I Don't Want A Lost Revival, But I Need These 8 Questions Answered If It Happens

Lost, a series renowned for its complex narrative and lingering mysteries, continues to fascinate audiences years after its divisive Lost finale. At the heart of the show's enduring appeal lies the enigmatic island, a place of both wonder and danger, where the lines between science and mysticism blur. Its ongoing appeal makes it ripe material for a reboot. I don’t think a reimagining could ever touch the lightning-in-a-bottle classic series. On the other hand, I hope it addresses some key mysteries if anyone eventually does decide to touch it.

While the series offered glimpses into the island's purpose in Lost, many questions remain unanswered, fueling ongoing debates and speculation among viewers. Some of the most perplexing mysteries surround the island and its inhabitants, which result in unresolved plot points that could potentially be revisited in a future reboot. From the origins of its protectors to the true nature of its supernatural phenomena, a reboot could finally provide pay-off for the set-ups that went nowhere conclusive. Not everything needs explaining, but some Lost mysteries were disappointing.

7 What Is The Island's Purpose, Really?

Is It More Than Just A Source Of Electromagnetic Energy?

The primary question surrounding the enigma of Lost is the true purpose of the island. This is vitally left open to interpretation, which is key to Lost’s wide audience appeal. That being said, the island’s true nature is at the center of unanswered questions we still have about Lost’s island.

The show at least establishes that the island is a real place and not purgatory. It is also established that the island is a source of all life and death. Not every mystery in Lost should be explained away, but a reboot could contribute more to the island’s lore and how Jacob’s magic works, or if the island was merely a source of electromagnetic energy and wasn't meant to serve a specific purpose at all.

6 Where Did Jacob & The Man In Black's Mother Come From?

And How Does She Know So Much About The Island?

Another Lost question that opens a can of worms is Jacob and the Man in Black’s backstory. Their mother, Claudia, survived a shipwreck that brought her to the island during the 1st century. After she had given birth to the twin boys on the island, a mysterious, unnamed woman killed her and took the boys as her own. Their replacement mother revealed that she was raising them to be the island’s new protectors - the island always needs a protector.

Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) standing in the jungle with a bloody face in Lost

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While it is clear how the biological mother got to the island, it is less clear how the island’s mother got there originally. An origin story of Mother would be fascinating in a reboot - even revealing that she, too, was stranded on the island would not ruin Lost’s mystique.

5 Why Is The Cabin Magical?

How Does It Move?

One of the biggest unsolved mysteries of Lost is the cabin. This enigma would benefit from a revisit if Lost is ever rebooted because it makes for some frustrating Lost plot holes. For example, the cabin is able to move, independently of the island’s movements. In addition, the ring of ash could either be to keep the Man in Black out of the cabin or keep him contained inside. The purpose of the cabin in the wider story of Lost is unclear and having this addressed would make it less nonsensical.

4 Are The Numbers Really Supernatural?

Were The Accidents Just Coincidences?

The numbers will stick steadfastly in any longtime Lost fan’s mind: 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42. The number sequence appears numerous times in Lost, and its significance is one of my favorite mysteries in the show. The sequence’s appearances range from major plot twists to subtle Easter eggs.

In Hurley’s timeline, a flashback reveals he first heard a fellow patient repeating the numbers while he was in a mental institution. The numbers, after Hurley uses them to win big on the lottery, cause colossal bad luck for the beloved character. Hurley’s interpretation of the numbers as a curse connects to Jacob’s master plan and what the numbers in Lost really mean.

While the numbers correspond to candidates for the island’s next protector, this does not wholly answer the mystery...

If there is ever a reboot of the classic Lost series, I hope it focuses more on the Dharma Initiative and what these numbers really mean. While the numbers correspond to candidates for the island’s next protector, this does not wholly answer the mystery - namely, the question of whether the numbers are cursed or not. In the season 5, episode 5, titled “This Place Is Death”, the voice on a radio broadcast reciting the numbers even sounds like Hurley, suggesting another wild timeline twist that is never fully explored.

3 Why Was Libby In The Mental Hospital?

Libby's Story Was Never Finished

Another mystery related to Hurley is the characters’ connections to each other in their flashbacks, which is one of the most compelling, character-centered aspects of the show. Whereas the passengers’ flashbacks showing how they know each other are satisfyingly drip-fed throughout the early seasons of Lost, before the flashforwards and flashsideways begin, it never explicitly reveals why Libby was in the same mental hospital as Hurley.

One possibility is that Libby was grieving the death of her husband, which made her spiral into a severe depression. Regardless of the likelihood of this explanation, this Lost season 2 mystery still frustrates me, having provided a setup that never paid off. After her tragic death, her backstory is never given the attention it deserves in the series, and it would benefit from more exploration in a reboot. Libby is among the characters in the church in Lost’s controversial ending, but it is less clear what her personal journey was in the show compared to her peers.

2 What Is “The Sickness”?

The "sickness" in "Lost" was a mysterious affliction that drove individuals to violent paranoia and madness, most notably affecting Rousseau's scientific team. While its exact origins remain somewhat ambiguous, it's widely understood that the sickness was not a constant presence on the island. Rather, it was triggered by exposure to the electromagnetic energy released from the Heart of the Island, particularly after the Incident at the Swan station. This energy, when unchecked, corrupted the minds of those exposed, leading to aggression and irrational behavior, ultimately resulting in the demise of Rousseau's crew.

However, despite frequent allusions to the "sickness" within the Lost narrative, the show did not provide a comprehensive explanation of its nature or transmission. The Dharma Initiative's potential involvement remains unclear, as does the reason for Danielle Rousseau's apparent immunity, or whether she was, in fact, affected. The very existence of the sickness has been debated by viewers, particularly its relation to the Man in Black. The unresolved nature of this plot point has left many with lingering questions.

1 Why Is Walt Special?

Walt, a young survivor of Oceanic Flight 815, was initially conceived as possessing extraordinary abilities within the Lost story. The show's creators originally planned for Walt to exhibit supernatural powers (Lostpedia), including the capacity to telepathically influence animals. This concept was hinted at in early episodes, with scenes suggesting Walt could cause a bird to crash and control a polar bear. Ben Linus, leader of the Others, also acknowledged Walt's unique nature, stating he was "more than [they] could handle."

The full extent and nature of Walt's special abilities were never fully explored...

However, as Walt's actor, Malcolm David Kelley, aged significantly, the writers altered their plans. The intended storyline involving Walt's supernatural powers was abandoned, and the character was written out of the main narrative at the end of season two. Consequently, the full extent and nature of Walt's special abilities were never fully explored, leaving his potential powers a lingering mystery within the show's mythology. This means that his specialness in Lost is a just-because element, like several mysteries in the show - his character would be great for Lostreboot to explore further.

Source: Lostpedia