18 Years Ago, This Unforgettable ‘Lost’ Scene Captivated Millions Worldwide!

SPOILERS – Warning, the following contains potential spoilers. If you prefer to remain unspoiled, please skip this article.

Premiering on ABC in September 2004, the groundbreaking series “Lost” quickly established itself as a television phenomenon. A staple in pop culture, the creation of J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof provided millions of fans with countless memorable moments.

From the survivors’ initial encounter with the mysterious smoke monster, to the end of season one with the discovery of the hatch, visits to the village of the Others, and the series’ debated finale, “Lost” continually moved, amazed, and captivated its audience.

The Most Unforgettable Episode of Lost?

However, the 23rd and final episode of season 3, first aired in May 2007, arguably delivered the most emotional impact. Besides the numerous twists this pivotal episode offered—such as Jack’s capture of Benjamin Linus, Charlie’s heartbreaking sacrifice signaling “Not Penny’s boat”, and the flicker of hope for a rescue—it was the final sequence that left fans utterly speechless.

Instead of the usual character-centered flashbacks, the off-island sequences in the episode titled Through the Looking Glass depicted Jack in rather unusual circumstances. Sporting a beard, battling depression, and addicted to oxycodone, Lost’s protagonist ultimately made a phone call to a mysterious woman, arranging to meet her at the airport.

Flash… Forwards?

When Kate appears before him in the final scene, viewers were stunned to realize that the episode’s “flashbacks” weren’t set before the crash of Flight 815, but after the main events of the series, thus they were “flash-forwards”.

Even more disturbing was Jack’s dialogue during this sequence, where he desperately tells Kate that he wanted to return to the island.

“We have to go back!”

“We made a mistake, Kate. We weren’t supposed to leave. We have to go back, Kate. We have to go back!”

True to Lost’s tradition, this powerful sequence raised far more new questions than it answered. Why did Jack so fervently wish to return to the island he had struggled so hard to escape? Whose funeral did he attend earlier in the episode? Who is the person Kate needs to meet? Could it be Sawyer?

Naturally, these many questions were left to the wild imaginations of viewers until the next season, which aired a year later. An unbearable wait after such an astonishing sequence.

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