The Ultimate Reveals: Unveiling the Answers to the 10 Greatest Lost Mysteries
Discover the captivating enigmas of Lost's mysterious island: unravel age-old inhabitants, the origin of the smoke monster, the significance of Hurley's numbers, the perplexing flash-sideways timeline, the unusual presence of polar bears, the tragic fate of pregnant women, the elusive whispers in the jungle, and the mind-bending time travel phenomena
This article explores and discusses fertility issues and mortality in the TV series Lost. Premiering in 2004, Lost captivated fans with its sci-fi drama, centered around a group of survivors who crash on an island after a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles. While their main focus is to escape the island, they soon realize they are not alone, encountering hostile groups and supernatural beings determined to hinder their progress.
10 The Purpose Of Lost's Island
Despite the show being packed with thrilling action sequences and unexpected plot twists, Lost managed to captivate its audience week after week with its deep, thought-provoking drama and intriguing mysteries. Although a few subplots remained unresolved, such as the fate of the Egyptians responsible for constructing the enigmatic statue of Taweret, the writers made diligent efforts to tie up any significant storylines and loose ends, providing the satisfying answers that viewers craved.
Contrary to popular belief among Lost fans, the Island was not purgatory, and the survivors of Oceanic 815 were very much alive. The Island's reality was genuine, and it held a crucial purpose. Jacob's explanations, though perplexing with their metaphorical nature, revealed that the Island served as a prison for an immense evil, safeguarding humanity from its darkness. However, should this darkness ever escape, the world would be forever altered.
Initially, some believed that Jacob's intention was referring to the Smoke Monster (whom he came to perceive as the embodiment of evil). Nevertheless, it was revealed that the Island served as a cork, resting atop a substantial reservoir of electromagnetic energy. The release of this energy had the potential to trigger a global catastrophe, prompting Jacob and his followers to devise a method of containing it within the heart of the Island. Essentially, the Island was safeguarding the world from its own demise.
9 Jacob & His Brother Were Island Inhabitants Who Were Over 2000 Years Old
While many of the memorable relationships on Lost were built on strong bonds of friendship and love, there were also a handful of rivalries that captivated audiences. None more so than the complex dynamic between Jacob and his brother, known as the Man in Black. Their story took center stage in "Across The Sea," the fifteenth episode of the show's sixth season. Born on the Island and residing there for over two millennia, Jacob and his brother had a unique upbringing. The reclusive Jacob's predecessor, aware of the perceived wickedness of humanity, intentionally raised them in seclusion, shielding them from civilization's corrupting influence. Additionally, she aimed to groom one of them to become the Island's new Protector, inheriting her responsibilities.
Jacob and his brother had a close bond as they grew up, but their relationship underwent a significant transformation after the Man in Black discovered the existence of life beyond the sea and decided to leave the Island. Initially, Jacob did not intervene in his brother's plans, but his perspective changed when he uncovered the truth that his brother killed the "Protector" in retaliation for thwarting his own chances of departure. Although the death of the Protector was a shocking moment, there were indications that she had foreseen it.
Jacob's predecessor consistently emphasized that the Man in Black must remain on the Island. It appeared that she recognized the immense darkness within him, which must be contained and prevented from being unleashed in the world. She made efforts to subdue his darkness by showering him with love, hoping to steer him towards the right path. However, as the narrative frequently argued, altering a predetermined destiny is an impossibility (a notion the Protector seemed to accept in the end). Consequently, after designating Jacob as the new Protector, she sacrificed herself to reveal the true nature of his brother and to underscore why he could not be allowed to leave.
8 How The Smoke Monster Was Created (& His Goal)
Throughout the six seasons of the series, the Smoke Monster (known as the Man in Black) proved to be a formidable antagonist. He relentlessly tormented the survivors of Oceanic 815, whether it was by pursuing them through the jungle, imitating their loved ones, or even taking their lives. Initially believed to be just another supernatural inhabitant of the Island, it was later revealed in season 6, episode 15, "Across The Sea" that the Smoke Monster was actually Jacob's human twin brother and a long-time resident of the Island.
Jacob became aware of his brother's treacherous actions when he witnessed him killing the Island's Protector because she refused to let him leave. In response, Jacob cast his brother into the "Heart of the Island," forever binding his life force to the Island and condemning him to a miserable existence. The only way for the Man in Black to escape the Island was if the energy from the "Heart" was unleashed, resulting in the Island's destruction. However, as Jacob's duty as the Island's Protector was to safeguard this energy, this presented a significant challenge. Thus, a bitter and intense rivalry between the two brothers ensued.
7 What Brought The Oceanic 815 Survivors To The Island
In season 2 of Lost, it was revealed that Jacob had no responsibility for the plane crash, but he did play a significant role in bringing the survivors of Oceanic 815 to the Island. Knowing his impending death and the increasing malevolence of the Man in Black, Jacob set out to find potential replacements. However, it's important to note that Jacob's intentions were not malicious when selecting these individuals.
In season 6, episode 16, "What They Died For," it was revealed that Jacob handpicked the remaining candidates because he recognized their flaws and their desperate need for a fresh start in life. His ultimate goal was to not only find a replacement but also to assist them in resolving their personal issues and moving forward, something which the Island could facilitate. Although Jacob's methods were not always ideal, it was evident that his intentions were genuinely good-hearted.
6 What Did Hurley's Numbers Mean
Hurley's lottery numbers (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42) were initially thought to be cursed. However, it was later unveiled that they held personal significance for each of the main characters. In season 6, episode 16, "What They Died For," Jacob revealed that these numbers were assigned to the candidates he considered for replacing him as the Protector of the Island. "4" represented Locke, "8" was Hurley, "15" stood for Sawyer, "16" for Sayid, "23" for Jack, and "42" for Sun/Jin. Although Jacob claimed that anyone could assume the role, the fact that the numbers closely followed Hurley suggested that he was the frontrunner candidate.
In addition to their connection to the main characters, Hurley's numbers held another significant meaning. The Lost writers revealed that they were linked to the Valenzetti Equation, which is featured in the game, The Lost Experience. The DHARMA Initiative began researching this equation, believing it to predict the world's end. Consequently, the numbers could be found in all the stations and heard on the radio tower.
5 Why Did The Flash-Sideways Timeline Happen?
The Lost timeline, already complex with flashbacks and flash-forwards, became even more perplexing in season 6 with the introduction of the flash-sideways. After Juliet activated the "Jughead" bomb in the season 5 finale, it appeared that Jack's plan was successful and that those who died on the island were alive again. However, this was not entirely accurate.
In episode 18 of season 6, titled "The End," Christian Shephard revealed that the flash-sideways was a created realm for the Oceanic 815 survivors to reunite after death. Similar to the island, they constructed this alternate reality to address unresolved issues and find peace in the afterlife. It's no surprise that they all desired to be together, as their time on the island was when they were most content.
4 How Was A Polar Bear Was On The Island?
After the Oceanic 815 survivors narrowly escaped a polar bear attack in season 1, episode 2's "Pilot," questions arose regarding the animal's presence on the Island. This puzzled many, considering the hot climate should have made it impossible for such a species to be there. Although the mystery took a backseat due to other enigmatic entities like the Smoke Monster, the answer finally emerged in season 3. Ben disclosed that the DHARMA initiative had deliberately brought the survivors to the Island for experimental purposes. While this explanation may not have satisfied everyone, it did provide some resolution.
3 Why Pregnant Women Often Died On The Island
In season 3, the writers introduced another shocking enigma as Juliet divulged that women who became pregnant on the Island often faced fatal consequences during their second trimester. While speculation abounded regarding the underlying cause, the answer to this riddle was eventually unveiled in the season 6 epilogue "The New Man in Charge" when Pierre Chang disclosed that exposure to "the electromagnetic levels [...had an] extremely harmful effect" during the initial stages of pregnancy, leading to lethality and various fertility complications.
While originally safe when concealed, the situation changed when DHARMA drilled too deep into the energy pocket of the Swan and Juliet triggered the hydrogen bomb ("The Incident," Season 5, Episode 17). This caused a significant release of electromagnetism into the atmosphere, which DHARMA struggled to contain. Consequently, the radiation continuously leaked and adversely affected the immune systems of the inhabitants, resulting in severe decreases in white blood cell counts among pregnant women. The reason Sun did not experience the same consequences as the other pregnant women on the Island was due to her limited exposure to the radiation.
2 What Were The Whispers In The Jungle?
In addition to adding a eerie vibe to the show, the whispers in the series were later revealed to hold significant meaning to the overall storyline. In "Everybody Loves Hugo," the twelfth episode of the sixth season, viewers witness Hurley being informed by Michael's apparition that the mysterious whispers heard by everyone on the island originated from the souls of deceased individuals trapped there. These individuals, unlike the rest of the survivors from Oceanic Flight 815 in the alternate timeline, were unable to move on to the afterlife due to the consequences of their past actions. It appeared that by aiding in the protection of the innocent from both The Others and the nefarious Man in Black, they sought redemption for their transgressions.
1 How The Island Managed To Travel Through Time
In season 2 of Lost, it was hinted that the Island was in constant motion, preventing anyone from finding it. This sparked speculation among fans about the mechanism behind this phenomenon. As with many mysteries on the show, it was revealed that the electromagnetism at the Heart of the Island possessed the ability to manipulate space and time. The DHARMA stations played a crucial role in this process, as they were built on different energy pockets on the Island.
One of these stations was the Orchid, designed for the study of time travel. Below the station, there was a frozen wheel that facilitated the transportation of individuals off the Island. This was demonstrated in season 4, episode 13, titled "There's No Place Like Home Part 2," when Ben employed the wheel. However, manipulating the wheel inadvertently had consequences for those remaining on the Island. Instead of simply adjusting its position, Ben's actions pushed the Island too far off its axis, resulting in its journey through time.
