Theories about what was behind the island’s mystery inLosthave been thrown around ever since the show’s pilot episode. The most popular one was thatall the passengers of Oceanic Flight 815 were dead, and the island was their purgatory. For many reasons, it would’ve made sense. Firstly, the plane crash should’ve been fatal for most of them. Also, while on the island, most of the survivors had to deal with their turbulent pasts. Finally, there were many characters who, after making apersonal leap that neared them to redemption, met their demise.
Pairing all these points with the fact the island was a peculiar place that includedpolar bears and smoke monsters, the purgatory theory became a strong one. Everything added up except for one thing:Lostco-creator,J.J. Abrams, debunked the purgatory theoryas early as the show’s first season. Discarding the theory might have been beneficial for the show, but it faced a resurgence once it was nearing its end.
J.J. Abrams Dismissed the ‘Lost’ Purgatory Theory on ‘20/20’
In an interviewwith the long-running ABC series20/20, Abrams was quick to dismiss the purgatory theory. During a segment featuring a fleeting exchange betweenElizabeth Vargasand Abrams, she mentions some of the theories that were already being discussed by fans. These included the Bermuda Triangle theory and the one about the island being purgatory. “Purgatory one is a great one. I love that theory. But it isn’t what it is. I’d be frustrated if that were the answer, I gotta say.”
Abrams compared it to the narrative device where everything ends up being a dream, and that comparison is completely accurate. It would’ve felt like a total cop out, taking the easy way out byjustifying the island’s wackiness through its establishment as a post-mortem realm. Having all the stories of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 being a mere stepping stone between real life and the beyond would’ve felt reductive, and would also throw away thesix years that we would investin the show.
The Best Episode From Every Season of ‘Lost’
The plot was not ‘Lost’ in these episodes.
It’s still questionable why Abrams revealed this information so early during the show’s run. To some degree, it might have been considered a spoiler. But, in a way, it makes sense. Reassuring the audience their favorite characters will not end up being dead all alongis what kept us there week after week. Discarding the purgatory theory and promising a satisfying resolution for when it would all come to an end made way for the fans to theorize on other aspects of the show.
‘Lost’ Season 6 Saw the Return of the Purgatory Theory
Season 6 ofLostsparked a handful of questions upon its release. For starters, how would Claire (Emilie de Ravin) come backafter her disappearance? Also, what the hell was the deal with that Others’ temple, and why did it just show up? But, most importantly, what were those new flashback-y sequences supposed to mean? The last three seasons of the show introduced seismic shifts inLost’s narrative. Season 4 saw the flash-forwards, while Season 5 divided its narrative between present-day and 1977. The Season 6 segments were aptly-baptized as flash “sideways.”
This timeline originated on the departure day of Flight 815, when the plane lands safely at LAX and a brief scene shows that the island was now submerged in the ocean. The flash sideways scenes feature aretreading of past storylines with different outcomes. Implausible plot threads like Jack (Matthew Fox) and Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell) being parents of David (Dylan Minnette) — giving Jack the opportunity to tie up his unresolved parenting issues — gave indication of things coming full-circle in this reality. Thus,the final season saw the resurgence of the purgatory theory.
In the end, the flash-sideways reality turned out to be, in fact, purgatory. With most flash-sideways moments making us go “huh?”, we were as clueless as Jack up to the point when he got to see his dad, Christian (John Terry), again. Christian shepherds (wink, wink) Jack into realizing that this reality served asa waiting room for all of them— the people who became Jack’s family at the most defining point of his life — to meet again and move on together. So,in a way, you could say the purgatory theory held a partial truth.Lostdid tackle the purgatory concept, just not as its main storytelling device. Abrams knew it was of the utmost importance to recognize this, as everything that happened on and beyond the island was real, with the purgatory functioning as a heartwarming coda instead.
Lost follows the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, which crashes on a mysterious island in the South Pacific. The diverse group must work together to survive while uncovering the island’s many secrets, including a hidden hatch, a smoke monster, and other supernatural elements. Known for its complex narrative structure, the series includes flashbacks and flashforwards that provide deeper insights into the characters' backstories and their lives off the island. As they navigate the island’s dangers and mysteries, the survivors form bonds and face challenges that test their limits and reveal hidden truths.
