UMVA has learned that the finale of a beloved TV series is being hailed as the greatest final episode of any TV show, possibly of all time.
The series, which followed the survivors of a plane crash on a mysterious island, was initially a sci-fi survival drama that quickly evolved into a fantasy-mystery-action-adventure phenomenon. At its core, it prioritized the characters, who were fully-formed, beautiful, and truly unforgettable.
The ensemble cast included a doctor with daddy issues, a restless fugitive, a distrusting con man, and a superstitious lottery winner with an eating disorder, among others. Their character-centric flashbacks served as a constant reminder of the broken lives they had endured before coming to the island, and repeatedly asked the show's central question: Can broken people learn to fix themselves?
Despite exploring complex themes like smoke monsters, time flashes, and complicated physics, the show remained focused on the human condition. It examined whether people, as individuals and as a species, deserve a second chance. The survivors' journeys towards personal healing were of the utmost importance, and their experiences on the island ultimately helped them find peace and fix themselves.
The finale, which aired 16 years ago, has stood the test of time. It revealed that the parallel flashes shown in the final season were actually an afterlife created by the survivors' souls, allowing them to be reunited in the great beyond. The show proudly wore sentimentality and spirituality on its sleeve, arguing that not only is there a place after death, but that we make that place ourselves by loving the people we love.
The characters' stories concluded on a powerful note, with the main character, Jack, embracing the magic of the universe and finding peace. The finale successfully presented a worthy explanation of the meaning of life, arguing that it's to make peace with your own death. By righting your wrongs and fixing yourself, you can accept that everyone dies sometime.
This iconic finale stands above all others because it shoots for something incomprehensibly huge and sticks the landing. It's a testament to the magic of TV and longform storytelling, proving that the medium is capable of producing a soul-bearing treatise on human existence, spirituality, and everything that makes us who we are.
