BY ADAM ROTTENBERG
Daily Arts Editor
Published September 12, 2005
Once in a while an extraordinary show takes TV to new heights. But few pundits predicted that last season "Lost" - a castaway serial from J.J. "Alias" Abams - would be that show. Throw in some sci-fi elements, a huge ensemble cast and weekly cliffhangers, and it seemed like a recipe for disaster. Yet something compelled America to tune in. Whether it was the excellent performances or the engrossing mysteries of the island, "Lost" became the water-cooler sensation that ABC needed (yes, there was also that "Desperate" something or other, too).
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For those few who missed out the first time around, or who just need a refresher to catch Hurley's lotto numbers, "Lost" arrives on DVD.
Here's the premise: An Oceanic Airlines flight traveling from Sydney to Los Angeles crashes on a seemingly deserted tropical island. The survivors band together and slowly learn to adapt not only to island life, but to each other. Using a unique structure that incorporates extended flashbacks into each episode, viewers learn more and more about the textured pasts of every castaway. From heroic M.D. Jack (Matthew Fox, "Party of Five") to the conniving con man Sawyer (Josh Holloway). When it works - as is the case in the stellar "Walkabout" episode when alpha-male Locke (Terry O'Quinn, "Alias") is revealed to have been wheelchair bound - few series are better. But sometimes these tangents seem to be filler to round out otherwise thin plots.
The DVD set contains pristine transfers of the hi-def broadcasts. More importantly, it is loaded with extras. Beyond the standard commentary tracks is an extra disc packed with documentaries and featurettes. It breaks the series down from preproduction, the actual construction of the individual episodes, to the audience response. Viewers learn that Jack was supposed to die in the pilot and that most of the characters were based on the actors who auditioned. It even includes hilarious screen-tests.
"Lost" embraces the strengths of its medium in its serialization and large scope. Even though the revelations aren't as shocking the second time around, every episode is still an enthralling adventure. Just as you prepare to find out what's down the hatch in season two, remember what brought the castaways together in the first place.
Ratings
Show: 4 out of 5 stars
Picture/Sound: 4 out of 5 stars
Features: 4 out of 5 stars
