s not the case. That being said, this is by far the best, and most logical, theory I’ve read.
so did they die in the plain crash or was it the bomb that killed them?
Absolute genius! Everything makes perfect sensenow. Fantatic theory. Cant wait to see what u made if the purgatory world that was going on. Off to read your other article now! Brilliant!
I like this theory but I would like you to clear up one aspect of it if you will (and sorry if you answered this and I missed it).
You gave an example of how time progresses too quickly if the button isn’t pressed – the maternity ward looking as if it hadn’t been occupied for months or years. My question is, if this affects inanimate objects, then why doesn’t it affect people? ie no one rapidly aging? I guess I am just unclear on how the whole time release works in your theory. As in, what exactly does it affect?
My other question is about the smoke monster. I was under the impression that Mother was the smoke monster because how else did she kill all those men and fill in those holes in a short amount of time?
The difference between the Mother and MIB is that MIB wanted to leave the island and had no intention to protect it, which made him more destructive. Also, I think Mother splitting the responsibilities is what caused most of the problems.